In a message dated 2/17/01 2:35:52 PM Eastern Standard Time, dshilling@worldnet.att.net writes:
<< But I'd say, au contraire, it's an enjoyable corporate extension of a media property--it would be a monument to a fandom if it was in somebody's basement in Peoria and she spent 10 years putting it together, or whatever. <<
Ah, but if it weren't for the ST fans, there would be no corporate extension, no ongoing property, no *industry* of STAR TREK, much less a steady stream of devotees who slap down money every day to enjoy this incredible attraction in Las Vegas. They would never bother. If there were no fandom, there would have been no ST beyond the reruns.
I watched my first B7 tape because of Jenkins,
and I still think he's right--fandom is the assertion that the real story of the show belongs to the people who love it, not the people who (by a mere technicality) happen to have a TV studio. >>
No argument about that from me. I am, however, currently conducting a debate about that point with a couple of the writers who worked on HIGHLANDER, over at alt.tv.Highlander. They insist that the opinion of the fans is irrelevant, and that we ought never be polled about what we want to see on a show in that universe. Sure. What do *we* know? As far as the professional producers, cast and staff are concerned, we're lucky they're doing anything for us at all. I suspect the same applies to the staff and crew of most series. That we'd better like what they do, because they know best.
Leah