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|aPrevInUniverseTimeline = Elementary, Dear Data (episode)
  
|aPrevInUniverseTimeline = Elementary, Dear Data (episode)
 
}}
  
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The ''Enterprise''-D crew rescue a "roguish" freighter captain whose ship is malfunctioning, but his presence drags them into an interplanetary feud.
 +
The ''Enterprise'' crew rescue a "roguish" freighter captain whose ship is malfunctioning, but his presence drags them into an interplanetary feud.
   
 
==Summary==
  
==Summary==
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===Act One===
  
===Act One===
 
[[File:Okona meets Data.jpg|thumb|''"You don't know what a joke is?"'']]
  
[[File:Okona meets Data.jpg|thumb|''"You don't know what a joke is?"'']]
−
Upon entry to the ship, Okona charms the [[transporter]] [[officer]], [[Lieutenant]] [[B.G. Robinson|Robinson]], and begins to display characteristics of a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rake_%28character%29 scoundrel and a rake]. Okona and Robinson leave the transporter room, and Okona accompanies [[Data]] to [[main engineering]] to observe the repairs to his guidance system. Okona questions Data's ability to comprehend [[humor]] and other [[Human]] characteristics, apparently finding the concept of an emotionless [[android]] fascinating.
 +
Upon entry to the ship, Okona charms the [[transporter]] [[officer]], [[Lieutenant]] [[B.G. Robinson|Robinson]], and begins to display characteristics of a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rake_%28character%29 scoundrel and a rake]. While [[William T. Riker|Riker]], [[Data]], [[Worf]] and [[Wesley Crusher|Crusher]] observe this, Okona soon leaves the transporter room having charmed Robinson, and he accompanies Data to [[main engineering]] to observe the repairs to his guidance system. Okona questions Data's ability to comprehend [[humor]] and other [[Human]] characteristics, apparently finding the concept of an emotionless [[android]] fascinating.
   
 
===Act Two===
  
===Act Two===
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:"''Captain's Log, supplemental. Some of the mystery surrounding this ancient morality play we've been dragged into has been revealed. One of Captain Okona's pursuers is an outraged father with a heartfelt, if archaic, sense of righteousness.''"
  
:"''Captain's Log, supplemental. Some of the mystery surrounding this ancient morality play we've been dragged into has been revealed. One of Captain Okona's pursuers is an outraged father with a heartfelt, if archaic, sense of righteousness.''"
   
−
Kushell has claimed that Okona stole the national treasure, the [[Jewel of Thesia]]. Picard and Okona discuss the matter at hand. If Okona is handed to Debin, the Thesians will use the slight to declare war, while if Picard gives him to the Thesians, the same result will occur. Picard and Okona agree that the only way to resolve the situation is to let Okona continue on and find a place of refuge.
+
Kushell has claimed that Okona stole the national treasure, the [[Jewel of Thesia]]. Picard and Okona discuss the matter at hand. If Okona is handed to Debin, the Thesians will use the slight to declare war, while if Picard gives him to the Thesians, the same result will occur. Picard and Okona agree that the only way to resolve the situation is to let Okona continue on the ''Erstwhile'' and find a place of refuge.
   
−
After a long talk with [[Wesley Crusher]], in which it's revealed that Okona has become tired of living the nomadic lifestyle and just wants the entire mess surrounding Yanar and the Jewel to be settled, he decides to voluntarily turn himself in – to ''both'' sides.
 +
After a long talk with [[Wesley Crusher]] in engineering, in which it's revealed that Okona has become tired of living the nomadic lifestyle and just wants the entire mess surrounding Yanar and the Jewel to be settled, he decides to voluntarily turn himself in – to ''both'' sides.
   
 
===Act Five===
  
===Act Five===
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Okona's choice allows Picard to use the ''Enterprise'' as a neutral meeting place for both parties to settle their claims. The two families are antagonistic towards each other, both claiming that Okona has infringed their laws and both expressing an equally valid claim on the wayward freighter captain.
 
Okona's choice allows Picard to use the ''Enterprise'' as a neutral meeting place for both parties to settle their claims. The two families are antagonistic towards each other, both claiming that Okona has infringed their laws and both expressing an equally valid claim on the wayward freighter captain.
   
−
The story unfolds when they discover that Kushell's ''son'' [[Benzan]] impregnated Yanar, rather than Okona, and that Okona was the go-between for Yanar and Benzan's courtship (which was disapproved by both families). The jewel was stolen to be used in the wedding between Yanar and Benzan, who agree to marriage, and their fathers continue their quarrels (this time about the details of the wedding) as Picard invokes the [[Prime Directive]] as an excuse to make a discreet exit from what has now officially become an internal matter of the respective families' governments.
 +
The story unfolds when they discover that Kushell's ''son'' [[Benzan]] has actually impregnated Yanar, rather than Okona, and that Okona was the go-between for Yanar and Benzan's courtship (which was disapproved by both families). The jewel was stolen to be used in the wedding between Yanar and Benzan, who agree to marriage, and their fathers continue their quarrels in a more light-hearted manner (this time about the details of the wedding) as Picard invokes the [[Prime Directive]] as an excuse to make a discreet exit from what has now officially become an internal matter of the respective families' governments.
   
 
[[File:Data as a comic.jpg|thumb|left|''"Being able to make people laugh, or being able to laugh, is not the end all and be all of being human."'']]
  
[[File:Data as a comic.jpg|thumb|left|''"Being able to make people laugh, or being able to laugh, is not the end all and be all of being human."'']]
−
Data and Guinan participate in a comedy show with the holo-comedian. They resolve the issues of Data's ability to deliver a joke by giving Data an audience. Unfortunately, Data discovers that the audience is programmed to laugh at ''anything'' he says or does, regardless of whether or not it's actually humorous, and that his delivery is still flawed.
 +
Data and Guinan participate in a comedy show with the holo-comedian. They resolve the issues of Data's ability to deliver a joke by giving Data an audience. Unfortunately, Data discovers that the holographic audience is programmed to laugh at ''anything'' he says or does, regardless of whether or not it's actually humorous, and that his delivery is still flawed. Data asks the computer to erase the audience as well as the comic. Guinan assures Data that being able to laugh or to make people laugh is not the final result to becoming Human. Data agrees, but notes that there is nothing more "''uniquely Human.''"
   
−
At the end of the show, Data inadvertently delivers a joke that causes the bridge crew to break into laughter, and Okona (having resolved his differences with the Thesians and Yanar's father) continues on his way.
 +
Later, on the bridge, Data inadvertently delivers a joke that causes the bridge crew to break into laughter, but later the crew gets annoyed after Data begins to make bad joke after bad joke, and Okona (having resolved his differences with the Thesians and Yanar's father) continues on his way.
 
{{clear}}
  
{{clear}}
   
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"''You're a droid and I'm a 'noid.''"
  
"''You're a droid and I'm a 'noid.''"
 
: - '''Guinan''', telling a joke to Data
  
: - '''Guinan''', telling a joke to Data
  +
  +
  +
"''A Klingon security officer?''"<br />
  +
"''Yes.''"<br />
  +
"''No wars available, eh?''"
  +
: - '''Okona''' and '''Worf'''
   
   
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"''Nice to meet you, Acting Ensign Wesley Wesley Crusher.''"
  
"''Nice to meet you, Acting Ensign Wesley Wesley Crusher.''"
 
: - '''Wesley Crusher''' introducing himself to '''Thadiun Okona'''
  
: - '''Wesley Crusher''' introducing himself to '''Thadiun Okona'''
  +
  +
  +
"''You have the majestic carriage and loveliness that could surely be traced back to the noblest of families.''"
  +
: - '''Okona''', to B.G. Robinson, the ''Enterprise''{{'}}s female transporter chief
   
   
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=== Production ===
  
=== Production ===
−
[[File:Piscopo, Goldberg, Spiner.jpg|thumb|Joe Piscopo, Whoopi Goldberg, and Brent Spiner]]
 +
[[File:Roddenberry during Outrageous Okona.jpg|thumb|[[Gene Roddenberry]] visits the set during filming]]
 
* Filming for this episode took place in late {{m|October|1988}}, with the final day of the shoot on {{d|1|November|1988}}. ("Lost & Found", [[Star Trek Magazine issue 148|''Star Trek Magazine'' issue 148]])
  
* Filming for this episode took place in late {{m|October|1988}}, with the final day of the shoot on {{d|1|November|1988}}. ("Lost & Found", [[Star Trek Magazine issue 148|''Star Trek Magazine'' issue 148]])
 
* {{w|Jerry Lewis}} himself was approached to play the comic, but there was a scheduling conflict caused by Lewis' guest role on {{wt|Wiseguy}}. (''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion]]'' 2nd ed., p. 70)
  
* {{w|Jerry Lewis}} himself was approached to play the comic, but there was a scheduling conflict caused by Lewis' guest role on {{wt|Wiseguy}}. (''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion]]'' 2nd ed., p. 70)
 
* This is the first of two second-season episodes in which Dr. [[Katherine Pulaski|Pulaski]] [[Main character non-appearances|doesn't appear]]. The other is {{e|Q Who}}.
  
* This is the first of two second-season episodes in which Dr. [[Katherine Pulaski|Pulaski]] [[Main character non-appearances|doesn't appear]]. The other is {{e|Q Who}}.
  +
* First UK airdate: 24th April 1991
   
 
=== Sets and props ===
  
=== Sets and props ===
  +
[[File:Piscopo, Goldberg, Spiner.jpg|thumb|Joe Piscopo, Whoopi Goldberg, and Brent Spiner]]
  +
 
* The holodeck terminal lists the name of the comic as [[Ronald B. Moore (comedian)|Ronald B. Moore]], a reference to visual effects supervisor [[Ronald B. Moore]], who helped assemble the graphic. (''[[Star Trek Encyclopedia]]'' 1st ed., p. 54) He is not to be confused with writer and producer [[Ronald D. Moore]], who had not yet joined the staff.
  
* The holodeck terminal lists the name of the comic as [[Ronald B. Moore (comedian)|Ronald B. Moore]], a reference to visual effects supervisor [[Ronald B. Moore]], who helped assemble the graphic. (''[[Star Trek Encyclopedia]]'' 1st ed., p. 54) He is not to be confused with writer and producer [[Ronald D. Moore]], who had not yet joined the staff.
 
* The window or display "frame" behind Debin while speaking on the ''Enterprise'' viewscreen is a slightly modified re-use of the [[battle bridge]] viewscreen of the ''Enterprise''-D.
 
* The window or display "frame" behind Debin while speaking on the ''Enterprise'' viewscreen is a slightly modified re-use of the [[battle bridge]] viewscreen of the ''Enterprise''-D.
Line 149: Line 162:
 
*UK re-release (three-episode tapes, [[Paramount Home Entertainment]]): Volume 2.2, catalog number VHR 4738, {{d|12|April|1999}}
  
*UK re-release (three-episode tapes, [[Paramount Home Entertainment]]): Volume 2.2, catalog number VHR 4738, {{d|12|April|1999}}
 
*As part of the [[TNG Season 2 DVD]] collection
  
*As part of the [[TNG Season 2 DVD]] collection
  +
* As part of the [[TNG Season 2 Blu-ray]] collection.
   
 
== Links and references ==
  
== Links and references ==
Line 175: Line 189:
   
 
=== Uncredited co-stars ===
  
=== Uncredited co-stars ===
  +
* [[Arratia]] as [[Alfonse Pacelli]]
−
* [[Majel Barrett]] as the {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701-D|-D}} [[computer voice]]
 +
* [[Majel Barrett]] as {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701-D|-D}} [[computer voice]]
 
* [[James G. Becker]] as [[Youngblood]]
  
* [[James G. Becker]] as [[Youngblood]]
−
* [[Juliet Cesario]] as a [[Unnamed USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) personnel#Female science division officer|science division officer]]
 +
* [[Juliet Cesario]] as [[Unnamed USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) sciences division personnel#Female science division officer|science division officer]]
−
* [[Dexter Clay]] as an [[Unnamed USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) personnel#Security officer (2364-2365)|operations division officer]]
 +
* [[Dexter Clay]] as [[Unnamed USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) operations division personnel#Security officer (2364-2365)|operations division officer]]
−
* [[Jeffrey Deacon]] as a [[Unnamed USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) personnel#Bridge Crewman (2364-2366)|command division officer]]
 +
* [[Jeffrey Deacon]] as [[Unnamed USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) command division personnel#Bridge Crewman (2364-2366)|command division officer]]
 
* [[Teri Hatcher]] as [[B.G. Robinson]]
  
* [[Teri Hatcher]] as [[B.G. Robinson]]
 
* [[Tim McCormack]] as [[Bennett (Ensign)|Bennett]]
  
* [[Tim McCormack]] as [[Bennett (Ensign)|Bennett]]
 
* [[Lorine Mendell]] as [[Diana Giddings]]
  
* [[Lorine Mendell]] as [[Diana Giddings]]
−
* [[Randy Pflug]] as a [[Ten Forward personnel#Human Ten Forward waiter (2365)|Ten Forward waiter]]
 +
* [[Randy Pflug]] as [[Ten Forward personnel#Human Ten Forward waiter (2365)|Ten Forward waiter]]
 
* [[Guy Vardaman]] as [[Darien Wallace]]
  
* [[Guy Vardaman]] as [[Darien Wallace]]
 
* [[Unknown performers]] as
  
* [[Unknown performers]] as
 
** [[Charnock's Comedy Cabaret holograms#Audience|Charnock's Comedy Cabaret audience]]
  
** [[Charnock's Comedy Cabaret holograms#Audience|Charnock's Comedy Cabaret audience]]
−
** [[Unnamed USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) personnel#Medical assistants (2365)|Female science division officer]]
 +
** [[Unnamed USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) sciences division personnel#Medical assistants (2365)|Female science division officer]]
 
** [[Altec inhabitants#Altec vessel bridge personnel|Two Altec officers]]
  
** [[Altec inhabitants#Altec vessel bridge personnel|Two Altec officers]]
 
** [[Straleb inhabitants#Straleb security vessel bridge personnel|Two Straleb officers]]
  
** [[Straleb inhabitants#Straleb security vessel bridge personnel|Two Straleb officers]]
−
** [[Unnamed USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) personnel#Vulcan science division officer (2365)|Vulcan science division officer]]
 +
** [[Unnamed USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) sciences division personnel#Vulcan science division officer (2365)|Vulcan science division officer]]
   
 
=== Stand-ins ===
  
=== Stand-ins ===
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=== References ===
  
=== References ===
−
[[1932]]; [[2165]]; [[2364]]; [[Gracie Allen|Allen, Gracie]]; [[Altec]]; [[Altec vessel]]; [[bird call]]; [[George Burns|Burns, George]]; [[call sign]]; [[canary]]; [[cargo carrier]]; [[cargo hold]]; [[Charnock's Comedy Cabaret]]; [[cigar]]; [[class 7 vessel]]; [[class 9 cargo vessel]]; [[comedian]]; [[Coalition of Madena]]; [[Denkir II]]; [[dog]]; [[Earth]]; ''[[Erstwhile]]''; [[Federation]]; [[Ferengi]]; ''[[glob fly]]''; [[godfather]]; ''[[Gulliver's Travels]]''; [[holodeck]]; [[humor]]; [[inertial guidance system]]; [[Jewel of Thesia]]; [[joke]]; [[juggling]]; [[laser weapon]]s; [[Legation of Unity]]; [[Jerry Lewis|Lewis, Jerry]]; [[lion]]; [[Milky Way Galaxy]]; [[navigational shield]]s; [[New York City]]; [[Omega Sagitta system]]; [[procreation]]; [[quantum mechanics]]; [[Tip O'Neill|O'Neill, Tip]]; [[parrot]]; [[pork chop]]; [[Stano Riga|Riga, Stano]]; [[Roxy Theater]]; [[Starfleet Regulations]]; [[Straleb]]; [[Straleb security ship]]; [[Teaneck]]; [[tricellite]]; [[tritanium]]; [[yellow alert]]; [[zelebium]]
 +
[[1932]]; [[2165]]; [[2364]]; [[Gracie Allen|Allen, Gracie]]; [[Altec]]; [[Altec vessel]]; [[bird call]]; [[George Burns|Burns, George]]; [[call sign]]; [[canary]]; [[cargo carrier]]; [[cargo hold]]; [[Charnock's Comedy Cabaret]]; [[cigar]]; [[class 7 vessel]]; [[class 9 cargo vessel]]; [[comedian]]; [[Coalition of Madena]]; [[Denkir II]]; [[dog]]; [[Earth]]; ''[[Erstwhile]]''; [[Federation]]; [[Ferengi]]; ''[[glob fly]]''; [[godfather]]; ''[[Gulliver's Travels]]''; [[holodeck]]; [[humor]]; [[inertial guidance system]]; [[Jewel of Thesia]]; [[joke]]; [[juggling]]; [[laser weapon]]s; [[Legation of Unity]]; [[Jerry Lewis|Lewis, Jerry]]; [[lion]]; [[Milky Way Galaxy]]; [[navigational shield]]s; [[New York City]]; [[number one]]; [[Omega Sagitta system]]; [[procreation]]; [[quantum mechanics]]; [[Tip O'Neill|O'Neill, Tip]]; [[parrot]]; [[pork chop]]; [[Stano Riga|Riga, Stano]]; [[Roxy Theater]]; [[Starfleet Regulations]]; [[Straleb]]; [[Straleb security ship]]; [[Teaneck]]; [[tricellite]]; [[tritanium]]; [[yellow alert]]; [[zelebium]]
   
 
=== Library Computer References ===
  
=== Library Computer References ===
−
[[Burt Armus (comedian)|Armus, Burt]]; [[Daryl Baskin (comedian)|Baskin, Daryl]]; [[Phil Bishop (comedian)|Bishop, Phil]]; [[Dan Curry (comedian)|Curry, Dan]]; [[Monty de Graff (comedian)|de Graff, Monty]]; [[Doug Drexler (comedian)|Drexler, Doug]]; [[Farouk El-Baz|El-Baz, Farouk]]; [[Sharyl Fickas (comedian)|Fickas, Sharyl]]; [[Sam Freedle (comedian)|Freedle, Sam]]; [[David Grant (comedian)|Grant, David]]; [[Douglas E. Graves (comedian)|Graves, Douglas E.]]; [[Mike Gray (comedian)|Gray, Mike]]; [[Jim Hardy (comedian)|Hardy, Jim]]; [[Merri Howard (comedian)|Howard, Merri]]; [[Maurice Hurley (comedian)|Hurley, Maurice]]; [[Gary Hutzel (comedian)|Hutzel, Gary]]; [[Heidi Julian (comedian)|Julian, Heidi]]; [[Jon Koslowsky (comedian)|Koslowsky, Jon]]; [[David Livingston (comedian)|Livingston, David]]; [[Terri Martinez (comedian)|Martinez, Terri]]; [[John Mason (comedian)|Mason, John]]; [[Robert Metoyer (comedian)|Metoyer, Robert]]; [[Ronald B. Moore (comedian)|Moore, Ronald B.]]; [[Wendy Neuss (comedian)|Neuss, Wendy]]; [[Ernie Over (comedian)|Over, Ernie]]; [[Diane Overdiek (comedian)|Overdiek, Diane]]; [[Gene Roddenberry (comedian)|Roddenberry, Gene]]; [[Scott Rubenstein (comedian)|Rubenstein, Scott]]; [[Michael Schoenbrun (comedian)|Schoenbrun, Michael]]; [[Adele Simmons (comedian)|Simmons, Adele]]; [[David Takemura (comedian)|Takemura, David]]; [[Tracy Tormé (comedian)|Tormé, Tracy]]; [[Jayme Wing (comedian)|Wing, Jayme]]
 +
* '''Holodeck Programming Simulations (Original Version)''': [[Burt Armus (comedian)|Armus, Burt]]; [[Daryl Baskin (comedian)|Baskin, Daryl]]; [[Dan Curry (comedian)|Curry, Dan]]; [[Monty de Graff (comedian)|de Graff, Monty]]; [[Farouk El-Baz|El-Baz, Farouk]]; [[Sharyl Fickas (comedian)|Fickas, Sharyl]]; [[Sam Freedle (comedian)|Freedle, Sam]]; [[Mike Gray (comedian)|Gray, Mike]]; [[Merri Howard (comedian)|Howard, Merri]]; [[Maurice Hurley (comedian)|Hurley, Maurice]]; [[Gary Hutzel (comedian)|Hutzel, Gary]]; [[Heidi Julian (comedian)|Julian, Heidi]]; [[Jon Koslowsky (comedian)|Koslowsky, Jon]]; [[David Livingston (comedian)|Livingston, David]]; [[Terri Martinez (comedian)|Martinez, Terri]]; [[John Mason (comedian)|Mason, John]]; [[Robert Metoyer (comedian)|Metoyer, Robert]]; [[Ronald B. Moore (comedian)|Moore, Ronald B.]]; [[Wendy Neuss (comedian)|Neuss, Wendy]]; [[Ernie Over (comedian)|Over, Ernie]]; [[Diane Overdiek (comedian)|Overdiek, Diane]]; [[Gene Roddenberry (comedian)|Roddenberry, Gene]]; [[Scott Rubenstein (comedian)|Rubenstein, Scott]]; [[Michael Schoenbrun (comedian)|Schoenbrun, Michael]]; [[Adele Simmons (comedian)|Simmons, Adele]]; [[Tracy Tormé (comedian)|Tormé, Tracy]]
  +
* '''Holodeck Programming Simulations (Remastered Version)''': [[Ryan Adams (comedian)|Adams, Ryan]]; [[Daryl Baskin (comedian)|Baskin, Daryl]]; [[Phil Bishop (comedian)|Bishop, Phil]]; [[Dan Curry (comedian)|Curry, Dan]]; [[Monty de Graff (comedian)|de Graff, Monty]]; [[Doug Drexler (comedian)|Drexler, Doug]]; [[Sam Freedle (comedian)|Freedle, Sam]]; [[David Grant (comedian)|Grant, David]]; [[Douglas E. Graves (comedian)|Graves, Douglas E.]]; [[Mike Gray (comedian)|Gray, Mike]]; [[Jim Hardy (comedian)|Hardy, Jim]]; [[Merri Howard (comedian)|Howard, Merri]]; [[Gary Hutzel (comedian)|Hutzel, Gary]]; [[Jon Koslowsky (comedian)|Koslowsky, Jon]]; [[David Livingston (comedian)|Livingston, David]]; [[John Mason (comedian)|Mason, John]]; [[Ronald B. Moore (comedian)|Moore, Ronald B.]]; [[Wendy Neuss (comedian)|Neuss, Wendy]]; [[Ken Ross (comedian)|Ross, Ken]]; [[Scott Rubenstein (comedian)|Rubenstein, Scott]]; [[Wendy Ruiz (comedian)|Ruiz, Wendy]]; [[Adele Simmons (comedian)|Simmons, Adele]]; [[David Takemura (comedian)|Takemura, David]]; [[Tracy Tormé (comedian)|Tormé, Tracy]]; [[Steve Wiener (comedian)|Wiener, Steve]]; [[Craig Weiss (comedian)|Weiss, Craig]]; [[Jayme Wing (comedian)|Wing, Jayme]]
   
 
=== Log entries ===
  
=== Log entries ===
 
* [[Captain's log, USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D), 2365#Passing through the Omega Sagitta system|Captain's log, USS ''Enterprise'' (NCC-1701-D), 2365]]
  
* [[Captain's log, USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D), 2365#Passing through the Omega Sagitta system|Captain's log, USS ''Enterprise'' (NCC-1701-D), 2365]]
   
−
== External links ==
 +
=== External links ===
−
* {{NCwiki|The Outrageous Okona}}
 +
* {{Startrek.com|outrageous-okona|"The Outrageous Okona"}}
−
* {{wikipedia|The Outrageous Okona|The Outrageous Okona}}
 +
* {{NCwiki|The Outrageous Okona|"The Outrageous Okona"}}
−
* {{Startrek.com|outrageous-okona|The Outrageous Okona}}
 +
* {{wikipedia-quote|The Outrageous Okona}}
  +
* {{ml|the-outrageous-okona|"The Outrageous Okona"|external}}
   
 
{{TNG nav|season=2|last={{e|Elementary, Dear Data}}|next={{e|Loud As A Whisper}}}}
  
{{TNG nav|season=2|last={{e|Elementary, Dear Data}}|next={{e|Loud As A Whisper}}}}
  +
  ⚫
[[Category:TNG episodes|Outrageous Okona, The]]
   
 
[[cs:The Outrageous Okona]]
  
[[cs:The Outrageous Okona]]
 
[[de:Der unmögliche Captain Okona]]
  
[[de:Der unmögliche Captain Okona]]
 
[[es:The Outrageous Okona]]
  
[[es:The Outrageous Okona]]
−
[[fr:The Outrageous Okona]]
 +
[[fr:The Outrageous Okona (épisode)]]
 
[[it:Okona l'immorale (episodio)]]
  
[[it:Okona l'immorale (episodio)]]
−
[[ja:TNG:無法者オコーナ]]
 +
[[ja:無法者オコーナ（エピソード）]]
 
[[nl:The Outrageous Okona]]
  
[[nl:The Outrageous Okona]]
⚫
[[Category:TNG episodes|Outrageous Okona, The]]
  

Revision as of 05:15, 22 March 2015

Template:Realworld

The Enterprise crew rescue a "roguish" freighter captain whose ship is malfunctioning, but his presence drags them into an interplanetary feud.

Summary

Teaser

Okona on viewscreen

"Is that a woman's voice I hear?"

"Captain's Log, Stardate 42402.7. We are traveling in the Omega Sagitta system, traversing between the twin planets that form the Coalition of Madena. Both worlds are populated by a humanoid race which colonized the planets two centuries ago and which now coexist under a precarious but successful treaty."

The USS Enterprise-D, while traveling in the Omega Sagitta system between two twin planets inhabited by Humans who have created a pact called the Madena Coalition, stumbles upon a Class 9 starship with one humanoid inside. The ship is the cargo freighter Erstwhile commanded by Captain Thadiun Okona, who has problems with the guidance system. The Enterprise offers Captain Okona help repairing his faulty guidance system. Deanna Troi establishes that he displays rogue-like characteristics, making him a suspicious character who should not be taken lightly.

Act One

Okona meets Data

"You don't know what a joke is?"

Upon entry to the ship, Okona charms the transporter officer, Lieutenant Robinson, and begins to display characteristics of a scoundrel and a rake. While Riker, Data, Worf and Crusher observe this, Okona soon leaves the transporter room having charmed Robinson, and he accompanies Data to main engineering to observe the repairs to his guidance system. Okona questions Data's ability to comprehend humor and other Human characteristics, apparently finding the concept of an emotionless android fascinating.

Act Two

Jerry Lewis impersonation

"That is considered to be funny?"

Data is inspired by Okona's questions and insights about humor, and goes to Ten Forward to seek counsel from Guinan regarding his difficulty grasping the concept. Data then travels to the holodeck to view a comedy show by a holographic comedian. Data inquires about a series of comedic acts and performances to further his understanding of comedy. They begin a series of improvisations which include 20th century Jerry Lewis, and continue to examples of stand-up comedy, which Data views at maximum speed. Data then returns to Guinan to try out his new comedy material, but his first attempt fails miserably. His second attempt is abruptly interrupted by a call to the bridge: an unidentified ship is approaching the Enterprise.

Act Three

Splitscreen argument

"I'll have Okona now!"

Debin, the captain of the ship, warns the Enterprise that they are entering their territory. Debin establishes that Okona is, in fact, a rogue who committed crimes on the planet Altec. While the entire confrontation is occurring, another ship of similar classification is approaching. This ship is commanded by Captain Kushell from the planet Straleb, who also states similar issues relating to Okona.

Jean-Luc Picard calls Okona up to the bridge to understand what crimes he has committed. After brief deliberation, Okona hedges his response, stating that he isn't aware that he committed any crime on either world. A skeptical Picard asks Debin what crimes has been committed. Debin, infuriated, explains that Okona had impregnated Debin's daughter, Yanar.

Act Four

Okona and Wesley

"I seem to have a way of using up a place."

"Captain's Log, supplemental. Some of the mystery surrounding this ancient morality play we've been dragged into has been revealed. One of Captain Okona's pursuers is an outraged father with a heartfelt, if archaic, sense of righteousness."

Kushell has claimed that Okona stole the national treasure, the Jewel of Thesia. Picard and Okona discuss the matter at hand. If Okona is handed to Debin, the Thesians will use the slight to declare war, while if Picard gives him to the Thesians, the same result will occur. Picard and Okona agree that the only way to resolve the situation is to let Okona continue on the Erstwhile and find a place of refuge.

After a long talk with Wesley Crusher in engineering, in which it's revealed that Okona has become tired of living the nomadic lifestyle and just wants the entire mess surrounding Yanar and the Jewel to be settled, he decides to voluntarily turn himself in – to both sides.

Act Five

Okona crisis averted

Family crisis averted

Okona's choice allows Picard to use the Enterprise as a neutral meeting place for both parties to settle their claims. The two families are antagonistic towards each other, both claiming that Okona has infringed their laws and both expressing an equally valid claim on the wayward freighter captain.

The story unfolds when they discover that Kushell's son Benzan has actually impregnated Yanar, rather than Okona, and that Okona was the go-between for Yanar and Benzan's courtship (which was disapproved by both families). The jewel was stolen to be used in the wedding between Yanar and Benzan, who agree to marriage, and their fathers continue their quarrels in a more light-hearted manner (this time about the details of the wedding) as Picard invokes the Prime Directive as an excuse to make a discreet exit from what has now officially become an internal matter of the respective families' governments.

Data as a comic

"Being able to make people laugh, or being able to laugh, is not the end all and be all of being human."

Data and Guinan participate in a comedy show with the holo-comedian. They resolve the issues of Data's ability to deliver a joke by giving Data an audience. Unfortunately, Data discovers that the holographic audience is programmed to laugh at anything he says or does, regardless of whether or not it's actually humorous, and that his delivery is still flawed. Data asks the computer to erase the audience as well as the comic. Guinan assures Data that being able to laugh or to make people laugh is not the final result to becoming Human. Data agrees, but notes that there is nothing more "uniquely Human."

Later, on the bridge, Data inadvertently delivers a joke that causes the bridge crew to break into laughter, but later the crew gets annoyed after Data begins to make bad joke after bad joke, and Okona (having resolved his differences with the Thesians and Yanar's father) continues on his way.

Memorable quotes

"You spoiled the joke. It could have been your timing."
"My timing is digital."

- Guinan and Data


"You're a droid and I'm a 'noid."

- Guinan, telling a joke to Data


"A Klingon security officer?"
"Yes."
"No wars available, eh?"

- Okona and Worf


"Wesley, Wesley Crusher."
"Nice to meet you, Acting Ensign Wesley Wesley Crusher."

- Wesley Crusher introducing himself to Thadiun Okona


"You have the majestic carriage and loveliness that could surely be traced back to the noblest of families."

- Okona, to B.G. Robinson, the Enterprise's female transporter chief


"Say goodbye, Data."
"Goodbye Data."

- Wesley Crusher and Data


"Now, that's sex appeal!"

- Okona


"Captain, they are now locking lasers on us."
"Lasers!?"
"Yes, sir."
"Lasers can't even penetrate our navigation shields. Don't they know that?"
"Regulations do call for yellow alert."
"Hmm, a very old regulation. Well, make it so Number One. And, reduce speed... drop main shields, as well."
"May I ask why, sir?"
"In case we decide to surrender to them, Number One... "

- Worf, Riker, and Picard


"So... if you put funny teeth in your mouth and jump around like an idiot, that is considered funny!"

- Data


"Guy walks into the doctor's office. The doctor tells him you need an operation. Guy says "I want a second opinion." Doc tells him "Okay you're ugly too". Badoom Boom!

- Data telling his first joke to Guinan


"Life is like loading twice your cargo weight on to your spacecraft. If it's canaries and you can keep half of them flying all the time, you're all right."

- Okana, making a joke to Data

Background information

Story and script

Production

Roddenberry during Outrageous Okona

Gene Roddenberry visits the set during filming

Sets and props

Piscopo, Goldberg, Spiner

Joe Piscopo, Whoopi Goldberg, and Brent Spiner

  • The holodeck terminal lists the name of the comic as Ronald B. Moore, a reference to visual effects supervisor Ronald B. Moore, who helped assemble the graphic. (Star Trek Encyclopedia 1st ed., p. 54) He is not to be confused with writer and producer Ronald D. Moore, who had not yet joined the staff.
  • The window or display "frame" behind Debin while speaking on the Enterprise viewscreen is a slightly modified re-use of the battle bridge viewscreen of the Enterprise-D.
  • The damaged prop guidance system from the Erstwhile was sold off on the It's A Wrap! sale and auction on eBay. [1]

Continuity

  • When Okona asks Data if he's ever been drunk, Data claims "not from alcohol", a reference to TNG: "The Naked Now" in which the polywater intoxication acted on his programming like alcohol would on a Human brain.

Reception

  • The Agony Booth website featured this episode in their "The Worst of Trek" section. In their recap, they wrote, "Frankly, it seems like the writers brainstormed the idea of "a slightly colorful character comes aboard the Enterprise and shakes up the lives of the crew", and the story conference ended there. Little did they know that this same worthless plot template would be the model for loads of bad fanfiction, mostly of the Mary Sue/Marty Sam variety, where the author imagines himself or herself as the colorful character who does the shaking. As we'll soon learn from this episode, this type of plot rarely works. And the only thing lacking in "The Outrageous Okona" is the main character being named after the writer." [2]
  • They concluded, "It may not be "And the Children Shall Lead", but this episode was pretty damn excruciating. I suppose you could make the case that there were some relatively talented guest stars, even if they weren't given anything interesting to do. And I suppose if you like Data and his story arc, there's a chance you might find something redeeming here. For the rest of us, however, it's 45 minutes of sheer pain. Thankfully, a major shakeup in the TNG writing staff was right around the corner, and things would rarely get this bad again. Unfortunately, the same thing can't be said for Joe Piscopo's acting career." [3]
  • A mission report for this episode by John Sayers was published in The Official Star Trek: The Next Generation Magazine Vol. 6, pp. 11-14.

Video and DVD releases

Links and references

Starring

Also starring

Guest stars

Special guest stars

And

Uncredited co-stars

Stand-ins

References

1932; 2165; 2364; Allen, Gracie; Altec; Altec vessel; bird call; Burns, George; call sign; canary; cargo carrier; cargo hold; Charnock's Comedy Cabaret; cigar; class 7 vessel; class 9 cargo vessel; comedian; Coalition of Madena; Denkir II; dog; Earth; Erstwhile; Federation; Ferengi; glob fly; godfather; Gulliver's Travels; holodeck; humor; inertial guidance system; Jewel of Thesia; joke; juggling; laser weapons; Legation of Unity; Lewis, Jerry; lion; Milky Way Galaxy; navigational shields; New York City; number one; Omega Sagitta system; procreation; quantum mechanics; O'Neill, Tip; parrot; pork chop; Riga, Stano; Roxy Theater; Starfleet Regulations; Straleb; Straleb security ship; Teaneck; tricellite; tritanium; yellow alert; zelebium

Library Computer References

Log entries

External links

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"Elementary, Dear Data" 		Star Trek: The Next Generation
Season 2 		Next episode:
"Loud As A Whisper"
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