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Kurtzman Trek: The Wokely Decline of a Sci-Fi Giant

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This article critically analyzes the decline of the Star Trek franchise, focusing on the cancellation of "Enterprise" and the subsequent direction of the series under new studio management. It argues that corporate restructuring and a perceived disdain for the sci-fi genre by CBS executives, particularly Les Moonves, led to the abandonment of the franchise despite its profitability through merchandising. The author contrasts the previous studio's willingness to produce content for profit with CBS's apparent disinterest and attempts to steer the franchise towards a broader, less niche audience.
  • main points
  • unique insights
  • practical applications
  • key topics
  • key insights
  • learning outcomes

  • • main points

    • 1
      In-depth historical analysis of the Star Trek franchise's television evolution.
    • 2
      Detailed examination of corporate decisions and their impact on the franchise's direction.
    • 3
      Critical perspective on the perceived 'woke' agenda and its alleged detrimental effect on sci-fi storytelling.

  • • unique insights

    • 1
      The article posits that the cancellation of 'Enterprise' was driven by internal studio politics and a specific executive's aversion to the sci-fi genre, rather than solely by ratings.
    • 2
      It highlights the significant role of merchandising revenue in sustaining the franchise, even when individual shows might not have been top-rated.

  • • practical applications

    • Provides a critical lens for understanding how corporate interests and executive biases can influence the creative direction and longevity of popular media franchises, particularly in the science fiction genre.

  • • key topics

    • 1
      Star Trek franchise decline
    • 2
      Corporate influence on media
    • 3
      Genre representation in television

  • • key insights

    • 1
      Offers a contrarian view on the reasons behind the Star Trek franchise's perceived decline, focusing on executive decisions over creative merit.
    • 2
      Provides a detailed breakdown of the corporate mergers and acquisitions that affected Paramount's ownership of Star Trek.
    • 3
      Critiques the perceived shift towards 'woke' ideology in modern sci-fi storytelling.

  • • learning outcomes

    • 1
      Understand the business and corporate factors influencing media franchise development.
    • 2
      Analyze the role of executive leadership and genre perception in creative industries.
    • 3
      Critically evaluate arguments regarding the 'woke' agenda in science fiction.
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“ Introduction: The End of an Era

The piece reminisces about the 90s as a 'golden age' for Star Trek and television science fiction in general. It highlights the success of 'Star Trek: The Next Generation' (TNG) in revitalizing the genre and paving the way for numerous successful spin-offs like 'Deep Space Nine', 'Voyager', and 'Enterprise'. This era was characterized by a rich variety of concepts and a dedicated, growing audience.

“ The Decline of 'Enterprise'

A pivotal moment in the franchise's history, according to the article, was the 2004 merger that created 'CBS Paramount Network Television' (later 'CBS Television Studios'). This consolidation of media assets under Sumner Redstone's Viacom and CBS led to a significant shift in corporate ideology and priorities. The article posits that this merger marked the beginning of the end for the original Star Trek universe on television.

“ Executive Disdain for Science Fiction

The author emphasizes that Star Trek, like Star Wars, was a highly profitable franchise primarily due to lucrative merchandise deals. This consistent revenue stream, independent of individual show ratings, should have incentivized the studio to keep the franchise alive by producing new content. However, the article argues that the new corporate leadership, driven by personal preferences, was unwilling to invest in or support the franchise, despite its proven financial success.

“ The 'Kurtzman Trek' Controversy

The article concludes by painting a bleak picture of Star Trek's future on television under the prevailing corporate climate. It suggests that the franchise, once a beacon of innovation and profitability, had become a victim of corporate politics and executive bias against its core genre. The author implies that without a significant shift in leadership or strategy, the future of Star Trek on television remains uncertain and potentially uninspired.

 Original link: https://fantlab.ru/user8775/blog/tag/Star%20Trek

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