Star Trek: The Next Generation was more than just a TV show – it was a cultural phenomenon that redefined science fiction on screen.
The series premiered in 1987 and boldly stepped where no TV series had gone before, combining the intelligence of Shakespearean drama with the wonders of interstellar exploration.
The series finale in 1994 drew more than 30 million viewers, and TNG became the gold standard for science fiction storytelling. But beyond the thrilling plots and unforgettable characters, the series holds secrets and surprises that even the most devoted fans may not know about.
Become friends for life
For those unfamiliar with the series, Star Trek: The Next Generation follows the adventures of the starship Enterprise-D as its diverse crew explored uncharted worlds, solved intergalactic mysteries and resolved moral dilemmas. Set 100 years after the events of the original Star Trek, the series features new characters, advanced technology and thought-provoking stories.
But did you know that many of the cast members of Star Trek: The Next Generation became lifelong friends after the series ended. Patrick Stewart (Captain Picard) and Jonathan Frakes (Riker) are known for their hilarious camaraderie, they often exchange laughs at conventions. They keep in close touch, often meeting for dinner, and their incredible chemistry is always evident when they are together.
When LeVar Burton wed in 1992, Brent Spiner was by his side as best man, with Sir Patrick Stewart, Jonathan Frakes and Michael Dorn acting as ushers.
Martina Sirtis hated Michael Dorn
Among the many friendships formed between the cast of The Next Generation, one of the warmest is the bond between Michael Dorn, known for his portrayal of the stoic Lieutenant Worf, and Marina Sirtis, who brought to life the sympathetic counsellor Troy.
‘I’ve always been attracted to very strong women,’ Dorn shared with Buzzfeed.
“I don’t know why. I was just really attracted to our chemistry. We’re just crazy about each other.”
But despite their friendship spanning more than three decades, it didn’t exactly start off smoothly. According to Sirtis’ candid admission, they couldn’t stand each other in the show’s first season. However, over time, their undeniable chemistry brought them closer together, sparking rumours that they might be secretly dating.
Despite the speculation, Sirtis and Dorn have always made it clear – they were not in a romantic relationship then or now.
Starfleet uniforms were very uncomfortable
Star Trek actors are often bombarded with questions about make-up, costumes and iconic masks – apparently this is what fans are most interested in.
Did you know that the original Starfleet uniform was so uncomfortable that Sir Patrick Stewart’s agent was forced to intervene? He even threatened to sue Paramount if Stewart suffered muscle or joint damage from wearing the one-piece spandex suit.
That little scare was enough to upgrade the wardrobe, and by season three, the team had swapped out the stretchy spandex for a more comfortable polyester two-piece.
The unlikely casting of Captain Picard
Believe it or not, Gene Roddenberry, the creator of Star Trek, was not thrilled that Sir Patrick Stewart was chosen for the role of Captain Picard. He preferred a younger captain with a mop of hair. But producer Robert H. Justman was so overwhelmed by Stewart’s talent that he tried his best to get him the role.
After listening to many other actors and finding that none of them and did not come close, Roddenberry finally gave up.
And here’s where it gets funny: at his first meeting with the leaders of Paramount Stewart wore a hairpiece – at the suggestion of producers. They were afraid the studio would reject him because of his baldness. And what happened? After the meeting, the executives agreed to take him on the role, but only on one condition: he had to get rid of the ‘ridiculous wig’.
When the cast of the series was first announced, some media outlets labelled Sir Patrick Stewart as an ‘unknown British Shakespearean actor’. To have a little fun, Brent Spiner created a poster for Stewart’s dressing room that read, ‘Beware: Unknown British Shakespearean Actor!’.
Worf’s forehead was stolen
Michael Dorn, who brought the ferocious Klingon Worf to life, endured a gruelling two-hour make-up process every time he entered the role. But things weren’t always smooth sailing for Worf’s iconic look. In the second season, disaster struck: the original prosthetic forehead was stolen!
This unexpected setback threw the film crew into a panic, and they began creating a replacement in a hurry. The result? Dorn’s character ended up with a completely different forehead, which gave him a slightly altered appearance.
Wheaton’s priceless response
When the cast decided to seek a pay raise, Wil Wheaton got a promotion for his character Wesley Crusher in lieu of a raise.
The producers suggested that Wesley be promoted to the rank of lieutenant. Wheaton’s response was priceless: “So what am I supposed to tell my landlord when I can’t pay my rent? ‘Don’t worry, I just made lieutenant’?”.
Incidentally, Wil Wheaton has the amusing distinction of being the first Star Trek actor – and the only member of Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987) – to be born after the franchise began.
The painful truth about Geordie’s visor
Geordie’s iconic visor was created on the first day of filming using a car air filter and a hair rubber band, revealing a quick improvisation.
Although the visor was a key element of Geordie’s look, wearing it wasn’t an easy walk for actor Levar Burton. In an interview with the BBC, he revealed that wearing the prop gave him daily headaches and that he had to literally screw it into the sides of his head. Despite the discomfort, Burton pulled it off, keeping the iconic device as a major part of Geordie’s personality.
Wikipedia
After the end of the second season, the producers originally planned for Geordi to undergo an experimental procedure that would restore his natural vision and eliminate the need for the iconic VISOR eyepiece.
However, after realising how important VISOR had become as a symbol for the disabled community, they decided to scrap the idea. Geordi La Forge’s VISOR remained an integral part of his character throughout all seven seasons of Star Trek: The Next Generation.
Levar Burton’s Secret Slumber
Here’s another great story about Levar Burton that I just have to share.
During the first season of Star Trek: The Next Generation, he would sit on the bridge for long periods of time, often with almost no lines.
This led to some rather boring moments, and Levar would sometimes doze off or even fall asleep completely. What was the most interesting part? His eyes were hidden behind his visor, so no one noticed anything!
‘They lie through their teeth…’
In the 90s, Marina Sirtis was undoubtedly one of the most beautiful women to grace the world of fiction. Known for her British accent, she actually had Greek roots and spoke the language fluently.
Marina Sirtis, who played Counsellor Troi, is often inundated with compliments on how good she looks, even today.
When pictures of her appear on social media, fans can’t resist praising her, claiming she hasn’t changed a bit since Star Trek.
“I have a picture hanging on my wall of all of us together. It’s an actual photo that Entertainment Weekly put on the cover, and it hangs on my living room wall. It reminds me of my best friends. And you know what? I think we all look exactly the same. All the boys have less hair. Michael Dorn is much thinner now than he used to be. Patrick (Stewart), I think, looks the same. And people always come up to me and say, ‘You haven’t changed a bit.’ Of course, they’re lying through their teeth because 25 years later it’s impossible. But I think we still look really good. So it’s not that frustrating to look at ourselves in the first series,” she says.
Denise Crosby was originally cast as Troy’s counsellor, while Sirtis was cast as Lieutenant Mach Hernandez, the head of security. However, just before filming on the pilot began, the two roles were swapped. And we’re glad they did!
Behind the Wig: Hair Drama on TNG
If you take a closer look at Star Trek: The Next Generation, you’ll notice a fun behind-the-scenes detail that many fans missed: Marina Sirtis, who played Counsellor Troi, actually wore a wig for most of the series! Her real hair was styled around the wig to give her those signature flowing curls that fans loved so much.
Meanwhile, Gates McFadden, who portrayed Dr Beverley Crusher, also wore a full wig for the first few seasons. The wig game was very popular in the 80s and 90s!
Gates McFadden’s own hair caused a lot of trouble in Season 1. Her fine red hair was constantly suffering from studio lights, causing her to have to spend a lot of time washing and re-styling it to match the continuity. By the third season, the solution was found in using a collection of expensive natural hair wigs. And while Gates flaunted these luxurious wigs, Marina couldn’t help but feel slightly envious! At conventions Marina admitted that she was a little jealous of Gates’ collection of wigs, because she had to settle for cheaper, nylon ones. But that’s okay – by season four, Marina finally had her own natural hair wig. Talk about a hair upgrade…..
So next time you rewatch the show, check out these iconic hair tricks – it’s a fun little nugget of TNG history!
From unknown to icon
Marina Sirtis wasn’t a big star when she was offered a role on Star Trek. She admits that she had never watched the original series. ‘I’ll admit I never watched the series, but I knew it was popular,’ she once said.
“I had no idea what I was getting into. They said it would be a year’s work, but the promised ten months turned out to be the longest job of my life. The next six years were a bonus.”
Sirtis also spoke about how devastated she was when the series ended.
How Riker’s iconic beard was born
When Jonathan Frakes arrived for rehearsals for season two, he had a beard that he had grown during the 1988 writers’ strike, planning to shave it off before filming began. However, the producers immediately liked his new look and asked him to keep it. Thus was born Riker’s iconic beard, which became a defining feature of the entire series.
The beard became so iconic that when Frakes finally shaved it off for Star Trek: Resurrection in 1998, fans were quick to take notice. Even Q couldn’t resist a playful tease, saying: ‘Riker was more fun before the beard!’. Classic Q.
Around this time, there was a meeting with Gene Roddenberry, producer Rick Berman and another producer, Hurley. Roddenberry, intrigued by Frakes’ new hairstyle, remarked that it gave off a ‘nautical’ vibe. The remark sparked an impromptu beard trimming contest, proving that even the smallest details can lead to bizarre behind-the-scenes moments. The beard, of course, became as legendary as Riker himself!
Robin Williams almost joining Star Trek
Star Trek: The Next Generation attracted many celebrities and public figures who were big fans of the original Star Trek series and jumped at the chance to make guest appearances.
Among them, of course, was Whoopi Goldberg, who became a fan favourite thanks to her cameo as Guinan. Goldberg applied to star in the series before it even premiered. However, it took almost a year to get a response, as the producers did not take her request seriously at first.
Unfortunately, not all requests were successful. For example, Robin Williams really wanted to join the cast, but because he was busy filming ‘Hook’ (1991), he had to turn down a role in the 9th episode of Season 5, ‘A Question of Time’. Matt Frewer took his place.
Didn’t Unpack
Sir Patrick Stewart was so sure that ‘Star Trek: The Next Generation’ would be a flop that he didn’t even unpack his suitcases for the first six weeks of filming. But by the end of the first season, the series proved him wrong – Paramount was making $1 million per episode in advertising revenue.
By 1992, the budget for each episode had grown to nearly $2 million, and the studio’s annual revenue from advertising alone was $90 million. Each 30-second commercial cost between $115,000 and $150,000. The 178 episodes shown in seven seasons from 1987 to 1994 became not just a cultural phenomenon, but a financial force that left its mark on television history.
Star Trek really was an amazing series, wasn’t it? Do you have any funny memories or hidden facts about the series that you would like to share? Feel free to share, and don’t forget to spread the word by sharing this article!
