| Issue Date: September 23, 2001
Scott Bakula leaps into the not-so-distant future
A century before Capt. James T. Kirk and his crew boldly went where no man had gone before, Capt. Jonathan Archer commanded the helm of the starship Enterprise. The latest "Star Trek" series, which premieres Wednesday (8 p.m. ET, UPN), is set in 2151. As the newest captain, "Enterprise" star Scott Bakula, 46, told us what to expect:
Are you a "Star Trek" fan?
I've been a sci-fi fan my whole life. In the '70s, I was hooked on the original [in syndication].
What one character would you like to guest-star on your show?
It would be great to have Capt. Kirk [William Shatner] show up. I think we would certainly knock heads a lot, but it would be for the right reasons.
You have some pretty big shoes to fill: Kirk, Picard, Sisko ... Who is Archer?
He's kind of raw. He's a very emotional guy. He tends to react before he thinks. His heart's on his sleeve, and he's not afraid to say things.
Since it's a prequel, will it be lower-tech? Won't fans miss the holodeck?
You can almost get your mind around what the world is going to be like in 150 years, so [it's] going to be more relatable. In terms of doing things compared to the first series, we're light-years beyond. [We have] cellphones smaller than the communicators they had. The technology we have now is so much better.
Do you believe life exists elsewhere in the universe?
Yes. I believe in the idea of it. I see no reason why it shouldn't.
Will there be stem cell research in the 22nd century?
It comes up in the pilot -- it definitely is relevant and relatable.
If we achieved time travel, where -- or when -- would you want to go?
Traveling into the future is much scarier than traveling into the past, because you know [the past]. As an actor, it would be great to go back and see one of the Barrymores perform.
But you can see Drew today. Will we see any shipboard romances?
I hope so. This is going to be a much sexier show.
Is Pluto a planet or not?
Pluto is definitely a dog. [Laughs.]
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