Encounter at Farpoint: Star Trek's first live action spin-off is launched....(with link)
At 7:30 PM Eastern time on Tuesday, June 3, 1969, NBC aired Turnabout Intruder, the final first-run episode ofStar Trek, Gene Roddenberry’s science fiction/action-adventure series about the 23rd Century starship Enterpriseand its five-year mission to “explore strange new worlds. To seek out new life and new civilizations. To boldly go where no man has gone before.”
Star Trek (which has been retroactively titled Star Trek: The Original Series) had never enjoyed much support from NBC or been a ratings heavyweight. The network had wanted to cancel the show almost from the start, but the influence of Lucile Ball (owner of Desilu, the studio which produced Star Trek during Seasons One and Two) and a now-famous letter-writing campaign by the series’ fans saved Capt. Kirk (William Shatner), Mr. Spock (Leonard Nimoy), Dr. McCoy (DeForest Kelley), Mr. Scott (James Doohan) and the rest of the Enterprise crew from being consigned prematurely into television’s Phantom Zone of Cancelation at least twice.
Nevertheless, Roddenberry’s groundbreaking show was hobbled by several ill-conceived decisions by NBC programmers, such as the fateful scheduling of Star Trek in the “death slot” of Friday nights at 10 (Eastern). The show’s creator, who had threatened to quit if Star Trek was aired at a time when most of its intended audience wasn’t watching TV, kept his word, and Gene Roddenberry was replaced as line producer by Fred Freiberger, a veteran showrunner who, fairly or not, has gone down in history as the man who “killed Star Trek.”
During the Freiberger era, the show’s already low budgets were slashed, some infamously bad episodes (Spock’s Brain, And the Children Shall Lead) were aired, and the ratings plummeted faster than a starship diving at warp speed into a black hole. NBC, in one of television history’s famous bad moves, canceled the show after only airing 79 of the 80 filmed Star Trek episodes.
Fast-forward, then, to the early evening hours of September 28,1987, when Star Trek: The Next Generationpremiered not as a Big Network offering but rather as a “first-run syndication” series . This method of getting the new show in the air was a consequence of Gene Roddenberry’s sad experience with NBC and allowed Star Trek: The Next Generation to mature as a series and gain acceptance from Star Trek’s loyal, hopeful, and sometimes skeptical fans.
Star Trek: The Next Generation (ST-TNG) was conceived by Gene Roddenberry and several writer-producers who had been involved in the original 1966-1969 series. Roddenberry had been reluctant to create a TV sequel after the projected 1977 Star Trek: Phase II concept morphed into 1979’s Star Trek: The Motion Picture, but the success of that film and its (up to then) three sequels – and Paramount’s interest in reviving Star Trek as a live-action TV show helped him change his mind.
However, Roddenberry insisted that Star Trek: The Next Generation would not be a gussied up retread of Star Trek: The Original Series (ST-TOS). Instead of being a show centered primarily on one leading man and two main supporting actors, ST-TNG would attempt to be more of an ensemble sci-fi drama which would showcase a more ethnically- and gender-balanced cast.
ST-TNG would also not exist in the same time period as the then still-active Original Series’ Starship Enterprise. It was deliberately set 100 years after the first season of ST-TOS (which, according to Paramount’s established canon, takes place in the year 2266) so that the new show could strike out dramatically on its own and yet use a new Starship Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) as its principal setting.
The series would also highlight various changes from the TOS format, such as the Enterprise being a starship where crew members could live with their families, the Klingon Empire and the Federation were allies, and – on Roddenberry’s insistence – there would be no interpersonal conflict aboard the Enterprise.
Encounter at Farpoint
Stardate 41153.7 (Earth Calendar Year 2364)
Original Air Date: September 28, 1987
Written by Gene Roddenberry and D.C. Fontana
Directed by Corey Allen
"Captain's log, Stardate 41153.7. Our destination is Planet Deneb IV, beyond which lies the great unexplored mass of the galaxy. My orders are to examine Farpoint, a starbase built there by the inhabitants of that world. Meanwhile I'm becoming better acquainted with my new command – this Galaxy-class USS Enterprise. I'm still somewhat in awe of its size and complexity. As for my crew, we are short in several key positions, most notably a first officer, but I'm informed that a highly experienced man, one Commander William T. Riker, will be waiting to join the ship at our Deneb IV destination." – Jean-Luc Picard
Shortly after assuming command of the Galaxy-class Starship Enterprise NCC-1701-D (the fifth Starfleet vessel to bear the name and registry number), Capt. Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) is given his first assignment. The Federation’s newest flagship is instructed to investigate Farpoint Station, an advanced starbase built on Deneb IV by the Bandi, a race not known for their skills with technology.
The Bandi hope that Starfleet will be interested in setting up a facility within Farpoint Station, but their leader, Groppler Zorn (Michael Bell) is less than forthcoming in explaining how the starbase was constructed.
Also waiting on Deneb IV are several of the Enterprise’s new crew members, including First Officer Commander William T. Riker (Jonathan Frakes) , navigator Lieutenant (junior grade) Geordi LaForge (LeVar Burton), Chief Medical Officer Dr. Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden) and her 15-year-old son Wesley (Wil Wheaton).
Riker, who had been the starship Hood’s first officer (and turned down a promotion to captain to serve aboard theEnterprise) is aware of Picard’s orders and is subtly investigating Farpoint Station as he and the others wait for the starship to arrive at Deneb IV.
"Thou art notified that thy kind hath infiltrated the galaxy too far already. Thou art directed to return to thine own solar system immediately."
"That's quite a directive. Would you mind identifying what you are?"
"We call ourselves the Q. Or thou mayest call me that. It's all much the same thing. I present myself to thee as a fellow ship captain so that thou mayest understand me. Go back whence thou camest. Stay where thou art!" – Q and Picard
But before the Enterprise can get anywhere near the Deneb system, it is pursued and eventually stopped by a powerful alien entity who calls himself Q (John DeLancie). Ensnaring the Enterprise in an energy net similar to one encountered by the original Enterprise in The Tholian Web, Q makes a dramatic - and intrusive - entrance on the ship's bridge.
In essence, Q demands that Picard and the Enterprise return to Earth and stop the Federation’s – and humanity’s – trek to the stars. Citing Earth’s long history of wars – first within its own biosphere and then later with other space-faring races such as the Klingons and Romulans – Q says that humans have traveled too far into the galaxy and that they will no longer be allowed to venture further into the vast reaches of space.
Aghast but determined to prove Q wrong, Picard proposes that humanity be fairly judged not for its past deeds but rather by their present, more enlightened condition.
"What an interesting idea! Prosecute and judge! But suppose it turns out that we understand you Humans only too well."
"We have no fear what the true facts about us will reveal."
"Facts about you? Splendid, splendid, Captain! You're a veritable fountain of ideas. There are preparations to make, but when we next meet, Captain, we'll proceed exactly as you suggest." –Q and Picard
For more on "Encounter at Farpoint" and the review, please click here;
Star Trek (which has been retroactively titled Star Trek: The Original Series) had never enjoyed much support from NBC or been a ratings heavyweight. The network had wanted to cancel the show almost from the start, but the influence of Lucile Ball (owner of Desilu, the studio which produced Star Trek during Seasons One and Two) and a now-famous letter-writing campaign by the series’ fans saved Capt. Kirk (William Shatner), Mr. Spock (Leonard Nimoy), Dr. McCoy (DeForest Kelley), Mr. Scott (James Doohan) and the rest of the Enterprise crew from being consigned prematurely into television’s Phantom Zone of Cancelation at least twice.
Nevertheless, Roddenberry’s groundbreaking show was hobbled by several ill-conceived decisions by NBC programmers, such as the fateful scheduling of Star Trek in the “death slot” of Friday nights at 10 (Eastern). The show’s creator, who had threatened to quit if Star Trek was aired at a time when most of its intended audience wasn’t watching TV, kept his word, and Gene Roddenberry was replaced as line producer by Fred Freiberger, a veteran showrunner who, fairly or not, has gone down in history as the man who “killed Star Trek.”
During the Freiberger era, the show’s already low budgets were slashed, some infamously bad episodes (Spock’s Brain, And the Children Shall Lead) were aired, and the ratings plummeted faster than a starship diving at warp speed into a black hole. NBC, in one of television history’s famous bad moves, canceled the show after only airing 79 of the 80 filmed Star Trek episodes.
Fast-forward, then, to the early evening hours of September 28,1987, when Star Trek: The Next Generationpremiered not as a Big Network offering but rather as a “first-run syndication” series . This method of getting the new show in the air was a consequence of Gene Roddenberry’s sad experience with NBC and allowed Star Trek: The Next Generation to mature as a series and gain acceptance from Star Trek’s loyal, hopeful, and sometimes skeptical fans.
Star Trek: The Next Generation (ST-TNG) was conceived by Gene Roddenberry and several writer-producers who had been involved in the original 1966-1969 series. Roddenberry had been reluctant to create a TV sequel after the projected 1977 Star Trek: Phase II concept morphed into 1979’s Star Trek: The Motion Picture, but the success of that film and its (up to then) three sequels – and Paramount’s interest in reviving Star Trek as a live-action TV show helped him change his mind.
However, Roddenberry insisted that Star Trek: The Next Generation would not be a gussied up retread of Star Trek: The Original Series (ST-TOS). Instead of being a show centered primarily on one leading man and two main supporting actors, ST-TNG would attempt to be more of an ensemble sci-fi drama which would showcase a more ethnically- and gender-balanced cast.
ST-TNG would also not exist in the same time period as the then still-active Original Series’ Starship Enterprise. It was deliberately set 100 years after the first season of ST-TOS (which, according to Paramount’s established canon, takes place in the year 2266) so that the new show could strike out dramatically on its own and yet use a new Starship Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) as its principal setting.
The series would also highlight various changes from the TOS format, such as the Enterprise being a starship where crew members could live with their families, the Klingon Empire and the Federation were allies, and – on Roddenberry’s insistence – there would be no interpersonal conflict aboard the Enterprise.
Encounter at Farpoint
Stardate 41153.7 (Earth Calendar Year 2364)
Original Air Date: September 28, 1987
Written by Gene Roddenberry and D.C. Fontana
Directed by Corey Allen
"Captain's log, Stardate 41153.7. Our destination is Planet Deneb IV, beyond which lies the great unexplored mass of the galaxy. My orders are to examine Farpoint, a starbase built there by the inhabitants of that world. Meanwhile I'm becoming better acquainted with my new command – this Galaxy-class USS Enterprise. I'm still somewhat in awe of its size and complexity. As for my crew, we are short in several key positions, most notably a first officer, but I'm informed that a highly experienced man, one Commander William T. Riker, will be waiting to join the ship at our Deneb IV destination." – Jean-Luc Picard
Shortly after assuming command of the Galaxy-class Starship Enterprise NCC-1701-D (the fifth Starfleet vessel to bear the name and registry number), Capt. Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) is given his first assignment. The Federation’s newest flagship is instructed to investigate Farpoint Station, an advanced starbase built on Deneb IV by the Bandi, a race not known for their skills with technology.
The Bandi hope that Starfleet will be interested in setting up a facility within Farpoint Station, but their leader, Groppler Zorn (Michael Bell) is less than forthcoming in explaining how the starbase was constructed.
Also waiting on Deneb IV are several of the Enterprise’s new crew members, including First Officer Commander William T. Riker (Jonathan Frakes) , navigator Lieutenant (junior grade) Geordi LaForge (LeVar Burton), Chief Medical Officer Dr. Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden) and her 15-year-old son Wesley (Wil Wheaton).
Riker, who had been the starship Hood’s first officer (and turned down a promotion to captain to serve aboard theEnterprise) is aware of Picard’s orders and is subtly investigating Farpoint Station as he and the others wait for the starship to arrive at Deneb IV.
"Thou art notified that thy kind hath infiltrated the galaxy too far already. Thou art directed to return to thine own solar system immediately."
"That's quite a directive. Would you mind identifying what you are?"
"We call ourselves the Q. Or thou mayest call me that. It's all much the same thing. I present myself to thee as a fellow ship captain so that thou mayest understand me. Go back whence thou camest. Stay where thou art!" – Q and Picard
But before the Enterprise can get anywhere near the Deneb system, it is pursued and eventually stopped by a powerful alien entity who calls himself Q (John DeLancie). Ensnaring the Enterprise in an energy net similar to one encountered by the original Enterprise in The Tholian Web, Q makes a dramatic - and intrusive - entrance on the ship's bridge.
In essence, Q demands that Picard and the Enterprise return to Earth and stop the Federation’s – and humanity’s – trek to the stars. Citing Earth’s long history of wars – first within its own biosphere and then later with other space-faring races such as the Klingons and Romulans – Q says that humans have traveled too far into the galaxy and that they will no longer be allowed to venture further into the vast reaches of space.
Aghast but determined to prove Q wrong, Picard proposes that humanity be fairly judged not for its past deeds but rather by their present, more enlightened condition.
"What an interesting idea! Prosecute and judge! But suppose it turns out that we understand you Humans only too well."
"We have no fear what the true facts about us will reveal."
"Facts about you? Splendid, splendid, Captain! You're a veritable fountain of ideas. There are preparations to make, but when we next meet, Captain, we'll proceed exactly as you suggest." –Q and Picard
For more on "Encounter at Farpoint" and the review, please click here;
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