Star Trek: The Next Generation (TV Series)

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Star Trek: The Next Generation
Genre	Science fiction Drama Mystery Action adventure
Created by	Gene Roddenberry
Starring	Patrick Stewart Jonathan Frakes LeVar Burton Denise Crosby Michael Dorn Gates McFadden Marina Sirtis Brent Spiner Wil Wheaton
Theme music composer	Alexander Courage Jerry Goldsmith
Composers	Dennis McCarthy Jay Chattaway Ron Jones
Country of origin	United States
Original language(s)	English
No. of seasons	7
No. of episodes	178 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s)	Gene Roddenberry (1987–1991) Rick Berman (1989–1994) Showrunners Maurice Hurley (1988–1989) Michael Piller (1989–1994) Jeri Taylor (1993–1994)
Cinematography	Edward R. Brown (1987–1989) Marvin V. Rush (1989–1992) Jonathan West (1992–1994)
Running time	44 minutes
Production company(s)	Paramount Domestic Television
Distributor	Paramount Domestic Television
Budget	$1.3 million per episode
Release
Original network	First-run syndication
Picture format	NTSC
Audio format	Dolby SR
Original release	September 28, 1987 – May 23, 1994
Chronology
Proceded by	Star Trek: The Animated Series
Followed by	Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Related shows	Star Trek TV series
External links

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. The third series in the Star Trek franchise, it is the second sequel to Star Trek: The Original Series. Set in the 24th century, when Earth is part of the United Federation of Planets, it follows the adventures of a Starfleet starship, the USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D), in its exploration of the Milky Way galaxy.

In the 1980s, Roddenberry—who was responsible for the original Star Trek, Star Trek: The Animated Series (1973–1974), and a series of films—was tasked by Paramount Pictures with creating a new series in the franchise. He decided to set it a century after the events of his original series. The Next Generation featured a new crew: Patrick Stewart as Captain Jean-Luc Picard, Jonathan Frakes as William Riker, Brent Spiner as Data, Michael Dorn as Worf, LeVar Burton as Geordi La Forge, Marina Sirtis as Deanna Troi, Denise Crosby as Tasha Yar, Wil Wheaton as Wesley Crusher, Gates McFadden as Dr. Beverly Crusher, and a new Enterprise.

Roddenberry, Maurice Hurley, Rick Berman, Michael Piller, and Jeri Taylor served as executive producers at various times throughout its production. The series was broadcast in first-run syndication with dates and times varying among individual television stations. Stewart's voice-over introduction during each episode's opening credits stated the starship's purpose:

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The show was very popular, reaching almost 12 million viewers in its 5th season, with the series finale in 1994 watched by over 30 million viewers. Following its success, Paramount commissioned Rick Berman and Michael Piller to create a fourth series in the franchise, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, which launched in 1993. The characters from The Next Generation returned in four films: Star Trek Generations (1994), Star Trek: First Contact (1996), Star Trek: Insurrection (1998), and Star Trek: Nemesis (2002), and in the television series Star Trek: Picard (2020–present). The series is also the setting of numerous novels, comic books, and video games. It received many accolades, including 19 Emmy Awards, two Hugo Awards, five Saturn Awards, and a Peabody Award.

Contents 1 Production 1.1 Background 1.2 Syndication and profitability 2 Seasons 2.1 Season 1 (1987–1988) 2.2 Season 2 (1988–1989) 2.3 Season 3 (1989–1990) 2.4 Season 4 (1990–1991) 2.5 Season 5 (1991–1992) 2.6 Season 6 (1992–1993) 2.7 Season 7 (1993–1994) 2.8 Legacy 3 Episodes 4 Cast 4.1 Main 4.2 Recurring 5 Story arcs and themes 6 Reception 7 International broadcasts 8 Games 9 Films 10 Home media 10.1 VHS 10.2 Beta 10.3 LaserDisc 10.4 DVD 10.5 Blu-ray 10.5.1 Standalone episodes 10.5.2 "The Measure of a Man" HD extended cut 11 Streaming and syndication 12 Spin-offs and the franchise 12.1 Novels 12.2 "These Are The Voyages..." (2005) 12.3 The return of Picard 12.4 Context 13 See also 14 References 15 External links

[edit] Production

The Star Trek franchise originated in the 1960s, with the Star Trek television show which ran from 1966 to 1969. Star Trek: The Next Generation would mark the return of Star Trek to live-action broadcast television.

[edit] Background

[edit] Syndication and profitability

[edit] Seasons

Star Trek: The Next Generation ran for 178 episodes, over seven seasons, from the fall of 1987 annually to the spring of 1994. At the end of that season the cast switched over to production of the Star Trek film Generations which was released before the end of 1994.

Season		Episodes	Originally aired
			First aired	Last aired
	1	26	September 28, 1987	May 16, 1988
	2	22	November 21, 1988	July 17, 1989
	3	26	September 25, 1989	June 18, 1990
	4	26	September 24, 1990	June 17, 1991
	5	26	September 23, 1991	June 15, 1992
	6	26	September 21, 1992	June 21, 1993
	7	26	September 20, 1993	May 23, 1994

[edit] Season 1 (1987–1988)

Main article: Star Trek: The Next Generation (season 1)

[edit] Season 2 (1988–1989)

Main article: Star Trek: The Next Generation (season 2)

[edit] Season 3 (1989–1990)

Main article: Star Trek: The Next Generation (season 3)

[edit] Season 4 (1990–1991)

Main article: Star Trek: The Next Generation (season 4)

[edit] Season 5 (1991–1992)

Main article: Star Trek: The Next Generation (season 5)

[edit] Season 6 (1992–1993)

Main article: Star Trek: The Next Generation (season 6)

[edit] Season 7 (1993–1994)

Main article: Star Trek: The Next Generation (season 7)

[edit] Legacy

[edit] Episodes

Main article: List of Star Trek: The Next Generation episodes

Star Trek: The Next Generation aired for 7 seasons beginning on September 28, 1987 and ending on May 23, 1994.

The series begins with the crew of the Enterprise-D put on trial by an omnipotent being known as Q, who became a recurring character. The god-like entity threatens the extinction of humanity for being a race of savages, forcing them to solve a mystery at nearby Farpoint Station to prove their worthiness to be spared. After successfully solving the mystery and avoiding disaster, the crew departs on its mission to explore strange new worlds.

Subsequent stories focus on the discovery of new life and sociological and political relationships with alien cultures, as well as exploring the human condition. Several new species are introduced as recurring antagonists, including the Ferengi, the Cardassians, and the Borg. Throughout their adventures, Picard and his crew are often forced to face and live with the consequences of difficult choices.

The series ended in its seventh season with a two-part episode "All Good Things...", which brought the events of the series full circle to the original confrontation with Q. An interstellar anomaly that threatens all life in the universe forces Picard to leap from his present, past, and future to combat the threat. Picard was successfully able to show to Q that humanity could think outside of the confines of perception and theorize on new possibilities while still being prepared to sacrifice themselves for the sake of the greater good. The series ended with the crew of the Enterprise portrayed as feeling more like a family and paved the way for four consecutive motion pictures that continued the theme and mission of the series.

Episodes by season (1–4)

Season 1	Season 2	Season 3	Season 4

Episodes by season (5–7)

Season 5	Season 6	Season 7

[edit] Cast

Main article: List of Star Trek: The Next Generation cast members

[edit] Main

• Patrick Stewart as Captain Jean-Luc Picard is the commanding officer of the USS Enterprise-D. Stewart also played the character in the pilot episode of Deep Space Nine, all four TNG theater films, and in the eponymously titled latest series Star Trek: Picard.
• Jonathan Frakes as Commander William T. Riker is the ship's first officer. The Riker character was influenced by concepts for first officer Willard Decker in the Star Trek: Phase II television series. Decker's romantic history with helmsman Ilia was mirrored in The Next Generation in the relationship between Riker and Deanna Troi. Riker also appears in an episode each of Star Trek: Voyager and Star Trek: Enterprise, and later reprised the role in the first season of Star Trek: Picard. In addition to William Riker, Frakes played William's transporter-created double, Thomas, in one episode each of The Next Generation and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.
• LeVar Burton as Geordi La Forge was initially the ship's helmsman, but the character became chief engineer beginning in the second season. Burton also played the character in an episode of Voyager.
• Denise Crosby as Tasha Yar is the chief of security and tactical officer. Crosby left the series at the end of the first season, and the Yar character was killed. Yar returns in alternate timelines in the award-winning episode "Yesterday's Enterprise" and the series finale, "All Good Things...". Crosby also played Commander Sela, Yar's half-Romulan daughter.
• Michael Dorn as Worf is a Klingon. Worf initially appears as a junior officer fulfilling several roles on the bridge. When Denise Crosby left at the end of the first season, the Worf character succeeded Lieutenant Yar as the ship's chief of security and tactical officer. Dorn reprised the role as a regular in seasons four through seven of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and also played another Klingon, also named Worf, in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country; with 282 on-screen appearances, Dorn has the most appearances of any actor in the Star Trek franchise.
• Gates McFadden as Doctor Beverly Crusher (Seasons 1, 3–7) is the Enterprise's chief medical officer. As a fully certified bridge officer, Dr. Crusher had the ability to command the Enterprise if circumstances required her to do so. She also, on occasion, commanded night-watch shifts on the ship's main bridge to stay on top of starship operations. McFadden was fired after the first season, but was rehired for the third season and remained for the remainder of the series. In-universe, her absence in the second season was explained by her transfer to Starfleet Medical.
• Diana Muldaur as Doctor Katherine Pulaski (Season 2) was created to replace Dr. Crusher for the show's second season. Muldaur, who previously appeared in two episodes of the original Star Trek, never received billing in the opening credits; instead, she was listed as a special guest star during the first act.
• Marina Sirtis as Commander Deanna Troi is the half-human, half-Betazoid ship's counselor. Starting in the season seven episode "Thine Own Self", Counselor Troi, having taken and completed the bridge-officer's test, is later promoted to the rank of commander, which allowed her to take command of the ship, and also perform bridge duties other than those of a ship's counselor. The character's relationship with first officer Riker was a carry-over from character ideas developed for Phase II. Troi also appeared in later episodes of Voyager, in the finale of Enterprise, and in the first season of Picard.
• Brent Spiner as Lieutenant Commander Data is an android who serves as second officer and operations officer. Data's "outsider's" perspective on humanity served a similar narrative purpose as Spock's in the original Star Trek. Spiner also played his "brother", Lore, and his creator, Noonien Soong. In Enterprise, Spiner played Noonien's ancestor, Arik, and contributed a brief voiceover (heard over the Enterprise-D's intercom) in the Enterprise finale. In 2020, Spiner reprised the role of Data, as well as Dr. Altan Inigo Soong, Noonien's prodigy, in Picard.
• Wil Wheaton as Beverly Crusher's son Wesley. He becomes an acting ensign, and later receives a field commission to ensign, before attending Starfleet Academy. After being a regular for the first four seasons, Wheaton appeared sporadically as Wesley Crusher for the remainder of the series.

[edit] Recurring

• Majel Barrett as Lwaxana Troi, Federation ambassador and Deanna Troi's mother; also the voice of the ship's computer.
• Brian Bonsall as Alexander Rozhenko, Worf's son.
• Rosalind Chao as Keiko O'Brien, botanist until her transfer to Deep Space Nine in 2369.
• Denise Crosby as Sela, Romulan commander and Tasha Yar's daughter.
• John de Lancie as Q, a member of the Q-Continuum who frequently visits the USS Enterprise-D.
• Jonathan Del Arco as Hugh, a Borg drone who was disconnected from the collective by Geordi La Forge and Beverly Crusher.
• Michelle Forbes as Ro Laren, conn officer until her defection to the Maquis in 2370.
• Whoopi Goldberg as Guinan, bartender hostess on the USS Enterprise-D.
• Ashley Judd as Robin Lefler, engineering officer on the USS Enterprise-D.
• Andreas Katsulas as Tomalak, a Romulan commander who has several encounters with the USS Enterprise-D.
• Barbara March as Lursa, Klingon officer from the House of Duras and B'Etor's sister.
• Colm Meaney as Miles O'Brien, conn officer and later transporter chief until his transfer to Deep Space Nine in 2369.
• Eric Menyuk as The Traveler, a member of a species from Tau Alpha C who mentors Wesley Crusher.
• Lycia Naff as Sonya Gomez, engineering officer on the USS Enterprise-D.
• Natalia Nogulich as Alynna Nechayev, flag officer in charge of Cardassian affairs.
• Robert O'Reilly as Gowron, leader of the Klingon Empire.
• Suzie Plakson as K'Ehleyr, Federation ambassador, mate to Worf and Alexander Rozhenko's mother until her death in 2367.
• Dwight Schultz as Reginald Barclay, engineering officer until his transfer to Starfleet Communications in 2374.
• Carel Struycken as Mr. Homn, Lwaxana Troi's attendant.
• Tony Todd as Kurn, Klingon officer and Worf's brother.
• Gwynyth Walsh as B'Etor, Klingon officer from the House of Duras and Lursa's sister.
• Patti Yasutake as Alyssa Ogawa, medical officer and head nurse.
• Ken Thorley as Mot, barber on the USS Enterprise-D.

For a more complete list, see List of Star Trek: The Next Generation cast members#Appearances

Enterprise-D Characters Season 1–7 (examples)

Character	Season 1	Season 2	Season 3	Season 4	Season 5	Season 6	Season 7
Captain Picard	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
William T. Riker	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Data	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Worf	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Deanna Troi	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Geordi La Forge	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Beverly Crusher	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Katherine Pulaski	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	No
Wesley Crusher	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	2 ep.	No	2 ep.
Tasha Yar	Yes	No	1 ep.	No	No	No	1 ep.
Guinan	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No

[edit] Story arcs and themes

[edit] Reception

See also: List of awards and nominations received by Star Trek: The Next Generation

[edit] International broadcasts

[edit] Games

[edit] Films

Main article: Star Trek (film series)

Four films feature the characters of the series: Star Trek Generations (1994), Star Trek: First Contact (1996), Star Trek: Insurrection (1998), and Star Trek: Nemesis (2002).

An ancestor of Worf, also played by Dorn, also appeared in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country.

Film	U.S. release date	Director(s)	Screenwriter(s)	Story by	Producer(s)

[edit] Home media

[edit] VHS

[edit] Beta

[edit] LaserDisc

[edit] DVD

[edit] Blu-ray

[edit] Standalone episodes

[edit] "The Measure of a Man" HD extended cut

Main article: The Measure of a Man (Star Trek: The Next Generation)

[edit] Streaming and syndication

[edit] Spin-offs and the franchise

[edit] Novels

[edit] "These Are The Voyages..." (2005)

[edit] The return of Picard

Main article: Star Trek: Picard

[edit] Context

This infographic shows the first-run production timeline of various Star Trek franchise shows and films, including Star Trek: The Next Generation.

[edit] See also

• Cultural influence of Star Trek
• List of comic books based on Star Trek: The Next Generation
• List of Star Trek: The Next Generation episodes

[edit] References

[edit] External links

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