A CBS Exec Just Angered The STAR TREK Fanbase By Saying The New Show Doesn't Belong On TV

A CBS Exec Just Angered The STAR TREK Fanbase By Saying The New Show Doesn't Belong On TV

Before you start gathering pitchforks and torches, check out the logic behind his statements regarding the network's decision to put Star Trek: Discovery on the CBS All Access streaming platform.

By MarkJulian - Nov 15, 2016 01:11 PM EST
Filed Under: Star Trek
Source: via Gizmodo
CBS Interactive CEO Jim Lanzor  just angered a lot of Star Trek fans with his remarks concerning the network's decision to air Star Trek: Discovery (Gizmodo's first sentence in their article is "CBS can eat a bag of d*#ks.) on their fledgling streaming platform instead of on the actual channel. However, there are quite a few Trekkies who think he might be correct in his line of reasoning...

"Sci-fi is not something that has traditionally done really well on broadcast,” he explained. “It’s not impossible, for the future, if somebody figures it out. And things like ‘Lost’ and ‘Heroes’ have had parts of, you know, sci-fi, but historically, a show like ‘Star Trek’ wouldn’t necessarily be a broadcast show, at this point.”  On the podcast, Lanzor also added that Discovery will essentially be rated TV MA, with the ability to swear and have nudity.

The point Lanzor was trying to get across is that CBS' largest demographic (mostly those of the Baby Boomer generation) doesn't respond well to sci-fi, as evidenced by the recent relocation of Supergirl to The CW.

In the US, following its premiere on the actual CBS channel, Star Trek Discovery will be exclusively shown on the CBS All Acess streaming platform. In the rest of the world, it will air on Netflix.

[Note: Lanzor's remarks come courtesy of his guest appearance on the  Recode Media with Peter Kafka podcast.]
Quentin Tarantino Finally Explains Why His R-Rated STAR TREK Movie Is Never Going To Happen
Related:

Quentin Tarantino Finally Explains Why His R-Rated STAR TREK Movie Is "Never Going To Happen"

STAR TREK: Colm Meaney On Possible Miles O'Brien Return And What He REALLY Thinks About Trekkies (Exclusive)
Recommended For You:

STAR TREK: Colm Meaney On Possible Miles O'Brien Return And What He REALLY Thinks About Trekkies (Exclusive)

DISCLAIMER: ComicBookMovie.com is protected under the DMCA (Digital Millenium Copyright Act) and... [MORE]

ComicBookMovie.com, and/or the user who contributed this post, may earn commissions or revenue through clicks or purchases made through any third-party links contained within the content above.

1 2 3 4 5
grif
grif - 11/15/2016, 2:01 PM
[frick]ing awesome.... i always wanted swearing and nudity in star trek... what a piece of shit. this thing is doomed.
Darkknight2149
Darkknight2149 - 11/15/2016, 2:17 PM
@grif -
"i always wanted swearing and nudity in star trek."

So did JJ Abrams, apparently.

Spock0Clock
Spock0Clock - 11/15/2016, 2:32 PM
@Darkknight2149 - So did Roddenberry.



Nothing new here. People forget how aggressively sexual the original series was. And sexually aggressive at times.
Darkknight2149
Darkknight2149 - 11/15/2016, 2:42 PM
@Spock0Clock -
It's also alleged that Star Trek provided the first inter-racial kiss on American television. I guess it really does boldly go where no one has gone before, lol.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kirk_and_Uhura%27s_kiss
Spock0Clock
Spock0Clock - 11/15/2016, 3:07 PM
@Darkknight2149 - Put a big asterisk on that one.

Kirk and Uhura were being psychically controlled against their will, so it was basically a double mutual sexual assault. I know they get credit for that, but in context, it presents that kiss as a traumatic experience for both of them, not some progressive moment of romance.
GhostDog
GhostDog - 11/15/2016, 2:01 PM
"Sci-fi is not something that has traditionally done really well on broadcast...”







Spock0Clock
Spock0Clock - 11/15/2016, 2:09 PM
@ComicsBornAndBred - Two of those are cable, though. And one is a broken link, soz.

He ain't wrong.
GhostDog
GhostDog - 11/15/2016, 2:11 PM
@Spock0Clock - I mean....its not impossible. X Files was incredibly successful. Fringe proved sci fi can thrive on network tv too
Spock0Clock
Spock0Clock - 11/15/2016, 2:18 PM
@ComicsBornAndBred - There was a time when syndication and episodic material made that possible, but I just don't know anymore. Nerds want continuity, casuals want to pick it up mid-season. I'm not saying it's impossible, but space opera in particular is a tough ask for people nowadays.

A Next Generation with sexy drama that focuses on the dynamics between the crew would probably work pretty well. Desperate Housewives in Space with shades of Mad Men.

But people don't seem interested in "fairly generic and competent protagonists explore the unknown" stories.
Scarilian
Scarilian - 11/15/2016, 2:02 PM
Of course, Sci-Fi has traditionally not done really well on broadcast... which is why Red Dwarf, Star Trek, X-Files, Babylon 5 and others didn't do well on TV and get a massive fanbase as a response... OH WAIT
LSHF
LSHF - 11/15/2016, 5:44 PM
@Scarilian - Excellent point. I wonder what his real reason is. Or is he just uninformed?
bropous
bropous - 11/15/2016, 9:49 PM
@Scarilian - Oh you goddamned communist son of a bitch, you left out Buck Rogers, Battlestar Galactica (first run!) and Farscape.

You Trotskyite low-brow son of a bitch!!!!

(jk, man. Sci-Fi works VERY well on TV.)

ANY of you seen the Sci-Fi Channel's DUNE????
1 2 3 4 5
View Recorder