Robert Picardo has finally cleared up which version of The Doctor from Star Trek: Voyager he plays in Star Trek: Starfleet Academy. The series, executive produced by Alex Kurtzman and Noga Landau, debuts January 15, 2026, with its first two episodes on Paramount+. At CCXP, Oscar nominee Paul Giamatti, who portrays the villain Nus Braka, unveiled a four-minute sneak peek from the premiere. In the footage, Picardo’s EMH (Emergency Medical Hologram) takes center stage as the USS Athena’s Chief Medical Officer. On Threads, a fan asked Picardo whether he’s playing the original Doctor or the backup EMH from Voyager’s season 4 episode “Living Witness.” Calling it “an excellent question” he had also pondered, Picardo finally settles the matter of which Doctor he’s portraying in Starfleet Academy. In Star Trek: Voyager season 4, episode 23, “Living Witness,” the story jumps to the 31st century, 700 years after Voyager’s time. A backup EMH is activated to clarify the historical record about the USS Voyager and ends up serving as the surgical chancellor for the Kyrians and Vaskans for years before eventually heading to Earth. Star Trek: Starfleet Academy takes place in the late 32nd century, following the events of Star Trek: Discovery. While some Voyager fans, including Robert Picardo, speculated it might feature the “Living Witness” version of the EMH, the show actually includes the original Doctor. Star Trek: Starfleet Academy raises an interesting question about The Doctor: why has he aged? As a holographic EMH, he can control his appearance. It’s also unclear whether the series will touch on The Doctor’s time in Star Trek: Prodigy, which takes place a few years after the USS Voyager’s return to Earth. Robert Picardo has joked that making The Doctor 800 years old turns him into “the Yoda” of the Star Trek universe. His iconic EMH serves as a great link between Star Trek: Voyager’s beloved 24th-century era and the future Star Trek: Starfleet Academy will explore.

Paramount+ unveiled the official trailer for its new original series, Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, yesterday. The show will debut with two episodes on Thursday, January 15, in the U.S. on Paramount+. After the premiere, the 10-episode season will release new episodes weekly on Thursdays, leading up to the season finale on Thursday, March 12. Stephen Colbert revealed in a special video that he will lend his voice to Starfleet Academy's Digital Dean of Students, delivering daily announcements to students and notifying them of any urgent matters. This week marks the launch of StarfleetAcademy.com, where fans can dive into the Academy’s campus life, academics, and faculty. Enroll now for exclusive updates and more! The announcement was made during the Star Trek universe panel at New York Comic Con. The Starfleet Academy panel included a conversation with cast members Holly Hunter, Sandro Rosta, Karim Diané, Kerrice Brooks, George Hawkins, Bella Shepard, Zoë Steiner, and Paul Giamatti, along with co-showrunners and executive producers Alex Kurtzman and Noga Landau. The panel was hosted by Josh Horowitz, the host of Happy Sad Confused. Star Trek: Starfleet Academy follows a group of young cadets pursuing their dreams of hope and optimism. Guided by their instructors, they navigate friendships, rivalries, first loves, and a new enemy threatening both the Academy and the Federation. The series features Holly Hunter as the Chancellor of Starfleet Academy, alongside cadets played by Sandro Rosta, Karim Diané, Kerrice Brooks, George Hawkins, Bella Shepard, Zoë Steiner, and appearances by Tig Notaro, Robert Picardo, Oded Fehr, Mary Wiseman, Gina Yashere, and Paul Giamatti. Alex Kurtzman and Noga Landau serve as co-showrunners and executive producers, joined by Gaia Violo, Aaron Baiers, Olatunde Osunsanmi, Jenny Lumet, Rod Roddenberry, Trevor Roth, Frank Siracusa, and John Weber. The premiere episode, written by Gaia Violo and directed by Alex Kurtzman, is produced by CBS Studios with Secret Hideout and Roddenberry Entertainment. It will be distributed by Paramount Global Content Distribution.

On July 26th, Paramount+ released an exciting first-look teaser trailer for its new original series, Star Trek: Starfleet Academy. The series is set to debut in early 2026, launching the celebrations for Star Trek's 60th anniversary. The much-anticipated teaser showcased the main campus of Starfleet Academy in San Francisco, along with the U.S.S. Athena, a key part of the Academy's setting. Additionally, new details about the characters were unveiled. Academy Award winner Holly Hunter stars as Nahla Ake, the Chancellor of Starfleet Academy and the Captain of the U.S.S. Athena, who is also a long-lived half-Lanthanite. The Starfleet Academy cadets include: Sandro Rosta is Caleb Mir, an orphan with a troubled past — and unlikely Starfleet cadet. Karim Diané is Jay-Den Kraag, a Klingon cadet who dreams of becoming a medical officer. Kerrice Brooks is Series Acclimation Mil, a.k.a. Sam, the first of her kind to ever attend Starfleet Academy. George Hawkins is Darem Reymi, an aspiring captain from a wealthy home world. Bella Shepard is Genesis Lythe, an admiral's daughter determined to make her own name in Starfleet. Plus, Zoë Steiner as Tarima Sadal, a Betazoid and daughter of the president of Betazed. Robert Picardo, reprising his iconic role as The Doctor. Tig Notaro, reprising her role as Jett Reno. Oded Fehr, reprising his role as Admiral Vance. Recurring Guest Star Gina Yashere as Commander Lura Thok, a Klingon/Jem’Hadar hybrid who is the chancellor’s First Officer and Cadet Master. Recurring Guest Star and Academy Award nominee, Paul Giamatti, as part Klingon, part Tellarite Nus Braka, the season’s villain with an ominous past connected to one of our cadets. The announcements were made during today's Star Trek universe presentation in Hall H at Comic-Con International in San Diego, CA. The Star Trek: Starfleet Academy panel portion featured an exclusive conversation with executive producers and co-showrunners Alex Kurtzman and Noga Landau as well as series star Holly Hunter, plus cadets Sandro Rosta, Karim Diané, Kerrice Brooks, George Hawkins and Bella Shepard. The panel was moderated by fellow series cast member and Star Trek legend Robert Picardo. Star Trek: Starfleet Academy follows a group of young cadets chasing their shared dreams of hope and optimism. Under the strict guidance of their instructors, they learn what it takes to become Starfleet officers while experiencing budding friendships, intense rivalries, first loves, and a new threat that endangers both the Academy and the Federation. The series is co-run by Alex Kurtzman and Noga Landau, who also serve as executive producers alongside Gaia Violo, Aaron Baiers, Olatunde Osunsanmi, Jenny Lumet, Rod Roddenberry, Trevor Roth, Frank Siracusa, and John Weber. The premiere episode, written by Gaia Violo, is directed by Alex Kurtzman. Produced by CBS Studios in collaboration with Secret Hideout and Roddenberry Entertainment, it is distributed by Paramount Global Content Distribution. Paramount+ offers more from the Star Trek universe, including Star Trek: Section 31, an original film starring Oscar winner Michelle Yeoh, and the popular series Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, now in its third season. You can also stream all seasons of the animated Star Trek: Lower Decks, the award-winning Star Trek: Discovery starring Sonequa Martin-Green, and the acclaimed Star Trek: Picard, featuring Patrick Stewart as the iconic Jean-Luc Picard.

Star Trek: TNG’s top thriller episode aired 35 years ago in October 1990, delivering fans an unforgettable Beverly Crusher story. The Season 4 episode, "Remember Me," focuses on Crusher as she becomes trapped in a warp bubble that causes people in her life to disappear from the memories of others. A brilliant metaphor for aging, the episode is often ranked among the finest of The Next Generation and Star Trek as a whole. Its captivating mix of sci-fi and horror, paired with metaphorical storytelling, elevates it even further. It also features one of Gates McFadden’s most remarkable performances on the show. Dr. Beverly Crusher’s heroic episode received actress Gates McFadden’s enthusiastic approval.In the Star Trek: TNG season 4 episode "Remember Me," Dr. Beverly Crusher meets her son Wesley at a Starbase while the Enterprise undergoes repairs. She also reconnects with her mentor, Dr. Quaice, but soon realizes that none of the crew remember him boarding the ship or acknowledge his existence. As time passes, more members of the Enterprise vanish, leaving only Dr. Crusher and Captain Picard. However, Picard, too, eventually disappears, leaving Crusher completely alone. She then discovers that she has been trapped in a vortex accidentally created by Wesley. Gates McFadden in Star Trek: TNG | Credits: Paramount The episode showcases Gates McFadden's talent as an actress, as she navigates the stressful situation with poise and a scientific approach. She described it as a beautiful episode and felt it highlighted her heroism effectively (via Looper). She also noted how Picard’s reaction to what he perceives as a manic episode from Crusher was handled with patience and kindness. This episode, celebrating its 35th anniversary in October 2025, stands as part of Star Trek's rich tradition of remarkable horror stories. Episodes Like Remember Me Show How Well Star Trek Has Cracked Horror Anson Mount in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds | Credits: Paramount+ The episodic nature of the Star Trek franchise has allowed it to explore a variety of genres and intriguing thought experiments. While sci-fi is its main focus, the show seamlessly incorporates numerous sub-genres, creating a well-rounded experience. It particularly excels when delving into the horror/thriller genre. The Star Trek: TNG episode "Remember Me" is a prime example of horror done right. From the original series to the latest, Strange New Worlds, many episodes have used fear as a central theme. The TOS episode "Galileo’s Seven" revealed that not all threats are visible, while "Miri" gave us haunting visions of a possible future. The Strange New Worlds episode "All Those Who Wander" explores body horror, placing the Enterprise crew in an Alien-like scenario aboard an abandoned ship stalked by a Gorn attacker. Meanwhile, the TNG episode "Remember Me" delves into psychological horror, serving as an allegory for aging within the episode's context. Which do you think is the best horror-themed Star Trek episode? Share your thoughts below. Star Trek: TNG is available for streaming on Paramount+.