Captains on the Bridge! Lesley and Ben board the USS Enterprise to talk about Star Trek the Next Generation! The sequel series to the Gene Roddenberry written Star Trek The Original Series, Star Trek: the Next Generation covers the adventures and missions of the USS Enterprise, a federation exploratory and diplomatic starship captained by Jean Luc Picard and staffed by a wide variety of humans and aliens from across the futuristic federation. Together they boldly go where no one has gone before, solving diplomatic crisis, encountering new lifeforms and new civilizations, and intervening when mad gods and extradimensional creatures interfere with reality. We’re starting off our new season of Syndicated with Lesley and Ben by analyzing our favorite science-fiction shows. Ray guns, alternate dimensions, robot butlers and planetary fleets. Science fiction is a lens through which we can view all other issues. We picked a Lt. Commander Data episode and, therefore, a VERY topical episode. Plus, we get to spend time with our good friend, Data, Geordi, Riker, Picard, Worf, and Counselor Troi. Dr. Pulaski is there too! Good for her! In Season 2, Episode 3’s Elementary, My Dear Data, the USS Enterprise arrives at its destination days ahead of schedule, leaving Lt. Commander Data and Lt. Geordi La Forge with time to kill. The two roleplay as Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson inside the holodeck, a futuristic chamber on board the Enterprise that can create illusionary settings. When the mysteries the computer samples are too easy for Data, Geordi commands the computer to create an opponent capable of defeating his android crewmate. What the Enterprise manufacturers prove perilous to the whole ship.. Plus, conversations about 80s and 90s optimism and design sensibilities, the Enterprise’s carpet, artificial intelligence and androids. Syndicated with Lesley and Ben is a monthly podcast about television, genre and storytelling in which your hosts watch one episode of a new show and explore the history of television one episode at a time. From family room sitcoms to space exploration shows, reality TV to procedurals and game shows, we’re going to cover it all and give you the context you need to understand the wonderful world of television and the stories we love. Our current season is Science Fiction. Our Logo is by Terra Bosart, the theme song is by Mandra Sigma and the show is edited by Ben Hamlin.
