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With the possible exceptions of "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds" and the little-discussed "Star Trek: The Animated Series," none of the extant "Star Trek" shows began at their strongest. Ask any Trekkie, and they will tell you that "Star Trek: The Next Generation," "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine," and "Star Trek: Voyagers" didn't really "get good" until their respective third seasons. By then, their showrunners had each zeroed in on the true nature of their characters, and knew what kind of stories could be explored. 

With "Next Generation," you can sense the shift almost immediately. The third season of that series not only changed the Enterprise officers' uniforms, but it also brought back Dr. Beverly Crusher after actress Gates McFadden had been inexplicably removed for the second season. Even more noticeably, "Next Generation" moved from wide stories about the whole...

In 1993, William Shatner still regularly appeared at "Star Trek" conventions and worked as often as he could. By 2024, he was voicing Keldor (who eventually becomes Skeletor) in "Masters of the Universe: Revolution" and was still hosting the paranormal documentary series "The UnXplained" on the History Channel. His last "Star Trek"-related gig was in 2013 when he played Admiral Kirk opposite host Seth MacFarlane at the Academy Awards. He also has directed several documentaries about "Star Trek," including "The Captains," "Get a Life!," and "Chaos on the Bridge." Even when he's not on-screen playing James T. Kirk, "Star Trek" has long been in Shatner's blood, and he has had plenty of opportunities to think about his craft, his character, and the scads of fans that still gather to see him speak.

Shatner's final major appearance as James T. Kirk, however, came back in 1994 with the release of "Star Trek Generations." That film,...

Trekkies will be able to tell you that "Star Trek" creator Gene Roddenberry was notoriously strict when it came to his famed sci-fi series. Indeed, writers for "Star Trek: The Next Generation" have gone on record saying how much they hated the notorious Roddenberry Rule when it came to story. It seems that Roddenberry was insistent -- especially in the "Next Generation" days -- that there be no interpersonal conflict between the show's main characters. In Roddenberry's view, a Federation starship was a ruthlessly efficient place, and the crew all got along with professionalism and respect; there was to be no insubordination, no bickering, and no professional resentment. That's an idyllic view of the future, of course, but it was terrible for screenwriters who felt they needed conflict in order to create drama.

But Roddenberry stood fast, holding his rules in place for many years. When he died, executive producer...

In his vast career, William Shatner has directed five features. Three of them were documentaries about the making of "Star Trek" including "The Captains" in 2011, "Get a Life!" in 2012, and "Chaos on the Bridge" in 2014. Prior to these, Shatner also helmed a 2002 sci-fi film called "Groom Lake," which he co-wrote with the notorious "Star Trek" producer Maurice Hurley.

Shatner's highest-profile directing gig, however, came in 1989 with the release of "Star Trek V: The Final Frontier." To this day, "Star Trek V" is considered the least of the "Star Trek" movies, lambasted for its clunky script, weird central conceit, and cheap special effects. In the film, the U.S.S. Enterprise is hijacked by Sybok (Laurence Luckinbill), the half-brother of Spock (Leonard Nimoy). Sybok flies the ship to the very center of the galaxy where he hopes to meet God face-to-face. Along the way, Sybok converts several Enterprise crew members to...

Quick Links Why It Took So Long to Get a Star Trek: Tng Spinoff Why Deep Space Nine Abandoned the Star Trek 'Ship Show' Format Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Made History by Casting the First Black Series Lead How the Death of Gene Roddenberry Affected Deep Space Nine

When Paramount approached Gene Roddenberry for a new television series set in the universe he created, it was a long shot. When the first true spinoff in the franchise, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, debuted in 1993, it was clear this universe had beaten the odds. At the time, the show was deeply controversial among fans and those who were closest to the Great Bird of the Galaxy. Yet, in the 31 years since, Deep Space Nine is one of the truly great iterations of this vast universe embracing infinite diversity in infinite combinations.

Given the success of sequel series Star Trek: The Next Generation,...

Star Trek: The Next Generation had a solid cast, but unlike The Original Series cast, they experienced many problems on set. Original Series star William Shatner revealed the early troubles of the Star Trek sequel series in his documentary Chaos on the Bridge. Chaos on the Bridge provides insight into the behind-the-scenes drama and challenges The Next Generation faced during its first seasons.

When Paramount made the decision to bring Gene Roddenberry and his universe back to television, there was no guarantee it would work. No sequel series to a television show had ever surpassed the original until Star Trek: The Next Generation. Today, fans at conventions can't help but notice how The Next Generation cast seems to truly adore each other, which is markedly different from the relationships of the Star Trek: The Original Series cast. However, behind the camera, the sequel series suffered a lot of problems, and...

For such a great show, it's remarkable how many times "Star Trek: The Next Generation" almost didn't get made. Read any behind-the-scenes story from the making of the show and you'll hear about chaos, power struggles, budget restrictions, and moments that almost blew up the entire project. William Shatner's 2014 film "Chaos on the Bridge" candidly documented the best, worst, and wildest stories from the making of the show, setting the record straight on decades-old gossip and giving actors, writers, and producers a chance to explain exactly what the hell was going on at Paramount from 1987 to 1994.

Hilariously, "Chaos on the Bridge" includes an entire section about situations in which legendary actor Patrick Stewart almost got fired. It's impossible to imagine "Star Trek" without its stoic genius Captain Picard, but apparently tensions on set led to at least one instance in which the actor ended up called to task by...

Patrick Stewart has noted in multiple interviews, at convention appearances, and in his new autobiography "Making It So: A Memoir," that he began to lose his hair as early as age 17. Throughout his decades-long career, Stewart was rarely seen wearing wigs or hairpieces, at least on screen. One might stumble upon his performance as Sejanus in the famed 1976 miniseries "I, Claudius," and see him sporting a curly-haired wig. Or perhaps one might catch his 1974 performance in the BBC's version of "Antony and Cleopatra" wherein his Enobarbus had a mere receding hairline. In both cases, Stewart doesn't look natural. A hairless Patrick Stewart is now so familiar to audiences through his highly visible performances in "Star Trek: The Next Generation" and in multiple "X-Men" films that it's difficult to accept him with hair.

But there was a time when Stewart's baldness caused him anxiety. Evidently, he owned a special...

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine was the preferred spinoff show of legendary Star Trek writer D.C. Fontana, who found the show's darker themes more appealing than Star Trek: The Next Generation's. Fontana had a negative experience working on Star Trek: The Next Generation and left the show due to the behavior of Gene Roddenberry's lawyer, Leonard Maizlish, as well as Roddenberry's habit of rewriting scripts. After her one and only DS9 episode, Fontana went on to write for Babylon 5, several Star Trek video games, and Earth: Final Conflict, but did not return for Gene Roddenberry's Andromeda.

A legendary figure behind Star Trek: The Original Series picked Star Trek: Deep Space Nine over Gene Roddenberry's The Next Generation as their preferred spinoff show for several reasons. DS9 was the last Star Trek series that Gene Roddenberry was involved in before his death in 1991. However, given the writer's ailing health,...

Gene Roddenberry's celebrated sci-fi TV series "Star Trek" debuted on September 8, 1966, and recently celebrated its 57th anniversary. Initially, "Trek" wasn't terribly popular, and only managed to make a third season thanks to a coordinated letter-writing campaign (a campaign that Roddenberry was accused of orchestrating and encouraging himself). It wouldn't be until after "Star Trek" was canceled in 1969 that its popularity would significantly begin to grow. Thanks to a sweet infinite syndication deal, "Star Trek" reruns were common, and a cult began to form. By the early 1970s, the first "Trek" conventions began to appear. Naturally, conventions were a great place for the show's stars and creators to congregate and share production stories with a rising tide of obsessives. Fans were able to talk to and get autographs from William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley, Nichelle Nichols, Majel Barrett, Walter Koenig, George Takei, James Doohan, and Grace Lee Whitney, as...

In the first season of "Star Trek: The Next Generation," the chief medical officer on board the U.S.S. Enterprise-d was Dr. Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden), a fearlessly moral, mature character who was already at the peak of her professional career. Dr. Crusher was a great character as she was always eager to speak her mind and always knew where she stood on any ethical issues. Unlike many other characters on the show, who were still discovering their humanity, their career tracks, or their identity, Dr. Crusher had already arrived, as it were. She was one of the few "adults" on the show. 

She was also hated by one of the "Next Generation" producers, Maurice Hurley. As Trekkies likely know, the first season of "Next Generation" was a tumultuous time behind the scenes, with show creator Gene Roddenberry, his personal lawyer Leonard Maizlish, and multiple other showrunners and producers...

In the expansive "Star Trek" universe, some of its brightest stars embarked on unforeseen journeys, abruptly departing the franchise to both the dismay and intrigue of fandom.

Why didn't Kirstie Alley return as the beloved Lt. Saavik? What prompted Jeffrey Hunter to relinquish the role of Captain Pike? Who ejected Gates McFadden's Dr. Crusher from the airlock? How come Diana Muldaur, her replacement, endured only a single season? Why did Wil Wheaton part ways with Wesley Crusher? And why was Grace Lee Whitney, as Yeoman Janice Rand, dropped from the cast even before the original series premiered in 1966?

These departures stemmed from a myriad of forces: financial constraints, contract negotiations, miscasting, yearnings for new horizons or strange new opportunities, life-altering events, creative and personal conflicts, or a blend of these influences. Most were unexpected and frequently controversial. Whether these exits bolstered or hindered the franchise, the judgment is yours,...

During the press tour for the final season of Star Trek: Picard, the former cast of The Next Generation cited one reason the former felt different from the latter. In Picard, the characters have personal conflict, something they allege was forbidden in Tng stories. Called "The Roddenberry Box" by The Next Generation writers and cast, it was either a bold attempt at storytelling or an obstacle to drama.

The Roddenberry Box was built between Star Trek: The Original Series and The Next Generation. In Tos, the characters often have personal conflicts. Since Tng took place a century or so later, series creator Gene Roddenberry believed Starfleet personnel wouldn't have conflict with one another. The original idea was for the Enterprise-d to be a 15- or even 30-year mission. This is partly why there were civilians, families and children on the ship. The cast and writers, especially, felt this robbed the show of dramatic opportunity.

When Gene Roddenberry brought his "Wagon Train to the Stars" back for a sequel television series, there was no guarantee it would work. Fans and critics thought Star Trek was a fluke phenomenon that couldn't be repeated. Obviously, they were ultimately proven wrong. Yet, early in the run of The Next Generation, the producers made a huge mistake with the ship's doctor. The USS Enterprise-d had two chief medical officers, and the show should've kept both characters.

The inimitable Gates McFadden was cast as Dr. Beverly Crusher, mother to Wil Wheaton's Wesley and potential love interest for Captain Jean-Luc Picard. However, her contract was not picked up for Season 2. She was replaced by another incredible actor, Diana Muldaur. The veteran of Star Trek: The Original Series joined the cast in Season 2 as Dr. Katherine Pulaski. Dr. Crusher was authoritative but a sensitive caregiver and the obvious choice to be the Chief Medical Officer.

Of the four films starring the cast of The Next Generation, the Jonathan Frakes-directed Star Trek: First Contact is widely considered the best. Spanning nearly 60 years, the franchise's fans can't even agree on what entries are "good" or "bad." However, the showdown in the past against the Borg feels like this crew at their best. However, in James Cromwell's Zefram Cochrane, First Contact may have created an unintentional homage to Gene Roddenberry.

At its core, Star Trek is a saga made for television. Yet, after successful series, films starring those crews were almost all profitable hits. Only Star Trek: Nemesis failed to make its budget back at the box office, but fans and critics alike would argue only a handful are "great" sci-fi movies. First Contact is definitely one of those, debuting at the height of the franchise's second wave. Deep Space Nine and Voyager were airing new episodes,...

Many of Star Trek's most iconic species can be traced back to series creator Gene Roddenberry. However, the iconic and unstoppable Borg are the brainchild of one of his greatest on-set adversaries. Maurice Hurley was a new arrival on The Next Generation's staff who didn’t see the future the same way Roddenberry did, but was bound to tell stories by his rules. Their conflict gave rise to characters who would help define the entire franchise.

When Roddenberry staffed The Next Generation, he brought many of the writers he worked with on The Original Series back. However, there was a new narrative edict. Starfleet in the 24th Century would've continued to evolve from Captain Kirk's era. He believed there would be no jealousy, tension or any interpersonal conflict within the crew. Roddenberry's lawyer Leonard Maizlish started acting as a de facto producer, allegedly responsible for hiring Hurley to enforce Roddenberry's strict rules.

Today, the success of Star Trek: The Next Generation seems like a foregone conclusion. However, in the 1980s, TV franchises never got a second act. Patrick Stewart was told it wouldn't last two seasons, and it might have if The Next Generation didn't introduce Guinan, played by Whoopi Goldberg. The mysterious bartender of Ten Forward lent credibility to a show that hadn't yet earned it. If not for her, Star Trek's second act may have ended before it began.

It may seem an overstatement to attribute the success of a brand like Star Trek to the long-serving host of The View. Invariably, dozens, possibly hundreds, of people were responsible for the successes and failures in those first seasons of The Next Generation. Series creator Gene Roddenberry was in declining health, and the people he brought in to help him only ended up alienating the creative minds who'd been with...

One of the strangest and most beloved characters from Star Trek: The Next Generation is Q, a member of the Q Continuum. Introduced in the pilot, the godlike being has been part of Jean-Luc Picard's story from his first-ever episode to the series finale of Picard. Much like Leonard Nimoy and Spock, Q and John de Lancie are almost inseparable. He may be the single good contribution made by Star Trek's real-life villain, attorney Leonard Maizlish.

Naturally, series creator Gene Roddenberry gets much credit for the Star Trek universe and the 25 years he was associated with it. Including new series like Strange New Worlds, thousands of artists are responsible for it. In the early days, The Original Series thrived with the help of Roddenberry's trusted collaborators, like Herb Zimmerman, Dorothy "D.C." Fontana, David Gerrold, David Livingston and Robert Justman, among others. However, he ended up losing control of "his" story.

As all good Trekkies know, "Star Trek: The Next Generation" got off to a rocky start. As detailed in William Shatner's 2014 documentary "Chaos on the Bridge," "Next Generation" was hotly contested, with various producers and showrunners all vying for control over the project. There was a lot of animosity, as a result, and a lot of arguments as to what kind of scripts would be used. Show creator Gene Roddenberry, according to the film, was insistent that he had control over every facet of the production as he had been barred from working on the second, third, and fourth "Star Trek" movies, and wanted to make sure "his baby" was safe. There were, however, reports that Gene Roddenberry's personal lawyer, Leonard Maizlish, was taking completed scripts and re-writing them in secret. Executive Producer Rick Berman suspected that the written notes he received from Roddenberry were actually Maizlish's doing.

Maislish...

It's worth remembering, even with some of the franchise's better shows, that no "Star Trek" series started strong ("Strange New Worlds" perhaps notwithstanding). "Star Trek" might serve as the prime example of the old television criticism cliché "It doesn't get good until season three." Luckily, the characters and settings were typically strong enough to keep casual viewers interested until the shows improved.

As detailed in the documentary "Chaos on the Bridge," "Star Trek: The Next Generation" famously stumbled for two seasons as writers and producers jockeyed for power behind the scenes. It wasn't until the show underwent a massive restructuring at the start of its third year that it hit its stride. A new writing ethos dictated that "Next Generation" was going to be more character-focused, often centering individual episodes on a single member of its ensemble. Through such an approach, viewers saw how each character developed a unique working relationship with each other character.

While "Star Trek: Lower Decks" is a delightful workplace comedy in its own right, Trekkies have been having a ball combing through every episode looking for cute references to classic "Star Trek" episodes. In the first season episode "Veritas," the characters visited a museum of alien artifacts that featured a 50-foot humanoid skeleton that appeared to be wearing a tattered blue Starfleet uniform. This, for the well-trained eye, was a reference to the "Star Trek: The Animated Series" episode "The Infinite Vulcan" wherein a species of intelligent plant people cloned a giant version of Spock to be their leader. At some point, that giant clone died and, by the 24th century events of "Lower Decks," ended up in an alien archive lightyears away. For the uninitiated, that skeleton was a spooky background detail. For Trekkies, it was everything. 

The new season of "Lower Decks" premiered today, and it comes barreling...

Exclusive: Sam Smith doc, Bryan Greenberg comedy-drama among pick-ups for La-based outfit.

La-based distributor Vision Films has bolstered its line-up with a trio of acquisitions.

Comedy-drama A Year And Change stars Bryan Greenberg (Friends with Benefits) as a man who decides to make some wholesale changes in his life after an accident at a New Year’s Eve party. Co-stars include T.R. Knight (Grey’s Anatomy), Jamie Chung (Big Hero 6), Claire van der Boom (Hawaii Five-o), Marshall Allman (True Blood) and Jamie Hector (Halo: Reach).

Rom-com A Date with Miss Fortune stars Ryan Scott as a man whose luck changes after meeting a beautiful Portuguese woman, played by Jeannette Sousa. Canada’s John L’Ecuyer directs.

Music documentary biopic Sam Smith: Dreams Come True - which includes performances of the musician’s most popular songs – will get a multi-continent release in partnership with distributor Odeon Entertainment Group in the UK.

It was revealed...

William Shatner presents a new documentary going behind the scenes on the early tumultuous years of Star Trek: The Next Generation...

The revival of Star Trek in the late 1980s ultimately proved so popular that it’s strange to think it was almost sunk by infighting and internal politics between those who most desperately wanted to see it succeed. And yet, that’s what happened. You don’t have to be a particularly keen fan of Star Trek: The Next Generation to notice that the earliest two seasons are ropey and inconsistent. In many ways, it’s surprising that they got made at all.

This is the stance taken by William Shatner’s latest Star Trek documentary, entitled Chaos On The Bridge, which examines the tumultuous early years of Tng and the circumstances surrounding its creation. It’s been more than 25 years since Star Trek: The Next Generation went into production,...

Captain Kirk himself, William Shatner, chats to us about his Star Trek: The Next Generation documentary, Chaos On The Bridge...

William Shatner Presents: Chaos On The Bridge is a documentary covering the tumultuous early years of Star Trek: The Next Generation, as told by the writers and producers who worked on it. Written, produced and directed by William Shatner, the 60-minute film has recently been made available worldwide for the first time following a limited release last year, so we took a moment to sit down to talk with the man himself and find out what the story behind it really is.

So, the documentary is essentially the story of how Gene Roddenberry passed the Star Trek torch - or possibly had it wrested from him - during the first few years of Star Trek: The Next Generation. The first thing I'd like to ask is how you remember Gene,...