# 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:** 70
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2017, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/1381 "2017-11-30T17:49:41Z")
_Orville_ is like _Star Trek_ if the _Star Trek_ characters had personal lives, senses of humour, and pop-culture interests, as most normal people do. ---
**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:** [November 30, 2017, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/1382 "2017-11-30T17:52:48Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > _Orville_ is like _Star Trek_ if the _Star Trek_ characters had personal lives, senses of humour, and pop-culture interests, as most normal people do. This is exactly what I’ve said. It’s Star Trek but with real people. ---
**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:** [November 30, 2017, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/1383 "2017-11-30T17:58:01Z")
> [@jz78817](#): > > I take your point, but emotionally they were just less stoic than Spock. And of course the occasional “you green-blooded, inhuman…” bit from McCoy. But as far as the rest of the main cast went, most of the time they might as well have been props (something that cause a festering resentment from them towards Shatner.) > > I’m thinking more along the lines of things such as Grayson getting totally flustered with the crewman in the elevator and _shouting_ “I’m sorry, but do you just ride up and down the fricking elevator all day?!? Is that your fricking _job_?!?!?!” I don’t recall any stuff like that in ST. I loved that whole bit with the alien and the muzak. You could tell that Mercer and Grayson were becoming increasingly irritated by him. Mercer tolerating it and Grayson finally blowing up fit their personalities perfectly. ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2017, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/1384 "2017-11-30T17:58:33Z")
Satire, pastiche, homage, rip-off. Call it what you will, it’s fun. This isn’t “The Rutles”, this is “Deface the Music”. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/3ldLwavOp6E/hqdefault.jpg "UTOPIA【I JUST WANT TO TOUCH YOU】") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ldLwavOp6E) ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2017, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/1385 "2017-11-30T18:12:21Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > _Orville_ is like _Star Trek_ if the _Star Trek_ characters had personal lives, senses of humour, and pop-culture interests, as most normal people do. Now that you mention it, I’d like to see an episode where they meet up with the PU’s flagship, and the crew are insufferably uptight and professional. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2017, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/1386 "2017-11-30T18:17:32Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > Now that you mention it, I’d like to see an episode where they meet up with the PU’s flagship, and the crew are insufferably uptight and professional. This would actually be pretty awesome. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2017, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/1387 "2017-11-30T18:24:55Z")
Even more so if Patrick Stewart guest-starred as pastiche-Picard. Given his longstanding association with MacFarlane, I expect he’ll appear sooner or later. ---
**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:** [November 30, 2017, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/1388 "2017-11-30T18:37:19Z")
Patrick Stewart showing up on the show seems like it would be a near certainty. Heck, one episode of Family Guy had almost the entire TNG cast as guest stars, so I wouldn’t be surprised to see all of them show up if the show lasts long enough. > [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > Now that you mention it, I’d like to see an episode where they meet up with the PU’s flagship, and the crew are insufferably uptight and professional. Or else cliche “gritty scifi” tropes turned up to 11. It would be funny to watch deadpan Bortus interact with a raving ‘warrior race’ alien, etc. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2017, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/1389 "2017-11-30T18:37:31Z")
> [@Biffster](#): > > Bunch of killjoys. Orville is a great series, well told, and much more interesting than the actual new Star Trek series Discovery. Macfarlane has done something impressive: he and his people have captured the spirit of Trek while coming up with some original premises. Well done. Yep, those guys are tasteless idiots who watch too much TV to get any joy out of anything this good. It is very much in the spirit of Galaxy Quest. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2017, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/1390 "2017-11-30T19:34:08Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > Even more so if Patrick Stewart guest-starred as pastiche-Picard. Given his longstanding association with MacFarlane, I expect he’ll appear sooner or later. No, when he makes his guest appearance, I want him to be as anti-Picard as possible. More like Deputy Director Bullock from American Dad. I want him to show up on the ship and later ask Mercer “Do you have any gatorade? I’m afraid I left all my electrolytes with your Security Chief.” ---
**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:** [November 30, 2017, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/1391 "2017-11-30T20:07:42Z")
I haven’t read this entire thread but one thing I don’t think has been mentioned is the lack of transporters. They make for too easy a easy solution to so many problems. How many times on Star Trek have they had to have the transporters broken or blocked somehow in order to make the story work? It’s like the no signal cellphone trope. Not having the technology at all makes things more interesting. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2017, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/1392 "2017-11-30T20:23:39Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > I haven’t read this entire thread but one thing I don’t think has been mentioned is the lack of transporters. They make for too easy a easy solution to so many problems. > > How many times on Star Trek have they had to have the transporters broken or blocked somehow in order to make the story work? It’s like the no signal cellphone trope. Not having the technology at all makes things more interesting. Heck, how many times has some transporter issue been the _cause_ of the episode’s conflict or problem? Off the top of my head: TOS: The Enemy Within TNG: Realm of Fear (sort-of) Rascals Second Chances VOY: Tuvix … and I’m sure there are others. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2017, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/1393 "2017-11-30T20:28:48Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > I haven’t read this entire thread but one thing I don’t think has been mentioned is the lack of transporters. They make for too easy a easy solution to so many problems. > > How many times on Star Trek have they had to have the transporters broken or blocked somehow in order to make the story work? It’s like the no signal cellphone trope. Not having the technology at all makes things more interesting. IIRC transporters came about in TOS for reasons of expedience (both time and money.) they didn’t have the budget to shoot a lot of landing or shuttle scenes. ---
**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:** [November 30, 2017, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/1394 "2017-11-30T20:37:36Z")
> [@jz78817](#): > > IIRC transporters came about in TOS for reasons of expedience (both time and money.) they didn’t have the budget to shoot a lot of landing or shuttle scenes. And it really wouldn’t even be necessary to show take offs and landings. Show them getting in the shuttle, or even just walking to the shuttle bay, then show them on the planet. ---
**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:** [November 30, 2017, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/1395 "2017-11-30T21:05:51Z")
> [@jz78817](#): > > IIRC transporters came about in TOS for reasons of expedience (both time and money.) they didn’t have the budget to shoot a lot of landing or shuttle scenes. [Men Into Space](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Men_into_Space) used film from the overhead chase plane showing a lifting body vehicle landing. Every single time. ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2017, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/1396 "2017-11-30T23:41:00Z")
Patrick Stewart should show up wearing a Shatneresque toupee. ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2017, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/1397 "2017-12-01T00:10:11Z")
Didn’t he originally audition in one? ---
**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:** [December 1, 2017, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/1398 "2017-12-01T00:53:47Z")
> [@E-DUB](#): > > Patrick Stewart should show up wearing a Shatneresque toupee. I think he should be the gardener at Star Fleet-er, Union Academy. ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2017, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/1399 "2017-12-01T02:25:50Z")
So John finally gets a formal reprimand, and it turns out he was just playing dumb! ---
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2017, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814/1400 "2017-12-01T02:30:02Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > I haven’t read this entire thread but one thing I don’t think has been mentioned is the lack of transporters. They make for too easy a easy solution to so many problems. > > How many times on Star Trek have they had to have the transporters broken or blocked somehow in order to make the story work? It’s like the no signal cellphone trope. Not having the technology at all makes things more interesting. Actually I did make this point earlier in the thread 😛 It’s the ultimate deus ex machina. The hero can be thrown into a volcano or whatever and _poof_ suddenly they’re 100% safe. “Captain, I can’t get a lock!” - planet explodes \* “Ensign! Tell me you got him!” “Yep. In the last second I got a lock. What are the chances?! He’s sipping brandies now in the ship’s lounge” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814.md?page=69) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-seth-mcfarlane/786814.md?page=71)