Under the watchful and demanding eyes of their instructors, they discover what it takes to become Starfleet officers as they navigate blossoming friendships, explosive rivalries, first loves…
These executives are allergic to making good shows.
Actually, I wonder if this show was greenlit in some way because of Prodigy’s cancellation. They’re trying to draw in a younger audience for the sake of the franchise’s long term prospects, but Prodigy didn’t get as many views on Paramount+ as they hoped (and is now on a different service), so they wanted to make a version of that which is better suited to streaming, without the awkward concessions to Nickelodeon’s release schedule.
Though, I think the problem is really Paramount+. A streaming service that is best known for Star Trek and a bunch of dramas that old people watch, is unlikely to get anyone under 30 to subscribe to it for Star Trek.
I doubt it - “Academy” was officially announced on May 30, 2023 (and was rumoured to be in development dating back to 2018). “Prodigy” was cancelled on June 23, 2023.
I’ll grant that the dates are pretty close together, but I think in a perfect world the two shows would run together, with “Prodigy” targeting the tween crowd, and “Academy” skewing a bit older.
But we need to attract a hip young new audience! The sort of audience that doesn’t care about Star Trek, and just wants teen drama and unprofessional nonsense!
Advertisers care mainly about 18-35 year olds, and now that streaming has ads that key demographic is important for the survival of the franchise.
Besides if the franchise hadn’t expanded its fanbase in the 90s it wouldn’t be viable now. And let’s face it, it’s not that significant outside North America. Gone are the days when US audiences were adequate for survival.
Seemed like the best reference as a notoriously bad teen drama. That doesn’t mean I didn’t watch every episode. It’s fabulously, gloriously bad. Anything else I could name would be mediocre at most.
I enjoyed Riverdale. I would never want it to replace a Star Trek show. A teen drama with Star Trek dressing absolutely stinks of desperation from Paramount.
In 1997 adding a sexy Borg crew member to Voyager reeked of desperation. But the writers actually gave a shit and whoever was in charge of casting took the time to find someone who could actually act, so in the end Seven Of Nine became one of the best things to come out of Voyager (nevermind the cringe worthy marketing and costume).
End of the day, I don’t care about the mental state of the exec signing off on an idea, because even a bad one can turn out good with the right talent. And I don’t see why Star Trek as a teen drama is a bad idea. Star Trek can work with all sorts of genres, and we’ve still got SNW holding down the fort as the old school exploration series.
These executives are allergic to making good shows.
Hey, Prodigy is great. Of course they tried to cancel it.
Actually, I wonder if this show was greenlit in some way because of Prodigy’s cancellation. They’re trying to draw in a younger audience for the sake of the franchise’s long term prospects, but Prodigy didn’t get as many views on Paramount+ as they hoped (and is now on a different service), so they wanted to make a version of that which is better suited to streaming, without the awkward concessions to Nickelodeon’s release schedule.
Though, I think the problem is really Paramount+. A streaming service that is best known for Star Trek and a bunch of dramas that old people watch, is unlikely to get anyone under 30 to subscribe to it for Star Trek.
I doubt it - “Academy” was officially announced on May 30, 2023 (and was rumoured to be in development dating back to 2018). “Prodigy” was cancelled on June 23, 2023.
I’ll grant that the dates are pretty close together, but I think in a perfect world the two shows would run together, with “Prodigy” targeting the tween crowd, and “Academy” skewing a bit older.
This, I completely agree with.
But we need to attract a hip young new audience! The sort of audience that doesn’t care about Star Trek, and just wants teen drama and unprofessional nonsense!
Ah yes, the eternal sin of “trying to attract new viewers.”
Why can’t they continue catering to the original, immortal fanbase? That’s just good business!
As if Star Trek is starving for a fan base.
The aging fanbase has been an issue that’s been highlighted recently by Jonathan Frakes, among others.
Advertisers care mainly about 18-35 year olds, and now that streaming has ads that key demographic is important for the survival of the franchise.
Besides if the franchise hadn’t expanded its fanbase in the 90s it wouldn’t be viable now. And let’s face it, it’s not that significant outside North America. Gone are the days when US audiences were adequate for survival.
Indeed, Trek seems to do very well in the US, Canada, UK, Australia, and Germany. After that it drops off pretty quickly.
They expanded it by making quality shows. Also isn’t your first line contradictory since this is aimed at a younger demographic?
I was replying to the sarcastic remark directly above that posits that Trek has an adequate fanbase to sustain the franchise.
Prodigy’s been an investment in reaching younger fans and building an audience for the future.
Starfleet Academy’s target audience is later teens and young adults. Basically, ‘the key demographic’ as reported by Nielsen in the US.
Not every teen drama is Riverdale. No idea if this show will be any good, but there’s nothing wrong with the premise.
“Riverdale” is an odd comparison - like it or hate it, it was one of the most high-concept “teen shows” of all time. Absolutely bonkers.
Seemed like the best reference as a notoriously bad teen drama. That doesn’t mean I didn’t watch every episode. It’s fabulously, gloriously bad. Anything else I could name would be mediocre at most.
While I certainly wouldn’t want every show to be like that, I would absolutely not call it “bad”.
It was…transcendent.
It’s weird. It’s a weird show. It doesn’t fit in. And it doesn’t want to fit in.
I enjoyed Riverdale. I would never want it to replace a Star Trek show. A teen drama with Star Trek dressing absolutely stinks of desperation from Paramount.
In 1997 adding a sexy Borg crew member to Voyager reeked of desperation. But the writers actually gave a shit and whoever was in charge of casting took the time to find someone who could actually act, so in the end Seven Of Nine became one of the best things to come out of Voyager (nevermind the cringe worthy marketing and costume).
End of the day, I don’t care about the mental state of the exec signing off on an idea, because even a bad one can turn out good with the right talent. And I don’t see why Star Trek as a teen drama is a bad idea. Star Trek can work with all sorts of genres, and we’ve still got SNW holding down the fort as the old school exploration series.
Ah yes, Star Trek High School, exactly what we needed!