One of the most respected and well known voices of the Next Generation era, Jeri Taylor started her Star Trek career with the Next Generation, but solidified her production legacy as one of the creators behind Star Trek Voyager.
Making her mark in the world of television, Taylor’s pre-Trek career was a little more grounded. Through the 80’s Taylor moved from writing to productio with classic drama’s including Magnum PI, Blue Thunder and murder mystery series Quincy ME. Though she dabbled beyond the genre, including writing an episode of the Incredible Hulk, Taylor would move into the Star Trek universe on the recommendation of fellow Quincy writer, and Next Generation producer, Lee Sheldon, who had been tasked with expanding the themes of TNG and wanted to bring on board a versatile writer with experience beyond science fiction.
Following the submission of her first script, Suddenly Human, Taylor was brought on board full time as supervising producer.
Her contributions in the Next Generation era included some of the series finest episodes, the standout being procedural drama The Drumhead focused on a retired Admiral leading an investigation to find a traitor in the ranks of the Enterprise. Other contributions included Riker romance The Outcast and being charged with several well regarded stories including penning the script for The Wounded, focusing on O’Briens past traumas with the Cardassians ahead of his jump to DS9.
Even in working briefly on Deep Space Nine, Taylor’s talents for mystery and drama were a perfect fit for all three of her episodes; one two parter introducer the Maquis, and Homecoming giving Kira the spotlight as she chases down a Bajoran legend in a secret Cardassian prison camp.
Already an executive producer for the final season of the Next Generation, Taylor took over as lead showrunner in the final season which led to her next adventure: creating a whole new show to replace the TNG crew.
In various interviews and panels over the years, Taylor would play down her role in Star Trek, particularly within the creation of Voyager as in her opinion the should would have happened if she was par tof the process or not, but her modesty is often countered by the many people she worked with on the show; lead actor Kate Mulgrew in particular who has held her in high regard for the efforts to make Janeway a powerful voice and leader.
Leading the show behind the scenes, Taylor’s mark would be felt by the whole team focusing on expanding the depth of characters throughout her four years as executive producer. Retiring from production she’d continue to write and take part as creative consultant until the shows final season.
Having become a popular addition to talks and panels since her departutre from television, Taylor sadly passed away on October 24th with the entire Star Trek Universe paying tribute.
“She was a great writer and showrunner and, to me, a cherished mentor.” Brannon Braga reflected in a statement following Taylor’s passing, “Jeri was generous with her wisdom and her time, she nurtured an entire staff of young writers which is a testament to her patience. I would not have a career without Jeri’s intricate guidance. She taught us all so much.”
Taylor’s final project was as part of the To The Journey documentary, focusing on the story and legacy of Star Trek Voyager. For more information is available on the projects website.
About the author
[Treknology] The Holodeck
An immersive experience in itself, the Holodeck is one of the many creature comforts that help bring comfort and entertainment within the life of a starship years from home that not only acts in creating a live action gaming environment, but as a useful tool for educational simulations, experiments and the occasional Hirogen nightmare! The holodeck is a complex device. Essentially a simulated environment generator, the holodeck is usually a vast room that used a combination of forcefields, matter replication and visually manipulative holographic systems to create an immersive environment that one or multiple people can use to not only see and hear, but physically interact with. Able to replicate anything from historical settings to an entirely original landscape, the holodeck ios Knightmare in ultra high resolution without a headset or guide, but a physical interaction with a created world […]
A Fistful of Sisko
In the past few years, Star Trek has made several nods to it's past. But while The NExt Generation and Voyager had their continuations, Deep Space Nine continued to 'black sheep' of the family with it's history and name drops being few and far between. Until Academy when we had an entire episode based around the legend of Starfleet's most complex captains. Starting his show as a widower and single parent, Benjamin Sisko started his time in Star Trek as a reluctant hero turned religious icon who's become a prime figure in Bajoran history, the Federation-Dominion war and much more. If you missed his series, first of.... why?! And also, if you want a quick intro - here's our Sisko top five to see what the fuss is all about. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzBkvzPoofQ IN THE PALE MOONLIGHT Season 6, Episode 13 Lets […]
Starfleet Academy to with with Season 2
Announced first by Variety, it's been announced that Starfleet Academy will end with Season 2. Having just launches in January with the first season finale receiving positive reactions, and it's second season now in post-production following the completion of filming, the announcement comes at an unsurprising time with Paramount undergoing new ownership under Skydance and more business shenanigans with further consolidation in the works with plans to absorb Warner Brothers into the mix. Set in the 32nd century and using Discovery's season 3 'Burn' storyline as a reset point, Starfleet Academy was focused on new original characters who had signed up to be the new stewards of Starfleet's future to rebuild the strength and vision of the Federation. Opening strong, Academy improved throughout it's first season and used it's setting to help strengthen the hopeful vision of the future and […]
[Retro Review] The Trouble With Tribbles
Space adventures, time travelling madness and the occasional God was standard fare for the original series. But every now and then it dived into a mission of the mundane. Kirk's mission in The Trouble With Tribbles is as dull as it could be and he's hugely aware of it. The Klingon's have popped up again and the people of resupply station K7 want some help guarding a huge shipment of grain. As the Klingons ask for shore leave, they share the station with the Enterprise crew while Kirk tries to keep his cool... For decades now this is one of those episodes that jumped out and added one of the weirdest parts to the Star Trek lore. Tribbles. Introduced by trader Cyrano Jones, the inoffensive little balls of fur catch the attention of Uhura who buys one instantly and takes […]
Inside Trek/Outside Trek: Robert Picardo
The Doctor was a character designed as a stop-gap, a temporary solution in a crisis who would end up developing beyond his limited programming to serve as the only doctor on board the USS Voyager for it's seven years lost in the Delta Quadrant. It seems fitting that the man behind the emitter, Robert Picardo, has since become a larger part of the Star Trek Universe than he ever thought he'd be. Now starring as a main feature on Starfleet Academy, his second live action role, Picardo's Doctor was also a prominent part of both seasons of Star Trek Prodigy and has even man aged to squeeze in appearances as another EMH on board the Enterprise E in First Contact, and as holographic engineer Lewis Zimmerman in Deep Space Nine as well as bringing the character to expanded media including […]
Catch Mir If You Can; ‘300th Night’, Starfleet Academy S1E9
As a viewer, it's been just over two months. For the cadets, it's been 300 days. With time jumps between episodes already mentioned, episode nine ends with the conclusion of the first year at the Academy. Celebrations are being had on campus, friendships solidified and fleeting romances are being revisited. But in the grand scale of the universe, the merlu' is about to hit the fan. Writers: Kirsten Beyer & Kenneth Lin Director: Jonathan Frakes Looking back at the context of the first eight episodes, it's been an oddly even season. Which is quite a rarity in the Star Trek Universe. Journeys have been had. Paths have been walked. Lessons have been learned. And even if it's just been eight episodes to us, it's been a year for the cadets and with how far each has come, it doesn't […]
Related
[Inside Trek] Behind the Viewscreen: Robert H Justman
It takes an army to bring a TV show to life, especially one creating it's own world to explore in and more often than not the people behind the scenes are often unsung heroes despite being key to the creation of an iconic a legacy as Star Trek. Robert Justman was one of the many responsible to shaping the Star Trek Universe, particularly in it's early days, and was one of the most influential producers in helping form the original series. Staring his career in technical and production roles, Justman learned the ropes in the 1950's as television in the US would go from a rare luxury to a household staple throughout the decade. Building his skills and reputation as assistant director and production manager on a variety of styles, Justman gained a reputation for being highly unorganised and keeping […]
Inside Trek/Outside Trek: Robert Picardo
The Doctor was a character designed as a stop-gap, a temporary solution in a crisis who would end up developing beyond his limited programming to serve as the only doctor on board the USS Voyager for it's seven years lost in the Delta Quadrant. It seems fitting that the man behind the emitter, Robert Picardo, has since become a larger part of the Star Trek Universe than he ever thought he'd be. Now starring as a main feature on Starfleet Academy, his second live action role, Picardo's Doctor was also a prominent part of both seasons of Star Trek Prodigy and has even man aged to squeeze in appearances as another EMH on board the Enterprise E in First Contact, and as holographic engineer Lewis Zimmerman in Deep Space Nine as well as bringing the character to expanded media including […]
[Inside Trek] Behind the Viewscreen: Remembering Louise Fletcher
One of Deep Space Nine's biggest strengths was it's incredibly diverse cast of characters, from Starfleet heroes and freedom fighters, to Cardassian spies and the ever devious Dominion. The series was spoiled for the level of skill and talent involved. Especially when it came to one small recurring part who became one of the most unforgettable villians of the series brought to life by Academy Award–winner Louise Fletcher. Known to most of the world as Nurse Ratched, the tormentor of Jack Nicholson in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Fletcher was only the third woman to win an Academy Award for her cold and heartless performance. Gaining immense respect and stardom for her performance, by the time she arrived in the Star Trek Universe, Fletchers reputation for playing complex and calm authority figures made her a star before she even […]
[Inside Trek] Behind the Viewscreen; Robert Blackman
One of the most long serving and influential visual architects of the Star Trek universe, Robert Blackman became part of the Star Trek franchise during the Next Generations second season as lead costume designer. Responsible for re-shaping Starfleets style, his work and influence was a vital parts of shaping the look of an entire era. Blackman's introduction to the Star Trek Universe had an awkward start. Having a background in theatre and film, he was already committed to another show as it's costume designer when the Star Trek office began courting his services. The Next Generation was in it's second season and already had a defined look, but it wasn't quite right. Not yet. Accepting the contract with conditions - primarily by keeping his word and finishing his commitments elsewhere, his first task was to update the spandex jumpsuits of the […]
Inside Trek/Outside Trek: Isa Briones
When Star Trek Picard premiered in 2020, one of its brightest revelations was Isa Briones. New to the franchise, Briones was a core part of the story who's first season came in two parts; Dahj, who was swiftly killed off in the first episode revealing her synthetic origins as one half of a pair, giving us her second and most vital character, Soji. Having been in the spotlight since she was three years old, Isa Briones is one part of a family of actors. Her parents - Megan Johnson and Jon Jon Briones – are both working actors, as is her brother Teo. Having been raised within the industry, Briones had a huge learning experience throughout her life and career before being cast in Picard. Coming fresh off a Broadway run of Hamilton, Briones was only twenty years old at […]
That Guy From That Thing: Billy Campbell
Gaining his first major role only two years after his screen debut, Campbell gained the role of Luke Fuller in the iconic American soap opera Dynasty, acting opposite Jack Coleman a love interest of Steve Carrington until Luke's death. It was a huge role for Campbell's early career and, much like Coleman, a launching pad to becoming a workhorse of an actor in TV and film. Soon after leaving Dynasty, another set of producers had their eyes on Campbell for their own show; a sequel to 60's space drama Star Trek. Campbell was eyed for the role of the bold first officer, Commander Riker, and the favourite to take the role. Telling StarTrek.com that 'the best man got the job' in 2014, and had elsewhere commented that he didn't feel his final audition went well, but that disappointment didn't slow […]
