Star Trek: The Next Generation
Star Trek: The Next Generation (TNG) is an American 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), in its exploration of the Alpha quadrant and Beta quadrant in the Milky Way galaxy.
This article is about the television series. For other uses, see Star Trek: The Next Generation (disambiguation).Star Trek: The Next Generation
United States
English
7
178 (list of episodes)
- Gene Roddenberry (1987–1991)
- Maurice Hurley (1988–1989)
- Rick Berman (1989–1994)
- Michael Piller (1989–1994)
- Jeri Taylor (1993–1994)
- Edward R. Brown (1987–1989)
- Marvin V. Rush (1989–1992)
- Jonathan West (1992–1994)
44–45 minutes
$1.3 million per episode
September 28, 1987 –
May 23, 1994
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, 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:
The show was very popular, reaching almost 12 million viewers in its 5th season, with the series finale in 1994 watched by over 30 million viewers.[3][4] 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 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 received many accolades, including 19 Emmy Awards, two Hugo Awards, one Peabody Award, and six Saturn Awards, including a Lifetime Achievement Award for the entire cast in 2024.[5][a]
In 2013, the Writers Guild of America ranked Star Trek: The Next Generation #79 – along with Upstairs, Downstairs, Monty Python's Flying Circus and Alfred Hitchcock Presents – on their list of the 101 Best Written TV Series.[6]
Video games based on The Next Generation TV series, movies, and characters include:
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, and J. G. Hertzler[79] 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[80]
Star Trek: Armada II was set in the Star Trek: The Next Generation era of the Star Trek universe[78]
Star Trek: Hidden Evil (1999) included voice acting by Brent Spiner as Data and Patrick Stewart as Picard,[81] and was a follow-up to the ninth Star Trek film Star Trek: Insurrection[81]
Board Games:
Pinball:
(includes other series)
Streaming and syndication[edit]
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.[101] 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".[102] 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.[103]
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.[104]
Star Trek : The Next Generation episodes have been featured in TV specials and marathons.[105] For example, for 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...".[105] 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.[106] The marathon started at 7 am PT/10 am ET and streamed on the YouTube internet video platform and ran all day.[106]