Younger folks might not know this, but there used to be a popular science fiction franchise called Star Trek. It began with a TV series that aired from 1966-1969 on NBC. It was about the mostly human crew of a spaceship going on adventures in space two hundred years into the future.
Although it was cancelled due to low ratings, it developed a cult following and thrived in syndication. There were abortive efforts to revive the series during the 1970s, the most successful of which was an animated series that ran from 1973-1974. This was followed a series of big budget box office movies--a total of four released in 1979, 1982, 1984, and 1986. There were also many novels, merchandise items, and even fan conventions with a Star Trek theme. "Trekkies", as devoted fans called themselves, had a thriving subculture.
In 1987, Gene Roddenberry, the creator of the franchise, and Paramount released a TV series that they hoped would reestablish the franchise. It was titled Star Trek: The Next Generation. The show was, unfortunately, a flop and cancelled after a single season. Some people attribute the failure of the show to disputes within its leadership. Personally, I think that the casting choice for the captain was so bizarre that it crippled the story from the outset.
One can still find Star Trek fans online. There are various message boards where aging Trekkies talk about the old days and rewatch the television series and movies together. But the vitality of the franchise is fully spent.
I wonder if, had Star Trek: The Next Generation been handled correctly, might the franchise be vigorous even today? I know that a 55-year old science fiction franchise seems like a contradiction in terms, but please bear with me during this thought experiment.
Although it was cancelled due to low ratings, it developed a cult following and thrived in syndication. There were abortive efforts to revive the series during the 1970s, the most successful of which was an animated series that ran from 1973-1974. This was followed a series of big budget box office movies--a total of four released in 1979, 1982, 1984, and 1986. There were also many novels, merchandise items, and even fan conventions with a Star Trek theme. "Trekkies", as devoted fans called themselves, had a thriving subculture.
In 1987, Gene Roddenberry, the creator of the franchise, and Paramount released a TV series that they hoped would reestablish the franchise. It was titled Star Trek: The Next Generation. The show was, unfortunately, a flop and cancelled after a single season. Some people attribute the failure of the show to disputes within its leadership. Personally, I think that the casting choice for the captain was so bizarre that it crippled the story from the outset.
One can still find Star Trek fans online. There are various message boards where aging Trekkies talk about the old days and rewatch the television series and movies together. But the vitality of the franchise is fully spent.
I wonder if, had Star Trek: The Next Generation been handled correctly, might the franchise be vigorous even today? I know that a 55-year old science fiction franchise seems like a contradiction in terms, but please bear with me during this thought experiment.