The Outrageous Okona (10 Dec. 1988)

The Enterprise rescues the captain of a broken-down freighter, only to become involved in a dispute between feuding worlds--each demanding custody of their guest. Data seeks help from Guinan in understanding humor.

Director:

Robert Becker

Writers:

Gene Roddenberry (creator), Burton Armus (teleplay),

Stars:

Patrick Stewart, Jonathan Frakes, LeVar Burton

Cast

Episode cast overview:
Patrick Stewart	...	Captain Jean-Luc Picard
Jonathan Frakes	...	Commander William T. Riker
LeVar Burton	...	Lieutenant Geordi La Forge
Michael Dorn	...	Lieutenant Worf
Marina Sirtis	...	Counselor Deanna Troi
Brent Spiner	...	Lt. Commander Data
Wil Wheaton	...	Wesley Crusher
Billy Campbell	...	Capt. Thadiun Okona (as William O. Campbell)
Douglas Rowe	...	Debin
Albert Stratton	...	Kushell
Rosalind Allen	...	Yanar (as Rosalind Ingledew)
Kieran Mulroney	...	Benzan
Joe Piscopo	...	The Comic
Whoopi Goldberg	...	Guinan

Storyline

The Enterprise comes to the assistance of Captain Thadiun Okona when his ship malfunctions. Okona is a quick-witted and charming rogue who entertains everyone with his humor and is vastly popular with the ladies. While the Enterprise crew rebuilds the parts he needs to continue his journey, they are approached by the leaders of two planets accusing Okona of being a thief, or worse, and demanding that Picard turn him over to them. One is particularly incensed as he has accused Okona of impregnating his daughter. Not all is as it seems however. Data meanwhile tries to better understand humor. He seeks advice from Guinan and on the holodeck also gets advice from a stand up comic.

---

Plot Keywords:

reference to take my wife please joke | 24th century

---

Genres:

Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi

---

Details

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 December 1988 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

60 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Billy Campbell, who played the title role, was a contender for the role of Commander Riker.

---

Goofs

When Capt. Okona asks where "806" is (Lt. Robinson's quarters), Data points out a nearby door. But after Okona enters, the door closes and the room number "08 0669" is shown.

---

Quotes

Guinan: Look, it's just you and I here. We're talking, we're having an intimate conversation. Why? Because you're a 'droid and I'm a 'noid.
Lt. Cmdr. Data: But why?
Guinan: Because that's what I am.
Lt. Cmdr. Data: Have I said something to offend you?
Guinan: No.
Lt. Cmdr. Data: Then why are you annoyed?
Guinan: [slowly] Because you're a *'droid* and I'm a *'noid*.
Lt. Cmdr. Data: Humanoid.
Guinan: Yes.
Lt. Cmdr. Data: You told a joke.
[...]

User Reviews

Comedy episode

This is a humorous episode of Star Trek NextGen. Although it has been bashed heavily, it is really a lighthearted story. It does get sappy at certain moments, but it's good for a few laughs. Okona is a good character for a single episode, as rakish rogues go.

This episode contains one of the rare moments in which we get to see Guinan in a place other than Ten-Forward.

All in all, it is a good step away from the usual Trek story lines and the creators had the good form to not make another one exactly like it. It stands as a fairly unique episode, quite funny, but if the creators had modeled another story after it, that would have been walking into a big bear trap.