Is Enterprise Heading To Canada? 335
Tycoon Guy writes "TrekToday reports that the TrekUnited fan campaign a few weeks ago partnered with a group of Canadian production companies to pitch a co-production deal for 'Star Trek: Enterprise' to Paramount. As part of this deal, production would be moved up to Canada, and TrekUnited and the Canadian group would share the costs of a fifth season with Paramount. Apparently Viacom executives are considering the proposal, despite another branch of Paramount saying the cancellation was final just a few days ago."
Canada (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Canada (Score:3, Funny)
I've been there... actually, I'm still there and so are ~30M other people!
Re:Canada (Score:5, Funny)
Hahahahaha... *wipes tear* I love Canada.
Re:Canada (Score:2)
Re:Canada (Score:2)
Re:Canada (Score:2)
Put down the Tim Horton's and get back in your ice cave, you impudent back bacon eater!
Re:Canada (Score:5, Informative)
Of course, this is all more Trekkie lameness. Even if they can raise the money to produce the show, Viacom is not going to hand over one of its biggest properties to outsiders, even one that has not been making them money. When a property turns unprofitable they usually sit on it for years, hoping it becomes profitable if they hold it off the market long enough.
They might agree to sell the Trek franchise. But not cheaply. If anybody can raise that kind of money, they should start their own SF franchise, not fritter it away trying to revive one that wore out years ago.
BSG (Score:5, Informative)
Re:BSG (Score:4, Informative)
Re:BSG (Score:3, Informative)
Yes. The city on Caprica in the pilot was Simon Fraser University [www.sfu.ca].
When Boomer and Helo are walking through the abandoned city in an early episode, it's a CGI-enhanced downtown Vancouver. The quasi-future-Roman building is the library.
The cinematic masterpiece The Sixth Day used both of those locations as well.
Re:BSG (Score:3, Funny)
Fascists always have the best art departments, whether they're fictional or not.
I mean, who got the cooler uniforms in the original BSG: the Viper Pilots, or the Space Nazis?
It's the same everywhere. Jedi vs Sith. Autobot vs Decepticon. Hippie vs Grammaton Cleric.
I think that part of the reason the *real* Nazis were able to have such influence over the Germans* are things like Speer and his Cathedral of Light, the
Re:Canada (Score:3, Funny)
Obligatory whiny unreasonable fanboy response (Score:5, Interesting)
I feel compelled to point out here that the X-Files didn't begin to suck until after they moved production from Canada to California...
(To be fair, the first season in california was actally really good. The Sucking did not begin until the *second* California-filmed season. But we can chalk this up to inertia. Canadian inertia.)
Re:Canada Anybody Remember Airwolf? (Score:5, Insightful)
However, many US Trek fans and unions will probably bitch like hell at the move. If it can be moved to Canada, some will reason, then why can't the costs be brought down, and it kept here in the US. Well, maybe the Canadian studios do the same or better work for slightly less up-front cost. I dunno, but for a production to leave the US and go to another country, SOMEthing is being saved. Or, someone else wants the cachet of having Trek or (name your show) on their notched belt.
Heck, even the Simpsons show has most of if not all of its artwork and animation done in South Korea. It costs a fraction of what it would in the US, and the Korean team is doing a great job, it seems.
To the dismay of a number of Trek fans, and maybe even the cast, as with Airwolf, some or all of the cast and characters might change. I wouldn't be surprised if some elites or idealists in Canada tweak Enterprise to be more CanaPrize, making Star Trek's vision of the future include MORE of the real world, instead of Hollywood's US-market-centric/pleasing view of the world.
For example:
Voyager had Harry Kim, cuz "we gotta please the economically powerful and politically savvy Asian community..." yet while Tom Paris was a misfit inmate who caused the death of Starfleet personnel, he was eventually promoted to Lieutenant on Voyager, the ship, not just the show. Clean-nosed, sometimes defiant Harry Kim? Oh, he's done what NO ensign wants to do/be: Remain ensign for SEVEN YEARS on the same ship. His not receiving a field promotion by Janeway was NOT a Federation/UFP/Starfleet issue. I DARE say it was a US-centric, hollywood "thing" about keeping Garret Wang's character "down". (No, Kim's being promoed AFTER Voyager destroyed/set back the Borg does NOT count, since his promotion was a cheesy-assed future-scene, not part of Voyagers' Fans chronology...)
Of course, that example won't fly when compared to DS9, since women were elevated, but aside from Cassidy Yates, most were not real-life ethnic minorities.
As for Enterprise, Mayweather seems to gleefully smile at the console, from most of the episodes I've seen. It is true he and Hoshi had their little moments, one of Hoshi's being to copulate with an alien and "exchange some language"...
I hope the Canadians take Trek where it's never been before: GLOBAL!
It would be nice to see an Indian in a turbin on duty, in uniform. It would be NICE to see a Black/Asian couple aboard ship, instead of the all-too-beaten/submission-forced Anglo/Sino pairings. It would be nice to see an Iraqi, or Greek, or person from Tuvalu or Vunuato and identified as such, on the ship. It would be nice to see crew members in their off-duty, and NOT just the main ensemble.
In Canada's hands, after about a year of some close-minded segment of the audience kvetching, Trek could TRULY improve, for instance, diving into details of a new and improved UN Security Council's fictional but pivotal role in rescuing the world from one-country-control, despite global markets theoretically dictating that one country cannot control the world.
Yeh, up to this point, Trek has been a franchise of US origin, and it is a venture/business driven by demographics. Well, it's time for WORLD demo
Re:Canada (Score:2)
Re:Canada (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Canada (Score:5, Funny)
You can say that again.
Re:Canada (Score:2)
Re:Canada (Score:3, Informative)
There are many who present counterarguments against the split infinitive rule, the most common of which is the "don't try to apply Latin rules of grammar to English." Most people don't really mind splitting them anymore, and one could assume that, in the future, everyone would care about it even less so.
Nice... (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:Nice... (Score:2)
Re:Nice... (Score:2)
Re:Nice... (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Nice... (Score:2)
Nice catch. I love that show.
Re:Nice... (Score:2)
Re:Nice... (Score:2)
Kidding, of course, but he did seem to pose the possibility of cancellation as not unlikely... which I guess is probably the case. Wish we could hear one way or the other, regardless. Hmm... I wonder what a season of AD costs to produce...
Trek is getting long in the tooth (Score:3, Insightful)
The series is in a permanent vegetative state. (Score:5, Funny)
Re:The series is in a permanent vegetative state. (Score:5, Funny)
Re:The series is in a permanent vegetative state. (Score:5, Funny)
Re:The series is in a permanent vegetative state. (Score:3, Funny)
Re:The series is in a permanent vegetative state. (Score:2)
Because Paramount said that one time Enterprise told it that it wanted to die if it was ever as dull as it is now. And since Paramount is Enterprise's "BFF" (Best Friend Forever), this is a very serious situation.
get a free PSP
I think I might question your motives for pulling the plug on Enterprise though, Paramount.
(Note: If you have not seen the South Park episode 4 of season 9, none of my comment will make any sense. If
Re:The series is in a permanent vegetative state. (Score:3, Funny)
That possibility has past.
Re:The series is in a permanent vegetative state. (Score:2, Funny)
These "save the Enterprise" attempts are actually more entertaining than the show itself
Re:The series is in a permanent vegetative state. (Score:3, Funny)
- Oisin
Re:The series is in a permanent vegetative state. (Score:2)
I won't know if I've liked it or not until I've read it. Sorry bud, your idea just won't work!
Just like a lawyer! (Score:2)
(Still in denial... still in denial...)
good thing. (Score:2, Interesting)
Oh Canada... (Score:2)
As seen Wednesday nights at 8:00pm central on UPN.
Har har har.
Seriously, though. Even though I've never gotten into the series, I hope for the sake of hardcore ST fans it's allowed to continue in Canada. Maybe the show will get even better as a result, a la X-Files (only in reverse this time).
Re:Oh Canada... (Score:2)
Re:Oh Canada... (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Oh Canada... (Score:2)
barring the canada jokes (Score:2)
The other side of Paramount which said the cancellation was "final." There are only two things in life that are final - death and taxes. Even the latter is not always final. So given that, throw enough money or potential money at Paramount and the "final cancellation" will get changed to "due to recent considerations, there will be a 5th season of Enterprise."
On a side note, I did like seeing Twilight again this past Friday and cannot wait for the season/series finale (
I have the feeling ... (Score:5, Interesting)
Well, either that or they're trying to piss off the people who watch it via bittorrent (quite a few if I'm not mistaken).
"Haha!!! That'll show you commie pirates! We'll just cancel whatever you like to download."
Re:I have the feeling ... (Score:2)
Re:I have the feeling ... (Score:2)
Or perhaps the fans of this show have a distinct lack of taste.
Re:I have the feeling ... (Score:2)
Well, Braga isn't too bad. But I think it was his direction that made the Enterprise set so poorly lit
Not worth saving. (Score:4, Funny)
Actually (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Actually (Score:2, Interesting)
Basically this would come off like a major publicity stunt and would make Enterprise even lamer than it is now.
It would be cool if they would bring it back every two years for a five or six episode miniseries, but that would only work if they covered major trek events that are already established. The Romulian war, the Klingon War, First Contact with important groups, like the Trill....but that won't happen...
Re:Actually (Score:2)
We're awesome, eh? (Score:3, Funny)
Re:We're awesome, eh? (Score:2)
ST Needs (Score:2)
Re:ST Needs (Score:2)
Did you come up with that yourself?
Moderators, mod this up to +50, Insightfull!
As McCoy would say... (Score:2, Funny)
Interesting... (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Interesting... (Score:2)
At least all the hot ones are still Canadian.
As far as outsourcing goes, Sci-Fi has been able to keep the same budget but produce way higher quality by moving outside of L.A. and really the whole concept of producing television in L.A. is outdated, you don't need guest appearances by movie stars every week to keep a show with a decent plot alive.
Re:Interesting... (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
They can have Enterprise (Score:3, Informative)
Trust me, we'd be getting the better end of the deal.
Re:They can have Enterprise (Score:3, Informative)
Re:They can have Enterprise (Score:2)
This in no way means that I like Joey, Raymond or other insipid garbage.
Re:They can have Enterprise (Score:2)
In the next exciting episode... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:In the next exciting episode... (Score:2)
Canadian Trek (Score:2)
- Anonymous singer, Vedran Archives, CY 2005
"The boardrooms of UPN are a dangerous place! But in our future, my crew and I fight to make it safe! I am Dylan Hunt, captain of the Enterprise Ascendant, and these are our adventures!"
(What, it's not like there isn't precedent for a hot shipboard computer. Back in TOS, I wouldn't have kicked Majel Barrett outa bed either. Rommie's just an upgraded version, isn't she?)
Re:Canadian Trek (Score:2)
J2EE? My job? (Score:2)
Canadian Transporter (Score:2)
Beam me up Scotty, ay?
Let it die (Score:2)
Look at the farscape fans.. We got a 'finale' and let it die a dignified death..
The short answer: Yes! (Score:2)
The short answer is "Yes!"
However our correspondant has learned that upon ariving there, Mr. Spock was overheard saying "What the fuck is wrong with these people?"
Captain Kirk, on the other hand could not be reached, as he was getting smashed with Scotty and Bones at a local hockey bar.
Film at 11: "Wrath of Khan"
Re:The short answer: Yes! (Score:2)
Two Kirks, a Khan and a Pizza Place
Enormous misdirection of effort (Score:2, Flamebait)
And you've got all this energy.
And what are you doing with it?
Trying to save a TV show that even its defenders rarely describe in terms nicer than "it wasn't THAT bad", and whose plot is going to be wrapped up at the end of the season whatever you do.
While you've got all this excitement and energy and potential funding, why not direct it into more potentially productive efforts-- like, trying to get Paramount or some other production company to put together a new, GOOD show? (Pr
Viacom, Paramount, all made in Taiwan... (Score:2)
Maybe they were planning to cancel it here, aire it in Canada, and they thought we'd never find out about it. Heh heh heh... Thanks to Slashdot, their evil scheme was foiled! I'll get you next time, Gadget, next time!!!
Too many questions (Score:2)
Time slot. (Score:2)
Re:Time slot. (Score:2)
Kind of hard to maintain a decent rating when 1/3 of your market isn't counted on a given week.
Anyone see the news on the cast wrap party? (Score:3, Interesting)
This show is as dead as a doornail right now and won't be coming back.
And thus the episode began (Score:2)
Captain: Excellent! Bring them aboard, make them Ensigns, then set course for Romulus! Warp 9!
Good to know, but... (Score:2)
Computer voice (Score:2)
'Bout time.
Re:Computer voice (Score:2)
Picard: Tea, earl grey, hot.
Computer: Hey, we're out of tea, but how 'bout some back bacon and beer, eh?
Ryker: Computer, locate Lt. Cmd. Data.
Computer: Go find him yourself, hoser. Take off, eh!
Canada responsible? (Score:2)
In fact, even Celine Dion would be better than the current intro music.
OMFG! (Score:5, Insightful)
Please... everyone backing this... this.... just can't go on! It's... insane!
I think it's great that people can still be passionate about a cause, but let's make it something that really affects the world we live in! How about something like backing politics that fight against the ridiculously evil things going on now that are attempting to take your freedoms away?
I know this will be marked as a troll or off-topic or something but I hope before it does, I actually reach someone.
There's a bunch of people out there that could make a BIG difference if they pull together to make it happen. It's happening now but the cause is a freaking form of entertainment that lines the pockets of people who don't know or care about you in the least. On the other hand, there are causes that could really improve peoples lives.
Truthfully, are we saying that the effort and resources used to save a TV show should be more significant than those spent in preserving our way of life or making it better? Are we REALLY just a bunch of people who would rather lose our freedoms just so that we can watch a TV show? (Bear in mind that there are plenty of religious fundies who would just LOVE to cancel Star Trek and any SciFi that questions the existance of their god.)
This is one show... I wish the same effort was put into a cause that actually improves life in the here, now and future. I find it incredulous to witness people caring so little about our government and law and so much about something so trivial.
Re:OMFG! (Score:3, Funny)
Naaaaaaaah, lets go to White Castle, I'm hungry.
Re:OMFG! (Score:3, Insightful)
Why not. I have to admit, I too question the sanity of these people who are digging deep in their pockets and spending so much time in order to rescue something from the rubbish bin, but I for one encourage them. We all, for the most part, have disposable income which we spend on entertainment, even those who only spend money on blank media.
I for one don't see this as being a bunch of zelots trying to save their TV show, but r
Can't those German guys do it? (Score:2)
Teela Brown Syndrome (Score:5, Insightful)
The Star Trek franchise has long struggled to escape the Teela Brown syndrome.
Teela Brown, from Larry Niven's "Known World" series, embodies the concept that after an SF Universe has developed enough really, really keen ideas, authors have trouble coming up with interesting plots. Teela Brown was so effectively bred for Good Luck that nothing really bad could happen to her, which is boring from a plot standpoint (Niven found a great one-time exception to the rule, but that won't work for a series.)
Original Star Trek: had a great sense of "Anything Can Happen" because no-one really knew what was Out There. And Anything DID happen, which was great for making stories! However, after the Treaty of Organia, the Gaurdian Of Time, the Doomsday Device, and Poor Lazarus jamming the door from alternate universes, it was getting harder and harder to come up with plausible threats. Thank goodness for the Klingons who were just powerful enough to be threatening whenever they were needed!
ST:TNG wisely ignored the Teela Brown stuff ... for some reason the Organians didn't interfere with the Klingons, Cardassians, Borg, etc.... Creatures who could have been series-killers were given useful limitations, e.g. Q was a joker, the Borg both too far away to bother destroying the Federation in the near future and yet close enough to do it if they felt grouchy, and so on. A nice balance of threats kept open the possibilities.
ST:DS9 overtly balanced the great powers; in some sense it was all about balancing the various cosmic threats & opportunities for the Federation. And ... most notably ... once the major conflicts were resolved (the Dominion went home and the Wormhole Aliens finished writing their novel) the series ended! There was nothing more to say on the subject, and hopefully we won't get a movie from it.
ST: Voyager got a balance of problems by throwing the ship far far away from the Federation. Once again Anything Could Happen: Federation technology could be either useless or the perfect McGuffin, whenever it was needed. But once the underlying problem was solved --- the ship got Home --- the series was over, no movies please!
ST: Enterprise got the only remaining really large era of uncertainty in the ST Universe: the past, prior to the Federation. However, we know how the story arc must end: The Federation is created. That puts a limit on the stories, e.g. the Earth can't really get blown up because someone would just have to re-build it so Kirk can get born there.
ST: Canada So what is left? Where in the ST Universe is there enough uncertainty to make interesting plots?
Re:Teela Brown Syndrome (Score:4, Interesting)
I'd like to see ST: Warbird. It would be set on a Romulan ship during the Kirk era and told from their point of view. The Federation would be meddling pricks standing in the way of the mission of spreading civilization to the barbarian hordes.
Why? (Score:2)
Trekkies (Score:2)
Let it die (Score:2)
To boldly go... (Score:2)
Or, perhaps... (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Enterprise Episodes all metric (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Enterprise Episodes all metric (Score:2, Funny)
To make it sound more technical and futuristic to Americans maybe?
Re:Star trek (Score:2)
Re:** LET IT DIE ** (Score:2)
That's not reason enough to cancel it now, just because you think someone can do it better. I agree, JMS could to a spectacular job with it, but just because we want it to be so doesn't mean it'll happen. I know a few months ago he said he would like to do it, but then 1 day later he retracted that statement. If there was a contract saying that enterprise would be taken off the air and in 2007 a new JMS written series
Re:Star Trek has too many white people (Part 2) (Score:2)
That might have something to do with the no certain ethnicities.