Question 1

Let's start at the beginning.  Who composed the theme song of Star Trek (the Original Series)?

Accepted Answer

Alexander Courage - Yes, Star Trek was Alexander Courage's greatest claim to fame.

Question 2

The man in the worry-seat is Captain Kirk.  What's his middle name?

Accepted Answer

Tiberius - This may be the most popular trivia question bout Star Trek... and one of the most inconsequential.

Question 3

Let's get more trivial.  This alien was featured in the episode "Arena" in 1967.  What species was this called?

Accepted Answer

Gorn - Kirk has to re-invent the blunderbus to defeat the Gorn in single combat, though ironically he proves his moral superiority because someone is watching.

Question 4

One of the original members of the cast was Dr McCoy.  Were was Bones from?

Accepted Answer

Atlanta - Does anyone else remember Bones dusting off his Southern drawl while sipping a mint julep?

Question 5

James Doohan played Scotty, chief engineer of the Enterprise.  What other contribution did he make to the Star Trek universe?

Accepted Answer

He helped create the Klingon lnaguage

Question 6

"The Trouble with Tribbles" is one of the most popular Star Trek episodes aired.  Who wrote it?

Accepted Answer

David Gerrold - "Tribbles" was the ONLY episode ever written by Gerrold, yet still one of the most famous.

Question 7

Nyota Uhura almost became a footnote in Star Trek history when Nichelle Nichols almost quit the series to return to Broadway.  What stopped her?

Accepted Answer

She was convinced to stay by Martin Luther King Jr - There's an account of the meeting with MLK on Nichols's Wikipedia page.

Question 8

As an actor, Leonard Nimoy brought many iconic traits to Spock.  How did he invent the "live long and prosper" hand sign?

Accepted Answer

It's based on a gesture used by Jewish priests in a service - Nimoy recalled the gesture from an Orthodox Jewish synagogue service when he was a boy.

Question 9

Why were transporters so important to the success of the original series?

Accepted Answer

They saved money in special effects - As always, it was all about the money, Lebowski.

Question 10

Khan Noonien Singh is still regarded as one of the great villains of television/cinema.  What actor played him?

Accepted Answer

Ricardo Montalban - Yes, the same actor from Fantasy Island played Khan in both the series and The Wrath of Khan.

Question 11

"Amok Time" is another classic original series episode, and Spock's intended bride sets events in motion.  What is the character's name?

Accepted Answer

T'Pring

Question 12

"Amok Time" had another moment unique in the series.  What happened?

Accepted Answer

Spock showed emotion - Spock is overjoyed to see Kirk is still alive, but quickly gets himself back under control.

Question 13

George Takei (born Takei Hosato), who played Sulu during the original series, has been an activist for many years.  What event in his life prompted this originally?

Accepted Answer

His family was interned at a "Relocation Center"

Question 14

Pavel Chekov was intended to be a "Russian Davy Jones" (of the rock group The Monkees) who was hugely popular at the time, the character introduced in season 2.  Why else was Chekov introduced?

Accepted Answer

George Takei wasn't available for half the season - Takei was busy filming "The Green Berets", the John Wayne movie, during season 2.  The actors shared the season, then both became regulars sharing their bridge station.

Question 15

Star Trek enjoyed "costume" episodes.  One such episode was based on 1920's gangland Chicago.  What was the episode called?

Accepted Answer

A Piece of the Action

Question 16

Grace Lee Whitney was introduced to Star Trek fans in the first episode aired.  What character did she play?

Accepted Answer

Yeoman Rand

Question 17

With the Next Generation, what did the creators introduce to the franchise that allowed stories involving Sherlock Holmes or a New Orleans jazz club.  What was it?

Accepted Answer

Holodeck - The holodeck gave the writers almost limitless possibilities for locale, characters, situations... and plenty of chances for "what could go wrong?"

Question 18

Patrick Stewart was so convinced TNG would fail, what did he do that was unusual?

Accepted Answer

He didn't unpack for two months

Question 19

William Riker was a fixture for TNG.  What changed for his character between seasons 1 and 2?

Accepted Answer

He grew a beard - The beard was actually for another acting gig, but he kept it and it seemed to work for Riker.

Question 20

Star Trek IV: the Voyage Home is the favorite for many Trekkies.  Who was the director?

Accepted Answer

Leonard Nimoy - Yes, the actor who played the character who never laughed directed the most humorous Star Trek movie.

Question 21

The pilot episode for TNG, "Encounter at Farpoint", introduced which pivotal new alien race to the Star Trek universe?

Accepted Answer

the Q

Question 22

Worf became the first Klingon as a regular cast member of any Star Trek franchise.  What other distinction does Worf hold?

Accepted Answer

Most Star Trek episodes of any character

Question 23

Geordi La Forge (played by LeVar Burton) was chief engineer of the Enterprise-D under Picard.  What was his original post in TNG?

Accepted Answer

Helmsman - La Forge had the same post as Sulu in the original series.  It was a point of irony that the guy piloting the Enterprise was technically blind.

Question 24

Lwaxana Troi, mother of Councillor Troi, was played by Majel Barrett.  How many on-screen Star Trek characters did she play in total?

Accepted Answer

3 - Nurse Chapel, Lwaxana Troi, and Number One ("Menagerie") were her on-screen roles, but she voiced the Enterprise computer and over a dozen animated characters as well.

Question 25

Mark Lenard played Spock's father, Sarek, in TOS, but like Majel Barrett played several characters outside this.  What was his first Star Trek character?

Accepted Answer

a Romulan commander

Question 26

Trekkies all know that Whoopi Goldberg played Guinan in TNG.  What was the name of the rec lounge where she served?

Accepted Answer

Ten Forward - According to one account, the producers thought they were being pranked by Goldberg when she contacted them expressing interest in being on the show.

Question 27

Now for some truly trivial information... what star was the sun of the Vulcan home world?

Accepted Answer

40 Eridani A

Question 28

Any Trekkie worth their salt knows Data's pet cat Spot.  But Capt Picard had a pet fish in his ready room.  What was the fish's name?

Accepted Answer

Livingston - Behind the scenes, it's said that Stewart actually disliked the fish.

Question 29

In Star Trek: the Motion Picture, actress Persis Khambatta played Lt Ilia.  What alien species was Ilia?

Accepted Answer

Deltan - Lt Ilia well-known quote is, "I would never take advantage of a sexually immature species."

Question 30

In "The Undiscovered Country", Kirk tells his doppelganger, "I can't believe I kissed you."  What does his double reply?

Accepted Answer

"Must have been your life-long ambition." - This joke landed so well because of the Shatner/Kirk reputation for borderline narcissism.

Star Trek Trivia Quiz: the Original Series & Next Generation

2) The man in the worry-seat is Captain Kirk. What's his middle name?

3) Let's get more trivial. This alien was featured in the episode "Arena" in 1967. What species was this called?

4) One of the original members of the cast was Dr McCoy. Were was Bones from?

5) James Doohan played Scotty, chief engineer of the Enterprise. What other contribution did he make to the Star Trek universe?

6) "The Trouble with Tribbles" is one of the most popular Star Trek episodes aired. Who wrote it?

7) Nyota Uhura almost became a footnote in Star Trek history when Nichelle Nichols almost quit the series to return to Broadway. What stopped her?

8) As an actor, Leonard Nimoy brought many iconic traits to Spock. How did he invent the "live long and prosper" hand sign?

9) Why were transporters so important to the success of the original series?

10) Khan Noonien Singh is still regarded as one of the great villains of television/cinema. What actor played him?

11) "Amok Time" is another classic original series episode, and Spock's intended bride sets events in motion. What is the character's name?

12) "Amok Time" had another moment unique in the series. What happened?

13) George Takei (born Takei Hosato), who played Sulu during the original series, has been an activist for many years. What event in his life prompted this originally?

14) Pavel Chekov was intended to be a "Russian Davy Jones" (of the rock group The Monkees) who was hugely popular at the time, the character introduced in season 2. Why else was Chekov introduced?

15) Star Trek enjoyed "costume" episodes. One such episode was based on 1920's gangland Chicago. What was the episode called?

16) Grace Lee Whitney was introduced to Star Trek fans in the first episode aired. What character did she play?

17) With the Next Generation, what did the creators introduce to the franchise that allowed stories involving Sherlock Holmes or a New Orleans jazz club. What was it?

18) Patrick Stewart was so convinced TNG would fail, what did he do that was unusual?

19) William Riker was a fixture for TNG. What changed for his character between seasons 1 and 2?

20) Star Trek IV: the Voyage Home is the favorite for many Trekkies. Who was the director?

21) The pilot episode for TNG, "Encounter at Farpoint", introduced which pivotal new alien race to the Star Trek universe?

22) Worf became the first Klingon as a regular cast member of any Star Trek franchise. What other distinction does Worf hold?

23) Geordi La Forge (played by LeVar Burton) was chief engineer of the Enterprise-D under Picard. What was his original post in TNG?

24) Lwaxana Troi, mother of Councillor Troi, was played by Majel Barrett. How many on-screen Star Trek characters did she play in total?

25) Mark Lenard played Spock's father, Sarek, in TOS, but like Majel Barrett played several characters outside this. What was his first Star Trek character?

26) Trekkies all know that Whoopi Goldberg played Guinan in TNG. What was the name of the rec lounge where she served?

27) Now for some truly trivial information... what star was the sun of the Vulcan home world?

28) Any Trekkie worth their salt knows Data's pet cat Spot. But Capt Picard had a pet fish in his ready room. What was the fish's name?

29) In Star Trek: the Motion Picture, actress Persis Khambatta played Lt Ilia. What alien species was Ilia?

30) In "The Undiscovered Country", Kirk tells his doppelganger, "I can't believe I kissed you." What does his double reply?