Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994)

Set decades after Captain James T. Kirk's 5-year mission, a new generation of Starfleet officers in a new Enterprise set off on their own mission to go where no one has gone before.

Creator:

Gene Roddenberry

Stars:

Patrick Stewart, Jonathan Frakes, LeVar Burton

Won 18 Primetime Emmys. Another 13 wins & 54 nominations.

Cast

Complete series cast summary:
Patrick Stewart	...	Captain Jean-Luc Picard (176 episodes, 1987-1994)
Jonathan Frakes	...	Commander William T. Riker (176 episodes, 1987-1994)
LeVar Burton	...	Lt. Commander Geordi La Forge (176 episodes, 1987-1994)
Michael Dorn	...	Lieutenant Worf (176 episodes, 1987-1994)
Marina Sirtis	...	Counselor Deanna Troi (176 episodes, 1987-1994)
Brent Spiner	...	Lt. Commander Data (176 episodes, 1987-1994)
Gates McFadden	...	Doctor Beverly Crusher (154 episodes, 1987-1994)
Wil Wheaton	...	Wesley Crusher (86 episodes, 1987-1994)

Storyline

Set in the 24th century and decades after the adventures of the original crew of the starship Enterprise, this new series is the long-awaited successor to the original Star Trek. Under the command of Captain Jean-Luc Picard, the all new Enterprise NCC 1701-D travels out to distant planets to seek out new life and to boldly go where no one has gone before.

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Plot Keywords:

captain | 24th century | starbase | investigation | alien species | 

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Taglines:

New Stars. New Stories. New Worlds To Explore.

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi

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Details

Official Sites:

G4 Star Trek: The Next Generation at Memory Alpha, the Star Trek wiki

Country:

USA

Language:

English Klingon French

Also Known As:

Star Trek: TNG

Filming Locations:

Donald C. Tillman Water Reclamation Plant - 6100 Woodley Avenue, Van Nuys, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

45 min 45 min (176 episodes)

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

4:3

Did You Know?

Trivia

When a writer's strike hit the series at the start of the second season, several stories from the proposed late 70's series "Star Trek: Phase II", which was eventually dropped in favor of becoming Star Trek: The Motion Picture, were quickly dusted off and adapted for the Star Trek: The Next Generation crew.

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Goofs

It is claimed that Data can't use contractions (Can't, Isn't, Don't, etc) yet there are several instances throughout the series where he does. One such example is heard in Star Trek: The Next Generation: Encounter at Farpoint, where Data uses the word "Can't" while the Enterprise is being chased by Q's "ship".

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Quotes

Klingon Commander: Federation ship Enterprise, surrender and prepare to be boarded.
Capt. Picard: [indignantly, under his breath] That'll be the day!

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Crazy Credits

The model of the Enterprise used in the opening credits is so detailed, a tiny figure can be seen walking past a window just before the vessel jumps to warp speed.

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Connections

Referenced in Aliens: The Definitive Guide: How to Prepare (2013)

User Reviews

To boldly go where no one has gone before.

Nearly twenty years after the original Star Trek was cancelled by NBC, Gene Roddenberry and Paramount sought to capitalize on the enormous success of TOS in syndication and on the big screen. Roddenberry decided to make the new series with few connections to the original, so that it could stand on its own. Many fans didn't like the idea of new characters, but Roddenberry pressed ahead, and Star Trek: The Next Generation was born. British stage actor Patrick Stewart assumed the role of Frenchman Captain Jean-Luc Picard, bringing gravitas, phenomenal acting skills, and an English accent that would become the boon of many jokes; Jonathon Frakes became William T. Riker, the Kirk-esque "Number One" with a love for the ladies and jazz; Brent Spiner was cast as Data, the android who envied human emotion; Gates McFadden was Dr. Beverly Crusher, the CMO with a complicated past with Captain Picard; Wil Wheaton was her irritating son Wesley, who would long annoy the fans; Michael Dorn brought a distinct presence to the recurring role of Klingon officer Worf, so much that he was promoted to regular. Marina Sirtis looked good as Deanna Troi, the psychiatrist who had once been involved with Riker; LeVar Burton was cast as Geordi LaForge, the blind Conn Officer; finally, Denise Crosby was Security Chief Tasha Yar. Also in the pilot was an unnamed conn officer played by Colm Meaney, who would later become Transporter Chief Miles O'Brien.

The first two seasons were of average quality, but they did a good job of setting up the characters and expanding the Trek universe. The series gathered its own following, although it continued to exist in the shadow of TOS. Q became an ongoing presence, appearing twice more after the pilot. His third appearance had him introducing the crew to the Borg, the fearsome cyborgs who would become Trek's most famous villains. Denise Crosby left TNG near the end of the first year, saying that her character wasn't being given enough to do. The producers also removed Gates McFadden's Dr. Crusher, introducing Dr. Kate Pulaski (Diana Muldaur) to induce more conflict. The fans did not take to Pulaski, so McFadden was brought back for the start of Season Three. That season was when TNG really came into its own, ending with the reappearance of the Borg. The Borg abducted Captain Picard, and turned him into one of them; Riker, now in command, gave the order to destroy the Borg Cube, while Picard was still onboard. That was the greatest cliffhanger in TV history, and TNG received a great deal of media attention as a result. Droves of new viewers tuned in for the fourth season premiere, which many perceived as a bit of a letdown after all the hype; but the viewers stayed, and TNG soared in the ratings, producing more and more quality episodes. While it did lose a bit of steam in its final year, it finished with an incredible series finale, All Good Things..., and then launched a movie franchise of its own.

TNG Top Ten Episodes: Conundrum; The Next Phase; Data's Day; The Best of Both World Parts I & II; Redemption Parts I & II; Reunion; The Defector; Face of the Enemy; The Pegasus; Elementary, My Dear Data;