A quite busy El Cosmico here, taking the briefest of breaks to pass along something from the hearsay-rant-type rumour file. Some informative words from our friend Viacom Girl...
Take them for what you think they're worth, this is definitely in the realm of insider gossip, filtered from person to person as it made its way toward us. But, geek websites have a mission to spread Star Trek gossip, don't they?
Well, sure we do. Ah, what a headache I have. Okay, onto Viacom Girl. Enjoy :)
I've revised this since they should be annoucing Scott Bakula at the end of the week. They've already "leaked" word to Broadcasting and Cable to run that his deal is close. Here's my revised story:
The "network" UPN has "Buffy" now, as you're already well aware of.
Officially, this upcoming season will be the most amount of money every spent in UPN's history for programming. After all, for the budget of "Chains of Love" the most expensive thing is the chains.
The upcoming adaptation of "The Dead Zone" is not costing a lot. After all, they saved money on the script because it's just a xerox of the book and movie. If you've seen the flick you don't need to watch the show, it's a carbon copy and unwisely follows the exact same story as a weekly series, unless you really want to see what a role Christopher Walken played looks like being enacted by one of the Griswold clan from "Vacation." (To be honest, Anthony Michael Hall is better than you'd think but that's not the highest praise.)
"Buffy" is now regarded within these halls as our most important show, which leaves "Star Trek" coming in a close third behind wrestling.
Now, regarding that "review" which ran on the Trek friendly website called "Trektoday." That particular glowing editorial about the pilot script for the upcoming newest Roddenberry knockoff was personally written by none other than one of the staff members on the show. In fact, a very prominent producer.
The Trek offices and Paramount as well as some Viacom folk for were all extremely upset by that initial AICN review, but more importantly the overwhelming negative reaction to the concept of a "prequel" show from the fans.
That bogus TrekToday "outside" review was written to quell the furor, since UPN has been inundated by e-mails and angry calls about the new "Star Trek".
You'll note the anonymous author criticized the premise of "Voyager" because he or she, and in this case it's definitely a "he," was trying to throw people off the scent that they were just some planted "shill," plus this individual also got to take a dig at two of the departed creators whom he doesn't particularly like. (Hey, sometimes even the dumbest person can have a good opinion once in awhile.) His aim is about as good as a B.B. gun, if you can take a hint.
This person also criticized the acting on "Voyager" because the ENTIRE cast, with the notable and obvious exception of Jeri Ryan, has made it perfectly clear how unhappy they've been with the scripts, so it was intended as a dig.
Robert Beltran has never minced words on how awful he thought the writing was, and the Trek "creative" team, and I use that word loosely, is happy to be rid of this current cast. They claim they want actors now who will be "grateful" just to have a job. That's an exact quote.
Don't expect to see any "Voyager" movies coming soon, unless they're shot on camcorders and can double as home movies.
Once again, that review AICN ran was right on. The pilot script is mediocre and unnecessary to the whole "Trek" canon. Likening it to "The Phantom Menace" is correct, since this is a story that never needs to be told.
I find it hard to believe there are still zealots posting talkbacks that don't believe the next series is a prequel and that the pilot isn't about meeting Klingons. The Derek Flint review was right, and is being corroborated everywhere now.
As far as another certain "rumor." As of right now, NEGOTIATIONS ARE BACK ON WITH SCOTT BAKULA. THE IMPASSE CAME AT POTENTIAL MONEY INCREASES OVER THE SEVEN YEAR RUN OF THE NEXT STAR TREK SHOW, AS WELL AS HOW MUCH CREATIVE SAY THE ACTOR WOULD BE GIVEN. (HE WAS GIVEN AN EXECUTIVE PRODUCER TITLE ON HIS LAST CBS SERIES, APPARENTLY.) BAKULA WANTS A LOT OF DOUGH, BUT ALSO WANTS APPROVAL AND VETO RIGHTS NOT GIVEN TO PAST STAR TREK ACTORS. NEVERTHELESS, PHONE CALLS FROM THE PRESS TO UPN AND PARAMOUNT CONTEND THAT BAKULA IS STILL NOT IN THE RUNNING... SO WE'LL STILL HAVE TO SEE. It's expected to be finally officially announced at the end of the week.
With all the negative reaction to a prequel, it became even more important for Paramount to get an actor that is "genre friendly" and they've taken a great deal of notice how favorably the fan base is towards Mr. Bakula.
Playing the Captain, should this deal officially close, will make him very, very rich. He'll be making the most money EVER for an actor doing "Star Trek".
The role of the doctor on the show has been cast with a character actor who most people won't know from "Adam."
Also, one other tidbit... Howard Stern trashed UPN, "Chains of Love" as well as some of the top brass around here on his radio show last week, pretty much throwing dirt on the grave of his animated show "Doomsday." UPN doesn't care... showing the same concern they show for "Star Trek."
VIACOM GIRL
Well, folks, what do you think of that? I'm sure you'll all share your feelings about it all. I, for one, am getting more and more curious about this. I mean, if Bakula does sign, and gains a fair amount of control, it could give this show a good opportunity for a course correction, even if it DOES get off to a mediocre start. It would at least keep me interested.
