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Rick Berman in His Own Words
-The following is a sample of Rick Berman's own words on Star Trek, as quoted from various interviews and magazines (sources are cited). These are things that Mr. Berman has said in reference to the franchise which we all love -- statements which should harden our convictions to want him out of the command seat.
February 27, 2003
Source: Trekweb.com (Interview with Steve Krutzler)
"Gene Roddenberry was an institution around Paramount. He had been here for years, and hadn't done anything for years, but he had an office and he was the guy who had done Star Trek years before.... Nobody in the TV division wanted to work with him because he was notorious for being a pain in the ass! So, they decided they'd give the job to Berman. I was the guy who had to oversee this new TV series."
Berman goes on to say later, speaking about Kate Mulgrew (Capt. Janeway):
"It was ballsy to put a woman (Kate Mulgrew) in the role of a captain on a sc-fi adventure show."
Berman also says with regards to the cast of Enterprise:
"I think we've got the best cast we ever put together... this cast is 20 years younger than those guys and it is wonderful."
Finally, when asked how Gene Roddenberry would feel about Berman's handling of Trek since his death, Berman responded:
"He'd say: 'What the hell are you still doing this for?' I think he'd be very pleased. I think he'd be proud of what we're doing."
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January 12, 2003
Source: Trekweb.com (Interview with Steve Krutzler)
"It's wrong to say I'm opposed to such things. I have been opposed to gag reels simply because Star Trek is something that always borders on the silly," he explains. "You've got actors walking around in prosthetic masks. You've got people flying at impossible speeds and spaceships defying gravity. You've got a lot of things that are accepted, but that are almost scientifically ridiculous. It's so easy to turn it into a parody."
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March 2001
Source: March 2001 issue of Star Trek: The Magazine
STAR TREK creator Gene Roddenberry died a decade ago, but his legacy remains close to Rick's heart. "You know, I worked with Gene for five years, and we have created two television series and three movies since his death; and we never do anything without keeping his vision in mind. We've bent it a little bit, and we have to change it, obviously, so that the shows aren't all identical, which is critical - but we never even begin to ignore Gene's idea about what STAR TREK is, or what it's supposed to be. And I don't plan ever to ignore that."
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Source: Rick Berman interview posted (The Chicago Tribune)
According to Berman and co-creator Brannon Braga, "Enterprise" not only takes the "Trek" franchise in a fresh direction, but helps writers evade Gene Roddenberry's difficult character restrictions.
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Source: Trekweb.com
"What Brannon and I will be doing on "Series V" is trying to bring in as many new voices as we can... We are trying to put together a younger, less-experienced-in "Star Trek" team of people to give this show a new feel and look," he concludes. "We want this to be not your 'father's "Star Trek", so to speak."
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Source: Interview with the Communicator (official magazine of ST: The Official Fan Club)
Q: How much does the original Star Trek series influence what you are doing today with the new series?
A: Very little.
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December 12, 2002
Source: Scifi.com (Scifi wire)
Berman Defends 'Faith'
Enterprise executive producer Rick Berman told SCI FI Wire that he's well aware of the fact that many Trekkers dislike "Faith of Heart," the theme song written by Oscar-winning composer Diane Warren and performed by European superstar Russell Watson. Despite the controversy--adamant fans went so far as to sign petitions and stage a protest at Paramount Pictures--Berman makes no apologies for "Faith of Heart."
Berman said using the song was intended both to make Enterprise a more contemporary series and to differentiate it from any previous Trek adventure. "I'm in the horrible minority of people who like the song," Berman said in an interview. "I think it fits beautifully."
Added Berman, who's currently in production on the Next Generation film Star Trek: Nemesis, "I think it's a song that's got a lot of hopefulness and uplifting qualities to it. And I like it. I've met a lot of other people who like it, but I've also heard a tremendous amount of banter about people who don't. And what's a Star Trek series without something for people to hate?" Enterprise airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on UPN.
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That's all for now, but keep checking back for more to come!