Roddenberry described what he hoped to accomplish with the new series when he stated, “What we want to do is to grapple now with the problems of the eighties and nineties and the turn of the century. I think we are going to surprise you on technology. You can only go so far in making things smaller and faster and more powerful. What other things should technology be worrying about? We’re going to be getting into those areas. There’s a reason to do another Star Trek now. We did the original Star Trek about the problems of the sixties. Many people forget that, in the mid-sixties, when we put on a multiracial crew, that was considered awful. People were shocked.”
When asked what he kept from the old Star Trek to please audience expectations when creating The Next Generation, Gene explained, “While I listen to the audience, one of the secrets of whatever success I’ve amounted to was that I never make shows for the audience. I listen to good advice, but the only person I make shows for is myself. I love any help you can give me, but I’ll be damned if I’ll make a show for you! I make it for myself and if you happen to like it I’m delighted that you do and great; we’ve got the best of both possible worlds. Writers and producers and directors and so on that create a show for specific audiences do schlock work. They should do selfish work; proudly selfish work, and that happens to be true about painters, and sculptors, too.”
THE NEW CREW
More worrisome at the time was resistance from old fans, although this turned out not to be the problem it could have been. Still, creating a new series when the original has grown to mythic proportions is a heavy proposition. As might be imagined, it took some doing. The characters took time to settle in. Once they did, they were believable.
First there was Captain Jean-Luc Picard. For this demanding role, Gene cast British actor Patrick Stewart, a noted Shakespearean with roles in films besides extensive stage work.
CAPTAIN AND COMPANY
Gene said, “Patrick Stewart was my first choice after looking at him hard and long because here I’m faced with a bald-headed man for a captain and I’m used to him being jolly with hair, and Bill was rather athletic. The longer I looked at Patrick Stewart and saw the actor who was there, and the power that was there that was a different kind than Bill’s, the more I became sure that he was the man. I’m so delighted to have him I cannot tell you! When you look at dailies, you always watch Picard even when he’s not doing anything! Because he is doing something here [points to his head] constantly! England produces great actors and he’s an example of that.”
Roddenberry wanted no one character to emerge as the star. A whole ensemble of players was created for the new Enterprise. Since Captain Picard would never beam down to an uncharted, possibly hostile planet in this modern version, Gene in essence divided the command function in two, providing Picard with an executive officer, William Riker. There has been speculation that Picard and Riker are the two aspects of Captain Kirk, split in half. It is conjectured this was done both for dramatic reasons and to prevent any single actor from attempting to dominate a true ensemble program. In a nod to the old show’s first pilot, as well as to nautical history, Riker is often referred to as “Number One.” Riker, a canny poker player, is not afraid to take risks. He weighs them carefully, assuring the safety of his superior officer.
The notion of having “Away Teams” instead of sending the ship’s executive officers on dangerous missions was suggested by David Gerrold.
THE COUNSELOR AND THE ANDROID
Gene also created a new position for The Next Generation, that of Ship’s Counselor, and a new alien race—the Betazoids. Although this position can be occupied by a member of any race, Picard is highly fortunate that his ship’s counselor is a Betazoid. Betazoids are extremely empathic, if not telepathic, and can read minds to varying degrees. Picard’s counselor, Deanna Troi, is a beautiful half-human woman, who can sense emotions with great acuity. Combined with extensive psychological training, this makes her a vital part of the captain’s decision-making process. “Captain, I sense …” has become as familiar a line to Next Generation fans as “I’m a doctor, not a …” was for those of the original series.
Deanna once had a relationship with Riker, but it seems to have mellowed into an abiding friendship. Only in season six when a transporter-created double for William Riker was introduced did the old romance again resurface. Marina Sirtis enjoys the irony of being a British actress playing an alien on American television.
Most controversial at the show’s inception was the android science officer, Data. Many saw him as a transparent Spock substitute. Indeed, there are many similarities between the two, but the differences have been developed more thoroughly. A much closer predecessor of Data is found in the android in The Questor Tapes. Gene cast Texas-born Brent Spiner as Data. He was very well prepared for his role by a strong belief in extraterrestrials.
THE DOCTOR AND THE ENGINEER
An Enterprise without a ship’s doctor would be unthinkable. Gene provided Chief Medical Officer Beverly Crusher. Dr. Crusher is the first regular role in a television series for actress Gates McFadden. The compassionate, dedicated doctor is the mother of a precocious youngster, Wesley Crusher. Not coincidentally, Gene’s middle name was Wesley. Wesley Crusher was played by Wil Wheaton, who left the series in its fourth season to pursue school and a film career. Because he left on amicable terms, an opening was left for him to return to the show at any time, even if only in guest star roles. He came back for one in season seven’s “Journey’s End.” Wheaton wanted to return to the status of being a regular on the final season, but what the actors called “studio politics” prevented that. Others connected with the show have stated that “Journey’s End” wrote a finish to the character of Wesley, who will apparently not be appearing in the Next Generation feature films.
McFadden was replaced by Diana Muldaur in the second season of The Next Generation and Roddenberry even issued a press release telling fans not to bother writing to him about the decision because his mind was made up—that is, until he changed it again and brought Gates McFadden back to the role in the third season.
Another new character, eventually to be promoted to the post of chief engineer, is Geordi La Forge. The role is named as tribute to the late Star Trek fan George LaForge, a cerebral palsy sufferer whose long survival was attributed to his strong identification with the show. Geordi contributes to the tradition of a multiethnic cast in Star Trek. He is blind, but due to the advanced technology of the twenty-fourth century, can see by means of an electronic visor linked with his nervous system. He can even see visual ranges inaccessible to most human beings. Geordi is a sincere, likable, confident man with slight insecurities. He always perseveres, communicating freely with others. The opposite of Picard, he affects an informal approach to life and is not hung up on protocol. Actor LeVar Burton, best known as the young Kunta Kinte in the classic miniseries Roots, plays the role. This character was reportedly created by David Gerrold.
A KLINGON ON THE BRIDGE
The biggest shock in The Next Generation’s crew roster was Worf … a Klingon. Since Kirk’s heyday, peace has finally been negotiated between the Federation and the Klingon Empire. Negotiations were underway at the time of the events of Star Trek III: The Search for Spock, a fact referred to by Commander Kruge in that film. This was further developed in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country. The two spheres of influence strive to get along and have established some mutual trust. There are no other Klingons in Starfleet.
Worf is unique. He was raised by humans after his family was killed in the massacre of their outpost during a surprise Klingon attack—an event that still haunts him. He is like Spock in that he is the product of two cultures, a warrior Klingon dedicated to his own culture but tempered by exposure to human