Newsgroups: rec.arts.startrek.current From: ottoh3@cfsmo.honeywell.com (Otto Heuer #3) Subject: FAQL: FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS LIST for TNG Date: Fri, 29 Apr 1994 19:01:09 +0000 Archive-Name: faql.rec.arts.startrek.tng PERIODIC LIST OF "FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS" about STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION (last updated 28 April 1994) This posting is intended to cut down on the "often asked questions" that seem to pop up every few months in the rec.arts.startrek.current newsgroup about ST:TNG. It is one of a number of periodic postings posted to r.a.s.*. For a full list of informational postings, please read the "LIST OF PERIODIC POSTINGS" article in rec.arts.startrek.misc. For a list of acronyms used in this (and other) postings, please refer to the "ACRONYM LIST" found in rec.arts.startrek.misc. This FAQL is basically a list of questions that have been brought up and discussed to death in rec.arts.startrek.current, and a lot of people would be happy if they never resurfaced. =========================================================================== 1) Upcoming TNG season 7 episodes 2) More upcoming TNG tidbits 3) Is Season 7 the last for TNG? =========================================================================== This entire article contains ***** S P O I L E R S ***** for upcoming TNG episodes. If you don't want to be spoiled, don't read this! 1) ========== UPCOMING TNG SEASON 7 EPISODES: "Firstborn" (4/25/94 - 5/1/94): Worf and Alexander story. The Enterprise encounters a ship from the future. The Klingon on board is a mysterious "family friend" of Worf's who wants to help teach Alexander to become a Klingon warrior. Worf must face the fact that Alexander doesn't *want* to become a warrior. The Klingon suggests that there are Federation/Romulan ties in the future, and it turns out that the Klingon is in fact a grown-up Alexander. More Klingon opera. Quark shows up to give Wil Riker some info on Lursa and B'Etor. Guest stars include James Sloyan (The Sting, Xanadu, and the TV series "Murder, She Wrote" (Robert Butler), "Oh Madeline" (Charlie Wayne), and "Westside Medical" (Dr Sam Lanagan)) as K'mtar (Alexander from the future)), Brian Bonsall (Family Ties) as young Alexander, Gwynyth Walsh (Liv Forrester in The Cruch, Helen Schroeder in The Portrait, and Blue Monkey) as B'etor, Barbara March (Prairie Kate in The Gambler Returns: The Luck of the Draw) as Lursa, Joel Swetow (Cabbie in See No Evil Hear No Evil) as Yog, Colin Mitchell (Combination Platter) as Gorta, and Armin Shimerman (French Waiter in Blind Date(87), Dr Gottesman in Death Warrant, Interrogation Sergeant in The Hitcher, Trigger's Dad in Like Father Like Son, Arena) as Quark. Teleplay by Rene Echevarria. Story by Mark Kalbfeld. Directed by Jonathan West. "Bloodlines" (5/2/94 - 5/8/94): Jason arrives, and claims to be Picard's son. This is verified by genetic tests. Daimon Bok (from "The Battle") is back for revenge once again, and targets Jason. Guest stars include Ken Olandt (Rob in April Fool's Day, Nathan in Leprechaun) as Jason, Lee Arenberg (Religious Zealot in Bob Roberts, Technician #2 in Class of 1999, Parking Attendant in Cross My Heart, Newsroom Martian in Martians Go Home, Flesh in VI Warshawski, and Violent John in Car in Whore) as Bok, and Peter Slutsker as Birta. Written by Nicholas Sagan. Directed by Les Landau. "Emergence" (5/9/94 - 5/15/94): A Beverly episode with the holodeck. A new life form is discovered there (sorta) when the Enterprise develops consciousness and acts on its own. It sounds like they will have flashbacks to every episode that used the holodeck. Everyone (except Picard) is playing with Dr Crusher's new 'Orient Express' holodeck program - which can in fact go anywhere! Picard wants to know why he hasn't been invited yet. Neat ending, apparently. They were basically looking for an excuse to use Paramount's New York City set. The lives of the Enterprise crew are endangered when the ship suddenly develops its own intelligence. The Enterprise develops the ability to think -- but it actions may doom the crew! Guest stars include David Huddleston (Big Joe in Bad Company, Olson Johnson in Blazing Saddles, Peter in Frantic, Mr Corcoran in Life with Mikey, Santa Claus in Santa Claus, Holland in Slaves, John Coen in Smokey and the Bandit II, and Mayor Cooper in the TV series "Hizzonner") as Conductor, Vinny Argiro (Ben Sanders in Date with an Angel, Bruno in Fear City, Sergeant at Police Station in The Public Eye, and Mr Rents Salesman in Risky Business) as Hitman, Thomas Kopache (Dr Parker in Liebestraum, TV Station Man in Loose Cannons, State Trooper in Strange Invaders, Geiger Counter Vendor in This Boy's Life, Police in Without a Trace) as Engineer, and Arlee Reed (Jean Store Customer in Bachelor Party, Cameraman in The Rocketeer) as Hayseed. Teleplay by Joe Menosky. Story by Brannon Braga. Directed by Cliff Bole. "Preemptive Strike" (5/16/94 - 5/22/94): Denver con reports with Patrick Stewart say that Picard falls for Ro in this episode. Lieutenant Ro Laren has been off training for undercover secret missions to root out terrorists. Ro is forced to choose between her loyalty to Picard and her hatred toward Cardassia when she accepts an assignment to infitrate the Maquis. More stuff which will relate to Voyager. (No, Ro will not be in Voyager). Guest stars include Michelle Forbes (Carrie Laughlin in Kalifornia, and Maggie Rudden in The Playboys) as Ro Laren, John Franklyn-Robins (from the TV series "The Black Tower") as Macias, Natalija Nogulich (from Bound by Honor (Blood In Blood Out), Vera in Four Friends, Molly Sheridan in the Guardian, Jo Hoffa in Hoffa, Chava in homicide, Mrs Shirley in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, Friend at Airport in Postcards from the Edge, Healer in The Prom, Fran Steuben in Sister Sister) as Admiral Nechayev, William Thomas Jr as Santos, Shannon Cochran (Flapper in The Babe) as Kalita, and Richard Poe (Frankie in Born on the Fourth of July, Bartebder in The Night We Never Met) as Gul Evek. Teleplay by Rene Echevarria. Story by Naren Shankar. Directed by Patrick Stewart. (might be titled "The Good Fight") "All Good Things..." (5/23/94 - 5/29/94): (season and series finale) Two hours, but NOT a cliff-hanger lead-in to the movie. It is supposed to be a wrap up to the series, in the sense that it will bring things full circle, so expect a resolution to Q's testing of humanity from "Encounter at Farpoint". It will take place in the past (to FarPoint, when Tasha was still alive, Troi was in a cheerleader outfit, and Riker had no beard), the present, and the future (25 years, where a bearded Picard is dying, joined by Riker and a headless Dr Crusher). Riker steps aside for Worf and Troi to further their relationship. The Picard/Bev relationship will also be touched upon. Romulans are also involved according to Braga. Michael Piller said on QVC that the last linespoken by Q to Picard is: "I'll be watching", with the whole crew on the bridge. Guest stars include John DeLancie as Q, Colm Meany as O'Brien, Whoopi Goldberg as Guinan, and Denise Crosby as Tasha Yar. Written by Ron Moore and Brandon Braga. This will be the 25th and 26th hours of TNG this season, so it isn't an "extra hour". Frakes and Stewart were both very impressed with the script. "The Pegasus" (5/30/94 - 6/5/94): ===REPEAT=== Cloaking device. "Homeward" (6/6/94 - 6/12/94): ===REPEAT=== Worf's brother; PD violation. "Sub Rosa" (6/13/94 - 6/19/94): ===REPEAT=== Bev and the family ghost. "Lower Decks" (6/20/94 - 6/26/94): ===REPEAT=== Jr officers play poker. "Thy Known Self" (6/27/94 - 7/3/94): ===REPEAT=== Data loses his memory. "Masks" (7/4/94 - 7/10/94): ===REPEAT=== Data wears masks; alien archive. "Eye of the Beholder" (7/11/94 - 7/17/94): ===REPEAT=== Troi re-creates murder. "Genesis" (7/18/94 - 7/24/94): ===REPEAT=== De-evolution. "Journey's End" (7/25/94 - 7/31/94): ===REPEAT=== Wes and the American Indians. "First Born" (8/1/94 - 8/7/94): ===REPEAT=== Alexander != warrior. "Bloodlines" (8/8/94 - 8/14/94): ===REPEAT=== Bok want to kill Picard's son. "Emergence" (8/15/94 - 8/21/94): ===REPEAT=== Bev on the holodeck. "Pre-emptive Strike" [or "The Good Fight"] (8/22/94 - 8/28/94): ===REPEAT=== Ro. [episode name unknown] (8/29/94 - 9/4/94): ===REPEAT=== "All Good Things, Part I" (9/5/94 - 9/11/94): ===REPEAT=== Series finale. "All Good Things, Part II" (9/12/94 - 9/18/94): ===REPEAT=== Series finale. =========================================================================== 2) ========== MORE UPCOMING TNG TIDBITS Whoopi has confirmed that she will continue to do TNG episodes AFTER her statements on Arsenio. Apparently, TNG is the *only* thing she'll have to do with Paramount these days. The only reason she's been seen so rarely is her hectic schedule and doing charity work. Whoopi has approached the producers about having a 600th birthday party for Guinan, where all her children from around the galaxy will come together. See also the DS9 FAQL. At a 27 July 1992 convention, Doohan said he had never heard of plans for Scotty to be in Deep Space Nine, but would be open-minded about being in it. Ron Moore says (as far as he knows) the rumor is false. 29 August 1993 New York City Creation con: Patrick Stewart said that the Guinan/Picard relationship will be explored in an episode before this season is over. 26-27 November 1993 New York City Creation Convention: No Thomas Riker. No emotional chip for Data because Data would be a boring character with the emotional chip. We may have a "few" episodes with Wes coming home for "spring break" in season seven (Wil is living in Topeka Kansas and working for a computer company; his character Wes is attending Star Fleet Academy). 29-31 October 1993 Honolulu Creation Con (thanks Eric): Tasha/Sela are officially dead and won't be coming back. Troi/Riker are old news and won't be getting back together but will remain good friends. They were planning to follow up on the bugs from "Conspiracy", but at this con they said they won't be coming back. The reason is that none of the original writers are with the show anymore and nobody really knows what they were planning to do with the hints they dropped at the end. They also hinted at a possible Worf/Troi relationship and/or marriage. 9 January 1994 Sacramento con: Wendy Neuss mentioned that the relationship between Troi and Worf "will be pursued" through the remaining half-season of new episodes. 20 February 1994: Marina Sirtis said that Whoopi won't be in any more TNG eps, since they wouldn't pay her what she wanted to do the series. In previous seasons she has been working for far less than normal because she is a big Trek fan. 27 February 1994 San Francisco con: Richard Arnold said that the remaining 1994 TNG episodes will have more and more detailed sets as they polish them up for use in the movie(s). 26-27 February 1994 Denver con: Patrick Stewart said that all the cast is thrilled about the season/series finale. They are looking for scripts (GOOD ones) to bring back Barclay, Lwaxana, Lore, and Q, but have apparently given up hope on bringing back Sela. They are no longer thinking about a love interest between Bev and Picard. Geordi MIGHT get married. They are trying to find a good Lore story since Spiner loves playing the character. Frakes has directed six episodes of TNG: "The Offspring", "Reunion", "Drumhead", and "Cause and Effect", "The Quality of Life", and "The Chase". Apparently, TPTB are as impressed with his work as are the people in these newsgroups. He will no doubt be given more episodes in season seven. Gates McFadden wants to try her hand at directing. She will be given one chance in the last season (to be filmed 10 January 1994). Brent Spiner was offered the chance, but declined. He said at a 27 November 1993 New York City Creation Convention that he *would* like to direct a non-TNG episode (maybe DS9 or VOY?) Stewart was given a second chance at directing as well. He directed "In Theory", "Hero Worship", (not two of the better episodes) and "A Fistful of Datas". Stillwell denied the previous rumors about "Duelling Q's" and William Campbell, saying that they had had no discussions with William Campbell about appearing in a Q episode or any others. Another Q episode under consideration involves Q duplicating the Enterprise for some reason. "Duelling Qs": Q is back (sans Vash), and is dueling (in some sort of Olympiad) with another member of the Q continuum, played by William Campbell (who played Trelane in "Squire of Gothos"). They haven't mentioned whether this means that Trelane was a member of the Q continuum or if this is a separate character. Our Q uses Enterprise crew for his team, and the other team is manned by a band of genius bodybuilders. Some of the events that were to take place would be a race through an asteroid field, a very bizzare boxing match in a triangular ring with a circular booth in the center, an alien poker game, a kind of Spartacus-like last conflict and an American Gladiators event. Page 24 of the 8/19/92 issue of the UK newspaper "The Independent" said that Arnold Schwarzenegger has signed on to be in an upcoming episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation. The October 1992 Cinefantastique backed this up. WPIX in New York reported that Arnold would be on TNG as "an alien captain". Herb Wright (formerly on the TNG writing staff) said that if they had gone through with "Dueling Q's," he could have gotten Arnold to head the rival team gathered by the female Q, stating that it would have brought a huge audience to that episode. This one may be canceled due to cost overruns (Mostly due to Nimoy's previous appearance, I'd guess). Whoopi Goldberg guest stars as Guinan!! More recent info reports that Arnold would like to be a background character in an episode. "Q and Order" (if they decide to go with this idea): Q brings the Enterprise (or some of its members) into the Q Continuum. One of the characters from Tapestry will be back in season seven. ============================================================================= 3) ========== IS SEASON 7 THE LAST FOR TNG? 11-12 July 1992, Maryland convention: "NexGen actors have all signed on for a seventh year -- at least most of them have. There will be a seventh season, for sure. They were trying to get everybody to go for eight, but they've so far resisted it. I have a feeling that if we're still in the ratings the way we are now -- which is just incredible -- I can't see Paramount letting it die. What really could happen is, when this group graduates to movies, they might keep some of them on and fill in the other parts with new people. You know, captains change, and other officers change -- or they could go for a whole new cast and just keep on filling it in. I think Paramount is now at the stage where they feel that it's the vehicle that is the important thing -- and they're just going to keep it going as long as you guys want it... Under these circumstances, the 7th movie wouldn't happen for at least another three years. I can't see Paramount letting it go that long. There was some talk -- again, it's only a rumor -- about perhaps trying to do another one with the old cast. Excuse the expression! They [the NexGen actors] work 8-9 months a year now, and only get two and a half months off, which isn't enough time to do a movie. And when you sell to syndication, those people buy 26 episodes; you've got to make 'em 26 episodes. That's your contract and that's what has to be delivered. You can't say, Well, fellas, we'll only give you 20 this year." --Majel March 1993, Canada Creation Con: Sirtis reported that there will probably NOT be a eighth season of TNG. Late April 1993, Toronto (?) convention: Shatner says TNG is rumored to be up for two to three more seasons. Rumors have sprung up *again* that James Earl Jones (the voice of Darth Vader) has been considered for TNG if they decide to continue to shoot more seasons without Stewart. Jones has said he was actively considered for the role of Ben Sisko in DS9, and rumors from a few years back said that Paramount had planned to replace Stewart with Jones when Stewart was thinking about leaving (but then Stewart quickly signed to avoid being upstaged). June 1993: The cast of TNG have signed 6-year contracts and have the option of another year. They have signed the entire cast of regulars for season seven. Several cast members have said that they would like to see a season eight (and beyond), but Paramount has decided to go to TNG movies rather than have the TV show with half the cast (or new cast members). Ron Moore said in 1992 that he was betting on at least eight seasons. Frakes mentioned that when they signed the contracts for season six (in 1992) that the new contracts leave it open for an 8th and 9th season. 29 July 1993: "Daily Variety" had a front-page article that stated that TV station programmers say that Paramount has confirmed in meetings that TNG will end with 93/94 season. However, a Paramount spokesman would not confirm the end of TNG. 29 July 1993: "Entertainment Tonight" mentioned that the studio said the 7th season was the last. 30 July 1993: Patrick Sewart seemed to be saying on an interview with Larry King (radio) that season seven may not be the last. He may have just been saying that it won't be the last appearance of the crew, as they will be going into movies and guest spots on DS9, though. September 1993: Berman has NOT confirmed that season 7 is the last. He says he thinks so but stranger things have happened. September 1993: McFadden reported at StarCon that everyone except Stewart was under contract for an 8th TNG season, should there be one. 25 September 1993 Creation con: Frakes mentioned that there may be an 8th season. Early October 1993 TV Guide: Patrick Stewart said that there is always the possibility of a Star Trek Season 8. Rick Berman said that TNG is pretty much finished up after this season. 24 September 1993 "Variety": There is speculation that TNG may go to an 8th season if the next Star Trek spinoff won't be ready in time. This is an unconfirmed rumor. 4 October 1993 "Variety" (page 7): "Buzz hears Paramount is rethinking its plan to end the run of arguably its most lucrative creative asset, the syndicated series Star Trek: The Next Generation. The original plan was to make this seventh season the final year of the series, with hopes that "Deep Space Nine" and another spinoff currently in the works could hold Par's syndication dominance. But as visions of mergers dance in the heads of Par execs, there seem to be more than a few voices urging the cast to hang in for at least another season, and doing the movie during hiatus. The entire cast was recently signed to two-year contracts. With the final season's opener garnering record ratings, why kill off the golden goose?" 12 October 1993: NBC Tonight Show: Patrick Stewart said it hasn't been decided if there will be an eigth season or not. October 1993: Armin Shimmerman said at a Cleveland con that Rick Berman mentioned over lunch that there would not be an 8th season of TNG. 29-31 October 1993: It was said at a Honolulu Creation Con that season seven will be the last. Late-October/early November 1993 Edmonton con: Frakes said that all the actors have signed into a two year deal, this seventh season being the first of those two years. Whether the second year is every put into production is at the studios discretion, the actors have no say. It is known though, that if the current owners have their way, there will be NO eighth season. However, IF QVC ends up being the company that buys out Paramount (they are the "hostile takeover" company) they WILL produce another season, other buyers have not expressed any interest in doing that. Late-November 1993: Richard Arnold confirmed that this will be the last season of TNG, and "Star Trek Voyager" will replace the show (Sito makes an appearance on TNG to spin off Voyager). 27 November 1993: Majel Barrett Roddenberry confirmed at a NYC Creation con that there will NOT be a 8th season. It would not be possible with the release date for the TNG movie, and they already made an agreement with the theaters for the end of 1994. Mid-December 1993: John Tesh reportedly mentioned on Entertainment Tonight that TNG will stay on the air another two years. 11 December 1993: USA's Saturday morning entertainment show reported that the TNG cast had received two-year extensions. They appeared to be saying that movies *and* TNG episodes would be made concurrently. 17-18 December 1993: USA network's "Hollywood Insider" said that the entire cast and production crew of of TNG had been signed on for another two years. It was unclear whether this meant more TNG television episodes (2 years worth) or simply to obligate movie roles? 17 January 1994 Hero Magazine: TNG is being "considered" for 13 more episodes next season. Apparently, they (Paramount) don't want just one Star Trek show on the air. If TNG went off the air at the end of this season, that leaves DS9 to hold down the fort until Voyager starts in January 1995. Since TNG and DS9 are among the top rated shows in syndication, that would be a heavy loss to Paramount. 12 February 1994 Little Rock Creation convention: Marina Sirtis mentioned that the cast had signed two year contracts, and that there would probably be a season eight if enough people wrote in. 5-6 March 1994 Edmonton, Alberta con: There is virtually no hope for another season of TNG, not even a partial season. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ If you know of any other topics that should be included in this list, feel free to email me at one of the addresses below. Be aware that about 10% of the mail I send out bounces, so if you don't get a reply from me, it isn't because I'm ignoring you. :-) This article is Copyright 1994 by Otto Heuer. It may be freely redistributed in its entirety provided that this copyright notice is not removed. It may not be sold for profit or incorporated in commercial documents without the written permission of the copyright holder. Permission is expressly granted for this document to be made available for file transfer from installations offering unrestricted anonymous file transfer on the Internet free of charge. --Otto "HACK-MAN" Heuer _____ _________ _ _____ _____ _____ _____ | ___|| _______|| | Otto E. Heuer, CEO ||___|| |_ _| |_ _| ||___|| | |__ | |___ ___| | FSD, Inc. | o | | | | | | o | | __| |___ || _ | "The innovator for |__O__| |_| |_| |__O__| | | _______| || |_| | software solutions." C, Pascal, Fortran, BASIC |_||_________||_____| Assembly Language, Snobol, Ada, APL, Prolog, LISP Unix, MS-DOS, ProDOS . . . .... . . . . . . . Audio/Video ottoh@cfsmo.honeywell.com :..: .:.:. : :.' .. :`.': .:.:. :`. : Star Trek hackman@pnet51.orb.mn.org : : : : :... : `. : : : : : `: Apple IIgs