HOLLYWOOD – Prolific Emmy Award-winning producer and writer Rick Berman
reaches his landmark 500th episode of producing Star Trek with the airing of
this season’s finale episode of Paramount’s acclaimed one-hour drama STAR
TREK: VOYAGER for UPN. In the sixth season’s cliffhanger, entitled
“Unimatrix Zero,” Voyager discovers a mysterious underground movement within
the Borg Collective and features the return of the Borg Queen (portrayed by
Susanna Thompson). “Unimatrix Zero” is scheduled to air on Wednesday, May
24 at 9:00-10:00pm ET/PT on UPN.
The seventh and final season of STAR TREK: VOYAGER begins this fall Berman
first joined Star Trek in 1987, when he was selected by Gene Roddenberry to
join him as he created the multiple Emmy Award-winning syndicated series
“Star Trek: The Next Generation” which produced 178 episodes. In 1991,
following Roddenberry’s death, Berman took over the reigns
of the Star Trek franchise. In 1993, he co-created and executive produced
the acclaimed syndicated series “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine” (176 episodes)
and in 1995 he co-created and executive produced “Star Trek: Voyager” (146
episodes to date).
Under Berman’s guidance, “Star Trek: The Next Generation” became the first
syndicated series in television history to be nominated for an Emmy Award
for
Outstanding Drama. During its seven year run, “Star Trek: The Next
Generation” received 55 Emmy nominations, and remains among the
most-nominated
dramatic series of all time, winning 16 Emmy Awards. “Star Trek: Deep Space
Nine,” which Berman co-created with Michael Piller, received 31 Emmy
nominations and garnered 4 Emmy Awards during its seven year run. Since its
debut as UPN’s flagship series in 1995, the multiple Emmy Award-winning
STAR TREK VOYAGER, created by Berman, Piller and Jeri Taylor, continues to
be
the #1-rated UPN series among adults and households. Currently, Berman is
creating his fourth Star Trek series with Brannon Braga.
In the feature film arena, Berman was the producer and co-story writer of
“Star Trek: Generations” (1994), “Star Trek: First Contact” (1996) and “Star
Trek: Insurrection” (1998). “Star Trek: First Contact” is the highest-
grossing of the eight ‘Trek’ films, reaching nearly $140 million to-date
(domestic and international combined). Berman is currently in development
on
his fourth Star Trek feature film.
Under his overall production deal with Paramount’s Motion Picture and
Television groups, Berman and his Rick Berman Productions, Inc. banner
develop
and produce theatrical films, television series and telefilms for all
broadcast outlets including network, syndication, cable and pay television;
and new media ventures encompassing all areas of the studio. Additionally,
he
has creative input into projects for Paramount Parks.
Berman joined Paramount in 1984 as director of current programming,
overseeing “Cheers,” “Family Ties” and “Webster.” Within a year, he was
named
executive director of drama programming, overseeing the epic miniseries
“Space,” “Wallenberg: A Hero’s Story” and ABC’s top-rated “MacGYVER.” He
was
promoted in May 1986 to vice president, longform and special projects, for
Paramount Network Television, overseeing the development of Telefilms,
miniseries and specials.
Prior to joining Paramount, he was director of drama development for
Warner Bros. Television. Berman was an independent producer on numerous
projects from 1982-1984, including “What On Earth,” an informational series
for HBO and “The Primal Mind,” a one-hour, award-winning special for PBS.
>From 1977-1982, he was senior producer of “The Big Blue Marble,” for which
he
won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Children’s Series.
