OCTOBER 7, 2021 - 55 is becoming as familiar a number to Star Trek fans as the ubiquitous 47. A convention has been named for the 55th year of Trek, it is the year of Gene Roddenberry’s 100th birthday, and now a trailer has dropped for the new documentary series from The Nacelle Company that features the anniversary in its title.

The Center Seat: 55 Years of Star Trek is coming this fall from The History Channel, in which, according to a press release, “each episode focuses on a different chapter in the groundbreaking program's history, ranging from its inception at Lucille Ball's legendary production company Desilu, to its later iterations Deep Space Nine and Voyager. Interviews with cast, crew, and experts reveal never-before-seen backstage stories and offer fresh insights. No stone is left unturned, including lesser-known aspects of the franchise like The Animated Series and Phase II.”

Interviews include insights from Nichelle Nichols, Brent Spiner, Kirstie Alley, Walter Koenig, Kate Mulgrew, Denise Crosby, Wil Wheaton, John de Lancie, Nicholas Meyer, Ronald D. Moore, Brannon Braga, Nana Visitor, Robert Picardo, Ethan Phillips, Diana Muldaur, Nicole de Boer, Roxann Dawson, Robert Beltran, Tim Russ, John Billingsley, John Dykstra, D.C. Fontana, Rick Berman and F. Murray Abraham.

Brian Volk-Weiss directs the series, and Ian Roumain is the showrunner and executive producer. Other executive producers include Gates McFadden, who also hosts; Cisco Henson; Ben Frost; and Mark Altman.

The official trailer for The Center Seat: 55 Years of Star Trek is available on YouTube; the series is expected to air “this Fall”.