Coming of Age (Star Trek: The Next Generation) Coming of Age (Star Trek: The Next Generation) "Coming of Age" is the 18th episode of the American science fiction television series "". It first aired in broadcast syndication on March 14, 1988. Sandy Fries originally wrote the episode, but Hannah Louise Shearer performed an uncredited re-write. It is the only episode of the series directed by Mike Vejar, who went on to direct episodes of "", "" and "". Set in the 24th century, the series follows the adventures of the Starfleet crew of the Federation starship "Enterprise"-D. In the episode, Wesley Crusher (Wil Wheaton) takes a Starfleet Academy
Descent (Star Trek: The Next Generation) of the set of "Star Trek: The Next Generation", which included an opportunity by Hawking to sit in the captain's chair. Freedman told the show's executive producer, Rick Berman, that Hawking would appear on the show if asked. Hawking accepted the ensuing offer, marking the first time a guest star played himself on an episode of any "Star Trek" series. After he was sent the script, he made some modifications to it, including improving a humorous line of dialogue to make it funnier, which Berman called "delightful". Later, when actor Brent Spiner, who appeared in the scene with Hawking, first