Why Patrick Stewart walked off the TNG set

Patrick Stewart wasn’t happy about GMA’s appearance

During the filming of Star Trek: The Next Generation and at the height of its popularity, Good Morning America wanted to film on the set of the series. Patrick Stewart wasn’t happy about this turn of events when he was notified. He and the other cast members and crew were working twelve to fourteen hours a day in an effort to persuade people they were living in the 24th century. It was important that everything seemed real for the fans. The last thing he wanted was for Good Morning America to show up and make a mockery of all of their hard work.

He protested, but he was told there was nothing that could be done, that GMA would film. So Stewart wanted to lay down some ground rules while the GMA crew was on set. He wanted GMA to take their appearance very seriously for the sake of the TNG fans. He didn’t want gags or jokes, including Klingon jokes. And he didn’t want any fooling around. And he was assured that none of that would happen.

Patrick Stewart’s out of there

Stewart walked onto the The Next Generation set, ready to begin filming, and he heard one of the anchors announce that they were going over to hear about the weather. The camera panned to the weatherman, and Stewart saw that the meteorologist was wearing a Starfleet command uniform, the captain’s uniform with four pips, more specifically. Understandably peeved, Stewart had a few words to say and then walked off the set, saying he was “out of there.”

Star Trek fans have been mocked many times for their love of the franchise; it’s something we expect from those who don’t understand what attracts us to it. Clearly, Patrick Stewart had no interest in all of the work the cast and crew put into making TNG a great show being mocked. And there was no doubt in anyone’s mind what he thought about the Good Morning America stunt.