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Rod Serling's "The Twilight Zone" was a labor of love made possible due to the consistent contribution of competent writers. While Serling wrote a chunk of the episodes himself, authors like Charles Beaumont, Richard Matheson, and Ray Bradbury would often pen stories that challenged what was considered "appropriate" for network television. Some were adaptations of classic tales with a quintessential "Twilight Zone" twist, while others drew from chilling real-life incidents by reinterpreting them for a television audience. No matter where the source of inspiration lay, "The Twilight Zone" rooted scathing social commentary at its forefront, critiquing everything from mass moral hysteria to rampant consumerism in a hyper-capitalist society.

Among the show's contributing writers was sci-fi author George Clayton Johnson ("Logan's Run"), who wrote several notable episodes, including the Robert Redford-starrer "Nothing in the Dark," "A Penny for Your Thoughts," and "A Game of Pool." When he was an up-and-coming writer,...

Among the many Star Trek parodies, Galaxy Quest is definitely one that stuck around. Beloved by some, and hated by others, Galaxy Quest was definitely a successful project, although there will be those who will say that it went too far. Regardless, the legacy of the movie lives on.

During the Indiana Comic Convention’s recent Star Trek: The Next Generation panel, some cast members of the series talked to the press, and one of the questions asked was about the Galaxy Quest film. How did the crew react and what is their opinion of the movie? Keep reading to find out!

Related: ‘Star Trek’s’ Robert Picardo Wants Presidents’ Day ‘Cancelled’ After Justice System Was ‘cancelled’

The cast members in question are Jonathan Frakes and Denise Crosby, both well-known faces, and they were asked whether they consider Galaxy Quest an insult to the franchise or not. “It’s perfect.

Back in the early 2000s, it looked like "Star Trek" was pretty much done for. After 9/11, as wars began, audiences weren't really in the mood for a sci-fi franchise about gentleness, peace, and diplomacy. The national mood was reflected in the failure of Stuart Baird's "Star Trek: Nemesis" in 2002, often called one of the worst in the franchise. Then "Star Trek: Enterprise" was canceled in 2005. It wouldn't be until 2009 that "Star Trek" would be revived, in the form of J.J. Abrams' rebooted feature film. 

This time, however, "Star Trek" was faster, simpler, and more violent. Abrams' film was not about peace and diplomacy but trauma and revenge. The reboot set the tone for "Star Trek" for the next decade, ensuring that newer "Trek" projects were all about high-octane action and a little more rough-hewn. 

Such an approach certainly seemed to be an influence on the 2010 video game "Star Trek Online,...

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In 1968, when "Star Trek" was wrapping its second season, ratings were low. "Star Trek" may be culturally ubiquitous now, but it was not a hit during its initial run, when it was watched largely by science nerds and fans of pulp sci-fi magazines. While that crowd is passionate, it wasn't enough to keep the show on the air, and CBS was pondering canceling "Star Trek" after the airing of "Assignment: Earth," the final episode of the second season. 

Two of the show's biggest fans, however -- John and Bjo Trimble -- caught wind that "Star Trek" was on the chopping block, and they immediately went to work. The Trimbles were already distributing their own rudimentary "Star Trek" fanzines, and had access to a mimeograph machine. This allowed them to write a "Save Star Trek" fan letter, and hastily print out 150 copies,...

Freakier Friday Trailer Out! ( Photo Credit – YouTube )

The highly anticipated Freaky Friday sequel, Freakier Friday, starring Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis, has dropped its teaser trailer, and guess what: that too on a Friday. It has already been buzzing all over the internet, and fans are too excited to see the iconic duo back together for another crazy ride of a body-swapping story.

In the preview, Lohan and Curtis can be seen reprising their roles as Anna and Tess, respectively. What chaos unfolds after they visit a psychic (Saturday Night Live fame Vanessa Bayer) is all about the movie. Scroll ahead to find out what you can expect from the sequel.

When Tess and Anna go to visit the psychic, she tells them that their lifelines have “intersected” before and that it might happen again. They left the place immediately as it was not convincing enough. However, at night,...

James Cameron’s Avatar 3 will make its way to the cinemas this December, and with its star-studded cast, many fans might still be wondering why comedian Ben Stiller is not yet a part of the project, especially after he transformed himself into a Na’vi at the 2010 Oscars event.

James Cameron / Credits: CTV News

His amazing makeup at the said event definitely warrants him a place in the movie, but of course, it was only a way to pay homage to Cameron’s highly successful franchise as well as add some fun during that night’s awarding ceremony.

Ben Stiller’s hilarious and unforgettable Avatar spoof at the Oscars

Ben Stiller surprised the crowd at the 82nd Academy Awards in 2010 when he came out from the backstage wearing a black suit while sporting a Na’vi makeup. His iconic stare, which lasted for a couple of seconds, immediately sent the audience laughing out loud.

The Lord of the Rings is one of the most iconic and beloved franchises of all time, and for good reason. Building on the classic work of J.R.R. Tolkien, the franchise has been running for decades and giving excellent stories while it is at it. The world it has created has far outlasted its film series, having several spin-off projects over the years.

Elijah Wood in Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers | Credit: New Line Cinema

While many fantastical creatures can be credited for making the series as immersive and interesting as it is, the most iconic and important have to be elves. Several elves have been part of the franchise, with the most important being Galadriel.

However, it would seem that when the films first introduced Cate Blanchett’s character, things could have been a lot different.

Cate Blanchett was very overwhelmed when she was turning into an...

Game of Thrones propelled George R.R. Martin to new levels of fame and he made a fortune from the TV series. While he is popular among fans as the author of the book, A Song of Ice and Fire, many don’t know that Martin took on TV writing as a career at one point. He famously worked on the HBO series The Hitchhiker, the ’80s revival of The Twilight Zone, and the 1987 series Beauty and the Beast.

George R.R. Martin on the sets of Game of Thrones | Credits: HBO

If his stint as a TV writer surprised you, then you’d be shocked to know that he was rejected for Star Trek: The Next Generation. The reason for his rejection sounds like a joke considering that he has produced the story for one of the greatest TV shows ever.

George R.R. Martin was rejected as a writer...

Hey there, fellow Trekkies! Exciting times are ahead as the Star Trek universe continues to expand at warp speed with a whole slate of new adventures coming our way. Can you believe we’re approaching the franchise’s 60th anniversary in 2026?

Star Trek Logo | Credits: Alexey Gomankov, Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Paramount clearly knows how special this milestone is because they’re pulling out all the stops with new TV shows and big-screen spectacles that’ll have us glued to our screens for years to come.

From the continuing voyages of Captain Pike’s Enterprise to brand new stories set in previously unexplored corners of the galaxy, there’s something for every fan to get hyped about. Let’s break down everything we know about what’s coming next in the Star Trek universe!

1. Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 3 & 4 Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Promotional Image | Credits: Paramount+...

Game of Thrones pushed plenty of boundaries, but one incest plot might outdo even Cersei and Jaime. While the Lannister twins sparked outrage, another twisted pairing quietly slipped under the radar and it’s arguably worse. Dark secrets, disturbing implications, and a family dynamic that makes the Lannisters look tame — this storyline had it all.

A still from Game of Thrones | Credits: HBO

So, which GoT romance crossed the ultimate line? And why didn’t it cause the same uproar?

Littlefinger and Sansa’s twisted relationship might be Game of Thrones’ most disturbing plot yet A still from Game of Thrones | Credits: HBO

When it comes to Game of Thrones, incest is practically a family tradition. But while Cersei and Jaime Lannister’s romance stole the headlines, fans argue that Petyr “Littlefinger” Baelish and Sansa Stark’s twisted dynamic is somehow even worse.

[Spoilers Main] Let's talk about how weird Petyr and...

George R.R. Martin, the writer of epic fantasy series, Game of Thrones, has never been shy about his opinion on fan fiction. The author of the book, A Song of Ice and Fire, which inspired the show, expressed serious reservations about the growing popularity of these unofficial, fan-made stories.

Game of Thrones author George R. R. Martin | Credit: HBO

His concerns are not merely about the stories themselves, but rather the potential for legal complications, especially when these works begin to profit from the use of his characters. In addition, Martin also expressed the significant challenges he faced with merchandising from the Game of Thrones series.

George R.R. Martin expressed his problems with fan fiction

George R.R. Martin has repeatedly expressed his disapproval of fan fiction, particularly when it borrows characters and universes from other established franchises. In an interview hosted by the Brown University Library in 2014, Martin...

When I first discovered Star Trek, the only shows that existed were the original series (1966-1969) and Star Trek: The Next Generation, which was in its second season. When I decided to start a collection to showcase my new obsession, I had a few options: antique fairs, collectible shows that my local mall hosted a few times a year, and mail order/catalog items. However, today's collectors have thousands of items at their fingertips through a multitude of digital shops and sellers. All these choices can overwhelm new collectors, so if you want to avoid the kind of buyer's remorse that Cyrano Jones inspired, check out these 5 tips before you begin shopping.

1. Choose your niche

When I first began collecting Star Trek, I wandered local antique malls and hit thrift shops to snatch up anything I could: old editions of Starlog magazine, coffee mugs, VHS tapes, posters, and toys. As a modern-day collector,...

When Supernatural Season 14 was announced with just 20 episodes, instead of the usual 23, fans were quickly worried that the beloved show was winding down. In recent years, the trend of shorter TV seasons has gained traction, with many shows opting for fewer episodes. While these decisions were made for different reasons, the result couldn’t have been more different.

A still from Supernatural | The CW

For Supernatural, a shortened season seemed like a logical choice to give the show more focus and its stars a better work-life balance. But for Game of Thrones, trimming the episode count led to a rushed and unsatisfying conclusion that disappointed a huge fanbase.

Season 14 of Supernatural‘s shorter season wasn’t driven by the network but by the stars themselves Jensen Ackles Jared Padalecki in the finale of Supernatural season 5 | Credits: Kripke Enterprises

Supernatural season 14 series’ 20 episodes instead of the usual 22-23 were made at...

Anime adaptations ino live-action films are not a new thing, more often than not, live-action films get mixed reviews. The fantastical and the magical cannot be accurately portrayed, not to mention the physiques, fight scenes, pacing issues, and more. But a good example would be Netflix’s One Piece Live Action.

Dragonball Evolution (2009) | Credits: 20th Century Fox

That is why some of the adapted movies are bad, and then there’s Dragon Ball Evolution. I have shivers when I think about it. This is a film so terrible that even its own screenwriter apologized for writing it. This is the film that prompted Akira Toriyama to return from his retirement and start writing Dragon Ball Super.

Why it’s still one of the worst adaptations ever

I rewatched this movie recently, and it just refreshed my memory about why this movie is just terrible. Just by virtue of its existence,...

Forty years ago, author William Gibson brought the world a cyberpunk novel called Neuromancer – and an adaptation of that story has been trudging its way through development hell pretty much ever since. Versions of a feature film adaptation have passed through the hands of directors like music video maker Chris Cunningham, A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors and The Blob‘s Chuck Russell, Torque‘s Joseph Kahn, Cube‘s Vincenzo Natali, and Deadpool‘s Tim Miller. An adaptation of Neuromancer is currently moving forward as a 10-episode series that’s set up at Apple TV+, and Variety reports that Peter Sarsgaard of Garden State and The Batman has signed on to play a character named John Ashpool.

In the source material, John Ashpool was a character who wakes up delusional and paranoid after a thirty-year cryogenic sleep.

We’ve previously heard that BAFTA Award-nominee Callum Turner of Masters...

Part of the Star Trek canon is the directive for starships to carry out missions in and around various quadrants of the galaxy. To propel Federation starship across the galaxy at speeds faster than light speed, typically requires a warp field (surrounding the vessel) that is a distortion of space-time which enables it to “warp” the fabric of space-time.

The warp field is generated in a warp drive, which contains the warp field. The warp drive encompasses a matter-antimatter reactor, warp coils, and a dilithium crystal matrix, where dilithium is the energy source that regulates the matter-antimatter reaction.

In canon, Warp factor 1 is equivalent to the speed of light and Warp factor 2 and greater is beyond the speed of light with a theoretical maximum of Warp factor 10. Warp factor 10 can be described as infinite velocity where objects can occupy every point in space-time simultaneously.

Star Trek canon has a variety of vessels,...

When it comes to Star Trek, we fans have access to many different types of media, including book tie-ins. These books have been around almost as long as the original series, and fans-turned-writers still publish them in many different universes, from the original series to Star Trek: The Next Generation and even Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. As a lifelong fan of the franchise and a book lover, I've read dozens of Star Trek paperbacks and hardcovers, but the one I find myself going back to most often is Uhura's Song, by the late Janet Kagan.

Cats, cures, and classic characters!

Uhura's Song was published in 1985 by Pocket Books, and the publisher lists it as #21 in their line of Star Trek fiction selections in paperback. I remember the book's cover catching my eye, as it featured Uhura, Spock, and a large, sentient-looking cat. Even as a young person barely out of my teens,...

Gene Roddenberry’s Star Trek: The Original Series stuck to some clear rules that the war veteran had prescribed to make his vision of the future come to life. From the nature of professionalism among the crew to the logic in the Enterprise’s design, Roddenberry had a reason for everything and wanted his collaborators to stick to it.

The USS Enterprise, which is the primary setting of the original series, was designed by Matt Jefferies. The former aviation engineer and artist reportedly got the job due to his experience in the aviation industry and hit it off well with Roddenberry due to both of them fighting in World War II.

Gene Roddenberry had one specific instruction for Matt Jefferies while designing the USS Enterprise Gene Roddenberry | Credits: Paramount

Gene Roddenberry’s hopeful vision of the future included an almost militaristic discipline and commitment to space exploration and intergalactic diplomatic relations.

Star Trek: Picard may have only lasted three seasons, but how they rank is notable!

Star Trek has had more than its share of big shows over its long existence, yet Picard was still a huge one. At long last, Patrick Stewart would reprise his role as Jean-Luc Picard in a series set decades after Star Trek: Nemesis. Besides showcasing Stewart, it would also rewrite the Trek universe with a new canon taking place of the old after the various shows, as well as showing how the galaxy evolved.

The show had an interesting arc, with the first two seasons seen as rough despite Stewart's fine performance as the elder Picard. The third season was hailed for being a terrific sequel to The Next Generation with some bold twists. So, here's a quick look at how each season of Star Trek: Picard ranks for anyone who wants to catch up on this series!

Miles and Keiko O’Brien must be incredibly proud and perhaps just a tad confused as well. That’s because Molly O’Brien, their daughter, won an Academy Award a couple of weeks ago. We kid you not! The night’s winners during the 97th Academy Awards ceremony not only included Mikey Madison, Adrien Brody, Kieran Culkin, and Zoe Saldana -- who plays Uhura in the Kelvin Timeline Star Trek movies -- but Molly O’Brien, who shared the award for Documentary Short Film with Lisa Remington.

O’Brien and Remington took home golden statuettes for The Only Girl in the Orchestra, which, according to Netflix, “celebrates trailblazing double bassist Orin O’Brien, the first woman to become a full-time member of the New York Philharmonic.” Molly O’Brien directed The Only Girl in the Orchestra and produced it along with Remington. The 35-minute short, which is available now on Netflix, previously...

A new trailer for Charlie Brooker’s anthology series reveals the return of several characters ahead of the show’s April release date. Check out the Black Mirror season 7 trailer below.

Take a break from one increasingly alarming technological dystopia and check out the trailer for another. Black Mirror is returning to Netflix on 10th April 2025, and the new season still has some surprises in store…

Anyone look familiar?

The trailer seemingly confirms that at least two characters from some of the show’s most memorable episodes will be making a return – the first time the sci-fi anthology has returned to existing storylines in its history.

Cristin Milioti previously appeared as the protagonist of season 4’s flagship USS Callister episode – where she led a digital avatar revolt against a despotic computer programmer in his own Star Trek-style world. Netflix had previously confirmed one of season 7’s six episodes will...

Black Mirror season 7 has received an official trailer and new first-look images. Netflix's sci-fi anthology series typically features star-studded standalone stories that show the dark side of technology. The upcoming Black Mirror season 7 is set to feature six new episodes, one of which will be the show's first-ever sequel, continuing the story of the season 4 episode "USS Callister," which followed a disgruntled programmer who creates virtual reality clones of his coworkers who inhabit a Star Trek-esque sci-fi universe. The previously announced cast of the season includes Awkwafina, Emma Corrin, Paul Giamatti, Issa Rae, and Tracee Ellis Ross.

Netflix has released the official trailer for Black Mirror season 7, also announcing that the cast will include Michele Austin, Ben Bailey Smith, Asim Chaudhry, Josh Finan, James Nelson-Joyce, Jay Simpson, Michael Workéyè, and Will Poulter (who previously starred in the 2018 interactive special Bandersnatch as game designer Colin Ritman). The three-minute long...

Actor Michael Dorn donned the Klingon mask as Worf in seven seasons of Star Trek: The Next Generation before being done with it and hanging it up. However, he was soon called back to the makeup room for the spinoff series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, which saw a completely new crew headed by Avery Brooks’ Captain Benjamin Sisko.

Dorn was among the few who had been on both sets and was in a position to compare and contrast. The actor spilled the tea on many of the differences in the sets of Tng and Deep Space Nine and how he reacted to it. According to him, the tone of the set seemed to be based around how the Captain of the show was.

Michael Dorn called the set of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine more serious than The Next Generation A still from Star Trek: The Next Generation | Credits: Paramount+

For years,...

Daenerys Targaryen’s final heel turn in Game of Thrones was not exactly what fans had in mind for the series finale, but nobody can change the past now. The show had a disappointing ending in season 8, with Daenerys dying and her body being taken away by Drogon and Bran Stark being named as King.

While the franchise currently has one spinoff show airing and several in various stages of development, a continuation of the series might be a stretch. Still, it is possible since George R.R. Martin has yet to complete his novels. Should a ninth season be commissioned, the series should stay away from resurrecting the Mother of Dragons.

Bran Stark’s reign can be explored well in Game of Thrones season 9 even without resurrecting Daenerys Bran Stark in Game of Thrones | Credits: HBO

In a surprising turn of events, Bran Stark was named king at the end of Game of Thrones.

Author Alan Dean Foster talks to us about his connections to some of the most important sci-fi films of all time, including Star Wars, Star Trek, Alien and more.

With a career spanning over five decades, dozens of novels and many more short stories, Alan Dean Foster is one of the most prolific genre writers currently working. And whether he’s writing sci-fi or fantasy, novelisations of major films or personal storytelling, Foster’s work has always had a touch of the cinematic about it.

In one of his earliest published stories, a 1971 short called Why Johnny Can’t Speed, Foster imagines a near future in which drivers rumble onto freeways with guns strapped to their vehicles. Published two years before Jg Ballard’s own auto-fetish dystopia, Crash (1973), or in cinema, the petrol-crazed nightmares of Death Race 2000 (1975) or Mad Max (1979), its descriptions of mayhem on America’s roads have...

“There’s always a little bit of truth in legends,” Ahsoka once said on “Star Wars: Rebels.”

That line was a little Easter Egg to fans to assuage them about how the pre-Disney takeover “Star Wars” stories — told in decades-worth of novels, comics, and video games — might still live on in the official canon. It also applies a bit to the show “Star Wars: Underworld,” George Lucas’s ambitious, but ultimately scrapped live-action TV series he was developing in the years after “Star Wars: Episode III — Revenge of the Sith” hit theaters in 2005.

Little bits of information have leaked about the show over the years. One thing was certain: Per its title, it was set in the demimonde of the galaxy far, far away, among its scoundrels, and smugglers, and bounty hunters and assorted other criminals. But now Rick McCallum, the producer best associated with the “Star Wars” prequels, who...

During Star Trek's original run, viewers got their first look at a new bridge character during season 2: Pavel Chekov, a Russian-born ensign fresh out of the academy. Only 22 at the time, he brought a sense of youthful (if not often surly) good humor to the bridge and crew. While Chekov didn't appear in every episode during seasons 2 and 3, he made his mark. He returned for the original series movies, with Walter Koenig bringing back Chekov's fatalistic humor as Enterprise's security chief. From Star Trek: The Motion Picture to Star Trek 6: The Undiscovered Country, the now-seasoned commander had some unforgettable moments in each film, so let's revisit the top 6 Pavel Chekov movie moments that remind us that he is much more than Gene Roddenberry's "Russian inwention."

1. Giving Spock permission to come aboard in Star Trek: The Motion Picture

Spock's return to Enterprise in the first original...

The original Star Trek series always did not have Captain James T. Kirk in the lead. In fact, a pilot titled ‘The Cage’ was first produced and rejected by the studio, with a character called Captain Christopher Pike in the lead. He is later established as Kirk’s predecessor in the episode ‘The Menagerie’.

While the character never appeared in the original series after that, an iteration of Pike was included by Alex Kurtzman in Star Trek: Discovery. Before starting the series, however, Kurtzman reportedly sought the help of writer Akiva Goldsman, who reportedly began conceiving the idea of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds after reading a fan theory.

Akiva Goldsman created one of the best Star Trek shows by accident Akiva Goldsman | Credits: YouTube/HeyUGuys

While Star Trek: The Original Series had a cult following of its own, it was not large enough to sustain the expensive sci-fi series...

Exclusive: Walden Media and Akiva Goldsman’s Weed Road Pictures are making the Cold War thriller Billion Dollar Spy, with Oscar winner Russell Crowe and Industry’s Harry Lawtey set to headline.

Oscar-winning writer Stephen Gaghan wrote the most recent draft, revising a script penned by Ben August. The screenplay is adapted from the bestselling book by David E. Hoffman.

Amma Asante

BAFTA Award winner Amma Asante will direct. The project is in pre-production.

Set against the high-stakes backdrop of the late Cold War, Billion Dollar Spy follows Adolf Tolkachev (Crowe), an ordinary man who risks everything to pass thousands of pages of top-secret Soviet intelligence to the U.S. Despite repeated rejections by a wary CIA, Tolkachev persisted, embodying the courage to stand against a regime that betrayed its own people. Finally finding an ally in CIA agent Tom Lenihan...

This may be a daring observation, but The Marvel Cinematic Universe is, on a philosophical level, kind of the opposite of "Star Trek." The MCU, after all, worships at the feet of a superpowered freelance military force who frequently gather together to commit acts of overwhelming combat violence. Superheroes live in a parallel world of moral absolutes, however, so we can rest assured that heroes are behaving heroically. Heroes use their access to miracle technologies to build more powerful weapons and upgrade their super-suits. They rarely try to improve medicine, undo capitalism, or reallocate resources; the MCU hasn't ever mentioned that world hunger is solved. 

"Star Trek," meanwhile, takes place in a world of moral pluralism. There aren't "heroes" and "villains" in "Star Trek" in the traditional comic book sense (at least not when it's operating at peak efficiency), but merely people who have differing philosophical viewpoints. We constantly test our morals in "Star Trek,...

It's taken a while, but it feels like we're hitting peak "Star Trek: Voyager" nostalgia these days. It was not always like this: On the heels of "The Next Generation" movies and the sprawling war saga of "Deep Space Nine," the premise of "Voyager," which hurled a Federation ship to the other side of the universe where it presumably would encounter nothing familiar, wasn't as compelling. Initial new aliens like the Kazon were duds, and when the show tried to course-correct, it may have overdone it on the Borg storylines. For the first time, but not the last, it began to feel like there was too much "Star Trek."

However, fans have been going back to "Voyager" and discovering it more old-school charms since the streaming era kicked in -- and especially during the pandemic lockdown.The animated "Star Trek: Prodigy" serves as a sequel of sorts, bringing back multiple...

Star Trek Discovery was a wild addition to the Star Trek universe, but how do the seasons of the series rank?

When it premiered in 2017 for what was then CBS All Access, Star Trek: Discovery was a huge deal. A prequel set before The Original Series with new characters, it had some bold ideas, yet some complained about its tone and that it was trying to be too cutting edge. As time went on, the show slowly made itself into a fun series that would replicate the Star Trek feel.

Some feel it should have gone longer than five seasons, even if it did wrap up its plotlines nicely. Naturally, there's debate on how the seasons may rank with some fans having different personal preferences. So, while there's likely going to be some conversation, here's our ranking of every Star Trek: Discovery season and what made this grow into a great series!

Gene Winfield, a pioneering legend in the hot-rod world who created custom cars for numerous films and TV shows including Blade Runner, the original Star Trek series, RoboCop, Get Smart! and many others, has died. He was 97.

He died March 4, according to his obit on Legacy.com. His Winfield Custom Shop had posted on Instagram late last month that he had cancer.

Winfield’s Galileo shuttlecraft from the original 1960s ‘Star Trek’ series

Winfield was known as “The King of Kustoms,” and his most famous creations include the iconic Galileo shuttlecraft and the Jupiter 8 for Star Trek — the latter seen in the episode “Bread and Circuses” — and the “spinners” for Blade Runner, which was nominated for the Special Effects Oscar. He also built the Catmobile for TV’s Batman and gadget cars for Get Smart! and The Man from U.N.C.L.E. during the Bond-fueled spy craze of the 1960s.

Since its conclusion in December of 2024, I have found myself thinking about Star Trek: Lower Decks and then remembering, Oh, wait…It’s over now. I still can’t quite believe it. After all, despite being an animated sitcom, it was consistently truer to the look and feel of the Tng/DS9/Voyager era of Star Trek than any of the live-action productions of the past 8 years.

Unfortunately, Lower Decks is over. While that means we may never get more of our Lower Deckers in the same form again, it also means we can now look back upon the series as a whole. With that—and a few months’ distance from the series finale—I’m finally ready to try ranking the seasons of Lower Decks, starting from the worst (or at least the one I consider the weakest).

"Second Contact" – The premiere episode of Star Trek: Lower Decks Season...

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Throughout "Star Trek: The Next Generation," Lieutenant Commander Geordi La Forge (LeVar Burton) wore a Visor on duty. It was explained early in the series that Geordi was born blind thanks to a birth defect, so he requires a specialized appliance to see. Hence, Geordi was given a series of small electronic implants in his temples, which reached into the visual cortex of his brain. The Visor would then hook onto the implants and feed visual information directly into his brain, effectively bypassing his missing optic nerves.

The fact that "The Next Generation" had a disabled main character was a boon for representation, and the show's writers never made his disability the central part of a storyline. Geordi's blindness was wholly incidental, so his Visor became a mere detail in his costume. It was much more notable that Geordi was...

During his stint playing Commander William Riker on "Star Trek: The Next Generation," Jonathan Frakes (seen above left) underwent a rudimentary director's boot camp. Frakes was interested in directing episodes of the show, and the producers said he would only be allowed to do so after shadowing other directors for 300 hours. Frakes put in his due diligence, and he ended up directing eight episodes of the series. The producers were so impressed that they also hired Frakes to direct two of the "Star Trek" feature films. 

His directorial experience on "Next Generation," he found, could be parlayed into other directing gigs. For one, he remained with the "Star Trek" franchise for decades, coming back to helm episodes of "Deep Space Nine," "Voyager," "Discovery," "Strange New Worlds," and "Picard." He directed the family friend sci-fi adventure film "Clockstoppers" in 2002 and "Thunderbirds" in 2004, eventually moving exclusively into television, overseeing episodes of "Leverage,...

Over 40 years after bringing fans along for the ride in Tom Petty: Heartbreakers Beach Party, Cameron Crowe has unearthed long-lost footage of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.

The result is the filmmaker’s remastered documentary, Tom Petty: Heartbreakers Beach Party, now streaming on Paramount+. It features never-before-seen 16mm footage shot during the rock-and-roll band’s Long After Dark era from 1982 to 1983. Per the logline, the music documentary “is a fun, candid, fast-paced, and musically rich ride with America’s greatest rock ‘n’ roll band, a time capsule of the dawn of the MTV era, and a rare and shining glimpse into Tom Petty’s lasting creative genius.”

At a Glance: How to Watch Tom Petty: Heartbreakers Beach Party Online

Premiere date: March 11 Run time: 1 hour, 33 minutes Stream online: Paramount+ Stream 'Heartbreakers Beach Party' on Paramount+

The film originally aired in 1983 on MTV, but was “deemed too experimental and abruptly pulled from the air,...

Anthony and Joe Russo's new sci-fi film "The Electric State" -- a $320 million ultra-blockbuster sneaking its way onto Netflix this week -- has an arch set up that takes many words to explain. Based on the illustrated retro-futurist novel by Simon Stålenhag, "The Electric State" posits that Disneyland, back when it opened in the 1950s, didn't merely construct animatronic robots for entertainment, but actual, high-tech, artificially intelligent robots. Uncle Walt, it seems, was less a movie mogul as he was Dr. Soong from "Star Trek." The world soon became populated by servant robots, each painted with a friendly, cartoonish face. Robot versions of corporate mascots were built, and cartoons were given robotic, real-world counterparts. 

In the early 1990s of this universe, however, there was a robot uprising, and the smiling corporate mascots demanded liberation. A war broke out. Humans were able to win the war thanks to a new...

Without Tim Russ’ Commander Tuvok, there is no Star Trek: Voyager. The character was the cause of the show’s setting and is one of the most important supporting characters in the series starring Kate Mulgrew. Actor Russ had already been in multiple roles in the franchise before he became a regular with Tuvok.

Tim Russ has played multiple one-off roles in the franchise before playing Commander Tuvok in Voyager. However, he was reportedly almost cast in another important role in one of the franchise’s most successful shows, Star Trek: The Next Generation. While he did not get the part, Russ said he was glad he did not have to play that role.

Tim Russ auditioned for the role of LeVar Burton’s Geordie La Forge in Star Trek: Tng Tim Russ in Star Trek: Voyager | Credits: Paramount

Tim Russ played the role of Commander Tuvok in Star Trek: Voyager...

Warning: contains potential spoilers for Star Trek: Lower Decks #5!

Star Trek’s Enterprise is one of the most iconic starships in pop culture, but the flagship has one fatal flaw no one saw coming. Ships named Enterprise are the cream of Starfleet’s crop, staffed with the best and the brightest minds. These ships are also top of the line from a technological standpoint, but in a preview for Star Trek: Lower Decks #5, fans learn they have a fatal flaw.

Ryan North, the writer of the Star Trek: Lower Decks comic is currently writing the One World Under Doom event for Marvel.

Idw shared a preview of Star Trek: Lower Decks #5 with Aipt. The issue will be written by Ryan North and drawn by Jack Lawrence. The preview opens with the Cerritos’ senior staff attending a briefing by the Starfleet Department of Temporal Investigations, who handle time travel cases. They...

In 2017, "Star Trek" returned to the small screen after a 12-year hiatus with the debut of "Star Trek: Discovery," a big-budget show with slicker production values than the franchise had ever seen. It debuted on Paramount+ (still called CBS All Access in 2017), and it was to be the first of many new "Star Trek" shows that the streaming service would debut over the next few years. It was followed by "Short Treks," "Star Trek: Picard," "Star Trek: Lower Decks," and "Star Trek: Prodigy." The original U.S.S. Enterprise would also make a guest appearance in the second season of "Discovery," inspiring an Enterprise-set spinoff called "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds." Paramount+ also recently debuted the TV movie "Star Trek: Section 31."

Despite the glut of "Star Trek," however, fans weren't always on board. Some old-school Trekkies didn't like the new violent tone of "Discovery," as it didn't quite match the dry,...

Kate Mulgrew is one of the most popular sci-fi actresses due to her appearance as Captain Kathryn Janeway in Star Trek: Voyager. The actress became the first female captain of an Enterprise ship to lead a series and the series itself developed a cult following, like other Star Trek spinoff shows.

While Mulgrew became an important figure in the initial seasons of Voyager, she reportedly faced stiff competition from none but her own co-star, Jeri Ryan. Ryan, who played Seven of Nine in the series, was reportedly brought on to boost viewership numbers, and this did not sit well with Kate Mulgrew.

Kate Mulgrew’s hostility towards Jeri Ryan went to terrible extremes A still from Star Trek: Voyager | Credits: Paramount

Much like other pivotal characters in Star Trek, Kate Mulgrew’s Captain Janeway was created to push the boundaries of sci-fi storytelling. Mulgrew became the first female captain who...

We’ve all heard stories of how actors immerse themselves into the source material and dive headfirst into the character’s history after being cast in an iconic role. But Zoe Saldaña, known for playing Gamora in MCU’s Guardians of the Galaxy, deliberately avoided this approach in an attempt to create something of her own.

Zoe Saldaña as Gamora in a still from Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 | Marvel Entertainment

Before becoming a Marvel star, she essayed Lt. Nyota Uhura in Star Trek (2009), and the way she prepared to play this character was a bit unconventional. So, let’s look at how Saldaña struck a balance by forging a new path and honoring the franchise’s legacy.

Why Zoe Saldaña avoided the original Star Trek Zoe Saldaña in Star Trek | Paramount Pictures

In a candid interview, Zoe Saldaña revealed how she felt some pressure when she...

You know how they say, “Don’t judge a book by its cover”? Well, the same could be said about Star Trek: Voyager. Once criticized and considered the black sheep of the Star Trek family, this series has made a shocking comeback that has even the harshest critics raising an eyebrow. We’re sure when the show first launched, no one could’ve predicted that years down the line, Voyager would rival The Next Generation in the streaming world.

The Caretaker in Star Trek: Voyager | Credits: Paramount

But here we are—looking at this once-dismissed piece of sci-fi history in a whole new light. It’s like taking a second glance at a movie you hated at first and suddenly realizing it’s a hidden gem. And trust us, that’s exactly what’s happened with Voyager.

Back in the day, Voyager was a tough sell to hardcore fans. It had the first female captain,...

It was almost a decade since a feature film was released under the Star Trek umbrella, which isn’t surprising as Star Trek Beyond, despite being a critical hit, was considered a commercial failure due to its massive budget. For better or worse, the wait finally ended with the Michelle Yeoh-led Star Trek: Section 31, which was released as a Paramount Plus exclusive in January.

Star Trek: Section 31 | Credit: Paramount

But before leading her own Star Trek feature, Yeoh feared her character, Captain Philippa Georgiou, might meet a swift end, given the growing influence of Game of Thrones at the time.

Michelle Yeoh was concerned about potential Got influence on her Star Trek debut Star Trek: Discovery | Credit: Paramount

Before the show dropped the ball with the final season, nothing compared to the hype surrounding Game of Thrones. Unsurprisingly, as a result, many IPs attempted to follow suit...

Space is the final frontier. These are the voyages of the Star Trek franchise, which, instead of boldly going where no one has gone before, seems to be getting lost in the wormhole of Hollywood’s blockbuster obsession. What was once a quirky, cerebral, and character-driven sci-fi series has spent the last decade trying to flex its box-office muscles against cinematic giants like Marvel. And, let’s be honest, it’s not exactly working.

Patrick Stewart and Wil Wheaton in Star Trek: The Next Generation | Credits: Paramount Domestic Television

Star Trek is like that one nerdy kid who suddenly decides to hit the gym and wear leather jackets, in an attempt to impress the cool kids. But deep down, we all know he’s still the same guy who organizes his bookshelf by the Dewey Decimal System. And that’s what we love about him! So why, oh why, is...

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In the "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" episode "The Magnificent Ferengi", Quark (Armin Shimerman), one of the franchise's best characters, learns that his mother Ishka (Cecily Adams) has been captured by the evil Dominion. At first, Quark wants to assemble a team of crack Ferengi commandos, consisting of his brother Rom (Max Grodénchik), his nephew Nog (Aron Eisenberg), his cousin Gaila (Josh Pais), and a fighter named Lek (Hamilton Camp) to get her back, but soon comes to understand that his "crack squad" kind of sucks at military maneuvers. Instead, he arranges a meeting on an abandoned Cardassian space station called Empok Nor where he, with a Vorta prisoner in tow, will negotiate a prisoner exchange, using his keen sense of Ferengi deal-making.

On Empok Nor, Quark meets a Vorta general named Yelgrun, a smooth-talking creep with every intention of...

Star Trek is one of the longest-running sci-fi franchises around, and William Shatner was there right at the beginning, playing Captain Kirk in the first-ever episode of Star Trek: The Original Series in 1966. Shatner is a fan of the way the franchise has come back in the age of streaming, with lots of new shows airing over the past several years. And people are watching; according to TheWrap, Star Trek has made over $2.6 billion for streaming services to date.

How to capitalize on this newfound interest? At least one Star Trek writer is trying to lure Shatner back into his Starfleet uniform, and while that's something producers have tried to do ever since his last appearance as Kirk in 1994's Star Trek Generations, but it sounds like Shatner is interested in whatever this new idea is.

“I have been asked to come back as Kirk so many times, Shatner said...

Star Trek fans love The Doctor, portrayed by Robert Picardo for seven seasons of Voyager, as well as in other projects, including Star Trek: The Experience and, more recently, the animated series Star Trek: Prodigy. He’s also on board as the holographic medic in the upcoming Star Trek: Starfleet Academy series. Fans will also remember that Picardo played Lewis Zimmerman, the scientist who created The Doctor -- aka the Emergency Medical Hologram -- in three episodes of Voyager and the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine hour “Doctor Bashir, I Presume.”

Somewhat lost to the passage of time is the fact that The Doctor was originally going to be called Doc Zimmerman. Memory Alpha points out that that the character was referred to as Doc Zimmerman “in the pre-production of Voyager and the scripts which were written for Voyager Season 1.” Further, the site mentions that both a British advertisement and...

The "Star Trek: Enterprise" episode "Borderland" was significant within "Star Trek" lore. It was the first part of a three-episode arc that finally offered a canonical reason as to why Klingons looked like humans in the original "Star Trek" series, but had large, outsize foreheads in "Star Trek: The Next Generation." It seems that a mad geneticist named Arik Soong (Brent Spiner) had been tinkering with genetic enhancements, creating "ideal" versions of humanity called Augments. In the lore of "Star Trek," such genetic enhancements are strictly verboten, as previous such attempts led to a vicious Eugenics War on Earth. Soong's ostracized Augments fell in with Klingon society, and began having children. The kids of Augments and Klingons looked like 1966-era Klingons. The DNA, Soon argues, will be bred out within a few generations. Hence, why Klingons looked different on "Next Generation." 

"Borderland" was just the opening act of the story,...