Fans Rally To Save 'Enterprise'

Carrying signs reading "WHAT WOULD KIRK DO?", "PORTHOS FOR PRESIDENT" and "SAVE THE BEST STAR TREK COUPLE EVER", fans from around the world converged at Paramount Pictures this morning to encourage the studio to continue production of Star Trek: Enterprise.

Reuters said that the franchise has "perhaps the most loyal fan base in the world" and noted that none wore costumes at this serious event, insisting, in the words of Candice McCallie of TrekUnited.com, that the series "is quality television, unlike a lot of the reality you see on TV today."

The official Star Trek site at StarTrek.com estimated the crowd at between 120 and 150 people including Trek founder Gene Roddenberry's son Eugene Roddenberry, Jr., who filmed the event for his upcoming documentary Trek Nation; actor Anthony Montgomery of Enterprise; staff members Mike Sussman, Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens, Andre Bormanis and Ron B. Moore, among others; and executive producer Manny Coto.

Coto, who identified himself as a longtime Star Trek fan, addressed the crowd by bullhorn, saying, "This is an overwhelming response...this is a great show, it's a great franchise. It will continue."

StarTrek.com reported that motorists along Melrose Avenue outside the studio gates honked their car horns in solidarity with the demonstrators. Sci Fi Universe has some video footage of the rally.

The demonstration was spearheaded by TrekUnited.com, the group which hopes to raise more than $30 million dollars to fund a fifth season of Enterprise. Currently the group has raised $50,000, but an article at Wired linked from TrekUnited.com itself states that the campaign claims to be close to securing $3 million from three anonymous donors who helped fund a commercial space flight venture.

The BBC reported on a protest by Star Trek fans in Israel, photos of which can be seen at Sci Fi Universe.

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