THE END OF AN ERA

Last evening, the final episodes of the UPN series Star Trek: Enterprise aired, and for the first time in nearly two decades there will not be a fresh incarnation of the Star Trek brand on television.

Executive Producer Rick Berman and the folks at Paramount needed to give it a break for awhile.

Enterprise, like Star Trek: Voyager before it, lacked many of the creative juices that made the two series that preceeded them --- Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine --- so enjoyable to watch much of the time. Goofy aliens, poor character development, and rehashed plotlines, not to mention UPN's poor scheduling of Enterprise, have brought the once proud brand name to a new low.

I agree with Tampa Tribune television critic Walt Belcher that Berman, "who ran out of ideas long ago, should have stepped aside about two sequels ago". While Belcher favours the original 1960s series, IMHO TNG was the far superior of the incarnations. At least part of the reason I feel that way is Maria Sirtis, who played Counselor Deanna Troi, was one hot looking babe, especially in those tight fitting costumes that passed for a uniform.

Maybe in a few years, some creative folks at Paramount will step up and give it another shot. In the meantime, we're left with the reruns.