Summary
Star Trek: The Next Generation’s loss at the 1994 Emmy Awards inspired a storyline for Dr. Julian Bashir (Alexander Siddig) inStar Trek: Deep Space Nine.Across seven seasons,Star Trek: TNGracked up an impressive 58 nominations and 17 awards at the Emmys between 1988 and 1994.TNGperformed well in the technical categories at the Emmy Awards, but it was only in contention for the Outstanding Drama Series prize once. Thelack of Emmy recognition forTNGactorsis, rightly, a bone of contention for those that worked on the show between 1988 and 1994.
WhenStar Trek: The Next Generationended in 1994, writers like Ronald D. Moore and Rene Echevarria transferred over toStar Trek: Deep Space Nine. Moore and Echevarria played a big role in reshapingStar Trek: Deep Space Ninein line with Ira Steven Behr’s vision for the show. Behr was keen forDS9to escapeTNG’s shadow, evenblowing up an Enterpriseto make his point. However, the influence ofTNGwas inescapable, to the point that behind the scenes stories like its 1994 Emmy campaign, became a story for Dr. Bashir inDS9season 3.
Star Trek Goes For Emmy Gold & Submits For 71 Awards
Star Trek: Discovery, Star Trek: Lower Decks, and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds boldly submitted for consideration for 71 Emmy Awards.
Bashir’s Carrington Award Story In DS9 Was A Star Trek: TNG In-Joke
InStar Trek: Deep Space Nineseason 3, episode 16, “Prophet Motive”, Dr. Bashir is nominated for the prestigious Carrington Award by Lt. Jadzia Dax (Terry Farrell). Immediately, Bashir becomes anxious because the medical prize is generally given to doctors at the end of their careers. Outwardly, Bashir doesn’t believe he’ll win, but begins to harbor hopes to lift the award.This was a nod toStar Trek: The Next Generationfinally being nominated for an Outstanding Drama Series Emmy in its final season. Discussing the episode in theStar Trek: Deep Space NineCompanion, co-writer Robert Hewitt Wolfe said:
“Everybody thought thatNYPD Bluewas going to get it. Everyone on staff was certainStar Trekwould not get it. And then at some point they began to convince themselves that maybe it actually would.”
In “Prophet Motive”, Dr. April Wade is theNYPD Blueto Dr. Bashir’sTNG, as everyone expects her to win the Carrington. However, everyone is surprised when Dr. Henri Roget wins the Carrington Award instead. Roget’s surprise win wasStar Trek: Deep Space Nine’s reference toNYPD BlueandTNGboth losing the Emmy to the surprise winner,Picket Fences. Despite never truly believing he’d win, Bashir, like theTNGteam, is visibly disappointed to lose out on the Carrington.
Picket Fenceswas created by David E. Kelley, who would later createBoston Legal, which starredStar Trekalumni William Shatner and Rene Auberjonois.
Starfleet’s Most Notable Carrington Award Winners
The Carrington Award is given out by the Federation Medical Council every year, to honor outstanding achievements in medicine. Doctor Bashir may not have won the Carrington inStar Trek: Deep Space Nine, but some Starfleet luminaries have recieved the honor, despite Julian’s assertion that it’s a lifetime achievement award. InStar Trek: Picardseason 3, episode 1, “The Next Generation”, a Carrington Award is one of the items on display in the quarters ofDoctor Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden)aboard the SS Eleos XII. As Dr. Crusher’s promotion inPicardseason 3 proved, she still has a full career ahead of her.
Star Trek: Discovery, Season 2, Episode 1, “Brother”
Commander Una Chin-Riley
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Season 2, Episode 2, “Ad Astra Per Aspera”
Interestingly, both members ofStar Trek: Strange New Worlds' command duo, Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount) and Number One (Rebecca Romijn) have won the Carrington. Among the accolades listed on Pike’s file inStar Trek: Discoveryseason 2, episode 1, “Brother”, is a Carrington Award, won at some point before 2257. And then inStrange New Worldsseason 2, episode 2, “Ad Astra Per Aspera”, Una Chin-Riley’s personnel file also lists a Carrington Award. If Pike and Number One can win it, surelyStar Trek: Deep Space Nine’s Dr. Bashir can secure a Carrington Award in the near future.
