Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube
    Nostalgia Central
    • Home
    • Blog
      • Lists
      • Playlists
    • Television
      • TV by Decade
        • TV – 1950s
        • TV – 1960s
        • TV – 1970s
        • TV – 1980s
        • TV – 1990s
      • Comedy
      • Drama
      • Kids TV
      • Variety
      • News & Sport
      • Advertisements
    • Music
      • Music by Decade
        • Music – 1950s
        • Music – 1960s
        • Music – 1970s
        • Music – 1980s
        • Music – 1990s
      • Artists – A to K
        • Artists – A
        • Artists – B
        • Artists – C
        • Artists – D
        • Artists – E
        • Artists – F
        • Artists – G
        • Artists – H
        • Artists – I
        • Artists – J
        • Artists – K
      • Artists – L to Z
        • Artists – L
        • Artists – M
        • Artists – N
        • Artists – O
        • Artists – P
        • Artists – Q
        • Artists – R
        • Artists – S
        • Artists – T
        • Artists – U
        • Artists – V
        • Artists – W
        • Artists – X
        • Artists – Y
        • Artists – Z
      • Artists – 0 to 9
      • Genres
      • Music on Film & TV
      • One-Hit Wonders
      • Online Radio
    • Movies
      • Movies by Decade
        • Movies – 1950s
        • Movies – 1960s
        • Movies – 1970s
        • Movies – 1980s
        • Movies – 1990s
      • Movies – 0 to 9
      • Movies – A to K
        • Movies – A
        • Movies – B
        • Movies – C
        • Movies – D
        • Movies – E
        • Movies – F
        • Movies – G
        • Movies – H
        • Movies – I
        • Movies – J
        • Movies – K
      • Movies – L to Z
        • Movies – L
        • Movies – M
        • Movies – N
        • Movies – O
        • Movies – P
        • Movies – Q
        • Movies – R
        • Movies – S
        • Movies – T
        • Movies – U
        • Movies – V
        • Movies – W
        • Movies – X
        • Movies – Y
        • Movies – Z
    • Pop Culture
      • Fads
      • Toys & Games
      • Fashion
      • Decor
      • Food & Drink
      • People
      • Technology
      • Transport
    • Social History
      • 1950s Year by Year
      • 1960s Year by Year
      • 1970s Year by Year
      • 1980s Year by Year
      • 1990s Year by Year
      • Events
    Nostalgia Central
    Home»Television»Drama
    Drama TV Shows - 1980s TV Shows - 1990s 5 Mins Read

    Star Trek: The Next Generation

    Share
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp Reddit Email

    1 9 8 7 – 1 9 9 4 (USA)
    178 x 60 minute episodes

    Over the years, there had been numerous rumours that Paramount Pictures would bring Star Trek back to TV – the Star Trek motion pictures had become money-makers for the studio, and the ancillary marketing of anything that could be associated with the series and films had become quite lucrative.

    Finally, Star Trek: The Next Generation reached the air in 1987, 18 years after the original had ended, with the man whose vision had been responsible for Star Trek in the first place, creator Gene Roddenberry, back as executive producer of the new series.

    Set in the 24th Century, 78 years after the original Star Trek missions, these were the new voyages of the USS Enterprise, now upgraded to Galaxy Class and with a new captain and crew onboard.

    The new Enterprise was much larger than its 23rd Century predecessor – more than twice as long and with eight times as much interior space. Accordingly, the ship’s crew, which now included children, numbered more than 2,000 people (Captain Kirk’s crew had numbered 430).

    startrektng82Commanding the Enterprise was Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart), a more formal, fatherly, and much less emotional leader than Captain Kirk had been in the original series. Picard was far less inclined to heroic actions than his predecessor, James T Kirk, and preferred to let the “Away Teams” deal with a crisis, usually led by Commander William Riker (Jonathan Frakes) – better known as ‘Number One’.

    This probably makes much more sense – why would you put the commanding officer’s life at risk at every sniff of danger? Are you listening, Shatner?!

    Riker and half-Betazoid Counselor Deanna Troi (Marina Sirtis) – who could sense the emotions of any living creature telepathically – were former lovers with the potential for rekindling their romance. Other officers on Picard’s staff were Lt. Geordi La Forge (Levar Burton), the blind helmsman who could ‘see’ with the aid of his VISOR glasses (which looked like a banana wrapped around his head); Lt. Worf (Michael Dorn), the ship’s Klingon officer (the Federation had made peace with the Klingons in the decades since Kirk’s Enterprise had fought them); Lt. Tasha Yar (Denise Crosby), head of security; Lt. Cdr. Data (Brent Spiner), a pasty-faced android with total recall and the desire to become more human; and Dr Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden), the ship’s medical officer with a soft spot for the captain.

    Dr Crusher’s son, Wesley (Wil Wheaton), a brilliant and inventive youth who wanted to become a Starfleet officer himself, helped get the crew out of jams on more than one occasion.

    When Tasha was killed by an alien in the spring of 1988, Lt. Worf assumed the duties of head of security. In the fall of 1988, Dr Crusher, who spent one season as head of Star Fleet Medical, was replaced by Dr Pulaski (Diana Muldaur). Geordi became chief engineer that season, with Wesley becoming an apprentice helmsman.

    Also showing up in 1988 was Guinan (comedienne Whoopie Goldberg), the mysterious and incredibly intuitive humanoid bartender in the Enterprise‘s ‘Ten Forward Bar’.

    Late in 1990, Wesley left the ship to enrol at Starfleet Academy. Early in 1993, transporter Chief Miles O’Brien (ex-Z Cars actor Colm Meaney) left the Enterprise to become chief operations officer on Deep Space Nine, the space station that was the setting for Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, the third Star Trek series.

    The sexist attitudes of the original series were gone in TNG, with many of the new 1000-strong crew being women, many of them in positions of command.

    However, the cast was more earnest, less interesting, and less humorous than the original cast – The Politically Correct Gestapo may have actually killed off elements of what was so great about the original show.

    The last original episode of TNG had a very surrealistic quality about it. The mysterious Q (John de Lancie), a superbeing who had been in the first episode of the series and had shown up on a number of occasions to test Picard and the crew, was back. His goal was to put Picard through another “test to expand his intelligence”.

    Q caused Picard to shift between the present, the time of his first arrival on the Enterprise, and the future, when he was retired and divorced from Dr Crusher, whom he had apparently married.

    Late in 1994, Star Trek: Generations, the film that bridged the new series with the original Star Trek, arrived in cinemas.

    Make it so, Number One . . .

    Capt. Jean-Luc Picard 
    Patrick Stewart
    Cmdr William T Riker 

    Jonathan Frakes
    Lt Cmdr Data 

    Brent Spiner
    Lt Worf 

    Michael Dorn
    Lt Cmdr Geordi La Forge 

    Levar Burton
    Lt Tasha Yar
    Denise Crosby
    Ensign Wesley Crusher 

    Wil Wheaton
    Dr Beverly Crusher 

    Gates McFadden
    Counsellor Deanna Troi 

    Marina Sirtis
    Dr Kate Pulaski 

    Diana Muldaur
    Chief Miles O’Brien 

    Colin Meaney
    Guinan 

    Whoopie Goldberg
    Keiko O’Brien
    Rosalind Chao
    Alexander Roshenko
    Brian Bonsall
    Ensign Ro Laren
    Michele Forbes
    Dr Elissa Ogawa
    Patti Yasutake
    Q 
    John Delancie

    Audio

    Related Posts

    • Star Trek: Voyager
      Star Trek: Voyager
      1 9 9 5 - 2 0 0 1 (USA) 169 x 45 minute episodes The fourth series in the Star…
    • Gene Autry Show, The
      Gene Autry Show, The
      1 9 5 0 - 1 9 5 6 (USA) In 1950, singing cowboy film and radio performer Gene Autry brought…
    • 2 Point 4 Children
      2 Point 4 Children
      1 9 9 1 - 1 9 9 9 (UK) 56 x 40 minute episodes When Andrew Marshall's 2 Point 4 Children first…
    • Henry's Cat
      Henry's Cat
      1 9 8 3 - 1 9 9 3 (UK) 65 x 25 minute episodes Off-the-wall animation from Bob Godfrey Films…
    • Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
      Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
      1 9 9 3 - 1 9 9 9 (USA) 176 x 45 minute episodes This third Star Trek spin-off was,…
    • Mission : Impossible
      Mission : Impossible
      1 9 6 6 - 1 9 7 3 (USA) 171 x 50 minute episodes Your mission, should you choose to…
    • Tales of the 77th Bengal Lancers
      Tales of the 77th Bengal Lancers
      1 9 5 6 - 1 9 5 7 (USA) 26 x 30 minute episodes Set in India in the colonial…
    • Star Trek
      Star Trek
      1 9 6 6 - 1 9 6 9 (USA) 79 x 50 minute episodes The original Star Trek series was clever, engaging…

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp Reddit Email
    Previous ArticleRich Man, Poor Man
    Next Article Survivors

    Comments are closed.

    Follow us
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    You May Also Like
    • Corrigan Blake (The Adventures Of A Bird Fancier)
      1 9 6 3 (UK) 6 x 30 minute episodes The character of Corrigan […]
    • Old Campaigner, The
      1 9 6 8 – 1 9 6 9 (UK) 6 x 30 minute episodes Debuting on […]
    • Westway
      1 9 7 6 (UK) 7 x 30 minute episodes Life in a commune means […]
    • Ragman’s Daughter, The (1971)
      Married with two kids, living in a council flat, and recently […]
    • Heavy Traffic (1973)
      Director Ralph Bakshi’s provocative mixture of live-action […]
    • Thing, The (1982)
      From the opening shot of a helicopter strafing a wild dog, the […]
    Comments Box SVG iconsUsed for the like, share, comment, and reaction icons

    OUR LATEST FACEBOOK POSTS

    www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-64442824 ... See MoreSee Less

    Link thumbnail

    Television frontman Tom Verlaine dies at 73

    www.bbc.co.uk

    His band rose to fame in the 1970s New York punk scene, scoring UK hits including Marquee Moon.
    2 days ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 0
    • Shares: 0
    • Comments: 0

    Comment on Facebook

    www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-64418847 ... See MoreSee Less

    Link thumbnail

    Mr Blobby costume sells for more than £62,000 on eBay

    www.bbc.co.uk

    The character, made famous by BBC show Noel's House Party, had been in storage since the 1990s.
    3 days ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 0
    • Shares: 0
    • Comments: 0

    Comment on Facebook

    Put some beefiness into your mid-week menu with these recipe ideas published in a Birds Eye advertisement from the Radio Times on 30 September 1965.

    Put some "beefiness into your mid-week menu" with these recipe ideas published in a Birds Eye advertisement from the "Radio Times" on 30 September 1965. ... See MoreSee Less

    1 week ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 3
    • Shares: 0
    • Comments: 1

    Comment on Facebook

    They were awful. An overpowering savoury flavour that lingered in your mouth for hours. Heaven knows what unmentionable parts of a bull went into making them 😳

    More sad news 😪

    ... See MoreSee Less

    Link thumbnail

    US rock legend David Crosby dies aged 81

    www.bbc.co.uk

    Crosby, who co-founded both the Byrds and Crosby, Stills and Nash, had been ill for some time.
    2 weeks ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 0
    • Shares: 1
    • Comments: 0

    Comment on Facebook

    This is what they promised us when I was a kid. What happened? 

All I have is 700 channels of rubbish on the TV in High Def, TikTok, Facebook and a phone I can take photographs with . . .

    This is what they promised us when I was a kid. What happened?

    All I have is 700 channels of rubbish on the TV in High Def, TikTok, Facebook and a phone I can take photographs with . . .
    ... See MoreSee Less

    2 weeks ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 54
    • Shares: 22
    • Comments: 7

    Comment on Facebook

    I thought we would have moving pavements by now when I was a kid 😂

    Totally agree!!!

    The new Tesla, 4.6 next century.

    We got transvestite story hour instead

    We appear to be going backwards

    There's actually a very good David Graeber essay on this very topic: thebaffler.com/salvos/of-flying-cars-and-the-declining-rate-of-profit

    The Jetsons strike again.

    View more comments

    Renowned Australian singer Renee Geyer is dead at 69 following complications from hip surgery. Such a fabulous voice. RIP😢

https://nostalgiacentral.com/music/artists-l-to-z/artists-r/renee-geyer/

    Renowned Australian singer Renee Geyer is dead at 69 following complications from hip surgery. Such a fabulous voice. RIP😢

    nostalgiacentral.com/music/artists-l-to-z/artists-r/renee-geyer/
    ... See MoreSee Less

    2 weeks ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 0
    • Shares: 0
    • Comments: 1

    Comment on Facebook

    That is so sad to hear 😥 rest in peace 🙏 🕊 xx

    Gina Lollobrigida: Italian screen star dies at 95
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-64292026

    Gina Lollobrigida: Italian screen star dies at 95
    www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-64292026
    ... See MoreSee Less

    2 weeks ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 4
    • Shares: 0
    • Comments: 1

    Comment on Facebook

    😍😍😍😍

    Vale Jeff Beck. Dead at 78. 😢

    ... See MoreSee Less

    Link thumbnail

    Jeff Beck: British guitar legend dies aged 78

    www.bbc.co.uk

    One of rock's most influential guitarists, he was inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice.
    3 weeks ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 1
    • Shares: 0
    • Comments: 0

    Comment on Facebook

    Hi everyone. Were in the process of moving www.nostalgiacentral.com to new dedicated servers to better cope with the volumes of traffic. Please ignore any SSL security errors you may receive when visiting the site over the next 24 hours while the move completes.

    Hi everyone. We're in the process of moving www.nostalgiacentral.com to new dedicated servers to better cope with the volumes of traffic. Please ignore any SSL security errors you may receive when visiting the site over the next 24 hours while the move completes. ... See MoreSee Less

    3 weeks ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 5
    • Shares: 0
    • Comments: 2

    Comment on Facebook

    Ironically, this post has jumped off the page at me. You'll probably get most traffic today because everyone will want to see what they might be missing!

    Martin Platt

    RIP Fred White, drummer with Earth, Wind and Fire, who has died aged 67. 😢

    RIP Fred White, drummer with Earth, Wind and Fire, who has died aged 67. 😢 ... See MoreSee Less

    4 weeks ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 4
    • Shares: 2
    • Comments: 1

    Comment on Facebook

    Great band

    Load more
    Please note


    Nostalgia Central covers the period 1950 to 1999 and contains some words and references which reflect the attitudes of those times and which may be considered culturally sensitive, offensive or inappropriate today.
    Popular Tags
    1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1975 1976 Action Figures Amicus Arcade games Australia Beach movies Beatles Blaxploitation Board games Britpop Canada Crime Disney Doo-Wop Elvis Presley Girl groups Glam Goth Hammer Heavy Metal Irwin Allen Labels Merseybeat Mod revival Motown New Romantic New Wave NWOBHM Oi! One-hit wonders Power Pop Pub rock Punk Radio Scotland Ska Soul music Sport Surf music
    Search Nostalgia Central
    Copyright © 1998, 2023 Nostalgia Central
    • About Nostalgia Central
    • Contact
    • FAQ

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.