XPost: alt.startrek, alt.tv.star-trek, alt.tv.star-trek.enterprise   
   XPost: rec.arts.tv   
   From: willow@nelwyn.org   
      
   Stan Jensen wrote:   
   > 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.   
      
   This guy should never work in Hollywood again, yet these type of idiots   
   never seem to have to face the consequences of their actions.  (notice   
   that Joel Schumacher is still being employed.)   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)