STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION

[thomasallencummins]

CAST:
Patrick Stewart - Jean-Luc Picard
Jonathan Frakes - William Riker
Brent Spiner - Data
LeVar Burton - Geordi La Forge
Michael Dorn - Worf
Gates McFadden - Beverly Crusher
Marina Sirtis - Deanna Troi
Denise Crosby - Natasha 'Tasha' Yar
Wil Wheaton - Wesley Crusher
1987-1994

What did we do with ourselves from 1969 to 1986? I was a kid through a lot of that so until about 1974 or so it didn’t impact on me all that much. I became engaged by Star Trek TOS with the help of a local UHF station and 79 syndicated episodes of genuine entertainment. Then 1979 came around and fresh on the heels of Star Wars we new trekoids were treated to a brand new Star Trek film adventure. It was very cool. (At least I thought so at the time.) The five films that followed only cemented Star Trek into our lives and Gene Roddenberry knew it. Time for Star Trek: The Next Generation. I was glued to my television that wonderful Sunday evening in 1987. In honor of Star Trek’s grand revival I celebrated with a new snack I had created which I continue to munch on to this day. Stick Pretzels and a tub of cream cheese! Anyway Star Trek was back and I couldn’t contain my joy. Encounter at Farpoint was a very interesting story. (Honestly just about anything would have gotten my seal of approval.) The new captain was French. (Seemed pretty doggone English to me.) I’ve always loved English actors. Okay, even English sounding actors. Patrick Stewart was very different than Shatner’s Kirk and I didn’t care. I instantly liked the guy the moment he opened his mouth. Frakes’ Riker seemed like a capable first. I didn’t much care for Sirtis’ Troi. She seemed on the edge of tears the whole show. Dr. Crusher was no McCoy but she was likeable in a hot red head sort of way. Data was interesting in the wide-eyed and ignorant Spock replacement role. Worf the token alien was an interesting touch. It all came across pretty well. (Except for that know it all kid whose name escapes me – Wesley – and I won’t mention it here even if I do remember.) For every moment of the 7 seasons of STNG I sat with my butt firmly planted in a seat of one type or another, enjoying the ride. There were times in the beginning that were a little rough but the show really created a place for itself far beyond its origins and paved the way for all of the new flavors to come. IMHO.

[Avatar]

I was too young for most of TOS, just really caught the end of it, but it was enough to make me watch TNG. And I loved it. One of the rare shows that got better and better as time went on.

--A

[ram]

I missed far too many ST:TNG episodes during its run, but I'm slowly making up for it in catching the odd show here and there in syndication. I'm just too much of a cheap bastard to buy all the seasons on DVD.

Not to turn this into a Picard vs. Kirk debate, but I think Patrick Stewart held ST:TNG together in a deeper sense than William Shatner held TOS together. I know I might be crucified for saying that, but Shatner had two other strong leads to carry the show - DeForest Kelly and Leonard Nimoy. I also thought the original Enterprise crew was, um, less bland than the new crew. On ST: TNG, it was basically Stewart...and the rest of the gang. Commander Data was perhaps the only other crewmember that was as interesting as Picard, imo. I always looked forward to episodes when Q showed up. It was fun to see Q and Picard tangle.

[thomasallencummins]

ram said:

I missed far too many ST:TNG episodes during its run, but I'm slowly making up for it in catching the odd show here and there in syndication. I'm just too much of a cheap bastard to buy all the seasons on DVD.

Not to turn this into a Picard vs. Kirk debate, but I think Patrick Stewart held ST:TNG together in a deeper sense than William Shatner held TOS together. I know I might be crucified for saying that, but Shatner had two other strong leads to carry the show - DeForest Kelly and Leonard Nimoy. I also thought the original Enterprise crew was, um, less bland than the new crew. On ST: TNG, it was basically Stewart...and the rest of the gang. Commander Data was perhaps the only other crewmember that was as interesting as Picard, imo. I always looked forward to episodes when Q showed up. It was fun to see Q and Picard tangle.

I think you have a point with the Shatner / Stewart thing. The only thing I would add to the Next Generation scenerio is that there were times when Ryker/ Jonathan Frakes rose to the level you would have wanted in comparison to a Spock or McCoy. Not always but sometimes. Enough that it made a difference to me but not enough to disagree you, ram.

[Avatar]

Yeah, Picard rocked. I never ever liked Q though. *shrug*

(Notice how Worf's head changed over the seasons? LOL)

--A

[ram]

avatar said:

Yeah, Picard rocked. I never ever liked Q though. *shrug*

(Notice how Worf's head changed over the seasons? LOL)

--A

Guess I didn't see enough of the show to notice Worf's head changing. That's funny! Come to think of it, I'm surprised that no one else sported odd "mutations" given all the crazy reverse quantic-anchovy energy disturbances the Enterprise go through all the time. I mean, shouldn't there be odd appendages sticking out of the back of everybody's heads or something? ;D

I was a bit rash in my TOS vs. TNG rant. When I said I thought the Next Gen crew was blander than TOS's, that really just reflects my overall unfamiliarity with Picard's gang. I still don't "know" them as well as I knew the original crew, but at I'm learning. TNG did have Tasha Yar, and her "hot babe" factor sure made her unforgettable. (Yeah, I'm gonna get in trouble with the PC police over that.)

Data, of course, was very interesting. Worf: it was nice to finally have a "good guy" Klingon on the team. This is one of the things I do love about Star Trek, how the show emphasizes the ideals of peace - how formerly bitter enemies can be reconciled.

[Avatar]

Haha, when the series starts, Worf is much paler, his hair is shorter and his brow-ridges less pronounced.

Hmmmm.....

Worf in Encounter At Farpoint



And on this link you can see a list of pics of him from the end of season 1 to season 7. www.ex-astris-scientia.org/gallery/tngmain2.htm

--A

[Cad Zombie]

avatar said:

Yeah, Picard rocked. I never ever liked Q though. *shrug*

(Notice how Worf's head changed over the seasons? LOL)

--A

I always said that if I ever had the chance to be on a star trek show, I'd want to be a Q, I think I could do alot more with it than what was done.

And I would also help out Dynomite and have him as my ferengi slave of amusement.

[Avatar]

LMAO! I suspect he would be Princess Leia to your Jabba the Hutt...and remember how that turned out... LOL

--A

[Cad Zombie]

Nah, he would be more like an egor to my Frankenstein

[thomasallencummins]

That's FRONKEN-SHTEEN.