Jump to content

Ira Steven Behr: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
No edit summary
GreenC bot (talk | contribs)
Bots
2,517,471 edits
 
(217 intermediate revisions by more than 100 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Short description|American screen writer and television producer}}
'''Ira Steven Behr''' is an [[United States|American]] [[television producer]] and [[scriptwriter]]. He is mostly known for his involvement in the writing and production of [[science fiction]] series ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation]]'' (TNG) and especially as [[executive producer]] on ''[[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine]]'' (DS9), as well as his trademark sunglasses he wears indoors. He currently serves as writer and executive producer on ''[[The 4400]]''.
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2019}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Ira Steven Behr
| image = Ira Steven Behr.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Pictured at [[San Diego Comic-Con International|San Diego Comicon 2011]]
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1953|10|23}}
| birth_place = [[New York City|New York]], New York
| death_date = <!-- {{Death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} or {{Death-date and age|Month DD, YYYY|Month DD, YYYY}} (death date then birth date) -->
| death_place =
| other_names =
| spouse = Laura Behr
| children = <!-- 2 -->
| occupation = Television screenwriter and producer
| known_for = ''[[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine]]''
}}


'''Ira Steven Behr''' (born October 23, 1953) is an American [[screenwriter]] and [[television producer]], best known for his work on ''[[Star Trek]]'', especially ''[[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine]]'', on which he served as [[showrunner]] and executive producer. He was the executive producer and showrunner on ''[[Crash (2008 TV series)|Crash]]'', executive producer on Syfy's ''[[Alphas]]'' and a writer and co-executive producer on ''[[Outlander (TV series)|Outlander]]''.


==Biography==
Behr was born in New York City to a [[American Jews|Jewish]] family.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YmBKCAAAQBAJ&q=ira+behr |first=Yonassan |last=Gershom |title=Jewish Themes in Star Trek |date=March 13, 2013 |publisher=Lulu.com |isbn=9781458397683}}</ref> He studied at [[Lehman College]] in [[New York City]]. After graduating, he moved to [[Los Angeles]] to pursue a career writing comedies for television and film.<ref name="startrek-biog">{{cite web |title=Behr |url=https://www.startrek.com/database_article/behr |website=Star Trek.com }}</ref>

Behr is married to Laura Feder, who is credited as choreographer on three episodes of ''Deep Space Nine'' and one episode of ''Voyager''.<ref>Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episodes: "[[Statistical Probabilities]]"<!-- end credits, at approximately 44m55s, same screen as music and sound editors -->, "[[His Way (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|His Way]]", and "[[Badda-Bing Badda-Bang]]". Star Trek: Voyager episode "[[Someone to Watch Over Me (Star Trek: Voyager)|Someone to Watch Over Me]]".</ref><ref>Erdmann (2000) page 514 "Laura Behr is a fabulous choreographer"</ref><ref>Erdmann (2000) page 666 "His wife, Laura, once again served as choreographer"</ref>

==Career==
⚫
===Early work===
Behr's first writing job was on the dramatic series ''[[Bret Maverick]].''<ref name="startrek-biog" /> Behr continued to work on television dramas, throughout the 1980s, among them:


⚫
== Early career ==
Behr graduated his studies of [[Mass Communication]]s and [[Theater]] in [[Lehman College]] in [[New York City]]. He was then offered a [[playwright|playwriting]] [[scholarship]] at [[Brandeis University]]. Behr decided not to accept it, and instead moved to [[Los Angeles]] in pursuit of a career in writing [[comedy|comedies]] for [[Television comedy|television]] and [[comedy film|film]]. Behr succeeded in starting a career, but made his mark on television drama instead. His credits during that period include:
* ''[[Maverick (TV series)|Maverick]]'' (1981, first job as a television writer)
* ''[[Jessica Novak]]'' (1981, story editor)
* ''[[Jessica Novak]]'' (1981, story editor)
* ''[[Fame (1982 TV series)|Fame]]'' (1982, writer and producer)
* ''[[Fame (1982 TV series)|Fame]]'' (1982, writer and producer)
* ''[[Seven Brides for Seven Brothers]]'' (1982, writer)
* ''[[Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (TV series)|Seven Brides for Seven Brothers]]'' (1982, writer)
* ''[[Bring 'Em Back Alive]]'' (1982, writer)
* ''[[Bring 'Em Back Alive (TV series)|Bring 'Em Back Alive]]'' (1982, writer)
* ''[[Once a Hero]]'' (1987, writer and producer)
* ''[[Once a Hero]]'' (1987, writer and producer)
* ''[[The Bronx Zoo]]'' (1987, writer)
* ''[[The Bronx Zoo (TV series)|The Bronx Zoo]]'' (1987, writer)

⚫
===''Star Trek''===
After several years writing and producing television, and while still a staff writer at ''[[Beyond Reality (TV series)|Beyond Reality]]'', Behr was hired as a [[Television producer|producer]] during ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation]]''{{'}}s [[List of Star Trek: The Next Generation episodes#Season 3 (1989–1990)|third season]].

Behr felt there were too many rules and regulations and felt creatively trapped, so he left [[Star Trek: The Next Generation|''The Next Generation'']] after a year.<ref name="Trek-0507">{{cite interview |date=July 5, 2011 |subject=Ira Behr |title=Ira Steven Behr Remembers DS9, Previews Alphas, Part 1 |url=http://www.startrek.com/article/ira-steven-behr-remembers-ds9-previews-alphas-part-1 |website=StarTrek.com }}</ref> He remained good friends with [[Michael Piller]] and wrote the season 4 episode "[[Qpid]]" as a freelance writer. Piller persuaded him to join the new series ''[[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine]]'' as a supervising producer.<ref name="Trek-0507" /> At the start of the [[List of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episodes#Season 2 (1993–1994)|second season]], Behr was promoted to co-executive producer. The following year, co-creator [[Michael Piller]] left to produce the next ''Star Trek'' series, ''[[Star Trek: Voyager]]'' and Behr replaced him as showrunner and executive producer. As showrunner, Behr reported to head executive producer and franchise chief [[Rick Berman]]. Although they would disagree on many things, Behr said they had a good working relationship.<ref name="Trek-0607" />

Behr went on to write a total of 53 out of 176 ''[[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine|Deep Space Nine]]'' episodes, more than any other writer.

As executive producer, Behr was largely responsible for the [[story arc]] of the show, from [[Bajoran]] politics to the [[Dominion War]]. This complex serialized story was a departure from the traditional ''Star Trek'' episodic format, and the war narrative was a break from the typically hopeful ''Star Trek'' vision of the future.<ref name="Trek-0607">{{cite interview |date=July 6, 2011 |subject=Ira Behr |title=Ira Steven Behr Remembers DS9, Part 2 |url=https://www.startrek.com/article/ira-steven-behr-remembers-ds9-part-2 |website=StarTrek.com }}</ref>


⚫
Behr wrote or co-wrote some of the most important episodes in the [[Dominion (Star Trek)|Dominion]] arc, including "[[The Jem'Hadar]]", "[[The Search (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|The Search]]", "[[The Way of the Warrior (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|The Way of the Warrior]]", "[[Broken Link (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|Broken Link]]", "[[Apocalypse Rising]]", "[[In Purgatory's Shadow]]", "[[By Inferno's Light]]", "[[Call to Arms (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|Call to Arms]]", "[[Sacrifice of Angels]]", "[[Tears of the Prophets]]" and the final episode, "[[What You Leave Behind]]".


⚫
====Developing the Ferengi====
⚫
=== Star Trek period ===
Behr also had a significant role in the development of the [[Ferengi]] alien race during his work on ''Deep Space Nine''.<ref name="startrek-biog" /> Although the Ferengi were first introduced in the [[List of Star Trek: TNG episodes#Season 1 (1987–1988)|first season]] of ''The Next Generation'' as a potential major antagonist, they proved unsuccessful, and in subsequent seasons became an occasional source of [[comic relief]]. But it was not until ''Deep Space Nine'', which included a [[Quark (Star Trek)|Ferengi character]] in its regular cast, that the Ferengi were truly explored in any depth. Behr was involved with most of the early Ferengi-related episodes, and introduced the concept of the Ferengi [[Rules of Acquisition]] and wrote most of the rules which appeared on the show. These rules were later published as ''The Ferengi Rules of Acquisition, by Quark as told to Ira Steven Behr'' ({{ISBN|0-671-52936-6}}). Along with fellow ''Deep Space Nine'' producer [[Robert Hewitt Wolfe]], Behr also co-wrote ''Legends of the Ferengi'', a collection of short stories involving the Rules of Acquisition.({{ISBN|0-671-57901-0}})


====Documentary====
Behr's first involvement with Star Trek began as a [[Television producer|producer]] for TNG during its [[List of Star Trek: The Next Generation episodes#Season 3 (1989-1990)|third season]]. Behr left the series to seek a screenwriting career at the end of the season. During this time, he also served as a writer for the television series ''[[Beyond Reality]]'' (1991).
Behr was the driving force behind the documentary ''[[What We Left Behind]]''.<ref>{{cite web |date=May 9, 2019 |title=Ira Steven Behr on Passion Project That Dominated Six Years of His Life |url=https://www.startrek.com/news/deep-space-nine-what-we-left-behind-ira-behr-interview |website=StarTrek.com }}</ref><ref name="Gullickson">{{cite web |date=13 July 2019 |author=Brad Gullickson |title=Ira Steven Behr Confronts His Legacy and Fandom in 'What We Left Behind' |url=https://filmschoolrejects.com/ira-steven-behr-star-trek-interview/ |website=[[Film School Rejects]] }}</ref>


⚫
===Post-''Star Trek'' ===
Behr's major involvement in Star Trek began in 1993 when he was appointed [[supervising producer]] for the pilot of DS9, [[Emissary (DS9 episode)|"Emissary"]]. in the [[List of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episodes#Season 3 (1994-1995)|third season]] of the show he became a co-executive producer, and later during the show he took the full responsibility of an executive producer. He appeared in the second part of the final episode of the series as an uncredited extra, along with most of the show's production staff.


Behr left ''Star Trek'' following the completion of ''Deep Space Nine''{{'}}s seventh season in 1999. He again worked with [[René Echevarria]] on season two of <!-- Fox -->''[[Dark Angel (2000 TV series)|Dark Angel]]'' (2000) as a [[consulting producer]]. Behr served as writer and executive producer on the short lived series <!-- ABC -->''[[Bob Patterson (TV series)|Bob Patterson]]'' (2001), which was created by and starred [[Jason Alexander]].<ref>{{cite web |date=3 November 2001 |author= |title=ABC Takes 'Patterson' Off Lineup |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-nov-03-fi-65281-story.html |website=[[Los Angeles Times]] }}</ref>
=== Contributions to the Star Trek Universe ===
He returned to Paramount for the revival of ''[[The Twilight Zone (2002 series)|The Twilight Zone]]'' (2002) as writer and executive producer. It aired on [[UPN]] directly after ''[[Star Trek: Enterprise]]'',<ref>{{cite web |date=September 23, 2002 |author=Susan King |title=UPN Hoping It Can Revive the Magic of 'Twilight Zone' Series |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-sep-23-et-susan23-story.html |website=[[Los Angeles Times]] |quote=pitching Twilight Zone as a companion piece to the UPN series Star Trek: Enterprise }}</ref> and ran for a single season of 42 episodes. Behr described the fast production turnaround as insane but, despite the difficulty he found the camaraderie and the dedication in the writer's room rewarding, and said that almost all of the writers would have been willing to do it again for another season if they had been given the chance. He thought [[UPN]] did not really want the show, and that it was not a good fit for the network.<ref name="Trek-0607" /> He also worked as writer and consulting producer on the series ''[[Dr. Vegas]]'' (2004). René Echevarria created the series <!-- CBS -->''[[The 4400]]'' (2004–2007), which Behr joined as a writer and took over as executive producer. The series ran for four seasons, and Behr enjoyed the experience and thought "we did some really good episodes."<ref name="Trek-0607" /><ref>{{cite web |date=May 30, 2007 |last=Pascale |first=Anthony |title=Behr on Voyager, Trek XI & Future of 4400 |url=https://trekmovie.com/2007/05/30/behr-on-voyager-and-trek-xi/ |website=TrekMovie.com |quote=The 4400 has more Trek connections beyond Behr. The show was created by DS9 writer/producer René Echevarria.}}</ref>
⚫
====Development of the Ferengi race====
Behr had a significant role in the development of the [[Ferengi]] alien race during his work on DS9. He wrote or was involved in the creation of many important Ferengi-related episodes. Behr introduced the concept of the Ferengi [[Rules of Acquisition]], wrote most of them and published them in a humorous book carrying this name. He also co-wrote with [[Robert Hewitt Wolfe]] a collection of short stories and fables based on the Ferengi Rules of Acquisition entitled "Legends of the Ferengi," which was published by [[Pocket Books]].


In 2017 Behr produced the feature film [[Lucky (2017 American film)|''Lucky'']] starring [[Harry Dean Stanton]].<ref name="Gullickson" />
The Ferengi race was first introduced in the [[List of Star Trek: TNG episodes#Season 1 (1987-1988)|first season]] of TNG, and was supposed to act as a major [[antagonist]] of the series. The Ferengi instead became a source of [[comic relief]] and continued to play this role on Deep Space Nine where Ferengi-related stories provided comic takes on such issues as [[greed]], [[capitalism]], [[social conservatism]] and [[feminism]].


====Deep Space Nine's story arc====
===''Crash: Season 2''===
In February 2009, Behr was named head writer for the Starz TV series ''[[Crash (2008 TV series)|Crash]]'' (based on the Paul Haggis film) as it headed into Season 2, which aired in the fall of 2009.<ref>{{cite web |date=23 February 2009 |last=Andreeva |first=Nellie |title=Starz's 'Crash' getting retooled |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/starzs-crash-retooled-79742/ |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |access-date=October 1, 2021 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=February 24, 2009 |last=Goldman |first=Eric |title=4400 Executive Producer Will Crash |publisher=[[IGN]].com |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2009/02/24/4400-executive-producer-will-crash |access-date=October 1, 2021 }}</ref> After his disappointment at the cancellation of ''The 4400'', people were surprised that Behr chose to join the struggling show. He saw it as an opportunity, as they would be more open and willing to do things differently than if it had been a more successful show.<ref>{{cite web |date=2009-09-18 |author=Jim Halterman (TFC) |title=Interview: "Crash" Executive Producer Ira Steven Behr |url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/rant.aspx?id=20090918_crash |website=[[The Futon Critic]] }}</ref> Lead actor [[Dennis Hopper]] died in May 2010 and the series was not renewed for a third season.<ref>{{cite web |date=13 January 2010 |last=Andreeva |first=Nellie |title=Starz mulling future of 'Crash' |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/starz-mulling-future-crash-19502/ |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] }}</ref><ref name="Trek-0607" />
As executive producer, Behr held great responsibility for the [[story arc]] of the show, revolving around the [[Bajoran]] people and the [[Dominion War]]. This prolonged and complex story was a departure from the traditional Star Trek episodic format. It was also a departure for Star Trek in dealing with a long-term [[war]] (much as had been done on another contemporary science fiction television series, ''[[Babylon 5]]'').


===''Alphas''===
⚫
Behr personally wrote or co-wrote some of the most important episodes in the [[Dominion (Star Trek)|Dominion]] arc, including [[The Jem'Hadar (DS9 episode)|"The Jem'Hadar"]], [[The Search (DS9 episode)|"The Search"]], [[The Way of the Warrior (DS9 episode)|"The Way of the Warrior"]],[[Broken Link (DS9 episode)|"Broken Link"]], [[Apocalypse Rising (DS9 episode)|"Apocalypse Rising"]], [[In Purgatory's Shadow (DS9 episode)|"In Purgatory's Shadow"]], [[By Inferno's Light (DS9 episode)|"By Inferno's Light"]], [[Call to Arms (DS9 episode)|"Call to Arms"]], [[Sacrifice of Angels (DS9 episode)|"Sacrifice of Angels"]], [[Tears of the Prophets (DS9 episode)|"Tears of the Prophets"]] and the final episode, [[What You Leave Behind (DS9 episode)|"What You Leave Behind"]].
In December 2010, Behr was appointed head writer, show runner, and executive producer for Syfy Channel's ''[[Alphas]]'', for which a pilot, written by [[Zak Penn]] and Michael Karnow and directed by [[Jack Bender]], had been produced. Behr oversaw the remaining ten episodes of the eleven-episode first season.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2010/12/ira-steven-behr-to-run-syfy-series-alphas-92009/ |title=Ira Steven Behr To Run SyFy Series 'Alphas' |work=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |last=Andreeva |first=Nellie |date=December 20, 2010 |access-date=December 28, 2014 }}</ref>


===''Outlander''===
⚫
== Post Star Trek period ==
From 2014 to 2016, Behr served as writer and co-executive producer on ''[[Outlander (TV series)|Outlander]]'', alongside fellow ''Deep Space Nine'' contributor [[Ronald D. Moore]].<ref>{{cite podcast |date=14 July 2015 |author=Blake Larsen |title=Outlander Cast Chats w/ Outlander Executive Producer/Writer Ira Steven Behr - Episode 30 |url=https://www.outlandercast.com/2015/07/outlander-cast-chats-w-outlander-executive-producerwriter-ira-steven-behr-episode-30.html |website=OutlanderCast.com }}</ref>


==References==
Behr didn't return to Star Trek production after the completion of DS9's seven season run in 1999. Instead, he has been involved in the writing and production of other television shows. His credits include:
{{Reflist}}
* "[[Dark Angel (TV series)|Dark Angel]]" (2000, [[consulting producer]])
{{Refbegin}}
* "[[Bob Patterson]]" (2001, writer and executive producer)
* {{Cite book |last1=Erdmann |first1=Terry J. |title=Deep Space Nine Companion |last2=Block |first2=Paula M. |date=2000 |publisher=Simon and Schuster |isbn=978-0-671-50106-8 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kDe3VS07YSMC&pg=PA514 |via=Google Books }}
* "[[The Twilight Zone]]" (2002, writer and executive producer)
{{Refend}}
* "[[The 4400]]" (2004, writer and executive producer)
* "[[Dr. Vegas]]" (2004 writer and consulting producer)


== External links ==
==External links==
⚫
* [http://www.startrek.com/startrek/view/series/TNG/creative/69091.html Ira Steven Behr] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100622052752/http://www.startrek.com/startrek/view/series/TNG/creative/69091.html |date=June 22, 2010 }} at [http://www.startrek.com Startrek.com], the official [[Star Trek]] site
* {{IMDb name|0066985}}
<!-- Please note [[WP:EL]]. If these can be used as inline references, then include them in the main article instead -->
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20091012042453/http://www.ifmagazine.com/feature.asp?article=3546 Ira Steven Behr] interviewed by [[IF Magazine]], 2009-10-10
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110719235647/http://www.podfeed.net/episode/Tomorrow+Will+Be+Televised+9809+guest-Ira+Steven+Behr/2055374 Ira Steven Behr] interviewed by [[Tomorrow Will Be Televised]], 2009-09-09 (includes audio podcast)


{{Authority control}}
⚫
*[http://www.startrek.com/startrek/view/series/TNG/creative/69091.html Ira Steven Behr] at [http://www.startrek.com Startrek.com], the official [[Star Trek]] site
*[http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0066985 Ira Steven Behr] at the [http://www.imdb.com Internet Movie Database]
*{{Memoryalpha}}


[[Category:American screenwriters|Behr, Ira Steven]]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Behr, Ira Steven}}
[[Category:American television producers|Behr, Ira Steven]]
[[Category:1953 births]]
[[Category:Star Trek behind the scenes|Behr, Ira Steven]]
[[Category:American male screenwriters]]
[[Category:Star Trek script writers|Behr, Ira Steven]]
[[Category:Jewish American screenwriters]]
[[Category:American television producers]]
[[Category:American showrunners]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American male television writers]]
[[Category:American television writers]]
[[Category:21st-century American Jews]]

Latest revision as of 00:10, 16 November 2024

Ira Steven Behr
Pictured at San Diego Comicon 2011
Born (1953-10-23) October 23, 1953 (age 71)
New York, New York
Occupation(s)Television screenwriter and producer
Known forStar Trek: Deep Space Nine
SpouseLaura Behr

Ira Steven Behr (born October 23, 1953) is an American screenwriter and television producer, best known for his work on Star Trek, especially Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, on which he served as showrunner and executive producer. He was the executive producer and showrunner on Crash, executive producer on Syfy's Alphas and a writer and co-executive producer on Outlander.

Biography

[edit]

Behr was born in New York City to a Jewish family.[1] He studied at Lehman College in New York City. After graduating, he moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career writing comedies for television and film.[2]

Behr is married to Laura Feder, who is credited as choreographer on three episodes of Deep Space Nine and one episode of Voyager.[3][4][5]

Career

[edit]

Early work

[edit]

Behr's first writing job was on the dramatic series Bret Maverick.[2] Behr continued to work on television dramas, throughout the 1980s, among them:

Star Trek

[edit]

After several years writing and producing television, and while still a staff writer at Beyond Reality, Behr was hired as a producer during Star Trek: The Next Generation's third season.

Behr felt there were too many rules and regulations and felt creatively trapped, so he left The Next Generation after a year.[6] He remained good friends with Michael Piller and wrote the season 4 episode "Qpid" as a freelance writer. Piller persuaded him to join the new series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine as a supervising producer.[6] At the start of the second season, Behr was promoted to co-executive producer. The following year, co-creator Michael Piller left to produce the next Star Trek series, Star Trek: Voyager and Behr replaced him as showrunner and executive producer. As showrunner, Behr reported to head executive producer and franchise chief Rick Berman. Although they would disagree on many things, Behr said they had a good working relationship.[7]

Behr went on to write a total of 53 out of 176 Deep Space Nine episodes, more than any other writer.

As executive producer, Behr was largely responsible for the story arc of the show, from Bajoran politics to the Dominion War. This complex serialized story was a departure from the traditional Star Trek episodic format, and the war narrative was a break from the typically hopeful Star Trek vision of the future.[7]

Behr wrote or co-wrote some of the most important episodes in the Dominion arc, including "The Jem'Hadar", "The Search", "The Way of the Warrior", "Broken Link", "Apocalypse Rising", "In Purgatory's Shadow", "By Inferno's Light", "Call to Arms", "Sacrifice of Angels", "Tears of the Prophets" and the final episode, "What You Leave Behind".

Developing the Ferengi

[edit]

Behr also had a significant role in the development of the Ferengi alien race during his work on Deep Space Nine.[2] Although the Ferengi were first introduced in the first season of The Next Generation as a potential major antagonist, they proved unsuccessful, and in subsequent seasons became an occasional source of comic relief. But it was not until Deep Space Nine, which included a Ferengi character in its regular cast, that the Ferengi were truly explored in any depth. Behr was involved with most of the early Ferengi-related episodes, and introduced the concept of the Ferengi Rules of Acquisition and wrote most of the rules which appeared on the show. These rules were later published as The Ferengi Rules of Acquisition, by Quark as told to Ira Steven Behr (ISBN 0-671-52936-6). Along with fellow Deep Space Nine producer Robert Hewitt Wolfe, Behr also co-wrote Legends of the Ferengi, a collection of short stories involving the Rules of Acquisition.(ISBN 0-671-57901-0)

Documentary

[edit]

Behr was the driving force behind the documentary What We Left Behind.[8][9]

Post-Star Trek

[edit]

Behr left Star Trek following the completion of Deep Space Nine's seventh season in 1999. He again worked with René Echevarria on season two of Dark Angel (2000) as a consulting producer. Behr served as writer and executive producer on the short lived series Bob Patterson (2001), which was created by and starred Jason Alexander.[10] He returned to Paramount for the revival of The Twilight Zone (2002) as writer and executive producer. It aired on UPN directly after Star Trek: Enterprise,[11] and ran for a single season of 42 episodes. Behr described the fast production turnaround as insane but, despite the difficulty he found the camaraderie and the dedication in the writer's room rewarding, and said that almost all of the writers would have been willing to do it again for another season if they had been given the chance. He thought UPN did not really want the show, and that it was not a good fit for the network.[7] He also worked as writer and consulting producer on the series Dr. Vegas (2004). René Echevarria created the series The 4400 (2004–2007), which Behr joined as a writer and took over as executive producer. The series ran for four seasons, and Behr enjoyed the experience and thought "we did some really good episodes."[7][12]

In 2017 Behr produced the feature film Lucky starring Harry Dean Stanton.[9]

Crash: Season 2

[edit]

In February 2009, Behr was named head writer for the Starz TV series Crash (based on the Paul Haggis film) as it headed into Season 2, which aired in the fall of 2009.[13][14] After his disappointment at the cancellation of The 4400, people were surprised that Behr chose to join the struggling show. He saw it as an opportunity, as they would be more open and willing to do things differently than if it had been a more successful show.[15] Lead actor Dennis Hopper died in May 2010 and the series was not renewed for a third season.[16][7]

Alphas

[edit]

In December 2010, Behr was appointed head writer, show runner, and executive producer for Syfy Channel's Alphas, for which a pilot, written by Zak Penn and Michael Karnow and directed by Jack Bender, had been produced. Behr oversaw the remaining ten episodes of the eleven-episode first season.[17]

Outlander

[edit]

From 2014 to 2016, Behr served as writer and co-executive producer on Outlander, alongside fellow Deep Space Nine contributor Ronald D. Moore.[18]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Gershom, Yonassan (March 13, 2013). Jewish Themes in Star Trek. Lulu.com. ISBN 9781458397683.
  2. ^ a b c "Behr". Star Trek.com.
  3. ^ Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episodes: "Statistical Probabilities", "His Way", and "Badda-Bing Badda-Bang". Star Trek: Voyager episode "Someone to Watch Over Me".
  4. ^ Erdmann (2000) page 514 "Laura Behr is a fabulous choreographer"
  5. ^ Erdmann (2000) page 666 "His wife, Laura, once again served as choreographer"
  6. ^ a b Ira Behr (July 5, 2011). "Ira Steven Behr Remembers DS9, Previews Alphas, Part 1". StarTrek.com (Interview).
  7. ^ a b c d e Ira Behr (July 6, 2011). "Ira Steven Behr Remembers DS9, Part 2". StarTrek.com (Interview).
  8. ^ "Ira Steven Behr on Passion Project That Dominated Six Years of His Life". StarTrek.com. May 9, 2019.
  9. ^ a b Brad Gullickson (July 13, 2019). "Ira Steven Behr Confronts His Legacy and Fandom in 'What We Left Behind'". Film School Rejects.
  10. ^ "ABC Takes 'Patterson' Off Lineup". Los Angeles Times. November 3, 2001.
  11. ^ Susan King (September 23, 2002). "UPN Hoping It Can Revive the Magic of 'Twilight Zone' Series". Los Angeles Times. pitching Twilight Zone as a companion piece to the UPN series Star Trek: Enterprise
  12. ^ Pascale, Anthony (May 30, 2007). "Behr on Voyager, Trek XI & Future of 4400". TrekMovie.com. The 4400 has more Trek connections beyond Behr. The show was created by DS9 writer/producer René Echevarria.
  13. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (February 23, 2009). "Starz's 'Crash' getting retooled". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 1, 2021.
  14. ^ Goldman, Eric (February 24, 2009). "4400 Executive Producer Will Crash". IGN.com. Retrieved October 1, 2021.
  15. ^ Jim Halterman (TFC) (September 18, 2009). "Interview: "Crash" Executive Producer Ira Steven Behr". The Futon Critic.
  16. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (January 13, 2010). "Starz mulling future of 'Crash'". The Hollywood Reporter.
  17. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (December 20, 2010). "Ira Steven Behr To Run SyFy Series 'Alphas'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 28, 2014.
  18. ^ Blake Larsen (July 14, 2015). "Outlander Cast Chats w/ Outlander Executive Producer/Writer Ira Steven Behr - Episode 30". OutlanderCast.com (Podcast).
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Ira_Steven_Behr&oldid=1257643794"