The Outrageous Okona
- FIRST SHOWN (US)
- 12 December 1988
- ON
- First-run syndication
- STARDATE
- 42402.7
- DIRECTED BY
- Robert Becker
- PRODUCTION NO.
- 130
WRITTEN BYTeleplay by Burton Armus; story by Les Menchen & Lance Dickson and David Landsberg
The Enterprise helps a charming rogue repair his ship, until two angry planetary delegations arrive demanding that he be handed over, while Data sets out to master comedy.
Red alert: the full plot, ending included. Haven't watched yet?REVEAL SYNOPSIS
The Enterprise stops to help Captain Thadiun Okona, a dashing freelance pilot whose small ship needs repairs. Okona quickly charms his way around the ship, especially among the female crew. Then two vessels arrive from neighbouring worlds that have long been at odds. Debin accuses Okona of fathering a child with his daughter Yanar, while Kushell accuses him of stealing the Jewel of Thesia, a precious treasure. Picard arbitrates, and the truth emerges: Okona has been helping Yanar and Benzan, a young man from the rival world, who are secretly in love. Benzan is the child's father, and the jewel was a courtship gift. With the couple declaring their love openly, the families are reconciled and Okona goes on his way. In a parallel story, Data struggles to understand humour and seeks lessons on the holodeck from a stand-up comic, only to find that being funny takes more than a perfect memory for jokes.
- 01Billy Campbell, credited as William O. Campbell, had been a candidate for Riker, but casting executives reportedly thought him “too soft”.
- 02Jerry Lewis was due to play the Comic but had a clash with Wiseguy. Joe Piscopo took over, playing it with Lewis in mind and ad-libbing most of his lines.
- 03Teri Hatcher was cast as transporter chief B.G. Robinson, but most of her performance was cut from the episode.