Unused Tng series side stations

[Russell Oviatt]

I've read that producers wanted to add side stations on the set but they were too expensive to construct.

I liked the ones used in generations but anyone know if there was concept art or a descriptions of those unused TV side stations?

 

[drt]

I've read that producers wanted to add side stations on the set but they were too expensive to construct.

I liked the ones used in generations but anyone know if there was concept art or a descriptions of those unused TV side stations?

The original idea was the 1701-D was almost completely automated and those stations in the back would only occasionally be used, if that’s the case I don’t think they’d have even considered side stations if the plan was to barely use the existing ones.

 

[tharpdevenport]

Well, thank goodness that wasn't done. Imagine half the cast on the Bridge so even fewer people saying anything, or people standing around with nothing to do.

 

[AntonyF]

I liked the ones used in generations but anyone know if there was concept art or a descriptions of those unused TV side stations?

I love in Picard not only does Geordi get another ship's stardrive section and ram it onto the saucer and call it Enterprise, that unsalvageable saucer... and fixed it himself... he also decided "Nah I don't like those side stations, they will serve no purpose in my ship so I'm going to remove them."

He clearly had too much time on his hands.

 

[Qonundrum]

I love in Picard not only does Geordi get another ship's stardrive section and ram it onto the saucer and call it Enterprise, that unsalvageable saucer... and fixed it himself... he also decided "Nah I don't like those side stations, they will serve no purpose in my ship so I'm going to remove them."

He clearly had too much time on his hands.

Yeah, the technicality of the number of drones and robots and specially-trained dust mites to piece it all back together then polish it would still take a bit of time... not impossible, but where'd he the drones from and are they trackable and so on... there's still enough of it told that conceivably works, and it's not like Star Trek hasn't oversimplified things in the past. Even TOS's "Court Martial" still hangs together despite the obvious issue.

 

[SatrianiRules]

The original idea was the 1701-D was almost completely automated and those stations in the back would only occasionally be used, if that’s the case I don’t think they’d have even considered side stations if the plan was to barely use the existing ones.

"Alexa, Fire Photon Torpedoes!!!"

"Sorry, I'm having trouble with that right now, please check your network connection...."

 

[tharpdevenport]

"My stomack is on fire, holy Toledo."
Alexa: "Firing torpedos."

 

[DonIago]

"Alexa, Fire the Photon Torpedoes!!!"

"I'm sorry, I'm having trouble with that right now, please check your network connection...."

Basically what happened in TSFS when Kirk told Scotty to raise the shields. :|

 

[tharpdevenport]

"Raise shields!"
Alexa: "I got you: shopping for raised heels."

 

[David cgc]

I've read that producers wanted to add side stations on the set but they were too expensive to construct.

I liked the ones used in generations but anyone know if there was concept art or a descriptions of those unused TV side stations?

I believe they're referencing the ones from "Yesterday's Enterprise." IIRC, the complication wasn't constructing them (they put them in and took them out for a single episode, after all), but keeping them long-term would've meant needing to pay more extras to populate them during every scene on the bridge for the rest of the show.

You can explore the "Yesterday's Enterprise" bridge and the Generations bridge on the Roddenberry Archive.

 

[tharpdevenport]

I looked at the Roddenberry Archive of the Bridge from the alternate timeline and something struck me by noticing something I never noticed before: there are stairs between the Captain's chair and the front stations. Seems in a timeline where they are at war with the Klingons and in surprise battles, stairs to fall down and trip over on the way ,back, would be a bad idea. If anything, that would have been more fit in the original timeline. Cool find though. Reminds me of a guy (maybe he was a member here -- I thought there was a thread( who was doing a complete work up of the Enterprise D, where he'd walk around the ship and there was this nice little details he added where there were inbetween-decks stairs on some corridors where you could get from one deck to another -- looked so perfect, like it was something that would have been on the show.

 

[somebuddyX]

I love in Picard not only does Geordi get another ship's stardrive section and ram it onto the saucer and call it Enterprise, that unsalvageable saucer... and fixed it himself... he also decided "Nah I don't like those side stations, they will serve no purpose in my ship so I'm going to remove them."

He clearly had too much time on his hands.

My head canon is that the bridge from TNG went into storage and was replaced by the bridge in Generations, which got smashed to bits in that film. So in Picard Geordi just slotted that original bridge back into the saucer.

 

[AntonyF]

My head canon is that the bridge from TNG went into storage and was replaced by the bridge in Generations, which got smashed to bits in that film. So in Picard Geordi just slotted that original bridge back into the saucer.

If we're going to go to that length of mental gymnastics, let's just say he got one from another universe.

In fact, that would have made more sense... there's a universe somewhere without their Enterprise D now.

 

[DonIago]

It's a shame it wasn't from the universe where everything's purple. :|

 

[Sketcher]

I would assume after the Dominion War there were a lot of damaged/destroyed Galaxy class starships for Geordi to salvage parts from.

 

[Atomic_Monkey]

I've read that producers wanted to add side stations on the set but they were too expensive to construct.

I liked the ones used in generations but anyone know if there was concept art or a descriptions of those unused TV side stations?

I, too, have come across instances of producers claiming the lack of side stations throughout the televised run was due to cost. Nevertheless, I'm confident that @drt is correct. Side stations were intentionally excluded due to Gene Roddenberry's vision. It had nothing to do with cost. I can say this with confidence because the person who designed the bridge, Andy Probert, has spoken at length on the subject. Being the person who designed the set, he's the ultimate authority.

According to Probert, Roddenberry's initial idea was to literally have no stations at all. He thought that by the 24th century the ship could be flown using voice commands exclusively. Picard would simple tell the computer what to do. Roddenberry was eventually persuaded that viewers need to see someone flying the ship, so he agreed to having two stations: con and ops. He was insistent that everything could be done using just those two panels. He believed that would make the ship look 100-years more advanced thank Kirk's. He was adamant the bridge not be crowded with crew hunched over buttons.

As @drt pointed out, the aft stations weren't meant to be used on a regular basis. They were there for emergencies and ad hoc situations. You'll notice in the first season they're usually dark and only light up on those rare occasions when they're in use. This was meant to show they were for ad hoc purposes and not necessary to fly the ship.

So why have some producers incorrectly claimed the reason was cost? I can only speculate, but you'll note that the producers making these claims came to the series later. They weren't there when it was developed. They're likely making assumptions and/or they were given inaccurate info. Or their memory could simply be faulty.

 

[tharpdevenport]

Kind of crazy that Roddenberry thought the ship could be flown by voice command (and with no stations, other ship functions by voice command, too, presumably), given a little over a year before he died the show had Data impersonate Picard and steal the Enterprise ("Brothers"). A character he created. Surely if Data could do it, Lore could do it. If Data was taken over by something, like a virus, he could steal it, turn off gravity, turn off life support, etc., kill the crew.

 

[Mres_was_framed!]

Even TOS's "Court Martial" still hangs together despite the obvious issue.

What issue are you referring to?