The Incomparable, number 373, September 2017.

Welcome back, everybody, to The Incomparable.

I'm your host, Jason Snell, and as we're recording this and releasing it, it is the 30th anniversary of Star Trek,

The Next Generation's premiere back way, way, way, way back in 1987.

I am joined by people who probably watched it when it was on in 1987.

Bless them, they're here to join me.

I definitely was there 30 years ago watching it. Here are my guests. We're going to talk about Star Trek The Next Generation with an eye towards two specific episodes, but we'll get there in a minute.

Gene McDonald is here. Hi, Jean. Hi, Jason. Yes, I was old enough to be watching it when it was released. But back then, I was in graduate school,

and we had this thing about having no TVs and staying in the library all the time. I didn't

have the right friends back then. So what did you do? Did you not watch it until later?

I would see it like occasionally, it would show up, you know, I would, as I'd be at somebody's

house. I know, it sounds terrible. Then finally, I watched the whole up, you know, I would, as I'd be at somebody's house. I know,

it sounds terrible. Then finally I watched the whole thing, you know, streaming, I don't know,

whenever it came out, um, available on streaming. So years later. So yes, I, I confess, I am not,

I was not a original, uh, TNG. Wow, you're not present at the time.

Well, I was in high school then, so I had plenty of time to watch it.

And I suspect maybe many of the other panelists could say something similar.

Lisa Schmeiser is also here.

Hi, Lisa.

Were you watching the next generation 30 years ago?

When TNG originally debuted, I am very sorry to stay. I was still in my

snot-nosed, kill-your-tele-television phase. And I did, oh, I know, I did not come to the light

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