The more I read of Billy the more I realize he's as much a scalawag as his Next-Gen character was....in fact,to this day,it's one of my favorite episodes.
Die-hard bachelor indeed!
"Why don't you come back to my house and I'll show you my man-sized manicotti?"
I read here (and other places) he was choice #2 to play Cmdr. William
Riker on Star Trek: The Next Generation. The role went to Jonathan
Frakes, but what if?
Alan
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I saw this episode a while back and I really enjoyed it (not much of a Star Trek fan).
I thought he looked cute ;-)
Remember
that while money talks, CHOCOLATE SINGS
I really want to see this episode!! Funny how I saw reruns of episodes before and after it, but not this one!!! Can anyone help me? Where can I get it?
shareActually the citation here is wrong. Rick Berman, who was co-charge of casting, gave an extensive interview with the archive of american television about three years ago and specifically stated how Campbell was already chosen for Riker, but a last minute decision by another executive (not Roddenberry) concluded that Campbell did not have "command presence" to be believable as a first officer. Berman rejected this statement but was overruled. The part then went on to Frakes, who was the original second choice, to which he adapted to the roll quickly and proficiently.
Read about Thadiun, "The Outrageous Okona," here:
http://en.memory-alpha.org/wiki/Thadiun_Okona
And his return in a Star Trek: Next Generation comic book here:
http://memory-beta.wikia.com/wiki/Thadiun_Okona
I've liked him in other roles; but as a Star Trek fan, he'll always be "The Outrageous Okona." He made a great, iconic character.