Could Paramount's love affair with Enterprise's Berman be ending?..

[DR.MID-NITE]

The following was posted at www.cinescape.com

As we first reported last week, a scooper contacted us with what they claimed was inside information about the mood of the crew on the set of STAR TREK: ENTERPRISE. The UPN series, the fifth in the TREK franchise, has had a number of rumors circling it like dark clouds, some of which were confirmed and others dismissed by Paramount and ENTERPRISE brass.




After we ran our first scoop about ENTERPRISE, and after the weekend of the Television Press tour, the same person contacted us again with what they claimed was more inside information about the production. We will present what they told us with the caveat that the following report is unconfirmed and should be treated as gossip right now, for reasons that will become clear in a moment:

• "It would seem the lackluster support of ENTERPRISE by Les Moonves and Dawn Ostroff at this weekend's UPN press junket has gotten the attention of Garry Hart, President of Paramount Television Productions. Quiet for some time regarding the dismal performance of his division's most important moneymaker, it has been rumored that Hart may be planning as early as March to make concessions to UPN to help keep ENTERPRISE on the air. From an insider in John Wentworth's office at Paramount Television's Marketing and Media Relations Department, a memo has been spotted suggesting Hart may be waiting until after ENTERPRISE's February sweeps performance to announce the possible replacement of some of the show's production staff, to possibly include longtime TREK Executive Producer Rick Berman. There is no word at this time of any possible replacements."
  

As you can see, the information our scooper sent to us is riveting but also extremely next to impossible to verify -- and that is why we are stressing that it should be taken as speculatory at this stage.



Hours before the annoucement of this week's shuffling of ENTERPRISE to its 9 PM timeslot (beginning in March), we were sent another message from the same scooper. Again, we present what they had to say to us as they sent it:

• "The mood at ENTERPRISE, however, is mixed. Some fearing a dreaded Friday time slot are relieved the change is minor. Others, however, are less than optimistic considering the lead in shows of GAME OVER and THE MULLETS and think this may be a setup for disaster.
  
  
  
  And as I reported earlier, the set is still awash with concern that within a month or two, there may be a new 'captain' in the Executive Producer's chair. There is concern that Rick Berman's future with the beloved TREK franchise may be coming to an end, making less certain than before the future of ENTERPRISE and a possible fourth season."
  

The reason we are choosing to now publish the scooper's two reports, even though we cannot confirm if this is truly the mood on the set of ENTERPRISE, is the mention of the timeslot change slightly ahead of the time the news broke online. Whether there are definitive plans for Paramount to remove producer Rick Berman from the STAR TREK franchise or a "memo" circulating in their offices remains unknown, but we still felt that it was necessary to print what was being told to us at this time. Fans reading this article are again stressed to keep this in mind; these are rumors right now and not known facts, and until our scooper chooses to show us hard proof of their claims or we discover another means to confirm what they are telling us, an open mind should be kept.

It may simply take time to determine if what we are being told is an accurate portrayal of events happening to ENTERPRISE or some individual crying wolf. With February around the corner and sweeps imminent, the final answer to these speculative questions should be known soon.

[shogunthethird]

If this is true then SO LONG RICK AND BRANNON! live short and suffer!

[Fone Bone]

If this is true then SO LONG RICK AND BRANNON! live short and suffer!

Amen. They should definately take Braga too. Still, if they're gone, there's no gaurantee that Enterprise will get better. They need to put someone in charge who will shake things up, but still have a fundamental love for Star Trek. I may be in the minority, but I love what John Logan did with Star Trek: Nemesis. They need a visionary who really loves and respects these characters. Then again, I don't know anyone who loves and respects ANYONE on Enterprise. Bring back Ira Steven Behr!

[Dr.Zar]

I love what John Logan did with Star Trek: Nemesis.!

Nah, "Nemesis", if anything, was a horrible movie with bad plotting, "Wrath of Khan" rip-off scenes, and re-using old plotlines (android Data duplicate)

[wrenchien]

If this is true then SO LONG RICK AND BRANNON! live short and suffer!

amen.

though i'd have preferred to use my 2000th post on a long diatribe on your favorite soda flavors. i guess i'll just have to use the 2001st one.

i wonder if the ferengi could sell their organs for spare parts? cause they've broken my heart as far as any love for enterprise i've had is concerned.

[Fone Bone]

Nah, "Nemesis", if anything, was a horrible movie with bad plotting, "Wrath of Khan" rip-off scenes, and re-using old plotlines (android Data duplicate)

Yeah, I've heard that argument. That's why I'm in the minority. I'm so lonely.

[Borg4of3]

http://www.penny-arcade.com/view.php...03-07-04&res=l

I'm no longer the Trekkie I used to be, but I still remember great times when Ira Steven Behr was part of the Trek team. "I've said it once and I'll say it again, we're here to make quality television." As a writer/producer for DS9, he did great things. Whatever happened to him?

[Fone Bone]

http://www.penny-arcade.com/view.php...03-07-04&res=l

I'm no longer the Trekkie I used to be, but I still remember great times when Ira Steven Behr was part of the Trek team. "I've said it once and I'll say it again, we're here to make quality television." As a writer/producer for DS9, he did great things. Whatever happened to him?

I think his last project was UPN's recent Twilight Zone remake. But, yeah they need to hire him back, NOW!!!

[Jedigreedo]

I think they need to get rid of Braga more than Berman. Berman has done some good things, such as he oversaw First Contact. But with Braga he's just pure evil to Trek. Braga needs to go, Berman was just dumb enough to get that far into the spotlight. But Berman could use some reality slappings...

[Fone Bone]

I think they need to get rid of Braga more than Berman. Berman has done some good things, such as he oversaw First Contact. But with Braga he's just pure evil to Trek. Braga needs to go, Berman was just dumb enough to get that far into the spotlight. But Berman could use some reality slappings...

Yeah, Brannon Braga really is the touch of death. It was his bright idea to put Worf and Troi together, diminishing both characters, and to create Seven of Nine just so he could have a busty Barbie Doll to sleep with. I can't image them firing Berman and letting him slide though. He is just as responsible, if not more so, of the death of Trek than Berman.