exist Star Wars: Lower DecksCommander Jack Ransom (Jerry O’Connell) is the U.S. Navy Cerritos‘Loyal co-pilot. While it’s easy to dismiss him as a Brannigan-esque clown, there’s more to Ransom than meets the eye.
Comics Beat caught up with O’Connell via Zoom to learn more about his performance as Ransom. we asked His thoughts on Ransom over the years, about studio jams and (naturally) what he ordered from the food replicator.
This interview has been edited for clarity and length.
Avery Kaplan: How, if at all, has your opinion of Ransom changed over the years?
Jerry O’Connell: You know, as a Starfleet first officer, I have an interesting insight. This is because I live with another first officer in Starfleet.
It’s like I’m a roommate Jonathan Frakeswe come home from work, pour ourselves a drink, and say, “Hey. How was your day on the bridge?” This is great, this is crazy. How was your day on the bridge? “Crazy. There’s a lot of crazy stuff out there.
Ransom is so much fun to play and live with Rebecca Romijn Who plays Una Chin-Riley Star Wars: Strange New Worlds. It’s been a really fun journey for us as a family; as a couple; as two people in Starfleet. Go to opposition and meet the fans. You know, these two shows are completely different.
So I don’t know if my opinion has changed. my opinion StarCraft has changed. It’s really fun to be with the fans. My wife and I have experienced a lot of cons and I am always her plus one. When I’m at a con, if my wife is there, I’m always there; I stand in line, I take selfies. I’m always chilled. I love walking on the floor. It’s really fun to be a part of Starfleet.
I know Wil Wheaton Personally, I’ve heard what he has to say about being a Crusher and being a part of the Starfleet family. This is truly something special. It changed my wife’s life and my life.
Kaplan: Before being cast as Ransom, did you work with StarCraft?
O’Connell: No, I know Wil Wheaton is the Crusher, I’ve done it stand beside me With Will.
i think when i get lower deckmy wife just went Star Wars: Discovery Play Oona.Because strange new world Yes, derivatives Discover After the U.S. Navy enterprise Come help the U.S. Navy Discover.
I remember the audition Mike McMahanour creator lower deckI said to my wife, “How fun would it be if we were all first mates?” The funny thing is: when you’re an actor, you don’t usually get everything you audition for. In the dubbing world, I’m just getting started A bit busy. I think I played Superman in some DC animated productions. So I’m not the busiest actor in the voice acting world.
It’s crazy, my wife and I joined Starfleet at the same time. It’s been a really fun ride.
Now my wife works with Frakes strange new world. The three of us went out and we were like, “Three big guys walk into a bar.” We gotta get Doug Jones Also there. “Four top guys walked into a bar.”
Kaplan: You hosted virtual events for Star Wars Day and First Contact Day. Do you have any anecdotes you can share about these experiences?
O’Connell: This is really nerve-wracking because I have to admit: I’m no Wil Wheaton. I don’t host preparation room. I don’t have Will’s vast knowledge. What’s certain is that Will couldn’t book it—they couldn’t pay him. He had a gig before; there was no way he was there. My job is not to make it so bad.
Because I go on Reddit and read the comments…I am that person. I don’t want to screw it up. It’s kind of scary when you’re hosting. For people like you, this is how you make a lot of money. I only had one played on TV.
Kaplan: Did Ransom’s lines improve?
O’Connell: Yes, we did make some improvements. But it all comes from McMahan and the writers. If I improved anything, it was also a branch of the content on the page.
I knew it was a really interesting show when – I’m pretty sure it made it into the edit – when the U.S.S. Cerritos Go to Deep Space 9 (in Season 3’s “Listen to Everything and Believe Nothing”). I think it’s my character, it’s a bunch of lines – if I forget, I’m sorry, we’ve done 50 shows like this, so please forgive me.
I think it was McMahan who gave me a quote. He said: “When Cerritos Was circling, saying, ‘Man, that’s an ugly space station. It also makes you kind of hold your breath because you’re like, “I can’t say that. They’re going to spit on me next time. Someone’s going to be like, “How dare you say that about Deep Space Nine! The whole Starfleet Beautiful space station!
I think it’s these Starfleet jokes that make lower deck Such a special part StarCraft. Or they ask me to do another improv and I forget whether it worked or not – when Cerritos Coming into Deep Space Nine, McMahan had me say, “Keep circling until we see an open space.” Whenever you see it in the establishing shot, you see all these ships circling . Those ad-libs… were all Starfleet jokes.
McMahan explains it better. They’re not some incomprehensible joke like, “Man, that Ghosn is so difficult. How ugly is he?” It’s a pessimistic joke. It’s just good stuff. That’s why I think we’re StarCraft world.
Kaplan: What would you personally order from a food replicator?
O’Connell: I really want to try and mix it up. Because it’s fun to try and confuse things like artificial intelligence. I want a rainbow flavored ice cream. Good luck, computer. Let’s see you do this. Let’s see if you did it.
I like it. My favorite thing is when Siri or Alexa says, “I don’t have an answer for this.” I’m like, “Yeah. Got it. Because you’ll never be like me! You’ll never have this!” (pointing to the brain)
I would say: rainbow flavored ice cream. Good luck, replicator. let’s go.
new episodes Star Wars: Lower Decks Available to watch Thursday on Paramount+.
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