Jean-Luc Picard

Captain Jean-Luc Picard, played by Patrick Stewart, is a character in the TV series Star Trek: The Next Generation. He commands the USS Enterprise-D.

He also appears in the four TNG movies, in the last three as the captain of a new starship, the USS Enterprise-E. He also makes a cameo appearance in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's pilot episode, "Emissary".

Early life and career

According to his personnel file seen in the episode "Conundrum", Jean-Luc Picard was born in La Barre, France, Earth on 13 July 2305 to Maurice and Yvette Gessard Picard. He grew up on his family's vineyard and constantly dreamed of leaving and joining Starfleet. He was consequently bullied as a young boy by his older brother, Robert.

As a child, he yearned for adventure and caused "quite a stir" by leaving his family's ancestral vineyard and applying to Starfleet Academy. The episode "Coming of Age" establishes that Picard failed his first entrance exam into Starfleet Academy, but was subsequently admitted. He became the first freshman to win the Academy marathon at Danula II. Picard graduated in 2327.

This was a turning point for the young Picard, forcing him to realize that his arrogance was the main reason he was nearly killed.

Picard's prosthetic heart is later replaced twice: in 2365 because of defects in the originally installed model ("Samaritan Snare"); and in 2369 because of damage sustained when Picard is shot in the chest point-blank with a Lenarian compressed tetryon beam weapon ("Tapestry").

Picard served as first officer aboard the USS Stargazer (NCC-2893) in 2333 and became commanding officer upon the death of his captain in battle. For the next 22 years, Picard commanded the Stargazer on a mission of exploration.

During his command of the Stargazer, Captain Picard won the 2355 Battle of Maxia against a Ferengi starship. During this battle, Picard devised a new tactic that later became known as the "Picard maneuver", which resulted in the loss of the Ferengi vessel with all hands. However, the Stargazer suffered irreparable damage during the battle and had to be abandoned ("The Battle"). Because of standard Federation Procedure, Picard was court-martialed for the Stargazer's loss, but was exonerated ("The Measure of a Man").

Star Trek: The Next Generation

Picard is given command of the new Galaxy class USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) in 2364 by order of Rear Admiral Nora Satie ("All Good Things..."). The crew's first mission is to investigate the mystery surrounding Farpoint Station ("Encounter at Farpoint").

En route to Farpoint, Picard is inadvertently called upon as a "representative" for the human race to stand trial before the enigmatic and omnipotent Q, who accuses humanity of being a "dangerously-savage child race" and threatens to take away humanity's capability of space travel as punishment. Picard persuades Q to test humanity, and Q chooses as the test's first stage the crew's performance at Farpoint ("Encounter at Farpoint"). The test does not end, however, until seven years later, when Q stages another trial. Q increases the stakes — failure will mean humanity's annihilation before it even began — but Picard, on humanity's behalf, passes the test ("All Good Things...").

In 2365, Q facilitates Starfleet's first contact with the Borg by hurling the Enterprise 7,000 light-years away, near the presence of a Borg cube ship. With the Enterprise moments away from being captured by the pursuing Borg ship, Picard pleas for Q's help, which the omnipotent Q grants. The encounter cost the ship 18 crewmembers, and serves to warn the United Federation of Planets of the Borg threat ("Q Who?").

The following year, Picard grants Klingon Chancellor K'mpec's request that Picard serve as the impartial Arbiter of Succession in the transfer of power upon K'mpec's imminent death. Soon afterward, Picard scrutinizes two challengers: Duras and Gowron. However, before he can render a decision, Duras kills Klingon Ambassador K'Ehleyr, the mate of security chief Worf; in turn, Worf kills Duras ("Reunion").

In late December 2366 - early January 2367 (circa stardate 43989.1), Captain Picard and the Enterprise-D engage a Borg cube heading for Earth. During these engagements, Picard is abducted and assimilated by the Borg. Designating him "Locutus of Borg" (Latin: "having spoken" or contextually, "he who has spoken"), the Borg use him as a representative in its attempt to force Earth's unconditional surrender and as a prelude to assimilating it and the entire Federation.

Picard's assimilation provides the Borg access to all of his experience and knowledge, including Starfleet tactics and technology. This leads to the Battle of Wolf 359, during which one Borg cube destroys 39 of forty Starfleet starships assembled to halt its advance. After Dr. Beverly Crusher's partial removal of the Borg implants, parts of Picard's personality break through. Operating on Picard's monosyllabic advice — "Sleep" — Lieutenant Commander Data uses Locutus' link to the "hive mind" to command the invading Borg to enter into a regenerative state. This causes the cube's power systems to overload and destroy the cube ("The Best of Both Worlds").

File:Picard and Sisko.jpg

Picard meets Sisko

After the Borg incident, Picard spends time visiting his brother, sister-in-law and nephew in France. The experience proves cathartic, forcing him to confront the guilt he feels about his forced role in destroying the Starfleet forces at Wolf 359. He also is able to partially reconcile long-simmering differences with his brother, Robert ("Family").

Picard is relieved of command in 2369 to train for and carry out a covert mission against the Cardassians. He is captured and held prisoner for interrogation by Gul Madred. These interrogations give way to systematic torture. During this time, Captain Edward Jellico commands the Enterprise. After gaining a tactical upperhand against a group of Cardassians, Jellico arranges for Picard's release, after which Picard returns to command the Enterprise ("Chain of Command").

Several weeks later, Picard and the Enterprise travelled to Deep Space 9 to help establish the Starfleet presence there. He met Benjamin Sisko in person for the first time, although Sisko had been on the Saratoga at Wolf 359 while Picard was Locutus. Sisko was hostile to Picard, as his wife Jennifer had been killed aboard the Saratoga. ("Emissary" (DS9))

Picard's artificial heart is damaged when he is attacked at a diplomatic conference. The heart fails, causing Picard to hover between life and death. Q apparently comes to him in this state and offers to let him change the mistake that resulted in his need for the artificial heart. He takes Q's offer, avoiding the fight and keeping his heart. However, Q's glimpse of his banal career with his biological heart makes Picard realize that the loss of his heart was the turning point of his life; Picard tells Q that he would rather die than live that life Q shows him. "Returning" to the bar once again, Picard antagonizes the Naussicans and is stabbed through the chest, at which point Picard, on the Enterprise, takes a turn toward improvement. Picard is uncertain as to whether Q really intervened or his "vision" was just a near-death experience ("Tapestry").

Picard's other accomplishments and encounters during the Enterprise's first seven years include helping save the Bynar homeworld ("11001001"); making first contact with the Velara III "microbrains" ("Home Soil"), the Malcorians ("First Contact"), and the Cytherians ("The Nth Degree"); being offered (and declining) the job of Starfleet Academy commandant ("Coming of Age"); stopping an alien conspiracy to take over Starfleet ("Conspiracy"); making contact with the Romulans after a decades-long silence ("The Neutral Zone"); establishing Data's basic "human" rights ("The Measure of a Man"); discovering an Iconian outpost ("Contagion"); being mistaken for a god by the Mintakins ("Who Watches the Watchers?"); destroying the 27th century Tox Uthat weapon ("Captain's Holiday"); making it possible for Ambassador Sarek to complete his final mission ("Sarek"); stopping rogue captain Benjamin Maxwell ("The Wounded"); freeing the people of Ventax II from servitude under Ardra ("Devil's Due"); stopping Romulan involvement in the Klingon Civil War ("Redemption"); making the first successful communication with the Children of Tama ("Darmok"); discovering Ambassador Spock's whereabouts on Romulus ("Unification"); living thirty subjective years in the life of a Kataanian in a 25-minute time span ("The Inner Light"); stopping terrorists from obtaining trilithium resin ("Starship Mine"); and helping discover the origin of life in the galaxy ("The Chase").

TNG-era films

Star Trek: Generations

See also: Star Trek: Generations

In 2371, the Enterprise is pulled into an elaborate scheme hatched by Dr. Tolian Soran, who is attempting to re-enter the spatial anomaly known as the Nexus. The chase ends at Veridian III and Picard beams down to confront him. Soran's plan requires the destruction of the Veridian star, which will alter gravity and steer the Nexus ribbon toward him. In one timeline, Soran succeeds in destroying the star, and both he and Picard are swept up by the Nexus.

Within the Nexus, Picard encounters an "echo" of Guinan, once herself a Nexus denizen. She leads him to Captain James T. Kirk, who enters the realm during the Enterprise-B's maiden voyage. Picard convinces Kirk to leave the Nexus to help him stop Soran. In an apparent temporal paradox, Kirk and Picard appear on Veridian III before Soran can destroy the star. The two starship captains prevent Soran's star-destroying missile from launching, causing it to explode on the pad and to kill the nearby Soran; the Nexus ribbon passes harmlessly overhead. However, Kirk is killed during the fighting.

While Picard confronts Soran, the Enterprise confronts the Duras sisters and is engaged by their ship. Although the Enterprise destroys Lursa's and B'Etor's ship, the Enterprise's warp coolant system is seriously damaged, building up to a warp core breach. Commander William Riker orders the crew evacuated to the saucer section and commences a saucer separation. The explosion that destroys the stardrive section damages the saucer, causing it to crash virtually uncontrolled onto Veridian III. The saucer is not salvageable.

After the Enterprise's surviving crew are rescued, Picard is given command of the Enterprise-E, a new Sovereign class starship.

Star Trek: First Contact

See also: Star Trek: First Contact

Starfleet commissions the USS Enterprise, NCC-1701-E, on 28 October 2372 under Picard's command. In 2373, space station Deep Space 5 detects a single Borg cube heading toward Earth. Starfleet Command believes placing Picard in a confrontation with the Borg may introduce an "unstable element" to the encounter; Admiral Hayes orders the Enterprise to the Romulan Neutral Zone. However, after receiving a troubling transmission from the fleet in combat with the Borg cube, Picard orders the Enterprise to Earth to support the overwhelmed Starfleet defenders. Picard assumes command of the defending ships, and his residual "link" with the Borg enables the Enterprise and the other task force ships to destroy the Borg cube near Earth (Picard's knowledge told him what area to specifically attack on the cube).

Prior to the cube's destruction, a smaller sphere ship launches from inside the cube and creates a temporal anomaly that sends it 300 years into Earth's past. The Enterprise follows the sphere back in time by riding in its temporal wake, and manages to stop the sphere from preventing Zefram Cochrane's historic first contact with the Vulcans. The sphere attempts to achieve this goal by destroying a missile complex in Bozeman, Montana, where Cochrane is conducting tests on his warp ship. The Enterprise destroys the sphere, but a group of Borg beam aboard at the last minute and begin assimilating the ship.

Picard becomes obsessive in his efforts to fight and destroy the Borg. Lily Sloane — Cochrane's assistant, brought aboard for medical treatment — confronts Picard and likens the situation to Captain Ahab's self-destructive pursuit of Moby Dick. Picard subsequently gives in to Beverly Crusher's and Worf's suggestion to destroy the ship — and the Borg with it. Before he can evacuate with the rest of his crew, however, Picard's latent link to the Borg makes him aware of Data's presence. Picard resolves to rescue Data, who is a Borg prisoner.

The Borg Queen confronts Picard in the engine room. Picard concludes that the Borg created Locutus so that the Queen would have a counterpart, and Picard volunteers to take up that role in exchange for Data's release. Data's initial refusal and suggestion that he has sided with the Borg are a ruse; while the Queen is distracted, he smashes one of the tanks on the side of the warp core, releasing plasma coolant which destroys the Queen's organic components, essentially killing her.

Picard and his senior officers wait in the shadows to witness Cochrane's successful first contact with the Vulcans, then transport back to the ship and return to the 24th century.

Star Trek: Insurrection

See also: Star Trek: Insurrection

In 2375, the Enterprise travels to the "Briar Patch" to help recover Data, who suffered a malfunction while on a mission to secretly observe the apparently technologically undeveloped Ba'ku. In diagnosing the cause of Data's malfunction, the crew uncovers a plot to forcibly relocate the Ba'ku from their planet. The crew quickly discovers that the Ba'ku world's rings contain metaphasic particles with significant healing properties; the Son'a have a device that will collect those particles but will render the planet uninhabitable.

The crew begins to benefit from the rings' metagenic properties: old injuries begin to rejuvenate and crewmembers begin to act younger and with more energy. Meanwhile, Picard confronts the Son'a leader, Ru'afo, and his chief Starfleet backer, Admiral Dougherty, about the forced relocation. Picard eventually leads several of his crew in an attempt to move the Ba'ku from their village in order to delay their relocation. Eventually captured, he reveals to Dougherty that Beverly Crusher's scans of Son'a and Ba'ku reveal them to be the same species: the Son'a were banished years ago and have returned on a mission of vengeance. Fed up with Dougherty's kowtowing to Picard, Ru'afo kills the admiral and orders the particle collector activated. Picard transports to the collector and activates its self-destruct. He is saved by a last-second beam-out by the Enterprise, but Ru'afo is killed when the collector explodes.

Star Trek: Nemesis

See also: Star Trek: Nemesis

In 2379, Vice Admiral Kathryn Janeway orders the Enterprise to Romulus to investigate peace overtures from newly-empowered Praetor Shinzon.

A DNA test reveals that Shinzon is a clone of Picard, created to replace Picard at some point and act as a Romulan spy. A change in Romulan government, however, instead led to his banishment on Remus. The Romulan cloning process, along with Shinzon's accelerated aging, means that Shinzon's health is precarious; he needs a complete transfusion of Picard's blood to survive, and Shinzon kidnaps Picard to this end. Data rescues the captain, and the Enterprise leaves Romulan space to rendezvous with a flotilla meant to intercept and stop Shinzon from unleashing a devastating thalaron weapon on Earth.

Shinzon's ship, the Scimitar, attacks the Enterprise before it makes its rendezvous, seriously damaging it and two Romulan warbirds that come to the Enterprise's aid. Picard orders the Enterprise to ram the Scimitar and beams aboard to destroy the thalaron weapon. Data then boards to help Picard. The android sends Picard back to the Enterprise with an emergency transporter device but dies when he destroys the thalaron weapon and the Scimitar along with it.

The Enterprise arrives at dry dock shortly thereafter. According to a scene cut from the film, and therefore not canon, Picard and his ship's next mission will take them to the Denab System, a place "where no one has gone before". Interestingly, Denab is also a planetary system in the fictional Star Wars Expanded Universe.

Personal life

Throughout his service, Picard often enjoys Earl Grey tea when he finds a moment to relax, reflect, or study. Picard is also something of a "Renaissance man", having diverse interests, including classic literature, music, archaeology, physics and celestial mechanics, fencing, and horseback riding.

A fan of Berlioz, among other composers, Picard's interest in music is most evident in his playing of a Ressikan flute, often with computer and occasionally with human accompaniment. He learns to play the instrument while interfaced with a space probe that infused him with the life experiences and memories of an alien man and his civilization, long since destroyed ("The Inner Light"). His love of music and theatre, particularly Shakespeare, is shown throughout the series by his tutelage of android Data, instructing Data through such works how to "feel" and to evoke a human response. Through this advice, Data believes, he can better understand "the human condition."

Picard also mentors Data's development as an officer. He similarly guides child prodigy Wesley Crusher's development as a young man and potential officer. Picard invites Ro Laren, court-martialed and convicted for the deaths of several crewmembers on another starship, to join the Enterprise crew, adopting something of a paternal role to her; her greatest regret about joining the Maquis underground is that it meant disappointing Picard. Picard's involvement with Klingon politics and unusual (among humans) understanding of Klingon culture lead him to develop a close relationship with Worf, going so far as to stand alongside Worf when he confronts the Klingon High Council about his father's supposed treason.

When Picard was young, he suffered from Shalaft's Syndrome, a rare birth defect sometimes found in Human males, that significantly enhanced his sensitivity to sound to the point where the slightest whisper caused him severe pain. Male members in Picard's family are born with this defect.

Family

By 2366, both of Picard's parents were deceased and he was estranged from his older brother, Robert. While the Enterprise was in spacedock undergoing repairs after the incident at Wolf 359, he returned to his ancestral home in La Barre, France for the first time in years ("Family"). There he met his sister-in-law, Marie, and his young nephew, René, who dreamt of becoming a Starfleet officer just like his uncle. Tension between the two brothers escalated into a brawl, but the two reconciled after Picard confessed his feelings of helplessness and guilt over his assimilation by the Borg. His brother in turn confessed his feelings of resentment for constantly being overshadowed by his over-achieving sibling. The two eventually parted on good terms and with mutual respect.

In 2371, Picard received a message from Marie that Robért and René had been killed in a fire (Star Trek: Generations). Picard was initially distraught by the news, confessing his regret for never having a family of his own because now there would be no more Picards, but he becomes at peace when he meets René in the Nexus.

The Picard family has some Spanish blood as well; one of the soldiers in the infamous Pueblo Revolt was named Javier Maribona-Picard. This fact is later used against Jean-Luc in the episode "Journey's End", by Native American colonists in the Demilitarized Zone who are wary of how the Federation will treat them.

A dynamic character

Unlike prior science fiction heroes, who tended to be stereotypical good guys, the primary characters in Star Trek are often shown with flaws. From the beginning of the series, we start to see Picard is an impressive figure, but not perfect. Throughout the series, Picard's strong sense of discipline and duty, coupled with his refined tastes, can make him seem aloof. During the course of "Encounter at Farpoint", we learn right away that Picard is uncomfortable with children (although he does care for them). He habitually takes his meals alone, is rarely seen in Ten-Forward ("Allegiance"), and consistently refuses invitations to join the long-running poker game amongst the other ship officers. A metamorph who came in contact with Picard recognized immediately the apparent aloneness and isolation of his lifestyle ("The Perfect Mate"). Another love interest, Lt. Cmdr. Darren, called him isolated ("Lessons").

Gradually, however, Picard seems to soften, beginning with his reconciling the experience of being turned into a Borg, along with his difficult relationship with his brother ("Family"). He seems to overcome his lack of experience in dealing with children in episodes "Suddenly Human" and "Disaster" One episode in particular, "The Inner Light" shows Picard having children and even grandchildren during the course of his confinement within a simulated reality.

The meetings Picard has with Q often serve as impetus for personal growth, although Picard would never admit to these meetings being anything other than a dangerous nuisance. The episode "Tapestry" shows Q allowing Picard to relive and change an incident of indescretion from his youth, only to decide later that the moment of personal weakness made him more willing to take the risks necessary to become such an effective officer.

The series finale, "All Good Things...," shows Picard having to deal with multiple incarnations of himself, existing in several timelines, and having to confront the results of his decisions and character. At the end of the episode, Picard chooses to join the regular officer's card game. While the meaning of this gesture is left ambiguous, in light of the episode as a whole, it seems to indicate a newfound commitment to his human relationships.

Dixon Hill

One of Picard's favorite holodeck activities is playing the title character of the metafictional Dixon Hill detective novels. Hill seems to be an homage to fictional detectives Philip Marlowe and Sam Spade.

The adventures of "Dixon Hill" take place in a holodeck version of 1940s San Francisco, and is a welcome diversion for Picard, who first plays the program alone. Later, Data, Beverly Crusher, Guinan and others become interested and join in as "Hill"'s friends. Dixon Hill characters include Hill's secretary, Madeline, who calls him "Dix"; bartender Rex; and criminal bosses Cyrus Redblock and Nicky the Nose. ("The Big Goodbye", "Manhunt", Star Trek: First Contact)

The Star Trek novel A Hard Rain takes place almost completely in Dixon Hill's world, with only brief interludes taking place in the "real" world of Star Trek. If not for certain oddities (such as dead people coming back to life), the novel reads almost like a normal detective novel.

In the Star Trek: Enterprise episode Cogenitor, a list of movies from the ship's database includes "Dixon Hill and the Black Orchid".

Relationships

Anij

The metagenic particles orbiting the Ba'ku world cause the 300-year-old Anij to appear much younger. Picard is attracted to this village leader and suggests that he may use some of his several hundred days of accumulated leave with her (Star Trek: Insurrection). They had a romantic interlude in the movie "Insurrection" when Anij used her special powers (obtained from exposure to "metagenic radiation" from the rings of the Ba'ku planet) to slow down the passage of time in an area enclosing both of them.

Beverly Crusher

After Jack Crusher's death, Picard and Beverly Crusher grow to become close friends. Throughout the series, there is a persistent hint of romantic attraction between them. Their affection, however, is never admitted until a psi-wave device, which causes them to sense each other's thoughts, is implanted in them by the Prytt. After confronting these feelings, Picard suggests that they might not be afraid to pursue a relationship. However, Crusher disagrees, and they remain good friends. ("Attached").

Picard and Crusher share a kiss in the captain's ready room in "All Good Things...", the series finale. However, in Q's alternate future, Picard and Crusher have married but divorced (although she keeps Picard's name, and they are still friends). It is unclear if this possible future dissuaded either or both of them from moving beyond friendship. However, there is no indication in the films that they have sought a romance.

Neela Daren

Picard has a brief relationship with Lieutenant Commander Neela Daren, head of the Enterprise-D's stellar sciences department. However, when Daren's life is endangered on an away mission, Picard realizes that his responsibilities as captain and need sometimes to order subordinates into hazardous situations make having a relationship with a crewmember untenable ("Lessons").

"A. F."

While at Starfleet Academy as a cadet, Picard carved "A. F."'s initials into one of Boothby's prized trees. Picard attributes his third-year failure of organic chemistry to A. F.'s influence (TNG: "The Game").

Kamala

Kamala, a female metamorph being transported on the Enterprise, attracts many members of the Enterprise crew. She tries to separate herself from the crew but is forced to spend time with Picard to teach him of political rituals. Picard and Kamala fall for each other, but Kamala is promised to another and she picks her duty to her race above her love for Picard. (TNG: "The Perfect Mate").

Jenice Manheim

As a young officer, Picard failed to arrive for a date with Jenice in Paris. When he reconnects with her years later, after she has married Dr. Paul Manheim, Picard explains that he was afraid of losing both her and himself and therefore did not meet her. Jenice asserts that she still loves — and always will love — Picard, but the captain does not reciprocate ("We'll Always Have Paris").

Vash

While vacationing on Risa, Picard teams up with the unscrupulous archeologist-profiteer Vash to find the Tox Uthat, a 27th century weapon capable of stopping a star's fusion. The two share a passionate night, but Picard never entirely trusts Vash ("Captain's Holiday"). They go their separate ways from Risa, but meet again when the Enterprise-D hosts an archeological conference. Vash is miffed that Picard never told any of his senior officers about what happened on Risa, although Deanna Troi explains Picard's silence as being a consequence of him being "a very private man." Picard goes on to assert that sharing such details with his crew would be "inappropriate."

Q appears and, noting Picard's obvious affection for Vash, recreates the adventures of Robin Hood with Picard, as "Robin," successfully taking on the task of rescuing Vash, as "Maid Marian". Vash garners Q's interest and accepts his offer to be her guide across the universe; Picard and Vash part with a kiss ("Qpid"). When Vash encounters former Enterprise crewmember Miles O'Brien aboard Deep Space Nine, her first question is about Jean-Luc's well-being (DS9: "Q-Less").

Miranda Vigo

Daimon Bok resequences Jason Vigo's DNA to make it seem that Jason is Picard's son. Bok's plan is predicated on the fact that Picard at some point had a relationship with Jason's mother, Miranda Vigo ("Bloodlines"). (It is unknown whether Miranda is related to the Stargazer's weapons officer, also named Vigo.)

Key episodes and milestones

Episodes in which Picard's character is expanded or takes a key role:

• "Encounter at Farpoint" - pilot episode
• "Coming of Age" - declines promotion to head of Starfleet Academy
• "The Measure of a Man" - defends Data's rights as a sentient being
• "Samaritan Snare" - reveals he has a prosthetic heart
• "Who Watches the Watchers?" - encounters an alien race that believes he is a god
• "The Best of Both Worlds" - abducted and assimilated by the Borg, becoming "Locutus of Borg"
• "Family" - resolves issues he has with his brother
• "Unification" - meets (and mind-melds with) Spock on Romulus
• "The Inner Light" - relives the life experience of a man on an extinct world
• "Chain of Command" - captured and tortured by Cardassians
• "Tapestry" - Q shows Picard's alternate life with different personal choices
• "Lessons" - falls in love with subordinate
• "The Chase" - discovers common DNA heritage among different humanoid species
• "Bloodlines" - discovers possible son
• "Attached" - abducted by aliens with Dr. Crusher; both altered mentally and share intimate thoughts
• "All Good Things..." - saves humanity from disappearing
• Star Trek: Generations - meets Kirk in temporal nexus
• Star Trek: First Contact - encounters Borg Queen
• Star Trek: Nemesis - meets his clone, Shinzon

Trivia

• In almost every episode from season three onward, various crewmembers can be seen pulling down their shirts. Because this action was popularized by Picard, it informally became known as the "Picard maneuver", a reference to a famous action taken by Picard during an encounter with the Ferengi while serving as captain of the USS Stargazer.

• Patrick Stewart was spotted for the part by producer Bob Justman. Gene Roddenberry took some time to be persuaded, as he still wished to cast a French person in the role.

• The Alternative-rock band The Refreshments had a hit song in 1996 called "Banditos." The lyrics of the chorus are "Give your ID card to the border guard/Yeah your alias says you're Captain Jean-Luc Picard of the United Federation of Planets/'Cause he won't speak English anyway."

• In 2001, the artist DarkMateria released "The Picard Song" [1], a string of Picard and TNG quotes, set to a techno beat in a manner to sound as if Picard is rapping. The song spread across the web very quickly, also spawning several parodies and tributes, with popular ones appearing on YTMND and YouTube.

• Both Captains Kirk and Picard are mentioned in the lyrics of "Weird Al" Yankovic's song "White & Nerdy", which also references the Klingon language, and a thinly veiled reference to Picard's preference for Earl Grey Tea.

External links

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• Biography of Jean-Luc Picard at the official Star Trek website
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