Brent tells story about long days filming TNG and on-the-set chaos. Moderated by Heather "Kid Cadet" Reicher (pink hair) and joined by Emma Caulfield from Buffy The Vampire Slayer. At Raleigh, NC SuperCon. July 15, 2017
It's been over six years since I recorded and posted this. I saw Brent again this year and thanked him for sharing that story. I told him how popular this video had been and how awesome it was to see everyone's comments and related stories that you've all posted. He was quick to point out that Patrick really does hate when he imitates him but insisted that I keep the video up! 😂
I love the lines, "We broke him. After that he was the worst among us." Brent's delivery on that and his Patrick Stewart impersonations were spot-on. Thanks for posting this; thanks for good laughs.
Brent signed my Data figure & he was right beside LeVar. I told LeVar that we named our dog after Geordi, Lt. Cmdr Geordi LaPug. He thought it was hilarious. Then I told Brent that he was my favorite. He turned around & said, "here that LeVar? I'm her favorite!" LeVar said, "yeah but she named her pug after me!" Best day ever!
a few years ago at FACTS (belgian style comic con) i actulay had time to talk to robert picardo (holo doc voyager) since every one was at tom felton (malfoy, HP) table and had robert sign a lightbulb :p
I love hearing them over and over. The 'horseplay' of the TNG cast - particularly Spiner with the others, is great. They're so disarmingly humble ... something like that - I mean, you have a guy like Sir Patrick Stewart, serious actor with so many stage credits etc., and he just seems like such a genial nice person. And, they all have this kind of group of friends camaraderie ... this looseness - giving each other grief and all of that. It's great - seems to bring them all joy too, much like that sort of camaraderie probably many people have experienced at various times with various groups of friends (I think of my 'high school' friends, in particular). Love it!
I was on the same really long boring flight. We were both in first class and I'm the type of person that tries to respect the celebrity's privacy. If they say hi I'll say and leave it at that. The flight was a little over 11hrs long. It was around hour three of the flight that he began to do his Data. When he said, "Captain, I have found a nonbiological lifeform." Picard's voice, "is it intelligent?" Data, "Does not appear to be." that's when I broke out laughing so hard. He introduced himself to me as Brent Spiner. Perhaps you haven't heard of me. So I started to pretty much spew all the rolls he had in Star Trek and then all of his other acting gigs he had until he told me to stop which BTW I did it all in one breath. So he says to me why didn't say hey you're Data from Star Trek! I told I'm the type to respect one's privacy especially if it's a celebrity. Cause the way I see it you guys must get pestered at least a couple of dozen times a day or more if a celebrity is spotted. We chatted and he asked me if I knew how to play Chess and he calls the stewardess over and asks for a chessboard. We played and chatted right up to our destination. As I was driving home I could've bombarded him with Trek questions and he'd be more than happy to answer them but I was glad I didn't. But I'll say this his chess game is very good.
this is such a lie. no one believes you. you just happened to know everything spiner did? you'd be the only one. and the idea he suddenly breaks into Data on the flight is such garbage.
I always wanted an episode where Data caught a software virus and throught he was other characters like Picard, Worf, or Troi … and really overplayed them. :)
The SNES Man There is an episode where he modulates his voice to sound like Picard to assume control of the Enterprise, I can’t remember what series or episode though
He threw out a sign that said no pics and told the people at the con if they want to take my pic then they should,when I took his pic he started doing data poses and turning side to side like data..it was awesome
When a celeb volunteers themselves that is great. I am all for that. The profiteering gouge has to stop. As long as people do not cross the line and do respect privacy when privacy is due. He is the best story teller.
@Shufei I am exopressing strong agreement. "spot on" means you precisely expressed a sentiment that I agree with, in this case, the fact that Patrick takes sci fi seriously and made Next Gen far better because of it. Compare Patrick's masterful performance to the hammy crap that William Shatner did. No comparison, which is why we can watch all the Treks after Next Gen, but the original is painful to watch.
Brent Spiner is a tremendously talented individual. The Dr. Okun character in 'Independence Day' was underrated and got minor credit. And then he was good enough to bring back in 'Resurgence'.
BearWithMe I can only imagine the situation this way: Staff: "Brent, now just move your lips so Patricks Voice can be dubbed later" Brent: "no just let me imitate him I think I can do this" Staff: "no no no, thanks Dude nice offer but we really need his voice 100 % perfect" Brent (in his most british Patrick Stewart voice): "how dare you distrust my impersonation capabilities? In all my years with this very fine crew I was not once so disappointed, DISMISSED" Staff (shouting to Patrick back in the wardrobe): "you can go home we don't need you anymore for this anymore" Patrick: "hold on does that mean I am fired?" Brent (impersonating the executive producer perfectly): "Yes you are, Data is the Captain now"
@@Mabooltube That part gives me chills, as it makes it truly evident how superior an android would be to a human. All while perfectly replicating Picard's voice.
That is super-hilarious. I'd heard Sir Patrick was kind of a snob, early on, but to hear that he loosened up _so quickly_ is really kind of heartwarming! Either that, or he was absolutely _playing_ the cast-and-crew. Either way, I just can't imagine Sir Patrick _not_ having a sense of humor, given all the silliness he's done since (and during) _The Next Generation._ :)
He pretty much said that it didn't occur to him you could have fun and still do good work at the same time. TNG snapped him out of it. He was also feeling so much pressure because he was afraid he'd get canned any day (Roddenberry was not a fan of him at all).
And he’s come such a long way. Working so much with Seth MacFarlane you’d think he was an entirely different person. Avery Bullock on American Dad is freakin hysterical!
They want you to think that Patrick overdubbed Data saying the system authorisation code in his voice but it was just him doing an impression all along.
I had the pleasure of meeting Brent at the San Diego COmic-con some time ago. He was on a panel about turning comic books into movies (I am not sure why) and he seemed genuinely surprised when we came to him afterward asking for his autograph. He did not get angry or annoyed, it was like he had never been asked before. A genuinely pleasant man.
Parknest ; I've never heard it before, it hard to kind of match Spiner's look to Stewards voice, but it's spot on. Pity Spiner has not occurred in more different roles, but I guess Data was a fun role to do and paid off well during the years. In the "Outcast" series he's outright spine(r)-chilling (sorry...). Damn, he's creepy!
kubeek: wish I could remember! He was a host at his own dinner party and also a murderer...he did a super job. I think it was a made-for-TV movie years ago.
They broke him all right. I can't find the audio, but there was a moment on the X-Men Days of Future Past press junket when he was asked what he'd tell his younger self if he could... Patrick: "I would just want to tell him, 'Patrick, cheer the fuck up!'" Hugh Jackman : (cracks up) "Really?!? You're like the happiest person I know." Patrick: "Well that's NOW. And I owe that to the guys on Star Trek, and you guys have helped as well. I was so miserable as a kid, I had to grow up too fast - and people would say, 'you can rely on Patrick. He's reliable.' They just meant dull, I was dull. I never had any fun, but I promise *I am making up for it now*"
Stayed straight for (4) 20 years in the Army, now I'm really enjoying retirement (nod & wink). My fiance does not imbibe, but she really enjoys the taste of Blue Dream on my lips, and never fails to remind me of the time of day when it's 40 minutes before 5pm. I've enjoyed all the Trek incarnations, but none as much as TNG. It often made me think of ethics and morals - although the Voyager "Tuvix" episode is what originally got me interested in philosophy. Every time I see it I seem to lean the other way. My Sweetheart, not a Sci Fi fan, loved it, said it made her think. I always vote for Star Trek over Star Wars, since it has the best moral quandaries as well as the best stories, but have always thought Star Wars had the most realistic-looking aliens, especially the non-humanoids. I know, I know... @PS-dm1dq
Why hasn't HBO commissioned a comedy special for the TNG cast for a couple hours of storytelling already? Spiner could do his Stewart impressions. Could even invite John Delancie, Denise Crosby, Colm Meaney and Michelle Forbes. Call it "These are the stories...."
Like a deal couldn't be made to cross-promote? Star Trek was ripped in half when Paramount-Viacom split up... and reunited when Paramount-Viacom reconsolidated. Ghostbusters is spread between Sony & Columbia Pictures. You can shows produced by Paramount-Viacom end up at NBC or Fox instead of CBS or Paramount network based on who picks up options. Nothing surprises me. HBO producing a Star Trek comedy special... filmed in a theatre next to a comic-con convention... with Paramount-Viacom securing the rights for their streaming service and DVD/Blu Ray releases. If Sesame Street can exist on both HBO & PBS under that arrangement... Paramount & HBO making a quick buck on a comedy special...
I've always loved how these characters interacted with each other. To this day they still have fun together like when Patrick Stewart crashes Brent Spiner's panel, or vice versa.
Just before watching this, I watched Mark Hammil do his Harrison Ford impression. 2 of the best celebrity impressions done by celebrities I've ever seen
Years ago I was at a convention in Glasgow and in the panel, Miriana Sirtis told that story about how Patrick was in her words "Anally Retentive" until he did that stunt with the hills and the scene from sound of music she also commented that he was allot more relaxed and fun afterwards. I've always put it down to as Patrick often stated he was told the show was going to fail and didnt even unpack his bags properly for the first year and I guess he didnt want to get personally attached to people in case it did.
Part of it also was that Patrick Stewart was used to be on the theater stage where you don't have the luxury of retakes if you screw up so it took him a while to get out of the habit of trying to be perfect first try. Reminds me of the behind the scenes on "Caddyshack" where they talk about the trouble Rodney Dangerfield was having during the first scenes he was filming since as a stand-up comedian he was so used to audience feedback that he felt like his delivery was bombing when no one around him was laughing (as they couldn't or it'd ruin the scene) and it stressed him out until he got the hang of the different environment.
Sir Patrick always said that was the pivotal moment when he began to become a Hollywood actor-have fun-loosen up and love his coworkers. He makes fun of himself for the first season's blow up about being a RS actor and letting these guys have it...and they were laughing at him. Then he was nominated Sexist Man of the Year in People
I'm no trekkie by no way, started liking it later in life for much of nostalgic reasons. Patrick Stewart has always been a favourite in whatever he's been in, Marina Sirtis of course I liked as a young lad, but have come to see the many nuances of Spiners Data, not to mention the more sinister characters in later years series. Seems like a funny, likable guy with a great span of characters he can play, so Kudos to you Brent!
Rilriia Kilurden Oh yes, she was excellent as Demona. Pretty much the entire cast of TNG was amazing in that even if Michael Dorn really was only doing the Worf Voice.
i miss the adventures , i miss the feeling i had as a kid watching shows like TNG and Deep Space 9 and StarGate SG1 it gave life a little wonder as a kid and teen
fragwits man the last stargate bombed so hard i wish they would stop making star trek movies n bring us a solid GoT style 8-12 episodes a year styled star trek
Mai Nem I find it altogether unwatchable. I wish they had just made the show what they wanted it to be and called it something else. Some people really enjoy it, though. It's just not for me.
I loved waiting all week, then gathering all our kids around to watch each new episode together. No bingeing, then. The anticipation...the shared memories...
Absolutely the best Patrick Stewart impression I've ever seen. Absolutely the worst Ian McKellen impression I've ever seen. Well, ya win some, ya lose some, I guess.
I thought the joke was that he couldn’t do Ian McKellen’s voice and so he just went on with Patrick Stewart’s voice. He could have said, “And now! My famous impersonation of Margaret Thatcher!” And then gone on in Patrick Stewart’s voice. That was what I thought he was going for.
Krymz yeah, he could have been facetious ,or he could have been sincere, we may never know the truth. However, you and i still watched the video. So, your indignation comes off just a tad bit disingenuous.
Got to meet Brent a few years ago at a con. We must've talked for 5 minutes or so (which really is a LOT for con time). He is just so funny and off the wall. Spoke to my family, signed a picture (Sherlock Holmes Data of course). Just a really cool and genuine guy. Even at the end of the day his energy and willingness to engage and just kinda hang out with the fans was awesome to see.
Good to hear he is pretty consistent. He did the same thing when I met him (same day as this video). He got out his phone and started looking up the online value of things he was autographing. He was hilarious with all the comments he had. Seemed genuinely interested in meeting all of us too. Fun time.
@@paulhines5010 LOL yeah that is awesome. I'd met LeVar Burton the year before and talked with Brent about it, and he just goes totally deadpan and says, "Yeah... but... I - I'm cooler than LeVar, right?" and just gives me this completely expectant look. I had a "Uhhhhhh... is he serious?" moment where I'm sure my face totally blue-screened and then he just started cracking up. Stand up guy. (And reading the comments below this one from 3 years ago about the affectionate Brent/LaVar rivalry, this is totally on brand for them!) But I can say the same for all the members of Star Trek I've met so far. Nichelle Nichols and Wil Wheaton were there the same year. LeVar the year before. All really cool people.
@@darthmagnus8855 I actually bumped into NN at this mall in California. I six animated cells from the WB store since back at home I did all my buying on a phone at that time. If the escalator is long enough I lean to the side so I can see both floors. Out of the corner of my eye I see this black woman and I instantly knew who she was. I didn't look long but she caught me as I stepped off I asked her quietly and calmly if she was who I think she was. She said yes. She looked tired so I says to her you look a little tired. Let me buy you a coffee or anything at the coffee place that was like right behind us. I was expecting a no but she surprised me with a yes. While she sat down I guess she was prepared to answer all my Trek questions but this time I surprised her by talking about her music career instead and what music she herself enjoys. We sat there for a good 2hrs before I realized the time. She asked me if I had an email address so I gave it to her. When I got home I checked my email and one of the first messages I got was her thanking me for a wonderful time. Stayed pen pals until her passing. The world lost another angelic voice.
Wouldn't it be fun to have dinner with Brent? It shows what a good actor he was to play the blank stare Data when his personality is the exact opposite.
I agree. Just spending 5 minutes with him at that show was pretty awesome. He didn't just pose for a picture, sign something and send you one your way. He talked to each of us for a while. Just a very friendly and interesting guy.
It was funny when Data ended up as the Arbiter in the courtroom scene in "Devil's Due". Who'd have thunk that Bob Wheeler would've ended up as a judge?
Interesting how Brent and Marina both tell the exact same story about the director who couldn't take the cast's raucousness and refused to come back, and the dressing-down from the producers afterwards.
Lisa, have you ever noticed that people DON'T always recount stories the same way because they often have different viewpoints of the same situation? It happens frequently. That's what the OP's comment was implying.
Brent is captivating. He should do a talk show. I'd tune in to him before any of the late night guys. His background and the anecdotes he could tell would keep me interested. He could do random shows ( once a month?) as DATA for the full show, including skits and such.
You know, He really SHOULD do more prank calls in Patrick Stewart's voice or sign on with the Patrick Stewart to be the go-to vocal impersonator whenever Stewart passes or is too sick to do voiceover. Spiner's impersonation is uncanny and hilarious!
I met him at a comic con. He was real nice to everyone who came to him for an autograph. He did his best to make anyone and everyone feel real good. A real nice guy.
Technology has caught up with time, since making of series, and Androids are now more realistic....Data is something that will be very real in the future. Brent plays Data well.
I think a lot of the tech we have and will have is coming from Roddenberry's vision of the future. There has most definitely been advances in robotics and artificial intelligence but it hasn't stopped there. There was also Trump's announcement of the creation of Space Force, which I believe will eventually evolve into an organization like The United Federation Of Planets. Warp drive is even being tinkered with and they already have a design for the first warp capable ship. I've even heard (but been unable to find any news on it) that they're working on transporter technology so the Star Trek world will become a reality. I just hope it happens in my lifetime, but I doubt it.
I love the dynamic between stars and fans where the fans know virtually every detail of an episode, a performance, the nuance of a character, the lore of the series, etc, while the actor just considers it a small part or their career. I feel like Spiner has a good grasp on how influential he was as Data, it’s a nice departure from the norm. Like, I would be tempted to interrogate Bob and David about the production of Mr Show and they likely wouldn’t remember shit and I wouldn’t blame them. But I imagine Brent Spiner would at least attempt to humoring his most devoted fans. I’d love to meet him and thank him for being my favorite TNG character.
Thank you Brent. Great story from behind the scene's. I still love TNG! The whole cast played their roles so well I was moved to tear's in some episodes. And laughed myself hoarse in other's. Of the movie's, my favorite scene comes from Generation's...when Enterprise destroys the Warbird, & Data shake's his fist & exclaims, "YES!!!" I was in the floor! 😂😂😂 Thank you & everyone else for all the good time's!
I agree. He's a fascinating guy. Definitely make the effort to meet him if you ever get a chance. Even if it's just one of the selfie opportunities at a convention.
I just realised that an Early forties Brent would have been a good Holmes, despite being a yank (yes, I know, Data played Holmes, but he was in yellow make up, in a wig,playing an android). Oh my God, I just got to the impression (around the 4:00 Mark), that is way better than I expected. They should have snuck that into the show, like have had Data mimicking Picard’s voice back at him for whatever reason. No exaggeration, that’s a brilliant, expert level impression.
Well they did have Data doing Picard's voice when he took control of the ship on his way to meet Lore with the Borg. Although that was probably just Patrick Stewart's voice track playing.
This is really hysterical. Such a fun clip! If I remember correctly, it did seem to me that Picard gave out a heavy vibe during that episode. And nice to know he let his hair down :-D
I don't recall which episode it was, but it was the one where Data meets his father and brother. The scene where he locks out the Enterprise's control functions, was voiced by Brent Spiner himself, NOT Patrick Stewart. Bloody convincing.
Well, if they ever decide to do "Star Trek: TNG" , but have to recast the show like they did with Kirk, Spock and the others, they will still have the chance of recasting Brent Spiner as Captain Picard. He'll sound and even look the same.
How Brent Spiner does not have an HBO comedy special by now baffles me. Marina Sirtis could probably do one as hilarious as Carrie Fisher's Wishful Drinking was. Why isn't HBO on this?
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Mark Hamill doing Harrison Ford impressions. Brent Spiner channeling Patrick Stewart. Kevin Pollack mimicing William Shatner. Kevin Spacey doing his Christopher Walken impression. Who else belongs on that list of absurd spot-on impressions?
