TNN Launches ‘Star Trek’ Love Fest

The program on TNN tonight at 7 is called “America Loves ‘Star Trek”’ and explores the enduring popularity of this 35-year-old space franchise through multiple incarnations on both the big and small screens.

A cynic could be excused for concluding that the show’s title is a case of the cable channel projecting what it hopes will be true, since TNN is devoting not only most of its schedule today but also for the rest of the week to “Star Trek” doings. But given the evidence of the past week, the title probably needs no defense.

For one thing, the latest spinoff, “Enterprise,” debuted on UPN last Wednesday and won its time slot, attracting 12.5 million viewers. For another, Paramount announced that it would start production in November on the 10th “Star Trek” feature film, “Nemesis,” starring Patrick Stewart and the rest of the cast of “Star Trek: The Next Generation.”

As it happens, “Star Trek: The Next Generation” is exactly what TNN is celebrating with its hourlong “America Loves ‘Star Trek”’ special, hosted by Jonathan Frakes. The channel has acquired the reruns of the series that originally aired in syndication from 1987 to 1994.

The first episode airs tonight at 8. After a break for wrestling at 9, other episodes then follow at 11:05 p.m., 12:05 a.m., 1:05 a.m. and 2:05 a.m. (And that doesn’t count the “Star Trek” movies airing today at 9 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 2 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.)

But that’s not all. TNN will show nothing but “Next Generation” episodes Tuesday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 a.m. Thereafter the series airs weeknights at 8 and 11.

What gives? The “Star Trek” franchise is owned by Viacom. Guess what company acquired TNN last year? You don’t have to be Spock to figure that one out.

Surf Report

SERIES

The ever-acerbic Anne Robinson hosts an eclectic bunch of classic TV stars in a celebrity edition of “Weakest Link” (8 p.m NBC).

A royal scandal on “Biography”: “Charles & Camilla” (8 p.m. A&E;). That’s Prince Charles and Camilla Parker-Bowles.

MOVIES

The great Bela Lugosi has the title role in the groundbreaking 1931 classic “Dracula” ( 9:15 p.m. AMC).

SPECIALS

In four back-to-back episodes of “Band of Brothers” (starting at 9 p.m. on HBO), the gritty World War II drama follows Easy Company from Georgia to Nomandy and Holland.