# Who would you like to have seen as a starship captain? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 24, 2011, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-like-to-have-seen-as-a-starship-captain/583000 "2011-05-24T12:15:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![drastic\_quench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2011, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-like-to-have-seen-as-a-starship-captain/583000/41 "2011-05-24T20:51:26Z")
Pacino. Just to see how much he would ham it up with his trademark quiet to screaming transition. Actually Pacino would make a terrific villain. Get me J. J. Abrams. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2011, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-like-to-have-seen-as-a-starship-captain/583000/42 "2011-05-24T20:58:33Z")
> [@drastic\_quench](#): > > Pacino. Just to see how much he would ham it up with his trademark quiet to screaming transition. Actually Pacino would make a terrific villain. Get me J. J. Abrams. :: hops to feet, removes Glock from desk drawer & places it in holster, heads to armory for appropriate gear :: Gotcha. Okay if I send him by UPS? ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2011, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-like-to-have-seen-as-a-starship-captain/583000/43 "2011-05-24T21:02:23Z")
Jack Nicholson as a Cardassian captain might have been interesting. I can just see him personally killing a hostage to make a point while onscreen talking to Picard or Sisko, and enjoying it _way_ too much… ---
**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:** [May 24, 2011, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-like-to-have-seen-as-a-starship-captain/583000/44 "2011-05-24T21:03:49Z")
Bring me the head of Gul Dukat. 1. This forum requires that you wait 60 seconds between posts. Please try again in 2 seconds. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2011, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-like-to-have-seen-as-a-starship-captain/583000/45 "2011-05-24T21:04:53Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > Of course, I’d also have liked Janeway to not have been written as a bipolar, delusional, occasionally murderous harpy. > [@Melvin Udall](#): > > I think of a man, and I take away reason and accountability. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2011, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-like-to-have-seen-as-a-starship-captain/583000/46 "2011-05-24T21:07:37Z")
I loved Jeff Hunter as Captain Pike in the pilot of TOS. As soon as I saw him in the role I preferred him as the captain of the Enterprise and I wish he had stayed on as captain. And whenever I see Hunter shirtless in _The Searchers_, I think of all the torn-shirt-Pike missed opportunities. ---
**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:** [May 24, 2011, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-like-to-have-seen-as-a-starship-captain/583000/47 "2011-05-24T21:08:01Z")
Janeway got me with “Break out the compression phaser rifles.” I’d wear her red shirt in a minute. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2011, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-like-to-have-seen-as-a-starship-captain/583000/48 "2011-05-24T21:09:28Z")
Captain Edmund Blackadder. And his faithful aide, Yeoman Baldrick. [Captain Flashheart](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKfbSHW9uGA) could give Kirk a run for his money with the ladies. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2011, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-like-to-have-seen-as-a-starship-captain/583000/49 "2011-05-24T21:12:31Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Janeway got me with “Break out the compression phaser rifles.” > I’d wear her red shirt in a minute. > 🙂 Oh, I’m not denying that Kate Mulgrew was a hottie, for she was. When she was fighting the flying space virus alone on the ship, her hair down, stripped to her undershirt and all sweaty & crap, she was quite winsome. It’s the writing that vexed me. ---
**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:** [May 24, 2011, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-like-to-have-seen-as-a-starship-captain/583000/50 "2011-05-24T21:21:36Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > Oh, I’m not denying that Kate Mulgrew was a hottie, for she was. When she was fighting the flying space virus alone on the ship, her hair down, stripped to her undershirt and all sweaty & crap, she was quite winsome. It’s the writing that vexed me. Look, keep this to yourself, OK? I don’t want anyone to know that you and I agree about anything. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2011, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-like-to-have-seen-as-a-starship-captain/583000/51 "2011-05-24T22:52:34Z")
Humphrey Bogart. _On Star Trek: TOS_. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2011, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-like-to-have-seen-as-a-starship-captain/583000/52 "2011-05-24T23:02:04Z")
For that matter, Cary Grant would have made a great slightly harried starship captain. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2011, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-like-to-have-seen-as-a-starship-captain/583000/53 "2011-05-24T23:05:15Z")
Audrey Hepburn. As a starship Captain. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2011, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-like-to-have-seen-as-a-starship-captain/583000/54 "2011-05-24T23:25:51Z")
> [@Polycarp](#): > > Remember too that we see the Alpha crew, the ones Kirk wants in place when facing a new problem (or dealing with a recurrence of an old one); presumably there are Beta and Gamma crews working the other shifts so the lead characters get time to eat, sleep, etc. Wouldn’t the term be “watches”? > **[Watchkeeping](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watchstanding)** > > Watchkeeping or watchstanding is the assignment of sailors to specific roles on a ship to operate it continuously. These assignments, also known at sea as watches, are constantly active as they are considered essential to the safe operation of the vessel and also allow the ship to respond to emergencies and other situations quickly. These watches are divided into work periods to ensure that the roles are always occupied at all times, while those members of the crew who are assigned to work during... ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2011, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-like-to-have-seen-as-a-starship-captain/583000/55 "2011-05-24T23:31:08Z")
> [@bump](#): > > Wouldn’t the term be “watches”? > > [Watchkeeping - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watchstanding) I can recall both terms being used in the various TREK series, though TNG was good about saying watch. The fanwanker in me thinks that, by TrekTime, each term was considered appropriate; it was a change of language, like the term “flagship” meaning _most prestigious ship to be posted on_ rather than _ship carrying the commander of a fleet and bearing his flag_. ---
**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:** [May 25, 2011, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-like-to-have-seen-as-a-starship-captain/583000/56 "2011-05-25T01:16:50Z")
> [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](#): > > Humphrey Bogart. > > _On Star Trek: TOS_. Well, there are certain areas of Qu’onoS that I wouldn’t advise anyone to invade. Red Shirts? We ain’t got no red…we don’t need no stinkin’ red shirts! ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2011, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-like-to-have-seen-as-a-starship-captain/583000/57 "2011-05-25T01:29:33Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > Oh, I’m not denying that Kate Mulgrew was a hottie, for she was. When she was fighting the flying space virus alone on the ship, her hair down, stripped to her undershirt and all sweaty & crap, she was quite winsome. It’s the writing that vexed me. > [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Look, keep this to yourself, OK? > > I don’t want anyone to know that you and I agree about anything. Fuel for the fire: Kate Mulgrew used to start every week’s filming on _Voyager_ by asking on Monday morning, “So, who got laid this weekend?” and raising her hand. I have this straight from Garrett Wang. ---
**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:** [May 25, 2011, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-like-to-have-seen-as-a-starship-captain/583000/58 "2011-05-25T02:26:30Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > Fuel for the fire: Kate Mulgrew used to start every week’s filming on _Voyager_ by asking on Monday morning, “So, who got laid this weekend?” and raising her hand. > > I have this straight from Garrett Wang. _Mrs. Columbo._ Jesus, that’s frightening. Wasn’t Wang almost fired for being a _prima donna_, however you spell it? ---
**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:** [May 25, 2011, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-like-to-have-seen-as-a-starship-captain/583000/59 "2011-05-25T02:34:03Z")
As long as our acrimonious Trek fandom is posted for everyone to see, (Thanks, Knead. Why don’t you just give me a nice paper cut and pour lemon juice on it?) what the Hell happened to New Zeland? I was supposed to be Governor General, President for Life, Beloved Tsar, send you a couple of billion of whatever the hell they use for money over there a year and get all those babes that played Elf Maidens in LOTR. Pony up! ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2011, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-like-to-have-seen-as-a-starship-captain/583000/60 "2011-05-25T03:32:50Z")
The obvious choice: Nathan Fillion. Gina Torres would be interesting as well. Or Adam Baldwin. I wanted to see this scene: Captain Baldwin: “Fire photon torpedoes!” Troi: “Captain, are you sure that’s wise?” Captain Baldwin: “Do you know what the chain of command is? It’s the chain I’ll BEAT you with until you understand who’s in ruttin’ command!” Troi: “Aye aye sir!” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-like-to-have-seen-as-a-starship-captain/583000.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-like-to-have-seen-as-a-starship-captain/583000.md?page=4)