Gates McFadden: Upcoming Star Trek documentary series The Center Seat takes “a John Oliver approach”
The Nacelle Company is producing the upcoming docuseries The Center Seat: 55 Years of Star Trek
JUNE 20, 2021 - After 55 years, it seems there is more than enough Star Trek to go around, and the same is true for the upcoming Star Trek documentary series The Center Seat. In a recent interview with Inverse, Star Trek: The Next Generation actor Gates McFadden revealed that the production will be expanding beyond the eight episodes originally ordered. The Center Seat is being produced by The Nacelle Company for the History Channel; McFadden serves as an executive producer on the project.
The tone of the new docuseries may not be what some Star Trek fans are expecting. McFadden explained, “They have a sort of John Oliver approach to it. It's irreverent, but it's also really pithy. It's got a lot of information. I have learned something new every single episode. And the episodes kind of fly by. [...] It's not just [...] talking heads.” McFadden later said, “The History Channel really likes it, and we’re going to add some more episodes,” indicating the series would continue beyond eight episodes.
Executive producers for The Center Seat include McFadden, Cisco Henson, and Star Trek author Mark Altman. The Center Seat is the brainchild of Nacelle Company CEO Brian Volk-Weiss. According to McFadden, Volk-Weiss has a clear vision for the project. She told Inverse, “I think Brian [Volk-Weiss] really has his hand on the pulse of where things are going. I’m glad I came on board and I’m really enjoying the process.” Of course, this isn’t McFadden’s first time working with The Nacelle Company: she currently hosts her own Nacelle Company podcast Gates McFadden InvestiGates: Who Do You Think You Are?, which launched last month.
No official premiere date has been announced for The Center Seat. It was previously announced the series would air in time to celebrate the 55th anniversary of the franchise, which would put a potential premiere date somewhere near September of this year. We’ll be sure to bring you any new information as it becomes available. Until then, you can catch up on all of your favorite Star Trek episodes and films, available to stream now on Paramount+.
Watch our interview with Gates McFadden about her podcast Who Do You Think You Are?, below:
Chris Peterson is a contributing writer for Daily Star Trek News on the Roddenberry Podcast Network. An outdoor enthusiast and a fan of film and literature, he is also an actor, singer and musician with stage credits including CATS, Fiddler on the Roof, The Rocky Horror Show and The Producers.
