Trekkies revived by installment of new Star Trek series
by David Whiteman, reporter

    For 35 years the worldwide television phenomenon of Star Trek has created one of the most enduring franchises in science fiction entertainment.

    Now the newest installment to the Star Trek saga, Star Trek: Enterprise, has landed.

    It started in September on UPN 21 with the two-hour premiere, Broken Bow. Enterprise takes place in 2151, over a century before the original Star Trek’s setting.

    The new ship, Enterprise NX-01, commanded by Captain Jona-than Archer (Scott Bakula, Quantum Leap), is the first starship with warp capability able to journey into deep space.

    The original Star Trek series is celebrating its 35th anniversary.

    Since its 1966 premiere, it has gained worldwide acclaim and millions of fans. Gene Roddenberry, who supervised the production of the show and its predecessor until his death in 1991, created Star Trek.

    The entire Star Trek saga now includes five television spin-off series and nine (soon to be 10 in 2002) feature motion pictures.

    Although Star Trek was cancelled in 1969, the show was still popular, so Star Trek: The Animated Series (1973) was produced; then Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987) premiered, creating a new generation of “Trekkies.”

    The second installment, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993) soon followed, then Star Trek: Voyager (1995), and now Enterprise.

    Since Star Trek: Enterprise is a prequel series, the close attention to detail in technology is difficult to compare to the special effects and techniques of the ’60s.

    The crew of the new (rather old) Enterprise is not as diversified as fans have come to expect from recent Star Trek shows. In this one, Earth has encountered only a small number of the now numerous alien races.

    Among the show’s other human characters are the aliens, which fans are usually more fond of: the Vulcan Science Officer Sub-Commander T’Pol (Jolene Blalock), logical yet cynical toward humans, and the congenial, alien doctor Phlox (John Billingsley).

    Rick Berman, a long-time producer since Star Trek: TNG, and Brannon Braga, producer of Voyager, hope to create a new milestone in science fiction television and continue the adventures of the Star Trek series.

    Another aspect, which is different from all other previous Star Trek series, is the absence of the main musical theme of the show. Previously, all Star Trek series’ themes were classical scores whereas with Enterprise the main theme is a more pop-like song with lyrics.

    In a press release on www. startrek.com, Tom Nunan, UPN entertainment president, described the show as “TV history in the making,” and said he hopes that it will guarantee instant attention, recognition, anticipation and most importantly, success.

    Star Trek has earned a lasting place in our popular culture from the beginning with characters Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) and Spock (Leonard Nimoy) from the original series and has provided for the hopes and dreams of future space exploration.
It was reported that the premiere of Enterprise scored UPN its best ratings since Star Trek: Voyager hit the airwaves in 1995.

    According to Nielsen Media Research in the Hollywood Repor-ter, the premiere averaged 12.5 million viewers, winning the 8-10 p.m. timeslot and also scoring a win for the night amongst the highly coveted age 18-49 demographic.

    “Star Trek has always represented a very positive, hopeful outlook of the future, and a lot of science fiction doesn’t. And I think that means a great deal to a lot of people.” Berman said.

    With this new series, Star Trek may last so future generations can enjoy the adventures and “boldly go where no one has gone before.”

    Star Trek: Enterprise airs on UPN 21 Wednesday at 7 p.m.