Why is there so much Star Trek on Spike?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the presence of Star Trek programming on the Spike channel, with participants exploring perceptions of masculinity associated with the show and its audience. The conversation touches on themes of nostalgia, gender representation in media, and comparisons to other science fiction series.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Meta-discussion

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants question why Star Trek is featured prominently on Spike, suggesting it may not align with traditional notions of masculinity.
  • Others argue that Captain Jean Luc Picard represents a form of masculinity that is appealing.
  • One participant reflects on their childhood experience as a female Star Trek fan in a predominantly male fanbase, indicating a shift in perceptions over time.
  • There are claims that Star Trek is perceived as "nerdy" rather than "manly," with some participants expressing affection for "manly nerds."
  • Comparisons are made between Star Trek and Babylon 5, with some participants praising the latter for its character development and plot complexity.
  • Concerns are raised about the quality of programming on Spike, with some expressing disappointment in the channel's current offerings.
  • Participants discuss the economic factors influencing programming choices, suggesting that low-cost reruns of Star Trek may be more appealing for ad revenue than new content.
  • Some express nostalgia for other sci-fi series and lament their cancellations, such as Firefly and Red Dwarf.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a mix of agreement and disagreement regarding the portrayal of Star Trek and its audience. While some appreciate the show, others critique it and favor alternative series like Babylon 5. The discussion remains unresolved with multiple competing views on the topic.

Contextual Notes

Participants reference various cultural perceptions of masculinity and femininity in media, as well as the economic considerations behind television programming. There are also mentions of personal experiences and preferences that shape their views.

GCT
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Why is there so much of Star Trek on the " manly " Spike channel?
 
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Don't complain about a good thing.
 
What's more manly than Captain Jean Luc Picard?
 
Star Trek is girly? Gee, how things have changed. When I was a kid, back in TOS days, the Star Trek fans in the neighborhood were 1 girl (me) and about 12 guys.
 
 
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GCT said:
Why is there so much of Star Trek on the " manly " Spike channel?
Ratings vs cost.
 
Math Is Hard said:
Star Trek is girly? Gee, how things have changed. When I was a kid, back in TOS days, the Star Trek fans in the neighborhood were 1 girl (me) and about 12 guys.

I think that the OP might feel that Star Trek is more "nerdy" than "manly".
 
I just love manly nerds:!)
 
hypatia said:
I just love manly nerds:!)
Ditto!
 
  • #10
Better question: why is there so much Voyager on Spike?
 
  • #11
hypatia said:
I just love manly nerds:!)

I'll third that!
 
  • #12
To Star Trek fans: I don't want to talk to you no more, you empty headed animal food trough wiper! I fart in your general direction! Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries!

Get the boxed set of Babylon 5 on DVD and be happy. Plenty of character development, twists, loyalty, betrayal, hidden agendas, etc. In contrast, Roddenberry's ST was "Gunsmoke" set in space, with very formulaic plots and cardboard cut-out characters. "I canna get na more out of her, Captain" "Dammit, Jim I'm a doctor, not a (insert profession here)"
 
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  • #13
turbo-1 said:
Get the boxed set of Babylon 5 on DVD and be happy. Plenty of character development, twists, loyalty, betrayal, hidden agendas, etc.
We're nerds. We don't give a muroidean rump for character, loyalty, betrayal and ...yuck, have to wash my hands after typing those words.
 
  • #14
Yeah, I used to watch that channel but not anymore. They play a lot of garbage. I was a fan of the car shows on the weekends though.
 
  • #15
turbo-1 said:
"Dammit, Jim I'm a doctor, not a (insert profession here)"

Proctologist? I don't remember that episode. :rolleyes:
 
  • #16
Gokul43201 said:
We're nerds. We don't give a muroidean rump for character, loyalty, betrayal and ...yuck, have to wash my hands after typing those words.
All the nerdy stuff is in Bab5, too, Gokul. It's not as front and center as in ST because Bab5 didn't rely on it for every single plot device - the series actually had real shows with real plots. How can you not love a show with some living space-ships, time-travel, soul-transference and life-force transference, mass-driver attacks, a planet driven by machines with a living creature at its core, Psi cops, mysteries of racial genetics and religion, and super-races that are not so much good vs evil but driven by their preference for stability and control, vs chaos and change? B5 is a geek's dream.

Don't get me wrong - I was right in front of the TV every time Roddenberry's initial series screened - not so much for the spin-offs. Of course, I watched Gunsmoke, too. :rolleyes: I've got all of B5 on DVD including the feature-length shows, and it's fun to watch the early shows after having seen the later ones because some of the hints of later character changes that seemed odd in the early shows only make sense in the context of the whole series. That's a well-written, cohesive series, not just a collection of ensemble performances.
 
  • #17
turbo-1 said:
Of course, I watched Gunsmoke, too. :rolleyes:

Ever watch Wild, Wild West?
 
  • #18
Math Is Hard said:
Ever watch Wild, Wild West?
Sure did! They had some pretty geeky gizmos too - both the good guys and the bad guys.
 
  • #19
hypatia said:
I just love manly nerds:!)

I just love nerdy girls. Like the ones in Star Trek.

I guess its on Spike to attract me.

I find that the rest of their programing blows verily.
 
  • #20
Virgin 1 in the Uk has an advertising campaign for Voyager that would be considered manly (well sexist). :rolleyes:
 
  • #21
Kurdt said:
Virgin 1 in the Uk has an advertising campaign for Voyager that would be considered manly (well sexist). :rolleyes:

Its true that Virgin and (the old) Star Trek were/are both extremely sexist.

You're probably sick of William Shatner now... he's Canadian. So was Lorne Green who ran the ranch on TV's Bonanza. So was Perry Mason...(Raymond Burr) also seen as Iron Sides... or Iron Chair or something.
 
  • #22
GCT said:
Why is there so much of Star Trek on the " manly " Spike channel?

Because the majority rules. :biggrin:
 
  • #23
With so many channels about and all starved for content, then any constituency like ST looks like honey for drawing in the Star Trek sweet tooths. The bottom line is selling ad-time. And if ST gets them sales and the cost of the reruns is low ... well that just means sweet music in the boardroom. New content is usually more expensive to produce. Though game shows like Deal or No Deal or those Millionaire question shows aren't very expensive and they can grind out plenty of those.

On the manly scale of things at least Star Trek is more manly than say Martha Stewart or Jeopardy or The View or the trashy daytime soap shows.
 
  • #24
turbo-1 said:
To Star Trek fans: I don't want to talk to you no more, you empty headed animal food trough wiper! I fart in your general direction! Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries!

Get the boxed set of Babylon 5 on DVD and be happy. Plenty of character development, twists, loyalty, betrayal, hidden agendas, etc. In contrast, Roddenberry's ST was "Gunsmoke" set in space, with very formulaic plots and cardboard cut-out characters. "I canna get na more out of her, Captain" "Dammit, Jim I'm a doctor, not a (insert profession here)"

I loved Babylon 5. I was rather disappointed with the few episodes of the new season after the original metaplot expired though.

I just recently finished watching Red Dwarf. I was rather disappointed there too since I had heard it talked up so much. The mid seasons especially were pretty crappy.

I show I liked a lot when it came out was Legend with Richard Dean Anderson and John Delancey. I was sad that it died such a quick death.

Firefly also died far too quickly for as good as it was. Considering that just about every other show on television at the time was absolute crap Firefly rocked sox.

The next geeky tv show I will be watching is a Canadian show (which makes me wary since I have never watched anything that was specifically Canadian I don't think) called Total Recall 2070. The reviews I read looked good.
 
  • #25
I loved firefly. Loved the movie too. Thanks for reminding me. I'll have to get those episodes again.
Family Guy got canceled and fan outcry brought it back and that show sucks. Wish it happened to firefly.
 
  • #26
TheStatutoryApe said:
I loved Babylon 5. I was rather disappointed with the few episodes of the new season after the original metaplot expired though.

I just recently finished watching Red Dwarf. I was rather disappointed there too since I had heard it talked up so much. The mid seasons especially were pretty crappy.

I show I liked a lot when it came out was Legend with Richard Dean Anderson and John Delancey. I was sad that it died such a quick death.

Firefly also died far too quickly for as good as it was. Considering that just about every other show on television at the time was absolute crap Firefly rocked sox.

The next geeky tv show I will be watching is a Canadian show (which makes me wary since I have never watched anything that was specifically Canadian I don't think) called Total Recall 2070. The reviews I read looked good.

Stargate Atlantis and all the Stargate shows were shot in this town. X-Files was shot here over a 5 year period. Great for employment! We shot 2 X-Men movies and Fantastic Four here too. Excellent camera crane work + all the CGI was out of here. The only recent series to start making it is "Smallville" which I have to admit I like. But anything beats "I Wanna Be Famished" ... or "Top Models on the Run"... or "Lost on a Garbage Heap with a Pharmaceutical Rep".

I really do like a lot of other American shows... top notch, what what.

I see someone thinks "Little Mosque On The Prarie" will make it as an American show. That's out of Saskatchewan, Ca.
 
  • #27
baywax said:
Stargate Atlantis and all the Stargate shows were shot in this town. X-Files was shot here over a 5 year period. Great for employment! We shot 2 X-Men movies and Fantastic Four here too. Excellent camera crane work + all the CGI was out of here. The only recent series to start making it is "Smallville" which I have to admit I like. But anything beats "I Wanna Be Famished" ... or "Top Models on the Run"... or "Lost on a Garbage Heap with a Pharmaceutical Rep".

I really do like a lot of other American shows... top notch, what what.

I see someone thinks "Little Mosque On The Prarie" will make it as an American show. That's out of Saskatchewan, Ca.

I know that many shows and movies are filmed in Canada. I'm just not aware of any shows that were originally Canadian television shows, broadcast there before being picked up elsewhere.
 
  • #28
Spike might show too much Star Trek. but the show that is on WAY to much is "Two and a half Men" I hate that show and it's on all the time.
 
  • #29
TheStatutoryApe said:
I know that many shows and movies are filmed in Canada. I'm just not aware of any shows that were originally Canadian television shows, broadcast there before being picked up elsewhere.

Little Mosque on the Prairie was broadcast here for about 2 years before the premise got picked up in your neck of the woods.

We keep picking up the "Idol" shows and calling them Canadian. Howie Mandel from Deal or No Deal is a Canadian on an American show.

I don't think you'll ever see Don Messer's Jubalee, Tommy Hunter's Variety show, The Smother Brothers might have made it south of the tundra.

We also had "The Friendly Giant" and "Mr. Dressup" which were never in the US (kid's show) and "Fred Penner". "Reach for the Top" (high schools competing in intellectual prowess)

We have the "Compassionate Eye" on CBC and many other "in-depth" hour long reports/documentaries. You should see those... you never will on your networks because they really get digging deep into stuff like your government... the Queen... The Prince and so on... very cool stuff.

You should see how it works. The CBC is funded by the taxpayer. It turns around and chews the crap out of the Government. The Government turns around and cuts their funding. Then we vote the Liberals back in and the CBC gets better funding again...

The "South Park" portrayal of Canadians is fairly accurate... except... we don't want to invade the US... we're just trying to separate North America with a big mote dug by gofers and badgers.
 
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  • #30
Of course there is the most frightening Canadian horror show of all time that played in Vegas for 5 years... Celine Dion
 

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