TNG Season 20 - Can you imagine it?

[ALF]

If TNG was never canceled, and it was allowed to continue for thirteen extra seasons, what would have happened?

Although the show does have a hefty budget, other TV series have continued for as long or much longer. Coronation Street, The Simpsons, etc.

I think most of the cast would have moved on. If Paramount was sort of blindly ordering 24 episodes a season, I'm sure the principal cast would have scooted out for greener pastures as new characters came in. It would have been like The OR, with an almost completely rebuilt cast. Would characters have died? Moved over to DS9 or VOY, or even ENT???

What would the stories be like? Who's to say they wouldn't still be good? Of course, the stories from the 4 films (which is basically what we got in return for the series ending) couldn't be achieved the same way on a TV budget. But with Shanter and McDowell's salary aside, there really weren't any big names in the rest of the Trek films. Insurrection looked and felt like an average Trek episode. Generations wasn't "larger than life". Only First Contact and Nemesis (IMHO) couldn't quite be pulled off on TV. Then again... Battlestar Galactica's achievements have been rather astonishing...

This year, 2008 is 20 years from the start of TNG. So it might be finishing now if it had run for that long in an alternate timeline. I'm not saying TV shows MUST go on forever, I'm just saying "what if".

 

[MeanJoePhaser]

Wait, didn't TNG start in 1987?

Spiner would've left for the same reasons he no longer wants to play Data.

A successor android would replace him.

Stewart would've bailed out a long time ago, probably after season 8.

Who would've hung on the longest?

Dorn, going by DS9, and probably Sirtis.

 

[Kirkman1987]

well, Voyager wouldn't even exist, as it was basically created to fill the "starship series" void that had been created when TNG ended.

 

[Cicero]

Who would've hung on the longest?

Dorn, going by DS9, and probably Sirtis.

I think Frakes might still be around, if only because he seems to really like Star Trek. Wheaton I'm sure would be, so long as he had a part.

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

Connor Trineer would be playing the captain.

 

[Nebusj]

If TNG was never canceled, and it was allowed to continue for thirteen extra seasons, what would have happened?

``It's Ishara Yar's previously unknown child's previously unknown twin brother! And he's turning into a quantum flux anomaly, bringing Herman Melville into our lifetime, only turned into a giant white fish! Quick, have Data hook his brain up to the holodeck, the universal translator, and a dolphin!''

 

[ChristopherPike]

By Season 20, none of the main characters would regularly appear. Although I can easily imagine Captain Wesley Crusher receiving orders from Admiral Picard or Riker.

Yes, twenty years would be a long time for one show, unless the format changed significantly. Doctor Who did 26 continuous seasons. So does it really come down to a choice between TNG or the spin-offs? At 10 years, Stargate managed both... and you can bet CSI will keep right on going. Both cases of having your cake and eating it.

 

[Mr. Fergy]

well, Voyager wouldn't even exist, as it was basically created to fill the "starship series" void that had been created when TNG ended.

There's the reason right there: No Voyager! YES!

 

[MeanJoePhaser]

well, Voyager wouldn't even exist, as it was basically created to fill the "starship series" void that had been created when TNG ended.

There's the reason right there: No Voyager! YES!

Don't get too giddy...they'd have Janeway replace Picard and the Enterprise get lost in the Delta Quadrant.

Maybe Frakes would've be asked to be killed off like Commander Cavitt (Voyager's original XO).

 

[ialfan]

If any star trek series could have gone on past 7 seasons it would have been deep space nine or enterprise. And anything past 10 seasons would have been pushing it for either of them even ds9.

 

[K-Star]

Here's a good question: Spiner would obviously have left eventually due to becoming too old... Would they have killed Data off in a big season finale or would Data have transferred elsewhere... possibly to command his own ship or something? If that's true, Riker would've gotten his own ship way before then.

Either way, I'd most likely lose interest in the series after Data leaves, unless they find a DAMN good replacement character.

 

[ALF]

If TNG was never canceled, and it was allowed to continue for thirteen extra seasons, what would have happened?

``It's Ishara Yar's previously unknown child's previously unknown twin brother! And he's turning into a quantum flux anomaly, bringing Herman Melville into our lifetime, only turned into a giant white fish! Quick, have Data hook his brain up to the holodeck, the universal translator, and a dolphin!''

So, it would somehow merge with Hitchhiker's Guide??

 

[Epsilon IX]

While I could imagine it going on for that period of time, I feel it would go the fate as the TOS movies, in which the cast were old and creaky and therefore became a parody of themselves!

Eg: "Captain's Log, I'm very tired. Corridors rather drafty. I don't know whether I'll be able to make it to the toilet on time!"

or:

"And so the universe is safe again, Captain."
"Quite so, Number 1. I just hope I don't have to do so much running around next time!"

 

[Natural]

Neither of those options really says "I was a huge fan, but I think 7 years was fine". I'll go with that one. The only option that says no thanks, is the one that says TNG sucks anyway.

TNG produced some of the best trek ever, but it was running out of gas in season 7. I'm happy where it ended. No need for it to lose its dignity (though it kind of did anyway with Nemesis).

 

[ALF]

well, Voyager wouldn't even exist, as it was basically created to fill the "starship series" void that had been created when TNG ended.

There's the reason right there: No Voyager! YES!

Don't get too giddy...they'd have Janeway replace Picard and the Enterprise get lost in the Delta Quadrant.

Maybe Frakes would've be asked to be killed off like Commander Cavitt (Voyager's original XO).

JoePhaser, when confronted with the idea of the Enterprise D lost in the delta quadrant SANS Janeway (sorry, I'd rather keep it straight up TNG style) I get pumped.

That's right, a l'il bit pumped up. The ENT D stuck in the Delta quadrant for 7 years? The chance for confrontations with the Borg to actually have some weight and mean something? Conversations between 7 of Nine and Data (and OMG Riker??) Neelix and Wesley becoming bum buddies.

Oh wow. I must say... the vehicle (pun intended) of ENT D on Voyager's run is inspiring to me.
However... I think Picard might have totaled the Caretaker's Array given the chance.

 

[Squiggy]

Connor Trineer would be playing the captain.

By the way...isn't the Enterprise due for a major overhaul at 20 years?

 

[CorporalClegg]

^
What is that bridge from?

 

[Mr. Fergy]

Connor Trineer would be playing the captain.

By the way...isn't the Enterprise due for a major overhaul at 20 years?

Nice Pic!

 

[Squiggy]

^
What is that bridge from?

I dunno. Some guy?

 

[ALF]

Squiggyfm, that pic made my day!