00x02 - Star Trek Day 2020 - Lower Decks Panel

[bunniefuu]

The party is just getting started

on the lower decks of
the U.S.S. Cerritos,

which is why we are now
turning our attention

to the lighter side of Star Trek.

Please welcome to the viewscreen

Star Trek: Lower Decks'
voice cast: Tawny Newsome,

Jack Quaid, Eugene
Cordero, and Noel Wells,

as well as the show's
Creator, Executive Producer,

and Showrunner... whew, lot
of titles... Mike McMahan.

Thank you guys for joining me.

Hey Mica, yay, whoo!

But before we get into it,

I wanna remind everyone
that Star Trek: Lower Decks

is now streaming on CBS All
Access in the United States,

and in Canada, it airs on Bell
Media's CTV Sci-Fi Channel,

and it streams on Crave.

So if you haven't watched the show yet,

you should definitely go check it out.

It's pretty awesome.

And now with that, hey guys.

Thank you guys so much
for hopping on with me.

Happy Star Trek Day.

Happy Star Trek Day to all of you.

Hey, happy Star Trek Day
to all of you as well.

Hey, hey Eugene, happy
Star Trek Day to just you.

Oh my God, thank you so much.

Hey, Noel?

Yeah?

Hey, happy Star Trek Day to just you.

Whoa, thank you.

And I'm just gonna keep it.

[EUGENE] Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Is nobody gonna wish a
happy Star Trek Day to me?

- Nope, no.
- We got it.

What are you doing?

Well, for all of you
guys, quick question.

So we're halfway through
Season of Lower Decks,

and fans have a good
sense of what the show is,

who the characters are, what's going on.

So what has it been
like as an active member

of the Star Trek community
since the show has debuted?

I can't speak for these guys,
but I've been on shows

where I've obsessed
and watched everything,

and on Lower Decks,
I'm kind of letting stuff

just kind of come to me

instead of digging through
the whole Internet.

And it's been awesome.

It's interesting watching the fans

grow to love the characters,

'cause we all know where
they go across the season.

And so experiencing it
through Star Trek fandom

and getting to see them take
first steps into the season,

I mean, it's just been awesome.

Like they're catching every
little thing we put in the show.

It's just been wild to see it happen.

I think I worked on something one time

where I read everything.

And even if it was, not even negative,

just like something I wasn't
expecting, I was like,

"They don't get it, and
I messed up everything".

So I think I'm just done doing that.

And yeah, like Mike, I'm
kind of letting things

trickle up to me, and I've
been blown away with,

like some people have made
some amazing fan art.

I've seen some people
cosplay as us already

in quarantine, which is insane.

And a huge honor considering
the circumstances.

And it's just been awesome.

I like to browse.

I like to browse the hashtag.

And like Mike, I get really giddy

seeing when people are like,

"Aw, I'm not really feeling this",

and then I'll see the same person

two episodes later be
like, "Okay, now I'm sold.

This is great".

I love seeing the arc.

I'm reading Twitter right now.

What do you got, what do you got?

Good stuff?

There's an infinite
amount of information

and an infinite amount of opinions.

But fortunately, the show's great,

and so I just see great stuff.

I hope that's everybody else's.

You know, it's one of those things

where I guess I'm getting
a little cocky about it,

where I'm just like, "I don't
care what you guys think.

I think it's great and
I'm gonna enjoy it".

And then I prance around my
house with my shoulders up.

I don't know if you
guys are seeing this,

but every time somebody likes the show,

they're like, "I liked it
the first time I watched it.

Then I really liked it the
second time I watched it.

The third, fourth and fifth times

I really started to get it.

And then I watched it with my family...

I'm like, "Okay, I think
people like this show".

Well, it's so great to hear

that there's such an amazing
reception to this show.

And since the show is
halfway through the season,

I gotta know for all of you,

what's been your
favorite storyline so far?

'Cause in the last episode, fans
just watched, for instance,

we were introduced to
Boimler's girlfriend,

which... freaking hilarious.

So if that's your favorite
moment so far, that is valid,

but I wanna hear from all of you.

My favorite happened pretty early on,

which was just the idea
of being able to try

the different jobs, like that Rutherford

goes through all of the different jobs

and tries a bunch of
things and is not horrible,

but not great at anything.

And it's just kind of perfect.

Also, being able to do
different angry voices at times

and then accents at other times.

I mean, I just enjoy being a goof.

I like Episode a lot.

I like kind of all the
storylines in that.

I really love seeing Boimler
get such a huge win,

you know, when he's able
to level with the captain.

And when she finally
smiles at him at the end,

it's just this, he has the cutest look

and it's so heartwarming
'cause he's maybe

really the only character
besides Tendi that would get

that excited from just an
approving look from a captain.

It's such a small moment, but
it means everything to him.

And then I'm still mad at Mike.

I'm mad at you for drawing Ransom so hot

because it's confusing
and strange for me

- as an adult human woman...
- It's disturbing.

...in the D world.

I don't like it.

I don't like the ego trip that
it gives Jerry O'Connell.

I don't think it's
healthy for him or us.

So beautiful job, animators.

Please dial it back
in the second season.

One of my favorite moments in the show

is when Mariner gets
promoted and she hates it.

I just love seeing all the
kind of menial, boring things

that the bridge crew does
when no one's looking.

I love that they have a talent show.

The entire talent show is great.

[TAWNY] That poker game.

That boring ass poker
game kills me every time.

[MIKE] They all fold!

They all fold, you dull,
dull pieces of trash.

I love in Episode ,

I think that's when you
really start to understand

not the fully fleshed-out
versions of all the characters,

but why the lower
deckers are such friends.

And I think that it's
partially about how good

you have to be to be in
Starfleet and to be in Star Trek.

Like how good at your core.

That episode really landed for
me when we were writing it

and the way it came together,

that these are really
wonderful characters to write.

And they're really, really good friends,

and that feels really good.

So that's my cheater
answer for favorite part.

The other thing I like is that,

and this is another cheat

because it's not about
any of these guys.

It's something on top of it.

I love that opening sequence.

I love seeing the ship for a second.

The music is beautiful.

The effects are amazing.

You've got that classic
TNG-style kind of credit font

and seeing all these
guys' names up there.

It just warms my heart.

I'm really proud of this
show, and I get to see that

at the top of every episode,
and it's just awesome.

Yeah, I like seeing my
name up there, too.

That's my favorite part.

Well, you don't expect that
with a cartoon, but it's such a,

it happens in every Star Trek show.

So I don't know.

I was very... even though
it makes total sense

that our names would be up there

'cause they have been in
every other Star Trek intro.

When I first saw my name up there,

I was like, "Oh. Well,
okay". I don't know.

I have never seen cartoons

with opening credits for the actors.

I think it was the ship and
the font and everything

that Mike is talking
about that made us feel

like, "Wait a minute, are
we part of something?"

Yeah.

Like, "I hope I did it okay".

You know, it's crazy, yeah.

You spoke on it a little bit before,

but I wanna feel all of
your detailed reactions.

How did you feel when you first saw

the final, final product of Episode ?

You saw your names
in the Star Trek font.

It was real.

What was going through your mind?

I mean, I'll tell you guys,
I felt super relieved

because we were not done

with any of it when
we went into lockdown.

You know our priority number
one was keeping everybody safe

and priority number two was

if we're gonna keep making the show,

it's gotta be as good as if we
did it without a quarantine.

You know, it's gotta be great.

And you know, there's
some stuff that was hard.

These guys can tell you, we've
been doing ADR like this.

We've been doing lines in our closets.

And you know, we've been doing, yep.

Jack's pointing at his home studio now.

You know the music

was completely recorded
during quarantine.

Individual musicians that were...
we had to stitch together.

I think every show has
unexpected difficulties.

And I think this one was a big one.

But you know, when it
finally all came together,

and you can just sit back
and actually look at it,

it really blows you away.

It's really awesome
and it's really funny.

And it comes at you fast,

and it's all the good
Star Trek you want,

but also all this stuff that
you never knew you wanted.

So, a huge relief, and
I'm really proud of it.

I think the score really set the tone

for me of how epic it is.

I'm just so impressed about
how many people came together

to make this and how it's
such a seamless product.

It's such a seamless show.

It feels like real people.

That's how lived-in the
animation feels in the space

and the amount of work

that goes into creating
something from nothing.

Literally, we don't have even objects

and somebody's drawing that
and giving it its physicality

and a realness that makes it
bigger than an animated show.

It doesn't feel like a cartoon.

It feels like a show, you know?

I didn't realize how comforting

all the TNG era set and
stuff was going to be.

I didn't realize that I
had been missing that

because as I've been enjoying
Discovery and Picard,

they look very different.

And I never thought,

you know, I just thought
of them as different series

and I hadn't really
dealt with it in my mind

that I was missing the LCARS

and just the weird
hushed carpeted hallway

and the scoop archway.

Why is every wall somehow
curved, but also has corners?

All over the ship, it's
just this conundrum.

And so seeing that and
feeling like that TNG era,

yeah, setting was just so
weirdly... it's like a balm.

It's just very calming to me.

I love it.

And because it lives in that TNG world,

it's like, "Oh, I'm part of
something that's already,

it felt like it was already
in there the whole time".

Even though it's new,
it didn't feel new.

It felt like it was just
kind of wedged in.

It's just something you
didn't see within, you know,

the scope of the world.

And it's just like, "Oh,
you forgot about this".

And it's like, "Oh yeah, that's
been there the whole time".

And you're like, "Oh wait,
am I part of something

that's been here the whole time?"

And then, you know, my mind goes crazy.

And then I watched all
of the opening stuff.

And then once you start
watching the actual episodes,

and because we've been
recording either by ourselves

in our closets or when we
were recording in the studio,

it would be like maybe one
other person and everything.

You forget that there's
still gonna be drawn

all the other people on the ship.

And you're like, "Wow, there's
so many people on this".

Tawny, you and I have talked about this,

that you and I didn't realize

that we were some of the
main characters on this show

until we got to the table read.

Because everything was just
kind of in hushed tones,

and the project was very secretive.

So I got to that table
read and I'm like,

"Oh, this character Boimler

has a lot of lines in this thing".

And so this has just
kind of been a series

of very pleasant surprises
for me of just like, whoa,

I get to be a part of this thing.

And I'm one of the four main
characters, that's insane.

Then to see it actually realized

is just absolutely nuts and surreal.

There was a moment
during the virtual premiere

where... it's the scene
where Boimler and Mariner

are in their underwear
hiding from a giant spider.

And my girlfriend looked at me
and said, "He has your body".

And I hated that so much.

So, so, so much.

Jack, you texted me that, and I told you

what my good friend said.

My good friend Prina Patel goes,

"Hey, honey, they upgraded you".

Ooh.

In all fairness, I do have
three purple hairs right here.

Tiny purple hairs.

Oh, my God.

For the whole cast, this
show has been filled

with a bunch of references
of other Star Trek shows,

which is super awesome.

And I wanna know, did you
guys get a list of episodes

from Mike to watch ahead
of time so you guys

could talk about it and kind
of know what's going on?

Or were you just like
sure, yeah, this joke?

No, but that's a good idea for Season .

I'm being serious.

I would love, 'cause I
think I've seen everything

except for all of TOS.

At least once in my life
I've seen everything else.

But I would love a list
of reference episodes

to just go back and rewatch.
That'd be really cool.

Yeah, I can give you
that actually right now.

You go to Wikipedia and
you type in Star Trek.

You know, to speak to
what Eugene was saying,

it is crazy that we're doing
kind of like the last ' s era

TNG show, 'cause we all
grew up with this stuff

being on our screens and now
we're doing like one more.

So it's kind of wild.

And it's so available on so many,

it's all on CBS All Access.

You can just jump in and watch
the entirety of Star Trek.

So I know that, I mean, I
haven't made you guys watch it,

but it might be because I rewatch it

over and over and over again.

And I just want you to come in

and just think about your characters

and not be trying to you know,
literally emulate anybody

that's already been on Star Trek.

But, you know, I do like
that when we're talking

about Star Trek, it always
seems like you guys

have a real love for it, too.

I think, especially now, I would love

for you to recommend episodes to us

because I think, like the
thing you were saying earlier

about emulating characters that you see,

I think the danger for that is passed.

I think we've all like,
we've had a season in.

We kind of know who we are now.

Now I wanna know literally
everything you want me

to watch because you and Tawny
recommended a ton of stuff

to me when we started to
record for the first time.

And it was just great.

It really did help just
knowing the world.

'Cause I came in, I don't think I was,

I'd seen a few of the movies

and a few episodes
of the original series,

but not a ton of Next Generation.

And I really needed to steep myself

in the lore of the world.

It was just super helpful.

So the more the merrier,
keep 'em coming.

All right guys, you heard it here.

Jack is getting you homework.

I'm gonna give you a list of
episodes you have to watch.

No, no, no.

Thanks a lot, Jack.

That was unintentionally
the most Boimler move

I could have pulled on this Zoom.

For Mike, I understand
that we will be seeing

some really cool cameos
from some legacy talent

in the next few episodes.

So are you able to share any
of those with us pretty please?

This is when we're actually
asking for spoilers.

Okay, all right, spoilers.

If you don't wanna hear these,
please just go read a book.

Dang!

Go read a book.

Wow, wow.

Read a book.

So coming up in an episode,

we do have John de Lancie joins us,

and he is playing Q in a small part.

Dope.

The whole episode isn't about him,

but it's hard to make a TNG era
show and not have Q show up.

So I think an eagle-eyed viewer

will be able to catch his appearance.

In the same episode, Kurtwood
Smith plays a tough alien

named Clar, who, I don't
want to reveal too much

about what he does, but
Kurtwood originally played

the President of the Federation

in Undiscovered Country in Star Trek VI.

So, you know we try to cast
some legacy Star Trek voices

not just in the roles
they originally played,

but in stuff that just sort of...

they're the perfect voice for
even though it's a new role.

So you can see both of
them coming up very soon.

And as well as some
legacy Star Trek cast,

you guys have some
amazing guest voice stars,

particularly comedians playing
a few different characters.

So are there any you wanna shout out?

Once again, spoilers are welcome.

Okay, so you guys just
saw Gillian Jacobs

playing Barbara Brinson,
Brad Boimler's girlfriend.

Which I don't know why
it's so funny to me,

Barbara Brinson and Brad Boimler,

like just very insufferable couple name.

You've also seen Sam Richardson plays

our resident Bolian, Vendome,

who we would love to have more of.

He's kind of just been
popping in a little bit.

Matt Walsh, he played Ron Docent.

Not the world's best Starfleet officer.

We've got Jack McBrayer showing
up as a very funny character

that I don't want to say too much about.

You're also gonna see Tim
Robinson, who is incredibly funny.

Shows up as kind of a little
bit of our show's Barclay,

I can say.

I want to shout out
Haley Joel Osment, too,

- as ascension guy.
- Oh, yeah.

He was so good.

For Mike, I have one super important,

big question for you.

What else can you tease about
the back half of Season ?

The back half of Season rules.

Every episode is my favorite.

I can't choose.

And instead of me trying to tease it,

I think instead we've put
together a little clip package

to give you guys a
little tease of its own.

So, I think we should
just show them that

instead of me talking about it.

I think that sounds great.

She never fails to take my breath away.

I wish I could kiss her and squeeze her.

Excuse me?

Ah, the Cerritos is a handsome lady.

You're damn right about that.

Warp me!

I updated The Dog.

It just looks like a normal dog.

[GASPING]

Wake me up if it turns into something

I need to care about.

Intruders beaming in!

Looks like we'll have to repel them

the old fashioned way.

Setting my fists to stun,
and my kicks to k*ll.

You just instigate chaos.

It's helpful, character-building chaos.

I rode with my best friends.

Look at this new button!

Sexy mode? Mm, don't mind if I do.

I would never put anyone in danger.

Mariner, in case we don't make it.

We're making it.

Voilà!

Anyway.

Awesome, and on that note,
I wanna thank you guys

so much for hanging out with me today.

I am so stoked to see
the rest of Season ,

which again, Star Trek:
Lower Decks is streaming

on CBS All Access in the U.S.

and in Canada airs on Bell
Media's CTV Sci-Fi Channel

and streams on Crave.

So definitely check it out.

And one more time for the cheap seats

and everybody way in the
back, today on Star Trek Day

you can support our Star
Trek United campaign

by tweeting #StarTrekUnitedGives.

And for every person
that does, CBS All Access

will donate $ to the organizations

who do the real world work
of championing equality,

social justice, and the pursuit
of scientific advancements.

All things Star Trek essentially.

So Mike, Tawny, Jack, Eugene, and Noel,

I hope you guys have
a great Star Trek Day

and hopefully we'll talk again soon.

Happy Star Trek Day!

Jack, that is not to you.

Not happy Star Trek Day to you.

Just before we go, can
someone, just one person?

No, absolutely not.

- Not Jack, everyone but Jack.
- All right.

Hey, actually Tawny,
before you head out,

I heard from a little birdie

that you are working
on a fun side project.

So is there something
that you wanna share

with all the people watching
at home for Star Trek Day?

Yes, and Mica, you have good sources.

You've had all the scoops.

All the scoops today.

Yeah, so you guys might know

that in addition to Lower Decks,

I'm also the proud host of the
official Star Trek podcast,

The Pod Directive.

But what you don't know,

what I'm super excited to announce today

is that I will be joined
in my hosting duties

by just the premier king of podcasting,

incredible comedian,
actor, my dear friend,

Paul F. Tompkins. So exciting.

Whoa, that is some confetti-worthy,

awesome air horn, excited announcement.

That's awesome, I can't wait to listen.

I mean, should we just do it? Like...

[AIR HORN IMITATION]

We need like a variety of like pitches.

[AIR HORN IMITATION]

Yeah, so that is gonna be soon.

You're not going to have to
wait too long to hear it.

I mean, you don't have
to wait at all actually.

We have a little promo clip thing

if you wanna hear it right now.

I mean, I wanna hear it.

I'm sure everybody else wants
to hear it. So let's do that.

Let's do it.

[TAWNY] Hi, I'm Tawny Newsome.

[PAUL] And I'm Paul F. Tompkins.

[TAWNY] And we are hosting

the official Star Trek podcast,

Star Trek: The Pod Directive.

[PAUL] It is official.

We are huge Star Trek fans

talking to other huge Star Trek fans

who just happen to be
award-winning actors,

writers, politicians.

[TAWNY] We even
got a real life astronaut

in there and more.

We're talking to them all
about their love of Star Trek,

how it influences their everyday lives,

and how it continues to impact them

and the world around them.

[PAUL] Subscribe now to
Star Trek: The Pod Directive

on Apple Podcasts.

[TAWNY] Live long and prosper.

- [PAUL] Engage.
- [TAWNY] No.

[PAUL] What do you mean no?

[LAUGHING]