Longtime Producer To Leave Star Trek?

A staff member who has worked with the Star Trek franchise for 18 years may be departing to work on a new series, according to rumours.

Sources have told TrekWeb that Merri D. Howard, who joined Star Trek during The Next Generation in 1987, may depart her position as supervising producer on Star Trek: Enterprise to work on a pilot for another show. The report adds that Howard may remain on the credits until Enterprise winds down production for the season in March, but she is unliekly to return should the series come back for a fifth season.

Howard worked on MacGyver before becoming an assistant director on The Next Generation, after which she became a production manager and later a line producer. After moving to Star Trek: Voyager with several other crew members when The Next Generation concluded its seven-year run, she rose to the position of Co-Supervising Producer and later Supervising Producer, a title she retained on Enterprise.

As Supervising Producer, Howard is in charge of choosing directors and working with editors to make certain that each episode is completed on time and within the constraints of the budget. It is within her purview to elimate shots that would be too costly with their planned special effects or sets.

This news should be treated as hearsay until such time as it is confirmed by Paramount or by Howard herself. The original item is at .

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