# The Orville-Seth McFarlane **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 17, 2017, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814 "2017-05-17T03:28:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 20
**Author:** ![Reluctant\_A](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/839c29/32.png) [@Reluctant\_A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reluctant_A)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2017, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/381 "2017-09-19T15:23:55Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > Also as recently as the 80s, the US Navy still had beer days during very long sea periods… As recently as 2001, they still did, at least in 2ndFlt. I remember getting a ration of two beers for a SBP, and selling mine to a shipmate, because I don’t drink beer. ---
**Author:** ![Reluctant\_A](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/839c29/32.png) [@Reluctant\_A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reluctant_A)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2017, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/382 "2017-09-19T15:26:02Z")
> [@Kamino\_Neko](#): > > It’s not, to humans and most other common humanoids - [at least not without consuming insane quantities](http://memory-alpha.wikia.com/wiki/Synthehol). That’s the point of it. > > (Though, apparently the Borg assimilation process screws that up.) I never got the point of that: like, what’s the point of liquor, if you’re _not_ drinking to get intoxicated? Most booze tastes terrible. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2017, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/383 "2017-09-19T15:28:31Z")
> [@Reluctant\_A](#): > > As recently as 2001, they still did, at least in 2ndFlt. I remember getting a ration of two beers for a SBP, and selling mine to a shipmate, because I don’t drink beer. I sold my ration too, it was a crappy beer and I was given $25 for the pair. A great deal to me. Was smoking on board still allowed in 2001? ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2017, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/384 "2017-09-19T15:31:54Z")
> [@Reluctant\_A](#): > > I never got the point of that: like, what’s the point of liquor, if you’re _not_ drinking to get intoxicated? Most booze tastes terrible. Not so true. Many liquors are very tasty, especially mixed with other things like coffee. More importantly, beer and wine varies a lot and tastes vary a lot. I have found some beers that are tastier than any soda I’ve ever had. I don’t drink beer to get drunk, hell its not even a very efficient way of doing it. If I have a choice of a crappy beer (by my taste) or water, I almost always choose the water. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2017, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/385 "2017-09-19T15:37:23Z")
Did anyone notice that episode two was directed by Robert Duncan McNeill (Tom Paris from _Voyager_)? Further refining their Star Trek pedigree! ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2017, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/386 "2017-09-19T15:37:25Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > I seem to remember Guinan having a bottle or two behind the bar in STNG. I’m not sure if it was officially allowed or just winked at. > I also recall the term “synthahol”. I’m not sure if it was intoxicating or not. The real stuff was available on demand. Synthahol was not intoxicating, and Picard’s brother, a professional vintner, heaped scorn upon it. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2017, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/387 "2017-09-19T15:55:11Z")
Isn’t pure alcohol supposedly tasteless? If so, then what’s the point of synthahol if it’s not intoxicating? ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2017, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/388 "2017-09-19T16:49:56Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > Isn’t pure alcohol supposedly tasteless? If so, then what’s the point of synthahol if it’s not intoxicating? I thought that it was intoxicating for a brief amount of time. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2017, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/389 "2017-09-19T17:15:05Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > Considering THC is probably less debilitating then alcohol, it makes some sense that it would be available for replication. I can see it now.:dubious: [My God! It’s full of stars!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wvs4qBDzdc8) ---
**Author:** ![That\_Don\_Guy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/that_don_guy/32/538_2.png) [@That\_Don\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/That_Don_Guy)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2017, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/390 "2017-09-19T17:46:39Z")
> [@Arkcon](#): > > What I’m talking about is the game finishing 10 minutes past the start of the next show. Then _The OT_ speaking for 37 minutes, then _Family Guy_ starting … remember this kids … “already in progress.” Remember **those** days? “Those days” still exist when they’re not Fox doubleheaders. For example, if it’s a CBS doubleheader day, and New York’s WCBS is airing a Giants-49ers game that runs past 7:30, they’re not going to delay the start of _Bob’s Burgers_ in the entire Eastern and Central time zones; WCBS gets it “in progress.” As for Fox national doubleheaders, I don’t remember Fox ever airing a new episode of any of what it considered to be its “important” Sunday shows (the ones that aired from 8 to 10 Eastern) in progress; if the overlap was less than 30 minutes, it would air the entire schedule and run late, and if it was 30 minutes or more, it would pull one of the shows that night (and air a repeat of it, if one existed, in the west in its place). 7-8 has always been its “throwaway” block. ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2017, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/391 "2017-09-19T17:58:08Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > … And it’s _beautiful_! :o Yeah, I wasn’t “sensing great joy” at the end of that episode… ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2017, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/392 "2017-09-19T18:16:06Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > Isn’t pure alcohol supposedly tasteless? If so, then what’s the point of synthahol if it’s not intoxicating? Down a bit of Everclear and tell me it is “tasteless” 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![gonzoron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a6a055/32.png) [@gonzoron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzoron)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2017, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/393 "2017-09-19T19:23:57Z")
> [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](#): > > Did anyone notice that episode two was directed by Robert Duncan McNeill (Tom Paris from _Voyager_)? Further refining their Star Trek pedigree! Yes, and according to Wikipedia at least, episode 5 will be directed by Jonathan Frakes. (not to mention Brannon Braga being involved on a seemingly regular basis.) Seems the 90’s-era Trek crew are backing this over Discovery. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2017, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/394 "2017-09-19T19:31:48Z")
> [@Reluctant\_A](#): > > I never got the point of that: like, what’s the point of liquor, if you’re _not_ drinking to get intoxicated? Most booze tastes terrible. Would it surprise you to learn that many people enjoy the taste of different kinds of liquor? I collect single-malt scotch. I like the tastes, and use the plural because an Islay tastes quite different than a Highland malt. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2017, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/395 "2017-09-19T19:41:39Z")
> [@Reluctant\_A](#): > > Most booze tastes terrible. Huh. I never got the memo. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2017, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/396 "2017-09-19T20:20:37Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > I collect single-malt scotch. Does “blended Scotch whiskey” indicate that different malts are blended? ---
**Author:** ![Dale\_Sams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2017, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/397 "2017-09-19T20:23:08Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > Not so true. Many liquors are very tasty, especially mixed with other things like coffee. More importantly, beer and wine varies a lot and tastes vary a lot. I have found some beers that are tastier than any soda I’ve ever had. I don’t drink beer to get drunk, hell its not even a very efficient way of doing it. If I have a choice of a crappy beer (by my taste) or water, I almost always choose the water. Coffee also tastes like crap. But granted maybe there’s a genetic thing going on here. I ALSO think alcoholic beverages taste like crap and what’s the point. ---
**Author:** ![Dale\_Sams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2017, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/398 "2017-09-19T20:27:11Z")
> [@Johnny\_Ace](#): > > I remember sitting with a bunch of like-minded people at a party to watch the 2-hour pilot of TNG, and watched enrapt until the almost uniformly disappointing denouement. > > Not the same with Orville, for me. I’ve been overdosed with Trek. I don’t _need_ another Trek series, probably ever again. I like this on its own merits; the Trek references are just Easter eggs to me. Re: TNG pilot. “It’ll get better” was said a lot. ---
**Author:** ![Arkcon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Arkcon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arkcon)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2017, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/399 "2017-09-19T20:30:19Z")
> [@gonzoron](#): > > Yes, and according to Wikipedia at least, episode 5 will be directed by Jonathan Frakes. (not to mention Brannon Braga being involved on a seemingly regular basis.) Seems the 90’s-era Trek crew are backing this over Discovery. 🙂 Not true. Frakes is involved with _Discovery_, and is noted for spoiling a future episode, that he may or may not be part of. I don’t know if Braga is involved with _Discovery_, but it wouldn’t surprise me at this point. You know what, I wasn’t interested in _Discovery_, because I’d had my fill of “Let’s ignore future tech, and just show interpersonal drama” in the few _Enterprise_ episodes I watched. But watching _The Orville_ has gotten me interested in\* Discovery.\* Now, I want to see their work and vision. Its like, _The Orville_ has revitalized Trek. And they couldn’t have planned that. … Could they? ---
**Author:** ![gonzoron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a6a055/32.png) [@gonzoron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzoron)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2017, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/400 "2017-09-19T20:33:50Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > It takes two major clichés of classic Star Trek - the command team going on Away missions, and a junior officer being left in command, and it does stuff with them ST never did. You missed the best cliché: In all the galaxy, with all the ships in the fleet, we just happen to bump into one or more of the command crew’s parents, siblings, mentors, etc… I was VERY pleased when we didn’t get a full hour of passive-aggressive fun time between the captain’s mother and his ex-O. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814.md?page=19) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814.md?page=21)