Have You Heard The Good News: Star Trek celebrates its 60th anniversary this year and there’s definitely an odious midlife crisis undercurrent to Starfleet Academy.
With the cool new jackets and hanging out with hot looking youths in a boldly go attempt to be hipper.
In the late ’90s Roddenberry struggled with Patrick Stewart’s baldness. He didn’t believe a Captain should be bald and insisted Stewart test with a wig.
In the end the Trek folks made the right call—though I cannot explain it—Next Generation just works without Patrick Stewart’s wig. These days I sense Star Trek would insist on the wig.
And tragically that’s how Starfleet Academy comes across: the TV series is Patrick Stewart’s Next Generation Wig.
Star Trek: Starfleet Academy premiere on January 15, 2026 on Paramount+ with its first two episodes. The other eight episodes of the first season will be released weekly until March 12. #SetTheVCR.
Sammy Verdict: All Pre-Kirk Star Trek is rubbish. All.
-28-
Sammy Younan is the affable host of My Summer Lair podcast: think NPR’s Fresh Air meets Kevin Smith: interviews & impressions on Pop Culture.
