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Star Trek: The Next Generation - Full Cast & Crew

  • 51   Metascore
  • Drama, Fantasy, Action & Adventure, Science Fiction
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A new crew boards a revamped USS Enterprise in the first spin-off from the '60s cult classic.

Screenwriter

Sound effects, special effects, executive producer, co-producer, line producer, cinematographer, production company.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW: The cast of 'Star Trek: The Next Generation,' 36 years later

  • "Star Trek: The Next Generation" ("TNG") aired from 1987 to 1994.
  • It was the first live-action "Star Trek" show since the original series ended in 1969.
  • The cast will reunite for the final season of "Star Trek: Picard," which premieres February 16.

The captain of the Enterprise, Jean-Luc Picard, was played by Sir Patrick Stewart for all seven seasons.

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Stewart got his start as a theater actor and was a part of the Royal Shakespeare Company from 1966 to 1982. He then had various roles on British TV series until he was cast as the newest captain of the USS Enterprise in 1987 for "Star Trek: The Next Generation," kicking off decades of debates on who the superior captain is .

Arguably, "TNG" would never have been as successful as it was without the grounding presence of Stewart and his Shakespearean sensibilities. Some of the best episodes and arcs in "Trek" history come down to Stewart's performance, such as the iconic Locutus storyline and its aftermath in "Family," or classic episodes like "The Measure of a Man" and "The Inner Light."

He was nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award for his performance in 1995. He won a Grammy in 1996 for best spoken word album for children for his reading of "Prokofiev: Peter and the Wolf."

Stewart, 82, will conclude Picard's story in 2023 after three seasons of "Star Trek: Picard" on Paramount+.

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By the time "TNG" wrapped up in 1994, Stewart had already  solidified his place in the hearts of nerds everywhere. He'd go on to star in four more "Trek" movies — "Generations" in 1994, "First Contact" in 1996, "Insurrection" in 1998, and "Nemesis" in 2002 — but that wasn't his last iconic role.

In 2000, he starred as the iconic Professor Charles Xavier, aka Professor X, in "X-Men." He reprised the role in 2003's "X2," 2006's "X-Men: The Last Stand," 2009's "X-Men Origins: Wolverine," 2013's "The Wolverine," 2014's "X-Men: Days of Future Past," and 2017's "Logan" — the latter of which got him some Oscar buzz . He reprised the role in 2022's "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness."

Stewart was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2010 for services to drama.

He's played various other roles throughout his decades-long career, returned to the stage many times, and secured a Tony nomination in 2008 for his performance in "Macbeth." But Picard wasn't done with him yet.

In 2018, it was announced that Stewart would be returning to the role of Jean-Luc Picard for a series on CBS All Access (now Paramount+) following the former captain 30 years after the events of "Nemesis." "Star Trek: Picard" premiered in 2020. The third and final season will premiere on February 16.

Commander William T. Riker, Picard's right-hand man and first officer, was played by Jonathan Frakes.

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Riker was more of the classic "Trek" rogue, similar in some ways to William Shatner's Captain James T. Kirk, namely, his penchant for getting into trouble and getting women across the galaxy to fall in love with him. But he was also a trusted colleague and friend to Picard across seven seasons and four movies. Picking up Riker from Farpoint Station is actually one of the crew's first missions in the pilot.

Before "TNG," Frakes had appeared in various episodes of '70s and '80s shows like "Charlie's Angels," "The Twilight Zone," "Hill Street Blues," and more. But he quickly became best known for "Trek."

Like Shatner and Leonard Nimoy before him, Frakes also became interested in directing, and he was behind the camera for eight episodes of "TNG," as well as episodes of spin-offs "Deep Space Nine," and "Voyager." He also directed films "First Contact" and "Insurrection."

Frakes, 70, has appeared in "Picard" and "Lower Decks." He's also a successful director.

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Soon after "TNG" wrapped up, Frakes began hosting the series "Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction?" from 1998 to 2002. A compilation clip of him saying things are false/fiction has since become a meme .

Frakes reprised his role as Riker in episodes of "Deep Space Nine" and "Voyager" in the '90s, the series finale of "Star Trek: Enterprise" in 2005, two episodes of "Star Trek: Picard" in 2020, and three episodes of "Star Trek: Lower Decks" in 2020 and 2021.

Over the last two decades, he's directed over 70 episodes of television, including shows like "Roswell," "Castle," "NCIS: Los Angeles," "The Librarians," "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.," Seth MacFarlane's loving "Trek" homage "The Orville," and, of course, the new "Trek" shows like "Star Trek: Discovery" and "Picard."

Like the rest of the original "TNG" crew, Frakes has joined the cast of "Picard" for season three.

Marina Sirtis played Deanna Troi, the ship's counselor and an empath.

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In some ways, Troi was like the exact opposite of Spock, a character from the original "Trek" who operated solely from a place of logic. Instead, Troi was a half-human, half-betazoid, which made her an empath (able to telepathically sense people's feelings and emotions). Her place on the ship was to counsel the captain and other members of the crew.

Notably, Troi and Riker were in a relationship before the events of the show, and they eventually get married during the movie "Nemesis," before moving to the USS Titan, where Riker would finally become captain.

Her mother, Lwaxana Troi, was a beloved "Trek" side character played by Majel Barrett, "Trek" creator Gene Rodenberry's wife and "Original Series" cast member. Barrett also played Christine Chapel.

Before "TNG," Sirtis had appeared in bit parts in films and was mainly doing theater in her native UK.

Sirtis, 67, reprised the role for one episode of "Picard" with her on-screen husband, Riker.

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Sirtis appeared in all four "TNG" films," and she also reprised her role as Troi in "Voyager," "Enterprise," "Picard," and "Lower Decks." She also appeared in an episode of "The Orville."

She's steadily worked in TV over the last two decades, appearing in shows like "Without a Trace," "Make It or Break It," "Grey's Anatomy," "NCIS," and "Scandal."

Sirtis has also had a steady voice-acting career, lending her voice to "Gargoyles," "Adventure Time," and perhaps most famously, as Queen Bee in "Young Justice."

Sirtis will don her Starfleet uniform yet again in 2023 for the final season of "Picard."

LeVar Burton played the engineering genius Geordi La Forge.

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Besides Stewart, Burton was easily the most well-known member of the cast. Ten years prior, he had played Kunta Kinte in the 1977 ABC miniseries "Roots," which was nominated for 37 Emmy Awards, winning nine, including a nomination for Burton . The series finale is still the second most-watched series finale of all time, garnering at least 110 million viewers. He reprised the role in the 1988 TV film "Roots: The Gift."

When he was cast as La Forge, the chief engineering officer who happened to be blind — a big step forward in disability representation at the time — Burton had already been hosting "Reading Rainbow" on PBS since 1983. "Reading Rainbow," which Burton produced, won a Peabody Award and 12 Daytime Emmys.

From 1990 to 1996, Burton also voiced Kwame on "Captain Planet and the Planeteers" for over 100 episodes. In 1999, he directed the Disney Channel Original Movie classic "Smart House."

Burton, 66, was recently at the center of a campaign to take over as the new host of "Jeopardy!"

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Like the rest of the main cast, Burton appeared in "TNG's" four feature films . He also appeared as La Forge in an episode of "Voyager."

He will reprise his role for the first time on TV since 1998 during the third and final season of "Picard" — and he'll be joined by his daughter, Mica Burton, who will play La Forge's daughter Alandra, an ensign in Starfleet.

Burton has had a successful career in Hollywood since, appearing as Martin Luther King Jr. in 2001's "Ali," playing himself in iconic appearances on both "Community" and "The Big Bang Theory," and hosting "Reading Rainbow" until its end in 2006.

Like Frakes, Burton is also a successful TV director. He's directed numerous episodes of "Star Trek" and its spin-offs, as well as episodes of "Charmed," "JAG," and "NCIS: New Orleans." He made his movie directorial debut in 2008 with "Reach for Me," starring Seymour Cassel.

After the death of Alex Trebek in 2020 , fans began campaigning for Burton to take over as the new host of "Jeopardy!" Almost 300,000 fans have signed a petition to that effect. However, after a brief stint as guest host, Burton said he wouldn't be interested in taking over as the permanent host.

In October 2021, he was named next year's grand marshal of the Rose Bowl Parade.

Gates McFadden played the chief medical officer Dr. Beverly Crusher for six seasons — she was replaced briefly in season two.

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Dr. Crusher was introduced as the chief medical officer of the Enterprise with a long relationship with Picard — her late husband, Jack, and Picard were close friends, and Picard even brought back Jack's body after death.

However, as the show progressed, Dr. Crusher and Picard's relationship evolved into love and they even got married (and divorced) in an alternate timeline. We want to see Beverly in "Picard," please — and it seems like we're finally getting our wish.

After the first season, McFadden was written out of the show due to issues with head writer Maurice Hurley and replaced with Diana Muldaur, who played Dr. Katherine Pulaski. Muldaur's character did not gel with the rest of the cast, and McFadden was subsequently brought back for season three (and Hurley was ultimately replaced with Michael Piller).

Before "TNG," McFadden was a choreographer and a puppeteer involved with the Jim Henson Company, in addition to her career as an actress . She appeared in and choreographed 1984's "The Muppets Take Manhattan" and choreographed "Labyrinth" in 1986 . McFadden directed an episode of "TNG" in 1994.

McFadden, 73, has appeared in episodes of shows like "Franklin & Bash," "NCIS," and "The Practice."

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McFadden appeared in all four "TNG" films , though she didn't have a huge role in them, considering how her relationship with Picard was left in the series finale. She even joked during a screening of the season three premiere of "Picard" that she didn't remember being in the films.

Hopefully, their bond will be addressed in season three of "Picard," which McFadden will return for, especially since season two of "Picard" seems very concerned with the lack of love in his life.

Since the end of the films in 2002, McFadden has mainly appeared on TV. She was in four episodes of "Franklin & Bash," an episode of "NCIS," and a TV movie called "A Neighbor's Deception." She was also in a 2009 holiday rom-com called "Make the Yuletide Gay."

Michael Dorn played Worf, the first Klingon in "Trek" history to be a main character.

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Worf was the first Klingon to be a main character in "Star Trek" — in three of the original films, Klingons were, if not the main antagonists, one of the secondary foes.

By the events of "TNG," Dorn's character Worf had enlisted in Star Fleet and slowly became one of the series' best and most beloved characters, as well as the chief security officer. He went on to star on "Deep Space Nine" for four seasons, from 1995 to 1999.

Before the show, Dorn had appeared in shows such as "CHiPS," "Knots Landing," and "Days of Our Lives."

Dorn, 70, has been in more episodes of "Star Trek" than any other actor. He'll add to his lead by appearing in "Picard."

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Overall, Dorn played Worf for 277 episodes and four films, making more appearances than any other actor in "Trek" history. The character was so popular that there were even talks to continue his story in his own show, called "Star Trek: Captain Worf" in 2012, though they never came to fruition.

He'll continue his reign, as Dorn was announced with the rest of the cast of "TNG" to be returning to "Trek" in season three of "Picard."

Besides acting in "Star Trek," Dorn also directed three episodes of "Deep Space Nine," as well as an episode of "Enterprise."

Like many of his co-stars, Dorn has had a successful voice-acting career . He used his voice in "Dinosaurs," "Superman: The Animated Series," "I Am Weasel," "Kim Possible: A Stitch in Time," "Regular Show," and "Arrow," among others. Most recently, he voiced Battle Beast in "Invincible."

Dorn appeared in two of the "Santa Clause" movies as the Sandman, and he was also in "Ted 2." In real life, he's also an accomplished pilot.

Wil Wheaton played Wesley Crusher, Dr. Crusher's son and a controversial character.

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Poor Wesley. It couldn't have been easy losing your dad at such an early age, only to be dragged onto a spaceship with the man who survived instead ... a man who pointedly hated kids to boot. But that was Wesley's plight, and it didn't make for a very enjoyable character. He was written off as a regular after season four, at which point he went to Starfleet Academy. Wesley reappeared in the final season for a send-off.

The year before Wheaton began appearing in "TNG," he starred in the classic '80s film "Stand by Me" alongside River Phoenix, Corey Feldman, Jerry O'Connell, Kiefer Sutherland, and John Cusack, all future stars in the making.

Wheaton, 50, made a surprise cameo at the end of season two of "Picard."

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As Wesley wasn't a  hugely  beloved character, he only appeared in one scene of one film , "Nemesis." He didn't even speak.

But Wheaton hasn't let the haters stop him from having a successful career. He's appeared in dozens of TV shows and movies, and he hilariously played himself across 17 episodes of "The Big Bang Theory." He also had a recurring role on "Eureka," another recurring role on "Leverage," and a talk show on SyFy called "The Wil Wheaton Project."

Wheaton has also acted in many web series, including "Welcome to Night Vale." He's also had great success in voice acting, most recently voicing the Flash in "Teen Titans Go to the Movies."

He also hosted the web series "TableTop," in which he and guests play a game (like Settlers of Catan or Pandemic) each episode, which aired from 2012 to 2017.

Currently, he hosts "The Ready Room," the official "Star Trek" aftershow that features interviews with the cast and crew. He also made a brief, surprise appearance at the end of season two of "Picard."

Brent Spiner played Data, an android who was on a quest to become more human.

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While most of the characters on "TNG" were almost entirely original, Data was clearly conceived as this show's version of Spock , another character who struggled with the concept of humanity.

However, as the show went on, Data solidified himself as his own character with his own fascinating backstory (Lore and Dr. Noonien Soong, anyone?) and a heartwarming desire to become human.

Before the series, Spiner enjoyed a successful career in theater , originating the role of Franz/Dennis in "Sunday in the Park with George" and starring as Aramis in "The Three Musketeers." He also appeared in six episodes of "Night Court."

In 1996, he appeared in the huge sci-fi blockbuster "Independence Day."

They keep finding ways for Spiner, 74, to stay in the "Trek" universe, even 21 years after Data's death in "Star Trek: Nemesis."

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Spiner appeared in all four "TNG" movies . In fact, his character might have had the most complete arc, when you take in his sacrifice at the end of "Nemesis." He also played an ancestor of his character's creator, Dr. Arik Soong, in four episodes of "Enterprise's" fourth season.

In 2016, Spiner reprised his role as Dr. Brackish Okun in the sequel "Independence Day: Resurgence." Over the years he's appeared in dozens of TV shows, including "Friends," "Star Wars Rebels," "Ray Donovan," "The Goldbergs," and "Warehouse 13."

Spiner has also voiced two iconic Batman villains. He played the Joker in an episode of "Young Justice," and he voiced the Riddler in "Justice League Action."

In 2020, Spiner reprised his role as Data in "Picard," appearing as the character in dream sequences and as a virtual consciousness throughout the first season.

He also appeared as a descendant of his creator, Dr. Altan Inigo Soong, and as a similar android named B-4 who was originally introduced in "Nemesis." In season two, he played another one of Noonien Soong's ancestors, Adam Soong.

Spiner was announced, like the rest of the cast , to be part of "Picard's" third season, this time playing Data's evil "brother," Lore.

Denise Crosby only starred in one season of "TNG" as Natasha Yar.

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Yar's death was one of the biggest shocks of "TNG" and proved this wasn't going to be like the original show — deaths weren't just reserved for "red shirts" here. No one was safe.

In actuality, Crosby asked to be written off the show , as she "was miserable. I couldn't wait to get off that show. I was dying." And so, her character was killed in the season one episode "Skin of Evil" by a malevolent tar-like creature. Yar would reappear two more times, in a season three episode called "Yesterday's Enterprise" (an all-timer), and the series finale.

Crosby also appeared in three episodes as a character called Sela, a future half-Romulan daughter of Yar's from an alternate timeline.

Before the show, Crosby, the granddaughter of Bing Crosby, had appeared in films like "48 Hrs.," "Pet Sematary," two "Pink Panther" films, and multiple episodes of "Days of Our Lives."

Crosby, 65, recently appeared in a few episodes of "General Hospital."

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Crosby didn't appear as Yar in any of the "TNG" films, but that doesn't mean she's totally stayed away from "Trek." She produced and presented a 1997 documentary about "Trek" fandom called "Trekkies," and its 2004 sequel "Trekkies 2." As of 2017, there were plans for a third installment.

She's also appeared in multiple direct-to-video movies , in addition to her roles in "Southland," "Ray Donovan," "The Walking Dead," "Suits," "Creepshow," and most recently "NCIS" and "General Hospital."

Colm Meaney had a recurring role as the transporter chief Miles O'Brien.

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Meaney appeared in over 50 episodes of "TNG" as O'Brien before he switched over to "Deep Space Nine," which he starred on from 1993 to 1999. His character got much more to do on the spin-off, though he did get married in a season four episode called "Data's Day," and he eventually had a child in the season five episode "Disaster."

During his run on "TNG," Meaney also appeared in a 1993 film called "The Snapper." He was nominated for a Golden Globe for his performance. 

Meaney, 69, continued to play O'Brien in "Deep Space Nine" through 1999.

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After wrapping up his role in "Deep Space Nine," Meaney went on to be nominated for a Gemini Award in 2002 for his role in Canadian series "Random Passage." He also appeared in three episodes of "Stargate Atlantis," the miniseries "Alice," two episodes of "Men in Trees," and more.

Meaney was also nominated for a Saturn Award in 2013 for his role in "Hell on Wheels," appeared in 10 episodes of "Will" and in British series "Gangs of London" and "The Singapore Grip."

In 2021, he appeared in the 15th season of "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" as the father of Charlie Day's character.

He's had success on the big screen, as well. He was nominated for the Irish Film and Television Award for best actor in 2007 for "Kings," and he has been in other films like "Law Abiding Citizen," "Get Him to the Greek," "Tolkien," "Seberg," and "Pixie."

He recently starred in "The Serpent Queen" as King Francis I on Starz.

Whoopi Goldberg won an Oscar for "Ghost" as she was recurring on "TNG" as Guinan, an alien bartender who was hundreds of years old.

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Goldberg had already been nominated for an Oscar (for "The Color Purple" in 1985) and had won a Grammy for Best Comedy Album in 1985 (Whoopi Goldberg: Original Broadway Show Recording), and had been nominated for an Emmy  for her performance on "Moonlighting" in 1986, when she was asked if she wanted to appear in "TNG" as Guinan, an alien bartender in the ship's lounge who acted as a sounding board for many characters.

She actually asked to be on the show due to her "Trek" fandom, which stemmed from seeing Uhura, a Black woman, in a position of power in the first "Star Trek" series. Goldberg appeared in 28 episodes across seven seasons.

At the same time, Goldberg was becoming a true A-lister. In 1990, she starred in "Ghost," which eventually won her an Oscar. In 1992, she starred in the classic "Sister Act" and its sequel the following year.

Goldberg, 67, accepted a personal invitation from Stewart during "The View" to return as Guinan in season two of "Picard."

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Goldberg appeared in two of the "Next Generation" films, "Generations" and "Nemesis." During that time, she also appeared in films like "The Lion King," "Girl, Interrupted," "Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella," and "How Stella Got Her Groove Back."

In 2002, Goldberg secured her Tony Award win for producing "Thoroughly Modern Millie." That same year, she completed her EGOT by winning an Emmy for outstanding special class series. She's also hosted multiple award shows, including the Tonys and the Oscars. 

Goldberg has consistently acted in both TV and movies in the 2000s, appearing in "Glee," "The Middle," "Toy Story 3," "Nobody's Fool," and more.

Since 2007, Goldberg has hosted "The View," which won her her second Emmy — she won outstanding entertainment talk show host at the 2009 Daytime Emmys.

During an appearance on "The View," none other than Patrick Stewart extended an invitation to Goldberg to reprise her role as Guinan during season two of "Picard," which she emotionally accepted.

Both Goldberg's version  and  a younger version played by Ito Aghayere of Guinan appeared during the show.

John de Lancie played Q, a mischievous, omnipotent being throughout all seven seasons of "TNG."

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In many ways, it would've been impossible to bring back Picard without bringing back Q. The Enterprise's captain meets Q in the very first episode of "TNG," and for almost every season after he pops back in to check in on the crew (and usually antagonize them a little bit). "TNG's" highly lauded series finale is also a Q episode, with Q attempting to conclude the trial of humanity he began in the first episode.

John de Lancie played Q in eight episodes of "TNG," along with one episode of "Deep Space Nine" and three episodes of "Voyager."

Throughout the '80s and '90s, de Lancie also appeared in "Days of Our Lives," "Trial and Error," and had small roles in films like "The Fisher King" and "Multiplicity."

Star Trek: The Next Generation

  • View history

Star Trek: The Next Generation , often abbreviated to TNG , is the second live-action Star Trek television series, and the first set in the 24th century . Like its predecessors, it was created by Gene Roddenberry . Produced at Paramount Pictures , it aired in first-run syndication , by Paramount Television in the US, from September 1987 to May 1994 . The series was set in the 24th century and featured the voyages of the starship USS Enterprise -D under Captain Jean-Luc Picard .

The series led to four spin-offs set in the same time period: Star Trek: Deep Space Nine , which it ran alongside during its final two seasons, Star Trek: Voyager , Star Trek: Lower Decks and Star Trek: Picard . It is also the beginning of a contiguous period of time during which there was always at least one Star Trek series in production, ending with Star Trek: Enterprise in 2005 .

  • Main Title Theme  file info (arranged by Dennis McCarthy , composed by Jerry Goldsmith and Alexander Courage )
  • 2.1 Starring
  • 2.2 Also starring
  • 3.1 Season 1
  • 3.2 Season 2
  • 3.3 Season 3
  • 3.4 Season 4
  • 3.5 Season 5
  • 3.6 Season 6
  • 3.7 Season 7
  • 4.1 Remastering
  • 5.1 Performers
  • 5.2 Stunt performers
  • 5.3 Production staff
  • 5.4 Companies
  • 6 Related topics
  • 8 External links

Summary [ ]

Star Trek: The Next Generation moved the universe forward roughly a century past the days of James T. Kirk and Spock . The series depicted a new age in which the Klingons were allies of the Federation , though the Romulans remained adversaries. New threats included the Ferengi (although they were later used more for comic relief), the Cardassians , and the Borg . While Star Trek: The Original Series was clearly made in the 1960s, the first two seasons of The Next Generation show all the markings of a 1980s product, complete with Spandex uniforms .

As with the original Star Trek , TNG was still very much about exploration, "boldly going where no one has gone before". Similarly, the plots captured the adventures of the crew of a starship, namely the USS Enterprise -D . Despite the apparent similarities with the original series, the creators of TNG were adamant about creating a bold, independent vision of the future. The public did not widely accept the show on its own terms until the airing of " The Best of Both Worlds ", which marked a shift towards higher drama, serious plot lines, and a less episodic nature. This helped pave the way for Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and its two-year-long Dominion War arc and preceding build-up, as well as the third and fourth seasons of Star Trek: Enterprise . Star Trek: Voyager capitalized on the heightened crew relationships and familial bonds first seen on The Next Generation. DS9, on the other hand, balanced political intrigue, character development, and series-long plot threads with a rerun-friendly format.

As with the original Star Trek , TNG's special effects utilized miniatures, but due to great advancements in computerized effects and opticals, the show leaped ahead of its predecessor in terms of quality effects. This series marked the greatest surge in Star Trek 's mainstream popularity, and paved the way for the later televised Trek shows.

Four of the Star Trek motion pictures continued the adventures of the TNG cast after the end of the series in 1994. Star Trek Generations served to "pass the torch" from The Original Series cast, who had been the subject of the first six motion pictures, by including crossover appearances from William Shatner , James Doohan , and Walter Koenig ; it also featured the destruction of the USS Enterprise -D. Star Trek: First Contact , released two years later , was the first of the motion pictures to solely feature the TNG cast, transferred aboard the new USS Enterprise -E and engaging with one of their deadliest enemies from the television series, the Borg. Star Trek: Insurrection followed in 1998 , continuing certain character arcs from the series. In 2002 , Star Trek Nemesis brought some of these character arcs and plot threads to a seemingly definite conclusion, although some cast members expressed hope that future movies would yet pick up the story. Regardless, a new generation of actors appeared in 2009 's Star Trek , which created an alternate reality and returned the films' focus to Kirk and Spock .

On television, characters from TNG appeared in subsequent series. Recurring TNG character Miles O'Brien became a series regular on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine , as did Worf in DS9's fourth season . Jean-Luc Picard appeared in Deep Space Nine 's pilot episode , and supporting characters from TNG appeared occasionally on DS9 (specifically, Keiko O'Brien , Lursa , B'Etor , Molly O'Brien , Vash , Q , Lwaxana Troi , Alynna Nechayev , Gowron , Thomas Riker , Toral , and Alexander Rozhenko ). Reginald Barclay and Deanna Troi appeared several times each on Star Trek: Voyager , and Troi and William T. Riker appeared in the series finale of Star Trek: Enterprise , which was primarily a holographic simulation set during the TNG episode " The Pegasus ". However, Star Trek Nemesis was the final chronological appearance of the Next Generation characters for over 18 years, until Star Trek: Picard , which focused on the later life of Jean-Luc Picard. Riker, Troi, Data , and Hugh also appeared in Picard .

In 1994 , Star Trek: The Next Generation was nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series. During its seven-year run, it was nominated for 58 Emmy Awards, mostly in "technical" categories such as visual effects and makeup; it won 18.

Main cast [ ]

Starring [ ].

  • Patrick Stewart as Captain Jean-Luc Picard
  • Jonathan Frakes as Commander William T. Riker

Also starring [ ]

  • LeVar Burton as Lt. j.g. / Lt. / Lt. Cmdr. Geordi La Forge
  • Denise Crosby as Lt. Tasha Yar ( 1987 - 1988 )
  • Michael Dorn as Lt. j.g. / Lt. Worf
  • Gates McFadden as Doctor Beverly Crusher ( 1987 - 1988 ; 1989 - 1994 )
  • Marina Sirtis as Counselor Deanna Troi
  • Brent Spiner as Lt. Commander Data
  • Wil Wheaton as Ensign Wesley Crusher ( 1987 - 1990 )

Episode list [ ]

Season 1 [ ].

TNG Season 1 , 25 episodes:

Season 2 [ ]

TNG Season 2 , 22 episodes:

Season 3 [ ]

TNG Season 3 , 26 episodes:

Season 4 [ ]

TNG Season 4 , 26 episodes:

Season 5 [ ]

TNG Season 5 , 26 episodes:

Season 6 [ ]

TNG Season 6 , 26 episodes:

Season 7 [ ]

TNG Season 7 , 25 episodes:

Behind the scenes [ ]

Star Trek: The Next Generation was originally pitched to the then-fledgling Fox Network . However, they couldn't guarantee an initial order greater than thirteen episodes, not enough to make the enormous start-up costs of the series worth the expense. It was then decided to sell the series to the first-run syndication market. The show's syndicated launch was overseen by Paramount Television president Mel Harris , a pioneer in the syndicated television market. Many of the stations that carried The Next Generation had also run The Original Series for a long time.

According to issues of Star Trek: The Official Fan Club Magazine from early 1987, TNG was originally planned to be set in the 25th century, 150 years after the original series, and the Enterprise would have been the Enterprise NCC-1701-G. Gene Roddenberry ultimately changed the timeline to mid-24th century, set on board the Enterprise NCC-1701-D, as an Enterprise -G would have been the eighth starship to bear the name and that was too many for the relatively short time period that was to have passed.

Star Trek: The Next Generation was billed initially as being set 78 years after the days of the original USS Enterprise . [1] (p. 16) However, after the series' first season was established as being set in the year 2364 , this reference became obsolete as dates were then able to be set for the original series and the four previous films. When this happened, it was established that the events of the original series were about a hundred years before the events of TNG. With TNG's first season being set in 2364, 78 years prior would have been 2286 . Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home partly takes place during this year along with the shakedown cruise of the USS Enterprise -A .

On the special The Star Trek Saga: From One Generation To The Next , Gene Roddenberry commented, " On the original Star Trek , I practically lost my family from working so many twelve-hour days, fourteen-hour days, seven days a week, and I told them, 'You can't pay me enough to do that.' But then they said, 'Hey, but suppose we do it in a way in which' they call syndication, 'in which we don't have a network and we don't have all those people up there?' And Paramount was saying to me, 'And we guarantee that you will be in charge of the show.' "

Andrew Probert was first hired by Roddenberry in 1978 . However, not until 1986 , when Roddenberry was preparing to launch a new show, entitled Star Trek: The Next Generation , did he call upon Probert to take a lead design role. Everything had to be rethought, imagined, planned and redesigned. As the vision evolved in the designers' minds, the evolution was charted in successive sketches and paintings.

Among Probert's creations, in addition to the new Enterprise starship and many of its interiors including the main bridge , are many other featured spacecraft. The Ferengi cruiser , and even the Ferengi species, are Probert designs.

Roddenberry originally insisted on doing a one-hour pilot and assigned D.C. Fontana to write the episode, first titled Meeting at Farpoint . However, the studio was keen on having a two-hour pilot, mainly because they wanted something big and spectacular to launch the series, especially considering first-run syndication. Roddenberry himself volunteered to extend Fontana's script to two hours, eventually adding the Q storyline to it.

Ronald D. Moore commented, " Gene did not want conflict between the regular characters on TNG. This began to hamstring the series and led to many, many problems. To put it bluntly, this wasn't a very good idea. But rather than jettison it completely, we tried to remain true to the spirit of a better future where the conflicts between our characters did not show them to be petty or selfish or simply an extension of 20th century mores. " ( AOL chat , 1997 ) Rick Berman explained, " The problem with Star Trek: The Next Generation is Gene created a group of characters that he purposely chose not to allow conflict between. Starfleet officers cannot be in conflict, thus its murderous to write these shows because there is no good drama without conflict, and the conflict has to come from outside the group. " ( Captains' Logs Supplemental - The Unauthorized Guide to the New Trek Voyages , p. 8)

Roddenberry tried to recruit many production staff members from The Original Series to work on the new series. These included producers Robert H. Justman and Edward K. Milkis , writers D.C. Fontana and David Gerrold (who served as the main creative force behind the formation of the series), costume designer William Ware Theiss , assistant director Charles Washburn , composer Fred Steiner , set decorator John M. Dwyer , and writer John D.F. Black . Roddenberry also tried to bring back cinematographer Jerry Finnerman , but he declined the offer, being busy working on Moonlighting at the time. However, all of the above people finished working on the series after or during the first season.

Unit Production Manager David Livingston was responsible for hiring Michael Westmore for the pilot episode. ( ENT Season 3 Blu-ray , " Impulse " audio commentary )

Remastering [ ]

After several months of speculation and partial confirmation, StarTrek.com announced on 28 September 2011 (the 24th anniversary of the series premiere) that The Next Generation would be remastered in 1080p high-definition for release on Blu-ray Disc and eventual syndication, starting in 2012 . The seventh and final season was released on Blu-ray in December 2014 .

Cast and crew [ ]

The following people worked on The Next Generation ; it is unknown during which season or on which episodes.

Performers [ ]

  • Antonio – background actor
  • Charles Bazaldua – voice actor
  • Terrence Beasor – voice actor (17 episodes, including the voice of the Borg )
  • Libby Bideau – featured actress
  • Brian Ciari – background actor: Cardassian ( TNG Season 6 or 7 )
  • Amber Connally – background actress: child
  • Phil Crowley – voice actor
  • Vincent DeMaio – background actor: Enterprise -D operations division officer
  • David Dewitt – background actor
  • Gregory Fletcher – background actor Borg
  • Dan Horton – background actor
  • Carlyle King – voice actress
  • Mark Laing – featured actor
  • Daryl F. Mallett – background actor
  • Tina Morlock – background actress
  • Jean Marie Novak – background actress: Enterprise -D operations division officer
  • Rick H. Olavarria – background actor (1988)
  • Jennifer Ott – background actress: Enterprise -D command division officer
  • Richard Penn – voice actor
  • Judie Pimitera – background actress: Ten Forward waitress
  • Paige Pollack – voice actress
  • Jeff Rector – background actor: Enterprise -D command division officer
  • Gary Schwartz – voice actor/ADR voice
  • Beth Scott – background actress
  • Steve Sekely – background actor
  • Andrea Silver – background actress: Enterprise -D sciences division officer
  • Oliver Theess – recurring background actor (around 1990)
  • Richard Walker – background actor
  • Harry Williams, Jr. – background actor
  • Bruce Winant – supporting actor
  • Stephen Woodworth – background actor

Stunt performers [ ]

  • Laura Albert – stunts
  • John Lendale Bennett – stunts
  • Richard L. Blackwell – stunts
  • John Cade – stunts
  • Chuck Courtney – Assistant Stunt Coordinator
  • Terry James – stunts
  • Gary Jensen – Assistant Stunt Coordinator
  • Lane Leavitt – stunts
  • Pat Romano – stunts

Production staff [ ]

  • Joseph Andolino – Additional Composer
  • David Atherton – Makeup Artist
  • Gregory Benford – Scientific Consultant
  • Steven R. Bernstein – Additional Music Composer/Orchestrator
  • Les Bernstien – Motion Control Operator
  • R. Christopher Biggs – Special Makeup Effects Artist
  • Howard Block – Second Unit Director of Photography
  • Stephen Buchsbaum – Colorist: Unitel Video (Four Seasons)
  • Alan Chudnow – Assistant Editor
  • Marty Church – Foley Mixer
  • Scott Cochran – Scoring Mixer: Advertising Music
  • Robert Cole – Special Effects Artist
  • Sharon Davis – Graphics Assistant
  • David Dittmar – Prosthetic Makeup Artist
  • Dragon Dronet – Prop Maker: Weapons, Specialty Props and Miniatures
  • Jim Dultz – Assistant Art Director
  • Shannon Dunn – Extras Casting: Cenex Casting
  • Chris W. Fallin – Motion Control Operator
  • Edward J. Franklin – Special Effects Artist
  • Lisa Gizara – Assistant to Gates McFadden
  • John Goodwin – Makeup Artist
  • Simon Holden – Digital Compositor (between 1989 and 1994)
  • Kent Allen Jones – Sculptor: Bob Jean Productions
  • Michael R. Jones – Makeup Artist (early 1990s)
  • Jason Kaufman – Prop and Model Maker: Greg Jein, Inc.
  • Nina Kent – Makeup Artist
  • David Kervinen – Visual Effects Illustrator: Composite Image Systems (4 Seasons)
  • Andy Krieger – Extras Casting: Central Casting
  • Tim Landry – Visual Effects Artist
  • Lisa Logan – Cutter/Fitter
  • Jon Macht – Post Production Vendor
  • Gray Marshall – Motion Control Camera Operator: Image "G"
  • Karl J. Martin – Digital Compositor
  • Belinda Merritt – VFX Accountant: The Post Group
  • John Palmer – Special Effects Coordinator: WonderWorks Inc.
  • Frank Popovich – Mold and Prop Assistant
  • Molly Rennie
  • Chris Schnitzer – Motion Control Technician/Rigger: Image "G"
  • Steven J. Scott – Digital Compositor
  • Bruce Sears – DGA Trainee
  • Casey Simpson – Gaffer
  • Ken Stranahan – Visual Effects Artist
  • Rick Stratton – Makeup Artist
  • Greg Stuhl – Miniatures: Greg Jein, Inc.
  • Tim Tommasino – Assistant Editor
  • Peter Webb – Digital Compositor
  • Gregory A. Weimerskirch – Assistant Art Director
  • Bill Witthans – Dolly Grip

Companies [ ]

  • Bob Jean Productions
  • Movie Movers
  • Newkirk Special Effects
  • WonderWorks Inc.

Related topics [ ]

  • TNG directors
  • TNG performers
  • TNG recurring characters
  • TNG studio models
  • TNG writers
  • Character crossover appearances
  • Undeveloped TNG episodes
  • Star Trek: The Next Generation novels
  • Star Trek: The Next Generation comics, volume 1 (DC)
  • Star Trek: The Next Generation comics, volume 2 (DC)
  • Star Trek: The Next Generation comics (IDW)
  • Star Trek: The Next Generation soundtracks
  • Star Trek: The Next Generation on VHS
  • Star Trek: The Next Generation on Betamax
  • Star Trek: The Next Generation on LaserDisc
  • Star Trek: The Next Generation on DVD
  • Star Trek: The Next Generation on Blu-ray
  • Star Trek: The Next Generation pinball machine

External links [ ]

  • Star Trek: The Next Generation at Wikipedia
  • Star Trek: The Next Generation at Memory Beta , the wiki for licensed Star Trek works
  • Star Trek: The Next Generation at the Internet Movie Database
  • Star Trek: The Next Generation at StarTrek.com
  • 1 Kenneth Mitchell
  • 3 Kol (Klingon)

Star Trek: The Next Generation Cast and Character Guide: Who Plays Who on the Enterprise-D (and What They're Doing Now)

Alexander didn't make the list, because nobody wants to know who played Alexander.

When Star Trek: The Next Generation debuted in 1987, it felt like a long shot to succeed. The beloved original Star Trek crew was still wildly popular in reruns and a thriving film series, but would fans accept a sequel series set a century after the initial show and featuring an entirely new cast? The answer turned out to be a resounding yes, and TNG , as it is affectionally known by fans, went on to birth an entire extended Trek universe that continues to thrive today.

Set in the 24th century, Star Trek: The Next Generation chronicles the adventures of the crew of the Enterprise-D starship as they -- like their predecessors before them -- explore strange new worlds, seek out new life and new civilizations, and boldly go where no man has gone before. Here is your guide to the cast of the series, taking a look back at the characters they played on the sci-fi classic (and, in some cases, are still playing!) and offering a glimpse at what they've been up to recently.

RELATED: Star Trek Timeline Explained, Including Two Kirks, Two Different Prequels, and the Return of Picard

Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart)

star-trek-the-next-generation-patrick-stewart-picard

Every ship needs a captain, and the Enterprise-D’s is Jean-Luc Picard. Finding someone to follow in the footsteps of William Shatner ’s James T. Kirk was never going to be an easy task, and Gene Roddenberry , the creator of both the original series and TNG , was wise to land on an actor with a completely different energy about him. Stewart, a well-regarded British stage actor with a smattering of film and TV credits, made Picard the anti-Kirk – a stern tactician who is more interested in victory through diplomacy than throwing a punch. Thanks to Stewart’s commanding presence, Picard became a pop-culture icon, with the character anchoring seven seasons of TNG , four feature-film spinoffs, and a recent revival/spinoff series -- fittingly titled Star Trek: Picard -- that is currently streaming on Paramount+. (Season 2 debuts early next year.) In between playing Picard, Stewart headlined another franchise when he portrayed Charles Xavier -- Marvel’s Professor X -- across five X-Men films. Most recently, he played Merlin in 2019’s kid-based Excalibur tale The Kid Who Would Be King and stepped into the role of Bosley in the Charlie's Angels reboot released that same year.

Will Riker (Jonathan Frakes)

star-trek-the-next-generation-jonathan-frakes-riker

Whereas Picard is usually calm and collected, Commander William T. Riker, the ship's first officer, can be more of a hot-head. As played by the at first unbearded, but later very bearded Frakes, Riker is a crucial member of the Enterprise crew who can lead the away team or stay behind to captain the bridge in the event that Picard gets assimilated by the Borg or something. While on the show, Frakes began pivoting to a career behind the camera. He directed eight episodes of the series as well as two of the Next Generation cast's big-screen adventures – Star Trek: First Contact and Star Trek: Insurrection . Elsewhere within the Trek universe, Frakes has helmed multiple episodes of Deep Space Nine , Voyager , Discovery , and Picard , and he has been an in-demand TV director for years, having called the shots for shows such as The Librarians , Burn Notice , and Leverage . He returned to the role of Riker for two episodes of Picard in 2020 and has also voiced the character in Star Trek: Lower Decks .

Data (Brent Spiner)

star-trek-the-next-generation-brent-spiner-data

Designed to sort of be the “Spock character” on TNG , Lt. Commander Data is a highly advanced android who serves as the Enterprise’s second officer and spends most of the series trying to understand what it means to feel emotions and be human. The friendship that develops between him and Picard proves to be one of the series defining relationships, and Spiner briefly returned to the role for season one of Picard . Spiner continues to work regularly as a TV and voice actor. He recently appeared in six episodes of Penny Dreadful: City of Angels and, in 2016, reprised his Independence Day role of Dr. Brackish Okun in that film’s sequel, Independence Day: Resurgence .

Geordi La Forge (LeVar Burton)

star-trek-the-next-generation-levar-burton-la-forge

When The Next Generation launched, La Forge worked as the Enterprise’s helmsman, but in season two he shifted to the role of chief engineer, where he served for the remainder of the show’s run. Geordi is blind but is able to “see” using a distinct metallic visor that covers his eyes and feeds electromagnetic scans into his optic nerves. Geordi struggles with his disability at times but rarely lets it interfere with the job at hand. Outside of TNG , Burton is probably most known for hosting the PBS education series Reading Rainbow for 21 seasons. He's an accomplished TV director and also hosts Levar Burton Reads , a podcast where he narrates a different piece of short fiction in every episode. If it were up to Twitter, Burton would currently be the new host of Jeopardy! , but, sadly, his considerable fanbase will have to be content with the five episodes of the game show he guest hosted in 2021.

Worf (Michael Dorn)

star-trek-the-next-generation-michael-dorn-worf

Maybe no one stands out on the Enterprise-D bridge more than Lt. Commander Worf, a Klingon officer whose distinct forehead ridges defined the Klingon look from TNG forward. Worf is a character who often feels trapped between two worlds -- the Klingon culture he left behind and the Starfleet crew that became his family. He is named the ship’s chief security officer after the death of Tasha Yar and eventually became the first main character to jump to a spinoff show when Dorn joined the cast of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine following TNG ’s finale. More recently, Dorn has contributed voice work to shows such as Invincible , The Lion Guard , and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles .

Deanna Troi (Marina Sirtis)

star-trek-the-next-generation-marina-sirtis-troi

Along with Worf, Troi is the other prominent alien in the show’s crew. Though she’s half human, her Betazoid half allows her the gift of empathic telepathy, which she often puts to good use as the ship’s counselor. Prior to being reunited as part of the Enterprise crew, Troi and Riker were a couple, and though the show often teases that the two may one day rekindle their relationship, they don’t formally get back together until the TNG cast had moved onto the big screen. Sirtis reprised the role of Deanna in Picard , where Troi and Riker continue to be happily married. She continues to act regularly in movies and on TV, having recently appeared in episodes of genre shows The Orville and Titans .

Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden)

star-trek-the-next-generation-gates-mcfadden-social-featured

Dr. Crusher is the Enterprise’s chief medical officer in Season 1 of TNG , vanishes in Season 2 when she is suddenly transferred to Starfleet Medical, but then returns for good in Season 3 when she’s reinstated aboard the starship. The back-and-forth was the result of behind-the-scenes drama which resulted in McFadden being fired from -- and then rehired for -- the series. Crusher is responsible for patching up the crew, and she also serves as a potential love interest for Captain Picard. McFadden’s last on-screen credit was an episode of NCIS in 2017, although she’s also had a long career as a choreographer. (Fun fact: She was the director of choreography and puppet movement for Jim Henson ’s Labyrinth !)

Wesley Crusher (Wil Wheaton)

star-trek-the-next-generation-wesley-crusher-wil-wheaton

Almost certainly the most divisive member of the cast, Wesley is the son of Dr. Crusher and joins her on the Enterprise. At first, he is a nuisance to Picard (and sometimes the audience), but as time goes on Wesley becomes a valuable member of the Enterprise community and is eventually named a ship ensign. Wheaton left the series following Season 4, although he would continue to make guest appearances as Wesley down the road. He has gone on to have a diverse career as an actor, writer, and Internet personality. He notoriously played a fictionalized version of himself on The Big Bang Theory , where he recurred as Sheldon’s arch nemesis across 17 episodes. Wheaton is currently back in the Star Trek fold, hosting the Trek -based aftershow The Ready Room .

Katherine Pulaski (Diana Muldaur)

star-trek-the-next-generation-pulaski-diana-muldaur

Dr. Pulaski becomes chief medical officer during Dr. Crusher’s one-season absence, but the character departs the series when Crusher returns for Season 3. Muldaur recently appeared in Sidney Furie ’s docudrama Finding Hannah , her first on-screen acting appearance in nearly two decades.

Tasha Yar (Denise Crosby)

star-trek-the-next-generation-denise-crosby-tasha-yar

Yar is the Enterprise’s chief security officer during season one, but Crosby was unhappy working on the show, which led to Yar being killed near the end of that season. The character does reappear a few times thanks to some time-rift shenanigans, and Crosby eventually tackles a second role on the show when she guests in heavy makeup as Sela, Yar’s half-Romulan daughter. Crosby continues to act and recently had multi-episode runs on The Walking Dead , Ray Donovan , and Suits .

Guinan (Whoopi Goldberg)

star-trek-the-next-generation-guinan-whoopi-goldberg

Guinan is a warm and wizened bartender who’d serve you a drink in the Enterprise’s Ten-Forward lounge and maybe throw in some sage advice at no cost. A fan favorite, she’d appear in 28 episodes of the series, and Goldberg is slated to the role during season two of Picard . (Although we’ll see how they handle Whoopi’s aging as Guinan is an El-Aurian, an alien species that ages slowly and can live for multiple centuries.) Here on planet Earth, Goldberg has been a host on the daytime TV talk-show staple The View since 2007.

Q (John de Lancie)

star-trek-the-next-generation-q-john-de-lancie

Also returning for season two of Picard is de Lancie as the enigmatic Q, a godlike being who takes delight in toying with Jean-Luc on The Next Generation , often putting the human race itself on trial. Q appears in eight episodes of TNG , including the series premiere and finale. De Lancie has worked steadily as a TV and voice actor over the years, and in 2019 wrapped up his run voicing Discord on My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic , a character that was loosely based on Q.

KEEP READING: Why James Cromwell's Zefram Cochrane Is One of the Best 'Star Trek' Performances

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‘Star Trek: The Next Generation’: Ranking the Crew, From Picard to Pulaski

Liz shannon miller.

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Thirty years ago, “Star Trek” proved it wasn’t just a story about Kirk and Spock; it was a story universe rich with possibilities, including a whole new cast of characters.

Ranking the men and women of “ Star Trek: The Next Generation ” is a far more brutal task than initially anticipated because, as the series kept telling us the whole time, this wasn’t a crew. This was a family. That said, let’s be honest. Family might inspire love on an equal playing field, but when it comes to actually spending time with people, favorites do emerge.

This is strictly limited to those who served as actual crew members (sorry, Q and Lwaxana Troi) because one of the best things about “Trek’s” approach to a military structure is how it still allows the show to celebrate individual personalities. Because as much fun as space travel is, a “Trek” series lives or dies by its characters.

17. Dr. Katherine Pulaski

No Merchandising. Editorial Use Only. No Book Cover Usage.Mandatory Credit: Photo by Moviestore/REX/Shutterstock (1613747a)Star Trek: The Next Generation , Diana MuldaurFilm and Television

Related Stories Disability in Television: Who Was the First Disabled Person You Saw on Television? Watch: The ‘Star Trek: The Next Generation’ Crew Is Hilariously Confused in ‘Riker’ Spinoff Edit

For the record, this is not actor Diana Muldaur’s fault. When Gates McFadden left “Next Generation” at the end of Season 1 (for  a variety of complicated reasons ), the ship needed a new doctor. But while the idea of bringing in a new female character over the age of 40 (Pulaski dated Riker’s dad once!) was conceptually a fresh approach for the genre — hell, for television in general — Dr. Pulaski never gelled with the rest of the crew, and McFadden’s return in Season 3 was a welcome relief.

16. Lieutenant Reginald Barclay

On a ship full of humanity’s best, Barclay was decidedly flawed. In fact, he was set up as essentially a parody of nerd culture (which is pretty rude, considering that “Next Generation” featured a passionate, perhaps even “nerdy” fanbase). More importantly, he caused way more problems than he solved and was never much of a sympathetic character despite his lighter moments.

15. Tasha Yar

No Merchandising. Editorial Use Only. No Book Cover Usage Mandatory Credit: Photo by Kobal/REX/Shutterstock (7944840c) Jonathan Frakes, Denise Crosby Star Trek: The Next Generation' TV Series - 1990s

A character inspired by Vasquez (Jeanette Goldberg) from James Cameron’s “Aliens,” Yar was the ship’s muscle for much of the first season… until Denise Crosby decided to leave the show. She was essentially replaced by Worf in this regard, which could be seen as an improvement, except that there could always be more badass women in science fiction, especially on “Trek.”

14. Keiko O’Brien

A botanist we first meet as she’s about to marry Miles O’Brien (an in media res sort of move that we have a lot of respect for), Keiko was an interesting example of how the show was able to build a world beyond each week’s missions.

No Merchandising. Editorial Use Only. No Book Cover Usage.Mandatory Credit: Photo by Moviestore/REX/Shutterstock (1606914a)Star Trek: The Next Generation , Rosalind Chao, Brent Spiner, Colm MeaneyFilm and Television

13. Miles O’Brien

Colm Meaney made semi-regular appearances for six seasons of “Next Generation” before becoming a regular on “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.” While on that show, the character’s full potential was truly revealed. But while on “TNG” O’Brien had some charming moments, there’s a reason why  one of the best webcomics ever made  is based on the ennui that he must have experienced, humbly operating that transporter pad.

12. Ensign Ro Laren

This tough-as-nails Bajoran officer was our initial introduction to the Bajor-Cardassian conflict, which would be a fundamental foundation of “DS9.” Unfortunately, because Michelle Forbes was infamously skittish about signing up for ongoing series during the ’90s, Ro never got the character development enjoyed by other folk. That said, the episode “Rascals,” where she learned how to have fun as a child was… um. Fun.

11. Ensign Alyssa Ogawa

A very minor character, in theory, but the show’s erstwhile nurse made 16 appearances during the show’s run and had her own arc, with a romantic life that eventually led to her becoming a mother. Nurse Ogawa was always a pleasant presence and much appreciated.

10. Wesley Crusher

No Merchandising. Editorial Use Only. No Book Cover Usage.Mandatory Credit: Photo by Paramount Television/Kobal/REX/Shutterstock (5884715q)Wil WheatonStar Trek - The Next Generation - 1987-1994Paramount TelevisionUSAFilm Portrait

Wesley was, um,  a polarizing figure for sci-fi fans at the time , given the fact that as a teen genius who was perhaps rightly labeled as a Marty Sue, he could be a bit grating. But Wesley was also a nice, decent kid, and “TNG” showcased him best by letting that side peek out. The episode where he makes out with Ashley Judd will always be a classic.

9. Deanna Troi

No Merchandising. Editorial Use Only. No Book Cover Usage.Mandatory Credit: Photo by Moviestore/REX/Shutterstock (1621518a)Star Trek: The Next Generation , Marina SirtisFilm and Television

Playing an “empath” is an odd requirement for an actor, and Troi had to deal with a lot of odd storylines. But she occasionally got some meat to chew into, especially given the fact that her rank as a Starfleet officer meant that she was technically more integrated into the military aspects of the series than expected. And she wore some fun jumpsuits! Troi was great.

Continue Reading: ‘Star Trek: The Next Generation’: Ranking the Crew, From Picard to Pulaski Next »

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Published Sep 26, 2012

TNG Cast Reflects On Most Memorable Guest Stars

star trek cast tng

Star Trek: The Next Generation debuted in syndication the week of September 28, 1987. So, believe it or not, the 25th anniversary of the series that captured lightning in a bottle… again, is upon us. Events of all kinds have been occurring in the Star Trek universe, from the release of TNG Blu-rays to a handful of full-cast convention appearances. StarTrek.com thought it’d be revealing, informative and entertaining to reach out to as many full-time first-season TNG actors as we could corral and ask each of them to answer six questions. Today, in part three of our cast interview, Marina Sirtis, Brent Spiner, Gates McFadden, Michael Dorn, Jonathan Frakes, Wil Wheaton and Denise Crosby answer the following question: TNG welcomed a lot of great guest stars over the years. Who were you personally most excited to meet and/or share scenes with – and why?

star trek cast tng

Brent Spiner: Whoopi (Goldberg), although she was recurring. Saul Rubinek. I knew Saul already, but I loved working with him. I’d worked with Jean Simmons before. I didn’t really get to work with her in the episode, but it was just great having her around. I think, if you made a list of all of the actors who’ve been on Star Trek , in all of its incarnations, it’s a pretty impressive bunch of people, acting-wise. Every series had wonderful regular actors, and the guest stars were incredible. The films had really interesting people. It’s a pretty interesting batch of folks.

Denise Crosby: My favorite guest star was Christopher McDonald, who played Lt. Castillo in “ Yesterday’s Enterprise .” I have never laughed so hard in my life! We had a great connection right from the start...Chris and I would go on to play husband and wife in a film called Divorce: A Contemporary Western , and I turned around and did a guest appearance on his legal drama he did for CBS. Jonathan Frakes:

star trek cast tng

You probably know I'm going to say this, but to direct… I was honored to work with the talented and beautiful Jean Simmons. I just thought she was spectacular. Also, like everybody else , I’m a huge John de Lancie fan. I loved Michelle Forbes and Carolyn McCormick, who played Minuet. I have a soft spot for all these people in my heart. And the idea that Stephen Hawking was on the show, that Colin Powell came to visit, that Mae Jemison was on the show… that’s just nuts. Then there are the people who don’t admit they were on the show, like Ashley Judd and Teri Hatcher. Gates McFadden: My two biggest thrills were in the movies.  (We had) Malcolm McDowell, who’ s an awesome actor, and Tom Morello, who’s an unbelievable guitarist. In episodes, (we had) Stephen Hawking, who was brilliant and funny, Jean Simmons, who was very classy, and Madeleine Al bright, w ho was super-smart and funny (when she visited the set).Michael Dorn: I loved Jean Si mmons, Jo hn Anderson, and John Colicos. Along with being a joy to work with, you "saw" why they are stars.Marina Sirtis: If you look back, when they were really good guests stars on the show, someone didn’t work very much that week, and it was usually me. The only really spectacular guest star, or important Star Trek guest star that I got to work with was Jimmy Doohan. Of course, I knew him from the Star Trek conventions and the Star Trek functions we’d been to together, etc. He was such a delightful man, a sweetheart. It was lovely working with him. He still had it. He came prepared. He knew his lines, which can’t be said for some of the younger g uest stars w e had; no names. So tha t w as great, but I never got to work with Jean Simmons, which I would have loved to have done . I n ever got to work with Leonard Nimoy, which I would have loved to have done. De Kelley, again, never worked with him. Patrick and Brent got the good guest stars, and that’s understandable. The two most popular characters get good gigs. That’s the way it goes on TV.Visit StarTrek.comagain tomorrow, as the TNG cast discusses which TNG film they considered the best working experience. And click HERE and HERE to read part one and two of our cast interview.

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Best star trek: tng episode from each of the show’s 7 seasons.

In its seven-season run, Star Trek: The Next Generation produced some truly amazing episodes of sci-fi television but which ones truly stand out?

  • "The Big Goodbye" is TNG Season 1's best, giving insight into Picard's character with a fun holodeck adventure.
  • TNG Season 2's "The Measure of a Man" explores what it means to be human through Data's trial.
  • Season 3's "The Best of Both Worlds, Part 1" delivers a gripping Borg cliffhanger and Riker's heroism.

Star Trek: The Next Generation produced some truly amazing episodes throughout its seven seasons, but what is the best episode from each season? For 178 episodes, Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) led the USS Enterprise-D in its quest to seek out new life and new civilizations. Despite a rocky first season due to a chaotic writers' room, TNG soon became just as iconic as its predecessor, Star Trek: The Original Series . Not only did the show capture the magic of Star Trek , but it also introduced an entire new era of fans to the franchise.

Star Trek: The Next Generation' s 7 seasons contain epic highs and some real lows, but even the worst TNG episodes still meant spending time with the wonderful characters. From the Starfleet Klingon Lt. Worf (Michael Dorn) to the android Lt. Commander Data (Brent Spiner) to the empathic Counselor Deanna Troi (Marina Sirtis), it was the characters of TNG that made the show a success. While TNG told mostly stand-alone stories throughout its run, later seasons began to incorporate more character development and told more character-focused stories. Every season of TNG had its ups and downs, but the show produced some of Star Trek's best stories.

Star Trek: The Next Generation cast & character guide

Star Trek: The Next Generation Cast & Character Guide

7 star trek: tng season 1's best: episode 12 - "the big goodbye", "she's a lady all right. and her name is enterprise.".

Picard Data And Crusher In The Star Trek The Next Generation Episode The Big Goodbye

Not only does TNG season 1's "The Big Goodbye" hold the distinction of being the first Star Trek holodeck episode , but it also offers a glimpse into the character of Captain Picard. Until this point, Picard has only ever been the Captain, but "The Big Goodbye" shows how Jean-Luc likes to spend his free time. As Picard, Dr. Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden), and Lt. Commander Data embrace their inner hard-boiled detectives , a fun adventure on the holodeck quickly turns deadly. "The Big Goodbye" may not be perfect, but everyone looks great in their period costumes, and the whole episode is simply a joy to watch.

Honorable Mention - Episode 6, "Where No One Has Gone Before"

6 Star Trek: TNG Season 2's Best: Episode 9 - "The Measure of a Man"

"your honor, starfleet was founded to seek out new life. well, there it sits waiting.".

Star Trek TNG Measure of a Man Captain Picard Data trial Maddox

Star Trek has always sought to explore the question of what it means to be human, and the franchise, at its heart, has always been a celebration of compassion for all kinds. TNG season 2's "The Measure of a Man" exemplifies everything that Star Trek stands for, as Data's very right to exist is put on trial . It is clear to anyone who has watched TNG that Data represents the best of humanity , making it grating every time the visiting Dr. Bruce Maddox (Brian Brophy) refers to the android as an "it." "The Measure of a Man" tells an incredibly powerful story that centers around Data, but also gives Captain Picard and Commander William Riker (Jonathan Frakes) a chance to shine.

Honorable Mention - Episode 16, "Q Who"

5 Star Trek: TNG Season 3's Best: Episode 26 - "The Best of Both Worlds, Part 1"

"i am locutus of borg. resistance is futile.".

Even nearly 35 years later, Star Trek's first cliffhanger remains one of the most memorable season-enders in the history of television. The Borg are at their most frightening as they assimilate Captain Picard and force him to become their mouthpiece, Locutus. In many ways, Commander Riker steals the episode , as he does everything in his power to stop the Borg, even if that means the death of his friend and former captain. "The Best of Both Worlds, Part 1's" story beats play out perfectly, leading to the jaw-dropping final moments that made the summer of 1990 a particularly long one for Trek fans.

Honorable Mention - Episode 16, "The Offspring"

4 Star Trek: TNG Season 4's Best: Episode 3 - "Brothers"

"i am not less perfect than lore.".

Star Trek TNG Brothers 2

When Data's creator, Dr. Noonien Soong (Brent Spiner), triggers a homing command in the android, Data hijacks the Starship Enterprise and travels to the lab of his cyberneticist "father." Data's evil twin brother Lore (Brent Spiner) is not far behind, and Soong soon tells both androids that he does not have long to live. Soong has created an emotion chip for Data that will allow him to feel, which prompts a jealous outburst from Lore. "Brothers" offers more insight into Data as a character, and once again proves that Data is far more human than even he realizes.

Honorable Mention - Episode 2, "Family"

The always impressive Brent Spiner does triple duty in "Brothers," playing not only Data and Lore but also the elderly Dr. Noonien Soong.

best_data_moments

Data's 10 Best TNG & Star Trek Picard Episodes

3 star trek: tng season 5's best: episode 2 - "darmok", "darmok and jalad at tanagra.".

Star Trek TNG Darmok Picard 1

Star Trek: The Next Generation season 5 has some of Captain Picard's finest moments, but "Darmok" shows the captain at his absolute best . In a classic Star Trek premise, Picard is stranded on a planet with the captain of an unknown alien species whose language he cannot understand. As Picard and Captain Dathon (Paul Winfield) struggle to find ways to communicate, they begin to respect and better understand one another . Dathon sacrifices his life for peace and a chance at a future relationship between his people and the Federation. And Picard learns a great deal about himself and his new friend.

Honorable Mention - Episode 25, "The Inner Light"

Although Dathon's species, the Tamarians, are not seen again in TNG, a Tamarian named Kayshon (Carl Tart) has joined Starfleet by the time of Star Trek: Lower Decks, proving that Dathon's sacrifice was not in vane.

2 Star Trek: TNG Season 6's Best: Episode 11 - "Chain of Command, Part 2"

"there are four lights".

Star Trek TNG Chain of Command Part 2 Captain Picard

In one of Star Trek's most brutal and difficult-to-watch episodes, Captain Picard finds himself at the mercy of the particularly cruel Cardassian, Gul Madred (David Warner). The story of Captain Jellico (Ronny Cox) and Commander Riker on the Enterprise has its moments, but "Chain of Command, Part 2" belongs to Patrick Stewart and David Warner . Picard remains strong in the face of torture , but after being rescued, he admits to Counselor Troi that he broke at the very end and saw five lights. As heartbreaking as it is to watch Picard suffer, Patrick Stewart delivers one of his best performances of the series.

Honorable Mention - Episode 15, "Tapestry"

1 Star Trek: TNG Season 7's Best: Episode 25 & 26 - "All Good Things..."

"so, five-card stud, nothing wild. and the sky's the limit.".

In one of Star Trek's best finales , TNG sticks the landing, delivering a final episode that brings the entire series full circle and gives a satisfying conclusion to each character's story. With the return of John de Lancie's always-welcome Q, "All Good Things..." finds Picard jumping through time in yet another test of humanity . Picard eventually succeeds, with some help from Q, saving the galaxy and impressing the Q Continuum. Every character gets a moment to shine in "All Good Things...," and Star Trek: The Next Generation ends on the perfect note, with Captain Picard finally sitting down to a game of poker with his crew.

Honorable Mention - Episode 15, "Lower Decks"

Star Trek: The Next Generation is available to stream on Paramount+.

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  • February 25, 2024 | ‘Lower Decks’ Teased And Improvised, “Spock’s Brain” Rebooted, And More From Star Trek: The Cruise Day 3
  • February 25, 2024 | ‘Star Trek: Discovery’ Actor Kenneth Mitchell Has Passed Away
  • February 24, 2024 | Star Trek Cruise Log 2: TNG Cast Jokes About Bad Episodes, Connor Trinneer Says To Get Over Trip’s Death
  • February 23, 2024 | Watch: It’s The Last Dance Of ‘Star Trek: Discovery’ In New Season 5 Trailer And Photos
  • February 23, 2024 | Star Trek Cruise Log: Day 1 Kicks Off With A Party On The Pool Deck And A Dancing Gorn

Star Trek Cruise Log 2: TNG Cast Jokes About Bad Episodes, Connor Trinneer Says To Get Over Trip’s Death

star trek cast tng

| February 24, 2024 | By: Aaron Bossig 9 comments so far

The second day of Star Trek: The Cruise VII had the ship speeding its way toward Aruba. On a day at sea, a ship becomes its own little world, and this floating convention filled itself with Star Trek panels and themed festivities for passengers to enjoy on their first full day on board.

TNG panel pans “Sub Rosa” and “Code of Honor,” praises positive impact of series

The event no one wanted to miss was the Star Trek: The Next Generation reunion panel. Brent Spiner, Gates McFadden, John De Lancie, LeVar Burton, Denise Crosby, and Wil Wheaton stepped on stage to fans roaring with love and appreciation.

The discussion was driven by fan questions and some of the funniest moments came when asked about episodes that didn’t work for members of the cast. When asked about  “Sub Rosa,” Gates McFadden had the crowd laughing with her sardonic take:

Gates McFadden: Are you suggesting that “Sub Rosa” wasn’t a typical TNG script and having sex with a ghost lamp was unusual? Is that your implication? That Beverly wasn’t always running around in a night gown and drugged out of her mind waiting for Ronin ? When I read that script in the seventh season, I absolutely went “You’re got to be kidding me.” After all these seasons, we find out that all the women in the Howard family had sex with the lamp. Seriously? It did put into question a lot of Beverly’s behavior. In retrospect I would have probably played every single episode differently had I know that was her arc.

Denise brought up the infamous episode  “Code of Honor” :

Denise Crosby: Unfortunately I bore the brunt of an episode that is so distasteful and horrible that I cannot mention the name, otherwise I suffer.

LeVar Burton suggested the episode “read better than it filmed,” but Crosby doubled down.

Denise Crosby: Not really. I remember walking the set and thinking: What in the hell is this? There’s no way this will get on the air. They can’t be serious. Why are they doing this? Is anyone listening?

At other points, the panel got more serious, like when as a fan who had dealt with Asperger’s Syndrome told Brent Spiner how much his performance as Data meant to her. The usually jokey actor got a bit serious, talking to her about what this meant to him:

Brent Spiner: I understand. I really do. I’m so glad that Data existed for you know, I’ve said this before, and I had no idea that there were people with Asperger’s and other things who were relating to Data because of his difficulty in grappling with humanity and with emotion and so on. I’m just so glad it happened. I had nothing to do with it, really, other than being there and being the lucky guy who got to share that with you.

The subject of how Star Trek had a healing effect on many fans was brought up multiple times and Wil Wheaton noted, “We are extremely aware. And it is one of the great privileges that comes with the work.”

LeVar Burton had a surprising take when asked if he’d ever injured himself wearing Geordi’s VISOR on the show:

LeVar Burton: In the first season, I bumped into shit, yeah. I think the only thing I hurt was my ego. I learned to navigate without being able to see my feet by using landmarks on set. After 45 minutes or an hour I would get a little bit of a headache so I liked to take it off whenever possible. But I do know that it made a better actor of me. It really helped me develop my voice. I think one of the reasons why I love reading aloud so much is a result of wearing the VISOR for seven years and one movie.

The subject of improv came up a few times during the panel. Gates McFadden pointed out how strict things were on Next Generation , saying she only got two little comic lines into the show (on “Data’s Day” and “The Big Goodbye”). Brent Spiner agreed they were strict with the words, but noted that producers and directors were “generous in terms of how we interpreted the words.” When asked if he could reveal what line Q was going to say to Picard when he pulled away from a whisper in the final court scene in the series finale, John de Lancie revealed that one of his most famous moments was actually an improv:

John de Lancie: We are all schooled in being able to do things that get sent out into the ether and people like you go, “Oh my God, what was that about?”… It’s an actor’s trick. It was an improv.

Perhaps the biggest crowd cheer came from a bit of an improv moment from Wil Wheaton, when asked what question he would like to get from a fan. The actor said:

Wil Wheaton: To whom should I write this $10 million check to? … To whom do I write the check to make Star Trek: Legacy happen?

Brent Spiner helpfully replied, “That would be CBS.”

star trek cast tng

The TNG panel played to a packed house

Connor Trinneer talks death of Trip

Later in the day, Connor Trinneer hosted a more intimate event he calls “The Hot Seat,” in which he brings a cast member on stage in the lounge and takes them on a deep dive into their career and personal life. This time, Trinneer invited John Billingsley to be his honored guest (and occasional victim). Billingsley recounted his time playing many unsavory characters, spoke highly of his current efforts to help the needy through Hollywood Food Coalition , and revealed that Dr. Phlox was likely the character he appreciated most throughout his career. When the Enterprise finale was brought up, Trinneer’s comment about Trip was simply “He’s dead. Get over it.”

John Billingsley and Conner Trinneer at STTC7

“He’s dead, get over it.” – Connor Trinneer on Trip Tucker

Day 2 gets heavy on science and deep on people

There were tons of activities to keep fans occupied while out at sea….

T-shirt party with Star Trek stars

Passengers opting to simply go up to the Lido deck to enjoy the pool and sun were treated to a “T-Shirt Party” hosted by Chase Masterson in which Trekkies wore their brand-new Star Trek Cruise VIII shirts and enjoyed free cocktails.

Chase Masterson hosting t-shirt party

Chase Masterson is a gracious host at the poolside t-shirt party

Chase’s dancing was backed up by an enthusiastic Nana Visitor and Dominic Keating, eager to join the fun.

Dominic Keating dancing

Dominic Keating eager to join the fun

Science experts get the spotlight

Aboard the Mariner of the Seas are the “Federation Advisors,” people who’ve used their expertise to enhance Star Trek from behind the camera. Knowing that many Trekkies have a deep appreciation for the real-world applications of science within the show, Star Trek: The Cruise gives these advisors a platform to share their contributions with the fans.

First up in the morning was “The Year In Space” with Dr. Erin Macdonald. Covering the major topics in astronomy from 2023, Dr. Macdonald talked about how advances in telescope technology can not only show new information about the makeup of the universe but will compel us to go back and re-examine older data, often changing the context completely. Going forward, according to Macdonald, satellite-based telescopes such as the JWST can observe distant galaxies without needing to filter out the Earth’s surrounding background noise, bringing back a level of detail previously impossible. This new data revises our understanding of the formation of our own galaxy, going all the way back to the Big Bang.

Dr. Erin Macdonald and a big bang theory illustration

Dr. Erin Macdonald briefs the audience on the Big Bang theory

Immediately following the space panel was “From Viidian to Phage: The Real Biology Behind Depictions in Star Trek: Voyager ” by Dr. Mohamed Noor. Noor’s presentation started off by highlighting why the years in which Voyager was produced made it perfectly timed to show off then-current topics in genetics and gene research. Using clips from the show, and some modified classroom materials, Noor illustrated how Klingon forehead ridges could change in intensity between different generations due to the traits being brought on by dominant or recessive genes. Broadly, Star Trek: Voyager presents believable science behind its stories, though Noor stopped short of speculating on how crossing Warp 10 could mutate two people into ambulatory catfish .

Mohamed Noor and Voyager highlights

Dr. Mohamed Noor illustrates what was happening in genetic research at the same time as Voyager’s production

Later in the day, at a panel titled “From Starfleet to Mars and Beyond,” Mike and Denise Okuda presented a slideshow and oral history of their work advising on Star Trek and other space-related sagas. By knowing the real-world space program in such detail, the two have a long track record of being able to make fictional future worlds more believable.

A close look at the real people behind the characters

The evening gave fans a chance to see a more personal side of their Star Trek guests. Anthony Rapp presented a concert of pop songs, pulling some of his favorites from the ’70s through early ’90s. He dedicated the selection to anyone struggling with loneliness, particularly queer people in unsafe life situations. A noticeable chunk of the front seats were occupied by Rapp’s castmates from Star Trek: Discovery , who attended in support of their colleague and friend.

Wil Wheaton had the opportunity to finish the evening with a reading from his book Still Just a Geek . While Wheaton approached the podium with his characteristic humor and wit, he was very up front about the fact that the stories he was about to read were his true-life experiences of child abuse and exploitation, and that the process of working through these things was extremely difficult for him. This event was listed on the schedule with a content warning, one of the only events to do so.

Wil Wheaton reading at STTC7

Wil Wheaton sharing difficult memories with a supportive STTC audience

Sci-fi partying

In between events and panels, and while drifting between parties, passengers could embrace the evening’s theme “A Salute to Sci-Fi,” which opened the door to dress from any science fiction saga or franchise. You can see a selection of some of the cosplay below…

Star Trek: The Cruise cosplayers

Keep cruisin’ with TrekMovie

Check out our Day 1 cruise log for more on the launch party with cruise captain Sonequa Martin-Green. TrekMovie is also providing updates on Star Trek: The Cruise VII on Twitter  and  Threads . Here’s one from today:

Ed Speleers crashes Roddenberry Archives event to play with #StarTrek props, says: "I've been doing a lot of that this week… unabashed plugging for #StarTrekLegacy !!" #StarTrekCruise pic.twitter.com/M1EkSI7Cml — TrekMovie.com (@TrekMovie) February 24, 2024

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Oh boy. Some day I’ll have enough time to board one of these cruises, just not this year.

Same my friend but for me it’s money. Maybe I’ll be able to afford the 2045 cruise lol.

LOL it’s always a little bit of everything isn’t it?

Plus I’m guessing I would gain 15 pounds on one of these cruises.

if I can manage to stay alive,I might be able to afford a cruise in 2185!

I’ll wait for – 2265 – Celebrating the Tri-Centennial of Star Trek on the Fhloston  Paradise Cruise Line!

Looks like fun.

That flashy guy next to the robot is from some old movie or comic. Anyone know which?

I believe you’re referring to Doctor Chaotica and Satan’s Robot, the baddies from Tom Paris’ “Captain Proton” holodeck programs.

ScreenRant

Roddenberry Didn't Want Q To Become Star Trek: TNG's "Clown"

  • Gene Roddenberry initially planned for Q to appear in six episodes in TNG's first year, but his clownish behavior led to a change of heart.
  • John de Lancie's performance as Q was so compelling that Q became a recurring character in all three 90s Star Trek shows.
  • Roddenberry's decision to limit Q's appearances to one per season allowed for the mystery and depth of Q's character to remain intact.

Gene Roddenberry didn't want Q (John de Lancie) to become " the clown " in Star Trek: The Next Generation , which was why he drastically changed his plans for the character. Q was a late addition to TNG 's first-ever episode, "Encounter at Farpoint" and ended up being the most compelling aspect of the pilot. While there was some initial concern that Q was far too similar to the Star Trek: The Original Series character, Trelane (William Campbell), John de Lancie's performance made the Star Trek: TNG character something unique.

Due to the success of John de Lancie's performance, Q became a recurring character across all three Star Trek TV shows in the 1990s. Gene Roddenberry liked the character so much that John de Lancie was told that Q would appear in six episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation in the first year. However, Roddenberry radically rethought his plans for Q during production on John de Lancie's second TNG episode, "Hide and Q." Roddenberry had an astute vision for the cosmic trickster that ensured Q's longevity in the Star Trek franchise.

Every Q Star Trek Appearance Ranked Worst To Best

Gene roddenberry didn’t want q to become star trek: tng's "clown", "hide and q" made roddenberry reconsider his plans for john de lancie..

During Virtual Trek Con 5 , John de Lancie spoke to Cirroc Lofton and Ryan T. Husk about Q's early days on Star Trek: The Next Generation . During the discussion, John de Lancie reaffirmed that Gene Roddenberry wanted six Q episodes during TNG season 1. However, as John de Lancie explained, the unique energy that Q brought to the starship Enterprise made Gene Roddenberry reconsider his plans. Read John de Lancie's quote, and watch the full panel below:

“I come in and I’m spinning so the second time they brought me in, Gene said you know what I’m not gonna bring you back more than once a year because it occurred to us that then we would have a show where we’re just waiting for the clown to show up.”

Interestingly, John de Lancie drew a comparison between Q in Star Trek: The Next Generation and Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet . When Mercutio dies in Shakespeare's play, the audience is bereft and the atmosphere in the theater shifts. John de Lancie had predicted that the same would be true of Q, whose impish nature completely subverts the staid, professional atmosphere on the USS Enterprise-D. Gene Roddenberry had clearly noticed this too, and was keen that audiences should be excited to see the Enterprise crew each week, rather than waiting for Q to come along and liven things up.

Why Reducing Q’s Star Trek: TNG Episode Count Helped His Character

Gene Roddenberry was correct in his belief that Star Trek: The Next Generation audiences would be " waiting for the clown to show up " because Q does have a propensity for clownish behavior. It was always hugely entertaining to see Q run rings around Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart), but it's easy to see how it could get tiresome across six episodes. Q is an unknowable and omnipotent god, and a semiregular role would have only chipped away at John de Lancie's enigmatic character until there was nothing left.

Reducing Q's appearances to one per season allowed Star Trek: The Next Generation 's writers to drip-feed information about him and the Q Continuum. 37 years after his first appearance, there's still a lot that audiences don't know about Q and his fellow gods. That's really how it should be, and Gene Roddenberry's decision to shift the focus away from John de Lancie's Q did much to retain the mystery of one of Star Trek 's most beloved characters.

All episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation are available to stream on Paramount+

All Virtual Trek Con 5 panels are available to watch on YouTube.

Source: Virtual Trek Con 5

Star Trek: The Next Generation

Star Trek: The Next Generation is the third installment in the sci-fi franchise and follows the adventures of Captain Jean-Luc Picard and the crew members of the USS Enterprise. Set around one hundred years after the original series, Picard and his crew travel through the galaxy in largely self-contained episodes exploring the crew dynamics and their own political discourse. The series also had several overarching plots that would develop over the course of the isolated episodes, with four films released in tandem with the series to further some of these story elements.

Roddenberry Didn't Want Q To Become Star Trek: TNG's "Clown"

  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews

Identity Crisis

  • Episode aired Mar 23, 1991

LeVar Burton and Maryann Plunkett in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)

Lt. Commander Geordi La Forge and an old friend fight to defeat a parasite that is trying to transform them into another species. Lt. Commander Geordi La Forge and an old friend fight to defeat a parasite that is trying to transform them into another species. Lt. Commander Geordi La Forge and an old friend fight to defeat a parasite that is trying to transform them into another species.

  • Winrich Kolbe
  • Gene Roddenberry
  • Brannon Braga
  • Tim de Haas
  • Patrick Stewart
  • Jonathan Frakes
  • LeVar Burton
  • 17 User reviews
  • 9 Critic reviews

Maryann Plunkett in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)

  • Captain Jean-Luc Picard

Jonathan Frakes

  • Commander William Thomas 'Will' Riker

LeVar Burton

  • Lieutenant Commander Geordi La Forge

Michael Dorn

  • Lieutenant Worf

Gates McFadden

  • Doctor Beverly Crusher

Marina Sirtis

  • Counselor Deanna Troi
  • (credit only)

Brent Spiner

  • Lieutenant Commander Data

Maryann Plunkett

  • Lt. Cmdr. Susanna Leijten

Patti Yasutake

  • Nurse Alyssa Ogawa

Amick Byram

  • Transporter Technician

Mona Grudt

  • Ensign Graham

Joyce Agu

  • Ensign Gates
  • (uncredited)

Majel Barrett

  • Enterprise Computer
  • Enterprise-D Ops Officer
  • Crewman Martinez
  • Enterprise-D Ensign
  • All cast & crew
  • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

Did you know

  • Trivia It took four make-up artists six hours to apply the full Tarchannen III species make-up to LeVar Burton . According to Michael Westmore , it was the longest make-up ever done on The Next Generation.
  • Goofs When Riker, Worf, and Worf's security team enter the holodeck to look for Geordi, Worf orders his people to search the structure while he searches the perimeter. There is a much easier way to find someone missing inside a holodeck. Telling the computer to "end program" will cause everything NOT created by the holodeck to vanish, leaving the room empty, except for the person you are looking for.

Doctor Beverly Crusher : You're worried about Geordi, aren't you?

Lt. Commander Data : I am an android. It is not possible for me...

Doctor Beverly Crusher : ...for you to feel anxiety.

Lt. Commander Data : Starfleet personnel have vanished. Others may be at risk. We must do the best we can to find out why.

[Crusher coughs slightly]

Lt. Commander Data : However, I am...

[Crusher gives him a questioning look]

Lt. Commander Data : ...strongly motivated to solve this mystery.

  • Connections Referenced in The Toys That Made Us: Star Trek (2018)
  • Soundtracks Star Trek: The Next Generation Main Title Composed by Jerry Goldsmith and Alexander Courage

User reviews 17

  • Jul 22, 2021
  • March 23, 1991 (United States)
  • Official site
  • Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA (Studio)
  • Paramount Television
  • See more company credits at IMDbPro

Technical specs

  • Runtime 46 minutes
  • Dolby Digital

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  1. Star Trek: The Next Generation Honest Trailer

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  2. ‘Star Trek: The Next Generation’ Cast Reunited For a Zoom Call

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  3. TNG Crew

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  4. Star Trek : The Next Generation [Cast] photo

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  5. Star Trek: The Next Generation

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  6. TNG Crew

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VIDEO

  1. My Thoughts On Star Trek: Legacy

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  3. 1 Minute Review: Star Trek: Wounded Sky by Diane Duane

  4. Star Trek TNG S 2 EP 16 Q Who Reviewed Are The Borg Marxists?

  5. Why Picard Season 3 Isn't Just More Star Trek: The Next Generation

  6. Show Review Star Trek TNG

COMMENTS

  1. List of Star Trek: The Next Generation cast members

    Star Trek: The Next Generation first-season cast photo. Six of the main actors appeared in all seven seasons and all four movies. Star Trek: The Next Generation is an American science fiction television series that debuted in broadcast syndication on September 28, 1987. The series lasted for seven seasons until 1994, and was followed by four movies which were released between 1994 and 2002.

  2. Star Trek: The Next Generation (TV Series 1987-1994)

    Star Trek: The Next Generation: Created by Gene Roddenberry. With Patrick Stewart, Jonathan Frakes, LeVar Burton, Marina Sirtis. Set almost 100 years after Captain Kirk's 5-year mission, a new generation of Starfleet officers sets off in the U.S.S. Enterprise-D on its own mission to go where no one has gone before.

  3. Star Trek: The Next Generation (TV Series 1987-1994)

    Star Trek: The Next Generation (TV Series 1987-1994) cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. Menu. Movies. ... Series Cast verified as complete Patrick Stewart ... Captain Jean-Luc Picard / ... 176 episodes, 1987-1994 ...

  4. List of Star Trek: The Next Generation characters

    Ro Laren is an example of a recurring character that was introduced on TNG, but did not make the leap to DS9.. The line between the regular cast, a recurring character, and a guest star is sometimes a grey area on TNG.In particular, Tasha Yar was in 28 episodes, fewer than the recurring characters Guinan and O'Brien.

  5. Star Trek The Next Generation cast, characters, and actors

    Notable for his leading roles in two of TNG's best Holodeck episodes, Daniel Davis joined the Star Trek The Next Generation cast as Professor Moriarty: arch-nemesis of Sherlock Holmes. Moriarty was created as a sentient and self-aware program when Geordi commanded the computer to create a villain capable of defeating Data in the episode ...

  6. Star Trek: The Next Generation

    Marina Sirtis. Deanna Troi 178 Episodes 1994. Denise Crosby. Lt. Tasha Yar 68 Episodes 1994. Diana Muldaur. Dr. Katherine `Kate' Pulaski 73 Episodes 1994. Michelle Forbes.

  7. Star Trek: The Next Generation

    Star Trek: The Next Generation (TNG) is an American science fiction television series created by Gene Roddenberry. It originally aired from September 28, 1987, to May 23, 1994, in syndication, spanning 178 episodes over seven seasons. ... reunion interview with entire TNG cast. Season 3: April 30, 2013: Inside the Writer's Room, Resistance is ...

  8. Star Trek: The Next Generation Cast & Character Guide

    One of the best things about Star Trek: The Original Series was the incredible cast of characters, and Star Trek: The Next Generation introduced the world to all new characters who would soon become just as beloved. TNG followed the adventures of the USS Enterprise-D and its crew under the command of Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart), carrying on that original mission to explore ...

  9. THEN AND NOW: the Cast of 'Star Trek: the Next Generation'

    Almost all of the "Star Trek: The Next Generation" cast will reunite next year for the first time in 21 years for the final season of "Star Trek: Picard." A vertical stack of three evenly spaced ...

  10. Star Trek: The Next Generation

    Star Trek: The Next Generation, often abbreviated to TNG, is the second live-action Star Trek television series, and the first set in the 24th century. Like its predecessors, it was created by Gene Roddenberry. Produced at Paramount Pictures, it aired in first-run syndication, by Paramount Television in the US, from September 1987 to May 1994. The series was set in the 24th century and ...

  11. Star Trek: The Next Generation Cast Guide (and What They're ...

    When Star Trek: The Next Generation debuted in 1987, it felt like a long shot to succeed. The beloved original Star Trek crew was still wildly popular in reruns and a thriving film series, but ...

  12. Star Trek TNG Cast: Where Are They Now?

    What makes any Star Trek series great is its characters. Fans quickly became as enamored with Captain Picard, Commander Riker, Counselor Troi, and the rest of the colorful crew as they had with Captain Kirk, Scotty, and Mr. Spock. Many members of the main cast of TNG were already famous actors, while others were just starting out in the industry.

  13. "Star Trek: The Next Generation" The Vengeance Factor (TV ...

    The Vengeance Factor: Directed by Timothy Bond. With Patrick Stewart, Jonathan Frakes, LeVar Burton, Michael Dorn. The Enterprise pursues a race of "gatherers" who continue to raid Federation outposts, unaware of the dangers lurking among them.

  14. Star Trek: The Next Generation—Ranking the Crew From ...

    13. Miles O'Brien. Colm Meaney made semi-regular appearances for six seasons of "Next Generation" before becoming a regular on "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.". While on that show, the ...

  15. Star Trek: The Next Generation (season 1)

    When the cast was announced at first, LeVar Burton was the main actor highlighted because of his work on the Roots mini series; his character, Geordi La Forge, was named for a disabled fan. ... Star Trek: The Next Generation - Season 1: Set details: Special features: 26 episodes; 6-disc set;

  16. TNG Cast Reflects On Most Memorable Guest Stars

    Star Trek: The Next Generation debuted in syndication the week of September 28, 1987. So, believe it or not, the 25th anniversary of the series that captured lightning in a bottle… again, is upon us. Events of all kinds have been occurring in the Star Trek universe, from the release of TNG Blu-rays to a handful of full-cast convention ...

  17. "Star Trek: The Next Generation" The Host (TV Episode 1991)

    "Star Trek: The Next Generation" The Host (TV Episode 1991) cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. Menu. Movies. ... STAR TREK THE NEXT GENERATION SEASON 4 (1990) (8.0/10) a list of 26 titles created 11 Aug 2012 ...

  18. Best Star Trek: TNG Episode From Each Of The Show's 7 Seasons

    Not only does TNG season 1's "The Big Goodbye" hold the distinction of being the first Star Trek holodeck episode, but it also offers a glimpse into the character of Captain Picard.Until this point, Picard has only ever been the Captain, but "The Big Goodbye" shows how Jean-Luc likes to spend his free time. As Picard, Dr. Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden), and Lt. Commander Data embrace their ...

  19. The Cast Of 'Star Trek: The Next Generation' To Receive Special

    The Saturn Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to the TNG cast by producer and Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige, who is an avowed Star Trek fan.

  20. "Star Trek: The Next Generation" The Inner Light (TV Episode 1992)

    The Inner Light: Directed by Peter Lauritson. With Patrick Stewart, Jonathan Frakes, LeVar Burton, Michael Dorn. Picard awakes to find himself living in a small village where he is a well-known member of the community who is suffering from a delusion of being a starship captain.

  21. Star Trek: The Next Generation (season 2)

    The second season of the American science fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation commenced airing in broadcast syndication in the United States on November 21, 1988, and concluded on July 17, 1989, after airing 22 episodes. Set in the 24th century, the series follows the adventures of the crew of the Starfleet starship ...

  22. Star Trek Cruise Log 2: TNG Cast Jokes About Bad Episodes, Connor

    The event no one wanted to miss was the Star Trek: The Next Generation reunion panel. Brent Spiner, Gates McFadden, John De Lancie, LeVar Burton, Denise Crosby, and Wil Wheaton stepped on stage to ...

  23. Roddenberry Didn't Want Q To Become Star Trek: TNG's "Clown"

    During Virtual Trek Con 5, John de Lancie spoke to Cirroc Lofton and Ryan T. Husk about Q's early days on Star Trek: The Next Generation.During the discussion, John de Lancie reaffirmed that Gene ...

  24. "Star Trek: The Next Generation" Bloodlines (TV Episode 1994)

    Bloodlines: Directed by Les Landau. With Patrick Stewart, Jonathan Frakes, LeVar Burton, Michael Dorn. Picard races the Ferengi in an effort to track down the son he never knew he had.

  25. "Star Trek: The Next Generation" Identity Crisis (TV Episode 1991)

    Identity Crisis: Directed by Winrich Kolbe. With Patrick Stewart, Jonathan Frakes, LeVar Burton, Michael Dorn. Lt. Commander Geordi La Forge and an old friend fight to defeat a parasite that is trying to transform them into another species.