Where Have All the Good Shows Gone?

There seems to be a paucity of good science fiction shows on American television today.  But, unfortunately, that has often been the story.  A great deal of the problem lies in the fact that network executives often just don't get the whole genre of sci-fi.   In the very early days of television, sci-fi was largely just a repackaging of the popular westerns.  Flash Gordon and Buck Rogers (even his name shouts "wild west") were recycled cowboys and the original Star Trek was pitched as a Wagon Train in outer space. 

 In the early days of television (which consisted primarily of variety shows), anthology science fiction, like Outer Limits and Twilight Zone, were popular.  However, as the television series took hold (I Love Lucy and Gunsmoke), networks tried their hand at the science fiction series. Historically, traditional science fiction series (stories set in outer space and involving species from other planets) are short lived. Star Trek struggled to survive four seasons, Lost in Space made it three, and Battlestar Galactica a mere eighteen months. Only during the Golden Age of science fiction on American television (in the 90's), did traditional science fiction find its niche with the Stargate  and new Star Trek franchises. By the new millennium, however, these shows were again on the decline and exceptional sci-fi shows, like Firefly (which, ironically, was a western in space), quickly got the axe.

More palatable to the tastes of the average American viewer were shows that fell into the category of urban science fiction (stories set primarily on earth, but including elements of science fiction).  Among the early shows of this genre are Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, The Time Tunnel, and My Favorite Martian. The appeal of this style of sci-fi series is evident in the success of shows like Mork and Mindy, The Incredible Hulk, and the Six Million Dollar Man.  Even during the Golden Age, urban sci-fi reached the masses with shows like X-Files and Third Rock from the Sun. 

The new millennium showed a marked decline in traditional science fiction televisions series.  The Star Trek and Stargate franchises were in their decline, but shows like Lost, Eureka, and Fringe were all the buzz.  As this decade began, apocalyptic shows were all the rage; from Falling Skies to Walking Dead.  Only one traditional sci-fi show seems to be taking hold of Americans- and it isn't even produced in America.  The new Doctor Who has taken sci-fi fans by storm and promises to be as brilliant as its predecessor (which aired for an amazing 26 seasons).

We can only hope that American television networks will sit up and take note of the popularity of Doctor Who and decide that it is time to create our own traditional science fiction series. Until then, I'm not about to miss the Doctor's new exploits, but I am keeping my fingers crossed that American television will soon be back in the game.

Doctor Who: The New British Invasion

In the 1960's, the Beatles burst onto the music scene, taking the American public by storm in a media frenzy that was dubbed "the British Invasion." Now, again, the Brits are making their presence felt across the pond, but this time on television with the incredibly popular series, Doctor Who. Like the Star Trek franchise, the original Doctor Who series premiered in the 1960's; but unlike Star Trek, the British sci-fi show managed to survive an astounding 26 seasons. The new series, which premiered in 2005, has proven to be just as popular as the original series.

Doctor Who was revolutionary in its concept; the story of a Time Lord who could travel through both time and space.  The creators of the show took another daring step by creating a main character who periodically regenerates into a completely new persona; thereby regularly employing a new actor to play the part of the series' main character. It was a risky endeavor, but it apparently paid off.  At present, the series is portrayed by the eleventh doctor in the series, actor Matt Smith.

The Doctor, who is the last of the Time Lords, seems to have the mission of tying up the loose strings of time and space.  He knows what events are fixed points in time and which are fluid.  The Doctor makes sure that the fixed points remain constant, managing to repeatedly save Earth in the process. He travels with one or two companions, usually humans and always young adults.  He gives them the adventure of a lifetime and they help to keep him from becoming a brooding megalomaniac (like the Master).  It's seems like a fair enough trade off- if they survive the adventure.

The series manages to keep a whimsical side by disguising the Doctor's ship (a Time and Relative Dimension in Space vehicle known by the acronym, Tardis) as an old, blue police box. Over the years, the Doctor appears to grow younger rather than older and each manifestation of the venerable Time Lord is unique and original.  Some are more popular than others, but all bring their own depth to the character of the Doctor.

If you are new to the franchise, I recommend that you begin with the newer series.  It took the writers of the new series a year or so to really get into stride, but a little patience will pay off.  You'll love the quirky contradictions in the tenth doctor's personality (played by David Tennant, who is my favorite doctor in the series) and the innocent charm of the current doctor (Matt Smith). Many of the old villains are back, including the Daleks; but the new series introduces some chilling new ones- such as the infamous Weeping Angels.

However, the characters that viewers most identify with are the Doctor's companions.  Whether it is the sweet and loving Rose or the brash and loud-mouthed Donna, we share their fears, their courage, and their admiration for the Doctor. We laughed and loved right along with Amy and Rory- and by the time that they left us, it was like losing our own family. And who could not love the funny (yet deadly) River Song?  Can't wait to hear that familiar phrase, "Hello, Sweetie," again!

For those of you who are already fans of the series, I'll be joining you on Saturday, March 30th to watch the newest episode of season 7.  I'll be the one wearing a Tardis blue t-shirt that says "Stay calm and don't blink." (I found this, and other great Doctor Who merchandise, at Amazon.) See you there!

Star Trek: Into the Future

In 1966, America had just landed its first space probe on the moon and the Apollo program was just taking its first steps. We were a mere three years from landing a man on the moon. However, what most people don't realize is that, in 1960's more than half of all Americans believed that the space program was a waste of money. The Cold War, which had initially spurred the drive into space, had cooled down- and with it the American fervor for conquering space.

When Star Trek aired in September of 1966, most Americans just didn't get it.  Touted as a "Wagon Train to the stars," Gene Roddenberry tried using the popularity of westerns as a selling point since the idea of a science fiction show was unpalatable to the television executives of that time. Though he managed to sell the idea eventually, the show struggled from the beginning. Star Trek was too visionary and too controversial (portraying the first televised interracial kiss) for those raised during the Great Depression. When it was cancelled in 1969, the network never expected it to become the icon it is today. What the executives failed to understand was that the show epitomized the hopes and dreams of the youth in the 1960's. The parents may not have been watching the show, but you better believe that the kids were!

Since that time, numerous television series and feature films have spun-off from the original Star Trek series.  While everyone has their own likes and dislikes regarding each one, the Star Trek franchise itself has not diminished in our affections.  Not only have the shows entertained us, but they have inspired advances in technology that have enriched our lives:from automatic doors to cell phones. The franchise hit the peak of its visibility in the 1990's with three television shows and four movies.

Now, eight long years have passed since the last Star Trek series, Star Trek: Enterprise, aired on television. With the reboot of the timeline in the 2009 movie, Star Trek, and its upcoming sequel, Into the Darkness, there is a lot of discussion regarding the possibility of a new television series.  While rumors fly about a possible series by Bryan Fuller about the decline of the Federation in the far, far future, as yet there is nothing on the horizon.

I'm just one voice in a sea of Star Trek fans, but I would love to see a series based on the struggles and successes of Star Fleet cadets.  Too long has the spotlight been on the older generations.  Let me see what life is like for the struggling students.  What are their ideas for the present and their vision of the future?  How do they handle the intense competition and colliding ambitions among their peers?

Whatever the subject of the next Star Trek series may be, my greatest wish is that networks won't wait another 8 years to get it started.  And since we're talking about wishes, I might as well sneak in another one: that the producers of the next series maintain Roddenberry's vision for the franchise.  Instead of a dark and brooding tale coupled with unlikeable characters (as is so popular with current producers), keep the hopeful and inspiring vision of the future that Roddenberry cast for us in his original series.

Until then, live long and prosper.

Captain Jonathan Archer: Corporate Mogul?

Over the last few weeks, I have been examining each of the Star Trek captains to determine how they would measure up as leaders in the corporate world.  In this, my sixth and final installment, our subject is Captain Jonathan Archer, who served as the first captain of the starship, Enterprise, and became President of the United Federation of Planets in 2184. In the episode, In a Mirror, Darkly, from the original series, Archer is recognized as being "the greatest explorer of the 22nd century."

On paper, Archer's career is quite impressive. During his ten years as captain of the Enterprise, Archer most likely initiated first contact with more species than any other Enterprise captain.  His was the foremost voice that championed Earth's readiness to begin exploring space and he continuously fought against Vulcan intervention in the humans' quest to reach the stars. His sense of human destiny and steely determination refused to take "no" for an answer. It was largely thanks to Archer that the Enterprise was sent into space in the first place.

However, it cannot be said with certainty that Archer was correct in his assertions. Humans, and especially Archer himself, may not have been ready for the challenge. The truth is that Archer managed to alienate (excuse my pun) more species than he befriended. His poor diplomatic skills (to which he willingly admitted) also placed a constant strain on Earth's relations with the Vulcans and the Klingons and often pushed Earth onto the brink of war. In the corporate world, this inability to "play well with others" would be equally disastrous. 

Much of Archer's ambivalence to other species can be found in his history.  Archer believed that the Vulcans had held humans back and damaged the career of his father- the inventor of the warp five engine.  As a result, he traveled into space with a chip on his shoulder and that attitude made many situations worse.  In addition to the problems with alien cultures, Archer's anger and bitterness impacted the crew on more than one occasion.

Archer's emotional baggage made him a volatile captain.  In any given situation, the crew could not anticipate whether Archer would act with circumspect caution or with reckless abandonment.  With no prime directive to follow, the Enterprise needed a leader with a strong moral compass.  Archer just didn't seem to fit the bill. Against T'Pol's recommendations of non-interference, he would get involved with alien disputes; but a week later, he would rant at a crew member for doing the same thing. As a boss, this arbitrary type of leadership would be extremely frustrating!  In addition, it would not be unusual for Archer to take his anger out on his employees. 

It may be true that Captain Jonathan Archer was the most "realistic" captain in the Star Trek franchise, being free to show the weaknesses and drawbacks of his personality; however, most employees would probably prefer to work under a boss who has evolved- both personally and professionally- rather than under a leader who settles for being "only human."