The national syndication window opens for the two-hour premiere of Star Trek: The Next Generation, Encounter At Farpoint. Written by Trek creator Gene Roddenberry and original series story editor D.C. Fontana, this episode introduces the fan favorite nemesis Q, as played by John de Lancie. Though it’s not tied to any network, some of the stations carrying TNG in syndication – including major-market stations – air TNG in prime-time in place of their usual network programming. 
Stardate 41153.7: The new USS Enterprise, en route to pick up its final crew members and investigate a mysterious space station, is confronted by a godlike entity known as Q who puts Captain Picard, Counselor Troi, Data and security chief Yar on trial for the crimes of all humanity in the past, a challenge Picard grudgingly agrees to meet.
written by Gene Roddenberry and D.C. Fontana
directed by Corey Allen
music by Dennis McCarthyCast: Patrick Stewart (Captain Jean-Luc Picard), Jonathan Frakes (Commander William Riker), LeVar Burton (Lt. Geordi La Forge), Denise Crosby (Lt. Tasha Yar), Michael Dorn (Lt. Worf), Gates McFadden (Dr. Beverly Crusher), Marina Sirtis (Counselor Deanna Troi), Brent Spiner (Lt. Commander Data), Wil Wheaton (Wesley Crusher), John de Lancie (Q), Michael Bell (Groppler Zorn), Colm Meaney (Battle Bridge Conn), Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa (Mandarin Baliff), Timothy Dang (Main Bridge Security), David Erskine (Bandi Shopkeeper), Evelyn Guererro (Young Female Ensign), Chuck Hicks (Military Officer), Jimmy Ortega (Torres), DeForest Kelley (Admiral McCoy)
Notes: Director Corey Allen (1934-2010) was also an actor, best remembered as Buzz Gunderson, the driver who lost a fatal game of chicken to James Dean’s character in Rebel Without A Cause (1955); even before that, he guest starred in an episode of the early ‘50s series West Point written by a young Gene Roddenberry. As a director, he tackled episodes of Ironside, Hawaii Five-O, The Rockford Files, Hill Street Blues, and further episodes of TNG and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Michael Bell has appeared in such series as M*A*S*H, Dallas, and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, but his real claim to fame is as one of the 1980s’ most prolific voice actors for animation, providing voices in G.I. Joe, Voltron, Super Friends, Smurfs, Transformers, Darkwing Duck, and Sonic The Hedgehog. He also played Lex Luthor in episodes of the late ‘80s animated Superman series, whose music was composed by TNG composer Ron Jones. Jimmy Ortega was often employed as both an actor and a stuntman, and returned to the Trek franchise to appear in Star Trek: Enterprise.
LogBook entry by Earl Green