'Enterprise' blasts off into familiar space

From the Eugenics wars to the Orions to Vulcans stressing peace, Star Trek: Enterprise is boldly going back to the roots planted by Trek creator Gene Roddenberry.

At least, that's the intention of Manny Coto, the show's new executive producer.

And Scott Bakula said he expects his character, Capt. Jonathan Archer, will become more like Capt. Kirk.

"The theme this season is a Star Trek fan's dream as we concentrate on building and deepening the Star Trek universe with stories that connect with the original series and the Next Generation," Mr. Coto said.

Enterprise began filming in mid-July; the season premiere, in the new 8 p.m. Friday time slot on UPN, airs Oct. 8.

Brent Spiner, who played the android Data on Star Trek: The Next Generation, will appear in a three-episode arc beginning in late October or early November. Mr. Spiner plays the great-great grandfather of Dr. Noonien Soong, the inventor of Data, and Mr. Coto said Mr. Spiner's character will be connected with the Eugenics War, an event mentioned in the original series.

William Shatner, forever known as Capt. Kirk, also might be a guest star, but Mr. Shatner, who has a starring role in the Practice spinoff, Boston Legal, on ABC, said he is still in negotiations.

Other Enterprise stories will involve the Orions, another species from the original series, and the Vulcan Reformation, taking the series to the planet Vulcan, Mr. Coto said.

Jolene Blalock, who plays Vulcan officer T'Pol, said she is impressed with Mr. Coto's stories, which resolve last season's cliffhanger.

"This year is going to be the best year," Ms. Blalock said.

Mr. Coto plans several short, multiple-episode story arcs instead of one seasonlong arc.

UPN entertainment President Dawn Ostroff defended moving the series to 8 p.m. Fridays from its Wednesday time slot.

"It was important to the studio (to get enough episodes for future syndication for the reruns)," she said, explaining the series' renewal for a fourth season, "but we thought it was an exciting opportunity to move it to Friday nights, where The X-Files thrived."