BK> There's a good group of people working there to give the viewers the 
est
 BK> they can within the limits of their working world (with a few 
exceptions).
"...the limits of their working world."  That is probably the biggest
issue about Star Trek that fans don't understand.
For most of us, Star Trek is, in effect, a hobby interest (bordering on
religion for some.)  We each know what we like.
For some people, like Mike Okuda, it is both a fan interest and a source
of a regular paycheck.  They generally have a pretty good feel for what
fans like, balanced against the realities of television production and
life at Paramount.
For some people it is a major revenue stream that impacts stock prices.
Often they have no interest in Science Fiction as a genra, or in Star
Trek specificly, other than as a money-making machine.  They "manage" it
just like they do any other corporate subdivision.  To them, Star Trek
is no different from other movie or television efforts.  Action and
adventure works in Die Hard.  Let's inject more into Star Trek.  Special
Effects was all there *was* to Independence Day.  More special effects
in Star Trek.  Nobody complained when there were two different
contradictory stories about how MacGyver's parents died.  Spend less
time on this continuity stuff and more on explosions and fighting among
the cast.  That'll get ratings for sure!!!!!
:-)
--- GEcho 1.00
---------------