Geek Alert! Do you recognize the common thread of TOS, TNG, DS9, VOY, and ENT? They are the various incarnations of Star Trek on television, of course. Today is the day for “worldwide rallies” in support of continuing Star Trek Enterprise for another season. Paramount announced cancellation of the series on 3 Feb. 2005.

Star Trek has enjoyed an unprecedented run through live action and animated TV, movies, books, fan clubs, and conventions. Fans have organized a campaign through Save Enterprise and Trek United that:

worked successfully last year to ensure Enterprise’s fourth season, faithfully raising several thousands of dollars for a number of high profile ads to promote the show. Together, we aim to bring the devotion of Star Trek fans to a new level, launching the Star Trek fan campaign of the 21st century: TrekUnited.

Our mission: to boldly go where no fan campaign has gone before and raise money to sponsor the actual production of another Star Trek: Enterprise season, uniting Star Trek and science fiction fans around the world! We have support within the cast and crew for this unique endeavor. Furthermore, the executives of Paramount, the exclusive rights holder to the Star Trek franchise, have expressed their willingness to talk. However, they want to see hard evidence that we are capable of pulling this off. In light of the 1968 fan campaign which successfully brought back the original Star Trek series, it is not the first time executives underestimate the fans, so let’s show them what we can achieve together!

So this time, in addition to writing letters and holding rallies, they are attempting to raise enough money to pay the production costs for the next season, an estimated $35.2 million. That’s less than $12 each from the approximately 3 million viewers of season four according to the group’s FAQ. They are just short of $50,000 as I write this.

I’ve never considered myself a Trekkie (or Trekker). I’ve seen all the movies and have watched at least parts of each of the TV series. I never got into this latest version though. And while there have been other TV shows that I was much more saddened to see leave the airwaves, I have never considered writing letters or attending rallies to keep any of them going. And I certainly never considered offering to pay for the production costs! In a way, I admire the devotion of the fans, but I can’t help remembering when William Shatner hosted Saturday Night Live in 1986. In a truly inspired skit, he exhorted a group of fans to “Get a life!”

Posted by tvansant