Bakula Bothered By Negativity

"I learned a long time ago that you have to focus on the work and let the other elements go because they’re out of your hands," Scott Bakula (Captain Archer) said, admitting that all the negative press attention focused on Star Trek: Enterprise takes its toll on the cast.

Speaking to Ian Spelling in Starlog, Bakula described the current critical environment as "tough."

"What I’ve done in the past is desperately try not to read the reviews," he stated. "It’s hard not to take them personally."

However, he added, other cast members do read criticism of the show and have expressed concern about its future. "They’ll come to me and say, 'Oh my God, what do you think is going to happen? Do you think we’re going to be cancelled?'"

Bakula noted that because magazines and newspapers exist to make money, and negative publicity sells as well as positive press, he can separate his work from his understanding that "there’s a business out there that lives off of trying to get attention – that sensationalizes situations to sell issues."

"Everyone believes in the show," he said. "They believe in where we’re going. Paramount believes in Enterprise. If there really was a big, huge panic around here, traditionally what they do is fire some cast members and hire new people. But they haven’t done that."

In terms of changes he would like to see in the show, Bakula said that Archer should spend more time with all the other characters.

"We’ve made some nice strides with Trip," he said, citing "Cogenitor" and its tense conclusion: "We dug into their relationship a little bit."

This season, added the actor, "T’Pol and Archer will relate more as equals...she’s dealing with her emotions and place on the ship, but she has a captain who understands and appreciates her struggle."

"It’s great to be supported and loved and on a big roll," he concluded. "We’ve had those days, and I think we’ll have them again. But you also have to remember that there are these kinds of days, too. It’s a challenge."

The full interview may be found in the December 2003 issue of Starlog. Many thanks to Monica for the excerpts.

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