Jonathan Frakes on booking Next Generation and why Star Trek and BSG cast remain like family

[@jimmark8065]

Never before have I seen two celebrities look like just two regular people having a chat. I felt like I could have been sitting at a table with you two and feel right at home. Loved it.

[@KateeSackhoffOfficial]

Wonderful ❤ That’s my hope.

[@a120068020]

Agreed, this is great. The enthusiasm whilst recounting these stories and the vibe is just lovely. I have just subscribed to Katee's channel on the back of this one video.

[@thewayfaringtraveller]

@@KateeSackhoffOfficialSadly I never saw your shows but got to know you through BBT, but what a great interview, so cool to see you so natural and share real life moments with a friend and colleague from your shared sci-fi universe! Could you watch Castle not getting the role? What’s been your favourite guest Star moment of any show? I hope you have a long and happy career, you seem to have a beautiful soul!

[@megoins73]

I absolutely love this interview. Katee Sackhoff blew me away as Starbuck. All the characters were casted perfectly and created a Sci-fi classic!!

[@taylemgames2652]

Hated the final season tho ... they got just silly meta with everything.

[@megoins73]

@taylemgames2652 the show was always self aware of what it was though. I just think it was a need to wrap up story lines.

[@neondemon5137]

​@@taylemgames2652It was always like that you just didn't realise it at the time.

[@terrylong8894]

Katee Sackhoff should have won an Emmy for Battlestar.

[@chrismcnutt8970]

Maybe a Starbucks isn’t the place to get at someone. Wait till after they’ve had their coffee lol

[@batemcr81]

I’ve met both of these people at different conventions and they were so nice. In slc Katie had just finished up with every one. I got there late, and they were done selling the autograph. As she was about to leave. She saw me and my children. Stopped talked to us for a few minutes and then just pulled out a photo and signed it. Not all celebrities are this way. What was a few minutes for her is some thing that was I will remember the rest of my life.

[@this.is.a.username]

they're talking about the ST Las Vegas thing and I'm so so mad I missed it. This is what you get when you forget to set a calendar alert

[@tigerclaw4537]

Excellent episode. Johnathan really nailed it. As a loyal TOS fan it took me about 3 years to adjust to TNG. After that, there was no going back. Both Patrick and Johnathan became my all time favorite leading characters.

[@mothafraker]

Most of us were in the same boat

[@boffo63]

I had bought in by halfway thru the 1st Episode. 😀

[@FlippytheMasterofPie]

It helps that the third season has fewer out and out stinkers. The first two seasons are fascinating as a show trying to define its worldview and lore. But in terms of quality episodes its batting average is…hit or miss

[@edge1022]

Same

[@Raymaster7482]

They changed the head writer after season 2 which really helped the show. Plus they got Gates back who had a falling out with that certain writer...

[@moedeluca2318]

Love Jonathan and Katee. I see them like this... in real life, and so wish I can be their friend. They're both good people.

[@unkindestcut]

This is such an unbelievably wholesome and relatable conversation!

[@MaxWellenstein]

Two absolutely wonderful people. We're so lucky to have you both in such iconic roles that I'm looking forward to introducing to my own kids! Thank you for sharing this real and heartfelt conversation with the rest of us!

[@MaxWellenstein]

Woah. I am stunned that you were able to audition after a thyroidectomy. I had my thyroid out when I was 29, and I was basically a koala for six months until they got my meds right. Having the energy to audition for anything besides "sleeping bag occupant #2" is _amazing._

[@vinceburgess9012]

A big fan of Katee Sackhoff and all her work. Can’t believe how good she is doing these interviews. It feels so natural.

[@KateeSackhoffOfficial]

❤❤❤❤

[@JasonICECarson]

I love that Frakes name dropped The Orville. I would love it if Katee got a chance to play like an alien or something in an episode on season 4, even if Frakes is directing the same episode she's in. I would love that for her.

[@MaxWellenstein]

Agreed. The Orville does a masterful job carrying on the optimistic feel of TNG.

[@fw1421]

I watched TNG from day one and loved it. Wonderful cast.

[@kerry-j4m]

I HATED the first 2 seasons,they were-TRASH-and I thought TNG was gonna get cancelled after season 2,but,thank god they made changes with the writing. That 3rd season adjustment saved the show.

[@timradde4328]

@@kerry-j4m That's your opinion. Other opinions differ. I enjoyed all seasons of it. So much better then TOS. They fixed alot of the "issues" with TNG.

[@kerry-j4m]

I'm glad you enjoyed the entire seasons of TNG,that's all that matters at the end of the day.

[@MrCcoolg]

Same here. Loved it Because it was different.

[@kerry-j4m]

@@MrCcoolg Oh,okay. Maybe one entire episode will be a musical one day.

[@fobbitoperator3620]

Katee was GOLD in Longmore. Loved that show!

[@hlfzephyr7796]

i just met Frakes, Spiner and DeLancie at Dragon Con 2024. I volunteered for the Walk of Fame. Great guys!

[@billkriel4959]

Two of the most down to earth people I've watched. I wish I could have the opportunity to meet them at a Comic-Con one of these days. I loved her in Longmire. When I listen to the audio books, I can picture her and Robert Taylor as I'm listening.

[@jordanw8382]

I worked on the very last scene of the last episode of BSG as an extra. I met several of the main cast and crew and it was truly amazing to see the camaraderie from the inside, even with the regular extras and stunts people. It was unlike anything else I'd worked on, and I've been working in various shows since 1996. I still keep a memento of that day on my wall.

[@hyfy-tr2jy]

Give Katee a role in Star Trek so she can get the Star Wars, Star Trek, Battlestar Trifecta

[@smwillia]

PLEASE!

[@KateeSackhoffOfficial]

Right!?

[@Shaolin91z]

Star wars is not much to look at right now 😂

[@citizenVader]

What about playing a grown newt in an alien spinoff?

[@TG-Maverick22]

Thank you so much for this interview Katee! Really enjoyed it! Seeing actors from 2 separate shows of the same genre talk in such humble manner is simply spectacular. 10/10

[@vonk5463]

Starbuck and Adama (Bill) were my favorite characters on BSG. You were so amazing portraying her. Thank you for that And the show is still one of the very best I've seen.

[@conrad4852]

Watching Starbuck & Riker talk was so much fun here! Thank you for this!

[@benedixtify]

Katee, when Starbuck disappeared in the last episode, I was so heartbroken. I'm so glad to have found your channel!

[@darrellhanning5068]

Katee, if you still have any doubts whatsoever about your suitability for the Starbuck role, put those doubts to rest. You nailed it. Perfect 10.0. So much so, I just can't imagine, now, anybody else doing that role nearly as perfectly as you did. As to finding that one job where you feel as if you were (and continue to be) part of a family, I worked in a dozen different environments in my job in IT over 45 years, and only *once* did it feel (and continues to feel) like family. It's a rare thing, and its rarity is what makes us cherish it that much more.

[@voteDC]

At the start I'd agree. She was as much Starbuck as Dirk Benedict ever was. As the show went on though her character became unrecognisable.

[@darrellhanning5068]

@@voteDC Her character in the remake took her through a spectrum of experiences Dirk Bogarde never had to navigate. "Unrecognizable" is extreme, and the character didn't just simply, overnight "become" unrecognizable. The character had to evolve well beyond the cardboard cutout of the original series.

[@voteDC]

@@darrellhanning5068 Just like all the characters did but they all remained recognisably themselves from Felix Gaeta to Saul Tigh. Starbuck/Kara Thrace was the only character that had no element of who they were at the start at the end of the story. That's not a knock at the acting ability of Katee Sackhoff.

[@Mephilis78]

I understand your sentiment, but Starbuck existed before Katie. The original performance is exactly what the character is supposed to be.

[@Mephilis78]

​@@darrellhanning5068That's because the remake is very Soap Opera as opposed to classic sci-fi. Of course there's more emotional crap going on.

[@RodmanTackleAdvisor]

Katie came to a restaurant I worked at once. I was a dishwasher and off shift and she was outside at a patio table. I said " Hey, you were in Sentinel, right?" She smiled. "Nobody saw that! Did you like it?" We talked for almost 30 minutes. Coolest celebrity I ever met.

[@jeffreyelliott2428]

Great interview, Starbuck and Riker are some of my favorite characters. I love that Katee and Jonathan enjoyed each other’s shows and had similar experiences with lifetime relationships with their cast mates. TNG was the show I grew up with and BSG was the show that won me over.

[@HerbertAckermans]

It is the most significant sign of a good, honest human being that they are perceived, seen, experienced as easy going, easy to engage, easy to approach, with no air of attitude or distance despite what they have achieved and how they are celebrated and adored, truly wonderful people you and Jonathan, never ever change. Thank you.

[@dusermiginte4647]

Katee as Starbucks was one of the best performances Ive seen.. I, a grown guy laughed with her, told Saul to "get of her back man!!", cried with her and was with her and on her team always! And letting that alien inside her in Another Life was creepy af! Also great performance thru that show! And Jonathan in STNG is pure awesome! (I was in love with both Marina Sirtis and Gates McFadden as a teen)..

[@MM-pl5ed]

we love Katee so much! thank you so much for this upload!

[@Adam-s7y4g]

❤Ive watched BSG through 15 times. Took a while lol 😊 Been a Treky 35 years. Love it. You guys are awesome. Thanks so much ❤

[@matthewmiller2259]

One of my favorite moments at a con was in New Mexico with Katee Sackhoff. I was in line to get her autograph and when we got to her desk, she looked at my son and said "I love your freckles!" We were both in Star Trek uniforms.

[@ruadrem]

I want to see Katee in the Star Trek universe! Make it so, Number One ❤

[@NestorCaster]

9:15: You’re right! Loved his roles! I first saw him in The Devil's Advocate… but also inThe Wire, The Black Donnellys, True Blood, The Deuce… even one of my favorite short run shows Survivors Remorse!

[@TheTransporter007]

This channel is criminally undersubscribed. You are a fantastic actress, and a great interviewer.

[@tonyg8471]

Really cool. Katee, you're doing good work. Keep it up.

[@Hoganply]

Loved the For All Mankind shoutout. Excellent show.

[@sirpercarde709]

I first saw Jonathan Frakes in North & South. He played that role so well that when I heard he was going to be on TNG, I thought, oh my god this is going to be bad. I've like Patrick Stewart since I, Claudius. I knew he would be good but, Frakes in Star Fleet, and first officer. Now I can't picture anyone else doing that role.

[@danoconnell1833]

Just two pals, hangin' out. So glad I found Katee Sackoff's channel. And Jonathan Frakes is always just >chef's kiss

[@HariSeldon913]

I had forgotten Ray Wise did a TNG episode. He was really good in his Voyager episode. Different episodes, but Frakes and Wise both had Charlie's Angels guest shots right near the beginnings of their careers.

[@vermontmike9800]

What a fun conversation to listen to. Nice to see Robert on NCIS now.

[@Davivd2]

I love Frakes. NG and Riker wouldn't be the same if anyone else played Riker. He was born for that part.

[@fw1421]

Chris Bauer was amazing on True Blood. I liked the way they morphed his character during the run. Yea,he’s a great actor.

[@magrue]

Today I learned Katee Sackhoff has a youtube channel and so now I'm subscribed. This is fantastic

[@JohnHoganN8]

Saw Jonathan at Heathrow while he was making Thunderbirds. What a lovely, humble gentleman.

[@Evil_breakfast]

Awesome interview. Love both of you and BSG and NG shows. BSG has next level writing and acting. Going to have to check out Longmire.

[@janadepaz6877]

I just found out about this channel. I've subscribed. 👍🏻Two of my favorite actors and two of my favorite series. You have made my day.💖 The interview was very close and natural. I loved it. Greetings from Madrid.

[@paulaburrows8660]

Such a lovely chat between two lovely people

[@mp4-27d3]

I LOVE both STNG and BSG…they are both brilliant, but I have to admit it took me a little bit to warm up to STNG. Once I did I never missed it. I remember talking about season finales with coworkers. It was the best! Side note…these shows got me through the lockdowns…got them on Blu-ray. Much appreciated, thank you!❤❤❤

[@Dave-in-MD]

We need the Castle audition story. I love that show. Also love Battlestar.

[@tolson57]

I agree with Jonathan, Longmire was great and Katee, you were instrumental to that greatness. The mix of Robert, you, and Lou was amazing.

[@DoktorRotwang]

So, I didn't even know this existed, but I'm subscribing NOW!

[@richwightman3044]

These two are the absolute BEST possible actors they could have ever gotten for their respective characters. They both nailed the roles. Big fan of both.

[@andrewbell5875]

I listened to this on apple podcast. Great interview Katee, In fact I would say Number 1 😉 for the series.

[@squallsoft]

I grew up with TNG and came of age while BSG was on the air. These two are my two favorite actors from those shows. Also, BSG was the first show I ever binged with my wife!

[@totallytaylorretrohunters]

This is a fantastic interview Katee!!! I love this channel great work.

[@doorofnight87]

Personally, I think that sometimes it is best to cast people who are the opposite of what they were playing, especially if there is an anger or darkness to them. If the actor already has those traits, I think it can sometimes be difficult to pull back from it (which is why so many of the really great villain actors are really nice and sweet people IRL). Another example of 'wtf' casting that shouldn't possibly work, but worked brilliantly is that they cast a 6'1" Canadian Musical Theater Guy to play a 5'1" Canadian ball of rage. Its a good thing that X-Men was made before the internet was big, otherwise people would have torn that movie apart for that as soon as the casting was announced.

[@titus2120]

I love this woman’s works nd her character…. So strong, so awesome…

[@TheSabber83]

I'm pretty sure the Riker Maneuver got Jonathan the job! Create podcast Katee :) I Love it :)

[@YogaWithGail]

I laughed out loud, and I laughed with you. Great interview! Thanks Katie & Jonathan!

[@vinceburgess9012]

I grew up in Buffalo, Wyoming where the “Longmire” series was based. I didn’t live there at the time they celebrated the show with “Longmire Days.” Wish I could have been there to meet the cast in person. I saw the pictures and looks like you all had a great time!

[@MWMTex]

My only disappointment with the Next Gen is that Katee was not on the series. You would have been an amazing addition on that show. Love you show keep up the good work.

[@Crazydad0304]

I loved next generation since the first episode. Me and my dad would watch it every week after all the way till all good things. Seen every stng movie too in the theater with my dad. Loved picard. Watched every season of that as well

[@sangstar1]

Thank you Jonathan and Katee for your input❤👍

[@james_baker]

I wanted Kirk, Spock and McCoy. Then the beard showed up in season two and I knew things would be ok. it only took 15 minuets to accept Katee as Starbuck. she's one hell of an actress.

[@martinoneill4857]

It nice to listen to interviews were the host does not butt when the guest are speaking. And as a result it is really easy listen. Good show Kate. 👍🏻

[@ShallowSedai]

Fun interview. Thanks GOATs.

[@rbphilip]

I so love this podcast. Katee always makes me laugh!

[@dbcollings5739]

Katee your "Starbuck" and Dirk Benedict is so much different and I LIKED IT! Did they really know what they were looking for when you auditioned?

[@turquoisewitch.wild-owl]

Next Gen is my favorite! I was never into the original. Even to this day, my husband likes to watch the original. He's the one who was watching TNG that got me into it in the first place. I also LOVE Longmire! I've watched it through three times. It got me into the books.

[@kodymadis2111]

Awesome interview KS ! Many thanks. 🙂 But now you have to get Heigl on the show too !!!

[@EnigmaticPenguin]

Doctor Ron sounds like a character who could have shown up on Curb your Enthusiasm

[@mattb6369]

Oh man if the Internet were around in the late-'80s the way it is now, the fleet of endless armchair bloggers would've violated it for the reasons Jonathan brought up. But The Next Generation was by far ahead of it's time and doing insanely impressive stuff for the time it was produced.

[@freddiefan1973]

Terry Matalas, showrunner for Picard season 3, said he was in awe when he was walking around the sets because they brought crew from TNG back to work on Picard. All these people talking about having had conversations with Gene Roddenberry. He got to direct the finale and when he was filming the final scene with the whole cast he just let the camera run after they finished all the scripted stuff. After the fade out at the end of the scene he let the camera run for about 40-45 minutes because it turned into just a group of old friends playing cards and talking about old times (and probably once they got to that part they switched to actually drinking alcohol lol). He practically begged whoever is putting together the DVD/Blu-Ray of the final season to include that entire thing in the extras because it's ike a time capsule. Jonathan Frakes and Wil Wheaton also talked about the final season on Wil's after show, how they're all, including Wil. considered the legacy cast (35 years+ and still the most popular Star Trek cast other than the originals) and how season 3 of Picard is probably the last time most of them will be involved in the franchise (Patrick Stewart is in his 80s, most of the others are in their 70s, with Levar Burton being the youngest of the "adults" of TNG in his mid 60s, and even Wil is in his early 50s). Wil had pretty much everyone from the series on his after show, including Gates McFadden, who he refers to as his "space mom". Every one of them said what Jonathan did, that it was really like a family, how rare it is in Hollywood to have that kind of relationship with castmates. When LeVar Burton, his real-life daughter Mica and Ashlei Sharpe Chestnut were on, they talked about how quickly Ashlei became a 2nd daughter/sibling (including her being invited to holiday dinners), because she kind of just fell into that child/sibling role off-camera as they were doing the show

[@BrockSamson-i1i]

shame none of this happened while making a Star Trek show

I recall watching Farpoint for the first time in 88, I think, in Brazil, I was a little kid, and the story caught me in the first minutes. I was enjoying the show, I understood it was Star Trek, but something was different, the ship, the special effects, where is Kirk, but then the Opening of the series and the tittle Next Generation, somehow in Brazilian Portuguese it was like they translated as “New Generation”, and then I understood that this was a new show that I remember loving it since day 1.

[@Pure_KodiakWILD_Power]

I loved when DeeAnna and Will showed up on Picard 😅

[@russelljackson8153]

Katee, you were the most badass Starbuck there ever could be.

[@boombasett6038]

HAD TO SUBSCRIBE ! LOVE THIS WOMAN.

[@Mr.Free2Play]

To be honest, it only took a few episodes for myself and my friends to warm up to STNG. The actors were so good at capturing the atmosphere of Star Trek, that it was an easy sell. P.S. As an original BSG fan , once Katee popped on screen, we knew this was the new Starbuck. o7

[@BlackMandragon]

I do not think I have ever heard someone say "Katherine Sackhoff" until right now. :D

[@ryeguy7471]

Frakes is absolutely correct about it being an uphill climb. There was a TON of skepticism around TNG in the beginning. Non-fans thought it was rebooting a failed TV show and the movies were still happening with the cast from the original. Kudos to everyone involved for sticking with it.👍

[@unicomp5705]

Very fun to listen to his story.... Mike in LA, Calif

[@tonywarner891]

ya gotta love Katee and her body of work. They should have done a STNG spinoff where Riker is finally a captain and the star of the show IMO.

[@yoshi545825]

That was wonderful, thank you.

[@whearts]

I love this interview.

[@SandraNelson063]

I loved NG! It carried the same spirit as the original. My supervisor at work made sure I wasn't working the evenings the show was on! I had to get Netflix because of Longmire. I love the books too.

[@MrChefdouglas]

Love you Jonathan Frakees!! Love and grew up with Star Trek old and new Still look Fantastic Sir St John's Newfoundland Canada Come Visit???? Cheers

[@J05c]

Such a good interview

[@Oruaqt3]

Loved it live

[@Skoora]

They really had a great run with TNG, DS9 and Voyager. Enterprise really got good at the end of season 2 and season 3 but unfortunately had lagged in ratings for too long.

[@mothafraker]

Katee needs to do Trek. We need the trifecta!

[@unclelink]

I would've loved to see an episode of Stargate SG1 if Mr. Frakes directed. Also, I'd love to hear his opinion on a live action Gargoyles (movie/series). Awesome human.

[@TheBigExclusive]

The reason these cast members bonded is because their shows had more episodes per season. Sometimes as high as 24 episodes a season. These cast members spent a long time together working. Today's shows have around maybe 10 episodes a season. Sometimes 8 episodes. Maybe even as low 6 episodes in some cases. That's not enough time in the trenches for cast members to bond. Not to mention in the case of Star Trek Discovery, most the writing focused just on 1 or 2 characters. The rest of the cast was ignored. Heck, some cast members quit between seasons during Discovery and they had find replacements. Hard to bond when 3 or 4 of your cast members have left the show between seasons Battlestar Galactica was absolutely GREAT at giving everyone a chance to shine. Everyone had a 1 or 2 episodes each season to show off their character. .

[@ericknopf2109]

This is a very important interview and conversation. Why? Because you can’t just gather a group of actors (no matter how good they are) and expect the spark to be there for them to become family and thus have a hit show, or movie. Case and point? Eric Stolz in Back to The Future. Most of the movie was shot with him, and he’s a great actor, but the spark just wasn’t there between him and the other actors.

[@Buzz_Kill71]

Why am I just learning today that the beautiful Sackhoff has a KZbin channel, does interviews, does comedy, etc... ❤❤

[@larissap6586]

I can’t imagine anyone other than Katee playing Starbuck and I’m old enough to remember the original

[@KismetBP]

4:27 The moment a video mentions your name and it makes you jump. 😂 Watched both shows from episode 1, when they came out and loved them! ❤🤘

[@beccahaaby1007]

Katee, I would love to see you in a star trek role. You would be amazing.

[@dumaskhan]

When you say they didn't want you, looking back on it now, how could they not have wanted you? You know a role has been knocked out of the park if you can't imagine anyone else in the role than the one who portrayed it.

[@pufthemajicdragon]

You know what I want now? I want 7 seasons of a 24 episode-per-season Mandalorian series with Bo Katan. I mean, I want longer-running shows like we had in the 80s and 90s anyway, but now I want that for Katee and Star Wars.

[@marcnoonan2187]

Katee You have no idea how much I miss Battlestar Galactica

[@snowdenwyatt6276]

With the amount of genre film work that he's done, I suspect that (of the Discovery cast) Doug Jones knew EXACTLY what he was getting into. It was great having him get a central speaking role without having his voice dubbed over...

[@braincraven]

Katie Sackhoff played one of the best Fighter Pilot roles ever and she capture the essence.

[@mercb3ast]

This. Dude, she was more maverick than maverick. Tigh was my favorite in the series, with his character arc from being the most unlikable SOB ever, to being the most likeable, surly, SOB ever. Starbuck and Baltar were my next two favs. Just great acting and character acts.

[@briancarver36]

@@mercb3ast totally agreed, some of the best acting ever!

[@popcrnshower]

Two of the modern sci-fi goats. This was such a nice discussion to hear