10 Star Trek: TNG Facts You Probably Didn't Know

Gene Roddenberry was the visionary behind Star Trek, but according to an interview with writer David Gerrold, Roddenberry also struggled with substance abuse issues and was increasingly difficult to work with. The documentary, Chaos on the Bridge, discusses how Roddenberry did not initially want another Star Trek show. When he realized Paramount was serious about proceeding with TNG, he feared not being involved.

Roddenberry had strong ideas about how stories should be told. During the development of TNG Roddenberry relied on his lawyer to uphold his vision.

Writers felt stifled by the constant rewrites asked of them. One of Roddenberry's rules for the show was that there shouldn't be major conflicts amongst the crew mates unless there was some outside force affecting their character. The idea of an always perfect future without any character conflicts further ostracized those working on the show.

After Roddenberry passed, those involved worked hard to keep his vision alive, but they also had more freedom to explore stories that might not have been approved. Producer Rick Berman had a bust of Roddenberry in his office. He later recalled in The Next Generation Companionhow he tied a red blindfold across the sculpture's eyes as a joke. "Whenever they come up with a story I don't think Gene would like I blindfold him."