25 YEARS!

Agent Richard07 · September 28 2012, 11:37 PM

I couldn't let the day go by without this milestone being mentioned. Star Trek: The Next Generation made its debut 25 years ago today when it began syndication on the week of September 28, 1987. 25 years! It's now as old as TOS was when the original cast bowed out with Star Trek VI. Can you believe it? That's the most amazing part for me because TNG doesn't feel like it's 25 years old the way TOS did in 1991. It still feels fresh in many ways.

What are some of your thoughts on 25 Years of TNG?

TNG Cast reflects On 25 Years
TNG Cast reflects On How They Got The Part

R. Star · September 28 2012, 11:51 PM

Thoughts? I'm old.

tomalak301 · September 28 2012, 11:55 PM

You know, with the movie coming out, I'm thinking what a great time to be a fan of Star Trek, 80s and 90s era. I mention the movie because everyone is still in love with Kirk and Spock and that's fine, but we have 25 years of TNG, and next year will be 20 years of DS9. This is the Star Trek I grew up with and the Star Trek I love. While I like all the series, these two shows were far beyond what the other 3 shows brought. I don't know what special stuff is planned for DS9's 20 year anniversary (I wish the show would be brought back to syndication, or we could at least see some new interviews like what we've been getting on the TNG blu-ray sets), but TNG is coming to High Def and I truely think this is a gift to the fans of this era of Star Trek. I know I apprecate it.

Delsaber · September 29 2012, 08:23 AM

I put together a few of my favourite Next Gen moments if anyone is interested in falling down a YouTube rabbit hole.

Did I say "a few"? I actually meant 25. Seemed rather appropriate.

JRoss · September 29 2012, 02:52 PM

My first thought is that a lot of people look unhappy in that bottom photo, especially Marina Sirtis.

BillJ · September 29 2012, 03:35 PM

If I'm remembering correctly, it debuted here in Cincinnati on October 2, 1987 on WXIX-TV. The day before my sixteenth birthday.

I must've watched Encounter at Farpoint at least three of four times that weekend. It was love at first sight.

WillsBabe · September 29 2012, 04:54 PM

I saw Encounter at Farpoint at a con. Someone had brought a copied from air vhs over to show us. It would be years before TNG would be screened on UK tv. The con was a Mid Con.

sbk1234 · September 29 2012, 05:02 PM

It was like the idea of the Beatles getting back together. As a fan, I never thought trek would return to tv as new episodes until it actually happened. It just seemed like too much of a dream. It proved that Star Trek was more than just Kirk and Spock. After that, nothing regarding Trek seemed impossible.

RandyS · September 29 2012, 05:05 PM

R. Star wrote:

Thoughts? I'm old.

Me too. I was 17 then and still remember that night VERY well. Ironically, for something that happened to me that was NOT TNG related. I watched "Farpoint" that night hoping to get my mind off it.

patlandness · September 29 2012, 05:57 PM

I have a strong affection for this particular Trek show (perhaps more than healthy), but it was a life preserver during a sustained life hardship.

What was so amazing about this series, was that it really seemed like it took place in some future time. The characters had a mentality that didn't fit the 20th century. They were written to be different from us. Some were put off, but many like me found it quite appealing.

In fact if you get a chance to watch "Encounter at Farpoint", there's a blink-and-you'll-miss-it scene in Q's courtroom where a machine gun-wielding bailiff is knocked to the ground by Tasha Yar and is summarily executed at the behest of Judge Q. There's a look of sadness on Tasha's face after it happens. That's a brilliant Roddenberrian touch.

Sure the series had its flubs and it had its forays into silliness, but the creative minds of the show learned from their errors and constantly worked to do something different. "The Ferengi were a lousy adversary? Let's try a race of cybernetic zombies." And very little went to waste! Q was shoehorned into the original pilot to pad into two hours, and inadvertently became one of the most fascinating and beloved characters in the Trek canon. Tasha Yar died in an unsatisfactory way in "Skin of Evil", but it became a unintentional set-up for one of the greatest episode of Trekdom, "Yesterday's Enterprise".

Gene Roddenberry dared to make Star Trek something bigger than Kirk and Spock. He gambled and won. But, he gave the show it's roots and a vision. Some of it was a little too funky for most of us. But, then stepped in the late, great Michael Piller who got the show working on all thrusters, and by and large helped create the foundation for 3 subsequent spin-offs (of varying quality).

I feel bad that the cast never got the proper send-off in the movies that the cast of the original show did in Star Trek VI:The Undiscovered Country. But, the series finale, "All Good Things…" was a brilliant coda, and one can easily write off the four feature films.

Anyway, if you're a fan of the show and you get a chance: watch a TNG episode in tribute to a show that paved the way for science fiction on television for the last quarter of a century.

[Me with the TNG cast at the 2012 Calgary EXPO. Yes I know, Patrick Stewart got the flash in his eyes.]

This is worth a read:

"How Star Trek The Next Generation Changed Pop Culture Forever" from Time Magazine.

BillJ · September 29 2012, 07:33 PM

patlandness wrote:

I have a strong affection for this particular Trek show (perhaps more than healthy), but it was a life preserver during a sustained life hardship.

While I love TNG, your statement describes my "relationship" with The Original Series.

Patrick O'Brien · September 29 2012, 11:15 PM

Happy anniversary TNG! I grew up with this show, as I was 10 years old when it premiered

Worf's Beard · September 30 2012, 02:54 AM

It's hard to believe that this show began 25 years ago. Mind you, I got to see it a few years after it began, as the UK was a few years behind (aired in 1990 here, I think). Time flies. Happy silver anniversary.

Random_Spock · September 30 2012, 03:04 AM

R. Star wrote:

Thoughts? I'm old.

Same

, boy does time fly when you're having fun.

Dream · September 30 2012, 03:32 AM

JRoss wrote:

My first thought is that a lot of people look unhappy in that bottom photo, especially Marina Sirtis.

Sirtis is just scared as hell someone might get a good look up her uniform.

I love how Worf is shoved in the background in that picture. Klingon marine indeed.

September 28 2012, 11:37 PM	#1
Agent Richard07 The Tim Burton Version Location: Defying Logic	25 YEARS! I couldn't let the day go by without this milestone being mentioned. Star Trek: The Next Generation made its debut 25 years ago today when it began syndication on the week of September 28, 1987. 25 years! It's now as old as TOS was when the original cast bowed out with Star Trek VI. Can you believe it? That's the most amazing part for me because TNG doesn't feel like it's 25 years old the way TOS did in 1991. It still feels fresh in many ways. What are some of your thoughts on 25 Years of TNG? TNG Cast reflects On 25 Years TNG Cast reflects On How They Got The Part

September 28 2012, 11:51 PM	#2
R. Star Commodore Location: Terra 3	Re: 25 YEARS! Thoughts? I'm old. __________________ "I was never a Star Trek fan." J.J. Abrams

September 28 2012, 11:55 PM	#3
tomalak301 Admiral Location: Bay Area, CA	Re: 25 YEARS! You know, with the movie coming out, I'm thinking what a great time to be a fan of Star Trek, 80s and 90s era. I mention the movie because everyone is still in love with Kirk and Spock and that's fine, but we have 25 years of TNG, and next year will be 20 years of DS9. This is the Star Trek I grew up with and the Star Trek I love. While I like all the series, these two shows were far beyond what the other 3 shows brought. I don't know what special stuff is planned for DS9's 20 year anniversary (I wish the show would be brought back to syndication, or we could at least see some new interviews like what we've been getting on the TNG blu-ray sets), but TNG is coming to High Def and I truely think this is a gift to the fans of this era of Star Trek. I know I apprecate it. __________________ Twitter

September 29 2012, 08:23 AM	#4
Delsaber Commodore Location: Parts Unknown	Re: 25 YEARS! I put together a few of my favourite Next Gen moments if anyone is interested in falling down a YouTube rabbit hole. Did I say "a few"? I actually meant 25. Seemed rather appropriate. __________________ • Delsaber, The Punk Rock P'takh, from Parts Unknown... • Caffeine-Fueled: jittery, occasionally-maintained geek culture blogging.

September 29 2012, 02:52 PM	#5
JRoss Captain Location: Stain'd-by-the-Sea	Re: 25 YEARS! My first thought is that a lot of people look unhappy in that bottom photo, especially Marina Sirtis. __________________ I am a leaf on the wind. Fun times.

STAR TREK

CSI

ABOUT US

September 29 2012, 03:35 PM	#6
BillJ Vice Admiral Location: Greater Cincinnati	Re: 25 YEARS! If I'm remembering correctly, it debuted here in Cincinnati on October 2, 1987 on WXIX-TV. The day before my sixteenth birthday. I must've watched Encounter at Farpoint at least three of four times that weekend. It was love at first sight. __________________ J.J. Abrams didn't change Star Trek, audience expectations did.

September 29 2012, 04:54 PM	#7
WillsBabe Vice Admiral	Re: 25 YEARS! I saw Encounter at Farpoint at a con. Someone had brought a copied from air vhs over to show us. It would be years before TNG would be screened on UK tv. The con was a Mid Con. __________________

September 29 2012, 05:02 PM	#8
sbk1234 Rear Admiral Location: Los Angeles	Re: 25 YEARS! It was like the idea of the Beatles getting back together. As a fan, I never thought trek would return to tv as new episodes until it actually happened. It just seemed like too much of a dream. It proved that Star Trek was more than just Kirk and Spock. After that, nothing regarding Trek seemed impossible. __________________ In all the history of the world, a riot has NEVER broken out at a Sci-Fi convention. "It's a fucking TV show!" - Gary Lockwood

September 29 2012, 05:57 PM	#10
patlandness Captain	Re: 25 YEARS! I have a strong affection for this particular Trek show (perhaps more than healthy), but it was a life preserver during a sustained life hardship. What was so amazing about this series, was that it really seemed like it took place in some future time. The characters had a mentality that didn't fit the 20th century. They were written to be different from us. Some were put off, but many like me found it quite appealing. In fact if you get a chance to watch "Encounter at Farpoint", there's a blink-and-you'll-miss-it scene in Q's courtroom where a machine gun-wielding bailiff is knocked to the ground by Tasha Yar and is summarily executed at the behest of Judge Q. There's a look of sadness on Tasha's face after it happens. That's a brilliant Roddenberrian touch. Sure the series had its flubs and it had its forays into silliness, but the creative minds of the show learned from their errors and constantly worked to do something different. "The Ferengi were a lousy adversary? Let's try a race of cybernetic zombies." And very little went to waste! Q was shoehorned into the original pilot to pad into two hours, and inadvertently became one of the most fascinating and beloved characters in the Trek canon. Tasha Yar died in an unsatisfactory way in "Skin of Evil", but it became a unintentional set-up for one of the greatest episode of Trekdom, "Yesterday's Enterprise". Gene Roddenberry dared to make Star Trek something bigger than Kirk and Spock. He gambled and won. But, he gave the show it's roots and a vision. Some of it was a little too funky for most of us. But, then stepped in the late, great Michael Piller who got the show working on all thrusters, and by and large helped create the foundation for 3 subsequent spin-offs (of varying quality). I feel bad that the cast never got the proper send-off in the movies that the cast of the original show did in Star Trek VI:The Undiscovered Country. But, the series finale, "All Good Things…" was a brilliant coda, and one can easily write off the four feature films. Anyway, if you're a fan of the show and you get a chance: watch a TNG episode in tribute to a show that paved the way for science fiction on television for the last quarter of a century. [Me with the TNG cast at the 2012 Calgary EXPO. Yes I know, Patrick Stewart got the flash in his eyes.] This is worth a read: "How Star Trek The Next Generation Changed Pop Culture Forever" from Time Magazine. __________________ "Next Time, On Staaaaaaaar Trek: Thenextgeneration"--TNG Preview Announcer (Ernie Anderson, RIP) "That would take us in the wrong direction. Our mission is to go FORWARD and it has just begun." --Picard on Trek Prequels (from "The Neutral Zone") Last edited by patlandness; September 29 2012 at 06:14 PM.

September 29 2012, 11:15 PM	#12
Patrick O'Brien Captain Location: Brooklyn NY	Re: 25 YEARS! Happy anniversary TNG! I grew up with this show, as I was 10 years old when it premiered __________________ The bureaucratic mentality is the only constant in the universe. -Dr. McCoy, Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home

September 30 2012, 02:54 AM	#13
Worf's Beard Lieutenant Junior Grade Location: Sussex, UK	Re: 25 YEARS! It's hard to believe that this show began 25 years ago. Mind you, I got to see it a few years after it began, as the UK was a few years behind (aired in 1990 here, I think). Time flies. Happy silver anniversary.