Join Paramount+ for a First Contact Day Celebration on Monday, April 5

JOIN PARAMOUNT+ FOR A FIRST CONTACT DAY CELEBRATION ON MONDAY, APRIL 5

Virtual First Contact Day Celebration Will Commemorate Pivotal Moment of Exploration and Acceptance in Star Trek History, first depicted in Star Trek: First Contact

Programming Includes Themed Panels with Cast and Creatives from Star Trek Series, Cast from Star Trek: First Contact, Exclusive News from the Star Trek Universe on Paramount+, The Return of #StarTrekUnitedGives and More

March 30, 2021 - Paramount+ invites fans from around the world to a virtual celebration of First Contact Day on Monday, April 5. As depicted in the film Star Trek: First Contact, April 5, 2063 is the day that humans first make contact with Vulcans, marking a pivotal moment of exploration and acceptance in Star Trek history. The virtual event will honor and commemorate this future date by providing Star Trek fans exclusive programming, including themed panels with the cast and creatives from classic and current Star Trek television series and cast from Star Trek: First Contact, exclusive news from the Star Trek Universe on Paramount+, curated episode marathons, the return of the #StarTrekUnitedGives initiative and more. Additional information on free First Contact Day programming and initiatives can be accessed at StarTrek.com/FirstContact.

A follow up to Star Trek Day, First Contact Day is also a continued celebration of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry and the world he created and first introduced to audiences almost 55 years ago, championing diversity, inclusion, acceptance and hope.

First Contact Day virtual programming and initiatives include:

• FIRST CONTACT DAY GLOBAL PANELS (12:00-2:45 PM, PT/3:00-5:45 PM, ET)

Join hosts Wil Wheaton and Mica Burton for almost three hours of free themed virtual panels and programming that will feature cast members and creative minds from Star Trek as they discuss exploration, unity through diversity and new frontiers in the franchise, while offering exclusive sneak peeks into what's next in the Star Trek Universe on Paramount+.

The panels will serve as the global centerpiece of First Contact Day, and each will uniquely honor the legacy and importance of the core values of acceptance and exploration in Star Trek while creating a memorable experience for fans. In addition, Star Trek updates, announcements and footage will be showcased throughout.

The First Contact Day themed panels and panelists are as follows:

· Star Trek: First Contact 25th Anniversary Panel, featuring cast members Patrick Stewart, Jonathan Frakes, Brent Spiner and Alice Krige as they discuss behind-the-scenes memories and the film's importance 25 years after its premiere.

· "Creating First Contacts" Panel, Costume Designer Gersha Phillips (STAR TREK: DISCOVERY), Senior Concept Designer Neville Page, VFX Supervisor Jason Zimmerman and Make-up & Prosthetics Department Head James Mackinnon (STAR TREK: PICARD) come together in conversation about creating the incredible worlds of Star Trek, as seen in STAR TREK: DISCOVERY and STAR TREK: PICARD.

· "Women In Motion" Panel, featuring STAR TREK: DISCOVERY'S Sonequa Martin-Green, STAR TREK: PICARD's Michelle Hurd and Isa Briones, and STAR TREK: LOWER DECKS' Dawnn Lewis as they look back at how Star Trek: The Original Series actress Nichelle Nichols helped pave the way for women of color on television and overall, her lasting impact on not only Star Trek, but science and culture.

· "Second Contact" Panel, Mike McMahan, the creator of STAR TREK: LOWER DECKS, Paul F. Tompkins, the co-host of Star Trek: The Pod Directive and Brent Spiner and Jonathan Frakes of Star Trek: The Next Generation discuss how some of the hilarious B-stories from past series like Star Trek: The Next Generation paved the way for new iterations of "Star Trek," including STAR TREK: LOWER DECKS, the Star Trek franchise's first animated comedy.

· STAR TREK: PRODIGY Panel, series executive producers Kevin and Dan Hageman are joined by Captain Kathryn Janeway herself of Star Trek: Voyager and Kate Mulgrew, who is reprising her role in animated form in PRODIGY, as they talk about the highly anticipated upcoming CG-animated kids series from Nickelodeon and CBS Studios.

Fans worldwide will be able to livestream the First Contact Day panels for free at StarTrek.com/FirstContact. The panels will also be available to stream for free in the U.S. on PlutoTV and Paramount+'s Twitch page.

After their initial airing, the panels will be available on-demand on Paramount+'s YouTube Channel and on Paramount+.

#STARTREKUNITEDGIVES CAMPAIGN

On April 5, for every person that tweets the hashtag StarTrekUnitedGives (#StarTrekUnitedGives), Paramount+ will donate $1 to organizations who do the real-world work of championing equality, social justice and the pursuit of scientific advancements.

"BEST OF FIRST CONTACTS" EPISODIC STREAMING MARATHON, PRESENTED BY PARAMOUNT+ (9:00 AM, PT/12:00 PM, ET)

For fans based in the U.S. only, First Contact Day celebrations will kick off with part one of a streaming marathon of episodes featuring iconic first contacts from 10 different Star Trek series. The marathon will pause for the duration of the First Contact Day global panels and will resume with part two after the panels conclude.

The "Best of First Contacts" streaming marathon schedule on Monday, April 5 is as follows:

· 9:00 AM, PT/12:00 PM, ET - "Best of First Contacts" Star Trek Episodic Marathon, Part 1 begins

· 12:00 PM, PT/3:00 PM, ET - Part 1 of Marathon Concludes; First Contact Day panels begin

· 2:45 PM, PT/5:45 PM, ET - "Best of First Contacts" Star Trek Episodic Marathon, Part 2 begins

· 6:00 PM, PT/9:00 PM, ET - Marathon concludes; First Contact Day panels replay

The Star Trek episodes included in the "Best of First Contacts" streaming marathon are as follows:

· Star Trek: The Original Series: Season 1, Episode 18 - "Arena"

· Star Trek: Lower Decks: Season 1, Episode 1 - "Second Contact"

· Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Season 4, Episode 7 - "Little Green Men"

· Star Trek: Short Treks: Season 2, Episode 6 -"Children of Mars"

· Star Trek: Voyager: Season 4, Episode 1 - "Scorpion, Part 2"

· Star Trek: Discovery: Season 2, Episode 2 - "New Eden"

· Star Trek: The Animated Series: Season 1, Episode 7 - "The Infinite Vulcan"

· Star Trek: Enterprise: Season 1, Episode 6 - "The Andorian Incident'

· Star Trek: The Next Generation: Season 4, Episode 15 - "First Contact"

· Star Trek: Picard: Season 1, Episode 8 - "Broken Pieces"

The marathon of episodes will be available to stream for free at StarTrek.com/FirstContact for viewers based in the U.S. only.

OFFICIAL "STAR TREK" MERCHANDISE SALE

The official Star Trek Shop is offering 20% off all merchandise, including special First Contact Day products. Please visit https://shop.startrek.com/ on April 5 to access and learn more about the sale.

FIRST CONTACT DAY SOCIAL OPPORTUNITY FOR FANS

Calling all Star Trek fans! On April 5, fans are encouraged to share their point of "first contact" with the Star Trek Universe, whether it's a memory from when they first connected with a series or film or the moment they felt represented on screen. Use the hashtags #StarTrek, #FirstContactDay and #FirstContact for a chance to be retweeted by the official "Star Trek" Twitter handles.

#FirstContactDay Facebook: @StarTrekonPPlus, @StarTrek, @ParamountPlus Twitter: @StarTrekonPPlus, @StarTrek, @ParamountPlus Instagram: @StarTrekonPPlus, @StarTrek, @ParamountPlus  

About Paramount+:

Paramount+, a direct-to-consumer digital subscription video on-demand and live streaming service from ViacomCBS, combines live sports, breaking news, and a mountain of entertainment. The premium streaming service features an expansive library of original series, hit shows and popular movies across every genre from world-renowned brands and production studios, including BET, CBS, Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon, Paramount Pictures and the Smithsonian Channel. The service is also the streaming home to unmatched sports programming, including every CBS Sports event, from golf to football to basketball and more, plus exclusive streaming rights for major sports properties, including some of the world's biggest and most popular soccer leagues. Paramount+ also enables subscribers to stream local CBS stations live across the U.S. in addition to the ability to stream ViacomCBS Streaming's other live channels: CBSN for 24/7 news, CBS Sports HQ for sports news and analysis, and ET Live for entertainment coverage. For more information about Paramount+, please visit www.paramountplus.com and follow @ParamountPlus on social platforms.

About the Star Trek Universe on Paramount+:

The Star Trek Universe on Paramount+ includes current and upcoming seasons of the original series Star Trek: Discovery, Star Trek: Picard, the animated series Star Trek: Lower Decks and the upcoming Star Trek: Strange New Worlds and Star Trek: Prodigy, the first Star Trek series aimed at younger audiences. The Star Trek Universe on Paramount+ also includes all 726 episodes from the six classic Star Trek series and a selection of Star Trek films.

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More Nick: First Look at 'Star Trek: Prodigy'!

Press release via TheFutonCritic.com; Additional source: ComicBook.com; H/T: Anime Superhero Forum /@RoyalRubble.

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