Posted Mon Jun 18, 2012 at 02:25 PM PDT by Tom Landy
by Tom Landy
My continuing mission to catch up with the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise-D came to a close during my trip to Western Canada this past April. The headlining event of the 2012 Calgary Comic and Entertainment Expo was Star Trek: EXPOsed -- a sold-out 'Star Trek: The Next Generation' 25th Anniversary Reunion with all nine principle cast members from the iconic series. This was the first time they were all on stage together in over two decades!
The evening got off to a very slow start, but eventually we were treated to a video tribute to the 'TNG' cast that appeared on the big screens in the arena. The video featured a host of stars paying their honors including George Takei, Walter Koenig, Edward James Olmos, and Robert Picardo to name a few. After that, the hostess of the Calgary Expo, Emily Expo -- who was celebrating her birthday that day, introduced a surprise special guest from 'Star Trek: Voyager' to say a few words before the cast of 'TNG' took center stage. A transcript of the festivities is provided below.
Emily Expo: Please welcome Garrett Wang to the stage!
(Applause)
Garrett Wang: Hello!
(Applause)
Garrett Wang: In the words of George Takei, "Ohhh Myyy."
(Laughter)
Garrett Wang: All right. So I was asked if I could say a few words in this commemoration for 'Star Trek: The Next Generation' and I would like to say, more than anything -- I owe my thanks to being on 'Star Trek: Voyager' to 'The Next Generation' cast and the show itself because, let me tell you this story. When Next-Gen first came on the air I was very excited, because I've always been a sci-fi fan. I've seen every bit of sci-fi since being a small young child. So when Next-Gen came on, I thought "Awesome! A new Star Trek series." I watched the first time... back in -- oh my god what year was it it premiered in?
Crowd: '87!
Garrett Wang: Thank you! So I turn on the TV and the episode that aired has been agreed upon to be the worst written episode of 'Star Trek'...
(Laughter)
Garrett Wang: ...by every person who has ever produced a 'Star Trek' show. It was called "Code of Honor." For those of you who don't know which episode that is, the 'Star Trek: The Next Generation' crew encounters this planet of turban people... okay? And the scene that really just kicked me in the butt was the scene when they go down to the planet, the away team is there, the aliens are about to hand Captain Picard a gift. Tasha Yar -- the security officer -- grabs the hand of the alien and flips him on the floor, and then the guy goes, "but it was a gift!" And Picard goes, (imitating Patrick Stewart) "oh sorry, that was my security officer." So at that point the alien goes, "your security chief... is a woMAAAN??!" And at that point I knew this is not a very well written episode.
(Laughter)
Garrett Wang: I watched it all the way through, even to the little cage battle between Tasha Yar and the alien woman, okay? Turned it off going, oh man... Now, a year later, I turned on the TV to watch Next Generation again to get into it and what happens? It is rerun of "Code of Honor."
(Laughter)
Garrett Wang: I immediately turn it off. I don't watch it a second time. I already know what I'm in store for. Two years after that, I turn it on again to watch Next Generation, it's yet another rerun of "Code of Honor"...
(Laughter)
Garrett Wang: At this point, I felt God was telling me something. "You shall not... watch... Next-Gen." Now here's the thing: if I had watched any other episode, I would have become a mega fan -- just like all of you, and that would have impacted my audition for 'Voyager.' I would've been so nervous, there's a good chance I would've blown that audition and never, never have become Ensign Kim. So thank God, The Next Generation, and "Code of Honor!" Thank you!
(Cheering)
Emily Expo: All right. Best birthday present EVER! (Laughs) So here's a thank you to Revolve Furniture. They've provided all of our furnishings for today. Um, I just received news that Megan and Cam got engaged at this event!
(Cheering)
Emily Expo: Yeah! So HUGE round of applause! Congratulations, guys!
(Applause)
Emily Expo: And now it is time to meet our moderators. Please give a very warm welcome to Teddy Wilson, Ajay Fry and Cynthia Loyst from Innesspace!
(Applause)
Ajay: Thank you Emily Expo! How are you doing? 'TNG' EXPOsed!
(Cheering)
Ajay: It's absolutely 100% surreal watching the cast of 'Star Trek' dancing backstage just moments ago. Give it up for Johnny Summers Little Big Band! They are phenomenal.
Teddy: Johnny Summers Little Big Band!
(Applause)
Ajay: And give it up for Emily Expo! It's her birthday today! Happy birthday!
Cynthia: Happy birthday!
(Applause)
Teddy: So how does it feel -- everybody in this stadium tonight is a part of history... Are you excited about that?
(Cheering)
Teddy: Who fell in love with 'Star Trek: The Next Generation' in 1987 with the first episode, "Encounter at Farpoint?"
(Cheering)
Ajay: I was four years old. (Raising his hand)
Teddy: You were four??
Cynthia: God, you remember??
Ajay: I remember!
Teddy: You don't remember... (laughs)
Ajay: I do remember! I remember my parents being super-excited that 'Star Trek' was returning to television. I remember the week leading up to it and they were like programming the VCR to make sure they would have a recording of it as well so they could watch it later...
Teddy: Programming the Beta...
Ajay: (inaudible) Beta.
Cynthia: Yeah.
Ajay: So... we do have a little business to impart. Flash photography, like you're doing right now, is totally acceptable for the first 5 minutes, but so that we don't annoy them throughout the hour and a half or so of the show maybe just take a break after 5 minutes of flash photography if you please. Otherwise, (inaudible) a starship guys!
Teddy: Do you want to get this started?
(Cheering)
Ajay: Let's get the crew of the starship Enterprise 1701-D out here, shall we?
(Cheering)
Cynthia: So every starship needs security, so please welcome Lt. Tasha Yar -- Denise Crosby!
(Cheering)
(Denise Crosby walks out wearing a Calgary Flames touque and works the crowd)
Teddy: Denise Crosby! Next up, I don't think it's a stretch for this crowd to say that he was easily the most beloved Klingon in the history of 'Star Trek.' Please welcome Commander Worf -- Michael Dorn!
(Cheering)
(Michael Dorn is escorted to his seat on the stage by Emily Expo)
Ajay: Right, up next you certainly don't need to be an empath to feel the excitement in the room but let's get one out here: Counselor Deanna Troi - Marina Sirtis!
(Cheering)
(Marina walks out waving and blowing kisses to the crowd)
Cynthia: He's the head of engineering and the master of techno-babble. Please welcome Geordi La Forge -- LeVar Burton!
(Cheering)
(LeVar comes out skipping and takes a bow)
Teddy: Even in the utopian future of 'Star Trek' people still get sick and every starship needs a doctor. There's none better in the universe than Beverly Crusher -- please welcome Gates McFadden!
(Cheering)
(Gates dances her way on the stage)
Ajay: All right. Welcome aboard! Well, our next guest certainly wouldn't need a doctor... unless he happened to catch a virus ewwwww, please welcome Lt. Commander Data -- Brent Spiner!
(Cheering)
(Emily Expo escorts Brent to the stage while the orchestra plays the "Happy Little Lifeforms" tune from 'Generations')
Ajay: Welcome aboard!
Cynthia: He may have been the youngest member of the crew but he constantly saved the ship! Please welcome Wesley Crusher -- Wil Wheaton!
(Cheering)
(Wil Wheaton walks out also escorted by Emily Expo)
Teddy: And if you're going to boldly go where no one has gone before, you better have the best right hand by your side. Please welcome William T. Riker -- Jonathan Frakes!
(Cheering)
(Frakes kind of dances out on the stage locked arms with Emily Expo and she stays on stage this time)
Ajay: Well it seems we have but one person left to introduce...
(Cheering)
Ajay: And given that Calgary is her home, who better to introduce our next guest than Emily Expo on her birthday.
Emily Expo: So, I'm sure you've noticed that we're missing one person. He is one of the greatest actors to ever grace the stage, not to mention Shakespearean text...
(Cheering)
Emily Expo: Definitely one of the sexiest bald men alive...
(Cheering)
Emily Expo: Please welcome Sir Patrick Stewart to the stage!
(Cheering)
(Sir Patrick Stewart walks on stage and gives Frakes a huge hug as the band plays the 'Star Trek' theme)
Teddy: History in the making!
(Cheering)
Ajay: Have a seat everybody.
Teddy: TNG! TNG! TNG! (Gets crowd going).
Cynthia: So I have to say first off that I'm feeling a little bit awkward because someone gave me this chair which seems decisively like it should be for you, Sir Patrick. (Laughs) I feel like I got the captain-esque chair. Awkward! (Laughs) So I have to start asking you the question: What's it like getting together with the crew after all these years?
Ajay: The whole crew together.
Patrick Stewart: This happens from time to time...
(Cheering)
Jonathan Frakes: (inaudible) night.
Patrick Stewart: That's right. Jonathan will tell you the last time this happened because it's difficult for me to tell you...
Jonathan Frakes: Because you're so humble.
(Laughter)
Patrick Stewart: Humble, and yet you notice how I made sure I got it in place anyway.
Jonathan Frakes: Remember the night? Sir Patrick?
Patrick Stewart: That was the last time. We had a little party... to celebrate.
(Cheering)
Teddy: I want to ask -- we're gonna get some audience questions but first off, obviously in '87 when you started 'TNG' you knew that you were continuing this iconic franchise and it was going to be huge, but was there a moment at which you knew that on its own 'TNG' was going to stand and be something special? Was there a moment or an episode?
Marina Sirtis: The third season. Third season, yeah. I think we kind of, because you know, you're all cheering now...
(Cheering)
Marina Sirtis: But when we started you weren't happy.
(Laughter)
Marina Sirtis: We're old, we remember.
(Laughter)
Marina Sirtis: So around about the third season it was basically coming to cons, you know after appearing in front of 30 angry people, you know suddenly we were appearing in front of thousands of happy people so we figured we'd done something right.
(Cheering)
Jonathan Frakes: My first convention, which was in the Yukon, the show had just begun to air and it was a very, very reluctant audience because they were very loyal to Kirk and Spock and Bones and very resistant to us. And I was standing in the dealers room waiting to go on stage nervously, and they were selling the action figures, the younger thinner versions of all of us. They were selling Geordi La Forge for $35, a limited Data for $45.00, Wesley Crusher for... 50, Captain Picard for $65, and at the end of the table there was a sign -- buy any action figure and get Riker for free.
(Laughter)
(Sir Patrick Stewart hugs him)
Wil Wheaton: But in your defense, that Riker action figure did not have a beard.
(Laughter)
Jonathan Frakes: Thanks, Wil.
Wil Wheaton: It's what I do.
(Laughter)
Jonathan Frakes: And now you do.
Wil Wheaton: Yes, I'm playing you in the reboot of 'The Next Generation.'
(Cheering)
Jonathan Frakes: You need a little more hairspray. (Touching Wil's hair).
Ajay: Well, maybe that's an appropriate question. We've seen the recent film reboot of 'Star Trek' that J.J. Abrams gave us, do we need a film version of 'Next Gen?' With a new cast? Are you guys--do you want to come back? What are your thoughts?
Cynthia: Maybe Brent, what's your opinion?
Brent Spiner: My opinion?
Ajay: Anyone, anyone.
Brent Spiner: I think we became a success... uhh... what was your question?
(Laughter)
Ajay: Do we need a 'Next Gen' reboot film that something Hollywood seems to be doing so much these days?
Brent Spiner: When you say "we," do you mean "WE..." (pointing at himself) or "THEY" (gesturing towards the audience?
(Laughter)
Ajay: Answer how you wish.
Brent Spiner: "WE" don't...
(Laughter)
Brent Spiner: "THEY" may... whatever you like is obviously what's going to happen.
(Applause)
Cynthia: Do you have -- I'm sure you get asked all the time about a favorite memory you may have -- but do you have a favorite memory of someone else, like a moment that you watched another one of the cast or cast mates and thought something funny or crazy...a story or memory? LeVar? You look like you're wanting to sort of laugh right now...
LeVar Burton: I've been wanting to laugh since arrived in Calgary...
(Laughter)
LeVar Burton: And only because I have the opportunity to spend time with the people I laugh best with this weekend.
(Applause)
Gates McFadden: I remember one of my favorite moments, which I think was a favorite moment for all but particularly juicy for me, was when I finally found the button to turn Data on...
(Laughter)
Gates McFadden: I mean, you know, let me -- Brent, do you mind if I show them where it was?
(Brent turns his back to Gates at first, but then stands up and begins to unbuckle his pants)
(Laughter)
LeVar Burton: While you're at it Dr. Crusher I've got a button, too.
(Laughter)
Wil Wheaton: One of my favorite moments from the first season was two of three episodes into the show -- we were all shooting on the bridge -- and I don't think I was in the scene I was just there watching. You were in the turbolift (To Jonathan), the upstage turbolift and they roll the cameras and you start the take and the turbolift doors go THUD!!! Sort of like falling, go forward, and you hear Frakes from inside go, "ohhhh shiiiittt!!!"
(Laughter)
Wil Wheaton: And it wasn't that they had forgotten to open the doors, it was that you had decided to just come in early.
(Laughter)
Wil Wheaton: Like you felt the moment. And I thought it was one of the funniest things I had ever experienced in my life.
(Laughter)
Jonathan Frakes: First rule of acting, Michael?
Michael Dorn: Live in the moment.
Jonathan Frakes: Thank you.
(Laughter)
LeVar Burton: Second rule of acting?
Michael Dorn: Direct to the furniture.
LeVar Burton: There you go.
(Laughter)
Patrick Stewart: Third rule of acting?
Michael Dorn: Don't indicate... (half the panel points forward)
Jonathan Frakes: NEVER INDICATE!
(Laughter)
Jonathan Frakes: Make sure your shoes fit.
Michael Dorn: I gotta say, Marina and I were in an interview and uh...
(Marina turns crossing her legs, putting them on Michael's lap)
Michael Dorn: I'm sorry I just blanked out...
(Laughter)
Wil Wheaton: The blood will return to your head momentarily.
(Laughter)
Michael Dorn: Yeah (laughs). The one thing was, was that everybody on the set -- along with being wonderful actors and all of that -- were genuinely... each of them... were genuinely funny. I mean, just hilarious. I mean we just laughed, and people say did you play practical jokes? No, we didn't do all that kind of stuff. But it was just, something was just...
Marina Sirtis: We're funny.
(Laughter)
Michael Dorn: Funny.
Marina Sirtis: Yeah.
Michael Dorn: But there was a moment that, Patrick and I, Patrick and I had this moment a couple of times where we were, he was being captured remember when he was captured... (pointing at Patrick)
Marina Sirtis: Don't indicate, Dorny. Don't indicate.
Michael Dorn: See, I did it already. He was captured, remember he was being tortured...
Jonathan Frakes: I SEE FOUR LIGHTS!!!! (Screaming, holding up five fingers)
Wil Wheaton: FOUR LIGHTS!!!
Jonathan Frakes: I SEE FOUR LIGHTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(Cheering)
Wil Wheaton: Which one of us did the best you? (Looking at Patrick). Who was the best one? Was it me? Just lie and say it was me.
Patrick Stewart: The fact is that there were eight other "me"s...
(Laughter)
Wil Wheaton: But one of us REALLY stood out and it was me, right?
Patrick Stewart: No...
Wil Wheaton: God dammit...
(Laughter)
Patrick Stewart: Because what I felt was that each one of you took an aspect of me because...
LeVar Burton: No, no, dear boy. It wasn't eight of you, it was just that you were so big you could not embody one... single... en-ti-ty!
(Laughter)
Patrick Stewart: That... is... a compliment?
(Laughter)
Michael Dorn: Uh, like I was saying...
(Laughter)
Michael Dorn: I had a point. But anyway, before he got captured, we had been crawling through caves... in dirt... on Stage 16 -- which was called Planet Hell because that's where they put all the godforsaken planets we go to -- and there was dirt, they just keep dirt on this stage just for this occasion... and we had a lot of cats... at Paramount...
(Laughter)
Michael Dorn: Stray cats. Cats... dirt... and we're crawling around and we've got these things on, and we're all dirty -- Gates is there -- and all of a sudden it was late and we're sitting there in between takes, and I look over, Patrick and I and look at each other and we both just start laughing. Just for no reason we start... (laughs). I mean, uncontrollably. And I say Patrick, what are you laughing about? And he says, "I don't know how I got here."
(Laughter)
Michael Dorn: He said, "I was at a seminar in Santa Barbara and the next thing I know I'm crawling around in cat shit."
(Applause)
Michael Dorn: I gotta say that those moments happened with every one of the actors. I mean, there are moments when you are just in tears...
Marina Sirtis: Not the cat shit part.
(Laughter)
Michael Dorn: Not the cat shit part. I mean, there was, one of the other ones was, Brent has never -- Brent has always has it together.$. doesn't bust up... doesn't crack up... during a scene. But there was a scene where LeVar was actually dead...
Marina Sirtis: That was the best.
Michael Dorn: And he's laying out on the slab in sickbay. And Brent and I, we walk in and Brent says, "Nurse Okawa, can I speak to Geordi?"
(Laughter)
Michael Dorn: And he's laying on this slab...
Brent Spiner: You can see him! He's like a piece of meat on a slab and I say, "Can I speak to Geordi please?" He can't talk, HE'S DEAD!
(Laughter)
Michael Dorn: For twenty minutes we couldn't do it and Marina was on the ground, and I was making jokes like, he says "Can I speak to Geordi?" "Well yes you can, but it'll be a little one-sided."
(Laughter)
Michael Dorn: But it was those types of moments -- for seven years. And that's, kind of you know, how it was.
LeVar Burton: You know what? I always thought you guys were laughing because I was naked under the cloth...
(Laughter)
LeVar Burton: And now I know that it was the DIALOGUE?!
(Laughter)
Wil Wheaton: It was always the dialogue.
Michael Dorn: LeVar, you naked is no laughing matter...
(Laughter)
Marina Sirtis: Yeah, exactly. LeVar, we would not be laughing. We would be in awe.
(Cheering)
Jonathan Frakes: Is there anything you'd like to say about acting naked, sir? (To Patrick)
(Laughter)
Jonathan Frakes: Yeeees. I-think-there-may-BE! (Imitating Patrick)
(Laughter)
Patrick Stewart: I did my butt shot.
(Applause)
Cynthia: Please extrapolate.
Marina Sirtis: Well actually had to say quickly before he extrapolates, if I had known girls, he didn't tell anyone he was going to be naked, but if I had known I would have been there... with a camera... and those photos would've been on my table this weekend.
(Laughter)
Cynthia: Please tell the naked bottom story.
(Laughter)
Cynthia: No? It's not coming out, all right. Is it?
Patrick Stewart: Can I mention another moment that remains warm in my memory. And this has nothing to do with butts...
(Laughter)
Patrick Stewart: I'll just quote a line -- that's all -- and you watch the reaction (trying not to laugh). "It wasn't him. It never was. It was his assistant." Go for it. (To Jonathan).
Jonathan Frakes: It wasn't him. It never was. It was his assistance. It wasn't him. It never was. It was his assisiss.
(Laughter)
Jonathan Frakes: It wasn't him. It never was. It was his assisiss. It was his assistance. Is there any way I can phrase this differently? It wasn't him. It never was. It was his assisiss... It was his assistant.
(Laughter)
Brent Spiner: Take 43.
(Laughter)
Jonathan Frakes: IT WASN'T HIM. IT NEVER WAS. IT WAS HIS ASSISISS. It wasn't him... It never was... It was the guy who worked for him.
(Applause)
Jonathan Frakes: I worked up a sweat thinking about that moment.
(Laughter)
Patrick Stewart: The thing about moments like that is that I think there were maybe four of us on the set and the bug of laughter captures each one of you at different times, so just when the director thinks the cast are under control...
(Laughter)
Patrick Stewart: The one person who has never laughed yet -- and we are now 30 minutes into this moment -- suddenly finds this the funniest thing he as ever...
(Laughter)
Ajay: Well, we are getting a note just to once again ask please no more flash photography. Pleeease. I wanted to ask Denise, I mentioned as we came out I remember the first episode of Star Trek, I was four years old, my parents were super excited about...
Marina Sirtis: Ohhhh.. shut up. Four years old...
(Applause)
Ajay: But it relates to my question! It's important information because my first experience...
Marina Sirtis: Don't make me come over there...
(Laughter)
Ajay: My first experience with death was the death of Tasha Yar. That's -- my parents told me about death -- through Star Trek. And it's amazing that it's a show...
Denise Crosby: Sorry you had to learn about death through an oil slick.
(Laughter)
Denise Crosby: It doesn't really happen usually. You know that?
Ajay: Not usually.
Denise Crosby: Okay, you got that? Because I'm really concerned...
Marina Sirtis: Unless you're a fish in Louisiana then it happens a lot.
(Big "OOOOOOHHHH" from the crowd)
Teddy: Topical.
Ajay: But do you think that is the resounding appeal of 'Star Trek?' The fact that it deals with these very, very human elements in this fantastic way that is out there in the stars? Is that what makes it work and inspired such fandom?
Denise Crosby: Are you asking me?
Ajay: Yes.
Denise Crosby: Oh. YES! Yes. Yes. That's why 'Star Trek'...
(Laughter)
Ajay: I figured it out, hey?
Denise Crosby: That's why 'Star Trek' is so important. It deals with...
(Inaudible shout out from audience member)
Denise Crosby: What? Huh?
Teddy: Someone loves you.
Ajay: They love you.
Wil Wheaton: The difference between good science fiction and great science fiction is that good science fiction is really enjoyable to watch, great science fiction works on multiple levels for different people. It can be an exciting action-adventure for some member of the audience, and it can be an incredibly meaningful message about equality, or technology, or death, or love, and that is...
(Applause)
Patrick Stewart: Wil Wheaton ladies and gentlemen!
(Applause)
Denise Crosby: I was just going to say Wil will be speaking for me for the rest of the evening so please address all questions to Wil Wheaton. Thank you.
(Laughter)
Patrick Stewart: So I've got a question, Wil... Why weren't you that smart 25 years ago?
(Applause)
Wil Wheaton: Well said. 25 years ago I was fourteen and still struggling to find my bum with both hands.
(Laughter)
Patrick Stewart: Yeah, I... I... I... accept that... excuse.
(Laughter)
Wil Wheaton: Thank you.
Teddy: I'll ask, those of you -- several of you directed episodes of 'TNG' and so for those of you who got behind the camera, did it give you a different perspective on the series you were a part of? And did you maybe appreciate a little bit less the fact that sometimes people laughed a lot?
Marina Sirtis: Before we start, before the directors amongst us answer this question -- which doesn't include me obviously which is why I'm getting my 2¢ in now...
(Laughter)
Marina Sirtis: Patrick -- you remember all the smoke that we always used to have to act in? The atmospheric smoke? All these...
Jonathan Frakes: Safe... Safe smoke.
Wil Wheaton: Very safe.
Marina Sirtis: Very safe.
LeVar Burton: (inaudible) has nothing to do with carcinogenic properties.
Patrick Stewart: Not only safe... good for you!
(Laughter)
Marina Sirtis: Good for you smoke!
Denise Crosby: As a matter of fact, I remember they changed the law...
Marina Sirtis: Well wait a sec, Patrick -- when he was an ac-tor -- complained to the Screen Actors Guild and they came to the set...
LeVar Burton: This is actually a true story.
Marina Sirtis: This is a true story. And they came to the set and they told us all what all of the guidelines and recommendations were for working in the smoke, and this was great has basically they had 20 minutes before we had to go breathe some fresh air. Until --and he was the one (pointing to Patrick) who called SAG... bear this in mind... until he got to direct...
(Laughter)
Marina Sirtis: You have never seen so much F-ing smoke in your life!
(Laughter)
Jonathan Frakes: The smoke sure made shit look good, didn't it? (To Patrick)
(Laughter)
Patrick Stewart: (Nodding) I do remember, I do remember watching the dailies of the bar scene in "A Fistful of Datas" and it (laughing) looked like the bar was on fire!
(Laughter)
Patrick Stewart: BILLOWING smoke... (laughs)
Michael Dorn: The poor, the poor barmaid. Remember her? It looked like she was on fire! Because she was talking to me, and billows of smoke were coming up behind her!
(I actually saw the rerun of this very episode a few days later when I was in the hospital in Calgary after my ordeal. I can confirm that the smoke really is that excessive. It's hilarious.)
Michael Dorn: Patrick was sitting back there... (impersonating Patrick) "More SMOKE!"
(Laughter)
(Patrick was laughing so hard he was actually crying.)
Jonathan Frakes: LeVar, were you with me in engineering when Patrick asked me if it would be alright if I knelt in the middle of the room?
LeVar Burton: I'm afraid I was Jonathan... I'm afraid I was.
Jonathan Frakes: That was a nice moment, wasn't it?
LeVar Burton: Well see, the thing that you learn as an actor who crosses the line to direct an episode of 'Star Trek' is just how little your friends really care about you.
(Laughter)
Jonathan Frakes: "It will look GREAT, Jonathan!" (Impersonating Patrick) "You CROSS the room, you STOP in the MIDDLE of the room, and you KNEEEEEL!"
(Laughter)
Jonathan Frakes: (Shrugs) Yes sir.
Wil Wheaton: "We'll add smoke in POST!" (Imitating Patrick)
(Laughter)
Jonathan Frakes: It seemed like a good idea, didn't it? (To Patrick)
Patrick Stewart: It looked great.
(Laughter)
Ajay: All right we have questions on the floor we can get to.. Um, I'm not sure where the first (inaudible) bringing up the lights...
Steve: There we go. I can hear myself. I love the sound of my own voice. Sorry. Hi guys! I'm Steve with the Calgary Expo
Ajay: Oh there he is!
Steve: Hi guys! Hi everybody!
(The panelists wave.)
Steve: Some people call me -- ah nevermind, this isn't about me -- this is about our contest winners. So Emily Expo -- our vibrant red head -- threw it out through the Internets for questions. And we have five winners and they are here tonight to ask you guys. So first up we have Joanna and I'm going to pass the mic to her. Hello Joanna! Let's hear it for Joanna ladies and gentlemen!
(Applause)
Joanna: Hello! I'm here from Detroit, Michigan and couldn't be happier. My question is for any of the cast who is kind enough to answer. What did you learn throughout the series that you wish you could have gone back and told yourself when you first started filming Season One?
Wil Wheaton: Cherish the time that you have here because it's going to be over sooner than you think.
(Laughter)
Wil Wheaton: That's not a joke. That's true.
Marina Sirtis: Don't throw so many tantrums...
(Laughter)
Marina Sirtis: It really pisses people off.
(Laughter)
Patrick Stewart: It's possible to do good work...
Marina Sirtis: In a space suit.
Patrick Stewart: And have fun.
(Applause)
Jonathan Frakes: Amen.
Steve: Alright next up we have Eunice. Eunice please ask the cast your question.
Eunice: Hi my question is for Patrick Stewart. So I came across a very interesting comment that you kind of made in the eighties to Lalla Ward, who at the time was acting on Dr. Who, apparently after a Hamlet rehearsal you had said to her, "Why do you do all this television? Why don't you do (inaudible) stuff like theatre? But science fiction? I mean, why would you want to do science fiction? Oh I wouldn't want to do that sort of stuff."
(Another big "OOOOOHHHHHH" from the audience)
Jonathan Frakes: Tell us what Sir Ian said. (To Patrick)
(Laughter)
Patrick Stewart: Eunice...
(Laughter)
Patrick Stewart: I love your name.
(Laughter)
Patrick Stewart: No, I think it's a beautiful name. It may be my favorite... women's name.
(Laughter)
Patrick Stewart: It used to be Lalla...
Brent Spiner: That has nothing to do with her question, actually.
(Laughter)
Marina Sirtis: You're just trying to weasel your way out if it, Patrick.
(Laughter)
Patrick Stewart: Were you quoting Miss Lalla Ward?
Eunice: I was, yes.
Patrick Stewart: Yeah. Well, you know what? I don't recall her ever saying that, and she is a neighbor of mine, and she is married to the brilliant and wonderful Richard Dawkins...
(Cheering)
Patrick Stewart: And he would I'm sure hold Lalla to the truth so give me your telephone number -- and I mean nothing by this...
(Laughter)
Brent Spiner: Euuunice...
Patrick Stewart: Eunice... (laughs and gives Brent a thumbs up)
(Laughter)
Patrick Stewart: But I'll get back to you.
(Cheering)
Steve: Meanwhile, all of the female 'Trek' enthusiasts are running to legally change their name to Eunice...
(Laughter)
Steve: Thank you, Patrick. Next up, we have Katie. So Katie please ask your question to the cast.
Katie: Hi I was wondering what storyline did you always want to do on the show but you never got the chance?
Marina Sirtis: Oh! I know! I know! I know! Troi has an affair with Jon bon Jovi.
(Laughter)
Patrick Stewart: I thought she did...
(Cheering)
Marina Sirtis: I wish.
Cynthia: Anyone else have an idea about that?
Wil Wheaton: I remember really wishing we could have done more multi-episode story arcs instead of the self contained episodic work that we were doing, it was just the way that television worked back then with us being a first run syndication show it was what we had to do. But I remember a couple of times before we started doing the two-parters to close and open seasons we did... "Conspiracy?" at the end of the first season? And I was just so excited that we were referring back to a thing that had happened a few episodes ago. And I really hoped that meant that we were going to do these things in the second year that would be more about character development and more about the relationships among all of us and as it turns out I was a naive 14-year-old boy.
(Laughter)
Jonathan Frakes: What -- (flips his microphone around after speaking into the wrong end) -- What I remember about "Conspiracy"...
(Laughter)
Brent Spiner: Do that two or three more times... (laughing)
Jonathan Frakes: It'll be great. (Laughing) At that table at -- wherever the hell it was all those people were, all those heavyweights -- everyone had, uh, noodles... to eat. Whole wheat noodles. But I had --
Guy in Crowd: Gagh!
(Laughter)
Jonathan Frakes: It wasn't Gagh. I had live mealworms.
Marina Sirtis: Oh yeah, you had live worms.
Jonathan Frakes: And I had to hold the mealworms over my... (puts his head back and holds his hand above his mouth)... and they went into my mouth. And I ate them. It was a little like getting into the black slime in your episode... (To Denise)
(Laughter)
Jonathan Frakes: Nobody else would get in the black slime.
Wil Wheaton: "I'LL get in the black slime!" Quote - Jonathan Frakes.
(Laughter)
Jonathan Frakes: What is this? I said to Will Thomas. He said it's fine. It's Metamucil and black printers ink.
(Laughter)
Jonathan Frakes: Cat shit was NOTHIN' compared to that black slime.
(Laughter)
Wil Wheaton: You jumped into the black slime like somebody jumping off a sinking ship that was on fire.
(Laughter)
Wil Wheaton: I thought it was awesome that you did that.
Marina Sirtis: Johnny -- Johnny was amazing because he ate stuff, and he did stuff, that none of us would have done.
Brent Spiner: Still does!
LeVar Burton: And he slept with stuff...
Marina Sirtis: And he slept with stuff...
(Laughter)
Marina Sirtis: But then they always had to kill 'em. Or they died.
Brent Spiner: I actually had an idea that I pitched more than once that they didn't buy. We worked at Paramount Pictures -- which was really a magical place to go to work every day. It's still maybe the greatest studio in Hollywood to visit or just walk around. The history there is just phenomenal. So I had this idea that we would go back in time and land at Paramount Pictures. And in order to be inconspicuous, we got jobs on a 'Flash Gordon' movie or something. But no, they did not buy that at all.
(Laughter)
Gates McFadden: I remember going to Gene Roddenberry the first season and I brought the Oliver Sacks book "The Awakening" and I said god this would be great for an episode if we would do that and everyone was like, nah, I don't think so, and of course Robin Williams did the movie. But I wanted to do something that was that kind of -- getting people out of comas and a little bit of Ridley Scott kind of stuff.
Steve: Alrighty then. So our next question is from Derek. Derek?
Derek: First off I want to say how amazing it's been to have all of you here...
(Cheering)
Derek: My question is for all of you. You guys must know how influential you've been to all of us here in this crowd. My question for you is how is that influence on us -- influenced you in your lives?
Brent Spiner: (After a long pause) I am such a better person... for having influenced you.
(Applause)
Brent Spiner: And I thank you for it.
(Laughter)
Gates McFadden: Well, I'm actually -- I wouldn't have even be here had it not been for the fans after the first season. It was the fans that brought me back...
(Cheering)
Gates McFadden: I would not even be up here, so that's quite an influence I think. Thank you!
Guy in Crowd: I'm sick! (Shouting)
Teddy: Guy needs a doctor...
Gates McFadden: I've got my tricorder come to my room!
(Cheering)
Patrick Stewart: That is what Jean-Luc wanted to hear Dr. Crusher to say.
(Applause)
Patrick Stewart: But -- to attempt to strike a serious note -- this might be a good time to leave by the way (to the other panelists), everything that has happened to me and that I have achieved in the last 15-17 years has been radically affected by the seven years and the four movies that we were doing -- Next Generation, and the one way in which I can isolate that one fact it was that what I did with my friends, and what you all showed us, was enough to give me confidence to believe that I could do this job because until I went into TNG I seriously doubted that I could. And so, I look back daily and am grateful for the opportunity that I had to turn my career, my work, and my life around.
(Cheering)
Marina Sirtis: I think all of us -- I mean, ''cause I think we all have the experience of when people come up to our tables and they say, people come up to me and say, "I became a psychologist because of you." Ahem...
(Laughter)
Marina Sirtis: No, No -- I just coughed then, I've been sick, sorry. (laughs) I wasn't making a joke.
(Laughter)
Marina Sirtis: And I'm sure, you know, LeVar has had the same thing. (Putting her hand on Michael Dorn's leg) I'm not sure many people come up and say I became a Klingon because of you, but anyway...
(Laughter)
Marina Sirtis: Although I'm probably wrong there.
(Laughter)
Marina Sirtis: It is, it's the biggest compliment you could ever give an actor. I mean, you know, we're actors. They're not our words, we're just saying someone else's words, and the fact that we make such an impression on you and you look up to us... obviously. I think some people could say that it's a huge responsibility, I personally think that it's the biggest tribute you could give to us. To be so inspired by us that you go out and do the jobs that we played on TV. It always makes me really emotional... and I think we'd all agree with that. It's absolutely amazing that we have influenced you like that.
Gates McFadden: You know, I think -- I agree how much it influenced my life and it took me awhile to fully comprehend how wonderful the show was, actually. I felt very uncomfortable in the beginning because I wasn't used to people coming around and asking for your autograph when they hadn't even seem the show yet. You know? It was just because you were with 'Star Trek.' But as I traveled around and started to go to conventions, I really found that there were so many amazing people who were fans for reasons that really didn't have anything to do with me -- it had to do with something much bigger than me. And the time when it hit home most for me, was that one of the commanders of the Space Shuttle was a huge fan and he emailed me from the space station and he was talking about all of our characters and how amazing, you know, it was and everything. And I was going, but you're up there! You're actually risking your life! I'm working in a starfield. And he said, "yeah but that's -- it kind of is the hope, it's the idea, the possibility, that the show brought to so many people. And it really did make a difference. It makes a difference because we go with the belief and so -- I don't know. I was in awe of him and he was in awe of the show so that was kind of the time that it hit home for me.
(Applause)
Patrick Stewart: Was that Frank De Winne?
Gates McFadden: No.
Patrick Stewart: It wasn't? Because there have been two. I was lucky enough to take part in a video hookup with the space station. Because the only European commander of the space station there has ever been is a man called Frank De Winne who is Belgian and during our conversation which began with me saying to him, "why would a real space man want to talk to a fake one?"
(Laughter)
Patrick Stewart: And he told me what you have just said -- that it was watching the show that made him want to transfer from being an ordinary airman to being an astronaut. But then he held up in front of the camera on board the space station a photograph of him and the entire crew which consisted of I think one Canadian, two Americans, a Russian... and they were all wearing Star Trek uniforms...
(Applause)
Patrick Stewart: I said, I said -- oh! That is so cool! You photo-shopped the uniforms! And he said, "No, no... We were wearing them."
(Applause)
Steve: Thank you guys. For our next question...
Marina Sirtis: Wait a minute! Wait a minute!
Steve: YEEP!!! Sorry.
Marina Sirtis: Yeah, but I had my photo taken with Neil Armstrong.
(Cheering)
Steve: I think Marina -- 1, the rest of the cast -- nothing.
(Laughter)
Steve: The next question is from Tyler. Tyler? Ask away, buddy.
Tyler: Thank you very much, that's a pretty tough question to follow there, thanks a lot. But I just first wanted to thank you guys for choosing Calgary to come and do this momentous occasion...
(Applause)
Wil Wheaton: Don't just thank us for that. Thank the people who put this convention together because it was not easy to make this happen. And that's not just the con organizers. It's their staff, it's all the volunteers, it's all of the people who have worked very hard to make this series of improbable events line up to this.
(Applause)
Tyler: My question is for the cast. I'm not sure if you get asked all the time whether or not I'm going to do another project together and I know a lot of you have done a lot of voiceover work -- video games, cartoons, things like that -- I just wondered would you ever consider doing an animated show with the entire cast all together?
(Applause)
Wil Wheaton: Only if it was done in the style of 'Star Trek: The Animated Series.'
(Applause)
Patrick Stewart: I would say only if it was written by Seth MacFarlane.
(Cheering)
Teddy: Is that it for audience questions?
Steve: No, actually. I think we have another one. He's a sick kid from Vancouver named Aaron, and I say he's sick because he cheers for the Vancouver Canucks -- ladies and gentlemen Mr. Aaron Douglas!
(Cheering)
Aaron Douglas: Hi everybody!
(Cheering)
Teddy: Hey CHIEF!
Aaron Douglas: It's wonderful to be here. It's wonderful to be here with everybody and I just want to say to all of you people out here I know a great number of these people -- some very well, some somewhat well -- and they are as lovely backstage and in the private moments as they are... here. They are really genuine, wonderful people. And I mean that from the bottom of my heart.
(Applause)
Aaron Douglas: Except for Wil Wheaton...
(Laughter)
Aaron Douglas: And I'd like to direct my two comments/questions at Mr. Wheaton. First is a comment. Mr. Wheaton, I disagree with you completely -- there is no such thing as faster than light neutrinos...
(Laughter)
Aaron Douglas: And secondly, on a serious note...
Wil Wheaton: Wait -- allow me to challenge the preface of your question, sir...
(Laughter)
Aaron Douglas: Okay.
Wil Wheaton: Faster than light neutrinos as exist in the vacuum of space, or faster than light neutrinos as exist when emitted through the main navigational deflector in an inverse tachyon beam into the heart of the anomaly...
(Cheering)
Wil Wheaton: ... in order to properly modulate the matter/anti-matter intermix in the warp core, sir?
(Applause)
Aaron Douglas: It's a legitimate answer...
Wil Wheaton: It's a good way to power a toaster.
(Laughter)
Aaron Douglas: Toaster?! My ship jumped -- didn't have a warp core -- Frak you, Wil Wheaton.
(Cheering)
Aaron Douglas: It feels really good to say that in front of 7000 people...
(Laughter)
Aaron Douglas: But seriously, I've known you for a great number of years, you are one of my dearest friends, you really are a wonderful and genuine human being... God it hurts to say that...
(Laughter)
Aaron Douglas: And being on 'Battlestar' I understand the ensemble cast... I understand the ups and downs. I was a huuuge pain in the... on that show sometimes. And when I go back and I visit with the cast I still feel like this weird kind of outsider kind of thing. It's been a long time since you've sat up there with these people that you called friends so many years ago that I know you have a genuine affection for. What does it mean to you now to be sitting up there with these... well, wonderful people?
(Cheering)
Wil Wheaton: Um, I left 'Star Trek: The Next Generation' when I was 18 years old. And initially, I thought that it was a really smart business career move. And in some ways it was, and in more ways it wasn't, and what I was unprepared for was how much I was going to miss the people that are on this stage. And how much I was going to miss the space suit that I hated wearing and the helmet hair that I couldn't stand putting on every morning.
(Laughter)
Wil Wheaton: And after I left the show, you know, being 18 years old I was just sort of like, I'm going to go into the world and do my own thing! And I didn't see anybody and then that went on for a while -- and I told these guys this when we were having dinner tonight. After that ended, I just felt really ashamed of myself. And I felt like I just couldn't go to the Set. And I felt like I couldn't look them in the eye. I felt like I didn't have the right to invite them to my wedding. And years after that, I sort of saw them in a few conventions and I just, you know, tried to sort of like, say look -- I just apologized for being a kid. And to every person on this stage everyone said, "Yeah you were a kid. You were always welcome. You were always a part of us." To be here tonight -- for me, it's very, very much for me like coming home.
(Audience cheers. A weepy-eyed Marina gets up and gives him a big hug and kiss, then Brent and Gates reach over to shake Wil's hand)
LeVar Burton: I've never fucking liked you, though.
(Laughter)
LeVar Burton: To tell you the god's honest truth, you were a pain in the ass.
(Laughter)
Wil Wheaton: I... know...
(Laughter)
LeVar Burton: But I'm glad you're here... because you're our pain in the ass.
(Laughter)
Jonathan Frakes: You're rockin' the beard...
Wil Wheaton: I learned from the best.
Jonathan Frakes: You're rockin' that Riker beard. Got a little lipstick you might want to get rid of... (gesturing at Wil's cheek)
Wil Wheaton: I'm going to let that hang out for a while.
(Laughter)
Teddy: Let's go from that warm, you know, heartwarming moment to -- let's talk about evil on the show. Let's talk about adversaries, we haven't talked about that yet. I want to start with you, Sir Patrick. Do you have a favorite rival or adversary from 'Star Trek: The Next Generation?' Was there any race, was there any rival, in particular?
(Patrick, Jonathan, and Wil consult each other laughing and obviously suspecting something)
Patrick Stewart: Yes... there... was!
(Laughter)
Patrick Stewart: Yeah. My favorite adversary -- I had to be reminded of his name and I knew you all here would know it -- was Daimon Bok. Ferengi. I came to love the Ferengis... in time...
Voice from crowd: What... a bunch of... POOP!
(Laughter)
Voice from crowd: I got a flower delivery here for a "John Luck Pickerd"...
(Crowd goes nuts when they realize that it's John de Lancie who played Q on the show. John walks on stage and gives Patrick Stewart a bouquet of white flowers and a hug, then goes greets the rest of the cast)
Ajay: John de Lancie!
Teddy: John de Lancie everybody!
(Cheering)
Jonathan Frakes: Patrick meant to say Q!
(Laughter)
Teddy: Patrick? Would you like to revise your answer?
(Laughter)
John de Lancie: I'll help you... (laughing)
(Laughter)
Patrick Stewart: Yep! It was Q!!!
(Applause)
Teddy: And just to confirm, none of you knew that that was about to happen, correct? Surprises are rare in this world.
Cynthia: John, when you first signed of for the show, did you have any idea that Q would become so incredibly memorable for everybody in the world?
John de Lancie: Yes.
(Laughter)
Cynthia: You knew right away? (laughing)
John de Lancie: I was omnipotent. I knew I was going to even be here.
(Laughter)
Cynthia: Of course. Of course. Of course.
John de Lancie: Gene Roddenberry said to me on the third day of shooting, "You have no idea what you've gotten yourself into." (Takes a bow)
(Cheering)
Wil Wheaton: Did you know you were coming back? Like a lot? Did you know from the beginning that you were going to be a recurring, always on guy?
John de Lancie: No. No. It was a one-shot.
Teddy: Well, the fact -- I mean, you were only in nine or ten episodes of all of the newer interations of 'Star Trek' -- so do you think the fact that the Q appearances were fairly few and far between do you think that in part helped the popularity of the character? Because I remember watching TNG and when you showed up, I knew it was going to be pandemonium in the best way possible.
John de Lancie: Yeah... Actually, yes. I think, you know, less is more.
(Laughter)
Teddy: Did it surprise you then when the character resonated so much?
John de Lancie: Uh, yes. Although infinite powers -- no responsibility, is probably something that a lot of people out here would like to have.
(Cheering)
John de Lancie: So I guess it touched a chord.
Teddy: Would you like to have infinite power and no responsibility?
John de Lancie: You mean, what do I do with it?
(Laughter)
Ajay: Well, let's stay on the same topic to the rest of the cast. Any other favorite, you know, foes, or obstacles, moments of finding the script and going "oh this is going to be a fun one to shoot! I can't wait to see how we get out of this jam we found ourselves in?"
Brent Spiner: I remember a moment with a very famous guest star that we had -- the great Mick Fleetwood from Fleetwood Mac...
(Cheering)
Brent Spiner: Who agreed to do our show -- he wanted to be on the show so badly, that he shaved the beard he had had for 30 years to wear the head of a fish.
(Laughter)
Brent Spiner: He wanted to do the show so badly, he was willing to play seafood... on the show.
(Laughter)
Jonathan Frakes: They eat seafood, as I recall.
Brent Spiner: Exactly. Because that's what happened. He made an entrance in the Holodeck -- not the Holodeck, the transporter -- and he had one word to say. And that word was: "FOOD."
(Laughter)
Brent Spiner: Take 18 -- he still couldn't remember the word. It was...
(Laughter)
Wil Wheaton: They put it on a cue card...
Brent Spiner: They put it on a cue card, finally. "FOOD." It was a daunting moment.
(Laughter)
Brent Spiner: And we were trying to help him, we were off camera going... (pretends to take a bite out of something, starts chewing, and points to his mouth)
(Laughter)
Teddy: Rock stars, right?
Brent Spiner: Yeah.
(Laughter)
Teddy: Uh, there's a couple -- there's a great quote between Q -- the flowers are being distributed... (Patrick Stewart is handing out flowers to each of the panelists and kisses Gates on the lips)
Patrick Stewart: Go on...
Teddy: There's a great quote that Jean-Luc Picard has about Q where he says, "he's devious, amoral, and not to be trusted." And then there's another quote that I really like that Q has about Jean-Luc that basically says... (breaks out laughing when Patrick Stewart also kisses LeVar on the lips)
(Laughter)
Teddy: Sorry...
LeVar Burton: Truth be told, he's the only white male that I'll kiss on the lips.
(Laughter)
LeVar Burton: Aside from Jonathan...
Jonathan Frakes: I thought you've forgotten...
(Laughter)
LeVar Burton: And then there's Brent...
Brent Spiner: I'm hurt.
Teddy: So there's a quote from Jean-Luc about Q that basically says -- or from Q about Jean-Luc Picard that basically says, "he's the closest thing in this universe that I have to a friend." So there was obviously a disconnect between the way they felt. John, did you see -- do you think that Q saw Jean-Luc as a friend? (Just as Patrick Stewart gives John a flower)
John de Lancie: Yesss... Yesss... More than a friend.
(Laughter)
John de Lancie: Uh, yes. Of course. I mean our job is to find as much conflict as possible in all things to make it work. So yes. Yes. Yes. Yes.
Teddy: So they were friends.
John de Lancie: (Laughs) They were friends, and they were enemies, and they were, you know, all sorts of things. A multitude of different things.
Cynthia: A thorn in the side, basically.
Jonathan Frakes: You and your poems.
John de Lancie: That's right. Oh yeah, that's right.
Wil Wheaton: You had me bayonetted through the stomach on the planet!
(Laughter)
Jonathan Frakes: I was blind man!
(Laughter)
John de Lancie: You told me that your stomach hurt. I... (laughs)
Wil Wheaton: Because there was a bayonet through the middle of it that you put there!
John de Lancie: I don't remember.
(Laughter)
Wil Wheaton: You never do...
Ajay: To switch gears, so much of the technology that was presented on 'Star Trek: The Next Generation' has now...
(While Ajay was talking, Gates gets up and starts collecting the flowers that Patrick Stewart handed out and kisses the panelists)
Ajay: ...come to pass... she's collecting the flowers...
(Laughter)
(When Gates gets to Patrick she gives him a huge hug and kiss and the crowd goes wild)
Wil Wheaton: See? Keep writing that fan fiction. Someday it WILL come true!
(Laughter)
Cynthia: On stage no less.
Ajay: I was asking a question but I don't remember now..
(Laughter)
Teddy: Technology!
Ajay: Yes. So much has come true, do you think, Brent, that we will ever see a humanoid android to the same caliber that Data was? Will we ever see that happen?
Brent Spiner: How would I know???
(Laughter)
Brent Spiner: I'm an actor! Why are you asking me??? Isn't there a scientist in the house???
(Laughter)
Ajay: In your professional actor opinion... to anyone.
Brent Spiner: You know, that's even dubious.
(Laughter)
Marina Sirtis: Possibly, but he won't be as funny.
Brent Spiner: Ah, thank you.
Patrick Stewart: I was just going to say surely we have them. They're the front runners of the Republican Party.
(Applause)
Wil Wheaton: They don't have that compassion subroutine down...
Marina Sirtis: And they are definitely not as funny.
Jonathan Frakes: And they can't sing as well as you do.
Brent Spiner: Nah, thank you.
Cynthia: You guys get pummeled all the time with questions. I was just wondering if there was a question that you've been dying to ask each other? You haven't seen each other in a while, there must be something in the back of your head... No?
Teddy: Go ahead.
Marina Sirtis: Mmmno...
Michael Dorn: I think we pretty much know about each other.
Marina Sirtis: We're very...
Michael Dorn: Maybe even a little too much, sometimes.
Marina Sirtis: Yeah.
Wil Wheaton: I would like to take this opportunity... (To Patrick) How seriously cool is it to be in 'The X-Men'?
(Cheering)
Patrick Stewart: Well Wil, the coolest thing about being an X-Man, was to step into the makeup trailer at 6:30 in the morning and see lined up in all of the mirrors Halle Berry... Famke Janssen... Rebecca Stamos... Anna Paquin... Kelly Hu... and have to go along the row saying, "good morning darling, kiss... kiss..."
(Cheering)
Wil Wheaton: Thank you.
Marina Sirtis: Did you (inaudible) Hugh Jackson?
Patrick Stewart: Hugh Jackman?
Marina Sirtis: Hugh Jackman, sorry.
Patrick Stewart: I kissed... I kissed... Hugh.
(Laughter)
Jonathan Frakes: How about Shohreh?
Patrick Stewart: Shohreh and I had our private moments. You understand.
Jonathan Frakes: Of course I do. Much like us.
Patrick Stewart: Absolutely. You took the words from my mouth.
(Laughter)
Teddy: That sounded like the Patrick Stewart we saw in "Extras" when you were talking like that just now. (Laughs)
(Laughter)
Teddy: I want to ask you about 'All Good Things' -- about the final episode, the series finale. What did each of you think about the way the iconic series was wrapped up?
Marina Sirtis: I was pissed I was dead.
(Laughter)
Marina Sirtis: I was really pissed.
Denise Crosby: I was amazed I was alive...
(Laughter)
Michael Dorn: It was funny, it was -- I thought it was really good. I thought it was like, you know, deep and...
Jonathan Frakes: We all cried, man!
Marina Sirtis: All cried.
Jonathan Frakes: Except you...
Michael Dorn: Aw man, I was like cool... for months. Because Patrick and I had this thing where, you know, at the second season we go, well Michael, you know, he'd say how many episodes do we have? And it would be well we have 112 yet. Oh, we can do this. And it got down to the last episode and I was going, you know, this is no big deal. I'm not going to get emotional. We are going to go on and do the movie right afterwards, I'm going to see these people -- no big deal. And we're all sitting around the poker table and all of a sudden spontaneously we all held hands. I mean, it was just this spontaneous thing -- we just all held hands and looked at each other and I went... oh shit.
(Laughter)
Michael Dorn: Oh no. Oh no. Please. No. And I'm looking at these people going okay, you know? And then we did the scene and the guy said cut! And they took off -- the wardrobe person came and took off my baldric, and I don't know what happened but I just started wailing.
(Laughter)
Michael Dorn: Like, you know, just uncontrollably. Oh my god... People I didn't even like...
(Laughter)
Michael Dorn: I'd be like, I hated your guts but I'm going to miss you so much!
(Laughter)
Michael Dorn: And it was just -- and I haven't cried, I've never cried like that. But it was just this whole thing that just kind of happened. But it was -- that's what I kind of remembered that I thought it was a wonderful episode. You know? I'm sorry that you were dead (to Marina) and it was good that you were alive (to Denise), But I thought it was a great episode.
Patrick Stewart: I'm going to pour some cold water on this touching moment because I know the world thinks that the last shot of 'Star Trek: The Next Generation' Season 7 was Brent saying, "...and the sky's the limit" -- which by the way was a line written by Mr. Brent Spiner...
(Cheering)
Patrick Stewart: And that was brilliant! But in fact, that was not the last scene that was shot on 'Star Trek: The Next Generation,' and during the weeks that we were shooting that final episode, you remember guys, the stage was filled with executives from Paramount and visitors and dignitaries and politicians -- all wanting to be there when the season wrapped. Well, the series actually wrapped at 2:00 in the morning on Stage 18, which was standing in for Planet Hell -- Stage 16, it was cold and miserable and there were two actors fighting their way through some tough dialogue. I was one of them, and the other was one was Mr. John De Lancie.
(Cheering)
Patrick Stewart: And nobody was there to watch it... Nobody.
(Laughter)
Teddy: LeVar what did you think about the way that the series wrapped up, with 'All Good Things?'
LeVar Burton: I think for fans it was a nice bow. For us, having gone through this journey -- which was to continue, we are still experiencing that sense of loss and disconnection. We try desperately, I believe, because of the bonds that we have formed to maintain that link that binds us together. This has been...
Jerk in Crowd: READING RAINBOW!!!
LeVar Burton: God bless.
(Laughter)
LeVar Burton: This has been a remarkable opportunity. Unprecedented in that none of us have ever all been together at a convention before.
(Applause)
LeVar Burton: The fact that it has happened in Calgary just goes to show the world... that it's going on... right here.
(Cheering)
LeVar Burton: We are enormously important to one another. We share a bond that is unbreakable. And to have shared it with all of you after all of these years, only lends strength and credence to the reality that what you saw on the screen is in fact -- and indeed reflected -- in our interpersonal relationships. We thank you, enormously, for caring about the people that we have played for all of these years.
(Applause)
Cynthia: We thank you for playing those roles so incredibly well.
Teddy: Yes, we do.
Jonathan Frakes: Thank you very much. Goodnight!
Ajay: We must excuse Patrick, Brent, and Gates -- you have another engagement we're being told from these wonderful screens in front of us. But I believe the rest maaay be willing to stick around for a little bit longer?
Marina Sirtis: What other engagement???
Ajay: That's what it says on the screen...
Marina Sirtis: What other engagement??? I don't believe a word of it. They're going for a drink...
(Laughter)
Marina Sirtis: They're going for a drink. Don't you believe a word of it. You got ten more minutes for all of us. How's that?
(Cheering)
Patrick Stewart: Well, my feeling is... what LeVar has just expressed sums up the very core of what we did and why we are here. And John should join us -- (to De Lancie) the other absent member of this group has joined us -- makes it seem perfect. And that is a note on which I am very happy to pull down the curtain.
Jonathan Frakes: Yes! Here, here!
(Applause)
Ajay: Thank you very much for coming out!
(Applause)
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