From: ottoh3@CFSMO.Honeywell.COM (Otto Heuer #3)
Subject: rasc FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS LIST
To: rec.arts.startrek.current
Posted-Date: Tue, 14 Apr 92 23: 03:48 cst
Organization: Honeywell Systems & Research Center
Date: Wed, 15 Apr 1992 05:03:48 GMT
Received-Date: Wed, 15 Apr 92 00: 02:28 CDT


	      PERIODIC LIST OF "FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS"
	   in REC.ARTS.STARTREK.CURRENT (last updated 4/13/92)

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 episodes
2) More upcoming TNG tidbits
3) How many seasons of TNG are we getting? (and TNG Movies)
4) Deep Space Nine (the next televised Star Trek series)
5) Upcoming DS9 Episodes
6) 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:

"Hero Worship" (repeat) (4/13 - 4/19)

"Cost of Living" (4/20 - 4/26):  Lwaxana Troi (Majel Barrett)  is back, and
she's taking  Worf's  son  Alexander  (Brian  Bonsall)  under  her wing and
preparing to be re-married.  She'll be wearing a white dress instead of the
traditional Batazed lack of clothing.  There's a  mudbath in  this one too,
with Worf and the Trois in it.   Troi wears  a beautiful  blue outfit, best
one yet.  Guest star Carel  Struycken as  Mr.   Homm ("you  raaaang?")  and
Tony Jay as Campio.

"The Perfect  Mate"  (4/27  -  5/3):   An alien  shapeshifter (a beautiful,
genetically-perfect woman  named  Kamala  (not  the  Ugandan  Giant)) comes
aboard the  ship  and makes  all the  men (but  no lesbians,  of course) go
ga-ga...  becoming  their  idea  of the  perfect woman.   Sort  of like the
episode "Camille" of RED DWARF.  It is said to be a sort of remake of TOS's
"Elaan of  Troyius"  with  a touch  of "The  Man Trap"  and "Mudd's Women".
Possible tie-in  with  DSN?    We'll see.   It's  an episode  "heavy on the
subject of  feminism".    There  are  Ferengi  in  this  one  too,  who are
investigating her value.  Guest stars Tim O'Connor  (who played  Dr.  Elias
Huer on  "Buck  Rogers  in  the  25th  Century")  as the  ambassador who is
transporting the bride Kamala.

"Imaginary Friend" (formerly "Invisible  Friend") (5/4  - 5/10):   A little
girl (Clara) has an imaginary friend who isn't imaginary anymore.

"Violations" (repeat) (5/11 - 5/17)

"The Masterpiece Society" (repeat) (5/18 - 5/24)

"I, Borg" (5/25 - 5/31):  Apparently  a theme  along the  lines of Asimov's
"I, Robot" (what  timing--think they'll  dedicate it  to him  memory at the
beginning like they did for Gene?).   The  Enterprise finds  a crashed Borg
surveillance vessel  with one  survivor -  a borgafied  teenager (which the
Enterprise crew  calls "Hugh").   Geordi  takes over  the boy  and tries to
recover his humanity.  Guinan is involved (maybe  they'll actually *listen*
to her this time).  She and Picard  must reexamine  their confused feelings
about the Borg's return.  We will learn  much more  about the Guinan/Picard
relationship, during a scene in which  they are  fencing.   Written by Rene
Echeverria (who  did  "The  Offspring"  and  "Transfigurations").    She is
generally known  for  writing "people  stories", so  this will  be a people
story about the Borg.  The story is supposed to be very touching and "bring
tears to your eyes".

"The Next  Phase" (6/1  - 6/7):   The  Romulans are  experimenting with new
methods of cloaking ("phasing"), and suddenly, Geordi and Ro are invisible!
Data assumes they are dead and holds  a funeral,  at which  Riker plays the
trombone.  We  learn  a bit  about Geordi's  family (his  mother's a famous
Starfleet commander and his dad's a xenobiologist).

"Inner Light" (6/8 -  6/14):   A strange  alien icon/probe  in space knocks
Picard out for a few minutes and sends him into an  alternate reality which
takes place  only in  his mind.   The  crew claim  it is  "unlike any other
episode we've  done  to  date",  but  it  sure  sounds  a  lot like "Future
Imperfect", "Shore Leave", and about a dozen others.  Picard deals with his
entire life  while  only  a  few  minutes  go by  back in  reality.  Daniel
Stewart, Patrick's  son, plays  Picard's son  in the  other reality; Picard
even has grandkids.

"Conundrum" (repeat) (6/15 - 6/21)

"Time's Arrow" (6/22 - 6/28):  In  the final  episode of  the fifth season,
Data and Guinan travel back in  time to  19th century  Earth.   It may have
some "wild west" action and definitely features Mark Twain.   It is another
cliffhanger (though it wasn't going to be) and the conclusion  has not been
written yet, though it will most likely involve Q.

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

"Time's Arrow (part 2)" (? - ?)

"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.  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!!

"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.

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

"[?]" (? - ?):  Barclay is back.

"[?]" (?  - ?):  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]

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

2) ===== MORE UPCOMING TNG TIDBITS

We should be getting three more episodes with Guinan  (Whoopi has confirmed
this 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, Q,
and Selar.

They are thinking about a love interest between Bev and Picard.

We may finally hear a  little about  Geordi's Family.   His  parents are in
Starfleet.  His  mother  is an  exobiologist and  his father  is an officer
(commander?).

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 the  people in these
groups.

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.

Denise Crosby  will  be  seen in  three episodes  as a  number of different
characters.

Q MIGHT bring the Enterprise into the continuum if they use "Q and Order".

We will see a female member of the Q continuum.

Michael Dorn will play another character without the Worf makeup.  

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.

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

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".

It now sounds like if they use the script they had for following  up on the
bugs from "Conspiracy" it'll have to be pushed back to season six.

We won't see Data's interest in Sherlock Holmes further explored due to the
Conan-Doyle estate wanting to profit from it (Ferengi-Doyle estate?  :-)

The BBC  only  owns  the  rights  through  the end  of season  three of TNG
(excluding Best of Both Worlds I and Transfigurations).   So  far they have
no plans to secure the rights for seasons 4+, but by the time they do, they
will probably be getting the stereo version.

CIC video however have already said that they will be releasing season 4 in
the UK, so viewers can still get their fix of TNG.

Sky One  does  NOT  acquire the  rights to  this series  until August 1992.
ST:TNG will be broadcast probably from October 1992.  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.

Stewart will be doing "A Christmas carol" again in 1992.

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

3) 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.

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.

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

4) ===== 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)

FILMING:  Casting is supposed  to start  in April  of 1992.   Production is
scheduled to start in Spring (June or August) of 1992.  The first airing (a
two-hour movie) will be in January 1993, followed by  19 one-hour episodes.
Paramount may either  offer it  to the  stations that  are currently airing
TNG, or  use  it for  a "Fox-like"  Paramount network,  or offer  it to the
Sci-Fi Channel (if Paramount merges with the Sci-Fi Channel in order to get
it off  the  ground).    Majel  Barrett  is rumored  to be  involved in the
production.  Recent  information  has  Paramount committed  to 25 episodes.
Dunno...

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.

LOCATION:  The action  will take  place on  a space  station 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.
Some of the rumors floating around are:  Colm  Meaney as  O'Brien (with the
possibility of Keiko as well), Michelle Forbes as Ensign Ro, 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),  Denise  Crosby as  Sela (who  seems to have
defected), Eric  Menyuk  as  The  Traveller, [someone]  as a shape-shifting
security officer, and [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).  One  of these  nine is  the space  station commander,  who has a
"sour space for Captain Picard" (because he lost  his wife  during the Borg
attack at  Wolf  359  thanks  to  Locutus).    One  of  the  nine  is  also
"gender-neutral", a  humanoid  which  is  supposed  to be  very alluring to
either sex.  Cameos will be made occasionally  by the  TNG crew.   There is
also talk of a young father with a 12 year old son.  The  main enemies will
be the Cardassians.

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

5) ===== UPCOMING STAR TREK:  DEEP SPACE NINE EPISODES:

None yet (except the disinformation that  Paramount is  spreading (in order
to keep  the  REAL  plots  more secret)--a  trick they  learned from George
Lucas).

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

6) "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.

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

Again, 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.

		--Otto "HACK-MAN" Heuer
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