Tony and Laurie start with the big news about Alex Kurtzman’s extended $160 million 5-year deal at ViacomCBS, and what that means for the Star Trek Universe. They discuss the departure of most of the Star Trek movie catalog from Paramount+, the 2022 launch of Paramount+ in Europe (including Prodigy), more actors wrapping up their work on Discovery season 4, and quickly go over the Covid precautions being taken at next week’s upcoming 55-Year Mission convention in Las Vegas. For a full preview of the con (including a chat with Chase Masterson) check out the newest episode of the Shuttle Pod. Then they get to the main topic: Star Trek: Lower Decks. Tony tells Laurie about the outdoor screening party in LA the night before and a preview of his red carpet interviews with the cast and show creator Mike McMahan. Then they play excerpts from TrekMovie’s roundtable interviews with the four Lower Decks stars: Tawny Newsome, Jack Quaid, Eugene Cordero, and Noël Wells. [WARNING: Minor season 2spoilers] They wrap things up with a fan’s detailed look at the USS Protostar (the ship featured on Prodigy) and a trip back in time to when future Star Trek historians’ parents could film William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, and Catherine Hicks shooting Star Trek IV.  Links to news topics discussed in the pod: ViacomCBS Extends Alex Kurtzman’s Contract As They Map Out Star Trek Universe Future On Paramount+ Star Trek TOS And TNG Movies Jump From Paramount+ To AMC+ ‘Star Trek: Prodigy’ Coming To UK/Europe With Launch Of Paramount+ And New Deal With Sky More Actors Wrap Up As ‘Star Trek: Discovery’ Season 4 Production Approaches Finish 55-Year Mission Las Vegas Star Trek Convention To Require Proof Of Vaccination Or COVID Test The Shuttle Pod Previews The 55-Year Mission Convention With Chase Masterson Interview: Tawny Newsome And Jack Quaid On How ‘Lower Decks’ S2 Is Great Star Trek… And Gives “Zero Fs” Interview: Noël Wells And Eugene Cordero On Their “Intellectual Love Affair” In ‘Lower Decks’ Season 2 Additional mentions: Star Trek: Prodigy writer Aaron J. Waltke talks starship crew size on Twitter Robert Duncan McNeill lobbies for Captain Proton series on Twitter, tags Voyager castmates & Alex Kurtzman TrekMovie’s tweets from the Lower Decks block party Trekbits:  Tony: Star Trek Prodigy USS Protostar Detailed Breakdown on Junkball Laurie: John Tenuto’s tweet with his parents’ video of Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home aquarium scene and his 2007 article on TrekMovie