TV Talk at TCA: ‘Star Trek: Picard’ reunites ‘Next Generation’ cast

PASADENA, Calif. – For the first day of the Television Critics Association winter 2023 press tour – the first in-person, masks-required event since January 2020 because of the covid-19 pandemic – Paramount+ touted its upcoming programs, many with familiar titles (“Fatal Attraction,” “Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies,” “Star Trek: Picard”) and familiar names, including Kiefer Sutherland (“24”) who stars in thriller “Rabbit Hole” (March 26) as a corporate spy framed for murder.

“Even with the masks, I’m starting to realize who you all are,” Sutherland said during the first press conference of the day. “It’s so nice to see you.”

After three years of virtual press conferences via Zoom, the feeling was mutual.

The press conference for the third and final season of “Star Trek: Picard” (Feb. 16) offered a reunion of several cast members from “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” a far cry from the season-one “Picard” press conference when Stewart said it was “very important that we put a lot of distance between ‘Next Generation’ and what we are seeking to do here in this.”

Although some “Next Gen” characters appeared in seasons one and two of “Picard,” they were incidental. In season three, a distress call from Dr. Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden) ignites the season’s plot, ultimately bringing back “Next Gen” regulars Riker (Jonathan Frakes), Deanna Troi (Marina Sirtis), Worf (Michael Dorn), Geordi (LeVar Burton) and Lore (Brent Spiner).

“Picard” executive producer Alex Kurtzman said it was Stewart’s idea to bring back “Next Gen” characters in significant roles.

“At the time I was wrong about what I was determined should not be seen nor encouraged to be seen in ‘Picard,’” Stewart said of his initial objection to revisiting Picard’s past.

Showrunner Terry Matalas said one goal of the new season is to offer closure that “The Next Generation” never got after the poor box office performance of the last “Next Gen” movie, 2002’s “Star Trek: Nemesis,” ended the “Next Gen” film series.

“In this season one of the north stars we were following was Jean-Luc Picard and his ‘Next Generation’ cast because we never got a final send-off,” said Matalas, who early in his career worked as a production assistant on “Star Trek: Voyager” and once gave “Picard” star Jeri Ryan a ride in a backlot golf cart during “Voyager” production at Paramount Studios. “It felt like after ‘Star Trek: Nemesis’ there wanted to be one more final story. [In this we’re] telling Picard’s very personal story but how better to end that journey than to look back at the beginning and bring his friends and family from ‘Star Trek: The Next Generation’? So there is a strong sense of conclusion to that particular storyline.”

That said, some plot doors were intentionally left open despite this being the final season of “Picard.”

“Anything is possible,” Kurtzman said. “Who knows?”

For “Next Gen” fans, what may be most exciting about this reunion is that “Picard” gives Crusher, an oft-neglected character by writers of the original “Next Gen” series, an opportunity to shine.

“I absolutely loved kicking [butt],” McFadden said.

“I wish more of those elements in Beverly could have been touched on earlier as well,” Stewart said.

“I tried,” McFadden said, later elaborating on her frustration with how the character was written in the original series, particularly when she returned to the show in season three (Crusher was replaced by a new doctor character, played by actress Diana Muldaur, for the show’s second season). “I always wanted to do more action. I was a choreographer, I’d done dance and combat, so I really wanted not to have a makeup kit on away team [missions]. I wanted to have some things I could use that would be helpful. With the switch between the second and third season, it was a more matronly character. It took several years to get back to the way the character was described by Gene [Roddenberry]. I really loved Terry’s ideas and Patrick’s ideas on where Crusher would be and how they had me in the beginning doing stuff and active. It was really great that there was a much bigger range of Crusher in this season, which I love.”

Paramount +’s “Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies,” a prequel with a feminist twist that features all-new musical numbers, debuts April 6.

“Fatal Attraction,” a re-do of the 1987 movie’s story with a new murder mystery overlay, premieres April 30.

Kept/canceled

Netflix renewed “Wednesday” for a second season.

CBS ordered season two of “Fire Country.”

Peacock renewed “Pitch Perfect: Bumper in Berlin” for a second season.

AMC/AMC+ has decided not to air the already-filmed second seasons of “61st Street” and “Pantheon” in a cost-cutting move.

Paramount+ scrapped a planned “Workaholics” movie, based on the Comedy Central series, five weeks before production was set to start.

Netflix reversed its renewal of adult animated comedy “Inside Job,” canceling the show after one season.

‘Daily Show’ guest hosts

Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show” has lined up dates for its guest hosts Leslie Jones (week of Jan. 17), Wanda Sykes (Jan 23), D.L. Hughley (Jan. 30), Chelsea Handler (Feb. 6) and Sarah Silverman (Feb. 13). Weeks for Al Franken, John Leguizamo, Hasan Minhaj, Kal Penn and Marlon Wayans have not yet been scheduled.

Trib Total Media TV writer Rob Owen is attending the Television Critics Association winter press tour. Follow Rob on Twitter or Facebook. You can reach him at rowen@triblive.com or 412-380-8559. Ask TV questions by email or phone. Please include your first name and location.