From: Otto Heuer #3 <ottoh3@cfsmo.honeywell.com>
Subject: FAQL: FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS LIST for rec.arts.startrek.current
To: rec.arts.startrek.current
Posted-Date: Tue, 15 Sep 92 00: 04:26 -0500
Organization: Honeywell Systems & Research Center
Date: Tue, 15 Sep 1992 05:04:26 GMT
Received-Date: Tue, 15 Sep 92 00: 04:00 CDT


	      PERIODIC LIST OF "FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS"
	   in REC.ARTS.STARTREK.CURRENT (last updated 9/14/92)

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.
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.   See  the rasm  FAQL for  a list of
acronyms used in this post.

===========================================================================
1) Upcoming TNG season 5/6 episodes
2) More upcoming TNG tidbits
3) Star Trek Abroad
4) How many seasons of TNG are we getting? (and TNG Movies)
5) Deep Space Nine (the next televised Star Trek series)
6) Upcoming DS9 Episodes
7) Moontrap II:  The Pyramids of Mars
===========================================================================

			This entire article contains

			***** S P O I L E R S *****

for upcoming movies, TNG episodes,  books, etc.   If  you don't  want to be
spoiled, don't read this!

1) ========== UPCOMING TNG SEASON 5 EPISODES:

The regular  season  is  over in  North America.   Here  is the rebroadcast
schedule for the rest of the summer:

"Time's Arrow" (repeat) (9/14 - 9/20)

========== UPCOMING TNG SEASON 6 EPISODES?:

"Time's Arrow II" (Season Premier) (9/21 - 9/27) This is being rewritten as
it is being shot, but is rumored to involve Guinan and possibly  Q.  Spiner
has been  saying "For  the rest  of this  season, I  don't have  a head" at
conventions.  Speculate all  you want.   Sirtis  said at  a Minneapolis con
that things as still confused even after part II is over.

"Realm of Fear" (9/28 - 10/4):  Lieutenant Reginald Barclay is back (played
by Dwight Schultz).  This time he has  a neurosis  about transporters; i.e.
he is terrified to use them and he seeks Troi's help to cure it.

"Man of the People" (10/5  - 10/11):   A  heavy-duty Troi  episode in which
Marina gets aged and is thus required to wear heavy  make-up, giving Marina
a new-found respect for Michael Dorn and his make-up.  And in this episode,
Troi *dies* (non-permanently, no doubt).

"Relics" (10/12  -  10/18):    The crew  of the  Enterprise-D encounters an
abandoned Federation transport ship, activates the  transporter, and Scotty
(played by James Doohan) appears.  Seems he was beamed up one time too many
and became suspended in molecular limbo  for 75  years.   He works together
with the chief engineer of the Ent-D to save the ship.   He  is still alive
in their time frame at the end allowing  him to  do further  guest shots on
this show or on DS9.

"Schisms" (10/19 - 10/25):

"Q-Me" (10/26 - 11/1):  Q is back!  John DeLancie guest stars.

"Limits" (?   - ?):   Strange  happenings aboard  the Enterprise  lead to a
discovery that  warp  engines  are  environmentally damaging  the fabric of
space.  Sounds  like  another bad  attempt to  relate Star  Trek to today's
social issues.  "The Way to Eden"? Strike One!  "The Outcast"?  Strike Two!
"Limits"?  Most likely Strike Three!

"The Rivals" (?  - ?):  A study of the impact of competition  in Geordi and
a rival who renew their relationship while the Enterprise tries  to get rid
of an alien plane.

"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!!

"Rascals" or  "Undercover"  (?   - ?):   Away  team members  are reduced to
children due to  a transporter  accident.   I assume  this means phsically,
rather than mentally.

"[?]" (?  - ?):  The Borg are back!  And they brought more  ships with them
this time--but they have  changed a  little.   They wre  working with seven
different Borg costumes.  [speculation:   my  guess is  that we  get to see
some other species that the Borg have stolen bodies from (Klingon, Romulan,
and/or Ferengi; I *hope* the change is not that they have gained compassion
--hm]

"Q and  Order"  (if  they  decide  to  go  with this  idea):   Q brings the
Enterprise (or some of its members) into the Q Continuum.

==============================================================================

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 shooting "Sarafina" in  South Africa  and doing charity
work.

We may have a "few" episodes with Wes coming  home for  "spring break" (Wil
is at UCLA; his character Wes is attending Star Fleet Academy).

They are looking for scripts  (GOOD ones)  to bring  back Barclay, Lwaxana,
and Q, but have apparently given up hope on bringing back Sela.

They are 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 is scheduled to direct around four episodes in  season six.   So far
he has done "The Offspring", "Reunion", "Drumhead", and "Cause and Effect".
Apparently, TPTB are as impressed with his work as are the  people in these
newsgroups.

Gates McFadden  wants  to  try  her  hand at  directing.   Brent Spiner was
offered the chance, but refused.

Stewart was given a second chance at  directing as  well.   He directed "In
Theory" and "Hero Worship"--not two of the better episodes.

Leonard Nimoy's  son  (a  lawyer)  will  be  directing  a  TNG  episode  in
September, 1992.  He apparently helped with Star Trek 6.

Denise Crosby  will  be  seen in  three episodes  as a  number of different
characters, but apparently no longer as Sela.

In an  interview  with James  Doohan, he  said he  will be  appearing in an
episode of TNG next season.  They  are currently  writing the  script so no
details were available.   It  has been  mentioned at  July 1992 conventions
that Doohan *is* supposed to  at least  be in  a TNG  episode this upcoming
season.  And not as an old(er) guy, either.  The announcer was very unclear
about this, but either in TNG or in STVII,  Scotty gets  brought forward in
time and  stranded there,  then becoming  a regular  on either  TNG or DS9.
This, of  course,  depends  on contract  negotiations, but  James Doohan is
apparently excited about the idea.   At  a 7/27/92  convention, Doohan said
his episode would be filming from August 8-16 and the episode would involve
some kind of transporter accident  (in his  time).   He had  never heard of
plans for Scotty to be in Deep Space Nine,  but would  be open-minded about
being in it.

There were two Q episodes in development for season  5, but  neither got to
the point where it could be filmed.  Stilwell thinks they will  both end up
on the screen next season, with the first one  coming early  in the season.
He 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.

John DeLancie was originally going to be filming a Q  episode starting July
29 but it got cancelled because the script wasn't quite ready.   He doesn't
know what the script was, nor does he know when it will  be ready.   But he
loves doing them and will continue to be ready and willing.

We will see a female member of the Q continuum.

TNG will try to stay away from so  many sequel  episodes in  the future and
will try to get back on  the track  of more  science fiction  and new stuff
next season.   Stilwell realizes  that they  may have  done a  few too many
socially conscious  episodes  this  season  and  not  enough  real  science
fiction.

While Spiner would  like to  do Lore  again, the  producers do  not want to
bring Lore back, amongst others, because of the sequel problem.

There will definitely be no more episodes  dealing with  Data's interest in
Sherlock Holmes due to certain legal problems with the estate of Sir Arthur
Conan Doyle (the Ferengi-Doyle estate wanting to profit from it).  :-)

Michael Dorn will play another character without the Worf makeup.  

Dorn wants Worf to have a ponytail.

Ensign Ro will be more prominent in future episodes.  

There is the possibility of Nichelle Nichols showing  up in  season five as
either Guinan's mother or daughter.

It is very unlikely that William Shatner will appear in TNG, though he will
not say for sure if he will not appear on TNG.

No one  will  move  up in  rank, so  we don't  end up  with a  ship full of
captains like TOS did.

We are supposed to see one  of the  bathrooms on  the Big  E by  the end of
season six.

Starlight Effects  (SFX)  is  working  on  a  model  of  the 'Calypso', the
Captain's Yacht, in hopes of showing it to the Star Trek  office and saying
"See, now you've got the model--now you can use  it in  a story."   No word
yet on how the Star Trek office will react.

Season six may have Robin Williams, John  Goodman, and  Elliott Gould (this
comes from the 3/6/92 issue of "Entertainment Weekly").

There is also a rumor that Bob Dylan is a Star Trek fan who asked to appear
on the show.   The  people at  Paramount have  never heard  this.  HOWEVER,
Eddie Rabbitt *is* a big Star Trek  fan -  both original  and new.   He can
apparently quote  episode titles,  so he's  fairly serious.   He  is also a
friend of Johnathan Frakes, since  (and I  may be  getting this  wrong - my
notes aren't as clear as they should be) Frakes is a long-time  friend of a
guy (I think his name is Tom Skyver, but I'm sure this is  at least spelled
wrong, if not completely wrong) who has written a  lot of  stuff for Eddie.
Anyways, Eddie  visited  the  ST:TNG lot  recently (like  a kid  in a candy
store, I heard), and  he and  Frakes were  joking about  Eddie appearing in
ST:TNG as  a  holodeck simulation.   It  was *just*  joking -  there are no
actual plans to do this.  I am pretty sure that this  is the  source of the
Bob Dylan rumor. (Sorry, I forgot whom to attribute this information to)

The secret of Picard's relationship with Guinan will be revealed before the
end of the sixth season.

(The following from Richard Arnold):  Leonard  Nimoy was  presented with an
idea for  a  ST:TNG  two-part episode  which was  given a  working title of
"Return to  Forever".    The  "official"   word  is   that  midway  through
negotiations Nimoy's agent suddenly started asking for $1  million.  Since,
at the  time, the  budget for  an average  week's episode  was $1.4 million
(it's now  $1.6  million),  this  was a  clearly unreasonable  demand.  The
script with Spock is still supposedly floating  around somewhere.   But the
"official" word is  that Leonard  is simply  more interested  in working on
movies (mainly directing)  than he  is in  making guest  appearances on TV.
This was the news until late 1990.   Nimoy told  us himself  in August 1991
that he would be in an episode or  two of  TNG during  the November Sweeps,
but it  won't  be  "return to  Forever" (Guardian  of Forever  script?)  or
"Broken Mirror" ("Mirror Mirror sequel?).  It turned out to be "Unification
I" and "Unification II".

If they  use  the  script  they  had  for  following  up  on  the bugs from
"Conspiracy" it'll be pushed back to season six.

Stewart will be doing "A Christmas Carol" again in 1992, and  has been cast
as Daddy Warbucks in "Annie II".

Shatner and Nimoy are going to be working on a play that will  open in N.Y.
titled 'Harry and Arthur'.   Shatner  plays the  part of  Harry Houdini and
Nimoy plays the part of  Arthur Conan  Doyle.   Directed and  co-written by
Shatner.

=============================================================================

3) ========== STAR TREK ABROAD

The BBC only owns the rights through the end of  season three  of TNG (plus
"The Best of Both Worlds  II").  They have switched to airing TOS episodes.
Apparently, the BBC  did not  anticipate the  popularity of  Picard and the
rest of the gang and, as a result, only bought the show until July of 1992.

Sky One has acquired the rights to TNG starting in August 1992.  It will be
broadcast probably from October 1992 until July 1994,  airing five episodes
per week.  They will not cut the  "brutal" scenes  that the  BBC decided to
cut.  They claim they will braodcast it in stereo as well.   --R.I.  Burns,
General Manager of Sky One.

CIC video  are  already  releasing season  four episodes  in the  UK.  They
usually release three tapes a month with two episodes on each tape.

The UK Video releases have stopped (with In Theory/Redemption I).  Season 5
will be released starting in October 1992.  No  information as  to the rate
of these new releases.

TNG began broadcast in Italy on the national channel Italia 1  some time in
the summer  of 1992  (they showed  a few  season one  episodes the previous
summer, but stopped with no warning.

==============================================================================

4) The cast  of TNG  have signed  6-year contracts  and have  the option of
another year.  Currently, Paramount is planning on it going  the full seven
(this has  been  verified  by  Rick  Berman  2/92), but  are having trouble
signing Stewart (who isn't  really suited  for television)  and Spiner (who
really hates the "Data" makeup each morning) for the seventh year.   We may
have "Captain Riker" for the final year, as  Frakes has  said publicly that
he will  be on  TNG for  as many  years as  they have  it go.   Frakes also
mentioned that the new contracts leave it open for an 8th and 9th season!

At the end of May,  1992, Paramount  confirmed that  they would  have a 7th
season of TNG, but will have to wait and see which actors  actually stay on
for the seventh year.  This was re-confirmed at the end  of June.   In July
it was confirmed that everyone except Dorn, Spiner, and  Stewart had signed
for season 7.

After this,  plans  are  to  create  TNG  movies.   They should  be able to
convince the  entire  cast to  participate (big  bucks in  movies) and have
Picard (as an admiral) visiting Riker's ship for the duration of the movie.

The 3/13/92 issue of "Video Business" (a  video trade  magazine) reports in
their "Hollywood Grapevine" section that "ST7:  The  Deadly Years" (working
title until  they  find a  better name)  is slated  to start pre-production
soon.  This would be for yet another TOS movie.

Shatner said  he has  given the  producer an  idea for  another film, which
would include all the members of the old cast,  and that  the producers are
considering it.

At a 7/17/92 convention, Shatner said he had  submitted a  script idea (not
an actual script) for ST7 to Brandon Tartikoff (sp).   After  two months of
silence from Tartikoff he received a reply saying that  another script idea
was being  considered before  Shatner's.   Then they  would take  a look at
Shatner's idea. Shatner had said that Tartikoff had been very non-committal
each time he had asked about it.  But he did give the  impression that both
he and Nimoy are interested.

Eric Stillwell has also mentioned a lot of talk  around Paramount regarding
a seventh TOS movie.  Shatner has submitted a script idea (with Kirk having
a young love interest) and they are re-considering  Harve Bennet's "Academy
Days" script with random actors portraying the crew at SFA.

Rumors for  the  younger  actors include  Christian Slater  as Kirk, Robert
Downey, Jr.  as McCoy, Crispin Glover as Riley,  Alec Baldwin  as Pike, and
Keifer Sutherland as Finnegan.

==============================================================================

5 ========== DEEP SPACE NINE (the next televised Star Trek series):

Rumors have been floating throughout 1991 of a third series, either another
generation *after* TNG,  the years  between TOS  and TNG,  the years before
TOS, or a space-station setting around TNG-times.  It now  appears that the
last of  these will  become a  reality.   Rumors of  a Sulu-centered series
appear to be incorrect.

Paramount announced  in  December  of  1991  that  they  were considering a
spinoff series  centering  around  Worf  and  the  Klingon  race (since the
Klingon episodes seem to be the most popular).  Personally,  I think they'd
run into problems with funding and finding people  who don't  mind hours of
makeup each morning.  We'll see...

Paramount Domestic Television this week will  be offering  stations two new
first run original hour programs:  a spinoff  of its  successful Star Trek:
The Next Generation and a new series version of The Untouchables.   The two
programs, which Paramount is expected to urge stations to air together as a
two hour  block, are  being offered  for a  January 1993  start.  Paramount
officials declined to comment, but station executives, who asked  not to be
named, said  they  had presentations  scheduled this  week.   The Star Trek
spinoff, which was expected to be a pre-quel, will be set in  the same time
as the existing first run series.  --Electronic Media 1/6/92

Get ready  for  Star  Trek:   Two  Generations Removed.   A  spinoff of the
successful syndicated Star Trek:  The  Next Generation  reportedly is being
shopped around   to   station   representatives   in   anticipation  of  an
announcement in two weeks at the National Association of Television Program
Executives convention in New Orleans.   No one  at Paramount,  home for the
Trek franchises,  would  comment,  nor  would  Next  Generation  producers.
Electronic Media describes the project as a  "prequel," and  reports it may
be sold  in  tandem  with  a  new Untouchables  series with  a January 1993
target.  But there's no word if Trek's  late creator  Gene Roddenberry, who
died in October, had any hand in the development.  And it's  unclear if any
New Generation  (sic)  hands  will be  involved in  the new  Trek.  --Peter
Johnson/USA Today (1/8/92)

Introducing the next generation of  "Star Trek:   The  Next Generation" --a
spinoff series, "Star Trek:  Deep Space  Nine," to  premiere in syndication
in January 1993.  "This show will have more  of an  edge to  it," says Trek
co-executive producer Rick Berman.  Deep Space Nine, unlike Next Generation
and the  original  Star  Trek,  won't  take  place on  a starship streaking
through space.  Instead, it'll follow the adventures of a team of Starfleet
officers on  an  alien  space  station  that sits  near a  "worm-hole" -- a
shortcut to unexplored parts of the galaxy.   "It  will bring  all kinds of
interest from alien life forms," says co-executive producer Michael Piller.
Deep Space may include stars from Next Generation.  The lead character will
be a man of action -- a single parent raising  a 12-year-old  son.  Another
character "in his natural form looks like a  large bowl  of Jell-O," Berman
says, and will take on humanoid  forms.   The creature,  Piller says, "like
Spock and Data will give us a chance to  reflect and  comment on humanity."
Deep Space,  being  sold  to  local   stations  at   this  week's  National
Association of Television Programming Executives convention in New Orleans,
is designed  to  keep Paramount's  Star Trek  franchise alive.   While Next
Generation is  the  highest-rated  non-network  hour program,  it won't air
forever.  Now in its  fifth year,  the program  was always  designed to end
after seven.  --Peter Johnson/USA Today (1/21/92)

Paramount is readying a spinoff of its hit series ST:TNG.  Target stardate:
Jan '93.   The hour-long  show will  be offered  to stations  in a two-hour
syndicated block  with  a  new  version of  The Untouchables.   No official
details are available, but buzz is that the new Trek will be a "prequel" to
Next Generation.    No  word  on  casting,  or  whether  Trek  creator Gene
Roddenberry, who  died  in  October,  was  involved   in  the  development.
Paramount czar  Brandon  Tartikoff,  formerly NBC  Entertainment chief, has
said he may use the two-hour block as the launch pad for a Fox-like network
of independent  stations.    --The  Philadelphia Inquirer:   Daily Magazine
(1/9/92)

Paramount Pictures announced Monday it will launch  "Star Trek:  Deep Space
Nine" television series early next year, a "Wild West"-style version of the
durable "Star  Trek"  series.   "If, as  (the late)  Gene Roddenberry often
said, "Star Trek" is "Wagon Train" in space, then "Deep Space  Nine" can be
compared to  a wild  west town  on the  edge of  the frontier  with all the
excitement and adventure that  kind of  locale can  generate," said Michael
Piller, who is co-executive producer on "Star  Trek:   The Next Generation"
and the new show.  "Star Trek:  Deep Space Nine" will revolve  around a new
cast of Starfleet officers who take command of a remote alien space station
near a  strategically  located  "wormhole,"  or  a  shortcut through space.
Paramount said "Star Trek:  Deep Space Nine" will begin airing next January
with a two-hour premiere movie, followed by 19 one-hour episodes.  Shooting
will begin in June at Paramount's soundstages in  Hollywood.   As a result,
the new series will air concurrently with Paramount's "Star Trek:  The Next
Generation," currently in its fifth year and consistently in  the top three
of syndicated television shows.  Both series are  set in  the 24th century.
"Setting 'Star Trek:  Deep Space Nine' during the same time  as 'Star Trek:
The Next Generation' will  allow an  exchange of  characters and occasional
story lines  between  each show,"  said Rick  Berman, Piller's co-executive
producer.  "Star  Trek,"  created  by  Roddenberry, first  aired on network
television in 1966 and lasted three seasons before  it was  canceled by NBC
because of low ratings.  But the original series attracted a  core of loyal
fans and became  a hit  in re-runs  of its  78 episodes.   Not  only is the
original series still being seen on reruns, it has also  spawned six movies
featuring the original cast that have grossed nearly half a billion dollars
for Paramount.  "Star Trek:  the Next Generation" has one year  left on its
contract after it completes the current season.  Speculation has arisen the
characters from that show may then do a  seventh "Star  Trek" movie because
the stars of the  previous movies  have indicated  that the  sixth movie --
"Star Trek:  the Undiscovered Country" would be their last.  Paramount also
announced Monday it would launch  an 18-episode  version next  year of "The
Untouchables," a popular TV show in the late 1950s  and early  1960s.  "The
Untouchables" also became a hit movie in  1987, with  Kevin Costner, Robert
De Niro and Sean  Connery, who  won the  Academy Award  for Best Supporting
Actor.  Kerry McCluggage, president of the Paramount Television Group, told
a news conference the  two properties  are Paramount's  "crown jewels." The
studio is  planning 26  episodes of  both shows  for the  fall 1993 season.
"'The Untouchables'  is  one  of  the  best  crime-fighting franchises that
exists, while Star Trek redefined the science fiction genre and is arguably
the most visionary space drama ever conceived," McCluggage said.  Paramount
said XETV in San Diego, KCPQ in Seattle  and the  Paramount's stations have
committed to  carrying  one  or both  of the  new series.   It  said the it
expects to  announce a  significant number  of deals  shortly and predicted
that it  would  have  a high  percentage of  the nation  "cleared" for both
shows.  "The  Untouchables" will  be set  in Chicago  in the  1930s and its
executive producer will  be Christopher  Crowe, who  developed and produced
"Alfred Hitchcock Presents" for NBC.  --UPI (1/92)

Is the TV galaxy big enough for two "Star Treks"?   Beam down  and tell us,
Michael Piller.    "The  landscape  of  Gene Roddenberry's  24th century is
vast," says Piller, co-executive producer of  Paramount's "Star Trek:  Deep
Space Nine," a new spinoff of the  studio's crown  jewel, "Star  Trek:  The
Next Generation."  "We won't be doing the same show twice.   There are many
stories out there."   Paramount announced  yesterday that  production on 20
syndicated episodes of "Deep Space" would begin in  June for  a January '93
launch.  "Next Generation," in its fifth season, will  continue with Piller
and his  "Deep  Space"  partner,  Rick  Berman, at  the helm.   Contrary to
industry buzz,  "Deep  Space"  won't be  a "prequel"  to "Next Generation,"
Piller says.  Rather, it follows  a brand-new  team of  Star Fleet officers
commanding a remote space station reclaimed from  aliens.   The crew's digs
will be the opposite  of the  plush Enterprise  which gives  "Deep Space" a
harder edge than "Next Generation."  "The Enterprise has always been one of
the major  characters  in  'Star  Trek;'"  said  Piller.    "It's  the most
comfortable facility in the history of science.   Our  people will  be in a
space station  that's always  falling apart.   It's  the most uncomfortable
environment they've  ever  been  in.   That  will bring  up new conflicts."
Although Piller and Berman had been mulling a "Next Generation" spinoff for
a while, it wasn't until new Paramount boss Brandon Tartikoff began in July
that a new series was ordered,  Piller says.   (What  took so  long?  "Next
Generation" is the highest-rated non-network drama on TV.)   The two series
will share some story lines, says Piller, 43.  No casting  for "Deep Space"
yet.  No  weekly  "Next  Generation"  regulars  will  be spun  off to "Deep
Space."  Only recurring characters--such as brilliant  cadet Wesley Crusher
(Wil Wheaton)-will appear on both shows. --The San Diego Union (1/21/92)

Attention, Trekkies,  there's  another  "Star  Trek"  series  destined  for
syndicated television early  next January.   This  syndicated series, which
will run  parallel to  "Star Trek:   The  Next Generation,"  will be titled
"Star Trek:  Deep Space Nine" and will be a  little different  than its two
predecessors.  "It's  going  to  be  darker  and  grittier  than  'The Next
Generation,'" Rick   Berman,  executive   producer  of   both  shows,  told
Entertainment Weekly.  "The  characters won't  be squeaky  clean."  Indeed,
since the new series will be set on a decaying space  station that features
a casino  and  a  holographic  brothel.    The  characters  will include an
embittered Starfleet commander, a blob that can take the shape  of any life
form it desires and  a science  officer who  gets around  in a warp-powered
wheelchair.  The  new  series  will  take  up  the  slack  when  "The  Next
Generation" goes  off  the  air,  probably  in 1994.   "Every  show has its
lifespan," Berman said.   "And 'Next  Generation's' was  always foreseen at
seven years.  That's why we're doing 'Deep Space Nine' -- to keep the 'Star
Trek' franchise alive after 'Next Generation' is gone."  --UPI (2/2x/92)

Once, twice, three times a sensation.  At least that's the idea behind Star
Trek:  Deep  Space Nine,  yet another  Trek series,  planned for nationwide
syndication early next January.  A sneak  peek:   "It's going  to be darker
and grittier  than  The Next  Generation," promises  Rick Berman, executive
producer of both shows.   "The  characters won't  be squeaky  clean."  Some
details:  (TIME AND PLACE) The  show will  take place  in the  same time as
Next Generation, around A.D.   2360, but  this time  the setting  will be a
decaying space station in orbit around a stripped mining planet.  As a port
of call for visiting merchant ships, the station  will feature  the sort of
salty-dog amenities  you'd  never  dream  of  on  a  Federation starship --
including a casino and a holographic brothel.  The station's most important
feature is its proximity to a cosmic "wormhole," a tear in  space that acts
as a shortcut to the unexplored other side of the galaxy.  Boldly exploring
that wormhole, seeking out  strange new  worlds and  civilizations (hmmm --
sounds kinda familiar) is pretty much what the new show will  be all about.
(FACES) Deep Space Nine will have  eight central  characters, although none
has been  cast  or  even  named.   The station's  human captain  will be an
embittered Starfleet commander who lost  his wife  during an  attack by the
Borg (the  same  zombies  who  kidnaped  and  brainwashed Next Generation's
Captain Picard  last  season).    The  security  officer  will  be a "shape
shifter" -- that is, a bloblike creature that can  change into  any form it
wants, including human (a similar character  was introduced  in the feature
film Star Trek VI).  The science officer will be a female  alien who spends
much of the first episode in a warp-powered wheelchair -- she's from a much
lighter planet  and  can't  hack  the  station's  heavier  gravity.   Other
characters are still in the works -- but expect plenty of visits from those
familiar faces over at Next Generation.  Picard,  Data, Worf,  and the rest
of the gang will  have plenty  of time  to do  cameo appearances because...
(EXIT `NEXT') Deep Space Nine will probably  nudge Next  Generation off the
air sometime in 1994.  "Every show  has its  lifespan," says  Berman.  "And
Next Generation's was  always foreseen  at seven  years.   That's why we're
doing Deep Space Nine -- to keep the Star  Trek franchise  alive even after
Next Generation  is gone."   Picard  and friends  will always  be around in
reruns, though,  along  with  the  crew of  the original  1966-69 Star Trek
series (which is still being broadcast on more than 200 stations across the
country).  --Entertainment Weekly (3/6/92)

Paramount is NOT accepting scripts for DSN until after  the series premiers
in January 1993.  They will be returned.  --Bjo Trimble (3/92)

..Captain Picard  will  steer  his  starship Enterprise  into the two-hour
opening episode  of DEEP  SPACE, and  Romulons and  Klingons will regularly
cross over  between  both  syndicated  shows.   Executive producers Michael
Piller and Rick Berman report that Whoopi  Goldberg, who  plays Guinan, the
friendly humanoid  bartender  in  the  Enterprise's  lounge,   may  have  a
recurring role in Deep Space Nine.  Word is Whoopi will discover she has an
errant son confined in a space-station jail. --TV Guide (April 4-10)

For over 25 years, only one extraordinary legend has  achieved success time
after time  with  audiences  around  the  world.     What   began  as  Gene
Roddenberry's unique vision of the future, became  one of  the most popular
legends in the history of television and film.  Shortly  after the original
79 episodes  aired  on  NBC,  Star  Trek  found  unprecedented  success  in
syndication, creating a loyal  viewer following  that launched  a series of
six blockbuster motion pictures.   Then,  in 1987,  history repeats itself.
Star Trek:  The Next Generation debuts to critical and public  acclaim.  It
captures 3 Emmy  awards and  a coveted  Peabody Award  for the  best of the
best.  A  second television  phenomenon had  begun.   In 1988,  in only its
second season,  Star Trek:   The  Next Generation  out-delivers 3  out of 4
prime time dramas in men 18-49.  In 1989 the  Next Generation  moves up the
ranks to  finish  among  the  top  five  prime  time  hours   in  key  male
demographics.  In 1990  it beams  up to  the number  two slot, consistently
outperforming top network hours.   Then, in  1991, this  series sets record
highs, taking the top spot among men across the board and blasting ahead of
such shows as Cheers, LA Law and the all time network heavyweight champion:
Monday Night Football.  In addition the recent two-  hour Star  Trek:  25th
Anniversary Special drew in  record numbers  of viewers  across the galaxy,
proving that anything Star Trek touches turns to  gold.   And now  .   .  .
the next  thrilling  chapter  of  this remarkable  legend is  ready to beam
aboard the airwaves.  A bold new  series of  adventures comes  to the final
frontier.  The time:  the 24th century -- the  era of  the Next Generation.
The place:    a remote  space station  manned by  a new  team of Federation
officers.  Their mission:  to restore peace to  a land  filled with hostile
alien cultures.    Welcome  to  a  very  different part  of the  galaxy.  A
mysterious world, once ruled by an evil empire.  Where chilling memories of
the past collide with the future.  Exotic pleasures are bought  and sold by
greedy fortune  hunters.    And  a  thrilling  outerspace gateway instantly
slingshots passengers  lightyears  across  the  galaxy.     This  is  where
Starfleet's new team of deep  space officers  encounter new  life forms and
alien civilizations, each  possessing their  own unique  skills and unusual
abilities, destined  for  the most  amazing adventures  in uncharted space.
Imagine a  voyage  to the  threshold of  new discovery,  featuring the same
tradition of legendary excitement that has captivated audiences for over 25
years.  In a universe of new adventures  -- where  no one  has gone before.
Imagine...  Star Trek:  Deep Space Nine:  coming to  your quadrant, January
1993. --Transciption of video given to prospective TV stations (4/92)

Paramount Domestic  Television's  eagerly  awaited  syndicated  "Star Trek:
Deep Space Nine", details of which have  been kept  close to  the vest, may
boldly go where the previous trend-setting "Star Trek"'s have yet to tread.
BROADCASTING has  learned  some  plotline  and  character  information that
suggests "DSN" will have more  of an  "edge" than  the current incantation,
"Star Trek:   The Next  Generation", or  the original  network series (NBC,
1966-69).  The  24th  Century  setting of  "Deep Space  Nine" is  a sort of
galactic way station that will allow for the introduction of  a vast number
of alien  creatures  and crossover  apearances from  "Next Generation" cast
members, yet also allow its inhabitants to venture on patrols  in search of
rogue space pirates and others.  Word also has it that Paramount may take a
progressive leap  beyond  the  other  two  "Star  Trek"  series by possibly
casting a black or other minority actor  as the  space station's top-ranked
commander, in addition to expanded roles  for women  and teens.   At least,
those are  some  of  the  sketchy  details  that  Eric  Stillwell, a script
coordinator during the first five years of "Star  Trek:   TNG", outlined to
Star Trek fans at  Creation Entertainment's  "Star Trek"  convention in New
York last week.  Production is not slated to begin on the series until late
August, but  Rick  Berman, who  shares the  co-executive-producer title for
"Deep Space Nine" with Michael Piller (both held  the same  titles on "Next
Generation"), confirmed  many  of  the preliminary  storyline and character
decisions.  "Deep  Space  Nine"  will  debut  in  January  with  a two-hour
telefilm featuring a guest appearance by Patrick Stewart, who plays Captain
Jean-Luc Picard on "The Next Generation".  Borrowing  a story  arc from the
end of  the  third  and beginning  of the  fourth season  on "TNG", Captain
Picard falls under the control of  alien creatures  known as  the Borg, who
are bent on the destruction of  the U.S.S.   Saratoga  and Captain Benjamin
Sisko.  The old plotline now serves as  the bridge  for the  story bible on
"Deep Space  Nine":   Surviving the  attack, though  possibly still holding
Picard to blame, Sisko is  chosen for  the command  of an alien-constructed
space station to be run under the auspices of the Federation.   Casting has
not yet  begun, but  Stillwell said  the Sisko  character will  be a single
father who may be portrayed by a black actor.   Berman says  they are doing
"multi-racial readings" for the part, "and that applies to  all other parts
under consideration  as  well,"  he  said.    Others  in  the  new  cast of
characters include  "Odo,"  an  alien  security  officer  who  is  a "shape
shifter," as  Berman  describes  him.    Employing  the  kind of "morphing"
special effect  used  in the  hit movie  "Terminator 2,"  the producers are
giving Odo  the  ability to  alter his  physical composition  to assume the
likeness of anyone else  on the  space station  or elsewhere.   Like Whoopi
Goldberg's Guinan on "TNG", who  runs a  bar on  the U.S.S.   Enterprise, a
Ferengi creature (an alien with big ears) named Quark will be the bartender
of an alien speakeasy.  In fact, Stillwell  had screened  at the convention
Paramount's short  videotape presentation  to stations  teasing "Deep Space
Nine", which promises "a world  where exotic  pleasures are  sold."  "There
will be  a  little more  of an  edge to  this series  ['Deep Space Nine'],"
Berman said.  "There  will be  conflicts that  arise out  of the Federation
crew members'  interaction  with the  aliens who  work and  visit the space
station.  It won't  be the  wholesomeness of  an enclosed  environment of a
starship [such as 'TNG''s Enterprise].  We're  going to  have a  lot of fun
putting our characters in weird situations, but I'm not going  to give away
the storyline anymore than that."  Other characters filling out the regular
cast include a 28-year-old female science officer who is  half humanoid and
half alien (she is the host body for a 300-year-old worm  that lives inside
her); a  male  doctor,  and  two  male  children--a Ferengi  teenager and a
12-year-old human.  Stillwell also suggested that women will  have a bigger
role in  the series  than in  previous "Star  Trek" projects.   Berman also
confirmed Stillwell's  speculation that  Irish-born actor  Colm Meaney, who
plays transporter  chief  Miles  O'Brien, as  well as  his television wife,
Keiko (played  by  Rosalind Chao),  will be  the only  rehulars moving from
"Next Generation" to join the  "Deep Space  Nine" cast  permanently.  While
Stillwell suggested "Deep Space Nine" will have a budget  comparable to the
$1.6 million spenton each episode of "TNG", he stressed that  the cost will
be kept down because there will not be a need to create various planets for
the show.  Instead, he said, the show  will take  place on  the alien space
station.  Berman  disagreed,  countering  that  "DSN"  will  have the "same
degree of special effects" as "Next Generation" by  emnbarking upon similar
"outside missions."  Interest in  "Deep Space  Nine" is  running high, with
just over 100 markets, representing  80% of  the U.S.   sold (BROADCASTING,
Nov.  25, 1991, Jan.  13, Feb 17).  Nearly every station will piggyback the
spinoff with  the   highly  successful   five-year-old  "Next  Generation",
although in at least one market, Oklahoma City, "Deep Space Nine" and "TNG"
are being  carried  by  two   different  stations,   KOHK-TV  and  KFOR-TV,
respectively.  There have been reports that "TNG" would end after a seventh
season, but Stillwell said the producers are  talking about  pushing for an
eighth.  Berman said he had no knowledge  of any  such push.   --Rich Brown
and Mike Freeman/Broadcasting (7/6/92)

Malibu Comics has announced that it has  acquired the  comic-book rights to
the new  Star  Trek television  series Star  Trek:   Deep Space  Nine.  The
official announcement  was  made  by Malibu  publisher Dave  Olbrich at the
recent Diamond Comics Retailer Seminar.  The  forthcoming television series
Star Trek:    Deep  Space  Nine  is a  spin-off from  Star Trek:   The Next
Generation and is  scheduled to  begin in  January from  Paramount.  Malibu
Comics plans  a  regular  monthly  series  and  quarterly  specials  and is
assembling the  various creative  talents for  the books.   --Comic Buyer's
Guide (7/17/92)

========== FILMING:    They  have  finished  auditioning  the cast members.
Production has started.  Filming started in late  August, 1992.   The first
airing (a  two-hour  movie)  will  be  in the  first week  of January 1993,
followed by 18 (possibly 25) one-hour episodes.  For each market, Paramount
offered it first to the stations that are currently airing TNG, and if they
didn't want it--they let any other station in the area  pick it  up.  Majel
Barrett is rumored to be involved in the production.

========== PRODUCTION:  Rick Berman & Michael  Piller (exec.   producers of
TNG) will continue to  serve as  exec.   producers of  BOTH shows, although
Piller will be  concentrating most  of his  time and  energy on  DS9.  Jeri
Taylor, who has been serving as a writer, story editor and co-producer this
season, will be promoted in the fall to fill some of Piller's gap on TNG.

========== FLAVOR:  It will have more of the action of  TOS (less "talking"
their way out of  situations) but  still have  the special  effects of TNG.
Rick Berman, executive producer of TNG, is  heading the  project along with
Michael Piller.  The uniforms look somewhat like Wesley Crusher's SFA cadet
uniform.

========== LOCATION:  The action will  take place  on a  space station that
was reclaimed  from  aliens (next  to a  wormhole).   Berman says  it was a
Ferengi-built station in orbit around the planet Bajoran  (Ro Larren's home
world).

========== TIME:  It will take place in the same time as TNG.

========== CHARACTERS:  It will have some of the same  actors playing roles
as TNG.  It will have mostly new actors since they're cheaper.

Avery Brooks as  the space  station commander  (Benjamin Sisco),  who has a
"sour space for Captain Picard" (because he lost  his wife  during the Borg
attack at Wolf 359 thanks  to Locutus)  and is  struggling to  raise his 12
year old son Jake.  He was serving  on board  the USS  Saratoga three years
ago during the Borg invasion.   He  is a  baseball fan,  but since baseball
died out  in  the  22nd  century he  has to  visit the  holo-suite to visit
players and games.  He is gentle, strong,  soft-spoken, and short-tempered.
Brooks is most famous for his role as Hawk on "Spencer:   for Hire", though
he shaved his beard and grew some hair for the DS9 role.

Cirroc Lofton as Jake Sisko.  Lofton is a twelve year  old African American
actor seen in the film "Beethoven".  This marks his TV debut.

Colm Meaney as Chief Miles E. O'Brien (along with Keiko (Rosalind Chao) and
daughter).  Colm Meaney  has decided  that he  would like  to switch shows.
Keiko will  not  deal  well with  the change  of scenery  and following her
husband to this  hellhole in  order to  support his  career.   Look of more
domestic strife.    He  would  receive  a  commission  and  would be "Chief
Operating Officer" in this case.

Rene Auberjonois as Odo the Bajoran security chief (the  character has come
to be known colloquially as "Jello Man").  He is a  shapeshifter, much like
Martia in ST6.  In order to keep the writers from  using his shape-shifting
ability to constantly save the day, we find that his ability  to assume ANY
form is very taxing and he must rest at the end of each day  in his natural
form, rather like a bowl of Jello.  He  was there  when the  Feds took over
the station  from the  Cardassians, and  has his  own way  of doing things,
though he wants to become more human (all Star Trek shows have  to have ONE
character who wants to be human).  He'll take the law into his own hands to
make things the way he wants.  Rene has to wear heavy makeup, but it is not
uncomfortable.  Auberjonois is best known for his role  as Clayton Endicott
III on "Benson", the "M*A*S*H" movie (as  the priest),  "Police Academy 5",
and "The Eyes of Laura Mars".

Armin Shimerman  as  Quark,  the  Ferengi bartender/civilian administrator.
Shimerman is  best  known  for  "Beauty  and the  Beast" (Pascal), "Quantum
Leap", "Murder She Wrote", "LA Law", and "ST:TNG"  (he played  a Ferengi in
both "Last  Outpost"  and  "Peak  Performance"  as  well  as the uncredited
Wedding Box in "Haven") (yes, that was Armin's face).

Nana Visitor as First Officer Major Kira Nerys, a former Bajoran terrorist.
Visitor is best  known for  the role  of Bryn  Newhouse on  the short lived
series "Working Girl" (based on the film).

[someone] as Quark's teenage son, Naam.  Naam befriends (and  is a constant
bad influence  on) Jake  Cisco.   Together they  get into  lots of trouble.
There are supposed to be lots of running jokes on these  characters, due to
the Ferengi nature.

Terry Farrell   as  the   half-humanoid  science   officer  (an  attractive
28-year-old trill woman (Lieutenant Jadzia Dax), containing  a 300-year old
worm).  For those that don't remember, the Trill is a species which forms a
symbiotic link with a humanoid life form  (Dr.   Crusher fell  in love with
one in  "The  Host").   Cisco knew  and valued  the last  person this trill
inhabited as one of his most respected teachers.  Farrell is best known for
her film roles in "Hellraiser III" and "Back to School" as  well as playing
the character of Laurie Caswell on ABC's "Paper Dolls".

Siddig El Fadil as Dr.  Julian Bashir,  Lieutenant J.G.   He  is wet behind
the ears, but thinks he  knows it  all.   He just  graduated from Starfleet
medical and came out here because this is where heroes are made and this is
where the adventure is.  This is the wilderness.  He's got a  lot to learn.
El Fadil  is  a  British-born Arab  actor.   DS9 marks  his American acting
debut.

========== RUMORS OF OTHER CHARACTERS:

Mike Gomez  as  a  Ferengi  civilian  administrator?   Maybe  he is playing
Naam/Naag now...

[someone] as Gul Dacel, the Cardassian captain.

[someone] as Sharon Garnes, a major in the Bjoran  army.   She doesn't like
the Federation  too  much  and  doesn't think  the Feds  should be meddling
around in Bajora.

Michelle Forbes as Ro for occasional one-shot deals.   Forbes  has said she
doesn't want  to be  in the  series, as  she would  like to  pursue a movie
career.  The  October  1992 issue  of Cinefantastique  Magazine claims that
Forbes *has* signed on to play Ro, but I think they just have old  info.  [
I have this strange feeling we'll at least see her  in an  episode or three
as a "guest star" however.  --hm ]

Another character is the Bjoran spiritual leader.  He stays on the planet's
surface.  The Bjoran are supposed to be very mystic and spiritual.  We will
find out a lot more about Bjorans from DS9.  (Remember that Ro kinda denies
her heritage so you won't learn much about them from her.)

Wil Wheaton as Wesley (now an officer).

[someone] as Zoldhei (a Benzite, who tends to do things on  his own without
letting the rest of the crew know).

Majel Barrett  as  a  cat-like  alien  (from  the  species  seen  in  TAS).

Susie Plackson as Dr. Selar (the medical officer).

The doctor is a recent academy graduate who finished in  the top  2% of his
class.  He was given an assignment choice of  any place  in the federation.
He chose DS9 because he wanted to  be "out  there on  the frontier, because
that's where heroes are made".  He is going to  be a  bit disappointed with
what he encounters, and Cisco has to put him in his place.

Eric Menyuk as The Traveller.

Denise Crosby as Sela (who seems to have defected).

One of the nine is also "gender-neutral", a  humanoid which  is supposed to
be very alluring to either sex.

[someone] as a female science officer from a  planet with  low gravity, who
is confined to a warp powered (?!) wheelchair.

The computer will be an onboard Artificial  Intelligence unit  with quite a
personality (it came with the space station, has a will of its own, and has
a secret  purpose  that  will be  made more  and more  clear throughout the
seasons).

The producers plan to have Mrs.  Troi fall for Jello  Man.   When Jello Man
tries to dissuade her, explaining how he reverts to this  Jello shape every
night, her response might be something like "That's okay - I can swim."

Guinan will  make occasional  appearances on  both TNG  and DS9.   TV Guide
reported that Guinan's son would be locked up in a jail  on DS9, explaining
her visits.  Stilwell didn't know anything about this Guinan's son bit, but
also admitted that TV Guide is notorious  for getting  true information out
even faster than the people producing these shows!

Cameos will be made occasionally by the TNG crew.   Stewart will  be in the
first episode as Captain Picard.  The main enemies will be the Cardassians.

Stilwell reports that 70% of the stations carrying  TNG now  have picked up
DS9 (as well as other stations that are not currently carrying TNG).

Stilwell indicates that the darker feel on DS9 will allow  the producers to
tell stories they have not been able to tell in TNG's happy crew format.

==============================================================================

6 ========== UPCOMING STAR TREK:  DEEP SPACE NINE EPISODES:

"[episode name unknown]" (1/??/93 - 1/??/93):  In the pilot episode (2-hour
movie), we  will  discover  that  the  Cardassians,  fed  up  with  Bajoran
terrorist activities,  decide  to  give  up  and withdraw  from the Bajoran
system (home of Ensign Ro  Laran).   The Bajorans,  suffering from internal
conflicts, will  request  that  the  Federation step  in to  keep the peace
during the  transition  period, so  the Federation  will send  (via the USS
Enterprise) a team to take up residence on a space station left over in the
Bajoran system.  Pretty quickly, our heroes will discover a stable wormhole
near the station  and, wouldn't  you know  it, the  Cardassians decide they
want the  system  back.   Meanwhile, the  Ferengi own  the concessions (the
saloons, casinos,  holodeck  brothels  and 7-11's)  on the  station.  [This
comes from Eric Stilwell, via someone without a name in either their header
or signature]  According  to  the  July  6  1992   issue  of  "Broadcasting
Magazine", this episode will  feature Patrick  Stewart as  Picard under the
influence of the Borg.  The guy who directed  "Yesterday's Enterprise" will
direct this episode.  The screenplay is by Rick Berman  and Michael Piller.

Either as a sub-plot in the premier  or in  a follow-up  episode, Cmd Sisko
will be the pitcher of the 1923  Chicago Cubs.   This  is most  likely on a
holodeck, unless they go through the wormhole and end up in Earth's past.

==============================================================================

7 "Moontrap II:  The Pyramids of Mars" began filming in  December.  Walter
said contract negotiations are still going on,  but he's  pretty sure he'll
be in  it.    "Moontrap"  was  a  science-fiction  thriller starring Koenig
released ONLY ON VIDEOTAPE in 1988.   It did  pretty well  for a video-only
movie.  "Moontrap II", however, will be released in the theaters.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

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feel free to email me at one of the addresses below.

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