CBS Steps In to Halt 'Star Trek' Web Production - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 03-29-2012, 09:57 PM

A planned Web production of a never-filmed "Star Trek" script, with unknown actors playing Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock, has been halted by CBS, reports The New York Times.

"Star Trek New Voyages: Phase II" had acquired a forgotten script by Norman Spinrad, the writer who penned the classic "Trek" episode "The Doomsday Machine." He wrote the overlooked script, "He Walked Among Us," in 1967 for the original NBC series, and received $5,000 for it, but even after rewrites, the script was scrapped.

For 27 years, the script lay dormant in the archives of California State University, Fullerton. In October 2011, after a fan asked him to autograph a copy of the script, Spinrad began selling it online. "Star Trek New Voyages: Phase II" found it and struck a deal with Spinrad to film it for the Web with the writer directing it himself.

CBS heard about it and intervened with a cease and desist order. The company said in a statement, “We fully appreciate and respect the passion and creativity of the ‘Star Trek’ fan and creative communities. This is simply a case of protecting our copyrighted material and the situation has been amicably resolved.”

One question lingers, however: Why did CBS stop this production and not any others. David Gerrold, who wrote "The Trouble with Tribbles" for the original series, has had his 1987 "Next Generation" script "Blood and Fire" reworked for "Phase II" after the TV show decided not to use his script.

Gerrold told The Times, “I don’t understand CBS’s thinking on this at all. They didn’t care then. Why do they care now?” Gerrold also expressed the feeling that CBS had foolishly antagonized the Trekkers. “‘Star Trek’ fans are not a sleeping dragon that you want to poke,” he said.

http://www.tvweek.com/blogs/tvbizwir...-star-trek.php

03-29-2012, 09:57 PM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	CBS Steps In to Halt 'Star Trek' Web Production A planned Web production of a never-filmed "Star Trek" script, with unknown actors playing Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock, has been halted by CBS, reports The New York Times. "Star Trek New Voyages: Phase II" had acquired a forgotten script by Norman Spinrad, the writer who penned the classic "Trek" episode "The Doomsday Machine." He wrote the overlooked script, "He Walked Among Us," in 1967 for the original NBC series, and received $5,000 for it, but even after rewrites, the script was scrapped. For 27 years, the script lay dormant in the archives of California State University, Fullerton. In October 2011, after a fan asked him to autograph a copy of the script, Spinrad began selling it online. "Star Trek New Voyages: Phase II" found it and struck a deal with Spinrad to film it for the Web with the writer directing it himself. CBS heard about it and intervened with a cease and desist order. The company said in a statement, “We fully appreciate and respect the passion and creativity of the ‘Star Trek’ fan and creative communities. This is simply a case of protecting our copyrighted material and the situation has been amicably resolved.” One question lingers, however: Why did CBS stop this production and not any others. David Gerrold, who wrote "The Trouble with Tribbles" for the original series, has had his 1987 "Next Generation" script "Blood and Fire" reworked for "Phase II" after the TV show decided not to use his script. Gerrold told The Times, “I don’t understand CBS’s thinking on this at all. They didn’t care then. Why do they care now?” Gerrold also expressed the feeling that CBS had foolishly antagonized the Trekkers. “‘Star Trek’ fans are not a sleeping dragon that you want to poke,” he said. http://www.tvweek.com/blogs/tvbizwir...-star-trek.php
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