Trekkies are uniting to win a reprieve for “Star Trek: Enterprise,” slated to end its mission on UPN in May.
“Save Star Trek” was the headline of a full-page ad in Tuesday’s Los Angeles Times that called on fans to get the show a new TV home through a petition campaign and rally.
“Captain Archer and the crew of the NX-01 need your help to continue their journeys!” the ad read, calling the “Star Trek” franchise a “cultural icon.”
The ad asked viewers to commit to watching the show, now in its fourth season, if the Sci Fi Channel — “its logical home,” according to the ad — agrees to pick it up.
A call requesting comment from the New York-based channel Tuesday evening was not immediately returned.
The ad contained clip-and-mail pledges addressed to the channel; Paramount Network Television, which produces the series; and to parent company Viacom Inc.
A rally is planned for Feb. 25 outside the Paramount lot in Los Angeles, according to the ad, which says it was paid for by worldwide fan donations.
“Star Trek: Enterprise,” which debuted in 2001 as a prequel to the original 1960s “Star Trek” series, stars Scott Bakula as Capt. Jonathan Archer. It begins reruns in syndication this fall.
For the first time in 18 years, however, no first-run “Star Trek” series will be airing.
The franchise included “Star Trek” (1966-69, NBC); “Star Trek: The Next Generation” (1987-94, syndicated); “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine” (1992-99, syndicated); “Star Trek: Voyager” (1995-2001, UPN) and “Star Trek: Enterprise.”
The current series averaged about 2.9 million weekly viewers for the season, half the audience it drew in its first year. But the ad cites “a highly praised peak in creative vigor and audience enthusiasm.”