Michael Piller, ST-TNG head writer, dies

[Dr Mordrid]

http://www.cnn.com/2005/SHOWBIZ/TV/11/02/television.trek.reut/index.html

LOS ANGELES, California (Hollywood Reporter) --

Michael Piller, "Star Trek" veteran and co-creator/executive producer of USA Network's hit series "The Dead Zone," died early Tuesday at his Los Angeles home after a long battle with cancer. He was 57.

Before co-creating "The Dead Zone" with his son Shawn, Piller was head writer on "Star Trek: The Next Generation," leading the show to a best drama Emmy nomination in 1994, the first for a syndicated series.

He went on to co-create the following two "Trek" installments, "Deep Space Nine" and "Voyager." Both series ran for seven seasons.

Dr. Mordrid

[Gurm]

And with him all hope of a Star Trek series that doesn't SUCK ever returning to the screen.

First was Star Trek: Not Trekking 9. That one was kind of irritating, because they just... didn't trek. At all. After about 35 seasons, they started trekking. But not very far. And by then nobody cared.

Then came Star Trek: Angry Multicultural Crew Stuck in Delta Quadrant Because Captain Refuses To Let Us Use Alien Technology To Go Home. That one was irritating... mostly because of the captain. And because by the time it got interesting, nobody cared any more.

After that we had Star Trek: Revisionist History Causes Plot Inconsistencies. It just ... well, sucked.

*sigh*

You will be missed, Michael!

[schmosef]

I hated Janeway! 'nuff said.

[KvHagedorn]

Yeah.. captain is a woman, and her voice is deeper than any of the rest of the crew's who are all gay men, except for the gay robot and the Mexican dude who was so out of place he didn't know what was going on..

[DGhost]

Yeah.. captain is a woman, and her voice is deeper than any of the rest of the crew's who are all gay men, except for the gay robot and the Mexican dude who was so out of place he didn't know what was going on..

what is with this sudden fasination with homosexuality? was it the fact a hero of yours recently came out (George Takai)? it's ok to be different, no one here will judge you...

[DogWomble]

Yeah.. captain is a woman, and her voice is deeper than any of the rest of the crew's who are all gay men, except for the gay robot and the Mexican dude who was so out of place he didn't know what was going on..

ALTOGETHER NOW ... Aww sweetie you're so gawjus!!!! Why the sudden fixation on homosexuality?

[Technoid]

Well, its rather that they cant just stand the idea of a Trek series where a woman calls the shots

On a more serious note:
The view Gurm takes on the Voyager series is just the normal “Fanboy who sees a television series as a ‘reality”” reaction rearing its ugly head

Janeway in Voyager is not a real person, it’s a role determined by (to often brain dead) screenwriters who’s specific job in this case is writing a series that (hopefully) lasts several seasons witch in the Voyager series means: NO shortcuts!

Even if they had placed Kirk or Picard as Captains on Voyager, they would still not have used any “Shortcuts” that would have ended the series before the producers had milked every ounce of worth out of it.

If Voyager had been a 5 or 10 episodes mini series you can bet they had been using all kinds of shortcuts to get voyager home faster

[DGhost]

Voyager had it's moments where it was good. it had it's moments where it sucked. Janeway was a little too ideological for my tastes - but you don't get to a major command position without it.

i just thought the show was doomed from the beginning because of the plot. either you can carry the plot on for a really, really long time with a lot of repetition or you use "shortcuts" (which they did, in several places) in writing and plot to keep it interesting.

DSN9 was good at the end. probably as a result of Babylon 5.

[Gurm]

It was pretty clear that George Takai was gay. Didja see that episode of Star Trek where he takes off his shirt and starts FENCIN'!?!?!?

[KvHagedorn]

Yeah.. well even if Sulu was gay, at least he wasn't a whining wuss..

[Dr Mordrid]

What's wrong with fencing? I took fencing and believe me I'm not even close to gay

Would have loved to learn katana but they didn't teach that much way back in the 60's. Where was Hattori Hanzo when I needed him?

EDIT: before someone chimes in I know he died in 1596.

Dr. Mordrid

[Gurm]

What's wrong with fencing? I took fencing and believe me I'm not even close to gay

Yes but you don't fence in nothing but tight pants and a smile, nor do you oil yourself up first. Kinda like greco-roman wrestling isn't gay, but Will Ferrell in "The Ladies Man" most certainly WAS.

[Dr Mordrid]

Remember when that old ST episode was made: back when shirtless was a major "look" in wuxia movies of the late 60's and the 70's. Like body builders oil was used to better delineate their muscles. Even Bruce Lee used this trick.

I agree it looked out of place on the Enterprise, but that's what happens in Hollyweird.

Dr. Mordrid

[SpiralDragon]

Well RIP Michael Piller....

i for one loved DS9 and Voyager... DS9 mostly.. especialy towards the end... loved the issue of the emisary.....


ST: Enterprise however is a diffrent story..... although it eventualy grew on me ... i just didnt realy like it... it felt toooooo comercial for my taste....

[Gurm]

i for one loved DS9 and Voyager... DS9 mostly.. especialy towards the end... loved the issue of the emisary.....

MEIN GOTT! I've figured it out! DS9 was intended for the Lebanese market!

Actually I watched it for a season or two, but it just... well they never WENT anywhere.