XPost: alt.startrek, alt.tv.star-trek, alt.tv.star-trek.enterprise   
   From: spam@wonderful.spam   
      
   Berman Reacts To Enterprise   
      
   Rick Berman, executive producer of the just-cancelled Star Trek:   
   Enterprise, told SCI FI Wire that he was surprised not by UPN's decision,   
   but by the fact that viewers continued to tune out the series despite a   
   marked improvement in quality, strong reviews and guest appearances by the   
   likes of Brent Spiner. "Nobody is more surprised about that than we are   
   here," Berman said of the precipitous fan drop-off in an interview   
   conducted after UPN announced Enterprise's fate. "We've always seemed to   
   have a big drop from before Christmas to after Christmas, which I've never   
   quite understood."   
      
   Enterprise attracted more than 13 million viewers in its debut, but by the   
   fourth season, that audience had fallen to just 2.9 million.   
      
   Berman added: "I think the whole network had a big drop from before   
   Christmas until after Christmas. I am not only very proud of the shows that   
   we've done so far for the fourth season, but the shows that we've done that   
   haven't aired yet are undoubtedly some of the best shows that we've   
   produced. I don't think it has to do with the quality of the show. That   
   just might be ego speaking, but I think we've done a great job. If you look   
   at the performance of [Star Trek] Nemesis, you see what I think was a   
   terrific movie that did not perform anywhere near as expected. I think   
   what's been happening with Enterprise." The 2002 movie Nemesis grossed $43   
   million domestically and had foreign ticket sales of $23 million, the worst   
   performer in the film series.   
      
   Berman is the man who has been principally responsible for shepherding the   
   Trek franchise since he was handed the reins by Star Trek creator Gene   
   Roddenberry. "Whether you want to call it viewer apathy or franchise   
   fatigue or any of the cute little titles that people have come up with I   
   think it's the case," Berman said. "We've figured out that we've produced   
   624 hours of Star Trek over the last 18 years, and of those 18 seasons   
   seven of them we did two shows simultaneously. It's a lot of television.   
   And each show has had the previous shows in reruns to compete with.   
   Climates have changed. I think you can just squeeze so many eggs out of the   
   old golden goose." Berman and Enterprise co-executive Brannon Braga are   
   penning a series finale that will air on May 13.   
      
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