Actor Jerry O’Connell on Star Trek: Lower Decks: “We are a celebration of all things Trek”
LEFT: "Star Trek: Lower Decks Season Two Special Screening & Block Party" -- Jerry O'Connell celebrates with the cast and crew of Star Trek: Lower Decks, who gathered on August 4, 2021 at the CBS Studio Center in Los Angeles, CA., for the "Star Trek: Lower Decks Season Two Special Screening & Block Party." Photo: Sarah Coulter/Paramount+©2021 Paramount+. All Rights Reserved. RIGHT: Pictured: Jerry O'Connell as Commander Ransom of the CBS All Access series STAR TREK: LOWER DECKS. Photo Cr: Best Possible Screen Grab CBS 2020 CBS Interactive, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
AUGUST 10, 2021 - With just one more day until new Star Trek appears, Jerry O’Connell has chimed in with his thoughts about Lower Decks season two, in an interview posted to TrekMovie.com. In the interview, he shares his thoughts on the upcoming journeys of the U.S.S. Cerritos, as well as the acceptance the offbeat show has found from an initially skeptical fan base.
O’Connell said, “When we went to Comic-Con two years ago I think people–especially Trek fans–were very cautious of us. [...] The threats I endured, ‘You better not be insulting us!’ But from what I’ve read, it’s been really well received.”
O’Connell then summed up how he thinks Lower Decks managed to win the hearts of Trekkies everywhere, saying, “We are a real homage to all things Trek. […] We are a celebration of all things Trek. We are Starfleet. We are not outsiders making fun of Starfleet.”
Reflecting on the future of Commander Jack Ransom, O’Connell offered a glimpse of some of the relational dynamics in store for the Cerritos’ First Officer: “I’m really pleased to say that a lot of my storyline this season is with Mariner, with Tawny [Newsome]. I’m going to really push her as far as I can. And I think it’s because Commander Ransom sees real promise in Mariner. […] It’s a fun season that I have with her.”
O’Connell offered a few other tidbits in the interview, including his thoughts on who can bench more, Jack Ransom or himself, and his thoughts on living with another Starfleet First Officer: his wife, Strange New Worlds’ Rebecca Romijn. O’Connell’s excitement at being part of the Star Trek Universe really shines through, and you can soak in that excitement now at TrekMovie.com.
Jack Brown is a contributing writer for Daily Star Trek News on the Roddenberry Podcast Network. Jack teaches at a small film school in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and also helps to manage his wife's career as a novelist and speaker. In his spare time he writes fiction, cooks, and watches classic movies.
