In order to present the press with some basic information on its Fall programming, UPN recently sent out media kits containing fact sheets on all of next year's television shows. While most of the info already appeared online over the past month, the sheets did contain some interesting info bits on several of next year's UPN sci-fi shows.

Jeff 'Koganuts' Koga was able to obtain one of the Fall 2001-2002 press kits, and was kind enough to send in scans of the cover and of several of the sci-fi fact sheets. All the sheets contained a brief description of the shows, a listing of the producers and the production company, and a promotional image.

While most sheets contained photos of the cast or of the lead actor, for Enterprise such a photo did not yet exist at the time the press kit was created. Instead, UPN included the image shown to the left, featuring a blurry image of what looks to be some sort of corridor. Placed on top of the image are the Enterprise logo and the 'Back To Where It All Began' tagline. (Click on the image to see the full fact sheet.)

The promotional description for the show described it as "bridging the gap between today's world and that of the original Star Trek," and said it would be "sure to excite the show's enourmous fan base."

"Set early in the 22nd Century, Enterprise focuses on a history of the galactic upheaval that leads to the formation of the Federation," the sheet read. "Its compelling stories of team bravery and individual heroism are sure to answer countless questions for both die-hard fans of the series and neophytes to the Star Trek universe. [...] Starring a fresh young cast, this exciting new chapter continues to push the edge of the visual envelope with the kind of state of the art special effects that have made Star Trek a global phenomenon. "

"Through their struggles, humans and Vulcans, and numerous others, together will learn to work and live in harmony," the sheet continued, before ending with a rather cryptic closing sentence. "Like their forefathers before them, they strive for a better life and boldly go where no one has gone before!"

The press kit also contained information on Stephen King's The Dead Zone, which was ordered as a possible midseason replacement. The show was created by former Trek producer Michael Piller along with his son, former Voyager writer Shawn Piller, and stars Nicole deBoer (Ezri Dax) as Sarah. The series' main star is Anthony Michael Hall, who plays Sarah's boyfriend, Johnny Smith. (Click on the image to see the full fact sheet.)

In Dead Zone, Johnny Smith has to come to terms with the changed world around him when he awakes from a six-year coma, having turned into no more than a shadow of his former self. He discovers that Sarah, his former fiancée married, but that her son is really his. In the wake of his mother's death, he also suspects that his stepfather may have used Johnny's coma to further his career as television evangelist.

The main focus of the series will be the unique ability Johnny has gained when he awakens - when he touches other people, he can get glimpses of their past or future. The doctors try to explain it away as hallucinations originating in a dormant part of his brain, the titular 'Dead Zone,' but Johnny still has the gift, and will try to use it to "save lives and stop disasters."

Already premiering this Fall will be the new seasons of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Roswell. The cast photos used for those fact sheets were still the same as those used last season, when the show still aired on the WB, but they are still included below:

Buffy and Roswell will both be airing on Tuesdays next Fall, while Enterprise will occupy the Wednesday 8:00pm timeslot. No timeslot has yet been set for Stephen King's The Dead Zone.

Major thanks go out to Jeff 'Koganuts' Koga for the above scans! Please do keep in mind that all images are copyrighted by UPN.

Discuss this news item at Trek BBS!
 Add TrekToday RSS feed to your news reader or My Yahoo!
Also a CSI: Crime Scene Investigation fan? Then visit CSIFiles.com!