Voyager started rather shakily and suddenly picked up. Why?

They added Geri Ryan. They added some sex appeal. Seven of Nine injected some new life into the show. suddenly there was a hot babe and the Star Trek audience remains, at its core, male, and young male.

Her presence, I believe, helped spice up the show and gave it a little more focus. I think as a result the ratings did pick up a little bit.

She wasn't a hot human, she was a hot alien and that certainly was a double dose of goodness for the Star Trek core audience. Not only did they get this very exotic, alien life form, they got one that they'd like to fantasise about and I think that was the daily double for Star Trek fans.