Yes yes, at this point we’re all jam packed full of E3 talk. And whether or not you thought this was the best show in history or the worst, the questions remains what the impact and relevance of E3 really is. Fear not, dear viewer for the Commodore is here to demystify the phenomenon that is E3. After we put E3 in it’s place, its time for a question for next week that will have you watching your favorite episodes of The Next Generation! It’s the Weekly Wringer!
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I would want to meet Picard because he’s awesome; well read, intelligent, commanding, brave, and tough as nails too.
While I am not a Star Trek fan, I have seen a couple of episodes of TNG and I did chuckle at Burton’s joke. He’s actually quite clever. But to the question of this Week’s Wringer.
Since I haven’t watched much of TNG, I don’t know many characters; only a handful. But if I could meet one from the cast of this show, I think it would have to be Data. I mean, how cool would it be to hang out with a someone who’s a robot?! Not just that, but I feel like Data has this intimidating presence about him, and I don’t mean in that scary way. I mean that, he seems like such an outstanding person, (Data may be mechanical but he has feelings too) that I would just feel intimidated, especially when you top it with his voice characterture. Most importantly, I think I could learn a lot from this guy. I always see giving advice and his own unique perspective to others. His wisdom, I think, may be one of his best attributes.
I’d also like to shoot some hoops with Data. How well would he move in a game of basketball? Would he be rigid or really active? I’m not sure since I wouldn’t really know.
Anyways, I don’t really have that much to say but I’m glad I was able to say that much.
I find Data to be the most interesting character in Star Trek: The Next Generation. Every other character is, at heart, a regular person in space. Data, being an android, would also probably have the longest memory, allowing more questions to be asked.
Sorry for the short comment. I don’t have much to say.
I am going to sit this week out since there is no one in the Star Trek universe I would want to meet.
First allow me to say that like Roo has claimed “I am a huge, HUGE, Star Trek fan” . I literally found this week’s wringer minutes after unwrapping my new TNG Movie blu-ray set and watching one of the films again.
I was going to say Brent Spiner, until I read Mr. K’s comment. Unless he said it jokingly, I would have been crushed; stunned even.. It’s just not cool to call a fan a dumbass. But I’m glad I read it anyway, it made me think a little deeper.
I’d have to say Levar Burton would be my choice. I base this on a few things. I love his character, I found him to be inspiring, and brilliant. He usually remained cool and calm in intense situations. His “cured” blindness was an inspiration to Trek fans and Scientists in the real world as well. I remember in the 90′s watching a science video in school, where scientists had invented a prototype helmet for a legally blind man which allowed him to see his child for the first time (yes, in real life). It wasn’t as perfect as Jordi’s visor by far, but it was one of the most heartfelt moments I have ever witnessed. I remember the star trek fans in the room instantly striking conversation about Star Trek TNG and Jordi after the video. Jordi was best friends with an android, and their relationship on screen brought a new level to understanding Data’s character as well (Data was my favorite TNG character). Like Spock or Scotty in TOS, Data always seemed to have some sort of super genius idea to save everyone. He wasn’t afraid of the unknown. He didn’t shun negative people or situations, he seemed to rather try to find a good side or provide insight to others into things in life we take for granted.
The other reason, is I have listened to him on a few podcasts and such, and he seems like a really cool guy. Seems like the type of person that would be fun to be around. He just seems like “an all-around ok guy”.
As for reading rainbow, we watched it every week in school. I still remember the episode when he showed us the set of Star Trek TNG. it was so awesome. I was a huge bookworm as a kid: I can’t deny Levar was a very large reason for that.
My second choice would be Will Wheaton. As a kid watching TNG back in the 90′s I really envied his life on the Enterprise. Snowball fights on the holodeck would have been so much fun.
Q. Always causes some sort of craziness that gives a better understanding of one’s self. Seems like he’d be a trip.
I would like to meet Guinan (played by Whoopie Goldberg, who I actually think less of these days than back then.) Simply put, she is the most down to earth character in the series. She’s warm and friendly, inviting. She is a bit of a steriotype to the ‘wise old bartender’ but it’s perfect in that, right?
She always knew what to say. She didn’t always come out and say what the answer was to something, but she would say something that got the characters thinking. I liked her wit and wisdom and the way she delivered it with grace and charm. I saw her as a bit of a motherly character; a piece of home in the vastness of space.
Of course you always got the feeling that even though she’s a civilian, that there is a depth to her character – that off screen, there were things she went through that made her what she is. And that was a wonderful character.
I work in retail and I think it’s given me a work-man’s “poker face” of sorts. I believe Guinan has that – that the world could collapse around her, but as long as someone was seated at the bar, she’d give them a drink and tell them to forget about their troubles. I can remember her always being a welcome part of the show for me… at least until the Generations movie.
While I would love to meet any of the cast, she’s the first one who popped up in my mind, and next to Data and Worf, I think she does have the most development and layers to her.
First of all, let me go on record by saying, I LOVE TNG. What an amazing show. I also loved reading rainbow as kid. I watched it every time it was on.
ANYWAY, I am going to go with “Data” on this one. For a couple reasons. One, simply because he isn’t human, but is amazingly close to being one. There is too much intrigue into discovering how he thinks and lives his life. It is something that you just can’t get anywhere else.
Another reason is because, I feel that what he is and is capable OF..is something to look up to. He has all the right qualities of what makes a great person. He is smart, loyal, confident, cultured, protective, and in his own positronic way..has a big heart. Which is just a great role model. He is constangtly striving to better himself, for himself. That is the kind of person that I would enjoy most being around.
Thirdly, he is an aspiring artist. I TOO am an artist. So we have common interests to share and feed off each other. I also am just a huge fan of thinking logically, to a reasonable degree. There is so much BS going on in our life that logic tends to slip almost 99% of the time. Being around someone that can think so clearly ALL the time is a huge breath of fresh air. At least to me.
Lastly, It’s hard to not want to help someone like data become what he so dearly wishes to be. Human. I would have such a great time helping him with that. In general, I love helping people. This character would be the most enjoyable to help.
It’s really amazing how deep an appreciation one can have for a fictional character. Which just goes to show you how much an impact Data has on those that watched the show. He has always been and will always be my favorite.
*Update after reading Mr. K’s informative post*
Btw, to clarify, I am ONLY referring to the fictional character Data, NOT the actor. (Apparently Brent Spiner is a jerkface). I come from a long line of family members that adore them. I also just lost my eldest cat a couple weeks ago (Who was also a short-hair ginger cat like spot). I have lost all respect for Spiner as of this moment.
Guinan is absolutely my second choice for the same reasons and more.
Well, can’t participate this time.
Been thinking about getting into TNG but have not yet had the opportunity.
I’ll close by saying the Commodore’s views on E3 are bad and he should feel bad.
Finally a Wringer I can get behind! But seriously.
When I think of which character would be interesting to meet/hang-out with I always think of the unsung helmsman who got replaced by Wesley Crusher. I don’t even remember the poor guy’s name, but I’m would certainly love to have a drink with him the night he got outsted. Imagine all the surly things he would say about losing his position to a kid. Perhaps I’m projecting but I think it’s safe to say Unsung Helmsman would be rather resentful that he lost his job to a civillian, and a kid at that. Assuming he had a family that thought highly of him at that point just makes it all the more amusing.
I guess it’s really just my morbid curiousity though. I just imagine that with every Gary Stu style “Wesley Saved the Enterprise… again” type episode the resentment would just grow and he’d become even more bitter. He’d be the kind of person you’d meet and chat up with at a bar and in the end feel better about whatever petty problem you have based on sheer schadenfreude.
hmm. . . starting to wonder if I’m a bad person.
Somebody beat me to Q, but he’s my choice. I always thought Picard and company were too uptight to get along with him, but if they could have resisted his attempts to troll them, they could have had some good times together.
I would happily indulge his Greek God-like personality traits. Would that make me a sycophant? Sure! But we’re not talking about a guy with a lot of money or other rather mundane forms of power and influence; we’re talking about a being that can bend reality to his will.
And I’m fully aware that, thematically, my association with Q would ultimately backfire on me and possibly the entire human race. I’m cool with that. We all have to go some time and what a way to go.
True story. I’ve met Brent Spiner and Dwight Schultz (Reg Barclay). I was at a con about 10 years ago when it happened. I paid to get both of their autographs. I told Spiner that I always loved his scenes with the cat (this was before I got my own cat and named him Spot).
He silently chuckled a bit and said, “God, I hate cats.”
I responded to him, “Aww, I love cats.”
He handed me the autograph, looked right at me and said, “Well, you’re a dumbass.”
Dwight Schultz facepalmed at his comment. True story.
I’ve also been Tweeted to once by Levar Burton. And once by George Takei.
Anyway, if I could meet any one character from Star Trek TNG, I’d have to go with Riker. He’s a lot like me. We’re both jazz musicians. He had that Kirk swag. He knew how to take control in a situation, but purposely chose to stay out of the limelight.
And this, a million times this:
“Then take your best shot, Locutus, because we’re about to intervene.”
This is my Spot.
Star Trek talk. Star Trek Star Trekkie trek, stars and trekking, alien sex, trek. Star Star Trek. Star Trekiez trek trek trek star, trekking of the stars, with the enterprise! Trek Trek Star. Star Star. Trek Tre… trek? Star Trek. Star Trek. Generations? Old? New? Trek! Star Trek! Star Trek! Star Wars! Prequels no Trek! Star Trek. Star Trek.
In conclusion, Star. Trek.
Great show once again. I’ve started watching the show a couple of weeks back and I’m holding back a bit on getting myself in the discussion. I just enjoy reading the things other people come up with and what your reply is to that. I’ll try to provide my intake on the topics as they come by. I’ve never deepened myself into star trek so let’s hope for a topic I can relate to next week. Happy to be here at the clan of the grey wolf.
-RavingDutchman
PS Greetings from holland
Great show once again. I’ve started watching the show a couple of weeks back and I’m holding back a bit on getting myself in the discussion. I just enjoy reading the things other people come up with and what your reply is to that. I’ll try to provide my intake on the topics as they come by. I’ve never deepened myself into star trek so let’s hope for a topic I can relate to next week. Happy to be here at the clan of the grey wolf.
-RavingDutchman
PS Greetings from holland
A quick idea about what the Commodore is drinking in that sweet Clan of the Gray Wolf mug is to open each show with that question and reveal a new beverage each week. There are plenty of possibilities each week from all sorts of delightful beers (Spaten) toCapri Sun. Just a thought.
As for the question, I want to meet Lt. Commander Geordi La Forge. The character is brilliant as a technician, but also the most adaptive character on the crew. He needed to address many problems using unconventional means in order to keep that ship boogying. The guy always had multiple solutions for each issue so that he could select the best option, not the first. I would love to tour the Enterprise with someone like him. He can explain incredibly complex topics without the intimidating air accomplished people like a Captain Picard exudes. Geordi La Forge is my pick for this week’s topic.
PS http://picard.ytmnd.com/
I’d have to go with Worf. Asking him details about his life as a Klingon, his adventures in TNG, etc. Plus he was also in DSN, so there’s twice as many questions to ask about!
However, the main reason why is just that Worf was always my favorite character in all of star trek. I’m not a huge trekkie, but I’ve seen enough episodes of each series to consider myself a semi-fan, and Worf always stood out to me as a pretty big badass. Nuff said
I’d go with Chief O’Brien. He was there in the pilot of TNG, he was a minor role on the show for years before graduating to main character on DS9. That man has to have some crazy lower deck stories he can share. Plus, we share similar interests in alcohol and military history.
I’ve heard Brent Spiner is crazy when people meet him. He says a lot of strange things, but is almost always joking. He does the same sort stuff at convention panels and during interviews. Check out his appearance on the Nerdist podcast or some of his youtube clips at panels. I’d be interested in Dwight Schulz. He was Murdoch on A-Team and now hosts a radio show on UFOs.
Also to the people that want to meet Q, why? You’d just end up in the 1920′s or another dimesion as a sofa. That guy is a general in the jerk army.
Meeting Q could really be a bad idea. Who knows what he is going to do to you, just for his own amusement. And if he were actually in the mood for a conversation, he would probably lie all the time.
For me, it’s really a no-brainer. I immediately thought of Data! All the main characters in TNG are basically human, even the aliens. They all look, behave, talk and feel like humans. But Data is a machine, an AI so advanced that you could debate whether he is alive or not. I would want to sit with him in a bar and just talk. I would ask him so many questions on topics like consciousness, emotions, the meaning of life, human rights and stuff like that.
He is the most interesting character in TNG for me. I just love the concept. In the Voyager series it was the Doctor, a hologram with free will that could alter its program. The Doc centric episodes were always great especially the interactions between him and 7of9 (they should have been together at the end, Chakotay made no sense). Legion in ME ia another example.
Don’t knock an existence as a prohibition-era extra-dimensional sofa until you try it.
Oh come on. Q was not that bad. He was only an ass with Picard because Picard was an ass to him. His relationship with Janeway was a lot different. More amiable. It was the same way with Vash, until she proved her human lust for greed and it pissed him off, so he marooned her in the Gamma Quadrant.
If you treat Q the way he expects to be treated, then you won’t have a bad time.
I’d like to think Q is now a garden ornament in Equestria under the name Discord. Also- chocolate rain ftw :3
I don’t quite have enough time to read everyone else’s comments but here are the few first thoughts before my choice:
Q – Of course… ask questions, push him to do something interesting? Don’t bother. Q would spin events to his purpose before you knew what was happening. One moment you’re hoping to learn everything he knows… next moment you’re in the Colosseum pitted against Picard forcing a moral choice on him.
Noonien Soong – A genius who wanted a child. His brilliance led to creating Data, Lore, B-4, etc. Think about it though… what would you really talk about?
Picard – This was a close choice for me but I don’t believe Picard would be very open to speaking too candidly. To sit in a hall and listen to him speak to a group would be incredible but, one-on-one… questions of the Borg would be distasteful and I wouldn’t push the subject. (Damn, I’m thinking too deeply lol)
MY CHOICE:
Hugh, Borg (pre-Lore) – To speak to one of the Borg without threat of violence is very interesting to me. If the universe is diverse enough to have such opposing life-forms to exist so close together… It’s an experience of great learning of the entire cosmos to cross that line for even the briefest of moments in conversation.
I wouldn’t risk the safety of the ship though, lol… Wow, I’m such a nerd.
That’s the whole reason it’d be awesome. You can’t picture meeting him without him doing something crazy and you going on a little adventure. Troy for example with the whole mind reading thing would have to be one hell of alot of fun in…uh…intimate situations, but she’d probably want a commitment even if you got that far and the very act of meeting her is not likely to be a completely life altering experience. In meeting Q anything is possible. It’s like hanging out with the Ghost of Christmas Future or Hunter S. Thompson.
Also I think Q is just very misunderstood with the whole “jerk army” thing. He mostly turns everything back to normal after getting bored with messing about, seems like there is always some sort of life lesson he’s trying to impart with his meddling, and he might even have extended Picard’s life after that whole heart condition thing.
Sorry, I’m from the 31st century and all records of this so called “Star Trek’ have been erased.
See ya next week.
I can’t pick a favorite episode of TNG but I like clips like captain picard day, now on to more or less a rant about E3, I can understandtrying to get E3 back to its trade show roots and there nothing wrong with that, But the keynote speeches from microsoft, sony, & nintendo tend to run long in the tooth granted they are trying to plant seeds in the minds of the audience. I’m my opinion, the worst press conference this year was nintendo’s, they really didn’t bring anything interesting to the table other than the wii-u, you can tell they are desperate when the game they are hoping to be the killer app is a special version of arkham city, a game that will be almost a year old when the wii-u launches while metal gear rising, halo 4 and black ops 2 will dominate the market. I see nintendo only lasting a few more years, they are turning into sega, more worried about tech then the games and don’t get me started on the biggest dick in gaming called Reggie, that prick thinks he know what we want…WRONG!, we want earthbound on VC, we want goldeneye 64 and other games to be available for download not 5 tons of crappy wii ware titles