Seth MacFarlane’s Star Trek spoof series ‘The Orville’ is full of Star Trek alums both in front of and behind the camera.

One of the defining characteristics of past Star Trek series is that Star Trek alums often showed up behind and in front of the camera. Seth MacFarlane’s The Orville may not officially be Star Trek, but the Star Trek spoof series is certianly following this tradition.

The first Star Trek face you may recognize is Penny Johnson, who played Cassidy Yates on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. In The Orville Johnson plays Dr. Claire Finn, the ships physician. Seth MacFarlane himself is of course a Star Trek alum, as he had a minor role on Star Trek: Enterprise as Ensign Rivers.

James Horan, who has played a role in every modern Star Trek series, will also appear in The Orville as the ominous sounding Sazeron. Horan was Barnaby in Star Trek: The Next Generation, Tosin in Star Trek: Voyager, as well as appearing in Star Trek: Enterprise. In Star Trek: Deep Space Nine James Horan played Ikat’ika the leader of the Jem’Hadar at a Dominion prison camp which held Word, Bashir, Garak, and General Martok. We spoke to Horan a few weeks ago and he wouldn’t say anything about his upcoming project, but it was pretty obvious that it was The Orville.

There are plenty of Trek alums behind the camera too though. Both Star Trek: The Next Generation’s Jonathan Frakes and Star Trek Voyager’s Robert Duncan McNeil are directing episodes of the series.

We haven’t heard much about Star Trek alum being involved in Star Trek: Discovery, hopefully the official Trek project can catch up to The Orville.

It looks like Seth MacFarlane is determined to not just make Trekkies laugh, but to honor the franchise that inspired his new series.

What do you think about Star Trek alums being involved in The Orville? Let us know on Facebook or in the comments below.