In 1987 Paramount decided Trek should return to its roots: television. ST: The Next Generation would become the first hour-long scripted show sold directly to the syndicated television market. Paramount's gamble paid off. Who hasn't heard of Picard, Data, and Worf?

1995 brought another Trek series. This one featured a new starship, a return to episodic storytelling, and Trek's first female Captain, Kathryn Janeway. It was also the flagship for Paramount's new television network, United Paramount Network (UPN). Despite running seven seasons, the addition of Seven of Nine wasn't well-received by the entire cast.