Scott Bakula in 'Enterprise'. (File photo)

Unlike most people who've been given command of a Federation Starship, Scott Bakula probably won't have the words "Star Trek" anywhere on his tombstone.

You could chalk it up to the fact that Enterprise, the underrated series in which he played Capt. Jeffrey Archer, only lasted four seasons.

Bakula has his own understanding. "I think the difference is, on Star Trek they've tended to hire people who were not necessarily super well known going in.

"I came into it as a relatively well known actor for other work. It made it easier to continue on after it," says Bakula, whose pop culture touchstones also include the acclaimed sci-fi series Quantum Leap, and a recurring role as the hero's dad in the recently cancelled spy series Chuck.

And currently, he's bringing another primetime ship into drydock, guest-starring in the final five episodes of Desperate Housewives as a lawyer defending Bree (Marcia Cross) on a murder charge.

Still, when he makes his appearance this weekend at the Wizard World Toronto Comic Con, the posters will all be of Bakula in that familiar blue jumpsuit he wore for the run of Enterprise.

"A lot of these events lean heavily toward the space stuff," Bakula says. "I don't know if I'll see any Desperate Housewives fans."

It's not that he's happy with having starred in the least-successful Star Trek series, but he's philosophical about it.

"I have to tell you, there were so many political things that happened in the time that we were on the air, with networks being bought and sold and studios changing personnel completely. I never really felt like we had failed as much as we were victims of circumstance.

"I felt like our show got better and better, and the overwhelming conversations I've had with people are like, 'Oh man, that last season was the greatest. You guys were just hitting your stride.' I said to the cast going in 'Please don't count on seven years. We're on a network with completely different rules.' We made 98 hours of television, a huge success by most standards."