The Next Generation

These are the voyages of the Starship Enterprise... Its continuing mission..."
(setting -- the 24th century)

From 1987 until 1994, the producers of the second STAR TREK series dared to try in first-run syndication what had only been done once before on the television screen. This time, they produced a weekly series focusing on the adventures of the crew of a newer and bigger starship, the U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-D. This ship would fly under the command of a new captain, support a larger crew, and feature, on a weekly basis, some of the most technologically advanced special effects.

The series stayed in production for a total of seven seasons, thanks to an ever-increasing populous of loyal STAR TREK fans, and ended with a total of 178 episodes. STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION became the highest-rated syndicated dramatic series on television as its run progressed, and is still in high demand today, running in syndication around the world.

The Galaxy-class Starship Enterprise is guided by a leader who is both an intellectual and an explorer, Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart). The second in command -- often referred to as "Number One" -- is First Officer William Riker (Jonathan Frakes), with their science officer, the android, Lieutenant Commander Data (Brent Spiner). Counselor Deanna Troi (Marina Sirtis) serves as the ship's psychologist, and seeing that all is well with the warp engines is Chief Engineer Geordi La Forge (LeVar Burton). Overseeing sickbay is Chief Medical Officer Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden), who is joined for 3 1/2 seasons by her precocious son Wesley (Wil Wheaton) before his departure for Starfleet Academy. An interesting twist, Chief of Security Lieutenant Worf (Michael Dorn) serves as the only Klingon in Starfleet -- a symbol of detente between the former enemies. Down below, in Ten Forward lounge, Whoopi Goldberg appears in a recurring role as the empathetic hostess Guinan. Frequently taunting the crew is the seemingly omnipotent being known simply as "Q" (John de Lancie).