From: schroede@bnlux1.bnl.gov (gary l. schroeder)
Subject: Re: Stardates--from the horse's mouth
Organization: Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY 11973
Date: Tue, 8 Sep 1992 14:43:54 GMT

In article <rawdon.715618326@cs.wisc.edu> rawdon@colby.cs.wisc.edu writes:
>[Cynicism alert:]
>
>In <1992Sep4.080333.20285@nntp.uoregon.edu> eisimps@cie.uoregon.edu (Eileen Simpson) writes:
>>If you are thinking of submitting a script, they suggest these guidelines
>>to have the best chance of selling.
>
>>AVOID (or NO):
>>-Stories that rely on lots of action or special effects.
>
>Ghod forbid that TNG should be exciting.
>
>>-Stories depending on a prior relationship.
>
>Especially since they went to all that effort to set up the Riker-Troi
>and Picard-Dr. Crusher relationships early in the series.

Ha.  Yes.  I find it highly amusing that they went to all the trouble of
setting up a mysterious past between both of those pairs, only to want
to disavow all of it later on.  The relationship as it stands between
Riker and Troi is completely unbelievable.  Clearly, they were heavily
involved at one time, but now they're able to shut all of that away just
because they serve aboard the same ship?  Right.

I found it interesting when Frakes was interviewed that he said that
although following up the Riker-Troi Love Thing is verboten, he and
Sirtis do everything they can to play it up.  Extended glances where
possible, etc.



>>-Stories about the guest star, not the cast.


This is interesting, considering the fact that it seems like so many of
the episodes have done this.  "Half a Life", anyone?


>Since TNG frowns on characters who could change and evolve during the course
>of an episode, or exhibit Treknically Incorrect characteristics.
>
>>-Stories that could be on any other drama (drugs, AIDS, Divorce...)

This happens _ALL_ the time!  One of my biggest gripes is why have the
show set on a space ship when the story could just as easily be told on
LA Law?  Instances?  How about Ethics, Hero Worship, New Ground, Cost of
Living, The Icarus Factor, and as mentioned, Symbiosis, and The Outcast.
How about Load as a Whisper?  Take out the tiny sci-fi factors and what
do you have?  Answer: stories that might just as well have been on LA
Law.  Maybe the writers consider Added Danger Factors like soliton waves
and space jello and alien children to be the factors that prevent these
stories from being told on other dramas set in the present.  The fact
that Alexander has ridges on his forehead dosen't make him any more
interesting to me.  The fact that Luxana is an _alien_ having a midlife
crisis dosen't make her any more interesting to me.



>Drugs ("Symbiosis"), homosexuality ("The Outcast")...

To continue, how about "A Matter of Perspective"?  Get rid of the
holodeck gimmick and you've got an average Perry Mason episode.

>>-Stories without a personal aspect.
>
><kaff, kaff>
>
>>-Stories about the supernatural, swords & socery.

I wish TNG had just a little more "mysticism", if you will.  However, in
the world of Star Trek, the supernatural is frowned upon.  Everything
must have a technical explanation rooted in pseudo-science.  Actually,
TNG is far more guilty of this techno-atheistic attitude than TOS ever
was.

>Like Q?
>
>>-Stories "high on the hoke scale" ("Troi kidnapped by space pirates, sold
>>into slavery." (Sort of sorry to hear they feel this way. If they don't get
>>her back, it could be one of my favorite shows!))
>
>Like "Qpid"?  ("Guest star captured by the Sheriff of Nottingham!  Picard
>and his Merry Men rush to the rescue!")

I liked it precisely because it _had_ a little hoke to it.  As mentioned
above, this is rare due to the prevailing techno-atheism attitude of the
show.


>>The reason for many of these rules is $$.  It is a disappointment to find
>>that the reason there are so darn few planet shows and so little action is
>>that they have a script policy that discourages it!

Funny, TOS had much less money to work with, and they somehow managed to
get off of the bridge.  Quite frequently, in fact.  What was their
secret?



-- 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gary Schroeder	                |  Warning: prolonged exposure to this
schroede@bnlux1.bnl.gov         |  .sig may cause retinal damage and 
Brookhaven National Laboratory  |  blistering skin rashes. 
Newsgroups: rec.arts.startrek.misc