Published Jun 16, 2026, 9:00 AM EDT
John Orquiola is a New & Classic TV Editor, Senior Writer, and Interviewer with a special focus on Star Trek. John has over 5,000 published articles at SR, and he has interviewed the biggest names in Star Trek on the red carpet and VIP events, among other beloved shows, movies, and franchises.
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Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) is known for his wisdom, intelligence, diplomacy, and compassion, but every now and then, Picard proved he was the funniest character in Star Trek. Stewart portrayed Picard in seven seasons of Star Trek: The Next Generation, four feature films, and three seasons of Star Trek: Picard.
When Star Trek: The Next Generation began, Captain Picard was serious, duty-minded, and stern. However, behind the scenes, Patrick Stewart yearned to be the same kind of dynamic Star Trek Captain that William Shatner was as Captain James T. Kirk. Stewart once told writer Ronald D. Moore, "The captain doesn't do nearly enough screwing and shooting on this show."
As Star Trek: The Next Generation continued, the originally strictly work-focused Patrick Stewart loosened up and joined in on the backstage tomfoolery of his Star Trek: The Next Generation castmates. TNG's writers also started letting Captain Picard be funny on-screen, tapping into Stewart's comedic chops. This continued in the TNG movies, and even in Star Trek: Picard.
6 Playing Robin Hood - Star Trek: The Next Generation "Qpid"
Star Trek: The Next Generation season 4, episode 20, "Qpid," showcased how funny Captain Picard could be as he constantly tried to maintain his dignity in increasingly absurd circumstances. "Qpid" kicked off with the surprise arrival of Vash (Jennifer Hetrick) on the USS Enterprise-D. Watching Picard squirm as his Risa girlfriend met his crew, especially Dr. Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden), was delightful.
Lieutenant Worf (Michael Dorn) got the most memorable one-liner in "Qpid" when he declared, "I am not a merry man!"
Q (John de Lancie) then popped in, offering to do Picard a favor. Jean-Luc is reliably funny when he verbally duels with Q, but the omnipotent meddler upped the ante when he transported Picard and the Enterprise crew into a recreation of Robin Hood and Sherwood Forest. Picard wearing tights and rescuing Vash, who Q turned into Mad Marian, foreshadowed Patrick Stewart's later cameo in Robin Hood: Men in Tights.
5 “He’s My Number One Dad!” - Star Trek: The Next Generation “Rascals”
Star Trek: The Next Generation season 6, episode 7, "Rascals," was built around the silly premise of Captain Picard, Guinan (Whoopi Goldberg), and Ensign Ro Laren (Michelle Forbes) being turned into children. David Tristan Birkin, who also played Picard's nephew, Rene, in Star Trek: The Next Generation season 4's "Family," played the younger Jean-Luc.
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When Ferengi hijack the Starship Enterprise, Picard, Guinan, and Ro, as children, turned out to be an advantage in retaking the ship, as the capitalistic aliens didn't know who they really were. "Rascals" contains one of the funniest one-liners in TNG when Jean-Luc accidentally called Commander Will Riker (Jonathan Frakes) "Number One," and saved face by declaring, "He's my number one dad!"
4 “I’m A Role Model!” - Star Trek: The Next Generation “The Pegasus"
Star Trek: The Next Generation season 7, episode 12, "The Pegasus," is a Commander Riker-centric story that began with the introduction of Captain Picard Day. When Picard had to explain to an Admiral why there was a holiday for the USS Enterprise-D's children to celebrate their Captain, Picard hilariously boasted, "I'm a role model!" The Admiral was not amused.
Star Trek: Lower Decks' Ensign Brad Boimler (Jack Quaid) turned created Captain Freeman Day in honor of the USS Cerritos' Captain Carol Freeman (Dawnn Lewis).
Captain Picard Day was another layer of funny, because Jean-Luc infamously disliked children. Nonetheless, Captain Picard Day caught on in the real world. Captain Picard Day is now celebrated by fans and Paramount annually on June 16 as one of a handful of Star Trek-themed holidays on the calendar.
3 Wearing A Headdress and Dancing in Star Trek: Insurrection
Star Trek: Insurrection was a lighter movie following the more dire adventures in Star Trek Generations and Star Trek: First Contact, with Patrick Stewart performing more comedy than any other TNG movie. When Captain Picard first appears in Star Trek: Insurrection, he's engaged in diplomatic relations that require him to wear an amusing black headdress on his famous chrome dome.
Captain Picard must then subdue a malfunctioning Lt. Commander Data (Brent Spiner), which he accomplishes by singing the "HMS Pinafore" with the android. When the USS Enterprise-D's crew is affected by the rejuvenating energies of the Briar Patch, Picard begins feeling romantic and dances in his quarters. Star Trek: Insurrection is easily Jean-Luc's funniest movie outing.
2 Roasting Troi & Riker’s Wedding in Star Trek: Nemesis
Although Star Trek: Nemesis ended with the tragic death of Lt. Commander Data and the USS Enterprise-E's crew splitting apart, the final Star Trek: The Next Generation movie kicked off with some welcome levity as Captain Picard gave the best man speech at Commander Riker's wedding to Counselor Deanna Troi (Marina Sirtis) and roasted the happy couple.
Picard scored a funny extra dig at Riker when he called him, "Mr. Troi."
Scripted by Academy Award-nominated writer John Logan, Picard got big laughs from the wedding party with his tongue-in-cheek tirade about how Riker and Troi getting married and leaving the Enterprise affects him. It was the last happy gathering of the TNG family until Star Trek: Picard season 3. Picard scored a funny extra dig at Riker when he called him, "Mr. Troi."
1 “The Carpet!” - Star Trek: Picard
Star Trek: Picard season 3's action-packed Star Trek: The Next Generation reunion was peppered with a few humorous moments, but Admiral Picard's best line came in the penultimate episode, "Vox." When TNG's crew entered the newly rebuilt USS Enterprise-D's bridge, Picard quipped, "You know, it wasn't until this moment, standing here with all of you, I realize what I missed most: The carpet."
Stardate 47988.1 · Crew Assessment
The Final Frontier
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☠EnemiesResistance is…
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01
The USS Enterprise is the most iconic starship in science fiction. What is the registry number of Captain Kirk’s original Enterprise from The Original Series?
ANCC-1701-D BNX-01 CNCC-1701 DNCC-74656
✓ Correct! NCC-1701 is the registry of Kirk’s original Constitution-class Enterprise. The “-D” suffix belongs to Picard’s Galaxy-class ship, NX-01 is Archer’s Enterprise, and NCC-74656 is Voyager.
✗ Red alert! The answer is NCC-1701. Kirk’s original Constitution-class Enterprise carried this now-legendary registry. NCC-1701-D is Picard’s Enterprise from TNG, NX-01 is Captain Archer’s, and NCC-74656 belongs to Voyager.
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02
Kirk’s most trusted officer is a half-human, half-Vulcan science officer famous for his logic and iconic salute. Who is this legendary character?
AData BSpock CTuvok DSarek
✓ Correct! Mr. Spock, played by Leonard Nimoy, is the half-Vulcan science officer whose “Live long and prosper” salute became a cultural icon. His struggle between logic and emotion defines the heart of the Original Series.
✗ Red alert! The answer is Spock. Data is an android from TNG, Tuvok is Voyager’s Vulcan tactical officer, and Sarek is Spock’s Vulcan father. Only Spock is the half-human, half-Vulcan first officer of Kirk’s Enterprise.
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03
Starfleet’s most important regulation forbids interference with the natural development of alien civilizations. What is this guiding principle called?
AThe Temporal Accord BGeneral Order One CThe Omega Directive DThe Prime Directive
✓ Correct! The Prime Directive (also known as General Order 1) is Starfleet’s most sacred law. It prohibits interfering with less-developed civilizations — though Kirk, Picard, and Janeway have all famously bent or broken it when lives were at stake.
✗ Red alert! The answer is the Prime Directive. While “General Order One” is technically another name for it, the Prime Directive is the universally known term. The Omega Directive and Temporal Accord are separate, more specialized Starfleet protocols.
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04
“Resistance is futile.” This chilling declaration belongs to a cybernetic collective that assimilates entire civilizations into its hive mind. What is this fearsome species called?
AThe Borg BThe Dominion CThe Romulans DSpecies 8472
✓ Correct! The Borg are Star Trek’s most terrifying villains — a hive-mind collective that forcibly assimilates species and technology. Captain Picard was famously assimilated and transformed into Locutus in the landmark TNG episode “The Best of Both Worlds.”
✗ Red alert! The answer is the Borg. The Dominion is the Gamma Quadrant empire from DS9, the Romulans are a rival empire, and Species 8472 is actually one of the few species that the Borg themselves fear. Only the Borg declare “Resistance is futile.”
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05
Captain Jean-Luc Picard commands the Enterprise-D in The Next Generation and later received his own series, Star Trek: Picard. Which acclaimed actor portrays him?
AWilliam Shatner BAvery Brooks CPatrick Stewart DScott Bakula
✓ Correct! Sir Patrick Stewart brought gravitas, Shakespeare, and Earl Grey tea to the captain’s chair for seven seasons of TNG, four films, and three seasons of Star Trek: Picard. His “Make it so” is one of TV’s most iconic catchphrases.
✗ Red alert! The answer is Patrick Stewart. William Shatner plays Captain Kirk, Avery Brooks is Captain Sisko on Deep Space Nine, and Scott Bakula captains the NX-01 Enterprise. Only Sir Patrick Stewart portrays the legendary Jean-Luc Picard.
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06
Starfleet vessels travel faster than light by bending space around them using a matter-antimatter reaction. What is this propulsion system called?
ATranswarp Drive BWarp Drive CSlipstream Drive DSpore Drive
✓ Correct! Warp Drive is the standard faster-than-light propulsion in Star Trek, powered by dilithium-regulated matter-antimatter reactions. Zefram Cochrane invented it in 2063, which led to humanity’s first contact with the Vulcans.
✗ Red alert! The answer is Warp Drive. Transwarp is an advanced Borg technology, Slipstream is an experimental quantum drive, and the Spore Drive uses mycelial network navigation (from Discovery). Standard Starfleet vessels use Warp Drive.
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07
At Starfleet Academy, cadets face a notorious no-win scenario designed to test their character under impossible circumstances. James Kirk is the only cadet who ever beat it — by cheating. What is this test called?
AThe Prometheus Trial BThe Omega Simulation CThe Corbomite Maneuver DThe Kobayashi Maru
✓ Correct! The Kobayashi Maru is an unwinnable rescue simulation that tests how cadets handle certain death. Kirk reprogrammed it so he could win — earning a commendation for original thinking. It was memorably featured in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.
✗ Red alert! The answer is the Kobayashi Maru. The Corbomite Maneuver is a TOS episode, not an Academy test. The Kobayashi Maru is the famous no-win scenario that Kirk defeated by reprogramming the simulation — because he doesn’t believe in the no-win scenario.
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08
In the widely regarded greatest Star Trek film, a genetically enhanced superhuman from Earth’s past seeks revenge against Captain Kirk. “KHAAAAN!” Who is this iconic villain?
AKhan Noonien Singh BGeneral Chang CQ DGul Dukat
✓ Correct! Khan Noonien Singh, played by Ricardo Montalbán, is Star Trek’s greatest villain. First appearing in the TOS episode “Space Seed,” he returned in The Wrath of Khan (1982) for a devastating revenge plot that cost Spock his life.
✗ Red alert! The answer is Khan Noonien Singh. General Chang is a Klingon from Star Trek VI, Q is TNG’s omnipotent trickster, and Gul Dukat is DS9’s Cardassian antagonist. Only Khan inspired Kirk’s legendary scream across the cosmos.
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Picard's carpet joke nodded to how art director Liz Kloczkowski lovingly and painstakingly recreated the Enterprise-D's iconic bridge set, including sourcing the same carpet fabric as the original Enterprise. At the end of Star Trek: Picard season 3, the triumphant and light-hearted Jean-Luc played one more game of poker with his beloved crew, closing the book on Star Trek: The Next Generation.
Release Date 1987 - 1994-00-00
Network Syndication
Showrunner Gene Roddenberry
Writers René Echevarria, Maurice Hurley, Richard Manning, Melinda M. Snodgrass, Tracy Tormé, Hannah Louise Shearer, Stuart Charno, Ira Steven Behr, Sara B. Cooper, Peter Allan Fields, Herbert Wright, Frank Abatemarco, Burton Armus, Hilary Bader, Morgan Gendel, David Kemper, Michael I. Wagner, Philip LaZebnik, Robert McCullough, Susan Sackett, Nick Sagan, Fred Bronson, Robert Hewitt Wolfe, Sam Rolfe
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Commander William T. Riker
English (US) ·