Frakes And Sirtis Pitch The Star Trek Series We’ll Never Get -- But Absolutely Should
TNG castmates treat the fans to their hilarious "Reunion With the Rikers"
This new Star Trek spinoff would be entirely revolutionary to the franchise.
Not only is it a 30-minute live-action series, its the first Star Trek sitcom — yes, sitcom — as in situation comedy.
It stars Jonathan Frakes as Captain Will Riker and Marina Sirtis as Riker’s wife, Counselor Deanna Troi.
Except that this series isn’t in development anywhere at Paramount.
This zany take on the Final Frontier exists only in the imaginations of the two beloved co-stars from Star Trek: The Next Generation.
Years before Star Trek returned to television with Star Trek: Discovery, Frakes and Sirtis pitched their off-the-wall take on the franchise during an absolutely hilarious interview which was captured on video and included on the Blu-ray edition of Star Trek: Insurrection released in 2013 in the United States titled, “Reunion With the Rikers.”
“We have this idea for a sitcom — half-hour — The Rikers In Space,” the pair announce, in unison, before they begin trading off breaking down the highlights of the concept.
“Their wacky Uncle Data, and their little dog Worf,” Frakes explains. “The two of us, on, like, the Titan probably.”
“Being funny,” Sirtis interjects.
“We're dead serious,” Frakes says, with as much seriousness as he can under the circumstances. “We’re married, and we're carrying on the Prime Directive,” he adds.
Almost like the Rikers, Frakes and Sirtis are like an actual couple completing each other’s sentences.
“Because Patrick's too old — ”
“Too old, and Shakespearean. He's not doing the show anymore, so it's our show. So you figure Data comes?”
“Data can come. Worf. Geordi,” Sirtis says, ticking off members of the Next Generation crew.
“We could have them all, except Old Baldy,” she adds, in a statement which eventually would be laden with irony given that it was “Old Baldy” — Patrick Stewart — who would actually reunite the crew in the third season of Star Trek: Picard.
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“Would they be regulars, or come in as guests?” Frakes asks.
“We couldn't afford them as regulars,” Sirtis answers.
“They don't have any kids, because she got married too late,” she declares of their alter-egos.
“But we could adopt, like alien kids from other planets,” Frakes suggests.
“I don't want kids. I want a dog.”
“You and your freakin’ dog,” Frakes says, in mock exasperation before admitting that “we wouldn't want a kid like Urkel,” referring to the classic ’80’s sitcom character.
“The show would end every week with you playing trombone,” Sirtis declares, as Frakes breaks into his best air-trombone.
This conversation is just one of those Star Trek gems that has to be seen, to be appreciated.
The humor Frakes and Sirtis infuse into nearly every sentence of this roughly 10-minute-long clip makes it essential viewing for every fan who belly-laughed along with their shared comedic cameo in Star Trek: Lower Decks — but so urgently wants more.
Given the pair and their banter are equal parts Vaudeville and old married couple, Frakes and Sirtis are Star Trek’s answer to the classic comedy duo of George Burns and Gracie Allen.
They really ought to do more with their winning rapport and comic timing. Not that Star Trek isn't already saturated with podcasts but the co-stars easily could develop a devoted following for a rewatch podcast in which they remember each individual Next Generation episode in the same irreverent style as the Insurrection interview.
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