My favorite non-game-show television program is Star Trek. Back in the day, when I was a little nipper, I used to watch Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock (on WGN even! Hell, back then, they even ran The $25,000 Pyramid…at least I think they did) roll through the galaxy in original Starship Enterprise, and dreamed of phasering down the bad guys myself. Since then, The Next Generation and its successors have given the franchise "new life." This article will break down the various series and movies. This is not a terribly detailed breakdown, so if you want further information, go check out the official site at http://www.startrek.com.

And as always, make sure ya tell 'em that the Game Show Man sent you.

In each show or film I'm going to briefly look at each of these individual components

Overall: what the show was about, what was special, what sucked

The Ride: my favorite part of Star Trek is the starships the characters roll around the cosmos in. This is where I will give my opinion of the main vehicle(s) of the characters of a given show or film.

The Captain: a look at whoever was in charge.

The Crew: a look at whom else kept the ship rolling along.

Overall: This is it, folks; the Star Trek most folks grew up before the current generation laid eyes on TNG (an acronym for The Next Generation). Classic space opera at its best, with all the cheesy special effects, silly costumes and gorgeous alien woman you can stand. Action packed and fun. I still whistle Alexander Courage's Enterprise fanfare from time to time.

The Ride: The two most recognizable spacecraft in all of fiction: the Millenium Falcon from Star Wars, and the original Constitution-class U.S.S. Enterprise. Matt Jeffries' original designs set the standard by which all future Star Trek ships would be measured. Primitive compared to later ships, but still fun (but even more fun later…)

The Captain: James T. Kirk. The text commentary for the Star Trek The Motion Picture DVD says that many consider William Shatner's Captain Kirk to be the prototypical spaceship commander. Why not? People still make fun of Shatner's over-the-top portrayal of the Captain, but then Shatner is a Shakespearean actor (didn't know that did you? Neither did I until recently) and Jim Kirk is an over-the-top guy. Had trouble dealing with Klingons, though. Kirk is my favorite of the Star Trek captains.

The Crew: The standard that set the standard: Leonard Nimoy's Spock is made fun almost as much as Shatner's Kirk is, but you just gotta love Mr. Spock anyway, if only because he almost always has all the answers. DeForest Kelley's Dr. McCoy is the perfect foil for Spock's excessive logic, and McCoy is the prototypical space opera doctor. James Doohan's Scotty is the most fun of the crew, if only because he's willing to get drunk to the bejeezus to save his ship (and besides, Doohan is the guy who invented the first words of the Klingon AND Vulcan languages as he is a dialectician as well as a fine actor). People bag on Asian-Americans for being bad drivers (sadly, a stereotype that even other Asians have agreed with; still not entirely sure why), but George Takei's Mr. Sulu is the greatest (and most wonderful) exception. Sulu didn't get as much respect as he deserved in the series, but he got his propers later. Ensign Chekov (played by sci-fi favorite and "fanboy" Walter Koenig) was great comic relief and got some of the best lines in the series. Lt. Uhura (played by Nichelle Nichols, a role-model for women and African Americans at the time; also a fine actress) has not gotten as much detail as she should have; it would be nice to see Uhura get some of her backstory filled in; heck we don't even know what her official first name is!

Overall: This is the show that got Star Trek rolling again; it is the series most people of the current generation think of when they think of Star Trek. Shows a more mature Trek, with more advanced technology (and good guy Klingons). Represents the full "realization" of what series creator Gene Roddenberry thought Trek should be: a more thoughtful and cerebral (but still action packed and fun) universe. Features Jerry Goldsmith's awesome theme from The Motion Picture. Gets beaucoup extra coolness points for introducing John DeLancie as the obnoxious but lovable omnipotent villain Q.

The Ride: The biggest and baddest-ass of the television ships, the Galaxy-class U.S.S. Enterprise-D. A more organic and aerodynamic vessel than the original ship, and big, tough and heavily armed enough to make most bad guys run for their life. My favorite of the television ships (for good reason: it was designed by Andrew Probert, who helped design my favorite of all the ships, which we'll talk about later).

The Captain: Jean-Luc Picard, played by the single best actor in ALL of Trek: Patrick Stewart. Not only a badass in command of the ship, but good at negotiations and loaded with brains. Willing to kick-ass and take names when it came down to it. Had as many problems with the Borg as Kirk did with the Klingons. No wonder Starfleet (the organization most main characters on Trek work for) gave him the Enterprise-D.

The Crew: As much fun as the original series crew. Jonathan Frakes is awesome as the Kirk-esque Commander Riker. Counselor Troi, played by Marina Sirtis, is the sexiest Trek regular EVER. (I still like Sirtis's quote during TNG's early days on The New TNN that somewhere deep in her subconscious is "an ugly girl going 'yay, I'm a sex symbol!'") Further, TNG also features the second and third best actors in Trek EVER: Brent Spiner and LeVar Burton (how they are ranked is up to you). Burton is the COOLEST actor in Trek, not only because he hosted Reading Rainbow, and is a bad-ass at Pyramid, but…well, let's just say that getting the lead role in Roots, the most watched and influential miniseries of all time (and playing that role well) tends to send one's coolness into orbit. Michael Dorn plays the first Klingon regular in the series (with skill and humor). Gates McFadden's Dr. Crusher was bitchy, but only when necessary; she had Dr. McCoy's sense of principal and mercy, so as a result, she often ended up being Picard's conscience.

Overall: Okay show with lots of great moments (some of the best in any Trek). The first Trek to depict a crew working on a space station, and also the first to depict a war-time Starfleet (which would have pissed off Gene Roddenberry no end, but it still made the series fun with lots of SPACE BATTLES; I mentioned that I liked starships, didn't I?). Doesn't get as much respect as it deserves. Dennis McCarthy's theme song is very cool (the pilot episode soundtrack features a "pop" version, the only theme with that distinction until Enterprise).

The Ride: Most of the series took place on Deep Space Nine, a space station of Cardassian design. Cool enough, but it's the ships that define the series. The runabouts (mini-starships the crew used in the first few seasons) were nifty little rides (can I have one?) but it's the Defiant that DS9 is known for. The first regular ship of a Trek series to be designed specifically to blow things up, the original gets destroyed in battle, but another ship gets renamed in her honor. (Sound famliar?) (If I can't have a runabout, can I have a Defiant-class ship?)

The Captain: Always the ones to break stereotypes, the producers picked Spenser: For Hire's Avery "Hawk" Brooks to portray Commander (later Captain) Benjamin Sisko, Trek's first regular African American commander. Brooks was bagged on for his wooden portrayal of Ben Sisko, but his performance in the episode where Sisko thinks that he is a 50's sci-fi writer is sensational. (This episode is one of my favorites in ALL of Trek.)

The Crew: Major Kira (played by Nana Visitor; where DID she get that name anyways?) was a little too btichy for my tastes, but she was still cool (and tough as nails). Colm Meaney played "irregular regular" transporter Chief O'Brien on TNG, and so well liked that he was promoted to series regular on DS9, where he saved the day as much as Scotty did on the original series (and had almost as many cool moments). The symbiont science officer, Dax (first played by beautiful Terry Farrell, later by Nicole DeBoer) is one of the most fun characters on Trek, if only because she got to hang out with the Klingons a lot (original series villains John "Baltar" Colicos, William Campbell, and Michael Ansara) and even marry Lt. Cmdr. Worf (Michael Dorn reprising his TNG role with the same skill and humor). The relationship between shapeshifting security officer Odo (the amazing RenÀ Auberjonois) and Ferengi bar-owner Quark (the lovable Armin Shimerman) reminds me of that of Spock and McCoy in the original series. The only real annoyance was Dr. Bashir (Siddig El-Fadil, later renamed himself Alexander Siddig) although he got to hang out with lovable Cardassian spy Garak (Andrew Robinson, best known as Scorpio in the original Dirty Harry; he's more fun here).

Overall: The worst incarnation of Trek ever. Had a lot of good ideas, but never really found itself. Used TOO MUCH TIME TRAVEL. I'm glad the dumbasses got home so we didn’t have to see them in movies. Jerry Goldsmith's theme is the only real thing that's cool about this series.

The Ride: Okay, almost the only thing. At least for having such an AWFUL show, the producers gave the characters a phat ride: the Intrepid-class U.S.S. Voyager. Basically a baby Galaxy, with a smaller crew, folding engines, lots of nifty extras, and the ability to land on planets (the only regular series Trek ship so equipped other than the shuttlecraft). Fun ship to go exploring in but…

The Captain: Still breaking stereotypes, Voyager features the first female captain in Trek: Captain Kathryn Janeway. Let me say this: the choice of actress for Janeway was the same person I would have picked: Kate Mulgrew. As a result, I don't particularly blame Mulgrew for the fact Janeway sucked as a captain; I blame the writers. Poor Kate. If the writers had spiced up ol' Janeway, she would have been more fun. Still more interesting than…

The Crew: If I had to deal with Ensign Kim (Garrett Wang), Lt. Paris (Robert McNeil, who is cool because he got to film Infested with my favorite female celebrity in the cosmos, Amy Jo Johnson), Commander Chakotay (Robert Beltran) Neelix (Ethan Philips, a favorite from Benson) and Lt. Torres (Roxann Biggs-Dawson), the odds are I would be tempted to throw them all out of the open shuttlebay doors into space. Not the actors' fault, again; the writers needed help. Tim Russ' Vulcan security officer Tuvok was tolerable, and Robert Picardo's holographic Doctor is one of the most fun characters in all of Trek, but Jeri Ryan's annoying Borg refugee Seven of Nine needed an attitude adjustment (so does Ryan; she would be a candidate for sexiest regular in Trek, but her smart-ass remark about "getting rid of all the game shows on Monday night" when she was interviewed by Entertainment Tonight for her upcoming role on Fox's Boston Public gets her The Brick).

Overall: This is the most recent series and is still airing. The fans (including myself) wanted a Movie-Era series with Mr. Sulu and the Excelsior (more on that later), but at least for not listening to the fans, the producers still managed to come up with a FAR BETTER series than Voyager. This prequel to the original series is great fun. It takes some getting used to, but it grows on you. The same can be said for "Where My Heart Will Take Me (Faith of the Heart)," an adaptation of the Diane Warren pop song that Rod Stewart sang for the Patch Adams soundtrack, sung here by newcomer Russell Simmons. The opening montage is one of the neatest of the Trek series. Missing Alexander Courage's fanfare for the Enterprise.

The Ride: Many criticized the producers for ripping off their own ship design for NX-class Enterprise. The ship resembles the battlecruiser design from Star Trek: First Contact known as the Akira-class ship. However, at least they picked the right ship to cannibalize. The NX-class Enterprise makes me want to play "Lowrider" by War every time it appears on screen: that's how cool looking it is.

The Captain: Captain Jonathan Archer, played by sci-fi favorite Scott Bakula. Has the same fish-out-of-water thing going for him that he did on Quantum Leap. Also has a lot of the same good qualities his Leap character Sam Beckett had: he's quick-thinking, good with the ladies, and tough-as-nails (a Kirk-style captain if ever there was one). Should have a good run with this series if the writers can keep it together.

The Crew: The most fun overall since the original series. Vulcan loanout first officer Subcommander T'Pol (Jolene Blalock; hubba hubba hubba!) is the Grand Runner-up to Counselor Troi for sexiest character in Trek. Connor Trinner's Charles "Trip" Tucker III is as touchy about his ship as Scotty was (and is as likeable a chap, too). The rest of the crew (Dominic Keating as no-nonsense weapons officer Malcolm Reed, Anthony Montgomery as helmsman Travis Mayweather, and Linda Park as linguist/communications officer Hoshi Sato) have traces of the original series crew about them. The odd-alien-out is John Billingsley's Dr. Phlox, a likable doctor with a rather disturbing smile.

Overall: The movies were what really got me into Trek, particularly the original series films. A mixed bag, like most series of films.

The Ride: The refitted Enterprise (and later, the Enterprise-A), for true playas only. My favorite starship in all of science fiction, folks. Based on Matt Jeffries' original Enterprise design, with contributions from many production designers (Mike Minor, Joe Jennings, the legendary Douglas Trumbull, Harold Michelson and Andrew Probert) this is the gangsta's Enterprise. Yeah.

The Captain: a more mature and slightly toned-down James T. Kirk. This is probably William Shatner's best stuff (especially in The Wrath of Khan).

The Crew: everyone is here, and everyone is as good (better even) as they were in the series.

The Motion Picture: originally a beautiful but SLOOOWWW film, made watchable and even entertaining in 2000 by legendary director Robert Wise with the Director's Edition DVD. Debut of Jerry Goldsmith and what would become the TNG theme. Awesome visuals of the uprated Enterprise and the V'Ger cloud.

Special Guest Rides: cool new versions of Matt Jeffries' Klingon Battlecruiser and the V'Ger ship (in the Director's Edition).

The Wrath of Khan: Ah, yes. The measuring stick among the Trek films. First of four films made by Six Million Dollar Man producer Harve Bennett. Ricardo Montalban's Khan Noonian Singh is one of the most beloved of the Trek villains and its plain to see why here. Introduces Kirstie Alley (who gets extra coolness points for winning big money the syndicated Match Game three years earlier and tagging up with Lucille Ball on Password Plus just before Allen Ludden's exit). Establishes the "even numbered Trek films don't suck" rule (partly due to the presence of Nick Meyer, one of the best writers and directors in Trek). First of two films featuring an unparalleled score by James Horner (this is the films that turned me on to film scores). Also the start of Trek's long relationship with ò ber-special-effects house, Industrial Lights and Magic.

Special Guest Rides: Debut of the nifty Miranda-class light cruiser (designed by ILM's Nilo Rodis) as Khan's hijacked U.S.S. Reliant.

The Search for Spock: The exception to the "odd numbered Trek films suck" rule. Debut of Leonard Nimoy as a director (did a great job here; also set a precedent for Trek actors directing later episodes and films). Christopher Lloyd is great fun as evil Klingon Commander Kruge. Also features Night Court's lovable John Larroquette as Klingon officer Maltz ("I do not deserve to live."). Features the second of two awesome scores by James Horner. The destruction of the original Enterprise always puts a lump in my throat.

Special Guest Rides: Debut of the three most reused (and coolest) models in Trek: Nilo Rodis' classic Klingon Bird-of-Prey, the Oberth-class surveyor as the Grissom, designed by ILM's David Carson, and of course, the ship that would be Sulu's, the majestic Excelsior, designed by ILM's Bill George.

The Voyage Home: The most successful (and funniest) of the Trek films. Leonard Nimoy hits his stride as a director here (the film got him a couple of other directing jobs, such as the original Three Men and a Baby). Composer Leonard Rosenman, who did many other memorable scores, does his only Trek work in this film; a great score to be sure. No real villain to speak of (except the probe that almost kills everyone on Earth). Co-written by Nick Meyer.

Special Guest Rides: The Miranda-class ship reappears as the Saratoga, the Excelsior has a brief cameo, and the Probe. The Enterprise-A debuts here.

The Final Frontier: <Alex Trebek>EEEEEEEK! Kill it! Kill it! Kill it!</Alex Trebek> Neat cameo by producer Harve Bennett, decent direction by William Shatner, a great score by Jerry Goldsmith, a cool Enterprise-A bridge and a fun villain, Sybok (played by Laurence Luckenbill), but otherwise a disaster.

Special Guest Rides: A few scenes with the Klingon Bird-of-Prey, and a quick glimpse of the Excelsior's saucer section, but the Enterprise-A is about it.

The Undiscovered Country: The last of the original series films, the last time DeForest Kelley would play McCoy, and the last of Nick Meyer's Trek outings (not if I have anything to say about it). David Warner plays an idealistic (and likable) Klingon Chancellor, and Christopher Plummer's Shakespeare-spewing General Chang is the best Trek film villain since Khan ("Cry havoc, and let slip the dogs of war!"), and gorgeous Kim Cattrall's Vulcan spy Valeris is conniving. A dark but fun film. The only score by Cliff Eidelman; as dark and as fun as the film itself.

Special Guest Rides: George Takei's Sulu makes his debut as a Captain here as he is finally given his own ship: the magnificent Excelsior, whom many fans wanted to be the centerpiece of the fifth television Trek (Enterprise got the nod instead). The Klingon Battlecruiser returns (as the Chancellor's ship Kronos One), as does the Klingon Bird-of-Prey.

Overall: Great companions to the television series. Great fun for the most part. Looking forward to the next film, Nemesis, where the Romulans will get their motion picture due.

The Ride: The Enterprise-D serves its last mission in Generations, until it gets shot down. My second favorite ship in all of Trek, the majestic (and super-badass) Sovereign-class Enterprise-E, inspired by the original movie Enterprise, and designed by Herman Zimmerman, debuts in First Contact.

The Captain: Jean-Luc Picard, still played by Patrick Stewart. 'Nuff said.

The Crew: Same as the television TNG. Still as cool as the series.

Generations: feels like an extended episode of the series. William Shatner makes his last appearance as Kirk, and Malcolm McDowell is evil, evil, EVIL as Dr. Soran (that means he did an awesome job). Good direction by TNG episode director David Carson and a smokin' score by regular Trek composer Dennis McCarthy.

Special Guest Rides: The Excelsior-class Enterprise-B makes it's debut (Spin City regular Alan Ruck, better known as Cameron Frye in the classic 80's film Ferris Bueller's Day Off, does a memorable turn as the new Enterprise's Captain Harriman, although it's hard to imagine his guilt when Captain Kirk gets killed on his first flight in command of the Enterprise-B), as well as some El-Aurian transports, and a quick visit from the Klingon Bird-of-Prey (piloted by the evil Duras sisters, villains from the series).

First Contact: what is it about being the second Trek film that always makes a movie so damn good? Who knows? Anyway, the Borg (especially Alice Krige's seductive and chilling Borg Queen) make great villains for this sensational film, Jonathan Frakes' first as a director (like The Search for Spock and The Voyage Home did for Nimoy, it got him other directing work, starting with Clockstoppers). James Cromwell is lovable and hilarious as the boozing, rock-and-roll-loving scientist Zefram Cochrane, inventor of Trek's famous interstellar engine, the warp drive. Alfre Woodard is awesome as Lily Sloane, as well. Jerry Goldsmith returns with a superb score. Oh, yeah, and Troi gets drunk.

Special Guest Rides: Borg Cube and Sphere (evil!) designed by Rick Sternbach, as well as a quick visit from DS9's Defiant, doing what it was originally intended for: kicking the Borg's asses. Also the debut of the Akira-class battlecruiser (designed by ILM's Alex Jaegar), and several other lesser designs. Also the first adventure with the awesome Enterprise-E.

Insurrection: The most recent film until Nemesis comes out around the holiday season this year. More good direction by Jonathan Frakes, and another great score by Jerry Goldsmith. The Trek films seem to have the best villains in the entire franchise, and Academy Award winner F. Murray Abraham's ruthless Ahdar Ru'afo continues this tradition. Picard even gets a gorgeous girlfriend (Anji, played by Broadway actress Donna Murphy; yowza!).

Special Guest Rides: Data gets to drive a nifty scout ship, and the Son'a drive cool-looking warships, and a smaller commandship (all designed by Herman Zimmerman and illustrator John Eaves, who also helped design the Enterprise-E).

That's all for now. E-mail me with comments and suggestions at gameshowman@winning.com.

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