Star Trek: The Next Generation
Star Trek: The Next Generation was the first live-action spinoff of the original Star Trek series, and the last television series that had the active involvement of Gene Roddenberry. It achieved the popularity of the first one, spawning four feature films featuring the characters and paving the way for three more franchise television series.
Fast Facts
- Network: Syndicated
- Number of seasons: 7
- First Aired: September 28, 1987
- Starring: Patrick Stewart, Wil Wheaton, Jonathan Frakes, Brent Spiner, Michael Dorn, LeVar Burton, Gates McFadden, Wil Wheaton
Star Trek: Phase II
A sequel to the original television series Star Trek had been proposed to launch a Paramount Pictures-owned television network in 1978. The show was announced in 1977. The concept was fully developed, a show bible was written, the sets were built, and most of the cast was re-signed, with the exception of Leonard Nimoy. The network died before it was born, however, and the planned pilot became Star Trek: The Motion Picture.
Origins
Paramount decided to resurrect the franchise in 1986. An initially reluctant Gene Roddenberry eventually agreed to help create the series. The show took place about a century after the events of the original Star Trek, and pulled in elements from the shelved Star Trek: Phase II, with the characters of Will Riker and Deanna Troi heavily based on characters from that proposed series. Several scripts from that proposed series would appear in modified form during the course of Star Trek: The Next Generation.
Influence
Though creatively the show got off to a shaky start, it was instantly popularly successful, and paved the way for other syndicated original television shows, including Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and Xena: Warrior Princess.
Films
- Star Trek: Generations (1994)
- Star Trek: First Contact (1996)
- Star Trek: Insurrection (1998)
- Star Trek: Nemesis (2002)
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