# So Start Trek Wouldn't Work as a TV show? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 15, 2016, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-start-trek-wouldnt-work-as-a-tv-show/772064 "2016-11-15T16:10:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2016, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-start-trek-wouldnt-work-as-a-tv-show/772064/1 "2016-11-15T16:10:29Z")
Buhh-whaaaaat? > **[Despite Current Glut of Successful Scifi Shows, CBS Executive Says New Star...](https://gizmodo.com/despite-current-glut-of-successful-scifi-shows-cbs-exe-1788962348)** > > CBS can eat a bag of dicks. Come on, guys. Literally every other channel is making a ton of money off science fiction shows right now. Except you. Blaming the genre is just sad. Maybe it’s just me but maybe, _maybe_, Star Trek would work very well on TV. You know show hope for the future, address an issue once a week or so, show some neat tech and smart people getting out of difficult situations, a smattering of phasers here, torpedoes there, a little character growth. That all sounds like something that’s perfect for TV. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2016, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-start-trek-wouldnt-work-as-a-tv-show/772064/2 "2016-11-15T16:13:01Z")
Of course it would work on TV. This is just post-hoc rationalization (clumsy, at that) for their decision to use the show as a carrot to get people to sign up for their digital service. ---
**Author:** ![akrako1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c77e96/32.png) [@akrako1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/akrako1)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2016, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-start-trek-wouldnt-work-as-a-tv-show/772064/3 "2016-11-15T22:35:55Z")
$6/month for 2 original shows. $10 with no commercials. It seems like they WANT the show to fail… It almost feels like they’ve got a contract where they _have_ to create a show or they’ll lose the license (like Sony with Fantastic Four), but i don’t think that’s the case, so this just seems dumb. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2016, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-start-trek-wouldnt-work-as-a-tv-show/772064/4 "2016-11-15T22:46:06Z")
Of course it wouldn’t work as a TV show now. They’d be playing to an audience in terminal decline and treating their major revenue source, streaming services, as a sideline. I mean, sure, it would play to the over-fifty set who still watch CBS as a television network, as opposed to a content creator similar to a movie studio, but that’s utterly irrelevant. You go where the advertisers want to be, and that ain’t TV anymore. Now, are they mishandling their streaming service? Possibly. Probably, even. That doesn’t mean TV is the right answer. ---
**Author:** ![TwiSpark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/77aa72/32.png) [@TwiSpark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwiSpark)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2016, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-start-trek-wouldnt-work-as-a-tv-show/772064/5 "2016-11-15T22:46:15Z")
Wait, what? Isn’t there a new series coming out like, next year? If there’s one time we absolutely NEED an optimistic view of the future and positive social messages (if it’s going that way, which it sounds like it will) it’s now. 110%. Though if they’re making a generic argument against TV, they’re right there. Online services are the way now. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2016, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-start-trek-wouldnt-work-as-a-tv-show/772064/6 "2016-11-16T00:26:43Z")
Meh, I’ll wait for it to fail and catch it on Netflix. ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2016, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-start-trek-wouldnt-work-as-a-tv-show/772064/7 "2016-11-16T01:06:01Z")
> [@TwiSpark](#): > > If there’s one time we absolutely NEED an optimistic view of the future and positive social messages (if it’s going that way, which it sounds like it will) it’s now. 110%. I’d personally be willing to settle for one with giant space amoebas, issues with AIs, and naval battles of wits, if it was done decently enough. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2016, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-start-trek-wouldnt-work-as-a-tv-show/772064/8 "2016-11-16T01:35:08Z")
> [@akrako1](#): > > It seems like they WANT the show to fail. The showrunner who spearheaded the whole idea, Bryan Fuller, has stepped down before production has even begun. They haven’t even cast it yet and it’s supposed to air next year. Doomed. ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2016, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-start-trek-wouldnt-work-as-a-tv-show/772064/9 "2016-11-16T01:38:32Z")
Star trek Fans are always played for suckers. I remember when the X Files was one of the first shows to release season DVD sets. They cost $30+ dollars; Star Trek’s were over $100. Now they are having us pay for their dumb service to see the show. The sad thing is that Star Trek is disappearing from the cultural memory because it’s been off TV for over a decade. Young people are barely aware of it and if they are it’s old fashioned sci fi their parents like. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2016, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-start-trek-wouldnt-work-as-a-tv-show/772064/10 "2016-11-16T02:12:28Z")
> [@Quimby](#): > > The sad thing is that Star Trek is disappearing from the cultural memory because it’s been off TV for over a decade. Young people are barely aware of it and if they are it’s old fashioned sci fi their parents like. No, it’s just becoming something that’s primarily a movie series. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2016, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-start-trek-wouldnt-work-as-a-tv-show/772064/11 "2016-11-16T02:55:14Z")
A mediocre movie series. ---
**Author:** ![standingwave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@standingwave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/standingwave)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2016, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-start-trek-wouldnt-work-as-a-tv-show/772064/12 "2016-11-16T04:32:47Z")
Captain’s Log, final entry. We have tried to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new civilizations, to boldly go where no man has gone before. And except for _one television network_, we have found intelligent life everywhere in the galaxy. Live long and prosper. Captain James T. Kirk, ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2016, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-start-trek-wouldnt-work-as-a-tv-show/772064/13 "2016-11-16T04:44:24Z")
> [@Ranchoth](#): > > I’d personally be willing to settle for one with giant space amoebas, issues with AIs, and naval battles of wits, if it was done decently enough. And space babes with big boobs. Can’t forget them! :o ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2016, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-start-trek-wouldnt-work-as-a-tv-show/772064/14 "2016-11-16T05:03:23Z")
terentii wrote: “And space babes with big boobs. Can’t forget them!” You mean _green_ space babes with big boobs. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2016, 7:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-start-trek-wouldnt-work-as-a-tv-show/772064/15 "2016-11-16T07:31:08Z")
> [@E-DUB](#): > > terentii wrote: “And space babes with big boobs. Can’t forget them!” > > You mean _green_ space babes with big boobs. Well, with green hair at least. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2016, 7:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-start-trek-wouldnt-work-as-a-tv-show/772064/16 "2016-11-16T07:32:12Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > A mediocre movie series. An \*awful \*movie series. :mad: ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2016, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-start-trek-wouldnt-work-as-a-tv-show/772064/17 "2016-11-16T15:33:06Z")
> [@TwiSpark](#): > > Wait, what? Isn’t there a new series coming out like, next year? > > If there’s one time we absolutely NEED an optimistic view of the future and positive social messages (if it’s going that way, which it sounds like it will) it’s now. 110%. > > Though if they’re making a generic argument against TV, they’re right there. Online services are the way now. Yes, that’s the gist of this thread. There _is_ a new Trek series coming out next year; the OP is quoting an article from one of the execs at CBS’s new digital service, in which he’s rationalizing why they’re not putting the Trek series on broadcast TV. ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2016, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-start-trek-wouldnt-work-as-a-tv-show/772064/18 "2016-11-16T15:36:05Z")
> [@Quimby](#): > > The sad thing is that Star Trek is disappearing from the cultural memory because it’s been off TV for over a decade. Young people are barely aware of it and if they are it’s old fashioned sci fi their parents like. Of course it’s going to fade from cultural memory. We’re not talking the Iliad (lasted some 2700 years) or Shakespeare (400-odd years), this is an ephemeral US TV show and series of movies. It’s done well to have lasted this long, it’ll be lucky to hold out another generation. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2016, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-start-trek-wouldnt-work-as-a-tv-show/772064/19 "2016-11-16T16:02:34Z")
Star Trek would be much improved if they would remove two elements that, imho, have ruined the product. 1\> Time Travel. For some reason it became all about Time Travel and we get borked timelines out of it. Just please stop. Put this whole thing on the backburner and don’t touch it for a decade. 2\> Over-reliance on One Villain movies. The movies aren’t about issues while exploring or cultural parallels anymore. They’re about the fight to save the galaxy/federation from ONE FUCKING BADGUY. These aren’t Bond movies. I don’t want to go see another movie about Coolbadguyname and how Kirk/Picard/Whoever has to overcome him with the Enterprise taking a lot of damage or being destroyed (again) along the way. You know what? Give me more non-human Federation members. Make them interesting, not one-notes. Give me alternate cultures for these aliens with real differences. If they want a new series, they can get a lot of plot mileage out of this sort of thing without being merely a villain of the week series. ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2016, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-start-trek-wouldnt-work-as-a-tv-show/772064/20 "2016-11-16T17:19:55Z")
> [@aldiboronti](#): > > Of course it’s going to fade from cultural memory. We’re not talking the Iliad (lasted some 2700 years) or Shakespeare (400-odd years), this is an ephemeral US TV show and series of movies. It’s done well to have lasted this long, it’ll be lucky to hold out another generation. It had a good run until the mid 2000s. There are people that are third generation Star Trek Fans. There’s little reason it couldn’t run on for another several decades if it had been nurtured properly. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-start-trek-wouldnt-work-as-a-tv-show/772064.md?page=2)