Cardassian/Maquis Conflict.

The Next Generation often introduced "aliens of the week" that may be referenced one or two more times before being forgotten about entirely. The episode "The Wounded" introduced a strange, new alien species, the Cardassians, who apparently were at war with the Federation for a significant amount of time. A controversial peace treaty finally brought peace between the two powers, leading to an uneasy alliance. However, the price of that peace was unhappy Federation colonists ("Journey's End") that would eventually lead to the rise of the Maquis ("Preemptive Strike").

Phillip, Daniel, and Darren discuss Next Gen's culmination of a story line that would be developed by Deep Space Nine ("The Maquis, Parts 1 and 2") and serve, essentially, as springboards for both the creation of DS9 and Voyager. From the origins of the memorable Bloody, Bloody Cardassian War to the political turmoil of the Demilitarized Zone to raiders attacking Federation and Cardassian targets - the Maquis storyline certainly showed that it was not all one "happy, shiny, perfect Federation" in TNG. Join Earl Grey as they tackle this ever-present storyline of the Cardassian-Maquis conflict. 

Hosts
Daniel Proulx, Phillip Gilfus, & Darren Moser

Editor / Producer
Darren Moser

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

Will Nguyen

The First Duty Commentary.

In The Original Series, their movies, and early The Next Generation, Star Trek continually referenced Starfleet Academy, the training ground for our favorite officers. However, fans did not get their first introduction to the San Francisco-based Academy until the nineteenth episode of TNG's fifth season, "The First Duty." Daniel, Darren, and Phillip fire up this memorable episode and provide a commentary.

This episode focuses on Cadets Wesley Crusher, Sito Jaxa ("Lower Decks") and Tom Par-, um, Nicholas Locarno, as their poor choices lead to the death of a fellow cadet, and an investigation forces Wesley to make a life-altering decision. This episode also introduces the Academy groundskeeper Boothby ("In the Flesh" [VOY]), who has mentored many future Starfleet commanders. So open the door (with a handle!) to a great Captain Jean-Luc Picard speech, put on your cadet uniform, and join Earl Grey for this commentary on "The First Duty." 

Hosts
Daniel Proulx, Phillip Gilfus, & Darren Moser

Editor / Producer
Darren Moser

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

Will Nguyen

Starfleet Career Path.

Many fans of Star Trek: The Next Generation and all other Trek incarnations continually imagine what life is like as a Starfleet officer. Phillip, Daniel, and Darren decide to play "guidance counselor" and explore the actual Starfleet career track. They begin with Next Gen's debut of Starfleet Academy in "The First Duty," as well as the multiple references to various crew member's experiences, including their application process to the Academy or their life as cadets.

Earl Grey then goes through the ranks step-by-step, exploring what life is like as a "blue" (science/medical) or "red" (command) shirt. What does a science lieutenant junior grade do on the Enterprise-D? Do red shirt ensigns do anything else other than pilot the ship? How can you be in command of anything when you are the lowest rank? The trio also reveals the "secret" behind the post-grad school blue shirt experience and spends time with the "Lower Decks," discussing life as a junior officer on the flagship. So put on the Academy sorting hat to determine your hous-...color uniform and enjoy this episode that analyzes the Starfleet career path.  

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

Chief O'Brien.

Husband. Father. Soldier. Bored transporter chief. He goes by many titles, but Chief Miles Edward O'Brien made an impression on Next Generation viewers from the first moment he piloted the stardrive section of the new flagship in "Encounter at Fairpoint." Even though Miles changed from red to gold (and changed ranks even more often!), this secondary character was a vital part of the Enterprise-D crew. Daniel, Darren, and Phillip lay out a character profile that follows Miles from his wedding to Keiko, to the birth of his first child Molly, and all the way until his last moment in Transporter Room 3, before he disembarked on a seven-year adventure on Deep Space Nine.

Join Earl Grey as they go through Chief O'Brien's many episodes, analyzing his "every man" role, his unique role as a Starfleet non-commissioned officer, and how his reactions to "boldly going where no one has gone before" made the series even stronger. So cuddle up with your pet spider, get your ship ready to be placed in a bottle, and enjoy this character profile on Chief O'Brien.  

Hosts
Daniel Proulx, Phillip Gilfus, & Darren Moser

Editor / Producer
Darren Moser

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

Will Nguyen

Debate: Is Starfleet Military or Exploration? 

There are fan arguments that have been debated since Star Trek: The Next Generation first aired on television - Who is the better Enterprise captain? Which starship would win in a fight? Is Starfleet a military or exploratory organization? Earl Grey tackles this last question for this week's episode and attempts to explore (or militarize!) the answer.

Phillip moderates the debate that examines the origins of Starfleet in the 22nd and 23rd Century, as well as how it is portrayed in the 24th century. Darren powers up the phaser array and loads the torpedo tubes for his arguments that Starfleet is a military organization. From its use of naval ranks, a chain of command, weapons, patrols of Federation space, and the use of Starfleet personnel as soldiers in the "bloody, bloody" Cardassian War, we see an organization that is similar to the armed services of the 21st Century. Daniel, Mr. Blue Shirt himself, explains how Starfleet is a futuristic NASA, with its focus on scientific missions, a Starfleet Academy that instructs its people on science and enginnering principles, and how its mantra is literally to "explore strange, new worlds."

Join this episode of Earl Grey, as these #BridgeMates name drop Zefram Cochrane at the drop of a tequila glass in order to prove their points, and finally put to rest whether Starfleet is a military or exploratory organization.

Hosts
Daniel Proulx, Phillip Gilfus, & Darren Moser

Editor / Producer
Darren Moser

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

Will Nguyen

Voyager/TNG Crossover.

The Next Generation featured some "crossover" episodes with Deep Space Nine, from "Birthright, Part 1" to "Firstborn." By the time Star Trek: Voyager reached the airwaves, TNG had warped away from TV to become its own film franchise. In this episode, Darren, Daniel, and Phillip travel to a parallel universe where season 8 of Next Gen is on the airwaves along with the first season of Voyager. What would a meeting of Captains Jean-Luc Picard and Kathryn Janeway have looked like? How would the crews of the Galaxy and Intrepid-class vessels react to each other? Would such a meeting take place in the Alpha or Delta Quadrant?

Earl Grey talks about the myriad of possibilities between the two ship-based Star Trek series set in the 24th Century. From the battle of tea v. coffee, resurrecting the ill-fated original first officer, doctor, and conn officer of the NCC-74656, and figuring how Deep Space Nine could make an appearance well. The trio discuss the possibility of a "backdoor" pre-pilot for the fourth Trek series on TNG, featuring a special appearance by former Lieutenant Ro Laren as a Maquis fighter on the Valjean. Join Earl Grey as they help Dr. Beverly Crusher install the EMH and talk about a Voyager crossover episode on The Next Generation. 

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

Marina Sirtis Talks TNG, Internity, Women, and More.

Fans know her as "Imzadi" and ship's counselor, but Marina Sirtis is much more. Phillip, Darren, and Daniel interview Marina (on #DeannaTroiDay!) about her new series Internity and the campaign to fund its production.

Sirtis helms the cast of Internity, a medical dramedy, where she plays Dr. Camila Chivari, a 50-year-old divorcee embarking on a second career as a doctor. She finds herself being bossed around by a chief intern (Joey Adams, also writer and producer for the series) who is the same age as her children, while also encountering Nurse Tracey (Carla Jimenez) and Medical Director Dr. Owen Sieber (Richard Ruccolo). The pilot episode is directed by another Enterprise-D alum, Michael Dorn, who provides a chance for a TNG flashback reunion scene!

Marina not only talks about her excitement about being involved in Internity, but also describes what it's like to develop a show as a "fan-funded" series, the struggles of women in the entertainment industry (and society overall), and ... yes, why The Next Generation is the best. The Earl Grey trio and Marina discuss her voice acting exploits (from Gargoyles to Mass Effect), her adventures with her Next Gen family & the other Trek series she appeared on, what it was like to finally wear a blue shirt, and explains the Riker/Troi relationship dynamic.

Join this special episode of Earl Grey with Marina Sirtis as she reveals what position on the Enterprise-D she coveted, her favorite character on the Holodeck, and why she is proud to be a part of the TNG legacy.

Hosts

Daniel Proulx, Phillip Gilfus, & Darren Moser

Guest

Marina Sirtis

Editor / Producer

Darren Moser

Executive Producers

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

Associate Producer

Stephen Boyd

Production Manager

Richard Marquez

Content Manager

Will Nguyen

Chapters

Phillip's Questions (00:01:39)
interity Campaign (00:13:58)
Daniel's Questions (00:18:44)
Darren's Questions (00:28:40)
Closing (00:41:35)

Links

Internity Website: http://www.internitytv.com/
Indiegogo Campaign: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/internity-a-newbie-series
Afternoon Tea with Marina Sirtis: https://vimeo.com/139839316
Internity Facebook: www.facebook.com/internityTV
Internity Twitter: @internityTVShow

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Spooky TNG.

Mystery. Flickering lights. Strange sounds ... and clicking ... always the familiar, repeating clicking sounds ...

Star Trek: The Next Generation has its fair share of episodes that cause fans to hide behind the couch. Darren, Daniel, and Phillip turn down the lights, get out the flashlights ... er, palm beacons, and talk about their favorite spooky TNG episodes. 

There is the surreal happenings in the fourth season outing "Night Terrors," where a sleepless crew fights their own minds playing tricks on them. The trio also discusses the alien abduction mystery "Schisms," with the "scary" talents of the Holodeck computer knowing the difference between a table and a chair. The sixth season gave fans the Inception-like episode "Frame of Mind," with Commander William Riker taking us on a psychotic thriller of a ride. Then there is the "100% scientifically-accurate" story "Genesis," which has us ready to hang from the bulkheads, as we look out for "de-evolved" Lieutenant Worf or Spider-Barclay.

So feel the terror in this Halloween-inspired episode of Earl Grey, as they discuss the spooky episodes of Next Gen.

Hosts
Daniel Proulx, Phillip Gilfus, & Darren Moser

Editor / Producer
Darren Moser

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

Will Nguyen