Why Whoopi Goldberg Joined Star Trek: Patrick Stewart Tells Emotional Story
While promoting the upcoming Star Trek: Picard season 2, Patrick Stewart recalls the inspiring reason why Whoopi Goldberg decided to join the cast of Star Trek: The Next Generation. Set 20 years after the events of TNG and its subsequent films, Picard sees the return of its titular captain, now retired from Starfleet, who is suddenly drawn into a new series of adventures after being approached by the daughter of his late synthetic friend, Data. The show also features a number of Star Trek cast members returning along with Stewart, including Jeri Ryan, Brent Spiner, and John de Lancie.
Goldberg's Trekkie debut as Guinan, the centuries-old bartender of the USSEnterprise-D's Ten-Forward Lounge, occurred in the TNG season 2 episode 1. She regularly reprised the role across the series' run, dispensing sage advice and wise-words to the crew of the Enterprise in times of trouble. Guinan's enigmatic presence has often led to the bartender being cited as one of the best characters in Star Trek. Over the past few years, Goldberg has frequently voiced her desire to return again in newer Star Trek ventures, and she was invited by Stewart to reprise the character in Picard during his appearance on her talk show The View in 2020. However, Goldberg's involvement in the upcoming season was only recently officially confirmed in a series of promotional images for the show, with Guinan in the latest Picard season 2 trailer.
Related: What Happened To Guinan After TNG Ended
Reflecting on her involvement with both shows, Stewart reveals the reason why the Academy Award-winner decided to join the hit sci-fi series back in 1988. Discussing Goldberg's casting in TNG on The Late Late Show with James Corden, Stewart recalls a conversation he had
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