A Good Captain
Carol J. Botteron
Picard gets promoted to admiral, and the E needs a new captain.
Who should it be?
Riker? Aside from the question of his competence for command, he has
turned down three ships. It is quite likely that Starfleet Command
has decided that second-in-command is as far as he will ever go.
My nomination: Garrett. Not exactly Rachel Garrett of Yesterday's
Enterprise, but a similar character (her niece?) played by the same
actress. She did a fine job in YE: competent, dedicated, ready to
stand up for what she believed, but not abrasive (like, say, Shelby).
Riker and Garrett could have some major philosophical differences that
could help the show be less sweet without getting nasty.
Comments? Other nominations? Whom do I write to at Paramount?
Carol Botteron bott...@ai.mit.edu Old-Time Trekker 1966-
Matt J. Martin
>Not to start or repeat any rumors, but just suppose that Captain
>Picard gets promoted to admiral, and the E needs a new captain.
>Who should it be?
>
enigmatic, well-rounded, seasnoned, and talented as Stewart. Frakes is right
out. Without Picard he's nothing. I would suggest someone like Sean Connery
or Peter O'Tool. Of course, being such big stars, they probably never do it.
---
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Michael Rawdon
>In article <1g0t0q...@life.ai.mit.edu> bott...@pop-tarts.ai.mit.edu (Carol J. Botteron) writes:
>>Not to start or repeat any rumors, but just suppose that Captain
>>Picard gets promoted to admiral, and the E needs a new captain.
>>Who should it be?
> Anyone who is going to replace Stewart will have to be as charismatic,
>enigmatic, well-rounded, seasnoned, and talented as Stewart. Frakes is right
>out. Without Picard he's nothing. I would suggest someone like Sean Connery
>or Peter O'Tool. Of course, being such big stars, they probably never do it.
I'd be happy with just about any decent actor as long as they improve the
*writing*.
--
Michael Rawdon raw...@colby.cs.wisc.edu
University of Wisconsin Computer Sciences Department, Madison, WI
( To be in the Boston, Massachusetts area for Christmas vacation )
"My favorite Star Trek With Jean-Luc episode is the one where some alien
kills another in the first five minutes and then the crew debates for the
next 55 minutes about what to do. My favorite Star Trek With Captain Kirk
is the same as anyone else's, the one where Kirk, overacting, falls in
love with a beautiful alien babe, which Spock calls illogical, and where a
bunch of security guys die. You know the one?"
- A friend
Rick Gualtieri
> In <Byz0B...@mentor.cc.purdue.edu> myem...@mentor.cc.purdue.edu (Matt J. Martin) writes:
>>In article <1g0t0q...@life.ai.mit.edu> bott...@pop-tarts.ai.mit.edu (Carol J. Botteron) writes:
>>>Not to start or repeat any rumors, but just suppose that Captain
>>>Picard gets promoted to admiral, and the E needs a new captain.
>>>Who should it be?
>
>> Anyone who is going to replace Stewart will have to be as charismatic,
>>enigmatic, well-rounded, seasnoned, and talented as Stewart. Frakes is right
>>out. Without Picard he's nothing. I would suggest someone like Sean Connery
>>or Peter O'Tool. Of course, being such big stars, they probably never do it.
>
> I'd be happy with just about any decent actor as long as they improve the
> *writing*.
>
> --
> Michael Rawdon raw...@colby.cs.wisc.edu
Well first off thanks to everyone who replied to my Test post.
Second, as far a new captain goes, well I have to agree with most of you
that Riker definitely shouldn't be it. He did pretty well the first few
seasons but lately he's been looking more and more like the schmuck of the
cosmos. Maybe Shelby was right in BOBW and Riker did get too comfortable with
being just a second in command. Wouldn't it be a riot if SHE got promoted
over him and was made the Enterprise's new captain.
Rick
Jeffrey S. Payne
all my money would have to be on Riker. Yes, he is a boob...Yes, he is
painfully second to Picard...Yes, he was stupid enough to turn down 3
commands.
Flashback to reality: I saw Frakes at a con in the Philadelphia area. The
entire auditorium was on the floor rolling as he described what a boob he
thinks Riker is. "Sure...I'll eat the Gagh!" (oh, and by the way, Frakes really
did eat the meal worms in "Conspiracy") I would have to attribute this all to
script writing. I would have to hope that Paramount wouldn't make Captain
Riker out to be as much of a bumbling ass...(Then again...you never know...)
As far as *Frakes* ability to play the Captain of the enterprise, I cannot
think of a better person. Of all the members of the ST-TNG cast, Frakes is
by far the most dedicated to the series and its fans. Look at the facts: Much
of the concern over whether or not TNG was going to go to a 7th or 8th
season hinged on whether they could get Sirtis, Stewart, Spiner and Dorn to
sign...their reasoning.. "I don't want to be typecast into Trek roles
forever." Well, someone should have clued them in before they took the job..
Starring in Star Trek is not just a job, it is a way of life.
Jeff Payne
Penn State Ogontz Campus |Bitnet: JSP6@PSUVM
Computer Assisted Learning Center |Internet: pa...@toto.oz.psu.edu
"What else have you done? Telekinesis? Teleportation? Spontaneous
combustion of someone you don't like? That sort of thing..."
-Q to Amanda in "True Q", ST-TNG
Vicki Holzhauer
>As far as *Frakes* ability to play the Captain of the enterprise, I cannot
>think of a better person. Of all the members of the ST-TNG cast, Frakes is
>by far the most dedicated to the series and its fans.
Based on this criterion, I would have to agree with you. I've seen
Frakes at a con in Denver and on a few talk shows. He always eagerly
says that he'll stay with the series as long as they'll have him and
that he has no fear of being typecast. I also *love* the episodes
he's directed ("The Offspring" is one of my top ten). He was good as
a captain in "BoBW" and "Unification," among others. I think he has
more going for him than his role as Riker might indicate ...
--
Vicki Holzhauer, National Center for Atmospheric Research
Boulder, Colorado / / / / vi...@ncar.ucar.edu
John Trivelli
none other than... yes...you guessed it...
Christopher Walken
can you imagine?!?!? it would be something.
Riker? no way... i wouldn't trust Riker behind a shopping cart.
Riker to Romulan: "alright... get your ship out of here before
the writers give me some more dumb lines!"
ROMVLVS
Robert W. Mech
>Picard gets promoted to admiral, and the E needs a new captain.
>Who should it be?
>
>Riker? Aside from the question of his competence for command, he has
>turned down three ships. It is quite likely that Starfleet Command
>has decided that second-in-command is as far as he will ever go.
I think Riker has been a complete fool about this, how many of you would
pass up your own ship? Lets face it the Big E is great, but to have your
own command is equaly as great. Spock was a Vulcan, and I think that
there was some modesty that prevented him from getting his own command,
but Riker is about as modest as a Ferengi. I really think that they
should do something with Riker insted of just leaving him the second
in command. Riker should get the enterprise if Piccard leaves.
>
>My nomination: Garrett. Not exactly Rachel Garrett of Yesterday's
>Enterprise, but a similar character (her niece?) played by the same
>actress. She did a fine job in YE: competent, dedicated, ready to
>stand up for what she believed, but not abrasive (like, say, Shelby).
>Riker and Garrett could have some major philosophical differences that
>could help the show be less sweet without getting nasty.
>
A female running the E ? Come on, Im all for women in starfleet, but I
could just hear the flames from the Ferengi about this one. I think that
a female Enterprise captain would work, but not in the serries the way
it has been. Its been to much of a male role. Just my opinion.
--
:*: rwm...@uumeme.chi.il.us | Owner/Adminstrator UUMEME Public Access Xenix :*:
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Read my lips, I just farted!
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David Toland
I think Riker would perform much better as Captain than as First Officer.
As First Officer under a strong Captain, he doesn't have a great deal
to challenge him, but in every instance I can recall in which he was
in command during a crisis, he has acted decisively and has displayed
considerable ingenuity. In particular, his rescue/abduction of
Picard/Locutus in Best of Both Worlds II was truly outstanding; it
was the type of situation Kirk excelled in, and I don't think even
Kirk would have come up with such a tightly executed plan (Kirk would
have taken it one step at a time, and improvised from one moment to
the next).
--
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
All opinions are MINE MINE MINE, and not necessarily anyone else's.
d...@phlan.sw.stratus.com | "Laddie, you'll be needin' something to wash
| that doon with."
Rick Gualtieri
>
> I think Riker would perform much better as Captain than as First Officer.
>
> As First Officer under a strong Captain, he doesn't have a great deal
> to challenge him, but in every instance I can recall in which he was
> in command during a crisis, he has acted decisively and has displayed
> considerable ingenuity.
Like maybe in Darmok when he almost got the big-E blown to bits, and
inadvertently killed the other ship's captain by trying to beam Picard up
without getting a clear lock on him. Or maybe in Unification where he tries
to stop the other starship at the ship-junk-yard and accidentity blows it
up. I think that BOBW was indeed a good showing for Riker but it was also
one of his last good showings. Ever since then he's been going straight down
the toilet, and letting the Enterprise get beaten by the Ferengi in Rascals
should have convinced starfleet to have him demoted to some desk job somewhere.
Rick
YAN...@yalevm.ycc.yale.edu
captain. TNG needs to be shaken up a little.
(Even with all the problems with Riker that we had, [my personal "problem"
was how easily E-D was taken in "Rascals" under Riker's command], I really
can't see TNG sans Picard without Riker as Captain.)
Junsok Yang (searching for a new 'sig.)
Michael A. Chary
I think an interesting story would have Data offered a ship.
He has been in the fleet a while and now that Riker
has turned down some opportunities it would
not be unreasonable for Star Fleet to turn to someone else
for the next command. After he almost
single handedly defeated the Romulans in the Klingon war
and given he was the one who accessed the Borg command structure,
I don't think it would be unreasonable for him to be offered
a chance. It would provide for some interesting scenes and
reactions. How would Riker react? Would Data ask Geordi
to be his second? Would probably have to be a novel though.
--
"Ipsa scientia potestas est."
-Roger Bacon
"The best argument against democracy is a five minute talk with
the average voter." -Winston Churchill
aaron
*the* choice. A lot of people dump on Riker/Frakes for the poor character
that Riker is, but I think that's a real poor excuse for saying Frakes
can't do the job, nor Riker. If the character is a 'boob', it is for the
reason the prior gentleman (and before him, Mr. Rawdon . . . hiya Mike!)
said -- the writing was *poor*. And indeed, it would certainly seem to be,
lately. Along with a considerable amount of TNG's writing. They're using
too many washed up soap opera writers . . .
Anyway, I find myself swayed more by those times when we get to see
what was in all likelihood *truly* Riker's character, and IMO Frakes did
fantastic jobs portraying Number One in them. Episodes such as BoBW Part
I, and for a while there in Part II; the episode (gasp! I don't remember
it's title!) where Riker served aboard thge Klingon cruiser, the _Pagh_;
_Measure of a Man_, where Riker was forced to prosecute Commander Maddox'
case against Data . . . Given time, I could go on and on.
Folks, truly, the ability of the character is all in the writing
given to that character's part. Riker's, obviously, has suffered greatly.
If the attention were given to him that is given, say, to Picard's
character as the Captain (not unrealistic, since we here are considering
him for that role) by the kind of quality writers which the show deserves,
his character will flourish and succeed every bit as well.
Then again, tho, if ya just don't like, t'won't make a bit of
difference, will it . . . ?
Success to you all, and mnhei'sahe!
StanleY!
J.B. Nicholson-Owens
creatures that look, act and (evidently) feel like women on a lot of
different planets across the galaxy.
--
-- Jeff (je...@uiuc.edu)
-- NeXTmail welcome
William Herndon
>
>I think an interesting story would have Data offered a ship.
>He has been in the fleet a while and now that Riker
>has turned down some opportunities it would
>not be unreasonable for Star Fleet to turn to someone else
>for the next command. After he almost
>single handedly defeated the Romulans in the Klingon war
>and given he was the one who accessed the Borg command structure,
>I don't think it would be unreasonable for him to be offered
>a chance. It would provide for some interesting scenes and
>reactions. How would Riker react? Would Data ask Geordi
>to be his second? Would probably have to be a novel though.
>--
Hmmmmm..., but wouldn't Data have to serve at the rank of Commander
for a while before being offered a ship of his own? Right now he's
still only a Lt. Commander.
- Max
| William R. Herndon \ The MITRE Corporation, Dept. G023 |
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MICHAEL LAUREN SHERMAN
y) writes:
>
>I think an interesting story would have Data offered a ship.
emotion/intuition etc. in his decisions, while Data can compute with the best
of them and is coming around in the humanity department, he is not ready for a
command. Besides, if Picard is to be held up as the epitome of a starship
captain (command of the flagship right??) and can quote poetry etc like it is
his job, ode to spot just doesn't cut it. You know what would be really
hilarious, Barclay gets a command ;-)
--
my name is mike and i'm a .sig-a-holic, i have been virtually .sig free for
five days now, my life is so much clearer, i pledge to do my best to never
have a long .sig again. i don't need one because i'm good enough, i'm smart
enough and god darnit, people like me. ob info: ml...@lehigh.edu, mike
sherman phone# 758-0207 disclaimer, we don't neeeed no steeenking disclaimer.
Charles E Rick Taylor IV
>In article <1g8g18...@usenet.INS.CWRU.Edu>, ma...@po.CWRU.Edu (Michael A. Char
>y) writes:
>>
>>I think an interesting story would have Data offered a ship.
>I really don't see this as very likely, a captain must exercise human
>emotion/intuition etc. in his decisions, while Data can compute with the best
>of them and is coming around in the humanity department, he is not ready for a
>command. Besides, if Picard is to be held up as the epitome of a starship
>captain (command of the flagship right??) and can quote poetry etc like it is
>his job, ode to spot just doesn't cut it. You know what would be really
>hilarious, Barclay gets a command ;-)
Data's *already* had command of a ship (for a limited time, at least).
Remember the Sutherland? Data even exercised "intuition" in that
episode, so to speak!
--
+ Rick __ + EMAIL:cha...@hubcap.clemson.edu + //\ + /|\ It's +
| /aylor | IRC : Tomalek / The Romulan | \X/--\miga 500 | J rainy |
+-------------+----------------------------------+----------------+----------+
+ "Every Girl Already Has A Boyfriend" --- Murphy's Law Of Dating... +
Edward V. Wright
> I remeber reading once that Humans
>were by far the largest number of cadets in StarFleet, and members in
>StarFleet in general. So, it would then follow that the largest number of
>Captains and leader positions would be held by Humans.
That's what we see in the series, of course, for one very good reason:
amkeup is expensive. But I don't think it's realistic. If the Federation
has hundreds of member species, as it apparently does, then humans (or
any other species) should be a small minority within Star Fleet.
Tom Kuchar
>
>And the captain of the _Yorktown_, also in IV, was Vijay Armitraj, who is
>an Indian national I believe . . .
>
A tennis star, too, if I remember correctly.
--
Tom Kuchar
kuc...@buast7.bu.edu -or- kuc...@plh.af.mil
Department of Astronomy Phillips Laboratory/GPOB
Boston Univerity Hanscom AFB