Earl Grey: A Star Trek The Next Generation Podcast

TNG Season Eight. Going into Season Seven, many of the actors from The Next Generation were contracted through Season Eight. At some point, the decision was made to end the show so that the creatives could focus on movies and the launch of Voyager. In this episode of Earl Grey, hosts Phillip Gilfus, Darren Moser, and Daniel Proulx discuss various aspects of TNG’s lost season. What would we have wanted to see? What would we want to avoid? What might we have gotten? We also discuss how an eighth season of The Next Generation might have affected the other incarnations of Star Trek.

Katherine Pulaski. In Season Two, after Gates McFadden left the show, the audience was introduced to a new doctor—Katherine Pulaski. A very different character from Gates's Crusher, Muldaur’s Pulaski has since gained a limited-but-fierce loyalty amongst fans. In this episode of Earl Grey hosts Phillip Gilfus, Darren Moser, and Daniel Proulx discuss all things Pulaski, including what we liked, what we hated, her various relationships, and what simply makes her different.

TNG Introductions. Occasionally it becomes necessary to introduce new people to the world of Star Trek, whether they are friends, family, or the occasionally first date. There have been many discussions about the best way to do this, but in this episode of Earl Grey the focus is on how to bring new Next Generation fans into the fold. To help us do this, the regular Earl Grey crew of Phillip GIlfus, Darren Moser, and Daniel Proulx are joined by Mrs. Sci-fi herself, Maureen Moser.

Ensign Ro Commentary. During TNG's fifth season the decision was made to shake up the show with the introduction of a new character. Ensign Ro Laren was a feisty Bajoran who would become an important part of the crew and someone we'd get to know for the next couple of years. In fact, she almost ended up on Deep Space Nine. In this episode of Earl Grey, hosts Phillip Gilfus, Darren Moser, and Daniel Proulx provide their first commentary track as they take you through her namesake episode, "Ensign Ro." Along the way we discuss the introduction of the Bajorans, their conflict with the Cardassians, badmirals, the lack of blue shirts on TNG, Guinan, and how we feel about Ro as a character.

Romance on TNG. The Next Generation started out strong with the coupling of Commander Riker and Counselor Troi, and kept going strong for the  rest of the series. Between Picard and Beverly, the two Imzatis, and a host of others, TNG had its fair share of relationships. In this episode of Earl Grey, hosts Phillip Gilfus, Darren Moser, and Daniel Proulx talk all things romantic on TNG. Which relationships worked? Which were mere distractions? Which should have never been attempted? We discuss these questions as well as some of the inconsistencies seen throughout the show, and even touch on some of the relationships that weren’t utilized as much. 

Huston Huddleston: The New Starship Interview. It’s one of the most iconic settings in all of science fiction—the bridge of the 1701-D. And when The Next Generation wrapped and the ship crashed on Veridian III, we thought that hallowed ground was gone forever. Thankfully fate didn’t count on Huston Huddleston, whose ‘Save the Starship’ campaign has resurrected Picard’s old stomping ground for those of us in the past. Don’t you just love temporal mechanics? In this episode of Earl Grey we bring you our first interview as Huddleston sits down with hosts Phillip Gilfus, Darren Moser, and Daniel Proulx for an overview of the project, how it’s doing currently, and a little bit about what is coming next. We also get in some general TNG talk, including favorite episodes and celebrity encounters. 

Data. When The Next Generation launched, it only made sense to create a Spock-like character. Though initially intended as such, Data grew to be much more than a shadow of the famous Vulcan and became one of the most popular characters on the show. In this episode of Earl Grey hosts Darren Moser, Phillip Gilfus, and Daniel Proulx discuss all things Lieutenant Commander Data, from favorite scenes and moments to his extended family—including how to fix the death of this exciting and long-lived character. 

Episodes We Love to Defend. While The Next Generation is widely loved and home to some of Star Trek's greatest stories, it's also well known for having a few episodes that are a nacelle (or two) short of achieving warp speed. From Season One's "Justice" to Season Seven's "Sub Rosa," there are those that just don't seem to stick with most Trek fans. In this episode of Earl Grey hosts Phillip Gilfus, Darren Moser, and Daniel Proulx each choose the top three episodes that they love despite the flaws, then defend them against the petaQ… we mean other hosts. It's a free for all on this week's Earl Grey! 

The Holodeck. Besides a grand new ship, one thing The Next Generation introduced fans to was an amazing new technology called the holodeck. Essentially a blank slate for the writers, it allowed our ship and crew to be put in situations that they never would have otherwise. In this episode of Earl Grey hosts Phillip Gilfus, Darren Moser, and Daniel Proulx discuss the technology as well as the stories and plot devices that were made possible by the holodeck. 

The Romulans. A minor player in The Original Series, the Romulans saw a new life start in the Season One episode "The Neutral Zone." From that point forward they have played an important role in the Star Trek mythos. In this episode of Earl Grey hosts Darren Moser, Phillip Gilfus, and Daniel Proulx discuss one of Star Trek's less-recognized—but vitally important—species including what they like, what they don't like, and the impact they had on The Next Generation. 

Jean Luc Picard. When The Next Generation was launched, many people expected a captain similar to Kirk. Instead we were given a middle-aged bald Frenchman played by an English actor. It may sound odd, but this proved to be a successful gamble as Captain Picard became a huge part of TNG's appeal. In this episode of Earl Grey hosts Darren Moser, Phillip Gilfus, and Daniel Proulx discuss their favorite captain and how he has inspired them. Philosopher and poet, artist and explorer, all aspects of the character are considered including what didn't work as well as why Picard is Earl Grey's official skipper. 

The 1701-D. One of the most iconic things to ever come out of The Original Series and its movies was the Enterprise herself. Recognizable to fans and non-fans alike, its simple-yet-elegant design influenced science fiction going forward. When it came time to launch Star Trek: The Next Generation, the ship had to be redesigned for a more modern era. Thus the Enterprise-D was born. In the episode of Earl Grey hosts Darren Moser, Phillip Gilfus, and Daniel Proulx discuss all things Enterprise-D, from the design to the sets and everything in between. Starting with "Encounter at Farpoint" and going all the way through to Star Trek Generations, the hosts discuss what worked, what didn't, and what made the ship so memorable. 

The Next Generation. In 1987, Star Trek got another shot at television with The Next Generation. A risky move at the time, Gene Roddenberry's attempt to recapture the magic of The Original Series replaced the famous crew and ship with brand new characters and an all new Enterprise. In the premiere episode of Trek.fm’s new TNG podcast, Earl Grey, hosts Daniel Proulx, Darren Moser, and Phillip Gilfus introduce themselves and their love for Picard's crew, the impact the series has had on them, and the importance of TNG to the franchise.