On Sunday the entire cast of Star Trek: The Next Generation reuinited in Chicago for a Wizard World panel discussion moderated by none other than William Shatner. We have photos from the event and some video clips below. Plus the ultimate Star Trek selfie!

Photos and Videos From TNG Reunion At Wizard World Chicago 2014

The cast of Star Trek: The Next Generation – Patrick Stewart, Brent Spiner, Marina Sirtis, Michael Dorn, Jonathan Frakes, Gates McFadden, LeVar Burton, and Brent Spiner were at Wizard World Chicago over the weekend. The actors signed autographs over the weekend and then on Sunday held a special reunion panel at the Rosemont Theater, moderated by William Shatner.



The TNG reunion in Chicago – August 24, 2014 (Photo: Maria Jose Tenuto)

Stewart & Frakes Talks Character Romances – McFadden Talks Women + Spiner Talks Exploding Data + More

Topics ranged, one of the more interesting bits was where each of the actors talked about what story arcs they most wanted (sometimes achieved sometimes not) for their characters. Stewart talked about how he wanted a real romantic relationship for Picard and not one that was "long since gone" noting "give me a break, I am following in the footsteps of William Shatner!" Stewart’s desire resulted in the episode of "Captain’s Holiday." Frakes noted "like Kirk, I did have something in every port" to which Sirits quipped "didn’t a lot of them die after they did you."



Patrick Stewart and William Shatner at WW Chicago TNG Reunion

Getting more serious McFadden lamented Dr. Crusher didn’t have more scenes with Tasha Yar, adding "or just more scenes with women where they weren’t just working out." Spiner then turned things jocular again by saying "I thought it would be really cool if we could see Data blow up…just explode…and my dream was granted."



Gates McFadden at WW Chicago TNG Reunion (Photo: Maria Jose Tenuto)

When it came turn for LeVar Burton to talk Shatner asked what it was like for him in his "empty bed" and LeVar noted "yes Bill, I really wanted Geordi to get laid." Burton noted "there is a stereotype that the engineers of the world are awkward around the opposite sex…and that is a stereotype that survives into the 24th century."



LeVar Burton at WW Chicago TNG Reunion (Photo: Maria Jose Tenuto)

Marina Sirtis noted that Troi was "like the bike of the Enterprise…everybody gets a ride" She also agreed with McFadden that the women characters "didn’t do much in our spare time" besides "banging aliens," adding "Worf was an orphan, but he had more relatives than us put together."



Marina Sirtis at WW Chicago TNG Reunion (Photo: Maria Jose Tenuto)

Watch them discuss that in the video below.



(Video by WalkinCrow)

TNG Gang Gripe About Costumes + Talk Character Similarities

Another topic that got the group agreeing was the issue of the costumes and how they hated them. Sirtis noted that she started off not wearing the early spandex uniform because it made her "look fat" and so they went with her "cosmic cheerleader outfit" but then later Gene Roddenberry rationalized that she shouldn’t wear a uniform since she was the ship’s psychiatrist and it would make people more comfortable if she wore "civies."

Gates noted that even though the rest of the cast got to change uniforms in season 3, she ended up wearing spandex for seven seasons and four films. Brent Spiner then did his Patrick Stewart impersonation "I’m not wearing this!" on how it was him who demanded the change of uniform. Frakes added "I hated those space suits." Marina also revealed that she lead the "revolution" in the cast refuse to wear the Deep Space Nine uniforms.



William Shatner and Brent Spiner at WW Chicago TNG Reunion (Photo: Maria Jose Tenuto)

When asked if there were similarities between themselves and the characters Marina noted there was "none" saying "I’m the exact opposite of Troi. She was very sweet, very non-judgmental, and I’m an evil cow." Dorn also said there was none of himself in Worf. LeVar said "he would like to believe" he shared traits with Geordi, including as a "genuine enthusiasm for life."

Patrick Stewart said he felt a lot of affinity with Jean Luc Picard as the show went on, "I feel a kinship with my character." To which Spiner joked "everyone knows Data and I are the same" with Frakes adding "Data was Christ-like." Gates said she "would like to be" as compassionate as Beverly Crusher. Jonathan Frakes said he would like to be "I would like to be as honorable and as loyal and as righteous as Riker…but I do play the trombone."



Michael Dorn at WW Chicago TNG Reunion (Photo: Maria Jose Tenuto)

Watch the uniform exchange and discussion of characters below (starting at 18:30).



(Video by Assassins Gnome)

Ultimate Star Trek Selfie

On Sunday LeVar sent out this Star Trek selfie

About to take the stage in Chicago with the Next Gen Cast & Tne Shat!!! #bydhttmwfi http://t.co/MLJmdagS6V — LeVar Burton (@levarburton) August 24, 2014

TNG Reunions Coming To London and Montreal

The Star Trek: TNG Cast will be reunited again at Montreal ComicCon (Sept 12-14) and Destination Star Trek 3 in London (October 3rd – 5th).