With May 20th quickly approaching, everyone from former Trek producers to NASA administrators are pondering whether or not Star Trek: Enterprise will be renewed for a fourth season, or share the fate of the original series, Star Trek, which was cancelled after just three seasons.

In an article at USA Today, Bill Keveney noted that if Enterprise is not renewed, this fall would be the first season in seventeen years without a first-run Star Trek series. Despite the show's dwindling ratings, Keveney noted several factors in its favor, not the least being the approximately $200 million that Paramount makes from the various Trek series, movies, and merchandise.

Former Star Trek: Deep Space Nine producer and creator, Michael Piller believes Enterprise will be renewed, but said that no matter what happens, he doesn't believe this will be the end of Trek. "It wouldn't be the end of the world," Piller says. "It will be back. It will be great again."

Though Enterprise creator Rick Berman has spoken confidently about the show's chances of renewal (story), he does acknowledge that it might be time for the long-running franchise to take a break. "As to whether it could use a rest for a while, that's a valid question," Berman commented. "I think, eventually, Star Trek will be taking a breather." Berman also mentioned that the prequel movie that has been discussed would not involve Enterprise.

UPN's most recent success has been a reality show: America's Next Top Model. Stacey Lynn Koerner, who works at the media firm Initiative, speculated about whether or not Enterprise will be in line with the rest of UPN's fall programming, much of which consists of sitcoms and new reality shows. "The pivotal question is really how UPN sees the Star Trek franchise within its total strategy going forward," she said.

Others look at the bigger picture; Ed Weiler, the associate administrator for space science at NASA, believes the loss of Enterprise would be a symbolic loss. Weiler believes the show inspires young people to look to the sciences for careers, and that it would be "a sad statement" if it indicated people were turning away from "exploring and dreaming."

To read the original story, please visit USA Today.

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