The Very Turbulent History of Star Trek: The Next Generation

[@MaximumWarp2099]

I was intentionally late to work the night of the season three finale. I just couldn’t miss it and didn’t have a way to record it at the time. To this day it is still one of the best cliffhangers in television history.

[@perfectsplit5515]

Haha - that is similar to what the Italian Parliament did when the resolution to the episode, "Who Shot J.R." was going to be broadcast - they convened early just so they could catch the show!

[@perfectsplit5515]

"Best of Both Worlds" (pts 1&2) is the third highest-rated sci-fi "episode" of all time. The Borg were most likely copied from the cyborg aliens in Michael Jackson's Captain EO. They were "ugly" when he first met them, but then his music brought out their "inner beauty".

[@iBMcFly]

What job and what hours were you working? Just curious. I respect the dedication also. 😎

[@grapeshot]

I remember reading George Takei's biography. And he had the same fears when he first heard about Star Trek the Next Generation. But he was catching a flight somewhere and Patrick Stewart happened to be on the flight and they had a very good conversation about Next Generation. And George Takei said that he felt comfortable that Patrick Stewart wasn't going to be a Captain Kirk clone.

[@Volyren]

Oh my!

[@50jakecs]

I like that bit of trivia, especially since I think both Takei and Stewart seem like decent people.

[@bastiandantilus]

@@Volyren

[@loslobos786]

While interesting I wouldn't believe anything Taki says he's a drama queen and was actually barely on set during filming and was only paid stock pay as Shatner pointed out ...lol that's why he hates Shatner.

[@loslobos786]

@@50jakecs Stewart was when he was younger but now he's insane Takai has always been nuts! Any man who would blame his father for his family being thrown in concentration camps during WW2 and yet would still be a lifelong Democrat the people who came up with the idea, is obviously insane.

[@chrislongbeard]

Interesting fact. Gates McFaddens real first name is Cheryl. And uses that for her stage work. Which includes choreographing the ballroom scene in Labyrinth among other Jim Henson projects

[@exidy-yt]

I KNEW IT!! I knew somewhere I had read her referred to as Cheryl McFadden instead of Gates! Thank you for confirming this for me!

[@zagnorch1336]

I recall the incorporation of her mad dancing choreography skillz into the fourth-season episode "Data's Day," where Dr. Crusher teaches Data how to tapdance, and then ballroom-dance, for Chief O'Brien and Keiko's wedding. I wonder if she lobbied to do some kind of dancing in a TNG episode after being inspired by Jonathan Frakes' smattering of trombone solos in prior seasons...

[@apex2000]

I like name Cheryl better.

[@TheSparrowLooksUp]

She is also the only Star Trek character to have ever fucked a ghost.

[@azraelle6232]

@@zagnorch1336 The Dancing Doctor! That's one of my favorite episodes of the show.

[@AdamBladeTaylor]

One of the things that I loved about TNG was how they shifted around crew roles. Instead of the cowboy captain that Kirk was, Picard was a statesman and diplomat, but still able to get his hands dirty when needed. Meanwhile he had Riker being the adventurer and lady killer, so that role wasn't lost. Data filled in wonderfully for Spock, giving another emotionless character who helped explore the human condition. And his android nature opened up even more possibilities. The episode where they had to fight in court for his independence as a person was epic. Geordi was a great character, and his friendship with Data made the pair wonderful to watch. And it was great seeing a blind character being treated as someone independent, and not a liability. Crusher, Worf, Troi, Yar... all brought so much life to the show. Gave everyone someone that they could relate to and admire.

[@seanmanscott]

I would add that Worf and Data split duties filling in for Spock, since Spock and Worf were both outsiders who didn't really fit in completely with humans or their own respective species. For instance, Vulcans looked down on Spock for having a human mother, while he didn't always fit in with humans either because they thought his cold Vulcan logic was weird, and Worf had the same thing going for him where Klingons thought he was weak for being raised by humans and they hated his father because they thought he was a traitor, meanwhile he didn't always fit in with humans either because of his Klingon temper and warrior instincts.

[@nastyvandal]

The Crushers.

[@AdamBladeTaylor]

@@nastyvandal Shut up Wesley.

[@dinomonzon7493]

Captain Kirk remains the better CO. He isn’t beholden to the rules and doesn’t waste entire acts calling a staff meeting just to make a decision.

[@paulheap1982]

@@dinomonzon7493 well if you watch the original show again, you'll be reminded that's not the case.

[@BensBrickDesigns]

I was watching TOS in reruns as a kid and was 14 when TNG hit. I wasn't a huge Trek fan (similarly a huge Star Wars fan) but MAN did TNG blow me away. There was a great year when we could watch A-Team, B:SG reruns and then TNG in one night.

[@EricGranata]

Same. Rarely liked a TOS episode but TNG had me. Episode “The Inner Light” was high concept, existential sci-fi and I loved it. Wrecked me for days when I first saw it.

[@williammitchell4417]

In the mid 1980's, I was a bigger fan of Doctor who. The neat part was when Janet Fielding showed up during a Trek convention at the time that TNG was to debut

[@zacharyberridge7239]

@@EricGranata that used to be my favorite episode. Measure of a Man has overtaken it. The whole court scene is just so good. Stewart was absolutely the best choice for a new captain.

[@mandisaw]

Year younger, but was a 3rd-gen Trekkie - grandpa watched TOS with my mom, and my sibs & I were raised on Trek (among other new & old SF classics). We were all highly skeptical when the new series was announced, but ultimately fell hard for the series' continuing expansion of the world/vision we loved. By the time DS9 came along, that ultimately completed the arc started by the Original, as far as we were concerned.

[@davidgannon5388]

Gotta admit, that colon in the middle of "BSG" had me wracking my brains trying to figure out what show you were talking about! LOL!

[@KaijuAKD]

I loved how Data, in his quest to become more "human", became a mirror that reflected our humanity back at us, contradiction and all.

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

"Data's Day" is just a superb story.

[@seibervideo]

Fun fact: Michael Bell played “Zorn” in the pilot episode. He was also the voice of Duke on GI Joe, along with many other characters in various animated shows.

[@lynngreen7978]

I recognized Sideswipe when Zorn spoke.

[@Canoby]

I remember recognizing his voice as Duke’s when I first watched this episode. I never really thought about what he’d look like IRL (granted under heavy make up and in costume)

[@Draliseth]

He will always be my sweet boy, Raziel. Funnily enough, his antagonist, Kain, is married to Keiko.

[@dinobotswoop]

he also voiced swoop! I luckily meet him at a transformers con a few years back and had the opportunity to have a conversation with him. Class act that fella

[@zagnorch1336]

What Casey Kasem was to the G1 TransFormers show, Michael Bell was to G.I. Joe, voicing not just Duke, but also one of the Tomax/Xamot brothers, Major Bludd, and Blowtorch (AKA the other G.I. Joe pyromaniac besides Barbecue). I think he also voiced one of the Dreadnoks, but I forget which one. Speaking of TransFormers: he voiced Constructicon leader Scrapper, who formed the right leg of Devastator.

[@ayufever1978]

in the 60s my dad grew up watching star trek original series. in the 80s i grew up watching star trek TNG and we watched it together. today in the age of smartphones and memes, we are always sharing those silly star trek memes with each other 😊

[@perfectsplit5515]

Hey, ST: TNG was the only show that my whole family watched - my sister, my mom, and my dad! My dad was surprised that some people in my generation (Gen X) were actually into the classic ST more than TNG. Later on when Babylon 5 was on, nobody else in my family was into it like I was. :(

[@PaleHorseShabuShabu]

The "Fire!" cliffhanger was so brilliant but, at the time, so painful. Riker had the angel and the devil sitting on his shoulders, each telling him to do something different, and he tried to do what he knew was right - his duty of ending the Borg's threat - though he hated doing it. The build up to it was wonderfully acted and written and the music in that moment had you holding your breath.

[@MisterCasket]

That was a massive blow to me at the time haha! And to have to wait until the next season for the conclusion, unbearable! So happy bingewatching is a thing these days.

[@daveroche6522]

Agreed. It was a lonnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnng wait before we got to see Part 2.

[@MrAnim8orVideos]

Maybe I'm a sadist, but to me that long wait actually made it more epic...every day wondering how the hell they were going to resolve it. Nowadays with binge-watching it'd just be over immediately...no time to stew on it and obsess.

[@perfectsplit5515]

"Best of Both Worlds" (pts 1&2) is rated the third highest-rated sci-fi "episode" of all time. At the end of part 1, we all thought that Picard/Locutus would die and that Riker would become the new captain. "Sector Zero-Zero-One" "Earth"

[@lamartherevenger]

This mandatory TV time with my dad. He hooked me on the TOS at a young age, and this cemented that love of Star Trek.

[@Dea_Ex_Machina]

Star Trek TNG was the show my Dad and I bonded over while I grew up! Great episode! I love the James / SORTED clip “Where’s the dish?!”

[@earnestbrown6524]

"One is my name, the other is not."

[@christophersummers1939]

in the summer of 1990, i became a "trekker" when i tried to draw the enterprise-d from my 6th grade tng lunchbox. the pic was too small to get good detail so i watched a few eps to fill them in. hooked ever since

[@texasbeast239]

I remember that exact commercial for TNG in the summer/September of 1987. I was so hyped by the new ship, I was willing to forgive them for having a new cast of characters with new uniforms. It was a very exciting time. And TNG remains my favorite to this day.

[@metaphyzxx]

I remember it too

[@perfectsplit5515]

10:58 - was the promo that first got me into the Star Trek franchise! Back in the early 80s, I always preferred Star Wars and Buck Rogers over the classic Star Trek. I always thought the classic ST was primitive, whereas Star Wars and Buck Rogers was modernized sci-fi. When I saw that promo, it was so intriguing - a modernized Star Trek!

[@AaronENichols80]

Thanks for doing a Star Trek:TNG look back. It saved my life as a kid. This was a great video!

[@CyndisKrist]

I read that some of the original series cast didn't think Next Generation would make it, but it outlasted the original series by four seasons. Both shows were great and each had something good and unique to offer.

[@jaredneal3463]

Loved this episode. Please add Galaxy Quest to your list of things to talk about.

[@christopherwilson3754]

It's a bit ironic that for the pilot Encounter at Farpoint the best part, Q, was written by Roddenberry, a notoriously bad writer while the meat of the episode, everything not Q, was written by D. C. Fontana, an excellent and well respected writer.

[@JCIce007]

It kinda makes sense that for Gene's portions of the script he just repurposed the "Enteprise gets toyed with by a godlike being" plot that TOS used multiple times.

[@sonicslv6132]

I think Q trial is the worst part of Farpoint. Try imagine as first time watcher without the knowledge of what Q evolved to be in future episodes, it just doesnt make any sense. A deus ex machina that just want to suddenly erase whole humans just because. I still don't understand what happened in the trial as Q stance on humans is not changed at all, in fact he just dismissed all Picard argument and plea without even considering them. He just let them go because the episode is over and you can't kill the whole crew in their first episode. Q only come alive thanks to future writers writing him as god with childlike arrogance and curiosity with outstanding performance of John de Lancie.

[@Idazmi7]

_"It's a bit ironic that for the pilot Encounter at Farpoint the best part, Q, was written by Roddenberry, a notoriously bad writer (...)"_ In 1957, Gene Roddenberry received the Writers Guild of America Award for Best Original Script for the episode "Helen of Abajinian". He wrote 24 episodes of _Have Gun Will Travel._ In 1963 he created _The Lieutenant,_ which was cancelled when the episode "To Set It Right" (written by Lee Erwin), which was about racial prejudice, and featured Nichelle Nichols as the fiancée of a black Marine, was never broadcast. The subject of race was considered taboo in entertainment television in 1964, and because the network refused to broadcast "To Set It Right" or even pay for it, MGM had to shoulder the entire cost of production. As far as Star Trek, Gene wrote _The Menagerie_ in it's entirety, as well as _The Omega Glory_ and _Bread and Circuses._ He rewrote the scripts of _Balance of Terror_ and _The City on The Edge of Forever._ Don't call him a 'bad writer'.

[@fluffysheap]

@@Idazmi7 The Omega Glory is... not a good episode. At all. Voyager revisited the basic concept ("Nemesis") and did it much better. Bread and Circuses is mediocre. Roddenberry wrote some quality stuff, and he also wrote some garbage.

[@Idazmi7]

@@fluffysheap _"The Omega Glory is... not a good episode. (...) Bread and Circuses is mediocre."_ Nice of you to not bother providing any evidence or context to your statements at all. If and when you do bother providing any 'evidence', I expect that you will completely _ignore_ the context of Hollywood's interference in the 1960's television industry and Star Trek in particular, as if the only person involved at every phase of development and decision-making on Star Trek was Roddenberry himself, even though they often demanded changes, and even edited his work directly. I also expect that you simply *do not know* the hallmarks of Roddenberry's writing style beyond _collected fan opinions_ of Star Trek episodes, instead of his entire writing career, which goes far beyond the Star Trek brand label.

[@paradox7358]

I can't express how much of an impact TNG had on me. It was released one month before I was born, and I grew up watching it with my dad, who himself grew up watching TOS. The shows themes of science, philosophy and optimistic outlook have shaped who I am today. I have fond memories of it and continue to watch to this day.

[@Trekapedia]

Love The Next Generation and ty for the content. Was wondering if you had ever considered doing a video about the rise and fall of Kids’ WB? I think that could be a really good topic and would love to see what you thought about it. It’s my favorite lineup ever and I loved it ever since it began back in 1995. Also maybe a video about the rise and fall of Smallville considering how popular Superman has been? Smallville had kind of a similar path to tv with Fox and the WB in a bidding war for it but Fox would only commit to 13 episodes. Ty again and please keep up the awesome work!

[@jameslauramore4277]

I've been following the podcast talkville that's hosted by Clark and lex, it's a lot of fun listening to them reminiscing It's on KZbin and Spotify and Itunes whichever you fancy

[@bigneon_glitter]

In '87, Honey Nut Cheerios offered a free _TNG_ poster w/proof of purchase (something like 6-8 boxes). To this day, I can't watch _TNG_ without the phantom taste of Honey Nut Cheerios.

[@TitularHeroine]

Win/win situation!!

[@DarthVader-1701]

They also had an enterprise toy that came in the regular cheerios boxes.

[@jinpei05]

Happy belated 101st birthday, Gene Roddenberry.

[@seibervideo]

😵

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

Trekkies: We are TREKKERS Roddenberry: I created you. You're Trekkies

[@wallacerigby4393]

I remember watching this daily as a kid with my parents.

[@taurincochran3398]

Same here. My mother loved it.

[@dannyr2976]

The first time TNG hit our TV screens in the UK (1990. Wednesdays BBC2, 6pm) and amazed by the visuals, especially viewing the Enterprise-D for the first time (still my favourite starship design) seeing the bridge, and that saucer separation. A scene from 'Encounter at Farpoint' has Riker asking an Ensign the location of Data, stop and shows him with the assistance of a wall panel was the moment first moment I became interested in graphic design. Took me years to discover how much of an influence Andrew Probert would hold on me. The man who also worked on Battlestar Galactica and designed both Airwolf and Street Hawk.

[@hang10wannabe]

I remember watching Star Trek TNG every time it was on (I remember checking the TV Guide to confirm!) with my mom and sometimes my dad. My mom was the big sci fi person in my family while I was growing up and she got me into Star Trek, Star Wars and so much more. I remember sitting in the living room with my mom, in 1994 I was 11 and we would watch ST:TNG at 8 pm with some Jell-O chocolate pudding in a glass and it was an awesome time. I remember my mom, dad and I all got to meet a lot of Star Trek cast at the Reading Rainbow Re-launch that LeVar Burton did a few years ago and my mom was ecstatic to meet "Quark", "Riker", "Geordi", "7of9", and "Vash". Even though my mom is now gone, it will be one of the biggest memories I have with her going forward and its why I love Next Gen so much. Great video guys, thanks.

[@wstine79]

I remember Denise Crosby telling people at a convention that she enjoys her scripts after she character passed away. Including when she was Celia Yar and past versions of herself

[@powerbad696]

Yeah,she was tired of say-Hailing frequencies open,Captain.

[@moviemetalhead]

Yesterday's Enterprise was a proper send-off for Tasha Yar, redeeming her character's initial exit.

[@Mecha82]

More things change, more they stay same. Even back then Trekkies were upset about new crew and casting choices for TNG.

[@powerbad696]

People HATE change.Just as some people hold onto the original Superman movie,Man of Steel was needed for a modern audience,after the BORE-FEST-Superman Returns. LOL.

[@ForceMaximus84]

Having said that, the new Trek shows are terrible.

[@powerbad696]

@@ForceMaximus84 YES.They are.Picard,Discovery and the animated one TOO.Haven't seen Strange New Worlds.

[@UltimateGamerCC]

@@ForceMaximus84 ngl, but Trek hasnt been good since DS9...

[@ForceMaximus84]

@@UltimateGamerCC I’d argue that Voyager had strong points. I actually like it a bit more than DS9. It was more about exploration, which is what TOS and TNG were about.

[@tkskagen]

"STARBASE FARPOINT" (although a 2 hour "santioned" peice), was absolutely GENIOUS!

[@lp-xl9ld]

Back in '88, I got caught in the middle of an argument over whether TOS was better than TNG or the other way around. Personally, I like both and I don't really feel that one is superior to the other. But I can understand the cases made in both directions.

[@jkhachad]

Fantastic episode, guys! While TNG is my favorite Trek series, my biggest takeaway here was that Lucille Ball & Desi Arnaz produced TOS...I had no idea!

[@marvelboy74]

The appearance of DeForest Kelley as Bones in Encounter at Farpoint really was their insurance to get the TOS fandom to watch.

[@christophersummers1939]

i remember when you could mail in memorabilia to be signed, i'd sent 2 different dr crusher cards from the 25th anniversary set. gates signed the one from her 3rd season portrait, but got a note stating that she "doesn't sign" the card of her season 1 portrait. probably because of maurice hurley?

[@seibervideo]

Fascinating!

[@TitularHeroine]

Be cool of the note was hand written and signed by her tho

[@osanieslana960]

Funny how Paramount can't stop throwing money at the Star Trek nobody wants. But the Star Trek everyone loved constantly suffered budget problems.

[@Davethe3rd]

If you like Star Trek: TNG, watch Seth MacFarlane's (Yes, the "Family Guy" guy) The Orville, which is basically a slightly more comedic, but just as good modern take. It's on Hulu and Disney+! If enough people watch it, we'll get another season!!

[@fritzk3627]

Hulu bought it from Fox and just dropped a new season and dropped a huge budget.

[@Davethe3rd]

@@fritzk3627 Disney outright bought Fox and already owns a percentage of Hulu. And Season 3 was the new season, I want more than that!

[@mandisaw]

Fox was a part-owner of Hulu, so was Disney, pre-buyout. The move to Hulu and change in episode length/count was already decided pre-pandemic. I don't think there's gonna be another season after this, though - MacFarlane already said he was looking to exit the show, and he's the star & showrunner, no Orville without him. Waiting until S3 wraps to binge it - Orville S2 was some amazing television.

[@lutherheggs451]

@@fritzk3627 Disney owns Fox and Hulu...

[@ComboNation8]

Often they would fend off Klingons floating around Uranus

[@threeer02]

My senior year of high school (1987-1988)…every new episode of TNG had me and a good friend of mine taking up an entire period in school going over every detail of the latest episode…

[@perfectsplit5515]

In my 1993 Mechanical Engineering class, Engineering Science Lab, we were put in groups. Each group could make its own ground rules. My group got so fed up with my talking about Star Trek all the time that they made the rule, “No talking about Star Trek before, during, or after meetings”

[@joelsteverson]

I grew up with TOS reruns, and was 14 when TNG came out. I was living in Germany at the time and was so excited when AFRTS picked up the show for AFN because prior to that I would have had to wait for family in the States to send it to me on VHS. I'll always be a fan of both. They're very (deliberately) difficult to compare. Recently, I'm really loving Strange New World's.

[@ytucharliesierra]

Great you mention SNW! I love that series too and I stongly hope they can carry on. It's crazy how they are flying under the radar.

[@borinightmare]

Next month would be Star Trek TNG's 35th anniversary. I watched it religiously with my grandparents on WPIX-TV. What got me hooked on the show was when The Borg confronted Picard. He was transformed and into the Borg leader in that episode. Resistance is futile!

[@stevebrown985]

I just have to say thank you to this man, he's helped me remember shows and cartoons that I had totally pushed to the back of my memory.

[@scottcampbell9515]

Fun fact: The BBC banned the episode "Conspiracy" from airing for many years. It's also a pretty great episode.

[@davewhitmore1958]

Coz de head asplodes :/

[@ScottRobinson76]

That episode freaked me out

[@DarthPerkins]

They also banned 'Miri' and 'The Empath'; both episodes ended up being released on a single videotape in the mid-eighties and caught in the Video Nasties debacle. Edit: Should have said, from the original series.

[@georgelea4297]

And they banned "The High Ground" for the fact it said that the IRA successful in the reunification of Ireland

[@Endocrom]

Another fun fact about Conspiracy, the head explosion at the end wasn't going to be as graphic as it ended up. Some exec asked Roddenberry to tone it down, and out of some offense to being questioned or just plane spite, he upped the gore. (Even though the exec backed off the gorier version stayed)

[@stevemanart]

If you want a truly comprehensive deep dive into Star Trek (TNG included) I can't recommend Rowan J Coleman's retrospective enough.

[@PrinceIMC]

Agreed, he is so thorough.

[@powerbad696]

Rowan's retros are pure-GOLD.A must watch for TREK fans.

[@Psilocybin77]

I was going to mention that, but you got this covered. His videos are professional quality, and very entertaining.

[@treevor2590]

Great Video! Some of my earliest memories are of watching TNG when I was only a few years old and my dad flying me around the living room to the end credits music. I've been a trekkie ever since.

[@D21BeastReviews]

As much as a history of Star Trek’s development as it is a lesson on how broadcast and fandom was changing during this time period. And oh my goodness Roddenberry’s lawyer was something else. I highly recommend the documentary “Chaos on the Bridge” to anyone who likes wacky behinds the scenes stories about television production. Thanks for the great video, Dan & Greg!

[@jonathancook1096]

I saw a single clip of that documentary a year or so ago which had me look for it. I rented off of Amazon one night and I do not regret it. I never looked at TNG (regarding the first two seasons) the same. And Gene's lawyer was definitely the pure distilled stereotype of your typical Hollywood lawyer.

[@Marc_Araujo]

TNG was the pinnacle of the franchise but DS9 was my favorite because of the multitude of awesome characters...that was a really good stretch of really good Trek tv.

[@perfectsplit5515]

ST: TNG is now rated the greatest sci-fi show of all time. And the Galaxy-Class Enterprise-D is the most iconic sci-fi spaceship of all time.

[@Ebotoman79]

So awesome you did a video on this! Live long and prosper my dude.

[@PoppaCYS]

Interesting, I didn't know about Roddenberry's involvement in the 1st season of TNG. I ways wondered why it was lackluster, and I wonder if he stifled the creativity of the writing staff and actors with his litigious antagonism with Paramount. I also did not know why Crusher was replaced with Dr. Pulaski who by 24th century standards seemed very closed minded and was somewhat obnoxious toward Data. The series really took off with season 3 IMO with the return of Crusher, new uniforms, and better writing.

[@perfectsplit5515]

It is ironic that the show did better (S3) after Gene Roddenberry left as showrunner.

[@perfectsplit5515]

Roddenberry was over-controlling and micro managerial over the writers in Season 1. Joe Michael Stracynzski just wrote the episodes himself for Babylon 5 in order to maintain creative control.

[@yourin8er]

I’ve been on a huge binge of toy galaxy. This is what I’ve been waiting for. Let’s do this!!!

[@Trethar512]

There is a SMALL group of people that would recognize the Sorted Food reference, and I'm proud to be a part of that group. Thank you, sir.

[@Shelsight]

Same here! Loved the inclusion of James Currie’s most epic line… 😂

[@AdamBladeTaylor]

I loved TNG. While I, like many, grew up with the original series... TNG was just something epic.

[@CyndisKrist]

Agree. Next Gen maintained the great crew interaction that the original had, while displaying realistic tech progress.

[@briancherry8088]

I was a huge ST fan when Kirk and Spock were making movies. But, when the new show was released, it wasn't brought into my cable provider, so I missed out on the first several years. How I loved going to my Dads and Grandmas in order to sit by myself and watch TNG.

[@afroteddybear]

It just struck me when Dan saluted: There is no Federation salute in Next Gen and onward. They nod in acknowledgement of an order.

[@KyleWhiteandfriends]

10:14 we often do feel like our own identity is attacked when the characters we relate to are not represented the way we see them

[@mightyfilm]

I'd say one of my favorite Family Guy gags was when Stewie kidnapped the available Star Trek TNG crew, and they all behaved like annoying children on a road trip. And I'd say that lead Patrick Stewart to his best role to date, Deputy Director Bullock on American Dad. I've always loved when the Star Trek actors got to branch out to other things where they got to be wacky. Michael Dorn as I. M. Weasel for example, and of course when someone decided "Q" should be a mythical monster sent to torture a bunch of ponies, and one time a couple of beaver brothers. And the nostalgia wave of Reading Rainbow as well. Loved the episode where they actually went behind the scenes of TNG.

[@tetravega567]

Gargoyles

[@bastiandantilus]

@@tetravega567 🦇

[@Draliseth]

I used to get butt hurt as a child when I would look up at the clouds and didn't see one that looked like the Enterprise.

[@PDRich]

Couple of little points: 1) Roddenberry was unhappy with his treatment on Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, as he was demoted to creative consultant after Star Trek: The Motion Picture was considered by Paramount to be a box office flop and 2) You mentioned Star Trek 2009 but not the 6th show Star Trek: Enterprise...

[@pious83]

He also said at the beginning not every point would be covered in this video. Only those pertaining most to TNG. Enterprise being a prequel (with an awful theme song) to TOS, would naturally omit it here.

[@PDRich]

I know that, but why mention Star Trek: 2009 & Discovery then?

[@lutherheggs451]

@@PDRich you could mention them as Star Trek is still around after decades.

[@PDRich]

@@lutherheggs451 Agreed, as Star Trek: Enterprise was also part of the Roddenberry/Burman era Star Trek, the last episode also features Riker & Troi and is set during the TNG episode: The Pegasus.

[@knuthamsun6106]

@PD Rich I don’t know what you guys are talking about but I wish I did

[@LandonErp]

The bumper ad you showed was the one from my market and childhood. The nostalgia is real

[@hgc7000]

8 year old me was SUPER stoked when promos for TNG kept playing. I vividly remember watching the pilot and taking to The new crew quickly. Also, 8 year old me thought Q was windbag. Thanks John Delancie! To take a slight step back I have my mother to thank for getting slightly younger me into Star Trek. We’d watch the OG in syndication in the late afternoon, after school.

[@WillKeaton]

I'm glad this touched upon the "Best of Both Worlds" cliffhanger. I don't think shows ended seasons with cliffhangers before that, but since then I've lost count of the number of shows that end one season on a cliffhanger, with the promise of continuing the story next season. Whether that promise gets broken or not is another matter.

[@Wolfie1262]

A few shows did, yes. Soap did it in 78. ALF did it at the end of its fourth season, but that backfired, as the show got cancelled, leaving the story unfinished for a decade

[@justinsjourney3224]

I grew up watching Star Trek The next generation. Rewatching it now that I'm older and have done a lot of work as an actor and can appreciate just the nuanced dynamics between characters and people better has been fascinating to rewatch it all. This video that you've made explaining some of the history was very fascinating to listen to. Especially those comments and feelings from William Shatner about the new series makes it especially interesting to appreciate the pressures on the cast for the first season of Star Trek The next generation and also how brilliant it is that they finally brought both captains together for the first feature film Star Trek generations.

[@davidgannon5388]

6:37 - that must be why Paramount kept the home video versions of Star Trek priced out of the reach of so many of its fans for so many years...

[@DementedDistraction]

I never watched any iteration of Star Trek with any regularity, but the one thing I do remember is that Captain Picard was constantly tugging on his uniform and fussing with it. My siblings and I also had the VCR board game when we were kids - I had no idea what any of what happened in the game meant from a lore perspective, but the actor playing Captain Kavok was so funny to me that I still quote him out of context today..."I PLACE YOU IN A STASIS FIELD!"

[@Chris.Cook.]

Where in the world did you all find that 1-800-Star-Trek Conversational Klingon ad at the 19:10 mark??? Terrific quality, and one I've never seen before!

[@historiadox]

Gotta say...this channel is awesome!!!Thank you!!!

[@Nefylym]

Larsen, yer an amazing host and narrator sir. Thank you for your good work!!

[@Aristocles22]

But you forgot the most important crossover of all: a behind the scenes clip of TNG appeared on the Reading Rainbow, with Lavar Burton as host. :D

[@PNWAffliction]

had almost all the TNG toys, twice over including the micro machines, and ds9 so good!

[@thegreatkwyjibo5529]

My inner geek is sooooo happy right now. Thanks for this amazing video!

[@mabs9503]

That "in 10 days" commercial is pretty epic. Can you imagine being there back in the day, getting so hyped up for the premier? Encounter at Farpoint is an incredible episode imo, I love it today and think it's a fine pilot for the series but to be able to have seen it back in the day on its premier must have been great. And then next week they show you the Naked Now. 😫

[@CarlosLopez-oc9nh]

Thank you for uploading this Dan. Yes, the idea of no conflict hurts a bit, that's where "The Orville" becomes interesting by adding humor and human strife. Still I loved this show, would have probably bought it on DVD but it was too expensive.

[@Tall_Order]

Jonathan Frakes: Not this time. It's not real. Romulan Senator Vreenak: IT'S A FAAAKE!

[@versebuchanan512]

Picard may well be the superior commanding officer and Captain, but Sisko is and was the best wartime ships commander amongst them. (And Janeway was a'ight, I guess.)

[@mandisaw]

Different CO's for different galactic-political contexts - Kirk was a colonizer, Picard's a philosopher & diplomat, Sisko was a pragmatic strategist, Janeway was a survivor, and Archer was a true explorer. They never completely shed the naval roots - they just adapted to explore different facets, and roles/eras, of the US & British Navies.

[@DrTopGun]

An excellent and intriguing documentary of the STTNG series, thank you. Also, I want to add that I was introduced to STTNG by a Nun (or Sister) from the IWA convent. Anyways, I know- how? Well, I used to make fun of all Trekkies in my teenage nerdy years, because I was a Star Wars Jedi, Hans Solo, Bobba Fett, Darth Vader, and Yoda fan... One day, many moons ago, Sister Yirma challenged me to watch her VHS taped or recorded Star Trek The Next Generation episodes... I took the challenge, and well- I enjoyed and loved STTNG series. I immediately liked LTCMDR Data and CMDR Riker... Anyhow, time has passed, I became a Trekkie and Star Wars fan. Yet, I probably lean more towards Star Trek sci-fi than Star Wars... With this in mind, Sister Yirma, wherever you are- thank you, and to all- Live Long, and Prosper 😎😁🙌🤜🤛🤟🖖💪

[@Ironcabbit]

Here’s a challenging question: if somehow the Galaxies were to connect and the USS Enterprise D were to host the final Jedi Council, what wisdom do you think they’d have for Starfleet?

[@DrTopGun]

@@Ironcabbit An intriguing inquiry; yet, I will not be able to humor you with a crossover sci-fi ordeal of "what ifs." For example, I never liked the crossover between STTNG & X-Men novel. Horrific. I prefer to keep Marvel to Marvel worlds, DC to DC, Star Wars to Star Wars, and Star Trek to Star Trek. So, I do not like to have Luke Skywalker mixing logically with Spock to fight the Empire and Dominion/Borg. One more detail, I do not like the BS concept of Star Wars vs Star Trek. Therefore, I will respectfully keep both of these sci-fi universes separate. Thank you, and I hope someone else can help you answer your inquiry.

[@powerbad696]

Yes,thank you Sister Yirma for making a new fan of STTNG !!! God bless you Sister-Yirma.

[@SpiderHam]

I still consistently rewatch seasons 2-4 of TNG. RLM’s videos definitely inspired many re-watches too 😅

[@chrisbullard5901]

“Identity Crisis” was the creepy episode I was drawn to so often as a kid, but over the years, “The Vengeance Factor” to “The High Ground” is the episode run I go to when I need some comfort food tv to watch. The introduction of Commander Tomalok and the Romulan episodes make TNG a ton of fun.

[@chadhill9612]

RLM is a bunch of hack frauds.

[@anthonymaslow798]

Those are AMAZING RLM episodes. I wish they would do more.

[@HeavenlySGAngel]

Was just happily watching along when suddenly the clip from Sorted Food of James Currie during one of their Pass it On challenges popped up. Nice use of it.

[@Froggievilleus]

I can't watch Next Generation without the promo that ran about a million times sung to the tune of Billy Joel's "We Didn't Start The Fire" playing in my head, like it's doing right now while I type this.

[@NinjaRunningWild]

I wanted that shirt so badly when I saw that commercial!

[@skuzzbunny]

Ahhh, interactive VHS games, the kids these days have no idea what fascinating awkwardness they missed out on / dodged.....!!! XD

[@mandisaw]

Still have my TNG one, although my little sibs were too young to play it properly back then.

[@_h1ghl4nd3r]

I had so much Star Trek TNG crap as a kid since my parents were HUGE fans. My dad had the entire series on VHS, novels and books on tape, lots of comics, and my parents took me to my first and only Star Trek convention when I was about 3 years old. My favorite of the lot was the Transporter playset.

[@EvaFull]

Hoping some day you can do a video on The Powers of Mathew Star. That show has fascinated me ever since I found it on ME-TV a few years ago.

[@TitularHeroine]

Oh that's on ME TV now? No kidding. I guess I will no longer be the only living person who remembers that series! 😃👍

[@EvaFull]

@@TitularHeroine All depends on the market. My market currently doesn’t show it anymore after it airing on & off for around 2 years at 6am Sunday Mornings local time.

[@TitularHeroine]

@@EvaFull They always had good stuff on in that time slot. 😂 Destroyed my sleep schedule for a while

[@IgoByaGo]

I wasn't a big Star Trek fan, but I loved the toys. I had the Enterprise, bridge set, teleporter, engineering, shuttlecraft, and some DS9 figures including the runabout. I used the phasers like lightsabers with my Star Wars toys. I had soooo many characters. My mom still has most of them, but my sets have fallen apart. God those were really good toys.

[@Scott.Sandifer]

Most people I know eventually bring up _Saturday Night Live_ and ask “Growing up, which was your favorite cast, or sketch, etc…?” I always happily say: “I never watched it.” _SNL_ was on opposite _Star Trek: The Next Generation_ and no way was I ever going to miss an episode for Adam Sandler. To this day, with all the terrible things being done to beloved franchises, _TNG_ still feels like a warm blanket any time I press play.

[@knuthamsun6106]

bro do yourself a favor and do not watch Picard the series

[@Scott.Sandifer]

@@knuthamsun6106 Too late. One of the many reasons returning to the source feels so good.

[@SethMcFartlane]

_Star Trekkin' across the universe, bodly going forward, still can't find reverse._

[@destinycaptain247]

Wow you found the old countdown trailer. I haven’t seen it or heard anyone talk about it since I was 17. Great job on the video.

[@breachfirearms5753]

Your timing was perfect on this, as I have been rewatching the entire series over the last three weeks and just finished the last episode this morning. What a perfect way to cap it off, keep up the great work!

[@sara00zer0]

I like that over all throughout the series of TNG, you had Bones, Scotty, Spock, Checkov, and finally Kirk all cross over in some form or another. I really wish there was more closure with Pulaski and Crusher, but maybe something will come of Picard season 3. Always felt like they did not know what to do with some of the characters, like poor Tasha Yar. This show did invent the season finale cliff hanger, which has failed a few other series that have tried to use it to get themselves renewed.

[@KiyokaMakibi]

When I was little I watched hits and pieces of Generations when my mum had it on. As I grew up I came to realise just how brilliant the series was.

[@counterfeitsaint7479]

I understand you have a leave a ton of stuff out, but talking about Gates Mcfadden leaving for a season but not a single mention of Denise Crosby's infamous decision to leave the show and being unceremoniously killed off after only half a season is an interesting call.

[@powerbad696]

Yeah,she was tired of saying-HAILING frequences open,Captain.

[@SafetySpooon]

All the women were treated like crap & it's why the 2 of them left.

[@davidgannon5388]

"Those items" There! I left it, as instructed! ;)

[@jemkey6930]

This is one of dad's favorite TV series, my early Friday nights were popcorn and 3 episodes of TNG. He never really got into the original series and I've only seen a couple episodes. Now DS9 is another one we would sit through haven't seen Voyager yet.

[@misterpink8099]

My mom was really into the original Trek but I was too young to get it. This series changed my opinion enough that I've become a fan of the movies... not all of them mind you but there is something just hilarious about Data saying "Ohhhh shhhiiit". Classic

[@tiedomi80]

I remember Levar Burton previewing TNG on Reading Rainbow before the pilot aired. I was blown away.

[@mutanix]

This show changed my life. I wouldn't be who I am without TNG. I was 10yrs old and I kept falling asleep before the end of the premier. I didn't find out what happened until yeas later.

[@IggyStardust1967]

You missed something. Patrick Stewart believed that the show wouldn't last beyond 1 season and was actually surprised when it did. Also, part of the reason he was assimilated by the Borg in the Season 3 conclusion, is because (like Harrison Ford before him) wasn't entirely sure he'd be back for further seasons. Also, like Ford before him, once he read the scripts and the reason for his return, he indeed DID sign back on to continue. However, unlike Ford, he didn't want his character killed off to save everyone else.

[@markstevens9249]

Two points I'm surprised you didn't cover, one was that the idea of ST:TNG initially came from Paramount's commercial arm that oversaw tie-in merchandise, they'd noticed that sales of various calendars, books etc. peaked whenever a new movie hit theaters, but as you say Shatner and Nimoy cut themselves a big chunk of the pie, and so they thought, why not a new Star Trek show without them that we keep more profit from? Secondly was the intrarelationship of two points you mentioned, one was Roddenberry being reduced to consulting producer on the films, and his decision to come back for the series. The first year of TNG was a tug of war between Roddenberry and Paramount because each didn't want to see history repeat itself (Paramount didn't want the runaway budget of TMP, Roddernberry didn't want Wrath of Khan style storytelling with his input). Also the scheming way Paramount staged a coup, by luring away Eddie Milkis to another project he wanted to do, and leaving a vacancy to bring in Rick Berman whom they meant as a sort of 5th column to get things done their way.

[@ab5olut3zero95]

One of my earliest memories is watching TOS with my dad when I was Tee-Tiny. TNG was and remains some of my favorite sci fi.

[@Kujakuseki01]

Roddenberry was also kind of against the more militaristic representation of Starfleet the way it was first done in Wrath of Khan, which turned out to be one of the best choices for a change in general feel.

[@Idazmi7]

The _'more militaristic Starfleet'_ was first done in _The Cage_ and reinforced in episodes like _Balance of Terror,_ _Errand of Mercy,_ _The Ultimate Computer,_ and _The Enterprise Incident._ Trekkies tend to have a bit of a Mandela Effect when it comes to TOS, misremembering it as having a tone like TNG. It didn't.

[@gem.dionisio]

Initially, I liked TNG for the theme song. But the through the seasons... and movies, i got a certain fondness to the crew. I realized that when they destroyed the enterperise d in generations.

[@UltraPokeZ]

Also from 1998-2008 the Las Vegas Hilton brought the interactive and immersive Star Trek the experience. If you owned a copy of first contact on VHS there was a promotional commercial before the movie started. You can still find videos about the experience and what it involved on KZbin. Will you do anymore Star Trek videos?

[@seibervideo]

I regret not going to the Star Trek Experience one year when I was in Vegas. By the time I went again, it had shut down. I did go to Quark’s bar though. I was literally right there. 😅

[@SeansModelBuilds]

I have that First Contact VHS Tape. The one with the holographic cover.

[@Devillin]

To this day, when I think of the excitement I had when TNG first came out, I can still smell the Cheerios I ate to get the poster of the new Enterprise. I really wish I still had it, but I hung that poster in so many rooms since then that it fell apart.

[@charlesbailey7839]

The best of both worlds wasn't the first cliffhanger, the Menagerie was in 1966.

[@johnamaral375]

Toy Galaxy with another stellar video of a favorite