Celebrating Star Trek Day 2022
Luminaries from the franchise gather to celebrate and talk about the future
The original Star Trek series lit up the NBC primetime schedule Thursday night, September 8, 1966.
And, just as it has in recent years, Paramount used the anniversary of that debut — this year, the 56th — to celebrate something called Star Trek Day.
Once again, the studio held a major celebration at the Skirball Center in Los Angeles, California, kicked off by the Star Trek Day red carpet with co-hosts Jackie Cox and Mary Chieffo. (Chieffo played Klingon L'Rell on Star Trek: Discovery.)
(The event also was streamed live around the globe for Star Trek fans.)
Sadly, this year's Star Trek Day coincided with the news of the death of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, on which star Patrick Stewart commented.
“It is a sad day. She has had an extraordinary life, and a beneficial impact on my nation. It was my wish to see her hit the century,” the actor said, as his voice appeared to crack, “because I think that would have been very exciting for all of us.
“But she didn't, and I send my sympathies to her family — particularly, to Prince Charles, who I have met several times and whom I admire. I am intrigued, if he is to be the next monarch of the UK — because there's been some uncertainty about that — I can't wait what he does because I know what some of his feelings and thoughts are. It would be exciting,” he added.
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Cox asked Stewart about the stories that he thinks he can now tell about Jean-Luc Picard at this point in the actor's own life now that he's wrapped production on the third, and final, season of Star Trek: Picard, which will stream on the Paramount Plus subscription streaming service on February 16, 2023.
“The most appealing element, when I was first approached about Picard, was that decades had passed since I last wore a Star Trek uniform. And they wanted to examine what had happened to Jean-Luc, what his life was like, what he was doing, had happened to him during those 20-odd years,” the actor said of the years since fans had last seen Captain Picard.
“When I said to them, 'But, you know, my life has changed in exactly the same way.’ It has been an eventful 25, 27 years of ups and downs. So I don't have to act any differently. Picard has aged, and so have I. So, it's a blessing.”
Stewart's Star Trek: Picard castmate, Jeri Ryan, also talked about what it's been like to bring Seven of Nine back so many years after originating the character during the run of Star Trek: Voyager.
“Honestly, it's pretty thrilling. Coming back to this character — this many years later — was a huge surprise. That's something that I, in a million years, anticipated. I thought that I said, 'Goodbye,’ to her a long time ago. So this has all been an absolute delight,” she said. “It really has. I love the way that she's developed. I love where she's gone. And just wait till you see Season 3!”
Meanwhile, Babs Olusanmokun and Melissa Navia both talked about the creative range which they are afforded as actors starring as Dr M'Benga and Erica Ortegas, respectively, on Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.
That's particularly true given that, within the first season of Strange New Worlds, episodes focused on everything from fairy tale to space horror.
“As actors, it gives us room to play, and do whatever. It's why we all started it. It's a beautiful thing. It's been really fantastic to experience that,” Olusanmokun said.
Added Navia, “With a lot of roles, you get one role and that's your role. But in Star Trek, we almost get to play a different role every episode.”
Meanwhile, Alex Kurtzman — executive in charge of the Star Trek franchise — talked about his approach to putting Star Trek on television and promised new directions, as well.
“What’s been so amazing, I think for me, is because there are so many shows now, it's not a one-size-fits-all deal, right? Each show has its own identity, doing its own thing. I feel like, when you do something for everybody, you please nobody,” he said.
“So I'm like, 'No, let's not do that.’ Let's create this beautiful rainbow of colors, and everybody gets to pick their color,” he added.
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