Well done Rick. A long interview for sure but well worth it. I think you did an exceptionally good job of keeping with the show's original ideology. Congratulations to you and thanks.
which was Paramounts fault, they ended up milking it too much, but allin allI am pleased with how ST as a franchise was handled and I am happy with most products. Much more so than with GL and Star Wars to name a franchise handled badly.
O.K. I now hate Maurice Hurley. Before I didn't care one way or the other. But you DO NOT mess with Gates McFadden, and then get her fired! What a jerk.
1. People should give Rick Berman a breake! Besides Gene Roddenberry, he IS Star Trek, and we all owe him at least half of what we owe Roddenberry! While I think TNG was the best, I did like DS9 and Voyager and HATED Enterprise. STILL, he is the man!
2. I'm still somewhat surprised how many things he misremembered :) 1. It's the Enterprise D, not E on TNG. Second, it's UhurA, not UhurOO on TOS. Third: Nana Visitor did NOT play Ensign Ro on TNG! And those are only a few...
The only thing Berman did before STAR TREK was a kid's show. For whatever their reasons, Paramount left him in charge half way through the first season of TNG. Whatever it is, he did not, as long as he was in charge, know a thing about science fiction, and he didn't know anything about drama.
I've been watching Star Trek for the past 3 years non stop.. at least an episode a day.. and I don't see any stopping it. I don't see it as a show. It's like gene vision "a hopeful outlook on the future of the human race". I have a lot of hatred and disgust for what our world is today. Watching Star Trek makes me have peace of mind. I hope that in the future humanity will take their heads our their butt.
Gene put Rick Berman handling the franchise, it was Gene who chose him, and I love Gene and I respect him. Now, Star Trek kinda worked like this to me, they had the best writers ever, great talented writers who contributed to the depth of lots of races, stories, great producers too, and Rick Berman had many great touches to the franchise, whether he handled everything or not. Can't forget Robert Justman too, Gene L Coon, Marc Okrand, Theordore Sturgeon, Nicholas Meyer, Robert Moore
Soon as he gave us Ds9 the whole thing started to suck bad. I Mean no gives a flying fuk about the Bajoran occupaction Odo,Major Kira,Jake Sisco,Dax....DUMB. They shoulda got rid of him longggg time ago.
Rick, thank you very much for all the wonderful years you have worked with Startrek. You really help revived the franchise, and stayed true to Roddenberry vision.
its pretty obvious he not only doesnt think much of DS9 nor was very involved with the creative process of it. multiple times he prety much answers DS9-related inquiries with "well I hired Ira Behr as headwriter and he did such and such..." he could barely explain what happened to Sisko in the end (calling him ARCHER) and made it painfully obvious how little he had to do with this show. no wonder it was the best Trek series of them all.
@doctorbenjiphd DS9 was not trek at all they were screwing each other on a space station. TOS is the one and only true Star Trek TNG is ok but it had way too many soup opera-like episodes (Data is amazing though) DS9 is dark and static VOY well you don't have an interesting captain you don't have an interesting show ENT...just listen to that song and you know it sucks
Berman was ok as a hands-off overseer, and it shows in TNG since Michael Pillar was head writer for seasons 3-7 (aka when it was good) and DS9 had Ronald D. Moore and Ira Steven Behr among others to do the creative heavy lifting. Berman/Braga co-ran Voyager and seasons 1-3 of Enterprise with an iron fist and we all know how that turned out... That being said, I have heard tons of bad things about how UPN jerked them around, so I am not saying Berman is the antichrist either.
No matter I personally feel about how he handled the Trek franchise towards the end, I must say he's a really smart guy, really intelligent, whether I agree with him or not..
When you're the boss all the people beneath you take credit for the good stuff, and you take the blame for the crappy things. It happens all the time. I am grateful for the amount of time that Berman put on all those shows. you can disagree with the man, but you should never look down on him, because that's disrepectful.
Thank you Rick 4 wonderfull years of excelent and inteligent entertainment.
Not many Producers create so brilliant spin offs. Especially not for almost 20 years. shows that will never be forgotten, even in the showbuisness of today, when shows become forgotten very fast after the last season has past. But the Star Trek Berman created was more than this Popcorn Entertainment...
YOU evoke my love Star Trek... YOU created the most intelligent Series of all time... YOU made Star Trek big!!!
I blame UPN for the cancellation of Enterprise not Rick like others did. Now I'm very happy that J.J. Abrams finally brought it back after being dead for 3 years since the cancellation of Enterprise. I wished that Enterprise gone to 7 seasons like TNG, DS9, and Voyager did and I was hoping to see the Earth Romulan War arc but UPN robbed that from me. Now the new movie has cheered me up though. I loved it and I can't wait for the 12th movie and I hope we get a new TV series soon too.
Rick, THANKS for all the excellent work on the series - what you've produced was true to Great Bird's vision of positive future. Current creation in the theatres cannot be described as Star Trek at all. It's pop-corn trash deisgned for quick profit and will not stand the test of time. Paramount execs, if you're reading this, understand that intelligent science fiction may not be popular, but it is one thing that inspired generations of loyal fans.
Shatner shouldn't have been in the film - I like the film that "Generations" is but it would have been a much stronger film would Shatner and his toupee.
Thanks goodness J.J. Abrams is in charge of the new movie. I don't mind his involvement with the television versions of Star Trek, but I think the movies are going to be better off now.
Berman and other Paramount yes-men ruined the TNG franchise too.
First, he ended the series too soon while simultaneously rehashing old plot conventions in the final season. Then, they wasted character development--except in the case of Star Trek: First Contact.
Star Trek: Nemesis was a tragic event in the sense that it was produced at all. Star Trek II's death scene was more poignant and resonating than your scene. What a wasted opportunity and film.
Well done Rick. A long interview for sure but well worth it. I think you did an exceptionally good job of keeping with the show's original ideology. Congratulations to you and thanks.
Pumpkonian 2 weeks ago
which was Paramounts fault, they ended up milking it too much, but allin allI am pleased with how ST as a franchise was handled and I am happy with most products. Much more so than with GL and Star Wars to name a franchise handled badly.
MyHirogen 3 weeks ago
Thanks for posting, great to have this!
Machinu5 1 month ago
O.K. I now hate Maurice Hurley. Before I didn't care one way or the other. But you DO NOT mess with Gates McFadden, and then get her fired! What a jerk.
signals3 2 months ago
Thanks for this best interview ever
section31 4 months ago
I like how he refers to TNG as "The Original Series" since its the first one he worked on.
jryan6969 6 months ago
He made Star Trek great DS9 Voyager and Enterprise are the best Star Trek shows
kf932009 7 months ago
@59:36 Rick Berman speaking about the cliffhanger ending of "Best of Both Worlds":
"As the episode ends, Riker is about to blow up the Enterprise. He's on another ship."
ಠ_ಠ
dannyboylee 9 months ago 2
Ok, several things:
1. People should give Rick Berman a breake! Besides Gene Roddenberry, he IS Star Trek, and we all owe him at least half of what we owe Roddenberry! While I think TNG was the best, I did like DS9 and Voyager and HATED Enterprise. STILL, he is the man!
2. I'm still somewhat surprised how many things he misremembered :) 1. It's the Enterprise D, not E on TNG. Second, it's UhurA, not UhurOO on TOS. Third: Nana Visitor did NOT play Ensign Ro on TNG! And those are only a few...
noparadigm 11 months ago
@noparadigm Watch the Enterprise series again.
cokedrinker941 2 weeks ago
What is it with Ricks?!
TomAce200 1 year ago 13
Ron Jones sends his condolences to Star Trek's epic soundtrack while he was composing for it.
LtSurge659 1 year ago
Rick wasn't perfect, but I will say he did great things for the Star Trek franchise and I salute him.
Johnrl21 1 year ago 4
Thanks for killing Star Trek, noob.
omma911 1 year ago 3
@omma911
Its not his fault, its Paramount execs who pressured him. You should be grateful.
spoonmonkey14 9 months ago 2
I am wondering what Rick Berman thinks about the J.J Abrams movie.
Exverlobter 1 year ago
Gonna Miss Him.... Like the new Re-Boot. But his Trek will ALWAYS be MY TREK!
Kirk007WAH1 1 year ago
The only thing Berman did before STAR TREK was a kid's show. For whatever their reasons, Paramount left him in charge half way through the first season of TNG. Whatever it is, he did not, as long as he was in charge, know a thing about science fiction, and he didn't know anything about drama.
Bla31n 1 year ago
@Bla31n
100% agree with you.
Jaiyeson 1 year ago
I've been watching Star Trek for the past 3 years non stop.. at least an episode a day.. and I don't see any stopping it. I don't see it as a show. It's like gene vision "a hopeful outlook on the future of the human race". I have a lot of hatred and disgust for what our world is today. Watching Star Trek makes me have peace of mind. I hope that in the future humanity will take their heads our their butt.
TheUnknownHarbingers 1 year ago
Gene put Rick Berman handling the franchise, it was Gene who chose him, and I love Gene and I respect him. Now, Star Trek kinda worked like this to me, they had the best writers ever, great talented writers who contributed to the depth of lots of races, stories, great producers too, and Rick Berman had many great touches to the franchise, whether he handled everything or not. Can't forget Robert Justman too, Gene L Coon, Marc Okrand, Theordore Sturgeon, Nicholas Meyer, Robert Moore
RindaDiLibda 1 year ago
Hey Rick, we want more Star Trek!!! Get to writing!!!
japstoryeditor 1 year ago
Soon as he gave us Ds9 the whole thing started to suck bad. I Mean no gives a flying fuk about the Bajoran occupaction Odo,Major Kira,Jake Sisco,Dax....DUMB. They shoulda got rid of him longggg time ago.
WarzoneMerc 1 year ago
@WarzoneMerc DS9 was the best trek ever
aarondavid826 1 year ago 6
Rick, thank you very much for all the wonderful years you have worked with Startrek. You really help revived the franchise, and stayed true to Roddenberry vision.
You are a genius.
spoonmonkey14 1 year ago 2
Rick Berman is Star Trek-we need him back!!!
Formwandler30 1 year ago
@Formwandler30 I agree, despite his flaws
aarondavid826 1 year ago
its pretty obvious he not only doesnt think much of DS9 nor was very involved with the creative process of it. multiple times he prety much answers DS9-related inquiries with "well I hired Ira Behr as headwriter and he did such and such..." he could barely explain what happened to Sisko in the end (calling him ARCHER) and made it painfully obvious how little he had to do with this show. no wonder it was the best Trek series of them all.
doctorbenjiphd 2 years ago 4
@doctorbenjiphd DS9 was not trek at all they were screwing each other on a space station. TOS is the one and only true Star Trek TNG is ok but it had way too many soup opera-like episodes (Data is amazing though) DS9 is dark and static VOY well you don't have an interesting captain you don't have an interesting show ENT...just listen to that song and you know it sucks
sondano 2 years ago
he didn't seem to like being interviewed very much, but i enjoyed all the info he provided
aarondavid826 2 years ago 3
you are a dumbass, DS9 was the best trek show ever
aarondavid826 2 years ago 4
Berman was ok as a hands-off overseer, and it shows in TNG since Michael Pillar was head writer for seasons 3-7 (aka when it was good) and DS9 had Ronald D. Moore and Ira Steven Behr among others to do the creative heavy lifting. Berman/Braga co-ran Voyager and seasons 1-3 of Enterprise with an iron fist and we all know how that turned out... That being said, I have heard tons of bad things about how UPN jerked them around, so I am not saying Berman is the antichrist either.
KurdtLives 2 years ago
He & Brannon Braga both did a splendid job with TNG & DS9.
Voyager was disappointing but worked okay overall.
Enterprise didn't start getting impressive until Season 3
SeanConnery9000 2 years ago
To Berman: Why wouldn't Whoppi "work" as the Doctor?
antmlova1 2 years ago
Rick was better to Star Trek than JJ Abrams, and that's a fact.
starlinej 2 years ago
It's your opinion, nothing more.
rich1701 2 years ago 3
No matter I personally feel about how he handled the Trek franchise towards the end, I must say he's a really smart guy, really intelligent, whether I agree with him or not..
jarcher182 2 years ago
Great Interview, I don't blame rick. Franchise Fatigue.
section31 2 years ago 2
To say he killed Star Trek, is to say a doctor killed a ninty year old patient who he tended to for thirty years.
taemobuff 2 years ago 4
This was absolutely awesome. I really enjoyed the interview. Thanks for posting it. As a Trek fan I was glued to the interview.
rickmoyer777 2 years ago
this is fascinating
twilightsol 2 years ago
When you're the boss all the people beneath you take credit for the good stuff, and you take the blame for the crappy things. It happens all the time. I am grateful for the amount of time that Berman put on all those shows. you can disagree with the man, but you should never look down on him, because that's disrepectful.
sebadetoma 2 years ago 9
Thank you Rick 4 wonderfull years of excelent and inteligent entertainment.
Not many Producers create so brilliant spin offs. Especially not for almost 20 years. shows that will never be forgotten, even in the showbuisness of today, when shows become forgotten very fast after the last season has past. But the Star Trek Berman created was more than this Popcorn Entertainment...
YOU evoke my love Star Trek... YOU created the most intelligent Series of all time... YOU made Star Trek big!!!
bauar06 2 years ago 21
(Continued)
I blame UPN for the cancellation of Enterprise not Rick like others did. Now I'm very happy that J.J. Abrams finally brought it back after being dead for 3 years since the cancellation of Enterprise. I wished that Enterprise gone to 7 seasons like TNG, DS9, and Voyager did and I was hoping to see the Earth Romulan War arc but UPN robbed that from me. Now the new movie has cheered me up though. I loved it and I can't wait for the 12th movie and I hope we get a new TV series soon too.
TheStarTreker 2 years ago
@bauar06
He is uneasy about talking about Voyager and Enterprise.
Ebareebaveebeedee 10 months ago
Rick, THANKS for all the excellent work on the series - what you've produced was true to Great Bird's vision of positive future. Current creation in the theatres cannot be described as Star Trek at all. It's pop-corn trash deisgned for quick profit and will not stand the test of time. Paramount execs, if you're reading this, understand that intelligent science fiction may not be popular, but it is one thing that inspired generations of loyal fans.
sarekking 2 years ago 5
The reason "Generations" was a such a success was due to WIlliam Shatner's excellent performance.
Landrew120880 2 years ago
Shatner shouldn't have been in the film - I like the film that "Generations" is but it would have been a much stronger film would Shatner and his toupee.
uk6strings 2 years ago
well...he's done some good...some bad. eh.... he did ok.
Storm331 2 years ago
Thanks goodness J.J. Abrams is in charge of the new movie. I don't mind his involvement with the television versions of Star Trek, but I think the movies are going to be better off now.
AcousticTyGuy 2 years ago
Good piece on Rick Berman
teatyme12 2 years ago 2
Where is Berman these days?
IG2HI 2 years ago
Berman and other Paramount yes-men ruined the TNG franchise too.
First, he ended the series too soon while simultaneously rehashing old plot conventions in the final season. Then, they wasted character development--except in the case of Star Trek: First Contact.
Star Trek: Nemesis was a tragic event in the sense that it was produced at all. Star Trek II's death scene was more poignant and resonating than your scene. What a wasted opportunity and film.
kwknight47 2 years ago
Ended TNG too soon? I think 7 seasons is about enough.
overfiend30 2 years ago
Great piece on Bermanm
teatyme12 2 years ago 3