Theme Month: "Annoying Colonists"

Our characters pull up to a planet, try to help, and guess what? They're d-bags.

Episode: "The Masterpiece Society" - TNG, 513

Airdate: February 10, 1992

Teleplay by Adam Belanoff and Michael Piller; Directed by Winrich Kolbe

Brief summary: "The Enterprise tries to save a "perfect" colony from destruction, but the assistance causes damage of its own."

Background: Adam Belanoff was a producer and writer on multiple shows, including Murphy Brown, Wings, Titus, and The Closer. He co-wrote the story for this episode with James Kahn and the pair share a story credit. Kahn went on to become a producer on VOY and has credits on four episodes. He wrote the novelization of Star Wars: Return of the Jedi and he wrote episodes of St. Elsewhere, Melrose Place, TekWar, and more.

Michael Piller is credited with writing 38 episodes of TNG, DS9, and VOY, plus Star Trek: Insurrection. He led the TNG writers' room beginning with the third season and later co-created DS9 with Rick Berman; he and Berman then co-created VOY with Jeri Taylor.

The original pitch was for a genetically engineered society of perfect people but the story couldn't be cracked. Once Biosphere 2 entered the news, the enclosed environment gave them new elements to consider and the script was completed.

Winrich Kolbe directed 48 episodes of Star Trek across TNG, DS9, VOY, and ENT. Before Trek, Kolbe directed episodes of The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries, Battlestar Galactica, Knight Rider, The Scarecrow and Mrs. King, among many more.

Guest Cast: John Snyder (Aaron Conor) is familiar to fans for having played "Commodore" Bochra in "The Enemy." He has had a lengthy career in TV and film, appearing in diverse work such as The Warriors, Sid and Nancy, Wiseguy, and Babylon 5, but he's also well known for his voice work in animation and video games with roles in Lupin III, JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, Street Fighter, and Final Fantasy.

Dey Young (Hannah Bates) also appeared in an episode of DS9 and ENT. She also appeared in films like Spaceballs, The Running Man, Rock 'n' Roll High School, The Serpent and the Rainbow, Executive Decision, and many more.

Ron Canada (Martin Benbeck) guested in one episode each of TNG, DS9, and VOY. He also appeared in Adventures in Babysitting, National Treasure, The West Wing, Wedding Crashers, Frasier, and more.

Sheila Franklin played Ens. Felton in five episodes of TNG. She also appeared in Home Improvement.

https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/The_Masterpiece_Society_(episode)

Upcoming episodes in this Theme Month ...

• "Paradise" - DS9, 215
• "Terra Nova" - ENT, 106