March 11, 2002
As most anyone who knows me already knows, I'm a pretty big Star Trek geek. I'm currently watching a episode from Next Generation's sixth season called "Rascals". Basically, the Mysterious Energy Force of the Week transforms four members of the crew into children about 12 years old. They're mentally the same, but they're kids.
And the actors they got to play these "regressed" crew members did a damn good job of it. I was wondering how they managed to pull it off, and decided they probably had the adults run through the scenes once or twice to show the kids what to do.
So where's the funny bit, you ask? I'm getting there. In order to get a message to Riker, Picard (one of the kid-ified crew) throws a temper-tantrum to get a Ferengi to take him to the bridge. I just have this hilarious mental image of ultra-dignified Patrick Stewart jumping up and down, pumping his fists, and screaming, "I want to go now! Now, now now!"
All the geeks are laughing, all the non-geeks are scratching their heads and saying, "Wha?" C'est la vie.
