‘Enterprise’ Visits Familiar Territory

How many Klingons does it take to screw in a lightbulb? Never mind.

All you need to know is there’s a new Enterprise in prime time, this one going boldly where other TV starshippers have gone many times before.

The newcomer arrives in a UPN series succeeding its “Star Trek: Voyager,” which came after “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine,” which followed “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” which was spun from Gene Roddenberry’s “Star Trek.”

A prequel to that original series, “Enterprise” is set in the 22nd century when deep-space exploration is still fairly new and the United Federation of Planets still decades in the future, accounting for the clankiness of this starship compared with those that will follow, and for the fresh enthusiasm of its captain.

Yet Capt. Jonathan Archer (Scott Bakula) already has that Kirkian gleam, wearing his smarts, sensitivity and machismo like a chestful of medals. Although some of his crew lacks flair, he does have with him the jovial Dr. Phlox (John Billingsley), airsick linguist Hoshi Sato (Linda Park) and most significantly his own sensual Spockbabe in Vulcan science officer T’Pol (Jolene Blalock). Her various endowments are as admirable as her logic.

The maiden voyage these kids take together tonight has them transporting a badly wounded Klingon back to his warrior planet. Says Archer: “Four days there and four days back.” Ha!

Wouldn’t you know there’s an intergalactic conspiracy afoot. A hint: Keep your eyes peeled for sleek and slithery characters known as the Suliban. Think Cirque du Soleil acrobats with bad skin and an attitude.

Trekkies either will raise the bar impossibly high for this series or watch it because they watch everything with this brand. Speaking as a viewer outside that category, this two-hour premiere is mildly entertaining, but mostly plays rather tepidly, its occasional glints of intellect pushed far into the background by action. Typifying the latter is a cheesy shootout that earns a cease-fire well before it’s finally brought to a halt.

Nor is there much of a period sense here. Although this takes place about 150 years from now, the humans have that 2001 look, as if they all stepped right out of Peoria. If you’re wondering, that’s a planet in another galaxy.

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“Enterprise” premieres tonight at 8 on UPN. The network has rated it TV-PG (may be unsuitable for young children).