How the British can save Star Trek

[Pab Sungenis]

Shameless gratuitous blog plug.

http://www.livejournal.com/users/pabsungenis/50204.html

In 1963, a man named Sydney Newman created the concept for a science fiction, educational television show for the BBC entitled Doctor Who. It ran more-or-less continuously on the BBC for 26 years before being retired in 1989.


In 1964, a man named Gene Roddenberry created the outline and pilot script for a science-fiction, action-adventure television show for Desilu called Star Trek. It ran on NBC for three years before being cancelled. Eventually, the concept and format was revived in 1987 as Star Trek: The Next Generation, and in one form or another ran continuously for 18 years before the last incarnation, Star Trek: Enterprise was cancelled in 2005.

In 1969, Doctor Who was struggling. The fantasy elements of the show had grown, in some people's minds, too prominent. The show was about to lose its second leading man, and was one of a dying breed of black-and-white TV shows as the rest of the world, and most of Britain, was in color. Producers, hoping to jumpstart the show when it returned from hiatus the following season, looked at other successful science fiction programs for ideas. One they turned to was the show that actually replaced Doctor Who on the BBC schedule for a time, Star Trek.

Now, years later, it's time for TV's longest running Sci-Fi franchise to return the favor, and show the second-longest running franchise a trick or two. In short, it's time for the British to lead the way, and show by example how to save Star Trek!