Why are people surprised Wil Wheaton was in Star Trek: The Next Generation for as long as he was?

Looper was “surprised” Wil Wheaton filmed 68 episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation.

Wil Wheaton was in Star Trek: The Next Generation for 68 episodes, playing Wesley Crusher, according to Memory Alpha. He was a key figure through the first three seasons and wracked up most of his appearances in that time span but that doesn’t mean he was done. He appeared in every season of the series after, save for season six.

So why Looper was surprised that Wheaton appeared in 68 is a bit surprising. He was a member of the main cast, and you’d think that he’d at least get to 60 episodes off that fact alone.

What may be a bit more surprising is how many times he was credited but didn’t appear. According to IMDB, he had 17 episodes where he had an acting credit for an appearance he never made.

That seems more interesting but that’s easily explained away. It could be contractual, or it could be that he shot scenes that were later edited out.

Wil Wheaton is still a part of Star Trek all these years later

Despite the fact that some are shocked that Wheaton was a part of the show for as long as he was, 85 total for credited appearances, and the fact he came back for Star Trek: Nemesis, fans don’t seem to see him in the same light as other long-term Trek actors.

When people realize he’s still actively involved in Star Trek, most fans are a bit shocked, having never realized that.

Right now he can be seen on Star Trek’s post-show wrap-up, “The Ready Room”, on Paramount+. It’s like what AMC did with their Talking Dead series, but only it’s about Star Trek.

Wheaton is also a fixture at conventions and even when he guest stars on other properties, like The Big Bang Theory (where he played a fictionalized version of himself), he’s attached to Star Trek in some way.

Wheaton deserves more credit for his contributions to Trek, even if you weren’t a fan of his character.