NBC created the perfect template for Star Trek to follow with future comedies

One of the biggest issues with doing a comedy within the Star Trek universe is that so much of the franchise's foundation is rooted in a series that does take itself seriously. For some reason, some think that's passé, and want to tear down any group that holds itself too seriously. Personally, I don't think there's anything wrong with a serious creative property.

Not everything has to be silly or poke fun at the foundation of the franchise. Like Star Trek: Lower Decks did. It felt like they were hellbent on poking fun at every piece of Star Trek lore that meant something to somebody. Nothing was sacred and everything was fair game. For better or worse. It turned off fans, as some fans thought Lower Decks was purposefully irreverent towards the greater franchise.

That's the risk you run with comedy. For a lot of writers, all they know how to do is poke fun at concepts that others hold dear. So that's why it's usually a solid idea to avoid doing comedies when your franchise is known for talking about grand and important issues.

Yet, if Star Trek is hellbent on trying their hands again at a comedy, and it sounds like they are, there is a template that works that they should consider using. In 2017, NBC picked up a comedy series that was funny, yet paid respect to the source material without tearing it down or belittling it. That show was called Powerless.

Featuring Vanessa Hudgens, Danny Pudi, Ron Funches, Alan Tudyk, and others, the series did a great job of being funny, while not dismissing the source material from which the show popped up from. It worked for a season before getting canceled but the general tone was light-hearted and fans of DC Comics seemed to enjoy the show for the most part.

It wasn't cruel or dismissive, and it didn't make you feel bad for liking something. It didn't point its finger at you and make you feel dismissed. It uplifted its viewers by showing you a main character who looked up to the same heroes that the viewers did.

Star Trek can be absurd, for sure. Absurdity is the root of a lot of comedy and so Star Trek lends itself naturally to the concept. If you're going to do a comedy, don't make it feel like you're poking fun at the franchise or the concept of Star Trek. Show us a hero who looks up to the best of the franchise too. That's a good starting point for further adventures.

From there you can develop a comedy that Star Trek fans could enjoy. One with softer edges and a more accepting sense of humor.