Yes, it is a business and a numbers game. That’s why it’s important to watch the show or at least record it on Wednesday nights when the ratings are counted. they don’t count them on the weekends no matter how many people are watching the reruns.
It won’t be allowed to just coast along, though. If they don’t get the numbers, they won’t make it because the PPTB will assume that not enough people are watching to make it worth producing. that’s why there is such an extensive letter-and-email writing campaign going on right now directed not just at the Powers but also at the advertisers.
Actually, things look okay for now, and if they sweep well in November and February, I think they could have a fourth season, at least.
Do you have some email addresses and suggested content/length/format information? I’ve never heard of this and never sent such email. I would like to mention what I like so that they understand what draws me, if that is what would be useful to them. STNG once said they would accept scripts from fans and I sent off for the information on how to submit. I got the info but never did write anything. Don’t try, don’t fail, but don’t succeed either.
[sub]Thanks for the warm welcome, Aesiron.[/sub]
[sub]I’ve just gotta establish a rep so that I can get verbed too.[/sub]
I don’t think that the shows accept amateur scripts anymore and I know for sure that the books don’t even though they used to.
Sucks, too… some of my favorite Trek novels were written by fanboys such as ourselves. As a matter of fact, if you ever get the chance, pick up “Yesterday’s Son” and “Time for Yesterday” by AC Crispin. They’re books based around Spock fathering a bastard child with Zarabeth, the hot little blonde in the episode where they go back to some world’s Ice Age.
Not that any of this has anything to do with the shows but at least it’s Trek related. That’s better than a lot of our posts.
(Post early and post often, Corner. You’ll earn your ensign pips in no time flat)
Thanks for putting in that link, Linus. evay at www.triphammered.com does a great job. I’ve been snail mailing and emailing the advertisers and bigwigs like crazy. Just modify her letters a bit, make one, then just change the name and address on it after you copy and paste it. Then you can send a whole batch of letters out. She also has a link to The Enterprise Project–the ones who put a full page in Hollywood Reporter (I think) to support the show when its 3rd season premiere occurred.
The folks at OSH (Orchard Supply Hardware) even told me to live long and prosper when they replied. (Geeks everywhere, I tell ya.)
They used to accept unsolicited scripts for Trek shows for VOY and DS9 but had to stop because they were getting too many potential lawsuits from people claiming their ideas were stolen. Not that you can copyright an idea–only the execution of it.
And they did make it harder in season 1, and I thought it was a good idea – the idea that the universal translator was much newer and wasn’t up to the level that we see in TNG. Hell, even in TNG we had an episode about difficulties with first contact communications.
Don’t try, don’t fail, but don’t succeed either.