How Brent Spiner became Bob Wheeler on "Night Court"
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- čas přidán 10. 03. 2019
- Before he was the android Data on Star Trek: The Next Generation, Brent Spiner was Bob Wheeler on Night Court, a farmer from Yugoslavia. Brent explained the origins of the character and explained how it led him to his role as Data.
This panel was moderated by Larry Nemecek.
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As much as I liked him as Data, there is a special place in my heart for Bob Wheeler.
"...we ate the Necco wafers" is one of the greatest lines ever.
The Wheelers’ worm stampede had me on the floor laughing!
Those of us who love our Necco wafers understand exactly where he was coming from. You don't let Neccos go to waste.
@@kingbeauregard I’ve never tasted Necco wafers. Don’t think they’re sold in Canada. Are they a sweet wafer or just like a cracker?
"Why you don't charge for that strip search is a mystery to me". 🤣😂
@@Momcat_maggiefelinefan"We were seduced by the glamour of it all."
How many people besides me would like to hear Brent Spiner say “Resistance is futile” in Bob Wheeler’s voice?
NOBODY
That would be hilarious
Pretty sure he’d say “few-tile”.
🤣
I have known Brent for 60 years. He has always been funny. We were in the same drama class. He got famous. I became a government bureaucrat where my audience had lower standards
LOL, from a county Gov't employee
The government does tend to do that, yeah. I hear ya.
"We in the federal government do not have a sense of humor that we're aware of". [/NotABureaucrat]
he's a one hit wonder just like Mark Hamill, george takei and Levar Burton.
@@DefiantSix Tim Russ, who played Tuvok on Voyager (as you may already know), also had a bit part on a sitcom playing a deadpan FBI agent.
I met Brent last year at Boston Fan Expo. My first words to him before we had our picture taken was "Bob Wheeler you Yugoslavian recidivist knucklehead, what the heck brings you by?" He couldn't been more gracious and funny.
I never laughed harder than seeing him do Bob Wheeler on Night Court. I still chuckle when I think of it.
I still laugh watching the reruns. I know what’s coming and I start to laugh.
I wish the powers that be would put them (Bob and June Wheeler) in other shows.
Imagine them in Hawaii 5-O they move to Hawaii and open a lemonade stand on the beach. They just stand there during a shoot out. Hurricane comes and you see them strapping themselves to a palm tree. No big deal.
Or on a comedy where they become the new neighbors.
Something stupid like that.
@@auntiem873 Oh that would be great, especially on the old Hawaii Five-0 with Jack Lord. Those episodes would have been gold. Having them trying to explain what they saw would be hilarious.
My favorite episodes of night court. Just watched a clip of the Wheeler's that popped up earlier today
So bad the DDV are so expensive. can't afford them sadly.
I just watched it previous and I’m wiping my eyes still.
"We were seduced by the glamour of it all." I still use that to this day..😂😂
Love that line as well. 🙂 Another one of my favorite Spiner lines was as Data when Pulaski asks him what the difference between pronunciations of his his name is. "One is correct, the other is not."
There’s an image. The two of you haunched over a vat of pink, juicy wrigglers.
I guess I just don’t have the knack for animal husbandry.
@@aspiceronni4462, he actually said, “One is my name. The other is not.”
czcams.com/video/M1tHYx_sr6o/video.html
WHY?
I met Brent at a convention in Tennessee and I asked him a question that if Q was putting humanity on trial again, how screwed would we be if Bob Wheeler was the one defending humanity......he said "very" lol
That's too funny. 😆
That's awesome! lol
Considering how these guys probably get the same basic questions over and over and over, I'll bet they appreciate those hypothetical ones from time to time, or when you ask them about a part they did OTHER than the one that they are super famous for. Like, for me, "Excalibur" is probably the greatest King Arthur legend movie ever made and it was one of Patrick Stewart's first movies too, so I'd ask him something about that movie.
We are Soooo Dead!!!!!
Q would have deep sympathy for Bob.
"The illegal detonation of poultry."
lol
godawful smell of meringue, the infernal peeping...
So what are would chicks are now...
@@obiwankanobi675 quiche...
I think 5O9B is in the books somewhere
The Wheelers and the guy with Tortoise Nervosa were the funniest people to come through the courtroom.
The guy with Tortoise Nervosa is still on the way...
The very first time I saw Data on TNG, I yelled out to my son and cats “Oh my god, it’s Bob Wheeler from Night Court! He even does the Bob voice in an episode of TNG when Data is malfunctioning! Love his acting in everything I’ve seen. Doctor Oken is a great role and well acted. Carry on, Mr. Spiner!
He is a wildly talented actor. The one ST:TNG episode where he plays Data, Lor and Dr. Noonyan Soong (sp) really shows his versatility. Also in "Fist full of Datas" where he played a number of different characters against each other. Just an amazing talent.
Yes!!
He is a very talented actor. His Data character is so unlike his real personality. Dara was my favorite in STNG. He is like a Spock in reverse. Spock does not want to show his human side while Data wants to be as human as he can be.
@spokev don't forget the ST:TNG episode "Masks" where he played several different characters. That one was even more impressive to me because he was switching between the characters right before our eyes. Where in the other episodes he was either strictly portraying Lore or strictly Data or the various characters in "Fist Full Of Datas".
I remember "Fist full of Datas" there was the character of the main villains son,played by Brent, and he sounded just like Bob Wheeler.
@@mytwocents3981 - your right, he certainly did!
Judge Harry: "What happened to the earthworm farm?"
Bob Wheeler: "Stampede."
Night Court was one of the best shows from the eighties.
"It was like all the pasta you ever ate coming back to git you." 😉
@@ladytenor9876 :D Great show. Dan's character was such a sleazy, yet somehow likable, chauvinist. Great casting all around.
@Michael Richmond Jr One man's stupid is another man's awesome.
@Michael Richmond Jr the exact adjective used to describe you by every teacher you've had.
@Michael Richmond Jr wow real snappy comeback there brainchild. You come up with that all by yourself? I bet your synapses were on overload. Your mind works faster than a sloth running through wet cement.
Bob wheeler should be a character on the orville.
Yes he should somebody should contact Seth MacFarlane, Seth might make this happen cuz he was on two episodes of one of the Star Trek series shows
Yes, he should. And he should be the ancestor of all the Soong family (of course not under that name for copyright reasons but the ancestor of the scientist that created the smartest android of the Federation... or however it is called in the Orville universe) that got cryogenized and found several centuries later.
I agree!!!
Worm stampede
Yes, I could picture him as a down trodden part of the maintenance crew.
They are actually going to do a Night Court reboot, with John Larroquette reprising Dan Fielding. The Judge will be Abby Stone, the daughter of Judge Harry Stone and I understand she will be portrayed by Melissa Rauch, who was Bernadette Rostenkowski-Wolowicz on The Big Band Theory. I hope the Wheelers make an appearance.
Unfortunately not. I tweeted him yesterday asking if he’s gonna do Bob on the new Night Court and he said “I wish I could.”
I'm dying to know who Abbyls mom was. I'm hoping it was Christine!!
I got a great idea; if Brent is unavailable to do a cameo (maybe for season 2). Maybe they can get Simon Heldberg (Howard) to be Bob’s son. We’ll get the Howard/Bernadette reunion we want to see
@@natalieschannel7675 😭
I was just saying on the preview to the new night court that I hoped Bob Wheeler would make a appearance at least one more time in the reboot continuation with Harry’s daughter on the bench…
"Isn't it obvious? We're from Yugoslavia."
I met brent spiner years ago at a convention here in NJ. He really went out of his way before the photo session to say hi, shake hands and give hugs to his fans..i was really impressed! William Shatner sure doesnt do that!
That's because Brent is an android, and he's programmed to give unlimited hugs and hand shakes :)
Will Wheaton refers to Shatner as "William Fu**ing Shatner". Cuz he's a d*ck.
@@patriciawalters6778 Wil is an asshole tho.
@@patriciawalters6778 He was, because of a meeting while he was on TNG and they were shooting a ST motion picture in another soundstage. Since then he meet Shatner and they have no hard feeling for each other.
@@leonablackwell4907 I agree. I'm watching TNG on Netflix and I was wonderig why he left the show. His character sucked at first but then end up being nice and viewable. NOw he's crying at convention to show how smart he has become. It's ennoying.
Keeps $250K in the tin can. He ate the Necco Wafers.
Only $125k, the other half was in Junes bra. It was her nest egg.....LOL.
You look like you have a nice nest egg there yourself maam
I love Night Court!!! Great cast! Very funny ! And Markie Post! What else could a teenager ask for?
lol, Seconds?
Sadly,she recently passed away. Cancer. 😢
The new Night Court is on NBC Tuesday nights at 8 p.m., check it out if you can.
She was great for the role.
@@heidibower2538 yes and other things 😁
He still remembers the name of his co-actor, impressive.
And he really knows how to play an audience.
She also played the wife of the undertaker in The X-Files episode “Patience”, with that man bat hunting everyone down with the scent of the guy who killed its mate 50 years earlier. She used the same accent too, although the setting was in Idaho.
After seeing him play Bob Wheeler, Data, Dr. Okin, and the dance instructor on Out To Sea, he has to be the most versatile actor on the planet.
I love when Brent get a little sassy. He’s the best.
I grew up watching Night Court on TV in the 80s. It was my favorite show.
I am binge watching OG Night Court and just watched the first episode where The Wheelers first showed up.
I was pleasantly surprised with the reboot
Yes, I agree with other commentators that Brent should guest star on Orville as his Bob Wheeler character in space. That would be an episode not to be missed.
Maybe try and get in touch with Seth McFarland because that's not a bad idea.
That would be hilarious, or Bobs descendant with the same name and mannerisms.
@@kennethboyer2338 The mind boggles! I've heard that season three will be on Hulu.
it was a very memorable character, i just never connected that character with Data until more recently. I was stunned that it was Brent Spiner. it was one of those "NO WAY" moments.
This should be titled People getting roasted by Brent Spiner
Would love to see Bob Wheeler on the new Night Court series. The look on Dan Fielding's face when he appears before Abby Stone alone would be worth watching.
I always wondered about this. Being from the heart of West Virginia, in Charleston, I always thought Brent did a fantastic job of doing an Appalachian from here, but I never heard Bob say ' crick' for creek or 'holler' for hollow. But his inflections and twang was damn near perfect!
I love how a little bit of Bob Wheeler came out in the episode, a fistful of datas.
@MrTamadrummer3. Yes, and I love the little swagger he did before spitting in the plant on the enterprise.
@MrTamadrummer3. And just loved the way he said my Paw.
@MrTamadrummer3. And though you are not sentient, Spot, and do not comprehend,
I nonetheless consider you a true and valued friend.
[DATA]
@MrTamadrummer3. Here's the whole poem.
Felis Catusis your taxonomic nomenclature And endothermic quadruped carniverous by nature Your visual, olfactory, and auditory senses Contribute to your hunting skills and natural defenses. I find myself intrigued by your sub-vocal oscillations A singular developmentof cat communications That obviates your basic hedonistic predilection For a rhythmic stroking of your fur to demonstrate affection. A tail is quite essentialfor your acrobatic talents You would not be so agile if you lacked its counterbalance And when not being utilized to aid in locomotion It often serves to illustrate the state of your emotion Oh Spot the complex levels of behavior you display Denote a fairly well developed cognitive array And though you are not sentient, Spot, and do not comprehend I nonetheless consider you a true and valued friend.
@MrTamadrummer3 You probably seen enough, I'll skedaddle.
Thank you, Brent, for confirming that the Wheelers really were from West Virginia!
Please know that, even though some state politicians screamed about it, most of us Mountaineers found it hilarious!
They were from Wheeling, to be precise. Of the prominent Wheeling Wheelers. The family rose to town father status in the 18th century, having made their fortune in the carriage business. Surely you've heard of the famous Wheeling Wheeler Wheels.
Yes, I thought when the Wheelers were first introduced, they said they were from WV. Also, there’s a town there called Wheeling.
Yugoslavia
The Wheelers were always presented with affection, even if they were way out of step with the people of NYC. There was a lot more "laugh with" than "laugh at", and I know that, as a viewer, I always wanted them to catch a break.
Brent Spiner was also great as the Reverend in "Tales from the Darkside." 'A Case of the Stubborns' was the episode.
Love that episode! With a very young Christian Slater.
@@steakknives 👍 and Slater went on to star in the film version. Brent surprised me as a bad guy in "The Outer Limits"
Daing I forgot about that
OMG, now that there is a Night Court reboot going on, they HAVE to bring Bob Wheeler back.
Success! New _Night Court_ ep 211. Bob & June back with same actors.
Brent if you see this this one is for you!
I'm an over the road trucker. I was raised in Georgia so I have that nice southern accent!
I got a job that took me to NYC every week for 2 or 3 days depending on who I was delivering to. It was my last job trucking before cancer decided to play its game with me!
Now it costs 40 bucks to cross any bridge to get to NYC from Missouri so I found many places to park my truck and then an MTA card to get a bus or subway to go get something to eat to not pay another toll just because I went to a truck stop.
My favorite place to eat was this Yugoslav restaurant in Williamsburg.
Every night I was in town I'd go there for dinner.
The waitress there after several months of serving me finally broke down and asked me where I was from.
I told her outside of Atlanta, Ga and her reply was " I thought you were from the south as you have the CUTEST accent I've ever heard!"
Ya know I've been told many things about my accent over my 40 years of trucking some of them not so nice, but cute never came up!
She got a great tip that night and the best southern Thankey Maam that got a great smile out of her! I kept eating there before my friend cancer came aknockin!
Blue Sky's and Safe Journeys!
Love Brent as Bob Wheeler, have watch the videos of his appearances many many times. Always a good laugh.
For 35 years I've been wondering why the Bob Wheeler/News Stand story ark was dropped from Night Court. Now I know.
His "wife" thought that was a poor decision. Funny, but also you can understand the other actress's problem with the decision. she was like, "this is messed up."
You mean because it’s not funny? Like, at all?
And there was no possible way he could do both shows at the same time especially after finding out what was the shooting schedule on ST:TNG.
They could've "killed" off the character and brought the wife back. Not sure how that would've worked though. She was just as funny as Brent, they made a good onscreen pair.
Night Court is my all time favorite show, Brent Spinner was EXCELLENT as Bob Wheeler, and my girlfriend was born in Yugoslavia !
Spiner's so underrated as an actor. Most usually are great at comedy or drama. Not both. Subtlety is key to be successful in comedy. Timing is key. Delivering the punchline makes or breaks a moment. Even when you PRETTY much know what's coming, the right beat will make the most obvious stinger evergreen.
Granny's death & the Necco Wafer lines prove it. His hangdog, deadpan response are timing gold. Granny dies in her sleep, beat, on the railroad tracks
And THEN Earl's cutting Dan's attempted snide comment about Granny's estate. Dan's jaw hits the floor when Earl says she left them a quarter million in cash, beat, Earl torpedoes Dan by saying "we ate the Necco Wafers." Pure gold....😸
Who is Earl? His name is Bob and her name is June
I remember seeing him on nightcourt, but I didn’t realize it was the same person as Data until a CZcams video I watched a few years ago.
This man is a national treasure and if we had knights, he be one.
In those six Night Court episodes, we got Brent Spiner (TNG's Mr. Data), Annie O'Donnel (DS9's Keena) and John Larroquette (Star Trek III's Maltz) all giving amazing comedic performances. =)
The reboot of Night Court would be damn fools if they don't have Bob Wheeler back. I want to know what he and June have been up to.
I recently saw a clip of Brent being one of the three on "To Tell The Truth" (1972) His name or professional name was Brent Mintz. He had shoulder length brown hair and beard with mustache. He said that his real occupation was as a photographer. He was so quick witted then as he is now.
Interesting interview. I enjoyed Brent Spiner's performance as hapless West Virginian (and native Yugoslavian) rube Bob Wheeler on "Night Court."
Hoping Brent reprises Bob Wheeler in the "Night Court" reboot.
He's supposed to.
Brent Spiner has to be the most versatile actor ever. He also played a dance instructor aboard a cruise ship on the movie Out To Sea with Walter Matthau
Great video love Brent spinner as data lol and he did good on night Court rip to Harry
So how did Bob Wheeler come about?
Have you heard of Denny's?
This guy puts himself into every role he's given!
"Let's see. They're offering me a full time gig on a highly rated network television show, or I could go with this reboot of a science fiction franchise that hasn't been on television for over 20 years. Which should I choose?"
Looks like Brent was a bit of a gambler.
1986-1969 = 17 years after TOS cancelation when TNG was being casted.
To be fair Wrath of Khan had come out and was a hit that probably helped with the decision.
He had more screen time per season as Data than he would have had on Night Court, and the pay was probably rather better, too. Even without the benefit of hindsight, it couldn't have been that risky a decision.
1) I had forgotten he was on Night Court
2) Those were some damn funny skits!
Ironically they DID do a reboot of Night Court and Bob Wheeler came back!
Well congrats, Brent. We just got a night court reboot with Harry's daughter being the judge and Dan Fielding being the defendant. It'd be interesting to see Bob and June Wheeler having a reappearence.
@2:40 Brent Spiner: "You're filming this? What? Are you going to take this back to your land and show people you were really here?"
(156,000 CZcams views later)
He’s finally coming back to the new Night Court
That was some world class rambling there
But there is no on else i would rather listen to ramble.
I started watching and became a fan of next generation because of night court and reading rainbow
I loved Bob Wheeler. I loved Night Court.
When he said "Harry passed away" he froze up for a minute, he was remembering Harry and it showed. What a good dude for honoring Judge Stone.
Wow! He's actually charming when he's not ticked off about Trekkies constantly asking him the same obnoxious questions 1,569,077 times.
I think the Bob Wheeler questions took him by surprise (and probably just made his day). Cheers to the moderator for it. =)
@@jamesanthony8438
Definitely! He was *completely* caught off guard by that. But in a good way.
It’s obvious that his ramblings and banter were filling time as he formulated his answer to be with yet on point. Improv talent on display here! Loved him as PhD Soon and Lore too.
I have always loved Brent. Wonder if he'll make a cameo on the new Night Court
I LOVED him on Night Court
I’m this many years old when I found this out. Literally just watched clip of it the other day
After watching a couple of episodes of the reboot, they need Bob Wheeler more than ever.
Bob Wheeler lied about being from West Virginia because....it was the first EXOTIC place that popped in his head.
Mrs. Wheeler: "And why you don't charge for that strip search I'll never know."
"Warsh it dah-un", more like. I interviewed Spiner about 30 years ago for TV GUIDE. He told me great stories about meeting Judy Garland when he was a teenager because his uncle booked shows in Houston. Apparently, it was the start of his love of showbiz.
The Wheeler episodes of Night Court were my favourite episodes.
The character of Bob Wheeler on night court and his wife were fun to watch for me so when Star Trek started and here is the same guy playing in Android I just had to freaking watch and see how that was going to play out. So much fun watching.
I will NEVER forget those episodes!!!!
If Brent ever sees this, I really want to see Grandpa Bob Wheeler, with wife and daughter, n the Night Court Reboot
I hope Brent reprises his Bob Wheeler character in the reboot
I love the characters of Bob and June Wheeler, my favorite recurring characters.
When his daughter asked if they were ever going to Disneyland.
"No darlin', not in a million years"
-that little girl's wearing a potato sack for a dress
-yeah, they look terrible without a belt
Loved Bob, June & little Carol Ann Wheeler . . . Always brings a smile!
Interesting enough, Annie O'Donnell (the lady who played his wife on night court) was in an episode of Deep Space Nine. She was also on a couple episodes of Big Bang Theory (dunno if it was ever along side Brent, but that would have been cool). As far as who made the better decision...well, she's done a lot more work than Brent through out the years.
Coincidentally, there is now a reboot of Night Court airing in a week.
It's strange that Night Court had a Bob Wheeler character just a few years after Taxi had Bobby Wheeler.
Coincidence? You decide.
Now that Night Court is back, I reeeeeeeally am anticipating when Bob Wheeler will make his return!
That would be this past week.
He returns to night court this week.
One thing I wish would have happened is in the scene where the Trekkies went to court because they got into a fight over whether TOS or TNG was better, Bob Wheeler would have showed up and said, "Nice costumes" to the fans wearing the TNG uniforms, as a nod to his role as Data.
I hope they bring him back as Bob Wheeler in the new Night Court reboot!
I wasn't born in Texas but I got here as soon as I could.
Fun to watch and funny man. Wish we could have had more.
How prophetic this story is! They have indeed rebooted Night Court with John Larroquette, and Melissa Rauch.
I never heard of Brent Spiner until Star Trek N.G. He was a Great Data!!! My most favorite Caricature next to Worf.
Until a few years ago, I didn’t know Brent Spiner played Data and Bob Wheeler.
He was great as Bob Wheeler and it would be great for him to return on Night Court as a special appearance on there
With the Night Court reboot coming now Brent might just get to play Bob again:)
Without Harry Anderson and Markie Post I don't see it happening.
@@jayalan2223 Welp here we are. It IS sad that there aren’t many original cast members left to appear on the continuation.
Loved him on Night court.
Love your stuff Brent I am picturing you at a Denny’s doing Bob wheeler and switching to Data.
Probably the most memorable non regular character in Night Court.
Supermarket beer🤔
The beer that made Milwaukee famous.
"When you're out of Schlitz, you're out of beer."
Really a good beer until the company went under and wound up a division of Pabst.
@@rcknbob1 they also brewed Old Milwaukee which was a poor man's Schlitz
He was on a Tales From the Darkside as a reverend one time, "A Case of the Stubborns" episode, my earliest memory of him
Now that they are rebooting Night Court I hope they bring the Wheelers back.
A running joke among some friends of mine was: "Daddy, will I ever get to Disneyland?" "Not in a million years," all with a faux-Appalachian accent. Those of you who remember the first appearance of the Wheelers might remember that (Yes, I'm old, my bones are like pretzels, etc.)
Absolutely fabulous tv show
I am a huge fan of Brent Spiner. He was also part of the movie " Independence day" as well.
He also did a very short bob wheeler voice on Star Trek
Grandma died peacefully in her sleep (on the rail road track) the company was real nice they didn't even charge her for the ride...
I want to see that character on that new night court show
It's time with the reboot of night Court to bring back Bob Wheeler! 😁
Bob Wheeler, what a great role.
I remember him from Mama's Family.
Bob Wheeler is a legend!
He's really fun and good.