TNG Season 3 & Best of Both Worlds Press Release

CBS have just sent TrekCore copies of the full press release detailing a disc-by-disc breakdown of the upcoming releases of Star Trek: The Next Generation – Season 3 and Star Trek: The Next Generation – “The Best of Both Worlds”.

Here’s the press release reproduced in its entirety:

ACCLAIMED SERIES RETURNS WITH DEBUT OF
BRAND NEW HIGH-DEFINITION COLLECTIONS

STAR TREK THE NEXT GENERATION

THE THIRD SEASON BLU-RAY™
And
THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS BLU-RAY

All-New Special Features Include Seth MacFarlane Moderating
Reunion Of Show Writers, Fan-Favorite Gag Reels, An In-Depth Look At The Borg,
And More!

Both Available April 30, 2013

HOLLYWOOD, Calif. (February 8, 2013) – Continuing the series of high-definition collections celebrated by fans, STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION™ – THE THIRD SEASON and STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION – THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS will both arrive on Blu-ray Disc April 30 from CBS Home Entertainment and Paramount Home Media Distribution in separate must-have sets packed with all-new special features. Both collections are the result of the painstaking restoration of the renowned series that involved returning to the original film elements. The results have critics raving that “this set will feel like you’re experiencing a brand-new show” (IGN).

STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION™ – THE THIRD SEASON
Boasting an unprecedented reunion of Next Generation writers moderated by comedian and Star Trek fan Seth MacFarlane, this third season collection features an all-new feature entitled “Inside The Writer’s Room.” Including fascinating discussion on the creation of the show’s acclaimed third season by some of today’s most visionary science fiction television writers, MacFarlane leads a panel that includes Ronald Moore, Brannon Braga, Naren Shankar and Rene Echevarria. Plus, the collection is highlighted by an all-new multi-part documentary “Resistance is Futile: Assimilating The Next Generation,” which reveals behind-the-scenes insight on the making of Season Three, focusing on the drastic changes to the creative and writing staff leading to the arrival of new show runner Michael Piller. Also, the set features a special tribute to Piller, including never-before-seen interviews with cast, crew, family members and industry colleagues who all discuss his lasting influence not only on the series, but also on the Star Trek franchise as a whole. Rounding out the exclusive bonus material includes an all-new gag reel and newly produced commentary on select episodes.

The STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION – THE THIRD SEASON Blu-ray is a
6-disc collection featuring all 26 episodes of the third season. Continuing to follow the remarkable voyages of the Starship Enterprise, the third season includes some of the most celebrated episodes in Star Trek canon.

STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION – THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS
Hailed by TV Guide as one of the best television episodes of all time (Part One), STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION – THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS Blu-ray features a seamlessly edited, one-part, feature length 86 minute presentation of the classic two-part cliffhanger. In this fan favorite episode, Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) is captured and assimilated by the Borg. Available in high-definition for the first time ever, a centerpiece to the release is a newly-produced documentary “Regeneration: Engaging the Borg.” Offering fans an in-depth exploration into the creation of The Next Generation’s most iconic villains, along with the making of the episode, the exclusive feature includes all-new interviews with the show’s production staff, visual effects artists, writers, and cast as they reveal the challenges faced in producing one of the most technically complex episodes of the series. Plus the set includes an exclusive gag reel and all-new commentary with technical consultants Mike and Denise Okuda, actor Elizabeth Dennehy and director Cliff Bole.

The STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION – THE THIRD SEASON will be available in 1080p with English 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio, English Stereo Surround, French Mono, Italian Mono, German Mono, Castilian Mono, and Japanese Mono. The discs also include English SDH, French, German, Castilian, Italian, Japanese, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, Norwegian and Swedish subtitles. The Blu-ray is Not Rated in the U.S. and rated PG in Canada, and it will be available for the suggested retail price of $130.00 U.S. and $150.00 Canada. Its disc breakdown is as follows:

Disc One:
Episodes

Special Features

Archival Mission Log: Mission Overview Year Three (SD)
Audio Commentary with Ron Moore on “The Bonding” – NEW!
Episodic Promos
- Promo #1 (SD)
- Promo #2 (SD)
- Promo #3 (SD)
- Promo #4 (SD)
- Promo #5 (SD)

Disc Two:
Episodes

Special Features

Archival Mission Log: Selected Crew Analysis Year Three (SD)
Episodic Promos
- Promo #1 (SD)
- Promo #2 (SD)
- Promo #3 (SD)
- Promo #4 (SD)
- Promo #5 (SD)

Disc Three:
Episodes

Special Features

Archival Mission Log: Departmental Briefing Year Three: Memorable Missions (SD)
Audio commentary with Ron Moore and Ira Steven Behr on “Yesterday’s Enterprise –NEW!
Episodic Promos
- Promo #1 (SD)
- Promo #2 (SD)
- Promo #3 (SD)
- Promo #4 (SD)
- Promo #5 (SD)

Disc Four:
Episodes

Special Features

Archival Mission Log: Departmental Briefing Year Three: Production (SD)
Audio Commentary with Rene Echevarria ~~and Jonathan Frakes~~ on “The Offspring” –NEW!
Audio Commentary with Ron Moore on “Sins of the Father” – NEW!
Episodic Promos
- Promo #1 (SD)
- Promo #2 (SD)
- Promo #3 (SD)
- Promo #4 (SD)

Disc Five:
Episodes

Special Features

Gag Reel (HD) – NEW!
Episodic Promos
- Promo #1 (SD)
- Promo #2 (SD)
- Promo #3 (SD)
- Promo #4 (SD)
- Promo #5 (SD)

Disc Six:
Episodes

Special Features

Star Trek The Next Generation: Inside The Writer’s Room (HD) – NEW!
Resistance is Futile: Assimilating The Next Generation (HD) – NEW!
A Tribute to Michael Pillar (HD) – NEW!
Episodic Promos
- Promo #1 (SD)
- Promo #2 (SD)

The STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION – THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS Blu-ray will be available in 1080p with English 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio, English Stereo Surround, French Mono, Italian Mono, German Stereo, Castilian Mono and Japanese Mono. The discs also include English SDH, French, Italian, German, Castilian, Japanese, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, Norwegian and Swedish subtitles. The Blu-ray is Not Rated in the U.S. and rated PG in Canada, and it will be available for the suggested retail price of $28.28 U.S. and $32.00 Canada. Its disc breakdown is as follows:

The Best Of Both Worlds

Special Features

Audio Commentary with Cliff Bole, Mike Okuda & Denise Okuda, and Elizabeth Dennehy –NEW!
Regeneration: Engaging the Borg – NEW!
Gag Reel – NEW!

A few notes on the press release. Notably absent from the Season 3 set is David Carson’s audio commentary from “Yesterday’s Enterprise” which was previously released on the “Alternate Realities” Fan Collective DVD. We’re told this couldn’t be included for contractual reasons. UPDATE: We’re told that CBS have secured David Carson’s commentary and it will be included! Ron Moore and Ira Behr’s commentary on the episode is brand new, recorded specially for the Blu-Rays. Furthermore, we’re advised that CBS were unable to include the text commentaries previously released on the Fan Collective DVD special sets, including “Deja Q” (from the Q Fan Collective DVD set), “Yesterday’s Enterprise” (from the Time Travel Fan Collective DVD set), “Sins of the Father” (from the Klingon Fan Collective DVD set) and “The Best of Both Worlds, Part I” (from the Borg Fan Collective DVD set).

Ron Moore’s commentaries are also a delight to see listed… Ron previously made it clear that he’d love to record commentaries for all of his episodes, and it looks like the team were able to schedule him for all but one this season (unfortunately a commentary on Moore’s “The Defector” is absent). Hopefully there’s enough prep-time between now and Season 4 to allow Moore to complete commentaries on all seven of his episodes in that season! Fingers crossed!

Fans can now pre-order both “The Best of Both Worlds” and Season 3 from Amazon. We’ll have more news and previews of the sets as the release date gets closer! Watch this space.