Exploring the Future of STAR TREK: DISCOVERY's Jett Reno: A Chat with Tig Notaro

Tig Notaro as Jett Reno in STAR TREK: DISCOVERY. Image: Paramount+.

“I always tell people it just feels like ‘Tig in space,’” Tig Notaro quips about her character Jett Reno on Star Trek: Discovery. Reno, the sharp-tongued, nickname-slinging engineer, has become a fan favorite, with her unexpected revelations and witty banter. Whether calling someone “Bobcat” or reminiscing about her past as a bookseller, Reno’s quirks have endeared her to viewers and become a staple of the series.

In an interview with Indiewire, Notaro shared her hopes for the future of her character. She said in addition to being open to appear in the upcoming show set at Starfleet Academy, she would entertain other possibilities as well.

“Maybe the full-blown Jett Reno spinoff. I’m hoping that I can continue on somewhere, somehow, because I do feel like it is such a fun character, and I have been very spoiled by the writers and everybody. I’ve had such a great time, and I just hope that there is a future for Jett Reno somewhere,” she said. 

Notaro’s connection to her character runs deep. She relates to Reno’s varied past and eclectic career history, something she herself has experienced. 

“I feel like it makes sense for the character’s scrappiness, that there’s been so many different paths that she’s gone down, and different jobs and experiences that, again, I relate to as a person. I feel like I’ve done so many different odd jobs that I was never on a clear path,” she said. These diverse experiences have shaped both Notaro and Reno, adding layers to the character that fans appreciate.

Notaro’s path to Star Trek: Discovery is a story in itself. In the ’90s, she and Alex Kurtzman, now a key figure in the Star Trek franchise, were both working as PAs in Hollywood. 

“We both worked for Sam Raimi’s production company,” Notaro recalled. “Over the years, we were both assistants, and he obviously went on to bigger and better things, even within the company as a writer, and then executive producer, and showrunner for different things like Xena and Hercules.” 

Their paths crossed again when Kurtzman brought Notaro in for a meeting about Jett Reno, leading to her unexpected immersion in the Star Trek universe.

Notaro finds joy in her role overall, even if she does not like the technobabble Star Trek is known for. 

“No, no, no. I do not. I struggle through it, but I remind everyone I was doing my best and endlessly thankful for the patience of the cast and crew,” she admits. 

Her dual career as a stand-up comedian and actor adds to the balancing act, yet she manages to thrive in both worlds. For Notaro, Star Trek represents an ideal vision of the future. 

“I feel like it represents what the world could and should be,” she said. Notaro’s early exposure to the original series with her brother instilled a sense of hope and positivity, values she finds crucial today. “It is really such an honor to be a part of a show that is putting so much positivity and hope out there, which it’s always needed, but I feel like it’s so crucial these days.”

Inclusivity and representation in Star Trek have always been paramount, a legacy that continues to evolve. 

Notaro reflected on this significance: “I think that the older I get, the more I really realize the importance of — how can you not understand the importance of? — visibility and inclusivity? I just think about how amazing that would have been as a kid to see the extent that Star Trek has been inclusive and the visibility there. It’s really remarkable, and so another source of pride.”