The Captain's Blog

The upcoming 32nd-century series promises to explore cadet life, friendships, and the enduring ideals of Starfleet. Starfleet Academy has long stood as a symbol of the Federation’s commitment to exploration, ethics, and leadership. From its earliest depictions in The Original Series films to cadets like Wesley Crusher in The Next Generation, the Academy represents more than a school—it is the proving ground where the values of Starfleet are instilled in the officers of tomorrow. The upcoming series, Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, set in the 32nd century after Star Trek: Discovery, follows a new class of cadets navigating the trials of youth, the intensity of their training, and the ethical challenges that come with serving in Starfleet. Fans will see a combination of personal growth, friendship, rivalry, and the emergence of new threats—all hallmarks of classic Star Trek storytelling. Returning actors like Robert Picardo reprising his role as The Doctor provide continuity with Star Trek...

Lexington Adventures, produced by Joey Bonice, is a fan-made series that embraces the spirit of Star Trek while introducing original characters and stories aboard the USS Lexington, a Constitution-class starship operating in the 23rd century. Debuting in the early 2020s, the series quickly gained attention for its compelling storytelling, solid production values, and a strong cast dedicated to bringing the world of Star Trek to life from a fresh perspective. This series is especially personal to me, as I portray Captain Alexander McKnight, the commanding officer of the USS Lexington, NCC-1709-A. Alex is a man displaced in time, arriving in the 23rd century from the 21st century where he was attending the U.S. Air Force Academy. Upon arriving in the 23rd century, he joins Starfleet Academy and becomes a friend and classmate of none other than James T. Kirk himself. Over time, Alex rises through the ranks of Starfleet, eventually attaining the prestigious rank of Admiral. Joey Bonice’s p...

Protocol Runtime: 93 minutes Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures Country of Origin: United States Franchise: None Franchise Position: N/A A political comedy in which Goldie Hawn plays Sunny Davis, a secretary who inadvertently becomes a national hero and is thrust into the world of diplomacy and international politics. Ratings: My Rating: ~6.5/10 The Dove Foundation: PG IMDb: 5.8/10 Rotten Tomatoes: 59% audience Metacritic: Not listed TMDb: 6.1/10 Plot Summary: Sunny Davis, a receptionist at the U.S. State Department, saves a visiting foreign dignitary, earning national recognition. Suddenly in the spotlight, she navigates political intrigue, diplomatic challenges, and personal growth, using her humor, charm, and common sense to succeed in a world of protocol and power. Critics Review: The film received mixed reviews. Goldie Hawn’s performance was widely praised for her comedic timing and likable persona, while some critics felt the plot was predictable. Its satire of bureaucracy and politic...

Private Benjamin Runtime: 105 minutes Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures Country of Origin: United States Franchise: None Franchise Position: N/A A comedy in which Goldie Hawn plays Judy Benjamin, a sheltered woman who impulsively joins the U.S. Army after the death of her husband, discovering independence and self-confidence. Ratings: My Rating: ~7.4/10 The Dove Foundation: PG IMDb: 6.8/10 Rotten Tomatoes: 77% audience Metacritic: 70/100 TMDb: 7.2/10 Plot Summary: Judy Benjamin, a naive and sheltered woman, struggles to adjust to military life but gradually grows into a self-reliant and empowered individual. Her experiences highlight personal growth, resilience, and the humorous side of adapting to challenging circumstances. Critics Review: The film was well-received, with praise for Goldie Hawn’s comedic timing and charm. It inspired the 1981 television series of the same name. Critics appreciated the film’s humorous yet empowering portrayal of a woman finding her strength in an unexpecte...

Foul Play Runtime: 113 minutes Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures Country of Origin: United States Franchise: None Franchise Position: N/A A comedy-thriller in which Goldie Hawn plays Gloria Mundy, a librarian who becomes entangled in a deadly conspiracy and teams up with a detective to unravel the plot. Ratings: My Rating: ~7.5/10 The Dove Foundation: PG IMDb: 6.9/10 Rotten Tomatoes: 88% audience Metacritic: 74/100 TMDb: 7.2/10 Plot Summary: Gloria Mundy, an ordinary librarian, witnesses a suspicious event that draws her into a dangerous plot involving assassination and conspiracy. With the help of Detective Tony Carlson, she navigates perilous situations while showcasing her wit, resourcefulness, and bravery. Romance and comedic misadventures add levity to the thriller elements. Critics Review: Critics praised the film for its mix of comedy, romance, and suspense, as well as Goldie Hawn’s energetic performance. The film was noted for keeping audiences engaged with its clever plotting and ...

Shampoo Runtime: 110 minutes Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures Country of Origin: United States Franchise: None Franchise Position: N/A A satirical comedy-drama set on the eve of the 1968 presidential election, following George Roundy, a charming hairdresser whose romantic entanglements include Goldie Hawn’s character, Jill. Ratings: My Rating: ~7.2/10 The Dove Foundation: Not rated IMDb: 6.6/10 Rotten Tomatoes: 84% audience Metacritic: 69/100 TMDb: 7.1/10 Plot Summary: George Roundy juggles multiple romantic relationships while navigating his career as a stylish Los Angeles hairdresser. Jill, his intelligent and alluring girlfriend, challenges him to confront his choices and responsibilities. The story combines political satire, romance, and comedic mishaps. Critics Review: The film was critically acclaimed for its witty script, social commentary, and ensemble cast. Goldie Hawn’s performance was noted for her comedic timing and charm, contributing to the film’s success. Christian Perspect...

Butterflies Are Free Runtime: 115 minutes Studio: Universal Pictures Country of Origin: United States Franchise: None Franchise Position: N/A A romantic comedy-drama about a blind man seeking independence and the free-spirited woman (Goldie Hawn) who enters his life, challenging both him and those around him. Ratings: My Rating: ~7.4/10 The Dove Foundation: PG IMDb: 7.1/10 Rotten Tomatoes: 75% audience Metacritic: 70/100 TMDb: 7.3/10 Plot Summary: Don Baker, a blind man, moves into his own apartment to gain independence from his overprotective mother. He meets Jill, an unconventional young woman, and a romantic relationship develops. Their love and interactions teach lessons about trust, independence, and the courage to live life fully. Critics Review: The film was praised for its heartfelt performances, particularly Goldie Hawn, who won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. Critics noted the blend of comedy and drama, giving the film warmth and emotional resonance. Christian ...

Star Trek: Renegades is a fan-created series released in 2015 that aimed to blend familiar Star Trek characters with a darker, grittier narrative tone. Produced by Rod Roddenberry’s family-owned company, Roddenberry Entertainment, and directed by Tim Russ, it combined professional production values with a storyline focusing on a team of outcasts and renegades tasked with high-stakes missions. The plot centers around a group of Starfleet officers who operate outside official channels to combat a mysterious new threat to the Federation. The cast includes notable Trek alumni such as Walter Koenig (Chekov), Robert Picardo (The Doctor, Voyager), and Tim Russ (Tuvok), lending credibility and a direct link to the larger franchise. The series aimed to appeal to fans interested in complex character development and moral ambiguity, venturing into themes less explored in traditional Star Trek shows. With a runtime spanning multiple episodes and an emphasis on action and espionage, Renegades sough...

Star Trek: Of Gods and Men is a landmark fan production that premiered in 2007 as a two-part mini-series. Created by Tim Russ, who famously portrayed Tuvok on Star Trek: Voyager, this fan film blends professional production values with a story that delves into the mythology and spiritual elements rarely explored in official Star Trek series. The plot centers on the Romulan Praetor Shinzon’s quest to awaken a powerful ancient artifact called the Rebirth Device, threatening the galaxy with destruction. The story weaves together characters from The Next Generation, Voyager, and Deep Space Nine, featuring appearances by Tim Russ as Tuvok, Walter Koenig as Chekov, and Nana Visitor as Kira Nerys. It uniquely explores themes of faith, redemption, and sacrifice—areas often touched on but seldom front and center in canonical Trek narratives. The production quality is notably higher than many fan films, with professional lighting, costuming, and special effects. Its running time, approximately 9...

Star Trek: Hidden Frontier is one of the longest-running and most ambitious fan-made series, produced between 2000 and 2007. Created by Rob Caves, it tells original stories set in the Star Trek: The Next Generation era, focusing on the crew of the USS Excelsior and the USS Hawking. Unlike many fan projects that stick closely to The Original Series aesthetic, Hidden Frontier embraced the TNG era, developing new characters and exploring political, ethical, and diplomatic issues reflective of 24th-century Star Trek. The series was notable for its use of practical sets, costumes, and effects crafted on a low budget but high enthusiasm. Its storytelling tackled mature themes, from Federation-Klingon tensions to the complexities of command and Starfleet politics. The series garnered a dedicated fanbase that appreciated its ongoing narrative arcs, detailed characterization, and connections to the broader Star Trek lore. Over 40 episodes and multiple spin-offs, Hidden Frontier pushed the bound...

Before Star Trek Continues or Phase II, there was Starship Exeter, a trailblazing fan-made series that helped ignite the modern Trek fan production movement. Released in two parts between 2002 and 2005, Exeter was one of the first attempts to recreate the Star Trek: The Original Series (TOS) aesthetic with original characters aboard a different Constitution-class starship, the USS Exeter. The series’ modest success laid critical groundwork for future fan productions. The first episode, “The Savage Empire,” introduces Captain John Garrovick and his crew—an all-new ensemble not based on any established TOS characters. The ship itself, the Exeter, was canonically referenced in the TOS episode “The Omega Glory” as a vessel that had been found adrift, its crew dead. Starship Exeter cleverly used this loose connection to ground itself in Trek lore without altering established canon. The second and final episode, “The Tressaurian Intersection,” demonstrated a notable leap in production qualit...

Star Trek: New Voyages, later rebranded as Phase II, is among the most ambitious and enduring Star Trek fan productions ever created. Launched in 2004, this web series set out to continue the five-year mission of the original Enterprise under Captain James T. Kirk, using recreated 1960s-style sets and costumes to evoke the spirit of TOS. Spearheaded by James Cawley and Jack Marshall, the series delivered several full-length episodes, including “To Serve All My Days” and the critically acclaimed “World Enough and Time,” featuring franchise alumni Walter Koenig and George Takei. Unlike most amateur fan films, New Voyages achieved rare levels of professionalism. Its production involved industry veterans, official cooperation from CBS and Paramount, and women and men paid at industry rates—most notably for the episode “World Enough and Time,” which was filmed on the Universal lot and included actors cast by Marc Zicree’s production team. The episode even earned recognition from the Science...

Star Trek Continues, a fan-made web series running from 2013 to 2017, set out to do something audacious—complete the five-year mission of the original Star Trek series. Led by Vic Mignogna, the show meticulously recreated the sets, sound, cinematography, and tone of the 1960s production. Its dedication to authenticity was so precise that it filmed in 4:3 aspect ratio and used original blueprint designs for props and sets. What made this series truly remarkable was how it honored the spirit of The Original Series without veering into parody or revisionism. Each of its eleven full episodes captured the moral complexity and human optimism that defined Star Trek’s golden age. Episodes like “Fairest of Them All,” a sequel to “Mirror, Mirror,” and “What Ships Are For,” which tackled social allegory, demonstrated the writers’ deep understanding of Star Trek's core values. These episodes weren't just callbacks—they were thoughtful, original contributions to the Trek ethos. Reception fr...