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Star Trek: The Next Generation
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{{Use American English|date=November 2024}} {{short description|American science fiction television series}} {{about|the television series}} {{Use mdy dates|date=November 2024}} {{Infobox television | image = Star Trek The Next Generation Logo.svg | genre = {{Plainlist| * [[Science fiction]] * [[Drama (film and television)|Drama]] * [[Mystery film|Mystery]] * [[Adventure fiction|Action adventure]] }} | creator = [[Gene Roddenberry]] | showrunner = {{Plainlist| * [[Gene Roddenberry]] (1987) * [[Maurice Hurley]] (1988-1989) * [[Michael Wagner (writer)|Michael Wagner]] (1989) * [[Michael Piller]] (1989-1992) * [[Jeri Taylor]] (1992–1994) }} | starring = {{Unbulleted list|item_style=white-space: nowrap | [[Patrick Stewart]] | [[Jonathan Frakes]] | [[LeVar Burton]] | [[Denise Crosby]] | [[Michael Dorn]] | [[Gates McFadden]] | [[Marina Sirtis]] | [[Brent Spiner]] | [[Wil Wheaton]]}} | theme_music_composer = {{Unbulleted list|item_style=white-space: nowrap | [[Alexander Courage]] | [[Jerry Goldsmith]] }} | composer = {{Plainlist| * [[Dennis McCarthy (composer)|Dennis McCarthy]] * [[Jay Chattaway]] * [[Ron Jones (composer)|Ron Jones]] }} | country = United States | language = English | num_seasons = 7 | num_episodes = 178 <!--the first and last episodes were feature-length and later split for syndicated reruns--> | list_episodes = List of Star Trek: The Next Generation episodes | executive_producer = {{Plainlist| * Gene Roddenberry (1987–1991) * Maurice Hurley (1988–1989) * [[Rick Berman]] (1989–1994) * Michael Piller (1989–1994) * Jeri Taylor (1993–1994) }} | cinematography = {{Plainlist| * Edward R. Brown (1987–1989) * [[Marvin V. Rush]] (1989–1992) * Jonathan West (1992–1994) }} | runtime = 44–45 minutes | company = [[Paramount Television]] | budget = $1.3 million per episode | network = [[Broadcast syndication|First-run syndication]]<ref>Trek Core Staff. "Selling...Into Syndication". Trek Core. October 12, 2014. https://blog.trekcore.com/2014/10/advertising-archive-selling-tng-in-syndication/ {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170107092052/http://trekcore.com/blog/2014/10/advertising-archive-selling-tng-in-syndication/ |date=January 7, 2017 }}</ref><ref>Thill, Scott. "Warping into Star Trek: The Next Generation's 25 Years...". Wired. September 28, 2012. https://www.wired.com/2012/09/star-trek-tng25-ron-moore/ {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171101175547/https://www.wired.com/2012/09/star-trek-tng25-ron-moore/ |date=November 1, 2017 }}</ref> | first_aired = {{Start date|1987|9|28}} | last_aired = {{End date|1994|5|23}} | related = {{Plainlist| * ''[[Star Trek: The Animated Series]]'' * ''[[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine]]'' * [[Star Trek#Television series|''Star Trek'' TV series]] }} }} '''''Star Trek: The Next Generation''''' ('''''TNG''''') is an American [[science fiction on television|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 was inspired by ''[[Star Trek: The Original Series]]''. Set in the latter third of 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)|USS ''Enterprise'' (NCC-1701-D)]], in its exploration of the [[List of Star Trek regions of space#Alpha Quadrant|Alpha quadrant]] and [[List of Star Trek regions of space#Alpha Quadrant|Beta quadrant]] in the [[Milky Way]] galaxy. In the 1980s, Roddenberry—who was responsible for the original ''Star Trek'', ''[[Star Trek: The Animated Series]]'' (1973–1974), and the first of 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 (Star Trek)|Data]], [[Michael Dorn]] as [[Worf]], [[LeVar Burton]] as [[Geordi La Forge]], [[Marina Sirtis]] as [[Deanna Troi]], [[Gates McFadden]] as Dr. [[Beverly Crusher]], [[Denise Crosby]] as [[Tasha Yar]], [[Wil Wheaton]] as [[Wesley 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: <blockquote>Space: The final frontier. These are the voyages of the starship ''Enterprise''. Its continuing mission: to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly go where no one has gone before.</blockquote> The show reached almost 12 million viewers in its 5th season, with the series finale in 1994 watched by over 30 million viewers.<ref name=generations>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/07/24/arts/television-profits-reruns-and-the-end-of-next-generation.html?pagewanted=all|title=TELEVISION: Profits, Reruns and the End of 'Next Generation'|last=Schmuckler|first=Eric|date=July 24, 1994|website=The New York Times|access-date=February 13, 2017|archive-date=April 20, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170420083730/http://www.nytimes.com/1994/07/24/arts/television-profits-reruns-and-the-end-of-next-generation.html?pagewanted=all|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="trektoday.com1">{{cite web|url=https://www.trektoday.com/articles/ratings_history.shtml|title=The Trek Nation – Star Trek Ratings History|website=TrekToday|access-date=March 14, 2018|archive-date=July 30, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180730002436/https://www.trektoday.com/articles/ratings_history.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> Due to 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 [[Star Trek (film series)|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]]'' (2020–2023). The series is also the setting of numerous novels, comic books, and video games. It [[List of awards and nominations received by Star Trek: The Next Generation|received many accolades]], including 19 [[Emmy Award]]s, two [[Hugo Award]]s, one [[Peabody Award]], and six [[Saturn Award]]s, including a [[List of lifetime achievement awards|Lifetime Achievement Award]] for the entire cast in 2024.<ref name="TNG">{{cite web |last=Pascale |first=Anthony |date=January 30, 2024 |title=The Cast of 'Star Trek: The Next Generation' to Receive Special Lifetime Achievement Saturn Award |url=https://trekmovie.com/2024/01/31/the-cast-of-star-trek-the-next-generation-to-receive-special-lifetime-achievement-saturn-award/ |access-date=February 1, 2024 |publisher=[[TrekMovie.com]]}}</ref>{{efn|"The Lifetime Achievement Award is usually presented to an individual for their contributions to [[Genre fiction|genre entertainment]]. Top luminaries like [[Stan Lee]] and [[Leonard Nimoy]], [[Spock|Mr. Spock]] himself, have received this top honor. It's not new, but we extended this award to cover the entire cast of ''Star Trek: The Next Generation'', due to its continued influence on the face of general television. It was originally doomed to failure since it was following in the footsteps of [[Star Trek: The Original Series|the original ''Star Trek'']], yet it carved its own identity, and its diverse cast was light years ahead of its time!" —[[Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films]]<ref name="TNG"/>}} In 2013, the [[Writers Guild of America]] ranked ''Star Trek: The Next Generation'' #79 on their list of the 101 Best Written TV Series, tying it with ''[[Upstairs, Downstairs (1971 TV series)|Upstairs, Downstairs]]'', ''[[Monty Python's Flying Circus]]'' and ''[[Alfred Hitchcock Presents]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wga.org/writers-room/101-best-lists/101-best-written-tv-series/list|title=101 Best Written TV Series|website=Writers Guild of America West|date=June 2, 2013}}</ref> ==Background== [[File:Enterprise-D bridge.jpg|thumb|left|Re-creation of the ''TNG'' starship bridge for ''[[Star Trek: The Exhibition]]'']] Due to the original series' popularity in syndication, [[Paramount Pictures]] began to consider making a ''Star Trek'' film as early as 1972. However, with 1977's release of ''[[Star Wars (film)|Star Wars]]'', Paramount decided not to compete in the science fiction movie category and shifted their efforts to a new ''Star Trek'' television series. The ''Original Series'' actors were approached to reprise their roles; sketches, models, sets and props were created for ''[[Star Trek: Phase II]]'' until Paramount changed its mind again and decided to create feature films starring the ''Original Series'' cast.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/a-canceled-star-trek-show-from-the-70s-quietly-shaped-every-sequel-since|title=A canceled Star Trek show from the '70s quietly shaped every sequel since|last=Kaye|first=Don|date=September 27, 2017|work=Syfy|access-date=August 8, 2018|language=en|archive-date=July 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200728024746/https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/a-canceled-star-trek-show-from-the-70s-quietly-shaped-every-sequel-since|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2017/12/27/remembering-star-trek-phase-ii|title=Remembering Star Trek: Phase II|last=Seibold|first=Witney|date=December 27, 2017|website=[[IGN]]|language=en-US|access-date=August 8, 2018|archive-date=July 30, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180730121737/http://www.ign.com/articles/2017/12/27/remembering-star-trek-phase-ii|url-status=live}}</ref> By 1986, 20 years after the original ''Star Trek''{{'}}s debut on [[NBC]], the franchise's longevity amazed Paramount Pictures executives. Chairman [[Frank Mancuso Sr.]] observed that "The shelf life in this business is usually three days. To flourish for 20 years..." He and others described ''Trek'' as the studio's "crown jewel", a "priceless asset" that "must not be squandered". The series was the most popular [[Broadcast syndication|syndicated]] television program 17 years after cancellation,<ref name="harmetz19861102">{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/11/02/arts/new-star-trek-plan-reflects-symbiosis-of-tv-and-movies.html?pagewanted=all | title=New 'Star Trek' Plan Reflects Symbiosis of TV and Movies | work=The New York Times | date=November 2, 1986 | access-date=February 11, 2015 | last=Harmetz | first=Aljean | page=31 | archive-date=February 12, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150212145559/http://www.nytimes.com/1986/11/02/arts/new-star-trek-plan-reflects-symbiosis-of-tv-and-movies.html?pagewanted=all | url-status=live }}</ref> and the [[Harve Bennett]]-produced, ''Original Series''-era [[Star Trek (film series)|''Star Trek'' films]] did well at the box office.<ref name="TNGComp1">{{cite book |last1=Nemecek |first1=Larry |editor1-first=Dave |editor1-last=Stern |title=The Star Trek The Next Generation Companion |year=1992 |publisher=[[Pocket Books]] |location=New York|isbn=0-671-79460-4 |page=[https://archive.org/details/startreknextgene00neme/page/1 1] |chapter=Rebirth |chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/startreknextgene00neme/page/1 }}</ref> [[William Shatner]] and [[Leonard Nimoy]]'s salary demands for the film ''[[Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home]]'' (1986) caused the studio to plan for a new ''Star Trek'' television series. Paramount executives worried that a new series could hurt the demand for the films, but decided that it would increase their appeal on videocassette and cable,{{r|harmetz19861102}} and that a series with unknown actors would be more profitable than paying the films' actors' large salaries.{{r|teitelbaum19910505}} Roddenberry initially declined to be involved, but came on board as creator after being unhappy with early conceptual work. ''Star Trek: The Next Generation'' was announced on October 10, 1986,<ref name="companion" /> and its cast in May 1987.<ref name="ap19870521">{{cite news | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=hUNgAAAAIBAJ&pg=1258,1275754 | title=Roddenberry names new Star Trek crew | work=The StarPhoenix | date=May 21, 1987 | access-date=May 9, 2011 | agency=Associated Press | location=Saskatoon, Saskatchewan | pages=C3 | archive-date=November 18, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201118033814/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=hUNgAAAAIBAJ&pg=1258%2C1275754 | url-status=live }}</ref> [[File:Enterprise-D bridge stations.jpg|thumb|Bridge stations within the [[USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D)]], as seen at ''[[Star Trek: The Experience]]'']] Paramount executive Rick Berman was assigned to the series at Roddenberry's request. Roddenberry hired a number of ''Star Trek'' veterans, including [[Robert H. Justman|Bob Justman]], [[D. C. Fontana]], Eddie Milkis and [[David Gerrold]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.startrek.com/startrek/view/series/ENT/creative/69089.html|title=Star Trek Rick Berman Bio|access-date=April 22, 2009|archive-date=August 12, 2004|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040812122134/http://www.startrek.com/startrek/view/series/ENT/creative/69089.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> Early proposals for the series included one in which some of the original series cast might appear as "elder statesmen",{{r|harmetz19861102}} and Roddenberry speculated as late as October 1986 that the new series might not even use a spaceship, as "people might travel by some [other] means" 100 years after the [[USS Enterprise (NCC-1701)|USS ''Enterprise'']].<ref name="gendel19871011">{{cite news| title=NEW 'TREK' IS ON THE LAUNCH PAD | work=Los Angeles Times | date=October 11, 1986 | author=Gendel, Morgan | page=1|id = {{ProQuest|292461160}}}}</ref> A more lasting change was his new belief that workplace interpersonal conflict would no longer exist in the future; thus, the new series did not have parallels to the frequent "crusty banter" between [[James T. Kirk|Kirk]], [[Spock]], and [[Leonard McCoy]].<ref name="teitelbaum19910505">{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-05-05-tm-2100-story.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151106201722/http://articles.latimes.com/print/1991-05-05/magazine/tm-2100_1_star-trek |archive-date=November 6, 2015 |title=How Gene Roddenberry and his Brain Trust Have Boldly Taken 'Star Trek' Where No TV Series Has Gone Before : Trekking to the Top |work=Los Angeles Times |date=May 5, 1991 |page=16 |access-date=January 26, 2022 |last=Teitelbaum |first=Sheldon}}</ref> According to series actor Patrick Stewart, Berman was more receptive than Roddenberry to the series addressing political issues.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://trekmovie.com/2010/06/22/video-patrick-stewart-on-how-he-expected-tng-to-fail-roddenberry-v-berman-star-trek-albatross-more/|title=VIDEO: Patrick Stewart On Expecting TNG To Fail, Roddenberry v Berman, Star Trek 'Albatross' + more|date=June 22, 2010|access-date=April 8, 2011|archive-date=June 28, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100628012101/http://trekmovie.com/2010/06/22/video-patrick-stewart-on-how-he-expected-tng-to-fail-roddenberry-v-berman-star-trek-albatross-more/|url-status=live}}</ref> The series' music theme combined the fanfare from the original series theme by [[Alexander Courage]] with [[Jerry Goldsmith]]'s theme for ''[[Star Trek: The Motion Picture]]'' (1979). Some early episodes' plots derived from outlines created for ''Star Trek: Phase II''.<ref name="companion" /> Additionally, some sets used in the ''Original Series''-era films were redressed for ''The Next Generation'', and in turn used for subsequent ''Original Series'' films.<ref name="TNGTM">{{cite book|author=[[Michael Okuda|Okuda, Michael]] and [[Rick Sternbach]]|year=1991|title=Star Trek: The Next Generation Technical Manual|publisher=Pocket Books|isbn=0-671-70427-3|title-link=Star Trek: The Next Generation Technical Manual}}</ref> Part of the transporter room set in ''TNG'' was used in the original ''Star Trek''{{'}}s transporter set.<ref name="TNGTM" /> ===Syndication and profitability=== Despite ''Star Trek''{{'}}s proven success, NBC and ABC only offered to consider pilot scripts for the new series, and CBS offered to air a [[backdoor pilot|miniseries that could become a series]] if it did well. Paramount executives were offended that the [[Big Three television networks]] treated their most appealing and valuable property like any other series. [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] wanted the show to help launch the new network, but wanted it by March 1987, and would only commit to 13 episodes instead of a full season. The unsuccessful negotiations convinced the studio that it could only protect ''Star Trek'' with full control.{{r|harmetz19861102}}{{r|gendel19871011}} Paramount increased and accelerated the show's profitability by choosing to instead broadcast it in [[first-run syndication]]<ref name="weinstein19880503">{{cite news | url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-05-03-ca-2130-story.html| title=Newest 'Star Trek' Zooms at Warp Speed : 'Next Generation' Series Scores With Viewers and Critics Alike | work=Los Angeles Times | date=May 3, 1988 | access-date=May 11, 2011 | last=Weinstein | first=Steve | archive-date=November 17, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201117213136/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-05-03-ca-2130-story.html | url-status=live }}</ref>{{r|teitelbaum19910505}}{{r|pearson2011}}{{rp|123–124}} on [[Independent station (North America)|independent station]]s (whose numbers had more than tripled since 1980) and Big Three [[network affiliate]]s.{{r|harmetz19861102}} The studio offered the show to local stations for free as [[barter syndication]]. The stations sold five minutes of commercial time to local advertisers and Paramount sold the remaining seven minutes to national advertisers. Stations had to commit to purchasing reruns in the future,{{r|weinstein19880503}} and only those that aired the new show could purchase the popular reruns of the ''Original Series''.<ref name="davies2007">{{cite book | title=NBC: America's Network | chapter=The Little Program That Could: The Relationship Between NBC and ''Star Trek'' | publisher=University of California Press | last=Davies | first=Máire Messenger | author2=Roberta Pearson | editor=Hilmes, Michele | editor2=Henry, Michael Lowell | year=2007 | chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lhmw637JRgUC&pg=PA209 | isbn=978-0-520-25079-6 | access-date=February 19, 2016 | archive-date=July 4, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160704184438/https://books.google.com/books?id=lhmw637JRgUC&pg=PA209 | url-status=live }}</ref>{{rp|222}}<ref>{{cite book|title=Star Trek Creator: The Authorized Biography of Gene Roddenberry|author=Alexander, David|publisher=Roc|year=1994|isbn=0-451-45440-5|url=https://archive.org/details/startrekcreator00davi}}</ref> The studio's strategy succeeded. Most of the 150 stations airing reruns of the original ''Star Trek'' wanted to prevent a competitor from airing the new show; ultimately, 210 stations covering 90% of the United States became part of Paramount's informal nationwide network for ''TNG''.{{r|weinstein19880503}}{{r|harmetz19871004}} In early October 1987, more than 50 network affiliates pre-empted their own shows for the series pilot, "[[Encounter at Farpoint]]". One station predicted that "''Star Trek'' promises to be one of the most successful programs of the season, network or syndicated".{{r|harmetz19871004}} Special effects were by [[Industrial Light and Magic]], a Division of [[Lucasfilm]].<ref name="Nemecek2012">{{cite book |last1=Nemecek |first1=Larry |title=The Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion |date=September 25, 2012 |publisher=Pocket Books (Simon & Schuster UK) |isbn=9781471106798 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VTifVpk6cekC&q=%22the+next+generation%22+%22industrial+light%22&pg=PT19 |access-date=November 17, 2020 |archive-date=November 17, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201117213135/https://books.google.com/books?id=VTifVpk6cekC&q=%22the+next+generation%22+%22industrial+light%22&pg=PT19 |url-status=live }}</ref> The new show indeed performed well; the pilot's ratings were higher than those of many network programs,<ref name="harmetz19871004">{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/10/04/arts/syndicated-star-trek-puts-dent-in-networks.html | title=Syndicated 'Star Trek' Puts Dent in Networks | work=The New York Times | date=October 4, 1987 | access-date=May 9, 2011 | author=Harmetz, Aljean | archive-date=November 13, 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111113141855/http://www.nytimes.com/1987/10/04/arts/syndicated-star-trek-puts-dent-in-networks.html | url-status=live }}</ref> and ratings remained comparable to network shows by the end of the first season, despite the handicap of each station airing the show on a different day and time, often outside prime time. By the end of the first season, Paramount reportedly received $1 million for advertising per episode, more than the roughly $800,000 fee that networks typically paid for a one-hour show;{{r|weinstein19880503}} by 1992, when the budget for each episode had risen to almost $2 million,{{r|cerone19921106}} the studio earned $90 million from advertising annually from first-run episodes, with each 30-second commercial selling for $115,000 to $150,000.{{r|mcclellan19920217}}<ref name="cerone1992">{{cite news | url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-03-19-ca-12911-story.html |title=Syndication is going where the action ''was''. Mixing revivals of old TV hits with brand-new series, programmers are pinning hopes on a once-vibrant genre | work=Los Angeles Times | date=November 1, 1992 | access-date=January 26, 2022| author=Cerone, Daniel | archive-date=November 6, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151106201835/http://articles.latimes.com/print/1992-11-01/entertainment/ca-1591_1_action-series}}</ref> The show had a 40% [[return on investment]] for Paramount, with $30 to $60 million in annual upfront net profit for first-run episodes and another $70 million for [[stripping (television)|stripping]] rights for each of the about 100 episodes then available, so they did not need overseas sales to be successful.<ref name=mcclellan19920217>{{cite news | title=HOUR DRAMA BOLDLY GOING TO FIRST-RUN | work=Broadcasting | date=February 17, 1992 | author=McClellan, Steve}}</ref> ==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. {{:List of Star Trek: The Next Generation episodes}} ===Season 1 (1987–1988)=== {{main|Star Trek: The Next Generation season 1}} [[File:Gates with Denise August 2017.jpg|thumb|Denise Crosby and Gates McFadden were in Season 1 as Tasha Yar and Doctor Crusher respectively, but were removed for Season 2. McFadden then returned for Season 3 as a regular and remained as such for the rest of the series, while Crosby appeared sporadically.]] ''The Next Generation'' was shot on 35 mm film before being converted to analog tape for post-production, and the budget for each episode was $1.3 million, among the highest for a one-hour television drama.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092455/technical|title=IMDB Technical Specifications for Star Trek: The Next Generation|website=[[IMDb]]|access-date=February 12, 2008|archive-date=March 10, 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050310043426/http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092455/technical|url-status=live}}</ref>{{r|weinstein19880503}}<ref>[https://www.vfxvoice.com/a-generation-of-star-trek-effects-on-tv/ A Generation of STAR TREK Effects on TV]</ref> While the staff enjoyed the creative freedom gained by independence from a broadcast network's [[Standards and Practices]] department, the first season was marked by a "revolving door" of writers, with Gerrold, [[D. C. Fontana|Fontana]] and others quitting after disputes with Roddenberry.{{r|davies2007}}{{rp|222}}<ref>{{cite book |title=Star Trek: "Where No One Has Gone Before": A History in Pictures (Star Trek (Trade/hardcover)) |url=https://archive.org/details/startrekgenerati00dill |url-access=registration |last=Dillard |first=J. M. |author-link=J. M. Dillard |year=1994 |publisher=Pocket Books |isbn= 0-671-51149-1 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/startrekgenerati00dill/page/130 130–131] |quote= "The writers were being rewritten by Gene, and there was a lot of tumult because people didn't know where they stood."}}</ref> Roddenberry "virtually rewrote" the first 15 episodes because of his "dogmatic" intention to depict human interaction "without drawing on the baser motives of greed, lust, and power". Writers found the show's "[[bible (writing)|bible]]" constricting and ridiculous and could not deal with Roddenberry's ego and treatment of them. It stated, for example, that "regular characters all share a feeling of being part of a band of brothers and sisters. As in the original ''Star Trek'', we invite the audience to share the same feeling of affection for our characters."{{r|teitelbaum19910505}} David Gerrold claimed that at one point, Roddenberry's lawyer came aboard and started taking apart six months of work, including the removal of a gay couple that Roddenberry had promised would be included in the series, which made Gerrold decide to leave the show.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.thegutterreview.com/2020/08/10/david-gerrold-the-man-who-folded-himself-into-fiction/| title = David Gerrold: The Man Who Folded Himself (Into Fiction)| access-date = September 24, 2022| archive-date = September 24, 2022| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220924152106/https://www.thegutterreview.com/2020/08/10/david-gerrold-the-man-who-folded-himself-into-fiction/| url-status = dead}}</ref> Mark Bourne of ''The DVD Journal'' wrote of season one: "A typical episode relied on trite plot points, clumsy allegories, dry and stilted dialogue, or characterization that was taking too long to feel relaxed and natural."<ref name="journal_1">{{cite web|url=http://www.dvdjournal.com/quickreviews/s/st-tng.season01.q.shtml|title=DVD Journal: Star Trek: The Next Generation: Season One|access-date=June 7, 2007|archive-date=October 12, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012183214/http://dvdjournal.com/quickreviews/s/st-tng.season01.q.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> Other targets of criticism included poor [[special effect]]s and plots being resolved by the ''[[deus ex machina]]'' of [[Wesley Crusher]] saving the ship.<ref name="verdict_1">{{cite web|url=https://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/startrektngseason1.php|title=DVD Verdict: Star Trek: The Next Generation, Season One|access-date=February 19, 2020|archive-date=March 13, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313123627/http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/startrektngseason1.php|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="scifi_1">{{cite web|url=http://www.scifi.com/sfw/screen/sfw8324.html|title=Sci Fi Weekly: Star Trek: The Next Generation—Season One DVD|access-date=June 7, 2007|archive-date=October 12, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012183708/http://www.scifi.com/sfw/screen/sfw8324.html|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Patrick Stewart]]'s acting won praise, and critics noted that characters were given greater potential for development than those of the original series.<ref name="journal_1" /><ref name="verdict_1" /> Actors and producers were unsure whether [[Trekkie]]s loyal to the original show would accept the new one but one critic stated as early as October 1987 that ''The Next Generation'', not the movies or the original show, "is the real ''Star Trek'' now".<ref name="beale19870721">{{cite news | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=dJopAAAAIBAJ&pg=6987,2937125 | agency=Los Angeles Daily News | title=A Visit to 'Star Trek: The Next Generation' | work=Deseret News | date=July 21, 1987 | access-date=May 9, 2011 | author=Beale, Lewis | pages=4T | archive-date=November 17, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201117213226/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=dJopAAAAIBAJ&pg=6987%2C2937125 | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="dougan19871003">{{cite news | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=xpdKAAAAIBAJ&pg=1428,666280 | agency=Scripps Howard News Service | title=Going where no cast has gone before... | work=Nashua Telegraph | date=October 3, 1987 | access-date=May 9, 2011 | author=Dougan, Michael | page=16 | archive-date=November 17, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201117213130/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=xpdKAAAAIBAJ&pg=1428%2C666280 | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="macmillin19871030">{{cite news | agency=Newspaper Enterprise Association | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=N_QaAAAAIBAJ&pg=5529,6154813 | title=New 'Star Trek' looks promising | work=Bowling Green Daily News | date=October 30, 1987 | access-date=May 9, 2011 | author=MacMillin, Guy | location=Bowling Green, Kentucky | page=12 | archive-date=November 17, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201117213139/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=N_QaAAAAIBAJ&pg=5529%2C6154813 | url-status=live }}</ref> While the events of most episodes of season one were self-contained, many developments important to the show occurred during the season. The recurring nemesis [[Q (Star Trek)|Q]] was introduced in the pilot, the alien Ferengi had their seminal appearance in "[[The Last Outpost (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|The Last Outpost]]", the [[holodeck]] was introduced and the romantic backstory between [[William Riker]] and [[Deanna Troi]] was investigated. "[[The Naked Now]]", one of the few episodes that depicted Roddenberry's fascination (as seen in the show's bible) with sex in the future, became a cast favorite.{{r|teitelbaum19910505}} Later episodes in the season set the stage for serial plots. The episode "[[Datalore]]" introduced Data's [[evil twin]] brother [[Lore (Star Trek)|Lore]], who made several more appearances throughout the series. "[[Coming of Age (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|Coming of Age]]" deals with Wesley Crusher's efforts to get into [[Starfleet Academy]] while also hinting at the threat to Starfleet later faced in "[[Conspiracy (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|Conspiracy]]". "[[Heart of Glory]]" explored Worf's character, [[Klingon]] culture and the uneasy truce between the Federation and the Klingon Empire, three themes that played major roles in later episodes. Tasha Yar left the show in "[[Skin of Evil]]", becoming the first regular ''Star Trek'' character to die permanently (although the character was seen again in two later episodes) in either series or film. The season finale, "[[The Neutral Zone (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|The Neutral Zone]]", established the presence of two of TNG's most enduring villains: the Romulans, making their first appearance since the ''Original Series'', and through foreshadowing, the Borg. The premiere became the first television episode to be nominated for a [[Hugo Award]] since 1972. Six of the season's episodes were each nominated for an [[Emmy Award]]. "[[11001001]]" won for Outstanding Sound Editing for a Series, "[[The Big Goodbye]]" won for Outstanding Costume Design for a Series, and "Conspiracy" won for Outstanding Achievement in Makeup for a Series.<ref name="companion">{{cite book|title=Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion|publisher=Pocket Books|year=2003|author=Nemeck, Larry|isbn=0-7434-5798-6}}</ref> "The Big Goodbye" also won a [[Peabody Award]], the first syndicated program{{r|weinstein19880503}} and only ''Star Trek'' episode to do so. The top two episodes for Nielsen ratings were "Encounter at Farpoint" with 15.7, and "Justice" with 12.7.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.treknation.com/nielsens/tng/season12.shtml|title=[TNG] Season 1–2 Ratings Archive|date=January 19, 2001|url-status=bot: unknown|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010119055000/http://www.treknation.com/nielsens/tng/season12.shtml|archive-date=January 19, 2001}}</ref> The season ran from 1987 to 1988. ===Season 2 (1988–1989)=== {{Main|Star Trek: The Next Generation season 2}} [[File:Levar burton.jpg|thumb|upright|LeVar Burton starred as Geordi La Forge in all seven seasons airing between 1987 and 1994, and four ''TNG'' movies premiering between 1994 and 2002. In the second season, the character became Chief Engineer aboard the ''Enterprise'' D, remaining so for the rest of the series.]] The series underwent significant changes during its second season. [[Beverly Crusher]] was replaced as Chief Medical Officer by [[Katherine Pulaski]], played by [[Diana Muldaur]], who had been a guest star in "[[Return to Tomorrow]]" and "[[Is There in Truth No Beauty?]]", two episodes from the original ''Star Trek'' series. The ship's recreational area, Ten-Forward, and its mysterious bartender/advisor, [[Guinan (Star Trek)|Guinan]], played by [[Whoopi Goldberg]], appeared for the first time. Owing to the [[1988 Writers Guild of America strike]], the number of episodes produced was cut from 26 to 22, and the start of the season was delayed. Because of the strike, the opening episode, "[[The Child (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|The Child]]", was based on a script originally written for ''[[Star Trek: Phase II]]'', while the season finale, "[[Shades of Gray (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|Shades of Gray]]", was a [[clip show]]. Nevertheless, season two as a whole was widely regarded as significantly better than season one.{{r|verdict_2}} Benefiting from Paramount's commitment to a multiyear run and free from network interference due to syndication, Roddenberry found writers who could work within his guidelines and create drama from the cast's interaction with the rest of the universe.{{r|teitelbaum19910505}} The plots became more sophisticated and began to mix drama with comic relief. Its focus on character development received special praise.<ref name="verdict_2">{{cite web|url=https://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/startrektngseason2.php|title=DVD Verdict: Star Trek: The Next Generation, Season Two|access-date=February 19, 2020|archive-date=March 13, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313114743/http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/startrektngseason2.php|url-status=live}}</ref> Co-executive producer Maurice Hurley has stated that his primary goal for the season was to plan and execute season-long [[story arc]]s and [[character arc]]s.<ref>{{cite video|title="Star Trek: The Next Generation Season Two DVD Special Features}}</ref> Hurley wrote the acclaimed episode "[[Q Who]]", which featured the first on-screen appearance of the Borg. Season two focused on developing the character Data, and two episodes from the season, "[[Elementary, Dear Data]]" and "[[The Measure of a Man (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|The Measure of a Man]]", featured him prominently.<ref name="scifi_2">{{cite web|url=http://www.scifi.com/sfw/screen/sfw8559.html|title=Sci Fi Weekly: Star Trek: The Next Generation—Season Two DVD|access-date=June 12, 2007|archive-date=October 12, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012183713/http://www.scifi.com/sfw/screen/sfw8559.html|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Miles O'Brien (Star Trek)|Miles O'Brien]] also became a more prominent character during the second season, while [[Geordi La Forge]] took the position of Chief Engineer. Klingon issues continued to be explored in episodes such as "[[A Matter of Honor]]" and "[[The Emissary (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|The Emissary]]", which introduced Worf's former lover [[K'Ehleyr]].<ref name="journal_2">{{cite web|url=http://www.dvdjournal.com/quickreviews/s/st-tng.season02.q.shtml|title=The DVD Journal: Star Trek: The Next Generation: Season Two|access-date=June 12, 2007|archive-date=June 13, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070613142805/http://www.dvdjournal.com/quickreviews/s/st-tng.season02.q.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> Five second-season episodes were nominated for six Emmy Awards, and "Q Who" won for Outstanding Sound Editing for a Series and Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Drama Series.<ref name="companion" /> The season ran from 1988 to 1989. Season 2 marked the addition of the "Ten Forward" set at Paramount, located at Stage 8 at the studios.<ref name="auto5">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JCbTA9wMmEAC&q=Star_Trek%3A_The_Next_Generation+ten+forward&pg=PT255|title=Star Trek: The Next Generation 365|first1=Terry J.|last1=Erdmann|first2=Paula M.|last2=Block|date=November 16, 2012|publisher=ABRAMS|via=Google Books|isbn=9781613124000|access-date=November 17, 2020|archive-date=November 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201117213229/https://books.google.com/books?id=JCbTA9wMmEAC&q=Star_Trek%3A_The_Next_Generation+ten+forward&pg=PT255|url-status=live}}</ref> The set was designed by Herman Zimmerman, and in the show was a place for the crew to relax, hang out together, and eat or have drinks.<ref name="auto5"/> Inside, it featured a bar looking out on large windows, and outside it featured a star field, or with use of green-screen special effects, other scenes.<ref name="auto5"/> ===Season 3 (1989–1990)=== {{Main|Star Trek: The Next Generation season 3}} Before the production of the third season in the summer of 1989, some personnel changes were made. Head writer Maurice Hurley was let go and [[Michael Piller]] took over for the rest of the series. Creator and executive producer Gene Roddenberry took less of an active role due to his declining health. Roddenberry gave Piller and Berman the executive producer jobs, and they remained in that position for the rest of the series' run, with Berman overseeing the production as a whole and Piller being in charge of the creative direction of the show and the writing room. McFadden returned to the cast as Doctor Crusher, replacing Muldaur, who had remained a guest star throughout the second season. An additional change was the inclusion of the fanfare that was added to the opening credits of the second season, to the end of the closing credits.{{dubious|this fanfare was in the first season so what is this trying to say?|date=May 2025}} [[Ronald D. Moore]] joined the show after submitting a [[spec script]] that became "[[The Bonding]]". He became the franchise's "[[Klingon]] guru",<ref name="companion" /> meaning that he wrote most ''TNG'' episodes dealing with the Klingon Empire (though he wrote some Romulan stories, as well, such as "[[The Defector (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|The Defector]]"). Writer/producer [[Ira Steven Behr]] also joined the show in its third season. Though his tenure with ''TNG'' lasted only one year, he later went on to be a writer and showrunner of spin-off series ''[[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.startrek.com/startrek/view/library/creative/bio/69091.html|title=StarTrek.com Biography of Ira Steven Behr|access-date=February 6, 2010|archive-date=December 26, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091226223902/http://www.startrek.com/startrek/view/library/creative/bio/69091.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Six third-season episodes were nominated for eight Emmys. "[[Yesterday's Enterprise]]" won for Outstanding Sound Editing for a Series and "[[Sins of the Father (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|Sins of the Father]]" won for Best Art Direction for a Series.<ref name="companion" /> After a chiropractor warned that the cast members risked permanent skeletal injury, new two-piece wool uniforms replaced the first two seasons' extremely tight spandex uniforms.<ref name="BBC TNG">[http://bbc.adactio.com/cult/st/interviews/stewart/page14.shtml Is it true that you got back ache from your costume?] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181107000837/http://bbc.adactio.com/cult/st/interviews/stewart/page14.shtml |date=November 7, 2018 }} – BBC's Interview with actor Patrick Stewart (Captain Picard)</ref> The season finale, the critically acclaimed episode "[[The Best of Both Worlds (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|The Best of Both Worlds]]", was the first season-ending [[cliffhanger]], a tradition that continued throughout the remainder of the series. The season ran from 1989 to 1990. The Season 3 finale and bridge to Season 4, "The Best of Both Worlds" went on to be one of the most acclaimed ''Star Trek'' episodes noted by ''[[TV Guide]]''{{'}}s "100 Most Memorable Moments in TV History", ranking 70th out of 100 in March 2001.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://members.aol.com/speaker606/jim/tv.html|title=The 100 Greatest TV episodes of all time|date=October 28, 2007|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071028140448/http://members.aol.com/speaker606/jim/tv.html|archive-date=October 28, 2007}}</ref> It has routinely been ranked among the top of all ''Star Trek'' franchise episodes.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Logan |first=Michael |date=August 24, 1996 |title=10 Truly Stellar Episodes |magazine=[[TV Guide]] }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.wired.com/story/star-trek-discovery-cbs-business |title=With Star Trek: Discovery, CBS Discovers That TV Ain't Easy Anymore |first=Adam |last=Rogers |date=September 22, 2017 |magazine=Wired|access-date=January 26, 2022 |archive-date=December 26, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181226164039/https://www.wired.com/story/star-trek-discovery-cbs-business/ |url-status=live }}</ref> ===Season 4 (1990–1991)=== {{Main|Star Trek: The Next Generation season 4}} [[File:Wil Wheaton by Gage Skidmore.jpg|thumb|upright|Wil Wheaton plays Wesley Crusher, Beverly Crusher's son, a regular character in the first four seasons, appearing sporadically in the last three.]] [[Brannon Braga]] and [[Jeri Taylor]] joined the show in its fourth season. During the fourth season, the series surpassed the ''Original Series'' in series length, with the production of ''TNG'''s 80th episode, "Legacy". A new alien race, the Cardassians, made their first appearance in "The Wounded". They later were heavily featured in ''Star Trek: Deep Space Nine''. The season finale, "Redemption", was the 100th episode, and the cast and crew (including creator Gene Roddenberry) celebrated the historic milestone on the bridge set. Footage of this was seen in the ''Star Trek'' 25th-anniversary special hosted by William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy, which aired later in the year. Seven fourth-season episodes were nominated for eight Emmys. "[[The Best of Both Worlds (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|The Best of Both Worlds, Part II]]" won for both Outstanding Sound Editing in a Series and Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Series.<ref name="companion" /> Character Wesley Crusher leaves the series in season four to go to Starfleet Academy. "[[Family (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|Family]]" is the only ''TNG'' episode where Data does not appear on-screen. The season ran from 1990 to 1991. ===Season 5 (1991–1992)=== {{Main|Star Trek: The Next Generation season 5}} The fifth season's seventh episode, "[[Unification (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|Unification]]", opened with a dedication to ''Star Trek'' creator [[Gene Roddenberry]] (though the prior episode, "The Game", aired four days after his death). Roddenberry, though he had recently died, continued to be credited as executive producer for the rest of the season. The cast and crew learned of his death during the production of "[[Hero Worship (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|Hero Worship]]", a later season-five episode. Seven fifth-season episodes were nominated for eight Emmys. "[[Cost of Living (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|Cost of Living]]" won for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Costume Design for a Series and Outstanding Individual Achievement in Makeup for a Series, and "[[A Matter of Time (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|A Matter of Time]]" and "[[Conundrum (Star Trek: the Next Generation)|Conundrum]]" tied for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Special Visual Effects. In addition, "[[The Inner Light (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|The Inner Light]]" became the first television episode since the 1968 original series ''Star Trek'' episode "[[The City on the Edge of Forever]]" to win a [[Hugo Award]] for Best Dramatic Presentation.<ref name="companion" /> Season five had the introduction of a jacket for Picard, worn periodically throughout the rest of the show's run. The observation lounge set was altered with the removal of the gold model starships across the interior wall and the addition of lighting beneath the windows. Recurring character Ensign [[Ro Laren]] was introduced in the fifth season. The season ran from 1991 to 1992. ===Season 6 (1992–1993)=== {{Main|Star Trek: The Next Generation season 6}} {{multiple image | align = | image1 = Mae Carol Jemison.jpg | width1 = 127 | alt1 = Jemison | caption1 = | image2 = Stephen Hawking.StarChild.jpg | width2 = 111 | alt2 = Hawking | caption2 = | footer = NASA astronaut [[Mae Jemison]] (left) plays an ''Enterprise'' officer in the sixth-season episode "[[Second Chances (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|Second Chances]]"; and world renowned astrophysicist [[Stephen Hawking]] plays a holographic simulated version of himself in the sixth-season finale cliffhanger "[[Descent (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|Descent (Part I)]]". }} With the creation of ''[[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine]]'', Rick Berman and Michael Piller's time were split between ''The Next Generation'' and the new show. Three sixth-season episodes were nominated for Emmys. "[[Time's Arrow (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|Time's Arrow, Part II]]" won for both Outstanding Individual Achievement in Costume Design for a Series and Outstanding Individual Achievement in Hairstyling for a Series, and "[[A Fistful of Datas]]" won for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Sound Mixing for a Drama Series.<ref name="companion" /> The highest Nielsen-rated episode of Season 6 was "Relics", with a rating of 13.9.<ref name="archive.org">{{cite web|url=http://www.treknation.com/nielsens/tng/season56.shtml|title=[TNG] Season 5–6 Ratings Archive|date=January 19, 2001|url-status=bot: unknown|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010119060700/http://www.treknation.com/nielsens/tng/season56.shtml|archive-date=January 19, 2001}}</ref> The episode featured ''Original Series'' character Scotty played by [[James Doohan]]. Additionally, [[NASA]] astronaut [[Mae Jemison]] played Lt. Palmer in "Second Chances".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.citizen-times.com/story/news/local/2016/05/28/q-dr-mae-jemison-first-black-woman-space-astronauts-nasa-star-trek-african-americans-asheville/84971904/|title=A Q&A with astronaut Mae Jemison, first black woman in space|access-date=March 25, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.biography.com/people/levar-burton-538182?page=1|title=LeVar Burton Biography – Facts, Birthday, Life Story|publisher=[[Biography.com]]|access-date=April 12, 2013|archive-date=October 21, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021035414/http://www.biography.com/people/levar-burton-538182?page=1|url-status=live}}</ref> The season 6 finale cliffhanger includes a cameo by [[Stephen Hawking]] (Part I of "Descent"). The season ran from 1992 to 1993. ===Season 7 (1993–1994)=== {{Main|Star Trek: The Next Generation season 7}} The seventh season was ''The Next Generation''{{'}}s last, running from 1993 to 1994. The penultimate episode, "[[Preemptive Strike (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|Preemptive Strike]]", concluded the plot line for the recurring character Ensign (now Lieutenant) [[Ro Laren]] and introduced themes that continued in ''Star Trek: Deep Space Nine'' and ''Star Trek: Voyager''. ''The Next Generation'' series finale, "[[All Good Things... (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|All Good Things...]]", was a double-length episode (separated into two parts for reruns) that aired the week of May 19, 1994, revisiting the events of the pilot and providing a bookend to the series. Toronto's [[SkyDome]] played host to a massive event for the series finale. Thousands of people packed the stadium to watch the final episode on the stadium's [[JumboTron]].<!-- wasn't this the highest-rated series finale of all time since MASH? can anyone find this info? --> Five seventh-season episodes were nominated for nine Emmys, and the series as a whole was the first syndicated television series nominated for Outstanding Drama Series. To this day, ''The Next Generation'' is the only syndicated drama to be nominated in this category. "All Good Things..." won for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Special Visual Effects, and "[[Genesis (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|Genesis]]" won for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Sound Mixing for a Drama Series. "All Good Things..." also won the second of the series' two Hugo Awards.<ref name="companion" /> "All Good Things..." also achieved the highest Nielsen rating for all of Season 7, with a rating of 17.4.<ref name="archive.org1">{{cite web|url=http://www.treknation.com/nielsens/tng/season7.shtml|title=[TNG] Season 7 Ratings Archive|date=February 10, 2001|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010210044026/http://www.treknation.com/nielsens/tng/season7.shtml|archive-date=February 10, 2001}}</ref> ===Legacy=== Although the cast members were contracted for eight seasons,{{r|schmuckler19940724}} [[Paramount Pictures|Paramount]] ended ''The Next Generation'' after seven, which disappointed and puzzled some of the actors, and was an unusual decision for a successful television show. Paramount then made films using the cast, which it believed would be less successful if the show were still on television.<ref name="svetkey19940506">{{cite magazine | url=https://ew.com/article/1994/05/06/star-trek-next-generation-readies-last-episode/ | title=''Star Trek: The Next Generation'' readies for last episode | magazine=Entertainment Weekly | date=May 6, 1994 | access-date=January 26, 2022 | author=Svetkey, Benjamin | archive-date=November 5, 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111105083034/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,302144,00.html | url-status=live }}</ref> An eighth season also would likely have reduced the show's profitability due to higher cast salaries and a lower price per episode when sold as [[strip programming]].{{r|schmuckler19940724}} The show's strong ratings continued to the end; the 1994 series finale was ranked number two among all shows that week, between hits ''[[Home Improvement (TV series)|Home Improvement]]'' and ''[[Seinfeld]]'',<ref name="schmuckler19940724">{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/07/24/arts/television-profits-reruns-and-the-end-of-next-generation.html?pagewanted=all | title=Profits, Reruns and the End of 'Next Generation' | work=The New York Times | date=July 24, 1994 | access-date=May 24, 2011 | author=Schmuckler, Eric | archive-date=December 19, 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131219175540/http://www.nytimes.com/1994/07/24/arts/television-profits-reruns-and-the-end-of-next-generation.html?pagewanted=all | url-status=live }}</ref> and was watched by over 30 million viewers.<ref name=generations/> ''TNG'' was the most-watched ''Star Trek'' show, with a peak audience of 11.5 million during its fifth season prior to the launch of ''DS9''. Between 1988 and 1992 it picked up half a million to a million additional viewers per year.<ref name="trektoday.com1"/> Adjusted Nielsen ratings for ''Star Trek'' TV shows:<ref name="trektoday.com1"/> {{Television season ratings | multiseries = y | series1 = ''The Next Generation'' | n1 = [[Star Trek: The Next Generation season 1|1]] | episodes1 = 26 | start1 = Fall 1987 | end1 = Spring 1988 | season1 = 1987–88 | viewers1 = 8.55 | series2 = ''The Next Generation'' | n2 = [[Star Trek: The Next Generation season 2|2]] | episodes2 = 22 | start2 = Fall 1988 | end2 = Spring 1989 | season2 = 1988–89 | viewers2 = 9.14 | series3 = ''The Next Generation'' | n3 = [[Star Trek: The Next Generation season 3|3]] | episodes3 = 26 | start3 = Fall 1989 | end3 = Spring 1990 | season3 = 1989–90 | viewers3 = 9.77 | series4 = ''The Next Generation'' | n4 = [[Star Trek: The Next Generation season 4|4]] | episodes4 = 26 | start4 = Fall 1990 | end4 = Spring 1991 | season4 = 1990–91 | viewers4 = 10.58 | series5 = ''The Next Generation'' | n5 = [[Star Trek: The Next Generation season 5|5]] | episodes5 = 26 | start5 = Fall 1991 | end5 = Spring 1992 | season5 = 1991–92 | viewers5 = 11.50 | series6 = ''The Next Generation''<br>''Deep Space Nine'' | n6 = [[Star Trek: The Next Generation season 6|6]] (TNG)<br>[[List of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episodes#Season 1 (1993)|1]] (DS9) | episodes6 = 26 (TNG)<br>20 (DS9) | start6 = Fall 1992 | end6 = Spring 1993 | season6 = 1992–93 | viewers6 = 10.83 | series7 = ''The Next Generation''<br>''Deep Space Nine'' | n7 = [[Star Trek: The Next Generation season 7|7]] (TNG)<br>[[List of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episodes#Season 2 (1993–94)|2]] (DS9) | episodes7 = 26 (TNG)<br>26 (DS9) | start7 = Fall 1993 | end7 = Spring 1994 | season7 = 1993–94 | viewers7 = 9.78 | series8 = ''Deep Space Nine''<br>''Voyager'' | n8 = [[List of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episodes#Season 3 (1994–95)|3]] (DS9)<br>[[List of Star Trek: Voyager episodes#Season 1 (1995)|1]] (VOY) | episodes8 = 26 (DS9)<br>16 (VOY) | start8 = Fall 1994 | end8 = Spring 1995 | season8 = 1994–95 | viewers8 = 7.05 | series9 = ''Deep Space Nine''<br>''Voyager'' | n9 = [[List of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episodes#Season 4 (1995–96)|4]] (DS9)<br>[[List of Star Trek: Voyager episodes#Season 2 (1995–96)|2]] (VOY) | episodes9 = 25 (DS9)<br>26 (VOY) | start9 = Fall 1995 | end9 = Spring 1996 | season9 = 1995–96 | viewers9 = 6.42 | series10 = ''Deep Space Nine''<br>''Voyager'' | n10 = [[List of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episodes#Season 5 (1996–97)|5]] (DS9)<br>[[List of Star Trek: Voyager episodes#Season 3 (1996–97)|3]] (VOY) | episodes10 = 26 (DS9)<br>26 (VOY) | start10 = Fall 1996 | end10 = Spring 1997 | season10 = 1996–97 | viewers10 = 5.03 | series11 = ''Deep Space Nine''<br>''Voyager'' | n11 = [[List of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episodes#Season 6 (1997–98)|6]] (DS9)<br>[[List of Star Trek: Voyager episodes#Season 4 (1997–98)|4]] (VOY) | episodes11 = 26 (DS9)<br>26 (VOY) | start11 = Fall 1997 | end11 = Spring 1998 | season11 = 1997–98 | viewers11 = 4.53 | series12 = ''Deep Space Nine''<br>''Voyager'' | n12 = [[List of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episodes#Season 7 (1998–99)|7]] (DS9)<br>[[List of Star Trek: Voyager episodes#Season 5 (1998–99)|5]] (VOY) | episodes12 = 25 (DS9)<br>26 (VOY) | start12 = Fall 1998 | end12 = Spring 1999 | season12 = 1998–99 | viewers12 = 4.00 | hide_rank = y | hide_timeslot = y | hide_18_49_rank = y | hide_18_49_rating = y | hide_FLratings = y }} Science fiction authors noted how ''Star Trek: The Next Generation'' influenced their careers.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2016/9/10/12847342/science-fiction-authors-star-trek-influenced|title=13 science fiction authors on how Star Trek influenced their lives|first=Andrew|last=Liptak|date=September 10, 2016|website=The Verge|access-date=January 31, 2019|archive-date=June 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200617204114/https://www.theverge.com/2016/9/10/12847342/science-fiction-authors-star-trek-influenced|url-status=live}}</ref> ==Episodes== {{Main|List of Star Trek: The Next Generation episodes}} ''Star Trek: The Next Generation'' aired for seven 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 (Star Trek)|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 [[Cardassian]]s, and the [[Borg (Star Trek)|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. {| class="wikitable |+Episodes by season (1–4) |- !style="background: #610E1E; color: white;"|Season 1 !style="background: #C38E40; color: white;"|Season 2 !style="background: #486103; color: white;"|Season 3 !style="background: #33A98D; color: white;"|Season 4 |- | {{ordered list| "[[Encounter at Farpoint]]" (Two-part episode) }} {{ordered list|start=3 |"[[The Naked Now]]" |"[[Code of Honor (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|Code of Honor]]" |"[[The Last Outpost (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|The Last Outpost]]" |"[[Where No One Has Gone Before]]" |"[[Lonely Among Us]]" |"[[Justice (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|Justice]]" |"[[The Battle (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|The Battle]]" |"[[Hide and Q]]" |"[[Haven (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|Haven]]" |"[[The Big Goodbye]]" |"[[Datalore]]" |"[[Angel One]]" |"[[11001001]]" |"[[Too Short a Season]]" |"[[When the Bough Breaks (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|When the Bough Breaks]]" |"[[Home Soil]]" |"[[Coming of Age (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|Coming of Age]]" |"[[Heart of Glory]]" |"[[The Arsenal of Freedom]]" |"[[Symbiosis (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|Symbiosis]]" |"[[Skin of Evil]]" |"[[We'll Always Have Paris (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|We'll Always Have Paris]]" |"[[Conspiracy (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|Conspiracy]]" |"[[The Neutral Zone (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|The Neutral Zone]]" }} || {{ordered list|"[[The Child (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|The Child]]"|"[[Where Silence Has Lease]]"|"[[Elementary, Dear Data]]"|"[[The Outrageous Okona]]"|"[[Loud as a Whisper]]"|"[[The Schizoid Man (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|The Schizoid Man]]"|"[[Unnatural Selection (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|Unnatural Selection]]"|"[[A Matter of Honor]]"|"[[The Measure of a Man (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|The Measure of a Man]]"|"[[The Dauphin (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|The Dauphin]]"|"[[Contagion (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|Contagion]]"|"[[The Royale]]"|"[[Time Squared (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|Time Squared]]"|"[[The Icarus Factor]]"|"[[Pen Pals (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|Pen Pals]]"|"[[Q Who]]"|"[[Samaritan Snare]]"|"[[Up the Long Ladder]]"|"[[Manhunt (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|Manhunt]]"|"[[The Emissary (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|The Emissary]]"|"[[Peak Performance (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|Peak Performance]]"|"[[Shades of Gray (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|Shades of Gray]]" }} || {{ordered list |"[[Evolution (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|Evolution]]" |"[[The Ensigns of Command]]" |"[[The Survivors (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|The Survivors]]" |"[[Who Watches the Watchers]]" |"[[The Bonding]]" |"[[Booby Trap (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|Booby Trap]]" |"[[The Enemy (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|The Enemy]]" |"[[The Price (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|The Price]]" |"[[The Vengeance Factor]]" |"[[The Defector (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|The Defector]]" |"[[The Hunted (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|The Hunted]]" |"[[The High Ground (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|The High Ground]]" |"[[Deja Q]]" |"[[A Matter of Perspective]]" |"[[Yesterday's Enterprise]]" |"[[The Offspring (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|The Offspring]]" |"[[Sins of the Father (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|Sins of the Father]]" |"[[Allegiance (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|Allegiance]]" |"[[Captain's Holiday]]" |"[[Tin Man (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|Tin Man]]" |"[[Hollow Pursuits]]" |"[[The Most Toys]]" |"[[Sarek (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|Sarek]]" |"[[Ménage à Troi]]" |"[[Transfigurations]]" |"[[The Best of Both Worlds (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|The Best of Both Worlds]]" (Part 1) }} || {{ordered list |"[[The Best of Both Worlds (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|The Best of Both Worlds]]" (Part 2) |"[[Family (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|Family]]" |"[[Brothers (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|Brothers]]" |"[[Suddenly Human]]" |"[[Remember Me (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|Remember Me]]" |"[[Legacy (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|Legacy]]" |"[[Reunion (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|Reunion]]" |"[[Future Imperfect]]" |"[[Final Mission]]" |"[[The Loss]]" |"[[Data's Day]]" |"[[The Wounded (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|The Wounded]]" |"[[Devil's Due (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|Devil's Due]]" |"[[Clues (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|Clues]]" |"[[First Contact (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|First Contact]]" |"[[Galaxy's Child]]" |"[[Night Terrors (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|Night Terrors]]" |"[[Identity Crisis (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|Identity Crisis]]" |"[[The Nth Degree (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|The Nth Degree]]" |"[[Qpid]]" |"[[The Drumhead]]" |"[[Half a Life (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|Half a Life]]" |"[[The Host (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|The Host]]" |"[[The Mind's Eye (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|The Mind's Eye]]" |"[[In Theory]]" |"[[Redemption (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|Redemption]]" (Part 1) }} |} {| class="wikitable |+Episodes by season (5–7) |- !style="background: #045980; color: white;"|Season 5 !style="background: #484C83; color: white;"|Season 6 !style="background: #66467D; color: white;"|Season 7 |- | {{ordered list |"[[Redemption (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|Redemption]] (Part 2) |"[[Darmok]]" |"[[Ensign Ro (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|Ensign Ro]]" |"[[Silicon Avatar]]" |"[[Disaster (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|Disaster]]" |"[[The Game (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|The Game]]" |"[[Unification (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|Unification]]" (Two-part episode) }} {{ordered list|start=9 |"[[A Matter of Time (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|A Matter of Time]]" |"[[New Ground (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|New Ground]]" |"[[Hero Worship (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|Hero Worship]]" |"[[Violations (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|Violations]]" |"[[The Masterpiece Society]]" |"[[Conundrum (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|Conundrum]]" |"[[Power Play (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|Power Play]]" |"[[Ethics (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|Ethics]]" |"[[The Outcast (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|The Outcast]]" |"[[Cause and Effect (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|Cause and Effect]]" |"[[The First Duty]]" |"[[Cost of Living (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|Cost of Living]]" |"[[The Perfect Mate]]" |"[[Imaginary Friend (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|Imaginary Friend]]" |"[[I, Borg]]" |"[[The Next Phase]]" |"[[The Inner Light (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|The Inner Light]]" |"[[Time's Arrow (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|Time's Arrow]]" (Part 1) }} || {{ordered list |"[[Time's Arrow (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|Time's Arrow]]" (Part 2) |"[[Realm of Fear]]" |"[[Man of the People (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|Man of the People]]" |"[[Relics (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|Relics]]" |"[[Schisms (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|Schisms]]" |"[[True Q]]" |"[[Rascals (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|Rascals]]" |"[[A Fistful of Datas]]" |"[[The Quality of Life (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|The Quality of Life]]" |"[[Chain of Command (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|Chain of Command]]" (Two-part episode) }} {{ordered list|start=12 |"[[Ship in a Bottle (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|Ship in a Bottle]]" |"[[Aquiel]]" |"[[Face of the Enemy (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|Face of the Enemy]]" |"[[Tapestry (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|Tapestry]]" |"[[Birthright (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|Birthright]]" (Two-part episode) }} {{ordered list|start=18 |"[[Starship Mine]]" |"[[Lessons (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|Lessons]]" |"[[The Chase (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|The Chase]]" |"[[Frame of Mind (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|Frame of Mind]]" |"[[Suspicions (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|Suspicions]]" |"[[Rightful Heir]]" |"[[Second Chances (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|Second Chances]]" |"[[Timescape (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|Timescape]]" |"[[Descent (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|Descent]]" (Part 1) }} || {{ordered list |"[[Descent (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|Descent]]" (Part 2) |"[[Liaisons (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|Liaisons]]" |"[[Interface (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|Interface]]" |"[[Gambit (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|Gambit]]" (Two-part episode) }} {{ordered list|start=6 |"[[Phantasms (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|Phantasms]]" |"[[Dark Page]]" |"[[Attached]]" |"[[Force of Nature (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|Force of Nature]]" |"[[Inheritance (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|Inheritance]]" |"[[Parallels (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|Parallels]]" |"[[The Pegasus (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|The Pegasus]]" |"[[Homeward (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|Homeward]]" |"[[Sub Rosa (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|Sub Rosa]]" |"[[Lower Decks (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|Lower Decks]]" |"[[Thine Own Self]]" |"[[Masks (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|Masks]]" |"[[Eye of the Beholder (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|Eye of the Beholder]]" |"[[Genesis (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|Genesis]]" |"[[Journey's End (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|Journey's End]]" |"[[Firstborn (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|Firstborn]]" |"[[Bloodlines (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|Bloodlines]]" |"[[Emergence (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|Emergence]]" |"[[Preemptive Strike (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|Preemptive Strike]]" |"[[All Good Things... (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|All Good Things...]]" (Two-part episode) }} |} ==Cast== {{Main|List of Star Trek: The Next Generation cast members}} [[File:PatrickStewart2004-08-03 oval.png|thumb|upright|Patrick Stewart plays Captain Picard throughout the series, as well as in all four films and as the central character in ''Star Trek: Picard''.]] [[File:Brent Spiner by Gage Skidmore (2).jpg|thumb|upright|Brent Spiner stars as the android Data on the show and in all four movies, and also plays Data's "father" (i.e. manufacturer) and "brother".]] ===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'' theatrical films, and in the eponymously titled latest series ''[[Star Trek: Picard]].'' * [[Jonathan Frakes]] as Commander [[William Riker|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.<ref name="companion" /> Decker's romantic history with helmsman Ilia was mirrored in ''The Next Generation'' in the relationship between Riker and Deanna Troi.<ref name="companion" /> Riker also appears in an episode each of ''[[Star Trek: Voyager]]'' and ''[[Star Trek: Enterprise]]'', and later reprised the role in ''[[Star Trek: Picard]]'' and in the animated ''[[Star Trek: Lower Decks]]''. In addition to William Riker, Frakes played William's [[transporter (Star Trek)|transporter]]-created double, Thomas, in one episode each of ''The Next Generation'' and ''Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.'' * [[LeVar Burton]] as Lieutenant (J.G.)/Lieutenant/Lieutenant Commander [[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'' and the third season of ''[[Star Trek: Picard]].'' * [[Denise Crosby]] as Lieutenant [[Tasha Yar]] (season 1; guest: seasons 3 & 7) is the chief of security and tactical officer. Crosby left the series near 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... (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|All Good Things...]]" Crosby also played Commander Sela, Yar's half-[[Romulan]] daughter. * [[Michael Dorn]] as Lieutenant (J.G.)/Lieutenant [[Worf]] is a Klingon. Worf initially appears as a junior officer fulfilling several roles on the bridge. When Denise Crosby left near 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 the third season of ''[[Star Trek: Picard]]''. He also played another Klingon, Worf's grandfather and namesake, in ''[[Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country]]''. With 284 on-screen appearances,<ref>{{cite web |title=Michael Dorn - IMDb |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000373/ |access-date=May 8, 2023 |website=IMDb}}</ref> Dorn has the most appearances of any actor in the ''Star Trek'' franchise.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.howtogeek.com/trivia/which-actor-has-the-most-appearances-in-the-star-trek-universe/|title=Geek Trivia: Which Actor Has The Most Appearances In The Star Trek Universe?|access-date=October 26, 2016|archive-date=November 7, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161107091425/http://www.howtogeek.com/trivia/which-actor-has-the-most-appearances-in-the-star-trek-universe/|url-status=live}}</ref> * [[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<ref name="pascale20090826">{{cite web | url=http://trekmovie.com/2009/08/26/rick-berman-talks-18-years-of-trek-in-extensive-oral-history/ | title=Rick Berman Talks 18 Years of Trek In Extensive Oral History | publisher=TrekMovie| access-date=April 6, 2014 | author=Pascale, Anthony | archive-date=March 30, 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140330215222/http://trekmovie.com/2009/08/26/rick-berman-talks-18-years-of-trek-in-extensive-oral-history/ | url-status=live }}</ref> and remained for the remainder of the series. Her absence in the second season was explained by her transfer to Starfleet Medical. She returned to the role for the third season of ''[[Star Trek: Picard]].'' * [[Marina Sirtis]] as Lieutenant Commander/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''.<ref name="companion" /> Troi also appeared in later episodes of ''Voyager,'' in the finale of ''Enterprise'', and in the first and third seasons of ''[[Star Trek: Picard]].'' * [[Brent Spiner]] as Lieutenant Commander [[Data (Star Trek)|Data]]; an [[android (robot)|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''.<ref name="companion" /> Spiner also played Data's "brother," [[Lore (Star Trek)|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 ''[[Star Trek: Picard]]'', Spiner reprised the roles of Data and Lore and portrayed the new roles of Altan Inigo Soong and Adam Soong. * [[Wil Wheaton]] as Beverly Crusher's son [[Wesley Crusher|Wesley]] (Seasons 1–4; guest: seasons 5 & 7). 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 occasionally as Wesley Crusher for the remainder of the series. Wheaton reprised the role in ''[[Star Trek: Nemesis]]'' and ''[[Star Trek: Picard]].'' ===Recurring=== [[File:John de Lancie Photo-Performance.jpg|thumb|upright|John de Lancie plays the role of the mysterious but powerful alien known as Q. Like many actors in the series, he also worked on some of the video games of the period.]] [[File:Whoopi Goldberg Cannes 1992.jpg|thumb|upright|Whoopi Goldberg portrays Guinan in ''The Next Generation''. She was inspired to take on the role by [[Nichelle Nichols]]' portrayal of Uhura on the original series.]] * [[Majel Barrett]] as [[Lwaxana Troi]], [[United Federation of Planets|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 (space station)|Deep Space Nine]] in 2369. * [[Denise Crosby]] as [[Sela (Star Trek)|Sela]], [[Romulan]] commander and [[Tasha Yar]]'s daughter. * [[John de Lancie]] as [[Q (Star Trek)|Q]], a member of the Q-Continuum who frequently visits the [[USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D)|USS ''Enterprise''-D]]. * [[Jonathan Del Arco]] as [[Hugh (Star Trek)|Hugh]], a [[Borg (Star Trek)|Borg]] drone who was disconnected from the collective by [[Geordi La Forge]] and [[Beverly Crusher]]. * [[Michelle Forbes]] as [[Ro Laren]], [[Conn (nautical)|conn]] officer until her defection to the [[Maquis (Star Trek)|Maquis]] in 2370. First appearance in episode [[Half_a_Life_(Star_Trek:_The_Next_Generation)|Half a Life]] as Dr. Timocin's daughter Dara. * [[Diana Muldaur]] as Doctor [[Katherine Pulaski]] 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. * [[Whoopi Goldberg]] as [[Guinan (Star Trek)|Guinan]], bartender hostess on the [[USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D)|USS ''Enterprise''-D]]. * [[Ashley Judd]] as [[Robin Lefler]], engineering officer on the [[USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D)|USS ''Enterprise''-D]]. * [[Andreas Katsulas]] as [[Tomalak]], a [[Romulan]] commander who has several encounters with the [[USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D)|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 (Star Trek)|Miles O'Brien]], [[Conn (nautical)|conn]] officer and later [[Transporter (Star Trek)|transporter]] chief until his transfer to [[Deep Space Nine (space station)|Deep Space Nine]] in 2369. * [[Eric Menyuk]] as [[Traveler (Star Trek)|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 (NCC-1701-D)|USS ''Enterprise''-D]]. * [[Natalia Nogulich]] as [[Alynna Nechayev]], [[flag officer]] in charge of [[Cardassian]] affairs. * [[Robert O'Reilly]] as [[Gowron]], leader of the [[Klingon|Klingon Empire]]. * [[Suzie Plakson]] as [[K'Ehleyr]], [[United Federation of Planets|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 Headquarters|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 (Star Trek)|Mot]], barber on the [[USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D)|USS ''Enterprise''-D]]. * [[Daniel Davis (actor)|Daniel Davis]] as [[Professor Moriarty]] as a holodeck character who becomes self-aware. For a more complete list, see [[List of Star Trek: The Next Generation cast members#Appearances|Appearances]] {| class="wikitable |+''Enterprise''-D Characters Season 1–7 (examples) |- ! Character ! Season 1 ! Season 2 ! Season 3 ! Season 4 ! Season 5 ! Season 6 ! Season 7 |- | Jean-Luc 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}} || {{Maybe|2 ep.}} || {{no}} || {{Maybe|2 ep.}} |- | Tasha Yar || {{yes}} || {{no}} || {{Maybe|1 ep.}} || {{no}} || {{no}} || {{no}} || {{Maybe|1 ep.}} |- | Guinan || {{no}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{no}} |} ==Story arcs and themes== [[File:Michael Dorn by Gage Skidmore 2.jpg|thumb|upright|Michael Dorn plays Lieutenant Worf and appears in all seven ''TNG'' seasons and four ''TNG'' films, a scene as an ancestor of Worf in ''Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country'', in four seasons of the spin-off show ''DS9'', and the third season of ''Picard'', making him appear more times as a regular cast member than any other actor in the franchise's history.]] ''Star Trek'' had a number of story arcs within the larger story, and oftentimes different episodes contributed to two or more different story or character arcs. Some are epitomized by the aliens the characters interact with, for example, ''TNG'' introduced the Borg and the Cardassians. The Klingons and Romulans had been introduced in ''The Original Series'' (1966–1969); however, the Klingons were somewhat rebooted with a "turtle-head" look, although a [[retcon]] was given to explain this in an ''Enterprise'' episode. Other story arcs focus on certain peripheral characters such as Q, Ro Laren or characters projected on the [[Holodeck]]. Certain episodes go deeper into the Klingon alien saga, which are famous for having an actual [[Klingon language]] made for them in the ''Star Trek'' universe. The Klingon stories usually involve Worf, but not all Worf-centric shows are focused on Klingons. The Duras sisters, a Klingon duo named Lursa and B'Etor, were introduced on ''TNG'' in the 1991 episode "Redemption". They later appeared in the film ''Generations''. One of the science fiction technologies featured in ''Star Trek: The Next Generation'' was an artificial reality machine called the "Holodeck," and several award-winning episodes featured plots centering on the peculiarities of this device.<ref name="auto6">{{cite web|url=https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/baseball-sherlock-holmes-top-10-star-trek-holodeck-episodes|title=From baseball to Sherlock Holmes: The top 10 Star Trek holodeck episodes|first=Lisa|last=Granshaw|date=October 5, 2016|website=SYFY WIRE|access-date=January 31, 2019|archive-date=March 28, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190328214215/https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/baseball-sherlock-holmes-top-10-star-trek-holodeck-episodes|url-status=live}}</ref> Some episodes focused on malfunctions in the holodeck, and in one case how a crew member became addicted to the environment created by the technology.<ref name="auto6"/> The dangers of technology that allows illusion is one of ongoing themes of ''Star Trek'' going back to the 1st pilot, "The Cage" where aliens' power of illusion to create an artificial reality is explored.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.etonline.com/everything-you-need-to-know-before-star-trek-discovery-season-2-117522|title=The Ultimate Guide to 'Star Trek: Discovery' Ahead of Season 2|website=Entertainment Tonight|date=January 16, 2019 |access-date=January 31, 2019|archive-date=January 17, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190117061343/https://www.etonline.com/everything-you-need-to-know-before-star-trek-discovery-season-2-117522|url-status=live}}</ref> One of the plots is whether a character will confront a reality or retreat to a world of fantasy.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/beyond-heroes-and-villains/201209/star-trek-the-mental-frontier|title=Star Trek: The Mental Frontier|website=Psychology Today|access-date=May 24, 2019}}</ref> Several episodes in the show also deal with the concept of time, including narrative structures around [[time travel]], [[temporal loop]]s, [[Parallel universes in fiction|parallel universes]], [[Alternative universe (fan fiction)|alternate universes]], and more. In some episodes, the character Q is responsible for the shifts in time. ==Reception== {{see also|List of awards and nominations received by Star Trek: The Next Generation}} [[File:QTXP 20121019 Destination Star Trek London MG 1997.jpg|thumb|left|Patrick Stewart speaks at ''Destination Star Trek'' London with other actors of the franchise. (From L to R: [[Avery Brooks]] of ''DS9'', [[Kate Mulgrew]] of ''Voyager'', Stewart, and [[William Shatner]] of ''TOS'')]] ''The Next Generation''{{'}}s average of 20 million viewers often exceeded both existing syndication successes such as ''[[Wheel of Fortune (American game show)|Wheel of Fortune]]'' and network hits including ''[[Cheers]]'' and ''[[L.A. Law]]''. Benefiting in part from many stations' decision to air each new episode twice in a week, it consistently ranked in the top ten among hour-long dramas, and networks could not prevent affiliates from preempting their shows with ''The Next Generation'' or other dramas that imitated its syndication strategy.<ref name="cerone19921106">{{cite news | url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-11-06-ca-1286-story.html | title='Star Trek' --Still on the Beam : Television: One year after creator Gene Roddenberry's death, the born-again series tops the syndication charts. | work=Los Angeles Times | date=November 6, 1992 | access-date=January 26, 2022 | first=Daniel | last=Cerone | archive-date=November 6, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151106201835/http://articles.latimes.com/print/1992-11-06/entertainment/ca-1286_1_television-star-trek | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="pearson2011">{{cite book | title=Television as Digital Media | publisher=Duke University Press | last=Pearson | first=Roberta | year=2011 | editor=Bennett, James | editor2=Strange, Niki | chapter=Cult Television as Digital Television's Cutting Edge | chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3cYJndq9K1IC&pg=PA105 | pages=105–131 | isbn=978-0-8223-4910-5 | access-date=February 19, 2016 | archive-date=May 15, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160515084115/https://books.google.com/books?id=3cYJndq9K1IC&pg=PA105 | url-status=live }}</ref>{{rp|124}}'' Star Trek: The Next Generation'' received 18 [[Emmy Award]]s and, in its seventh season, became the first and only syndicated television show to be nominated for the Emmy for Best Dramatic Series. It was nominated for three [[Hugo Award]]s and won two. The first-season episode "[[The Big Goodbye]]" also won the [[Peabody Award]] for excellence in television programming. In 1997, the episode "[[The Best of Both Worlds (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|The Best of Both Worlds, Part I]]" was ranked No. 70 on [[TV Guide's 100 Greatest Episodes of All Time|''TV Guide''{{'}}s 100 Greatest Episodes of All Time]].<ref>{{cite journal |year=1997 |title=Special Collector's Issue: 100 Greatest Episodes of All Time |journal=[[TV Guide]] |issue=June 28 – July 4}}</ref> In 2002, ''Star Trek: The Next Generation'' was ranked #46 on [[TV Guide's 50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time|''TV Guide''{{'}}s 50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time]] list,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/tv-guide-names-top-50-shows/ |title=TV Guide Names Top 50 Shows |work=[[CBS News]] |date=April 26, 2002 |access-date=January 8, 2012 |archive-date=September 4, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120904061715/http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/04/26/entertainment/main507388.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref> and in 2008, was ranked No. 37 on ''[[Empire (magazine)|Empire]]''{{'}}s list of the 50 greatest television shows.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.empireonline.com/50greatesttv/default.asp?tv=37|title=The 50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time|work=[[Empire (magazine)|Empire]]|date=December 5, 2006|access-date=July 9, 2012|archive-date=May 14, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120514142055/http://www.empireonline.com/50greatesttv/default.asp?tv=37|url-status=live}}</ref> On October 7, 2006, one of the three original filming models of the USS ''Enterprise''-D used on the show sold at a [[Christie's]] auction for US$576,000, making it the highest-selling item at the event.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=2541404&CMP=OTC-RSSFeeds0312 |title='Star Trek' Model Fetches Over $500,000 (link inactive as of Nov 10, 2008) |date=October 7, 2006 |access-date=May 10, 2007 |work=ABC News |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070102095213/http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=2541404&CMP=OTC-RSSFeeds0312 |archive-date=January 2, 2007}}</ref> The buyer of the model was [[Microsoft]] co-founder [[Paul Allen]], owner of the [[Museum of Pop Culture]] in Seattle. The model is on display within the Science Fiction Museum. In 2012, ''Entertainment Weekly'' listed the show at No. 7 in the "25 Best Cult TV Shows from the Past 25 Years", saying, "The original ''[[Star Trek: The Original Series|Star Trek]]'' was cult TV before cult TV was even a thing, but its younger, sleeker offspring brought, yes, a new generation into the Trekker fold, and reignited the promise of sci-fi on television."<ref>"25 Best Cult TV Shows from the Past 25 Years." ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]''. August 3, 2012, pp. 38–39.</ref> Although TNG did develop a cult following, it was noted for its prime-time general audience viewership also.<ref name="trektoday.com1"/> The flute from "The Inner Light" was valued at a maximum of US$1,000 when it went to auction in late 2006, but was sold for over $40,000; in this case the auctioneers admitted they had underestimated the appeal of the prop.<ref name="Today">[https://www.today.com/popculture/two-bid-first-auction-star-trek-stuff-wbna12857883 Two to bid up! First auction of ‘Star Trek’ stuff] [[NBC News]] {{Cite web |url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12857883/ |title=Two to bid up! First auction of 'Star Trek' stuff |website=[[MSNBC]] |date=May 18, 2006 |archive-date=September 9, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060909224555/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12857883/ |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="prnews">[http://startrekpropcollector.com/trekauctions/items/1778-0537 Christie's 1778-0537, Picard's Ressikan Flute] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090106183246/http://startrekpropcollector.com/trekauctions/items/1778-0537 |date=January 6, 2009 }}, [http://startrekpropcollector.com ''Star Trek'' Propcollector.com] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180313215452/http://www.startrekpropcollector.com/ |date=March 13, 2018 }} at the ''Star Trek'' Auction Listings Archive</ref> In the days leading up to the auction, [[Denise Okuda]], former ''Star Trek'' scenic artist and video supervisor, as well as co-writer of the auction catalog, said: "That's the item people say they really have to have, because it's so iconic to a much-beloved episode."<ref name="usatoday">{{cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/2006-09-25-star-trek-christies-auction_x.htm |title=Boldly bid where no fan has bid before |last=Puente |first=Maria |date=September 26, 2006 |newspaper=[[USA Today]] |access-date=June 24, 2011 |archive-date=June 22, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110622073911/http://www.usatoday.com/life/2006-09-25-star-trek-christies-auction_x.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> ''DS9''{{'}}s "The Emissary", which came out half-way through season 6 of ''TNG'' achieved a Nielsen rating of 18.8.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://users.telenet.be/WebTrek/Ds9/Ratings/ratings1.html|title=WebTrek – Star Trek: Deep Space Nine * SEASON 1 NIELSEN RATINGS|website=users.telenet.be|access-date=March 23, 2018|archive-date=November 17, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191117090850/http://users.telenet.be/WebTrek/Ds9/Ratings/ratings1.html|url-status=live}}</ref> ''Star Trek''{{'}}s ratings went into a steady decline starting with Season 6 of ''TNG'', and the second to last episode of ''DS9'' achieved a Nielsen rating of 3.9.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://users.telenet.be/WebTrek/Ds9/Ratings/ratings7.html|title=WebTrek – Star Trek: Deep Space Nine * SEASON 7 NIELSEN RATINGS|website=users.telenet.be|access-date=March 23, 2018|archive-date=January 24, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170124145506/http://users.telenet.be/WebTrek/Ds9/Ratings/ratings7.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2017, [[Vulture.com|Vulture]] ranked ''Star Trek: The Next Generation'' the second best live-action ''Star Trek'' television show.<ref>{{cite web |author1=Angelica Jade Bastién |title=Every Star Trek TV Show, Ranked From Worst to Best |url=https://www.vulture.com/article/star-trek-every-tv-show-ranked-worst-to-best.html |website=Vulture |date=September 22, 2017 |access-date=July 12, 2019 |archive-date=July 12, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190712141344/https://www.vulture.com/article/star-trek-every-tv-show-ranked-worst-to-best.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2019, [[Popular Mechanics]] ranked ''Star Trek: The Next Generation'' the third best science fiction television show ever.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/digital/home-entertainment/the-50-greatest-sci-fi-tv-shows|title=The 50 Best Sci-Fi TV Shows Ever|last1=Hoffman|first1=Jordan|last2=Wakeman|first2=Gregory|date=July 12, 2019|website=Popular Mechanics|language=en-US|access-date=July 20, 2019|archive-date=January 29, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150129080404/http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/digital/home-entertainment/the-50-greatest-sci-fi-tv-shows|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2021, [[Empire (magazine)|''Empire'' magazine]] ranked it the 17th greatest television show ever.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|title=The 100 Greatest TV Shows Of All Time|url=https://www.empireonline.com/tv/features/best-tv-shows-ever-2/|access-date=March 29, 2021|website=Empire}}</ref> They point out it was hard to follow in the reputation of the original series, but the series found its footing and paved the way for more spin-offs.<ref name=":3" /> ==International broadcasts== The Next Generation was first broadcast on British terrestrial television on [[BBC Two|BBC2]] starting September 26, 1990.<ref name="RT1">{{cite journal |title=Star Trek: The Next Generation: Encounter at Farpoint |journal=Radio Times |date=September 20, 1990 |issue=3484 |page=45 |url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/schedules/bbctwo/england/1990-09-26 |access-date=March 16, 2021}}</ref> The sequence remained the same as the US releases for the first four episodes,<ref name="RT2">{{cite journal |title=Star Trek: The Next Generation: Code of Honor |journal=Radio Times |date=September 20, 1990 |issue=3486 |page=55 |url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/schedules/bbctwo/england/1990-10-10 |access-date=March 16, 2021}}</ref> but after this they were somewhat shuffled about.<ref name="RT3">{{cite journal |title=Star Trek: The Next Generation: Where No One Has Gone Before |journal=Radio Times |date=October 17, 1990 |issue=3487 |page=63 |url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/schedules/bbctwo/england/1990-10-17 |access-date=March 16, 2021}}</ref> ==Games== [[File:Sttngafu008.jpg|thumb|Screenshot of the 1995 video game, ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation – A Final Unity]]'']] Video games based on ''The Next Generation'' TV series, movies, and characters include: * ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation (1993 video game)|Star Trek: The Next Generation]]'' (1993) (NES / Game Boy) * ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation: Future's Past]]'' (1993), for the SNES **''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation: Echoes from the Past]]'' (1993) ''a port of Future's Past for the Sega Genesis'' * ''[[Star Trek Generations: Beyond the Nexus]]'' (1994), for Nintendo Game Boy or Sega Game Gear * ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation – A Final Unity]]'' (1995), for MS-DOS or Macintosh. ''A Final Unity'' sold 500,000 copies by 1996<ref name=vaporware>{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970205015601/http://www.gamespot.com/features/vaporware/ |url=http://www.gamespot.com/features/vaporware/ |title=Vaporware Hall of Shame |author=Poole, Stephen |date=1996 |archive-date=February 5, 1997 |work=[[GameSpot]] |url-status=dead }}</ref> and was noted in the UK ''[[PC Gamer]]'' Magazine for how it "translates the atmosphere and 'feel' of ''The Next Generation'' almost perfectly"<ref name="PCGUK19">{{cite news|last=Butcher|first=Andy|date=June 1995|title=Star Trek: The Next Generation – A Final Unity – Review|pages=37–41|work=[[PC Gamer#PC Gamer UK|PC Gamer UK]]|publisher=[[Future plc|Future Publishing]]|issue=19}}</ref> * ''[[Star Trek: Borg]]'' (1996), includes live action segments directed by James L. Conway and acting by John de Lancie as Q *[[Star Trek: Klingon]] (1996), for PC and Mac * ''[[Star Trek Generations (video game)|Star Trek Generations]]'' (1997), for PC * ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation: Klingon Honor Guard]]'' (1998), for Mac and PC *''Star Trek: The Game Show'' (1998), for PC and Mac *''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation: Birth of the Federation]]'' (1999), for PC * ''[[Star Trek: Hidden Evil]]'' (1999), for PC * ''[[Star Trek Invasion]]'' (2000), for the [[PlayStation (console)|PlayStation]] * ''[[Star Trek Armada]]'' (2000),<ref name="auto">{{cite web |url=http://www.gamemonkeys.com/news/messages/38.html |date=February 14, 2001 |title=Star Trek Armada II Announced |publisher=Game Monkeys |access-date=March 16, 2010 |archive-date=July 11, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110711071211/http://www.gamemonkeys.com/news/messages/38.html |url-status=live }}</ref> for [[Microsoft Windows 98]] * ''[[Star Trek: Armada II]]'' (2001) * ''[[Star Trek: Bridge Commander]]'' (2002) * ''[[Star Trek: Legacy]]'' (2006) (PC, Xbox 360) * ''[[Star Trek: Conquest]]'' (2007) (Wii, PlayStation 2) [[Image:STTNG pinball.png|thumb|[[Star Trek: The Next Generation (pinball)|''Star Trek: TNG'' pinball]] featured the voices of actors from the show]] The ''Enterprise'' and its setting is also in other Trekiverse games like ''[[Star Trek: Armada]]'' (2000). For example, in ''Star Trek: Armada'' voice actors from ''The Next Generation'' returned to their characters in the game including [[Patrick Stewart]] reprising the roles of Jean-Luc Picard and Locutus, [[Michael Dorn]] voiced Worf, [[Denise Crosby]] reprised [[Sela (Star Trek)|Sela]], and [[J. G. Hertzler]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://voicechasers.com/database/showactor.php?actorid=9878|title=J.G. Hertzler|website=Voice Chasers|access-date=June 19, 2016|archive-date=August 7, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160807013819/http://voicechasers.com/database/showactor.php?actorid=9878|url-status=live}}</ref> voiced Chancellor Martok. Several other voice actors who had been previously unaffiliated with ''Star Trek'' also voiced characters in the game, among them was Richard Penn<ref name=":0">{{cite web |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0201172/ |title=Star Trek Armada |publisher=[[Internet Movie Database]] |access-date=December 30, 2011 |archive-date=June 14, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130614103615/http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0201172/ |url-status=live }}</ref> ''Star Trek: Armada II'' was set in the ''Star Trek: The Next Generation'' era of the ''Star Trek'' universe<ref name="auto"/> ''[[Star Trek: Hidden Evil]]'' (1999) included voice acting by [[Brent Spiner]] as [[Data (Star Trek)|Data]] and Patrick Stewart as Picard,<ref name=ignreview>{{cite web|title=Star Trek: Hidden Evil|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/1999/12/03/star-trek-hidden-evil|access-date=April 14, 2013|website=[[IGN]]|date=December 2, 1999|archive-date=November 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201117213131/https://www.ign.com/articles/1999/12/03/star-trek-hidden-evil|url-status=live}}</ref> and was a follow-up to the ninth ''[[Star Trek]]'' film ''[[Star Trek: Insurrection]]''<ref name=ignreview/> Board Games: *[[Star Trek: The Next Generation Interactive VCR Board Game]] **This game is played with television with VCR player, and also a game board<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/5258/star-trek-next-generation-interactive-vcr-board-ga|title=Star Trek: The Next Generation – Interactive VCR Board Game – A Klingon Challenge|website=BoardGameGeek|access-date=July 20, 2019|archive-date=June 23, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200623020642/https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/5258/star-trek-next-generation-interactive-vcr-board-ga|url-status=live}}</ref> *''Star Trek: The Next Generation'', a 1993 board game<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/7600/star-trek-next-generation|title=Star Trek: The Next Generation|website=BoardGameGeek|language=en-US|access-date=April 22, 2020|archive-date=June 22, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200622220705/https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/7600/star-trek-next-generation|url-status=live}}</ref> *''Star Trek: Five-Year Mission'' (also included TOS) Pinball: *[[Star Trek: The Next Generation (pinball)|''Star Trek: The Next Generation'' (pinball)]] {{further|List of Star Trek games}} (includes other series) ==Films== {{main|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, appeared in ''[[Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country]]''.<ref name="SunSent">{{cite web|url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-1993-04-04-9302030994-story.html|title=That Macho Lt. Worf Is A Nice Guy --- Really|date=April 4, 1993 |access-date=January 26, 2022|archive-date=April 2, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180402225820/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1993-04-04/entertainment/9302030994_1_worf-realistic-aspects-michael-dorn|url-status=live}}</ref> {{blockquote|I think it was kind of an honor they had my character be sort of the link between the two series. It was wonderful to be working with the other cast (from the original ''Star Trek'' series). It was kind of a fantasy because who would have thought when I was watching the original show that I'd be working in the movie? Beyond that, it's like professionalism takes over and you just kind of do the best you can and not make yourself look bad.|Dorn on his role in ''The Undiscovered Country''<ref name="SunSent"/>|source=}} {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center; width:99%;" ! Film ! U.S. release date ! Director(s) ! Screenwriter(s) ! Story by ! width=18%| Producer(s) |- ! scope="row" style="text-align:left" | ''[[Star Trek Generations]]'' | style="text-align:left;" |{{Start date|1994|11|18}} | [[David Carson (director)|David Carson]] | [[Ronald D. Moore]] and [[Brannon Braga]] | rowspan="2" | [[Rick Berman]], Brannon Braga and Ronald D. Moore | Rick Berman |- ! scope="row" style="text-align:left" | ''[[Star Trek: First Contact]]'' | style="text-align:left;" |{{Start date|1996|11|22}} | rowspan="2"| [[Jonathan Frakes]] | Brannon Braga and Ronald D. Moore | Rick Berman, [[Marty Hornstein]] and [[Peter Lauritson]] |- ! scope="row" style="text-align:left;" | ''[[Star Trek: Insurrection]]'' | style="text-align:left;" |{{Start date|1998|12|11}} | [[Michael Piller]] | Rick Berman and Michael Piller | rowspan="2"| Rick Berman |- ! scope="row" style="text-align:left" | ''[[Star Trek: Nemesis]]'' | style="text-align:left;" |{{Start date|2002|12|13}} | [[Stuart Baird]] | [[John Logan (writer)|John Logan]] | John Logan, Rick Berman and [[Brent Spiner]] |} ==Home media== [[File:Enterprise-D crew quarters.jpg|thumb|Exhibit in Los Angeles featuring the crew quarters of Captain Picard (uniform shown)]] ''Star Trek'' harnessed the emergence of home video technologies that rose to prominence in the 1980s as new revenue and promotion avenue.<ref name="auto7">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AHeeDAAAQBAJ&q=star+trek+the+next+generation+betamax+release&pg=PT148|title=The Impossible Has Happened: The Life and Work of Gene Roddenberry, Creator of Star Trek|first=Lance|last=Parkin|date=July 21, 2016|publisher=Aurum Press|via=Google Books|isbn=9781781314821|access-date=November 17, 2020|archive-date=November 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201118033803/https://books.google.com/books?id=AHeeDAAAQBAJ&q=star+trek+the+next+generation+betamax+release&pg=PT148|url-status=live}}</ref> ''Star Trek: The Next Generation'' had release in part or in full on VHS, Betamax, LaserDisc, DVD, and Blu-ray media.<ref name="auto7"/> ===VHS=== All episodes of ''Star Trek: The Next Generation'' were made available on [[VHS]] cassettes, starting in 1991. The entire series was gradually released on VHS over the next few years during the remainder of the show's run and after the show had ended. The VHS for TNG were available on mail-order, with usually two episodes per cassette. ===Beta=== Some episodes had releases on the tape videocassette format [[Betamax]].<ref name="auto7"/> Releases of all Betamax publications including those of the ''Star Trek: The Next Generation'' was halted in the early 1990s.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://mashable.com/2015/11/10/betamax/|title=So long, Betamax, and thanks for all the DVRs|first=Lance|last=Ulanoff|website=Mashable|date=November 10, 2015|access-date=January 31, 2019|archive-date=December 6, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181206163533/https://mashable.com/2015/11/10/betamax/|url-status=live}}</ref> ===LaserDisc=== Paramount published all episodes on the [[LaserDisc]] format from October 1991 using an extended release schedule that concluded in May 1999. Each disc featured two episodes with Closed Captions, Digital Audio, and CX encoding. Also published were four themed "collections", or boxed sets, of related episodes. These included ''The Borg Collective'', ''The Q Continuum'', ''Worf: Return to Grace'', and ''The Captains Collection''.<ref name="Blam Entertainment Group">{{cite web |url=http://www.blam1.com/StarTrek/NextGeneration.htm |title=Star Trek: The Next Generation |last=Young |first=Blaine |date=April 19, 2003 |publisher=Blam Entertainment Group |access-date=January 31, 2015 |archive-date=January 22, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160122175104/http://www.blam1.com/StarTrek/NextGeneration.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> For example, the "Q Continuum" collection of LaserDisc featured 4 episodes.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=LaserDisc Database – Star Trek Next Generation: Q Continuum [LV15341-3]|url=https://www.lddb.com/laserdisc/27033/LV15341-3/Star-Trek-Next-Generation:-Q-Continuum|access-date=February 18, 2021|website=LDDB|archive-date=March 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210309155046/https://www.lddb.com/laserdisc/27033/LV15341-3/Star-Trek-Next-Generation:-Q-Continuum|url-status=live}}</ref> The collection was released on July 30, 1997, and was published by [[Paramount Home Video]]; it retailed for US$99.98.<ref name=":1" /> The set included the 2-part "Encounter at Farpoint", "Hide & Q", "Q Who?", and "Deja Q" on 12 inch optical discs in [[NTSC]] format with a total runtime of 230 minutes, with stereo sound.<ref name=":1" /> The collection came in a Tri-Fold jacket that also included a letter from actor Jon De Lancie (Q).<ref name=":1" /> There was a production error with episode 166, "Sub Rosa", where a faulty master tape was used that was missing 4½ minutes of footage. Though a new master copy of the episode was obtained, no corrected pressing of this disc was issued.<ref name="Blam Entertainment Group"/> ''Star Trek: The Next Generation'' was also released on LaserDisc in the non-US markets Japan and Europe. In Japan, all episodes were released in a series of 14 boxed sets (two boxed sets per season), and as with the US releases were in the NTSC format and ordered by production code. The European laserdiscs were released in the PAL format and included the ten two-part telemovies as well as a disc featuring the episodes ''Yesterday's Enterprise'' and ''Cause And Effect''. The pilot episode, ''Encounter At Farpoint'', was also included in a boxed set called ''Star Trek: The Pilots'' featuring the pilot episodes from ''Star Trek: The Original Series'', ''Star Trek: The Next Generation'', ''Star Trek: Deep Space Nine'', and ''Star Trek: Voyager''. ===DVD=== The first season of the series was released on DVD in March 2002. Throughout the year the next six seasons were released at various times on DVD, with the seventh season being released in December 2002. To commemorate the 20th anniversary of the series, [[CBS Home Entertainment]] and [[Paramount Home Media Distribution|Paramount Home Entertainment]] released ''Star Trek: The Next Generation – The Complete Series'' on October 2, 2007. The DVD box set contains 49 discs. Between March 2006 and September 2008, "Fan Collective" editions were released containing select episodes of ''The Next Generation'' (and ''The Original Series'', ''Deep Space Nine'', and ''Voyager'') based on various themes. The individual episodes were chosen by fans voting on [[StarTrek.com]]. In total, six "Fan Collectives" were produced, along with a boxed set containing the first five collectives. In April 2013 all seven seasons of ''Star Trek: The Next Generation'' were re-released in new packaging featuring a silhouette of a different cast member on each box. However, the discs contained the identical content that was previously released in 2002. Another full DVD set was released in 2020 but it also contains the same content from the previous 2002 release. === Blu-ray === CBS announced on September 28, 2011, in celebration of the series' twenty-fifth anniversary, that ''Star Trek: The Next Generation'' would be completely remastered in 1080p high definition from the original [[35 mm movie film|35mm film]] [[Negative (photography)|negatives]]. The original show was edited and post-processed in [[Standard-definition television|standard definition]] for broadcast, as were all the show's visual effects (e.g. all exterior shots of the ''Enterprise'', phaser fire, or beaming fade-ins and -outs). For the remaster almost 25,000 reels of original film stock were rescanned and reedited, and all visual effects were digitally recomposed from original large-format negatives and newly created CGI shots. The release was accompanied by a new 7.1 [[DTS (sound system)|DTS]] HD Master Audio remix. [[Michael Okuda]] believes this is the largest film restoration project ever attempted.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://blog.trekcore.com/2012/07/exclusive-mike-denise-okuda-tng-remastered-interview-part-1/|title=Star Trek: The Next Generation: Blu-Ray Release|date=July 10, 2012|access-date=January 26, 2022|archive-date=July 15, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120715042254/http://tng.trekcore.com/bluray/okuda1.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The process of making high-definition versions of the series was an extraordinarily labor-intensive ordeal that cost [[Paramount Pictures]] over $12 million. The project was a financial failure and resulted in Paramount deciding very firmly against giving ''[[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine|Deep Space Nine]]'' and ''[[Star Trek: Voyager|Voyager]]'' the same treatment.<ref>{{cite web |last=Burt |first=Kayti |date=February 6, 2017 |title=Star Trek: DS9 & Voyager HD Blu-Ray Will Likely Never Happen |url=https://www.denofgeek.com/us/dvd-bluray/star-trek/261992/star-trek-ds9-voyager-hd-blu-ray-will-likely-never-happen |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181017133029/http://www.denofgeek.com/us/dvd-bluray/star-trek/261992/star-trek-ds9-voyager-hd-blu-ray-will-likely-never-happen |archive-date=October 17, 2018 |access-date=January 12, 2019 |website=[[Den of Geek]]}}</ref> An initial disc featuring the episodes "Encounter at Farpoint", "[[Sins of the Father (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|Sins of the Father]]", and "[[The Inner Light (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|The Inner Light]]" was released on January 31, 2012, under the label "The Next Level". The six-disc first season set was released on July 24, 2012.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/article/2012/04/30/star-trek-tng-blu-ray-season-1/|title='Star Trek: The Next Generation' coming to Blu-ray|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|access-date=January 26, 2022}}</ref> The remaining seasons were released periodically thereafter, culminating in the release of the seventh season on December 2, 2014. Season 1 sold 95,000 units in its launch week in 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.the-numbers.com/news/129610830-Blu-ray-Sales-Star-Treks-Next-Generation-Debut|title=Blu-ray Sales: Star Trek's Next Generation Debut|website=The Numbers|access-date=March 30, 2018|archive-date=September 5, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170905134212/http://www.the-numbers.com/news/129610830-Blu-ray-Sales-Star-Treks-Next-Generation-Debut|url-status=live}}</ref> The Blu-ray sets include many special features and videos, such as a 1988 episode of ''[[Reading Rainbow]]'' where LeVar Burton (who plays Geordi on ''TNG'') documents the making of a ''Star Trek: The Next Generation'' episode.<ref name="auto2">{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2012/12/03/star-trek-the-next-generation-season-two-blu-ray-review|title=Star Trek: The Next Generation – Season Two Blu-ray Review|first=Scott|last=Collura|date=December 3, 2012|access-date=February 19, 2020|archive-date=June 23, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200623001024/https://www.ign.com/articles/2012/12/03/star-trek-the-next-generation-season-two-blu-ray-review|url-status=live}}</ref> The entire re-mastered series is available on Blu-ray as individual seasons, and as a 41-disc box set titled ''The Full Journey''. Eventually, all remastered episodes became available for television syndication and digital distribution.<ref name="startrek.com">{{cite news|url=http://www.startrek.com/article/the-next-generation-blu-rays-launch-in-2012|title=Star Trek The Next Generation Blu-rays Launch in 2012|access-date=September 29, 2011|work=StarTrek.com|date=September 28, 2011|archive-date=September 30, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110930150208/http://www.startrek.com/article/the-next-generation-blu-rays-launch-in-2012|url-status=live}}</ref> {| class="wikitable" |- ! Season !! Release date<ref>{{cite web |url=https://blog.trekcore.com/2012/10/exclusive-ryan-adams-david-s-grant-interview-part-i/ |title=EXCLUSIVE: Ryan Adams & David S. Grant Interview, Part I|publisher=TrekCore|date=October 4, 2012 |access-date=May 5, 2013 |archive-date=January 16, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116010711/http://tng.trekcore.com/bluray/cbs_adamsgrant1.html |url-status=live }}</ref>!! Special features |- | style="background: #610E1E; color: white;" | Season 1 || July 24, 2012 || Documentaries "Energized!" (about the VFX remastering) and "Stardate Revisited" (Origin) |- | style="background: #C38E40; color: white;" | Season 2 || December 4, 2012 || Extended version of "[[The Measure of a Man (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|The Measure of a Man]]", Reunification: reunion interview with entire ''TNG'' cast. |- | style="background: #486103; color: white;"|Season 3 || April 30, 2013 || Inside the Writer's Room, Resistance is Futile: Assimilating ''TNG'', A Tribute to Michael Piller |- | style="background: #33A98D; color: white;"| Season 4 || July 30, 2013 || In Conversation: The ''Star Trek'' Art Department, Relativity: The Family Saga of ''Star Trek TNG'', Deleted scenes |- | style="background: #045980; color: white;"|Season 5 || November 19, 2013 || In Conversation: The Music of ''TNG'', Requiem: A Remembrance of ''TNG'', Deleted scenes |- | style="background: #484C83; color: white;"| Season 6 || June 24, 2014 || Beyond the Five Year Mission- The Evolution of ''Star Trek: The Next Generation'', Deleted scenes |- | style="background: #66467D; color: white;"| Season 7 || December 2, 2014 || The Sky's the Limit – The Eclipse of ''Star Trek: The Next Generation'', In Conversation: Lensing ''Star Trek: The Next Generation'', deleted scenes |- |} ====Standalone episodes==== When ''TNG'' was remastered in high definition, several episodes were released as stand-alone single show Blu-ray products.<ref name="auto4">{{cite web|url=https://blog.trekcore.com/2016/04/new-star-trek-tos-tng-dvdblu-ray-collections/|title=New STAR TREK TOS, TNG Box Sets Coming in June – TrekCore Blog|first=TrekCore|last=Staff|website=TrekCpre|date=April 2, 2016|access-date=January 26, 2022|archive-date=March 20, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180320161016/http://trekcore.com/blog/2016/04/new-star-trek-tos-tng-dvdblu-ray-collections/|url-status=live}}</ref> "The Best of Both Worlds" is split between two seasons, whereas the standalone product includes parts 1 and 2.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://blog.trekcore.com/2013/04/review-star-trek-the-next-generation-the-best-of-both-worlds-blu-ray/|title=Review: Star Trek: The Next Generation – "The Best of Both Worlds" Blu-ray|first=Adam|last=Walker|date=April 24, 2013|access-date=January 26, 2022|archive-date=January 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170107092005/http://trekcore.com/blog/2013/04/review-star-trek-the-next-generation-the-best-of-both-worlds-blu-ray/|url-status=live}}</ref> "The Best of Both Worlds" single was released in April 2013 coinciding with the release of Season 3.<ref name="trekmovie.com">{{cite web|url=https://trekmovie.com/trek-remastered/tng-remastered/|title=TNG Remastered|website=TrekMovie|access-date=February 10, 2019|archive-date=March 23, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190323021759/https://trekmovie.com/trek-remastered/tng-remastered/|url-status=live}}</ref> Other singles of TNG HD include the two part shows "Redemption", "Unification", "Chain of Command", and "All Good Things…".<ref name="trekmovie.com"/> ===="The Measure of a Man" HD extended cut==== {{main|The Measure of a Man (Star Trek: The Next Generation)}} "The Measure of a Man" was released in HD in 2012 with an extended cut.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://blog.trekcore.com/2012/08/measure-of-a-man-extended-cut-details-new-visual-effects/|title='Measure of a Man' Extended Cut Details: New Visual Effects|first=Adam|last=Walker|website=TrekCore|date=August 13, 2012|access-date=March 11, 2018|archive-date=February 23, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170223013047/http://trekcore.com/blog/2012/08/measure-of-a-man-extended-cut-details-new-visual-effects/|url-status=live}}</ref> The extended version includes an extra 13 minutes of footage as well as recreated special effects.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.trekmate.org.uk/trek-reviews-the-extended-version-of-star-trek-tng-the-measure-of-a-man/|title=Trek Reviews: The Extended Version Of Star Trek TNG 'The Measure Of A Man' – Trek Mate|website=trekmate.org.uk|access-date=March 11, 2018|archive-date=August 14, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200814170645/https://www.trekmate.org.uk/trek-reviews-the-extended-version-of-star-trek-tng-the-measure-of-a-man/|url-status=live}}</ref> It was released as part of the Season 2 collection set. ==Streaming and syndication== ''Star Trek: The Next Generation'' is available on various streaming video services, including [[Amazon Prime Video]], [[Apple iTunes]], and [[Paramount+]], under various qualities and terms. The Netflix version included some additional special effect improvements.<ref name="auto3">{{cite web|url=https://blog.trekcore.com/2015/08/netflix-brings-vfx-fixes-to-star-trek-tng-in-hd/|title=Netflix Brings VFX Fixes to STAR TREK: TNG in HD|website=TrekCore|date=August 26, 2015|access-date=January 26, 2022|archive-date=March 30, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190330073353/http://trekcore.com/blog/2015/08/netflix-brings-vfx-fixes-to-star-trek-tng-in-hd/|url-status=live}}</ref> One service stated that by 2017 the most ''re''-watched episodes of ''Star Trek:The Next Generation'' among the most re-watched ''Star Trek'' franchise shows in their offerings, were "The Best of Both Worlds, Part I", "The Best of Both Worlds, Part II", "Q Who", and "Clues".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nerdist.com/article/star-trek-netflix-most-rewatched/|title=Netflix Reveals Which STAR TREK Episodes Are Most Rewatched|website=Nerdist|access-date=February 10, 2019|archive-date=February 15, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190215171107/https://nerdist.com/article/star-trek-netflix-most-rewatched/|url-status=live}}</ref> Streaming offerings were noted for binge watching, including ''Star Trek: The Next Generation'' 178 episodes among the overall 726 episodes and 12 movies that had been released prior to ''Star Trek: Discovery'' in late 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tomsguide.com/us/star-trek-binge-watching-guide,review-3635.html|title=How to Binge Watch 726 Star Trek Episodes (and 12 Movies)|date=May 17, 2016|website=Tom's Guide|access-date=February 10, 2019|archive-date=March 28, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190328203958/https://www.tomsguide.com/us/star-trek-binge-watching-guide,review-3635.html|url-status=live}}</ref> As of the late 2010s, ''Star Trek: The Next Generation'' is syndicated to air in the United States on the cable network [[BBC America]] and the broadcast channel network [[Heroes & Icons]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://ftw.usatoday.com/2016/08/the-5-best-episodes-to-get-you-hooked-on-star-trek |title=The 5 best episodes to get you hooked on 'Star Trek' |date=August 31, 2016 |access-date=June 25, 2019 |archive-date=March 29, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190329172533/https://ftw.usatoday.com/2016/08/the-5-best-episodes-to-get-you-hooked-on-star-trek |url-status=live }}</ref> ''Star Trek : The Next Generation'' episodes have been featured in TV specials and marathons.<ref name="Staff">{{Cite web|last=Staff|first=Channel Guide|date=March 16, 2021|title=Tuesday, March 16: FOX's Heartwarming Renovation Series 'Holmes Family Effect'|url=https://www.channelguidemag.com/tv-news/2021/03/16/tuesday-march-16-holmes-family-effect-fox/|access-date=March 16, 2021|website=Channel Guide Magazine|language=en-US}}</ref> For example, for [[Saint Patrick's Day in the United States|Saint Patrick's Day]] BBC America planned a marathon with the episodes including "The Best of Both Worlds", "Time's Arrow", "Chain of Command", "Tapestry", and the series finale, "All Good Things...".<ref name="Staff"/> On the launch of Paramount+ streaming service, on March 4, 2021, a free ''Star Trek'' marathon was presented, featuring the pilots of the various ''Star Trek'' television series, including TNG.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|last=Staff|first=TrekMovie com|title=Paramount+ Launches With Free Episodes, A Star Trek Marathon, And Free Month Offer|url=https://trekmovie.com/2021/03/04/paramount-launches-with-free-episodes-a-star-trek-marathon-and-free-month-offer/|access-date=March 16, 2021|website=TrekMovie|language=en-US}}</ref> The marathon started at 7 am PT/10 am ET and streamed on the YouTube internet video platform and ran all day.<ref name=":2" /> ==Spin-offs and the franchise== ''Star Trek: The Next Generation'' spawned different media set in its universe, which was primarily the 2370s but set in the same universe as first ''Star Trek'' TV shows of the 1960s. This included the aforementioned films, computer games, board games, theme parks, etc. In the 2010s there were rumors of a Captain Worf spin-off, the Klingon bridge officer that debuted on ''TNG'' and was also featured in the ''TNG'' spin-off show ''Deep Space Nine''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://screenrant.com/star-trek-captain-worf-tv-show-michael-dorn/|title=Michael Dorn Confirms He's Working on a 'Star Trek: Captain Worf' TV Series [UPDATED]|website=[[Screen Rant]]|date=September 3, 2012|access-date=March 14, 2018|archive-date=December 22, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171222051956/https://screenrant.com/star-trek-captain-worf-tv-show-michael-dorn/|url-status=live}}</ref> A documentary called ''Journey's End: The Saga of Star Trek – The Next Generation'' was released in 1994.<ref name=":4">{{Citation|title=Journey's End: The Saga of Star Trek – The Next Generation (TV) (1994)|url=https://www.filmaffinity.com/us/film778427.html|language=en|access-date=April 18, 2021}}</ref> Directed by Donald R. Beck, it featured the cast of the show and explored the last season and the then-upcoming film ''Generations''.<ref name=":4" /> ===Novels=== ''Star Trek: The Next Generation''-era novels (examples): {{col-begin}} {{Col-2}} '''Series''' * ''[[Star Trek: The Q Continuum]]'' by [[Greg Cox (writer)|Greg Cox]] ** ''Q-Space'' ** ''Q-Zone'' ** ''Q-Strike'' * ''[[Star Trek: The Lost Era]]'' edited by Mario Palmieri ** ''The Sundered'' by Michael A. Martin ** ''Serpents Among the Ruins'' by [[David R. George III]] ** ''The Art of the Impossible'' by [[Keith DeCandido]] ** ''Well of Souls'' by [[Ilsa J. Bick]] ** ''Deny Thy Father'' by [[Jeff Mariotte]] ** ''Catalyst of Sorrows'' by [[Margaret Wander Bonanno]] ** ''One Constant Star'' by David R. George III * ''[[Star Trek: Typhon Pact]]'' ** ''Zero Sum Game'' by David Mack ** ''Seize the Fire'' by Michael A. Martin ** ''Rough Beasts of Empire'' by David R. George III ** ''Paths of Disharmony'' by [[Dayton Ward]] ** ''The Struggle Within'' by [[Christopher L. Bennett]] ** ''Plagues of Night'' by David R. George III ** ''Raise the Dawn'' by David R. George III ** ''Brinksmanship'' by [[Una McCormack]] * ''[[Star Trek: A Time to...]]'' ** ''A Time to Be Born'' by John Vornholt ** ''A Time to Die'' by John Vornholt ** ''A Time to Sow'' by David Ward and [[Kevin Dilmore]] ** ''A Time to Harvest'' by David Ward and Kevin Dilmore ** ''A Time to Love'' by [[Robert Greenberger]] ** ''A Time to Hate'' by Robert Greenberger ** ''A Time to Kill'' by David Mack ** ''A Time to Heal'' by David Mack ** ''A Time for War, a Time for Peace'' by Keith DeCandido * ''[[Star Trek: Titan]]'' ** ''Taking Wing'' by Michael A. Martin and Andy Mangels ** ''The Red King'' by Michael A. Martin and Andy Mangels ** ''Orion's Hounds'' by Christopher L. Bennett ** ''Sword of Damocles'' by [[Geoffrey Thorne]] ** ''Over a Torrent Sea'' by Christopher L. Bennett ** ''Synthesis'' by [[James Swallow]] ** ''Fallen Gods'' by Michael A. Martin ** ''Absent Enemies'' by [[John Jackson Miller]] ** ''Sight Unseen'' by James Swallow ** ''Fortune of War'' by David Mack {{Col-2}} '''One-offs''' * [[Balance of Power (Star Trek)|''Balance of Power'']] by [[Dafydd ab Hugh]] * ''The Children of Hamlin'' by [[Carmen Carter]] * [[Dark Mirror (Star Trek novel)|''Dark Mirror'']] by [[Diane Duane]] * ''[[Death in Winter]]'' by [[Michael Jan Friedman]] * ''[[The Devil's Heart]]'' by Carmen Carter * ''[[I, Q]]'' by [[John de Lancie]] and [[Peter David]] * ''[[Immortal Coil]]'' by Jeffrey Lang * ''[[Imzadi]]'' by Peter David * ''[[The Peacekeepers]]'' by [[Gene DeWeese]] * [[Planet X (Star Trek)|''Planet X'']] by Michael Jan Friedman * ''[[Q-in-Law]]'' by Peter David * [[Star Trek: Section 31#Rogue (2000)|''Rogue'']] by [[Andy Mangels]] and Michael A. Martin * ''[[Rogue Saucer]]'' by [[John Vornholt]] * ''[[Star Trek: Stargazer]]'' by Michael Jan Friedman * ''[[Strike Zone (book)|Strike Zone]]'' by Peter David * [[Survivors (Star Trek)|''Survivors'']] by [[Jean Lorrah]] * [[Vendetta (Star Trek)|''Vendetta'']] by Peter David {{col-break}} {{col-end}} ==="These Are the Voyages..." (2005)=== {{multiple image | footer = Jonathan Frakes and Marina Sirtis returned to their ''The Next Generation'' roles for the series finale of ''Enterprise'', as Commander Riker and Counselor Troi respectively. | image1 = Jonathan Frakes cropped1.jpg | width1 = 200 | alt1 = | image2 = Marina Sirtis at Deepcon 10.jpg | width2 = 108 | alt2 = }} In 2005, the last episode of ''Star Trek: Enterprise'' called "[[These Are the Voyages...]]" (S4E22) featured a [[holodeck]] simulation on the [[USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D)|USS ''Enterprise'' (NCC-1701-D)]] from ''Star Trek: The Next Generation'' during the events of the episode "[[The Pegasus (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|The Pegasus]]" and the return of Commander [[William Riker]] ([[Jonathan Frakes]]) and Counselor [[Deanna Troi]] ([[Marina Sirtis]]).<ref>{{cite news|last=Perigard|first=Mark A.|title=To boldly flop; 'Enterprise' fans will want to be transported away from finale|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-132380553.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181116071527/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-132380553.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 16, 2018|access-date=January 4, 2014|newspaper=Boston Herald|date=May 12, 2005}} {{subscription required}}</ref> It was written by Berman and Braga, who noted "... this was a very cool episode because it has a great concept driving it".<ref>{{cite news|last=Amatangelo|first=Amy|title=Producers: Show fits time-space continuum|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-132380554.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160415114906/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-132380554.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 15, 2016|access-date=January 4, 2014|newspaper=The Boston Herald|date=May 12, 2005}} {{subscription required}}</ref> ''[[Star Trek: Enterprise]]'' was the TV show launched following the conclusion of ''Star Trek: Voyager'' and was set 100 years before ''TOS'' and 200 years before ''TNG'', in addition to including some soft reboot elements with an all new cast. Some episodes connected to ''TNG'' directly including guest stars by Brent Spiner and connections to the events in ''TNG'''s fictional universe. The three-episode [[story arc]] consisting of "[[Borderland (Star Trek: Enterprise)|Borderland]]", "[[Cold Station 12]]", and "[[The Augments]]", with a Soong ancestor portrayed by ''The Next Generation'' regular [[Brent Spiner]] provides some backstory to Data's origins. Also, the ''Enterprise'' episode "[[Affliction (Star Trek: Enterprise)|Affliction]]" helps explain the smooth-headed Klingons that sometimes appeared, a [[retcon]] that helped explain this varying presentation between ''TOS'', ''TNG'', and the films. ''Star Trek'' would not return to television as a show for over 12 years, until the debut of ''Star Trek: Discovery'' initially on CBS but thereafter exclusively available on the Internet service [[CBS All Access]] (Netflix internationally) at that time. The film franchise was rebooted in [[Star Trek (2009 film)|2009]], essentially a grafted on fork off of the timeline known in ''Star Trek: The Next Generation''. That movie contains an event from the ''TNG'' timeline, which is the destruction of Romulus and the flight of Spock's special ship to the time fork. In the ''Star Trek'' franchise, witnessing the events of time shenanigans is a common plot device. ===The return of Picard=== {{main|Star Trek: Picard}} On August 4, 2018, Patrick Stewart stated on social media that he would return to the role of Jean-Luc Picard in a project with CBS All Access.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://deadline.com/2018/08/patrick-stewart-star-new-star-trek-series-jean-luc-picard-cbs-all-access-1202440156/|title=Patrick Stewart To Star In New 'Star Trek' Series As Jean-Luc Picard On CBS All Access|last=Andreeva|first=Nellie|date=August 4, 2018|work=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|access-date=August 8, 2018|language=en-US|archive-date=August 4, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180804210828/https://deadline.com/2018/08/patrick-stewart-star-new-star-trek-series-jean-luc-picard-cbs-all-access-1202440156/|url-status=live}}</ref> Stewart wrote, "I will always be very proud to have been a part of ''Star Trek: The Next Generation'', but when we wrapped that final movie in the spring of 2002, I truly felt my time with ''Star Trek'' had run its natural course. It is, therefore, an unexpected but delightful surprise to find myself excited and invigorated to be returning to Jean-Luc Picard and to explore new dimensions within him. Seeking out new life for him, when I thought that life was over. "During these past years, it has been humbling to hear stories about how ''The Next Generation'' brought people comfort, saw them through difficult periods in their lives or how the example of Jean-Luc inspired so many to follow in his footsteps, pursuing science, exploration and leadership. I feel I'm ready to return to him for the same reason – to research and experience what comforting and reforming light he might shine on these often very dark times. I look forward to working with our brilliant creative team as we endeavor to bring a fresh, unexpected and pertinent story to life once more." In January 2019, the producer said that the Picard series will answer questions about what happened to Captain Picard in the 20 years after ''Star Trek: Nemesis''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.post-gazette.com/ae/tv-radio/2019/01/31/Tuned-In-Picard-centered-Star-Trek-author-Michael-Chabon-among-the-writers/stories/201901310092|title=Tuned In: Picard-centered 'Star Trek' preps for launch with author Michael Chabon among the writers|website=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|access-date=January 31, 2019|archive-date=June 22, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200622200443/https://www.post-gazette.com/ae/tv-radio/2019/01/31/Tuned-In-Picard-centered-Star-Trek-author-Michael-Chabon-among-the-writers/stories/201901310092|url-status=live}}</ref> ===Context=== This infographic shows the first-run production timeline of various ''Star Trek'' franchise shows and films, including ''Star Trek: The Next Generation''. {{Timeline of Star Trek franchise}} ==See also== {{portal|Science Fiction|Speculative fiction|Television}} * [[Cultural influence of Star Trek|Cultural influence of ''Star Trek'']] * [[List of comic books based on Star Trek: The Next Generation|List of comic books based on ''Star Trek: The Next Generation'']] * [[List of Star Trek: The Next Generation episodes|List of ''Star Trek: The Next Generation'' episodes]] {{Clear}} ==Notes== {{notelist}} ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== {{commons category}} {{Wikiquote}} * {{Official website|https://www.startrek.com/shows/star-trek-the-next-generation}} * [https://www.paramountplus.com/shows/star_trek_the_next_generation ''Star Trek: The Next Generation''] at [[Paramount+]] * {{IMDb title|0092455|Star Trek: The Next Generation}} * {{Memory Alpha|Star_Trek:_The_Next_Generation|''Star Trek: The Next Generation''}} * [https://memory-beta.fandom.com/wiki/Star_Trek:_The_Next_Generation ''Star Trek: The Next Generation''] at Memory Beta * {{tvguide title|100411|Star Trek: The Next Generation}} * [http://tng.trekcore.com/gallery TrekCore.com] – Library of DVD screen captures (still images) from every episode of ''The Next Generation''. {{Star Trek: The Next Generation}} {{Star Trek}} {{Star Trek: The Next Generation episodes}} {{Saturn Award for Best Network Television Series}} {{Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation}} {{Gene Roddenberry}} {{Authority control}} [[Category:Star Trek: The Next Generation| ]] [[Category:1980s American drama television series]] [[Category:1980s American science fiction television series]] [[Category:1980s American time travel television series]] [[Category:1987 American television series debuts]] [[Category:1990s American drama television series]] [[Category:1990s American science fiction television series]] [[Category:1990s American time travel television series]] [[Category:1994 American television series endings]] [[Category:American adventure television series]] [[Category:American English-language television shows]] [[Category:American sequel television series]] [[Category:Androids in television]] [[Category:Emmy Award–winning programs]] [[Category:Fiction about augmented reality]] [[Category:First-run syndicated television programs in the United States]] [[Category:Hugo Award–winning television series]] [[Category:Peabody Award–winning television programs]] [[Category:Playmates Toys]] [[Category:Saturn Award–winning television series]] [[Category:Space adventure television series]] [[Category:Space Western television series]] [[Category:Star Trek television series|Next Generation]] [[Category:Television series by CBS Studios]] [[Category:Television series created by Gene Roddenberry]] [[Category:Television series set in the 24th century]] [[Category:Television shows adapted into comics]] [[Category:Television shows adapted into films]] [[Category:Television shows adapted into novels]] [[Category:Television shows adapted into video games]] [[Category:Television shows based on works by Gene Roddenberry]] [[Category:Television shows filmed in Los Angeles]]
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