[ad_1]
NASA have paid tribute to The Orville, which honors the show’s cultural legacy and gives some much-needed hope for season 4. Sadly, there have been no further concrete updates about whether The Orville will return to either Hulu or Disney+ at some point in the future. However, the fact that Seth MacFarlane’s sci-fi comedy-drama has made an impact on the National Aeronautics and Space Administration is a good indicator of the show’s popularity.
It’s hoped, therefore, that the nod by NASA, and the performance of The Orville will be enough to convince executives to recommission the show. There are still plenty of stories to tell for The Orville‘s Captain Ed Mercer (Seth MacFarlane) and his crew, so many are currently crossing their fingers that season 4 will happen. In the meantime, the inclusion of characters from The Orville in a recent NASA report does give hope for the show’s future.
The Orville’s NASA Tribute Brings Hope Season 4 Could Happen
The 2023 Research Opportunities In Earth And Space Sciences (ROSES-23) contains references to characters from The Orville, included in a hypothetical research proposal. The names included are those of Ed Mercer, Kelly Grayson (Adrianne Palicki), Claire Finn (Penny Johnson Jerald), and Bortus (Peter Macon). The proposal also contains deep cut references to Bortus’ planet of origin, Moclus, and Dr. Claire Finn’s time at the Saturnian School of Medical Sciences. It also includes a shout-out for Alara Kitan, played by Halston Sage, who left The Orville in season 2.
It’s clear, therefore, that whoever put the hypothetical proposal together for ROSES-23 is a fan of The Orville. While it’s hardly surprising that someone who works for NASA is also drawn to a sci-fi comedy-drama, it’s a good sign of the show’s cultural reach. Being able to prove that reach to network executives could be beneficial for season 4’s chances. The links between The Orville and NASA also draw a further connection between the show and Star Trek, the classic sci-fi franchise that inspired it.
NASA Further Connects The Orville & Star Trek
Star Trek was hugely influential on the next generation of NASA staff from astronauts to technicians, thanks to Nichelle Nichols, who played Uhura in Star Trek: The Original Series. Despite Star Trek being canceled after season 3, NASA hired Nichols in 1977 to assist with diversifying their recruitment policies. Appreciating the cultural impact of Star Trek, despite its cancelation, NASA knew that Nichols was the perfect person to help inspire women and people of color to apply to NASA.
While Star Trek‘s three seasons had a considerably larger episode count than The Orville‘s, the link between both shows and NASA does give hope for the future. Two years after NASA hired Nichols, Star Trek: The Motion Picture was released in theaters, launching the TOS movie franchise. It was the culmination of the show’s increasing popularity in syndication, and the positive cultural impact Gene Roddenberry’s vision was having on contemporary America. As The Orville continues to gain a following by streaming on Hulu and Disney+, and features in NASA research reports, there’s still hope that it too can escape cancelation.
[ad_2]
Source link
