‘Star Trek’: Scott Bakula Reveals Why ‘Enterprise’ Stands out From His Other Roles

Twenty-five years after Enterprise first launched, Scott Bakula remains both reflective and grounded about his place in Star Trek‘s 60-year legacy. Bakula’s Capt. Jonathan Archer helped lay the groundwork for everything that followed chronologically, even if the series itself took time to find an audience. The ship he commanded was the first one designated the Enterprise by Starfleet. (The action took place over 100 years before James T. Kirk explored space and captained his own version of the ship.)

Now, with renewed fan appreciation and another generation discovering his show, Bakula is revisiting that era with fresh perspective. The 71-year-old Emmy- and Tony-nominated star of Quantum Leap, Men of a Certain Age, NCIS: New Orleans, and too many plays and musicals to count looks back on Enterprise, the enduring pull of Star Trek, and more.

What’s harder to believe, that we are celebrating Star Trek‘s 60th anniversary or that Enterprise debuted 25 years ago?

Scott Bakula: Star Trek‘s 60th anniversary is definitely worth celebrating. It’s a remarkable achievement. But I can’t fathom that it’s 25 years since Enterprise debuted, or that it’s been such a part of my life for this long. I have four children, and my youngest was about 2 when the show started. Owen is 27 now. That boggles my mind.

What does it mean to you to be a member of the Star Trek captain family?

It’s an honor. I knew when I signed for Enterprise that I was joining a very special club. Others have followed me, and now they are part of the family too. It shows you how much the club has changed and how long it has existed that our faces are so diverse. That reflects what Gene Roddenberry had in mind for Star Trek, and it can only be a good thing.

Last year, you attended the annual mega Star Trek convention in Las Vegas for the first time in a while due to your lengthy commitment to NCIS: New Orleans. How did you enjoy reconnecting with the fans?

I had a good time, and I’ll be there this year with most of our cast. I do these events to reconnect with our cast and the fans. I hear the fans’ stories about their love for Enterprise. These are people who want to be with each other and share an affection for Star Trek, and it’s something I enjoy being a part of when I’m available.

You had a thriving career before and after Enterprise. At this point, how do you view the series’ place in your life and work?

Star Trek is at another level. It’s international. There’s a community that’s incredibly invested. So much more comes with it than just playing a role. We did some very good work, and I’m proud of the show. Archer was an interesting character, and I’m happy I got to explore him for as long as I did. There was more story to tell for Archer and all the characters. So I made the right choice to do the show. It’s a highlight of my career. I’m also very pleased that I’ve had a career after Enterprise. I’ve done more plays and musicals. I’ve done other television series. There’s more I want to do, but Enterprise will always be up there, since it lives on differently than anything else I’ve done.

How much satisfaction do you take in knowing that many new Star Trek fans are discovering Enterprise and enjoying it, and many longtime fans who didn’t support it at the time are reassessing it?

I wish more people [watched] at the time, but there were several forces working against us. The show was hard to find because a lot of fans couldn’t access UPN. It took a while to find our footing. Some fans didn’t give us a chance. If fans are liking it now who didn’t 25 years ago, that’s great. Newer fans are discovering it and enjoying it, which is what any actor hopes will happen with their earlier projects. People still want to hear about my time on the show. I did [costars] Dominic [Keating] and Connor [Trinneer’s] podcast [The D-Con Chamber]. I did John Billingsley’s charity telethon [The Hollywood Food Coalition]. So the fan interest is still there.

Star Trek is currently in a holding pattern. But there has been a proposed new series, Star Trek: United, that would focus on an older version of Archer being the first-ever president of the United Federation of Planets. Are you hopeful that will happen?

That’s an idea that’s been suggested. I’m not actively involved. A lot of fans would like to see more Star Trek and perhaps see Archer be involved. But there are new people in charge of the franchise, new owners of the studio. The franchise benefitted from a rest after Enterprise. There had been some fatigue with the number of shows and movies, and that may be what’s happening. Nothing is on my radar right now. But I know better than to say never.