What is the origin of the “Riker Chair Maneuver”?
A video compilation of Commander William Riker sitting down has recently been going around the Internet. It demonstrates something that I had never noticed before: Riker has a rather... unusual approach to chairs on the Enterprise.
Is there any explanation offered by Jonathan Frakes, or other cast or production members, as to where this unusual maneuver originated? Is it an intentional affectation to demonstrate some aspect of Riker's personality, or just a mannerism originating with Frakes himself?
star-trek star-trek-tng riker
edited Sep 14 '16 at 18:11
Mithrandir
25.3k9133184
asked May 10 '13 at 13:02
BeofettBeofett
42k27203294
|
show 3 more comments
A video compilation of Commander William Riker sitting down has recently been going around the Internet. It demonstrates something that I had never noticed before: Riker has a rather... unusual approach to chairs on the Enterprise.
Is there any explanation offered by Jonathan Frakes, or other cast or production members, as to where this unusual maneuver originated? Is it an intentional affectation to demonstrate some aspect of Riker's personality, or just a mannerism originating with Frakes himself?
star-trek star-trek-tng riker
edited Sep 14 '16 at 18:11
Mithrandir
25.3k9133184
asked May 10 '13 at 13:02
BeofettBeofett
42k27203294
6
The Riker Maneuver.
– Xantec
May 10 '13 at 13:30
4
He positively straddles them, doesn't he?
– Paul D. Waite
May 10 '13 at 14:33
17
That 'stepping over the chair' is a cowboy move and it's how a real man sits down. It doesn't hurt to be 6'4".
– Morgan
May 10 '13 at 15:46
4
Wow, TNG! We always had the Picard sit-down and pull uniform maneuver and now this too!
– AthomSfere
May 10 '13 at 16:34
1
Riker also had a curious way of walking with his head down, like he's walking into a storm. Especially evident when he exits a room.
– RobertF
Nov 18 '13 at 3:40
|
show 3 more comments
A video compilation of Commander William Riker sitting down has recently been going around the Internet. It demonstrates something that I had never noticed before: Riker has a rather... unusual approach to chairs on the Enterprise.
Is there any explanation offered by Jonathan Frakes, or other cast or production members, as to where this unusual maneuver originated? Is it an intentional affectation to demonstrate some aspect of Riker's personality, or just a mannerism originating with Frakes himself?
star-trek star-trek-tng riker
edited Sep 14 '16 at 18:11
Mithrandir
25.3k9133184
asked May 10 '13 at 13:02
BeofettBeofett
42k27203294
A video compilation of Commander William Riker sitting down has recently been going around the Internet. It demonstrates something that I had never noticed before: Riker has a rather... unusual approach to chairs on the Enterprise.
Is there any explanation offered by Jonathan Frakes, or other cast or production members, as to where this unusual maneuver originated? Is it an intentional affectation to demonstrate some aspect of Riker's personality, or just a mannerism originating with Frakes himself?
star-trek star-trek-tng riker
star-trek star-trek-tng riker
edited Sep 14 '16 at 18:11
Mithrandir
25.3k9133184
asked May 10 '13 at 13:02
BeofettBeofett
42k27203294
edited Sep 14 '16 at 18:11
Mithrandir
25.3k9133184
asked May 10 '13 at 13:02
BeofettBeofett
42k27203294
edited Sep 14 '16 at 18:11
Mithrandir
25.3k9133184
edited Sep 14 '16 at 18:11
Mithrandir
25.3k9133184
edited Sep 14 '16 at 18:11
Mithrandir
25.3k9133184
25.3k9133184
asked May 10 '13 at 13:02
BeofettBeofett
42k27203294
asked May 10 '13 at 13:02
BeofettBeofett
42k27203294
asked May 10 '13 at 13:02
BeofettBeofett
42k27203294
42k27203294
6
The Riker Maneuver.
– Xantec
May 10 '13 at 13:30
4
He positively straddles them, doesn't he?
– Paul D. Waite
May 10 '13 at 14:33
17
That 'stepping over the chair' is a cowboy move and it's how a real man sits down. It doesn't hurt to be 6'4".
– Morgan
May 10 '13 at 15:46
4
Wow, TNG! We always had the Picard sit-down and pull uniform maneuver and now this too!
– AthomSfere
May 10 '13 at 16:34
1
Riker also had a curious way of walking with his head down, like he's walking into a storm. Especially evident when he exits a room.
– RobertF
Nov 18 '13 at 3:40
|
show 3 more comments
6
The Riker Maneuver.
– Xantec
May 10 '13 at 13:30
4
He positively straddles them, doesn't he?
– Paul D. Waite
May 10 '13 at 14:33
17
That 'stepping over the chair' is a cowboy move and it's how a real man sits down. It doesn't hurt to be 6'4".
– Morgan
May 10 '13 at 15:46
4
Wow, TNG! We always had the Picard sit-down and pull uniform maneuver and now this too!
– AthomSfere
May 10 '13 at 16:34
1
Riker also had a curious way of walking with his head down, like he's walking into a storm. Especially evident when he exits a room.
– RobertF
Nov 18 '13 at 3:40
6
6
The Riker Maneuver.
– Xantec
May 10 '13 at 13:30
The Riker Maneuver.
– Xantec
May 10 '13 at 13:30
4
4
He positively straddles them, doesn't he?
– Paul D. Waite
May 10 '13 at 14:33
He positively straddles them, doesn't he?
– Paul D. Waite
May 10 '13 at 14:33
17
17
That 'stepping over the chair' is a cowboy move and it's how a real man sits down. It doesn't hurt to be 6'4".
– Morgan
May 10 '13 at 15:46
That 'stepping over the chair' is a cowboy move and it's how a real man sits down. It doesn't hurt to be 6'4".
– Morgan
May 10 '13 at 15:46
4
4
Wow, TNG! We always had the Picard sit-down and pull uniform maneuver and now this too!
– AthomSfere
May 10 '13 at 16:34
Wow, TNG! We always had the Picard sit-down and pull uniform maneuver and now this too!
– AthomSfere
May 10 '13 at 16:34
1
1
Riker also had a curious way of walking with his head down, like he's walking into a storm. Especially evident when he exits a room.
– RobertF
Nov 18 '13 at 3:40
Riker also had a curious way of walking with his head down, like he's walking into a storm. Especially evident when he exits a room.
– RobertF
Nov 18 '13 at 3:40
|
show 3 more comments
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
Allegedly a back injury is behind the maneuver. From a post on Reddit and confirmed by Wil Wheaton. Scroll down the Reddit post to find the section pasted below. The reply from user 'wil' is Mr. Wheaton.
[–]AmishAvenger 1162 points 2 days ago*
Frakes had a back injury, caused by having a job moving furniture. The result is the "Riker Lean," where you often see him on set leaning on chairs or consoles, or with one leg propped up on something. You can also see his body is tilted a little when he's standing up straight.
I'd guess this has something to do with that. For each time we see him sit down, he probably had to do that same move dozens of times for each take. Just lifting one leg and sitting right down was probably easier for him than turning, contorting his back, and squatting down over and over. It's the same thing with the Riker Lean: he probably had no problem standing up for a few minutes, but shooting that show probably resulted in standing on set for hours on end. Dude had to find a way to work around his injury by leaning on things, or he wouldn't have made it.
EDIT: Apparently my highest-rated comment is about Jonathan Frakes' back injury, and how it affected his time on the set of TNG. Could be worse, I suppose...
[–]wil 906 points 1 day ago
Confirmed.
Source: I served on the Enterprise with Riker for 5 years.
edited May 10 '13 at 14:53
Beofett
42k27203294
answered May 10 '13 at 13:47
StanStan
7,76523149
64
Wil Wheaton continues to impress me with just how friendly, personable, and generally likeable he seems. It makes me feel bad about all those years of Wesley Crusher bashing I participated in with my friends.
– Beofett
May 10 '13 at 18:24
4
@Beofett - well, you don't feel bad for disliking Hitler despite having no issues (presumably) with the actor who played him in Valkyrie or any other movie of the kind. :)
– DVK-on-Ahch-To
May 10 '13 at 18:58
2
@DVK Actually, I have an issue with any actor who played Hitler and isn't Dick Shawn!
– Beofett
May 10 '13 at 19:11
1
I'm amazed at the number of votes this has garnered but am curious as to the downvote. A comment would be helpful and appreciated.
– Stan
May 12 '13 at 1:26
2
@Stan The question got one unexplained downvote as well. Likely it is someone who feels that behind the scenes stuff like this really doesn't belong on this site. Don't take it personally; your answer is excellent.
– Beofett
May 16 '13 at 19:42
|
show 1 more comment
I know everyone thinks it's because of his back, but he says in a podcast that it started as a joke and he knew it was good and he had to keep doing it.
Q: There was a recent video that went around, called "Riker Sits
Down".
Frakes: Yeah, did that go viral or what?
Q: So what happened there?
Frakes: That, at one point in one room there was this chair that had
virtually no back, like sort of a stool with a mini-back and because
I'm 6'4'', I'm able to mount it like a horse... and then it became a
thing and I'm like, until I saw that youtube, I had no concept that
I'd done it that many times. And now I'm so grateful that it's become
a thing.
Q: Were you the only one, did anyone else in the cast sit like that
Frakes: Usually if you got a 'bit' like that in early, no-one could
steal it from you.
Q: Oh, so you knew it was a funny thing when you were doing it?
Frakes: Oh yeah!
NPR: How to Do Everything - Batholiths, Milk and The Full Riker
edited 3 hours ago
Valorum
406k10929523178
answered 5 hours ago
Holly WoodHolly Wood
1
New contributor
Holly Wood is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
1
Nice find... the bit about the chair is from 9:10 minutes in... I don't hear where he says it's a "joke" - more that he was just the first to do it and no-one else was going to nick it... It'd be awesome if you could edit a transcription of that podcast into your answer and just have a link to the podcast as a reference resource though :)
– Jon Clements
4 hours ago
@JonClements - What he says doesn't preclude that it was a 'back thing', he just agrees that it was funny as well.
– Valorum
3 hours ago
@Valorum Sure - and I didn't say that it did. What I was saying is that I find it a little tricky to interpret it as it started as a joke... eg: he thought "I know what'll be funny given that stool and this scene today that'll make my co-workers laugh"... I could probably get behind he did it to start with because it was just easier and it got some chuckles and then he consciously thought to do it now and again for a laugh (and didn't realise how many times he'd actually done it for that purpose or for plain convenience...).
– Jon Clements
1 hour ago
add a comment |
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2 Answers
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Allegedly a back injury is behind the maneuver. From a post on Reddit and confirmed by Wil Wheaton. Scroll down the Reddit post to find the section pasted below. The reply from user 'wil' is Mr. Wheaton.
[–]AmishAvenger 1162 points 2 days ago*
Frakes had a back injury, caused by having a job moving furniture. The result is the "Riker Lean," where you often see him on set leaning on chairs or consoles, or with one leg propped up on something. You can also see his body is tilted a little when he's standing up straight.
I'd guess this has something to do with that. For each time we see him sit down, he probably had to do that same move dozens of times for each take. Just lifting one leg and sitting right down was probably easier for him than turning, contorting his back, and squatting down over and over. It's the same thing with the Riker Lean: he probably had no problem standing up for a few minutes, but shooting that show probably resulted in standing on set for hours on end. Dude had to find a way to work around his injury by leaning on things, or he wouldn't have made it.
EDIT: Apparently my highest-rated comment is about Jonathan Frakes' back injury, and how it affected his time on the set of TNG. Could be worse, I suppose...
[–]wil 906 points 1 day ago
Confirmed.
Source: I served on the Enterprise with Riker for 5 years.
edited May 10 '13 at 14:53
Beofett
42k27203294
answered May 10 '13 at 13:47
StanStan
7,76523149
64
Wil Wheaton continues to impress me with just how friendly, personable, and generally likeable he seems. It makes me feel bad about all those years of Wesley Crusher bashing I participated in with my friends.
– Beofett
May 10 '13 at 18:24
4
@Beofett - well, you don't feel bad for disliking Hitler despite having no issues (presumably) with the actor who played him in Valkyrie or any other movie of the kind. :)
– DVK-on-Ahch-To
May 10 '13 at 18:58
2
@DVK Actually, I have an issue with any actor who played Hitler and isn't Dick Shawn!
– Beofett
May 10 '13 at 19:11
1
I'm amazed at the number of votes this has garnered but am curious as to the downvote. A comment would be helpful and appreciated.
– Stan
May 12 '13 at 1:26
2
@Stan The question got one unexplained downvote as well. Likely it is someone who feels that behind the scenes stuff like this really doesn't belong on this site. Don't take it personally; your answer is excellent.
– Beofett
May 16 '13 at 19:42
|
show 1 more comment
Allegedly a back injury is behind the maneuver. From a post on Reddit and confirmed by Wil Wheaton. Scroll down the Reddit post to find the section pasted below. The reply from user 'wil' is Mr. Wheaton.
[–]AmishAvenger 1162 points 2 days ago*
Frakes had a back injury, caused by having a job moving furniture. The result is the "Riker Lean," where you often see him on set leaning on chairs or consoles, or with one leg propped up on something. You can also see his body is tilted a little when he's standing up straight.
I'd guess this has something to do with that. For each time we see him sit down, he probably had to do that same move dozens of times for each take. Just lifting one leg and sitting right down was probably easier for him than turning, contorting his back, and squatting down over and over. It's the same thing with the Riker Lean: he probably had no problem standing up for a few minutes, but shooting that show probably resulted in standing on set for hours on end. Dude had to find a way to work around his injury by leaning on things, or he wouldn't have made it.
EDIT: Apparently my highest-rated comment is about Jonathan Frakes' back injury, and how it affected his time on the set of TNG. Could be worse, I suppose...
[–]wil 906 points 1 day ago
Confirmed.
Source: I served on the Enterprise with Riker for 5 years.
edited May 10 '13 at 14:53
Beofett
42k27203294
answered May 10 '13 at 13:47
StanStan
7,76523149
64
Wil Wheaton continues to impress me with just how friendly, personable, and generally likeable he seems. It makes me feel bad about all those years of Wesley Crusher bashing I participated in with my friends.
– Beofett
May 10 '13 at 18:24
4
@Beofett - well, you don't feel bad for disliking Hitler despite having no issues (presumably) with the actor who played him in Valkyrie or any other movie of the kind. :)
– DVK-on-Ahch-To
May 10 '13 at 18:58
2
@DVK Actually, I have an issue with any actor who played Hitler and isn't Dick Shawn!
– Beofett
May 10 '13 at 19:11
1
I'm amazed at the number of votes this has garnered but am curious as to the downvote. A comment would be helpful and appreciated.
– Stan
May 12 '13 at 1:26
2
@Stan The question got one unexplained downvote as well. Likely it is someone who feels that behind the scenes stuff like this really doesn't belong on this site. Don't take it personally; your answer is excellent.
– Beofett
May 16 '13 at 19:42
|
show 1 more comment
Allegedly a back injury is behind the maneuver. From a post on Reddit and confirmed by Wil Wheaton. Scroll down the Reddit post to find the section pasted below. The reply from user 'wil' is Mr. Wheaton.
[–]AmishAvenger 1162 points 2 days ago*
Frakes had a back injury, caused by having a job moving furniture. The result is the "Riker Lean," where you often see him on set leaning on chairs or consoles, or with one leg propped up on something. You can also see his body is tilted a little when he's standing up straight.
I'd guess this has something to do with that. For each time we see him sit down, he probably had to do that same move dozens of times for each take. Just lifting one leg and sitting right down was probably easier for him than turning, contorting his back, and squatting down over and over. It's the same thing with the Riker Lean: he probably had no problem standing up for a few minutes, but shooting that show probably resulted in standing on set for hours on end. Dude had to find a way to work around his injury by leaning on things, or he wouldn't have made it.
EDIT: Apparently my highest-rated comment is about Jonathan Frakes' back injury, and how it affected his time on the set of TNG. Could be worse, I suppose...
[–]wil 906 points 1 day ago
Confirmed.
Source: I served on the Enterprise with Riker for 5 years.
edited May 10 '13 at 14:53
Beofett
42k27203294
answered May 10 '13 at 13:47
StanStan
7,76523149
Allegedly a back injury is behind the maneuver. From a post on Reddit and confirmed by Wil Wheaton. Scroll down the Reddit post to find the section pasted below. The reply from user 'wil' is Mr. Wheaton.
[–]AmishAvenger 1162 points 2 days ago*
Frakes had a back injury, caused by having a job moving furniture. The result is the "Riker Lean," where you often see him on set leaning on chairs or consoles, or with one leg propped up on something. You can also see his body is tilted a little when he's standing up straight.
I'd guess this has something to do with that. For each time we see him sit down, he probably had to do that same move dozens of times for each take. Just lifting one leg and sitting right down was probably easier for him than turning, contorting his back, and squatting down over and over. It's the same thing with the Riker Lean: he probably had no problem standing up for a few minutes, but shooting that show probably resulted in standing on set for hours on end. Dude had to find a way to work around his injury by leaning on things, or he wouldn't have made it.
EDIT: Apparently my highest-rated comment is about Jonathan Frakes' back injury, and how it affected his time on the set of TNG. Could be worse, I suppose...
[–]wil 906 points 1 day ago
Confirmed.
Source: I served on the Enterprise with Riker for 5 years.
edited May 10 '13 at 14:53
Beofett
42k27203294
answered May 10 '13 at 13:47
StanStan
7,76523149
edited May 10 '13 at 14:53
Beofett
42k27203294
edited May 10 '13 at 14:53
Beofett
42k27203294
edited May 10 '13 at 14:53
Beofett
42k27203294
42k27203294
answered May 10 '13 at 13:47
StanStan
7,76523149
answered May 10 '13 at 13:47
StanStan
7,76523149
answered May 10 '13 at 13:47
StanStan
7,76523149
7,76523149
64
Wil Wheaton continues to impress me with just how friendly, personable, and generally likeable he seems. It makes me feel bad about all those years of Wesley Crusher bashing I participated in with my friends.
– Beofett
May 10 '13 at 18:24
4
@Beofett - well, you don't feel bad for disliking Hitler despite having no issues (presumably) with the actor who played him in Valkyrie or any other movie of the kind. :)
– DVK-on-Ahch-To
May 10 '13 at 18:58
2
@DVK Actually, I have an issue with any actor who played Hitler and isn't Dick Shawn!
– Beofett
May 10 '13 at 19:11
1
I'm amazed at the number of votes this has garnered but am curious as to the downvote. A comment would be helpful and appreciated.
– Stan
May 12 '13 at 1:26
2
@Stan The question got one unexplained downvote as well. Likely it is someone who feels that behind the scenes stuff like this really doesn't belong on this site. Don't take it personally; your answer is excellent.
– Beofett
May 16 '13 at 19:42
|
show 1 more comment
64
Wil Wheaton continues to impress me with just how friendly, personable, and generally likeable he seems. It makes me feel bad about all those years of Wesley Crusher bashing I participated in with my friends.
– Beofett
May 10 '13 at 18:24
4
@Beofett - well, you don't feel bad for disliking Hitler despite having no issues (presumably) with the actor who played him in Valkyrie or any other movie of the kind. :)
– DVK-on-Ahch-To
May 10 '13 at 18:58
2
@DVK Actually, I have an issue with any actor who played Hitler and isn't Dick Shawn!
– Beofett
May 10 '13 at 19:11
1
I'm amazed at the number of votes this has garnered but am curious as to the downvote. A comment would be helpful and appreciated.
– Stan
May 12 '13 at 1:26
2
@Stan The question got one unexplained downvote as well. Likely it is someone who feels that behind the scenes stuff like this really doesn't belong on this site. Don't take it personally; your answer is excellent.
– Beofett
May 16 '13 at 19:42
64
64
Wil Wheaton continues to impress me with just how friendly, personable, and generally likeable he seems. It makes me feel bad about all those years of Wesley Crusher bashing I participated in with my friends.
– Beofett
May 10 '13 at 18:24
Wil Wheaton continues to impress me with just how friendly, personable, and generally likeable he seems. It makes me feel bad about all those years of Wesley Crusher bashing I participated in with my friends.
– Beofett
May 10 '13 at 18:24
4
4
@Beofett - well, you don't feel bad for disliking Hitler despite having no issues (presumably) with the actor who played him in Valkyrie or any other movie of the kind. :)
– DVK-on-Ahch-To
May 10 '13 at 18:58
@Beofett - well, you don't feel bad for disliking Hitler despite having no issues (presumably) with the actor who played him in Valkyrie or any other movie of the kind. :)
– DVK-on-Ahch-To
May 10 '13 at 18:58
2
2
@DVK Actually, I have an issue with any actor who played Hitler and isn't Dick Shawn!
– Beofett
May 10 '13 at 19:11
@DVK Actually, I have an issue with any actor who played Hitler and isn't Dick Shawn!
– Beofett
May 10 '13 at 19:11
1
1
I'm amazed at the number of votes this has garnered but am curious as to the downvote. A comment would be helpful and appreciated.
– Stan
May 12 '13 at 1:26
I'm amazed at the number of votes this has garnered but am curious as to the downvote. A comment would be helpful and appreciated.
– Stan
May 12 '13 at 1:26
2
2
@Stan The question got one unexplained downvote as well. Likely it is someone who feels that behind the scenes stuff like this really doesn't belong on this site. Don't take it personally; your answer is excellent.
– Beofett
May 16 '13 at 19:42
@Stan The question got one unexplained downvote as well. Likely it is someone who feels that behind the scenes stuff like this really doesn't belong on this site. Don't take it personally; your answer is excellent.
– Beofett
May 16 '13 at 19:42
|
show 1 more comment
I know everyone thinks it's because of his back, but he says in a podcast that it started as a joke and he knew it was good and he had to keep doing it.
Q: There was a recent video that went around, called "Riker Sits
Down".
Frakes: Yeah, did that go viral or what?
Q: So what happened there?
Frakes: That, at one point in one room there was this chair that had
virtually no back, like sort of a stool with a mini-back and because
I'm 6'4'', I'm able to mount it like a horse... and then it became a
thing and I'm like, until I saw that youtube, I had no concept that
I'd done it that many times. And now I'm so grateful that it's become
a thing.
Q: Were you the only one, did anyone else in the cast sit like that
Frakes: Usually if you got a 'bit' like that in early, no-one could
steal it from you.
Q: Oh, so you knew it was a funny thing when you were doing it?
Frakes: Oh yeah!
NPR: How to Do Everything - Batholiths, Milk and The Full Riker
edited 3 hours ago
Valorum
406k10929523178
answered 5 hours ago
Holly WoodHolly Wood
1
New contributor
Holly Wood is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
1
Nice find... the bit about the chair is from 9:10 minutes in... I don't hear where he says it's a "joke" - more that he was just the first to do it and no-one else was going to nick it... It'd be awesome if you could edit a transcription of that podcast into your answer and just have a link to the podcast as a reference resource though :)
– Jon Clements
4 hours ago
@JonClements - What he says doesn't preclude that it was a 'back thing', he just agrees that it was funny as well.
– Valorum
3 hours ago
@Valorum Sure - and I didn't say that it did. What I was saying is that I find it a little tricky to interpret it as it started as a joke... eg: he thought "I know what'll be funny given that stool and this scene today that'll make my co-workers laugh"... I could probably get behind he did it to start with because it was just easier and it got some chuckles and then he consciously thought to do it now and again for a laugh (and didn't realise how many times he'd actually done it for that purpose or for plain convenience...).
– Jon Clements
1 hour ago
add a comment |
I know everyone thinks it's because of his back, but he says in a podcast that it started as a joke and he knew it was good and he had to keep doing it.
Q: There was a recent video that went around, called "Riker Sits
Down".
Frakes: Yeah, did that go viral or what?
Q: So what happened there?
Frakes: That, at one point in one room there was this chair that had
virtually no back, like sort of a stool with a mini-back and because
I'm 6'4'', I'm able to mount it like a horse... and then it became a
thing and I'm like, until I saw that youtube, I had no concept that
I'd done it that many times. And now I'm so grateful that it's become
a thing.
Q: Were you the only one, did anyone else in the cast sit like that
Frakes: Usually if you got a 'bit' like that in early, no-one could
steal it from you.
Q: Oh, so you knew it was a funny thing when you were doing it?
Frakes: Oh yeah!
NPR: How to Do Everything - Batholiths, Milk and The Full Riker
edited 3 hours ago
Valorum
406k10929523178
answered 5 hours ago
Holly WoodHolly Wood
1
New contributor
Holly Wood is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
1
Nice find... the bit about the chair is from 9:10 minutes in... I don't hear where he says it's a "joke" - more that he was just the first to do it and no-one else was going to nick it... It'd be awesome if you could edit a transcription of that podcast into your answer and just have a link to the podcast as a reference resource though :)
– Jon Clements
4 hours ago
@JonClements - What he says doesn't preclude that it was a 'back thing', he just agrees that it was funny as well.
– Valorum
3 hours ago
@Valorum Sure - and I didn't say that it did. What I was saying is that I find it a little tricky to interpret it as it started as a joke... eg: he thought "I know what'll be funny given that stool and this scene today that'll make my co-workers laugh"... I could probably get behind he did it to start with because it was just easier and it got some chuckles and then he consciously thought to do it now and again for a laugh (and didn't realise how many times he'd actually done it for that purpose or for plain convenience...).
– Jon Clements
1 hour ago
add a comment |
I know everyone thinks it's because of his back, but he says in a podcast that it started as a joke and he knew it was good and he had to keep doing it.
Q: There was a recent video that went around, called "Riker Sits
Down".
Frakes: Yeah, did that go viral or what?
Q: So what happened there?
Frakes: That, at one point in one room there was this chair that had
virtually no back, like sort of a stool with a mini-back and because
I'm 6'4'', I'm able to mount it like a horse... and then it became a
thing and I'm like, until I saw that youtube, I had no concept that
I'd done it that many times. And now I'm so grateful that it's become
a thing.
Q: Were you the only one, did anyone else in the cast sit like that
Frakes: Usually if you got a 'bit' like that in early, no-one could
steal it from you.
Q: Oh, so you knew it was a funny thing when you were doing it?
Frakes: Oh yeah!
NPR: How to Do Everything - Batholiths, Milk and The Full Riker
edited 3 hours ago
Valorum
406k10929523178
answered 5 hours ago
Holly WoodHolly Wood
1
New contributor
Holly Wood is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
I know everyone thinks it's because of his back, but he says in a podcast that it started as a joke and he knew it was good and he had to keep doing it.
Q: There was a recent video that went around, called "Riker Sits
Down".
Frakes: Yeah, did that go viral or what?
Q: So what happened there?
Frakes: That, at one point in one room there was this chair that had
virtually no back, like sort of a stool with a mini-back and because
I'm 6'4'', I'm able to mount it like a horse... and then it became a
thing and I'm like, until I saw that youtube, I had no concept that
I'd done it that many times. And now I'm so grateful that it's become
a thing.
Q: Were you the only one, did anyone else in the cast sit like that
Frakes: Usually if you got a 'bit' like that in early, no-one could
steal it from you.
Q: Oh, so you knew it was a funny thing when you were doing it?
Frakes: Oh yeah!
NPR: How to Do Everything - Batholiths, Milk and The Full Riker
edited 3 hours ago
Valorum
406k10929523178
answered 5 hours ago
Holly WoodHolly Wood
1
New contributor
Holly Wood is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited 3 hours ago
Valorum
406k10929523178
edited 3 hours ago
Valorum
406k10929523178
edited 3 hours ago
Valorum
406k10929523178
406k10929523178
answered 5 hours ago
Holly WoodHolly Wood
1
New contributor
Holly Wood is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered 5 hours ago
Holly WoodHolly Wood
1
answered 5 hours ago
Holly WoodHolly Wood
1
1
New contributor
Holly Wood is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Holly Wood is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Holly Wood is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
1
Nice find... the bit about the chair is from 9:10 minutes in... I don't hear where he says it's a "joke" - more that he was just the first to do it and no-one else was going to nick it... It'd be awesome if you could edit a transcription of that podcast into your answer and just have a link to the podcast as a reference resource though :)
– Jon Clements
4 hours ago
@JonClements - What he says doesn't preclude that it was a 'back thing', he just agrees that it was funny as well.
– Valorum
3 hours ago
@Valorum Sure - and I didn't say that it did. What I was saying is that I find it a little tricky to interpret it as it started as a joke... eg: he thought "I know what'll be funny given that stool and this scene today that'll make my co-workers laugh"... I could probably get behind he did it to start with because it was just easier and it got some chuckles and then he consciously thought to do it now and again for a laugh (and didn't realise how many times he'd actually done it for that purpose or for plain convenience...).
– Jon Clements
1 hour ago
add a comment |
1
Nice find... the bit about the chair is from 9:10 minutes in... I don't hear where he says it's a "joke" - more that he was just the first to do it and no-one else was going to nick it... It'd be awesome if you could edit a transcription of that podcast into your answer and just have a link to the podcast as a reference resource though :)
– Jon Clements
4 hours ago
@JonClements - What he says doesn't preclude that it was a 'back thing', he just agrees that it was funny as well.
– Valorum
3 hours ago
@Valorum Sure - and I didn't say that it did. What I was saying is that I find it a little tricky to interpret it as it started as a joke... eg: he thought "I know what'll be funny given that stool and this scene today that'll make my co-workers laugh"... I could probably get behind he did it to start with because it was just easier and it got some chuckles and then he consciously thought to do it now and again for a laugh (and didn't realise how many times he'd actually done it for that purpose or for plain convenience...).
– Jon Clements
1 hour ago
1
1
Nice find... the bit about the chair is from 9:10 minutes in... I don't hear where he says it's a "joke" - more that he was just the first to do it and no-one else was going to nick it... It'd be awesome if you could edit a transcription of that podcast into your answer and just have a link to the podcast as a reference resource though :)
– Jon Clements
4 hours ago
Nice find... the bit about the chair is from 9:10 minutes in... I don't hear where he says it's a "joke" - more that he was just the first to do it and no-one else was going to nick it... It'd be awesome if you could edit a transcription of that podcast into your answer and just have a link to the podcast as a reference resource though :)
– Jon Clements
4 hours ago
@JonClements - What he says doesn't preclude that it was a 'back thing', he just agrees that it was funny as well.
– Valorum
3 hours ago
@JonClements - What he says doesn't preclude that it was a 'back thing', he just agrees that it was funny as well.
– Valorum
3 hours ago
@Valorum Sure - and I didn't say that it did. What I was saying is that I find it a little tricky to interpret it as it started as a joke... eg: he thought "I know what'll be funny given that stool and this scene today that'll make my co-workers laugh"... I could probably get behind he did it to start with because it was just easier and it got some chuckles and then he consciously thought to do it now and again for a laugh (and didn't realise how many times he'd actually done it for that purpose or for plain convenience...).
– Jon Clements
1 hour ago
@Valorum Sure - and I didn't say that it did. What I was saying is that I find it a little tricky to interpret it as it started as a joke... eg: he thought "I know what'll be funny given that stool and this scene today that'll make my co-workers laugh"... I could probably get behind he did it to start with because it was just easier and it got some chuckles and then he consciously thought to do it now and again for a laugh (and didn't realise how many times he'd actually done it for that purpose or for plain convenience...).
– Jon Clements
1 hour ago
add a comment |
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6
The Riker Maneuver.
– Xantec
May 10 '13 at 13:30
4
He positively straddles them, doesn't he?
– Paul D. Waite
May 10 '13 at 14:33
17
That 'stepping over the chair' is a cowboy move and it's how a real man sits down. It doesn't hurt to be 6'4".
– Morgan
May 10 '13 at 15:46
4
Wow, TNG! We always had the Picard sit-down and pull uniform maneuver and now this too!
– AthomSfere
May 10 '13 at 16:34
1
Riker also had a curious way of walking with his head down, like he's walking into a storm. Especially evident when he exits a room.
– RobertF
Nov 18 '13 at 3:40