Earl Grey 162: Grr... Yeah  

Recast TNG.  

James T. Kirk and Spock are arguably the most beloved and well-known characters in Star Trek. With the newest movies released, does one prefer William Shatner over Chris Pine or Leonard Nimoy over Zachary Quinto? What will happen if we reboot The Next Generation? As it stands now, Patrick Stewart and Brent Spiner are the names associated with Jean-Luc Picard and Data, respectively. But, who would play these characters now?  

In this episode of Earl Grey, hosts Lee Hutchison, Richard Marquez, and Amy Nelson look at a recast of The Next Generation. We decide if our interpretation of a reboot series would be in the Prime or Kelvin timeline, or if this reboot takes place now versus the 1980's. Each host prepares and defends their choice of actors that would play the main characters of TNG.  

Chapters  
00:00:39 - Introduction (00:00:39)   
Prime or Kelvin Timeline (00:02:39)   
Wesley Crusher (00:03:52)   
Geordi LaForge (00:06:23)   
Beverly Crusher (00:10:05)   
William Riker (00:12:23)   
Worf (00:17:07)   
Data (00:23:01)   
Deanna Troi (00:27:15)   
Jean-Luc Picard (00:30:57)   
Full List Review (00:35:52)  
Closing (00:40:40)  

Hosts  
Lee Hutchison, Richard Marquez, and Amy Nelson

Production  
Richard Marquez (Editor) Lee Hutchison (Producer) Amy Nelson (Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Michael E. Hueter (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Patreon Manager)

Episodes That Never Happened.

We have all seen episodes (or entire seasons!) of television shows that end with, "It was all just a dream!" It can sometimes feel like such storytelling is a "cheat" or are a waste of time. This week, Phillip, Darren, and Daniel pick out episodes of "The Next Generation" that may not have "really" happened, as far as the crew of the Enterprise-D is concerned. The trio asks whether these episodes are still enjoyable or whether it would have been better to have a storyline that "actually" occurred instead.

Earl Grey examines episodes featuring amnesia, such as "Conundrum" and "Thine Own Self," as well as "It was all an illusion!" episodes like "Future Imperfect," "Remember Me," and "Frame of Mind." They also tackle "complicated" fan favorites such as "Inner Light," "Yesterday's Enterprise,""Tapestry," and "All Good Things..." They look at whether episodes that are "outside" reality help or hurt a story. Other episodes they look at include "Parallels," ""Tapestry," and "Cause and Effect." 

Join Earl Grey for this week's podcast about the "never happened" episodes ... which hopefully will not be considered a waste of time for listeners (though they may hit the reset button at the end).

Hosts
Daniel Proulx, Phillip Gilfus, & Darren Moser

Editor / Producer
Darren Moser

Executive Producers
Norman C. Lao, Matthew Rushing, & C Bryan Jones

Will Nguyen

Favorite Earl Grey episodes.

Star Trek: The Next Generation has inspired, motivated, and entertained fans for almost thirty years -- especially three specific (and familiar) fans: Darren Moser, Daniel Proulx, and Phillip Gilfus. The trio of Earl Grey look back over the 122 Next Gen topics they have discussed for three years and pick their top three favorite shows, as well as some honorable mention podcast episodes.

Their choices include their crossovers with other trek.fm podcasts, like "Earl Grey 15: The Movie Should Write Itself," an in-depth look at the inaugural TNG film Star Trek: Generations with the co-hosts of "Standard Orbit," and "Earl Grey 100: All Ships Are Big Shuttles," a role-playing game celebrating TNG and the trekfm family. The trio remember their once-in-a-lifetime interview with Counselor Deanna Troi herself, Marina Sirtis ("Earl Grey 112: Troi, Goddess of Internity"), as well as one of their many signature game-playing adventures when, together, they defeated "Not Gowron" during "Star Trek: The Next Generation Interactive VCR Board Game: A Klingon Challenge" ("Earl Grey 69: Experience Bij").

The co-hosts also talk about the much-beloved game #BridgeMates ("Earl Grey 82: When In Doubt, Choose Data"), their first episode re-write of a TNG episode, "Masks" (Earl Grey 105: Snakebot: The Great Librarian), and discuss the origins, operations, and favorite aspects of this weekly Next Gen podcast. So enjoy a nice warm cup of Earl Grey and join Darren, Daniel, and Phillip as they reflect on their favorite episodes of this podcast.

Hosts
Daniel Proulx, Phillip Gilfus, & Darren Moser

Editor / Producer
Darren Moser

Executive Producers
Norman C. Lao, Matthew Rushing, & C Bryan Jones

Will Nguyen

TNG Guest Stars.

The Next Generation was not accepted as official "Star Trek" during its first episodes and seasons, but it did not take long for TNG to become a pop culture phenomena. Every Trek series attracts guest stars, but there are also celebrities who, as Trekkies themselves, would love a chance to appear on the starship Enterprise. Darren, Daniel, and Phillip talk about those cameos and special appearances in this episode.

Actors from other famous TV shows and movies, including Kelsey Grammer ("Cause and Effect"), Kirsten Dunst ("Dark Page"), and Ashley Judd ("Darmok," "The Game"), appeared on the flagship in various episodes. However, there are those from the fields of science, e.g., astronaut Mae Jamison ("Second Chances") and Stephen Hawking ("Descent, Part 1"), and music, e.g., Michelle Phillips ("We'll Always Have Paris") and Mick Fleetwood ("Manhunt"), who wish to appear on their favorite television show. Join Earl Grey as they tour all the guests star of Next Gen who added a spark of celebrity of our favorite Trek series. 

Hosts
Daniel Proulx, Phillip Gilfus, & Darren Moser

Editor / Producer
Darren Moser

Executive Producers
Norman C. Lao, Matthew Rushing, & C Bryan Jones

Will Nguyen

Gender Bender

The Next Generation was lead by Captain Jean-Luc Picard and his mostly male crew of officers. In this episode of Earl Grey, the trio gain inspiration from the IDW "Star Trek" comic book series called "Parallel Lives"that "flipped" the genders of the JJ-verse cast. How would the Enterprise-D's adventures unfold with Captain Jean Picard and her crew?

Daniel, Darren, and Phillip beam aboard Jarrah Hodge (co-host, "Women at Warp") to analyze the main and secondary characters of Next Gen under a "gender bender" thought experiment. Whether it's Commander Riker - a first officer who echoes Captain Phillipa Louvois ("The Measure of a Man") or her long-lost love Dean E. Troi - a sensitive Betazoid who is not only in touch with his feelings, but in touch with everyone else's. Earl Grey, along with Jarrah, analyze what characteristics would have remained the same if the sexes had been switched, what stereotypes may have been challenged, and how Suzie Plakson's Q would have made for quite a different "encounter." From uniform to name changes, and everything in between, join Earl Grey in this "gender bender" episode that imagines a parallel universe for the crew of TNG.
      

Hosts
Daniel Proulx, Phillip Gilfus, & Darren Moser

Guest
Jarrah Hodge

Editor / Producer
Darren Moser

Executive Producers
Norman C. Lao, Matthew Rushing, & C Bryan Jones

Will Nguyen