lamar from star trek

LeVar Burton

• Born February 16 , 1957 · Landstuhl, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany
• Birth name Levardis Robert Martyn Burton Jr.
• Levar Burton
• Height 5′ 7″ (1.70 m)
• LeVar Burton was born on February 16, 1957 in Landstuhl, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. He is an actor and director, known for Star Trek: Generations (1994) , Star Trek: First Contact (1996) and Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987) . He has been married to Stephanie Cozart Burton since October 3, 1992. They have one child.
• Spouse Stephanie Cozart Burton (October 3, 1992 - present) (1 child)
• Children Eian Burton Mica Burton
• Parents Levardis Robert Martyn Burton Erma Jean Burton
• Lieutenant Commander Geordi La Forge on Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)
• Catchphrase: "But you don't have to take MY word for it..."
• His role as host of Reading Rainbow
• At age 13, he entered a Catholic seminary to study for the priesthood.
• His character Geordi La Forge on Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987) was named after George La Forge, a huge fan of Star Trek who died from muscular dystrophy. In the series' original screenplay, Geordi La Forge was going to be gay.
• As an avid supporter of children's development, Levar showcased his exceptional general knowledge in an episode of The Weakest Link - Star Trek Edition, aired on 26 November 2001 and won a record-breaking $167,500 for his charity, Junior Achievement Southern California.
• He had lots of acting mentors over the years: Cicely Tyson , Louis Gossett Jr. and Sir Patrick Stewart . He credits them as his favorite mentors/best friends.
• LeVar Burton's father, Levardis Robert Burton Senior, was a United States Army NCO from 1954 to 1976. Levardis Burton retired in the rank of Sergeant First Class, just as his son's acting career was beginning to gain notoriety.
• I get most of my news updates from electronic and social media.
• If we marry educational technology with quality, enriching content, that's a circle of win.
• There would be no Star Trek unless there were transporter malfunctions.
• As long as we are engaged in storytelling that moves the culture forward, it doesn't matter what format it is.
• Because storytelling, and visual storytelling, was put in the hands of everybody, and we have all now become storytellers.
• Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987) - $100,000 per episode

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Actor LeVar Burton on receiving a lifetime achievement Emmy Award

Ayesha Rascoe

NPR's Ayesha Rascoe talks with actor LeVar Burton, who has appeared in "Roots," "Star Trek" and the children's T.V. series "Reading Rainbow." He'll receive a lifetime achievement Emmy Award tonight.

Copyright © 2022 NPR. All rights reserved. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information.

NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record.

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LeVar Burton: Iconic Actor, Director, and Literacy Advocate

• by history tools
• November 19, 2023

Levar Burton Jr.: renowned actor, director, Star Trek‘s Geordi La Forge & Reading Rainbow host.

Early Life and Formative Experiences

LeVar Burton was born on February 16, 1957 at the U.S. Army Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in West Germany to American parents serving in the U.S. Army. As a self-described "military brat," Burton spent his childhood moving from army base to army base across Europe. This transient lifestyle exposed Burton to diverse cultures and experiences that shaped his worldview.

When Burton was 13, his family finally settled in Sacramento, California. It was there that Burton first discovered his passion for performing. In high school, he participated in several school plays and local theater productions. According to Burton, those early experiences on stage lit a fire in him that still burns to this day.

Meteoric Rise to Fame

Burton‘s big break came in 1977 when he landed the career-defining role of Kunta Kinte in the ABC miniseries Roots . Burton was only 19 years old at the time, yet he delivered an emotionally powerful performance that introduced him to a global audience. The acclaimed series received 37 Emmy nominations and won nine Emmys along with a Golden Globe. Burton became internationally recognized practically overnight.

Just a few years later in 1983, Burton embarked on another iconic role as the host of PBS‘s beloved educational series Reading Rainbow . As host for over 20 years, Burton used his charm and passion for literature to inspire generations of young readers. The show won over 250 awards including 26 Emmys and a Peabody Award.

Beloved Character Actor

In 1987, Burton joined the cast of Star Trek: The Next Generation as Geordi La Forge, the Enterprises‘s Chief Engineer. Burton portrayed the iconic character, who was blind from birth yet saw through the aid of technology, for all 7 seasons of the show and in four Star Trek films.

Throughout his prolific career, Burton has appeared in a diverse range of TV shows, films, and stage productions. He often gravitates towards characters that break boundaries and challenge stereotypes. His acting has earned him numerous accolades including 7 Emmy Awards.

Activism and Philanthropy

Off-screen, Burton has dedicated his life to activism and philanthropy. He served on the Board of Directors of RIF (Reading is Fundamental) for over a decade, spreading awareness about youth literacy. Burton also lent his voice to fundraising campaigns for organizations like St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Make-A-Wish Foundation, and AIDS Project Los Angeles.

In 2012, Burton launched a Kickstarter campaign to revive Reading Rainbow for the YouTube generation. The campaign exceeded its $1 million goal in less than 24 hours and went on to raise over $6 million. This allowed Burton to reinvent the series as a digital platform promoting literacy in the 21st century.

The Legacy of LeVar Burton

LeVar Burton’s career has spanned over 40 years, yet his passion for storytelling and social good remains stronger than ever. He continues to push boundaries as an actor while advocating for important causes close to his heart. Above all, Burton strives to use his platform to uplift and educate. He once said, “Everything I do is geared towards creating a positive legacy.” There’s no doubt that Burton has more than achieved this goal. His unique spirit and tremendous talent have made him one of the most beloved and unforgettable multi-hyphenates in Hollywood history.

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Published Oct 20, 2014

Checking in With LeVar Burton

The TNG star sat down with StarTrek.com for an exclusive interview.

StarTrek.com

LeVar Burton is wearing all sorts of hats these days. The former Star Trek: The Next Generation star is still acting, playing a recurring role in TNT's Perception . He’s the face of Reading Rainbow again, now that it’s back as an app. And tied into that, he’s on the road promoting his – and the Reading Rainbow imprint’s – first children’s book, The Rhino Who Swallowed a Storm . StarTrek.com sat down with Burton earlier this month during a break from his appearance at Destination Star Trek in London for an amiable, informative conversation about all of the above and more. Here’s what he had to say.

StarTrek.com: What was the inspiration for The Rhino Who Swallowed a Storm , and why now after all these years for a children’s book?

LeVar Burton: I knew it was only a matter of time before I did a children’s book. I’ve been promoting children’s literature for 31 years. I’ve certainly read a lot of them, out loud, for children. When we got control of the Reading Rainbow brand four years ago and launched the app for it and started building this company, we knew that we were more than a one-trick pony. That app was only the first of many things that we had planned. A year ago, we started turning our attention to what the future might bring and, obviously, being in the digital realm with the Reading Rainbow app and producing digital books, it gave us good reason to think, “What would we want to do to launch our imprint, our own digital imprint?” And the only logical answer was, “You know need to write a children’s book, LeVar."

The actual hardcover book is its own thing, with beautiful art and physical pages to turn, and it’s the relatable tale of a rhino who has seen his whole world destroyed in a storm, swallows the storm and realizes that only causes more havoc.

LB: This will be released exclusively in our app, as a digital book. It will also be released as an app itself, as a digital selection. But first it’s coming out as a hardcover book. I’m a firm believer in both. As far as kids are concerned, I don’t care if it’s on a device or in a bound book, I simply want kids to read stories. So I’m a firm believer that in order to be effective, you need to be on as many platforms as you can possibly be. I’m really proud of this book and I hope it will become a tool for families to help children adjust to what it means to deal with difficult circumstances. We’re raising generations of human beings who have very little understanding or practice with the idea of processing disappointment. This is designed to teach kids the value of overcoming difficult circumstances.

The rhino, like you said, has swallowed this storm. He literally finds himself at the bottom of a very deep hole, which is a metaphor for depression, and he learns that it is through the help of others that we get through things, that none of us gets through life on our own. And that’s, I think, the core message, that we don’t do this thing called life by ourselves. It takes the love of friends and family and even strangers to help us through.

How likely is this to be book one of a series?

LB: [Laughs] If you were to ask that question of my business partner, who already has plans for next year, he’d say yes, very likely. Have I written it yet? No. But I’m really proud of this one and it does lend itself to a series, perhaps. I don’t know. I wrote Aftermath a long time ago, in the 80s, and I haven’t gone back to that although I said at the time that I absolutely planned to do a sequel. So, we’ll see. But right now, I’m on a huge promotional tour. I’ll be coming to a city near you, rest assured, doing signings and readings. You can go to www.readingrainbow.com for details.

The recent Reading Rainbow Kickstarter campaign raised $6.4 million. How will that money be used?

LB: What we are doing with it is making good on the promises we made during the Kickstarter campaign. It was called “Every child, everywhere,” and that is our intention. We’re trying to bring Reading Rainbow to all of the devices where kids consume their content these days. The first move is to the Web and into schools, and it was our pledge to give product away to schools in need, and that’s about 1,500 schools. We’ll be on Android as soon as we can make it happen. Every child… everywhere.

Reading Rainbow and Star Trek are actually intersecting thanks to the Kickstarter campaign. Your TNG co-stars and many other Trek names helped you get the word out and are now participating in live Reading Rainbow events. What did it mean to you to receive that kind of support?

LB: It’s been great. We did our first live event a few weeks ago with the Battlestar Galactica cast, and that was wildly successful. I love my Star Trek friends and they came through for me. So I’m enormously grateful to them and glad that I have the kinds of friends who feel about Reading Rainbow the way they do. The entire time I’ve been a part of the Star Trek family they’ve known about my passion for Reading Rainbow , and they’ve always supported it. So this was another time they really stepped up and came to the party.

How are you enjoying this event, Destination Star Trek ?

LB: Good con. Good con. I know that Patrick (Stewart) was here in London a couple of years ago and so were some of my other friends. That was when Destination Star Trek did the Five Captains event. I haven’t been to London in a few years. I love this city, and this is a really good show.

What else is going on?

LB: We’re waiting to see if Perception gets picked up for a fourth season. I love having a recurring role. I get to do some acting and still have time to have a life and to work on Reading Rainbow . I do a lot of traveling to film content for the Reading Rainbow app, and Perception gives me the flexibility to juggle it all. So it really does fit well into my life. If I’m just acting on the show, it’s a couple of days per episode. I directed a couple of episodes last season, and that takes more time, but with enough goodwill everything can be worked out.

Last question: the other day here at DST, someone introduced you on stage as Geordi. You’ve got to be used to that, but does it ever get frustrating?

LB: I have no issues with it at all. I refer to myself sometimes as Kunta. If you can’t have a good sense of humor about yourself, if you can’t poke fun at yourself, if you take yourself too seriously, then you’re in trouble. Any actor would kill to be involved in three projects that are so popular that they become that associated with them. I’ve had Roots, Star Trek and Reading Rainbow . So I’ve been really lucky.

This interview has been edited and condensed.

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LeVar Burton's Return To Star Trek In Picard Was A Complete Surprise

As the third and final season of "Star Trek: Picard" gives Patrick Stewart a hero's sendoff as Admiral Jean-Luc Picard , his former co-stars from "Star Trek: The Next Generation" have returned to those roles, including LeVar Burton as the engineering officer Geordi La Forge.

It's the first time Burton has donned his Starfleet uniform since 2002's "Star Trek: Nemesis," and he says he never expected to be a part of "Picard" when the show was announced in 2018. While Season 1 of the Stewart vehicle did feature returning "The Next Generation" cast, including Brent Spiner as the android Data, Burton says he, Jonathan Frakes, and other "Trek" alum had been content to cheer from the sidelines. "We were quite certain that we would not be a part of 'Picard,'" Burton told IndieWire . "This was Patrick's opportunity to play the character, but to play stories that were in large measure unrelated to that part of his life in terms of how close we were on the Enterprise-D."

Given how much time he had spent away from the role of La Forge, Burton simply assumed the time to give the character a proper farewell had long since lapsed. "So this came as a huge surprise," he said, "but mostly because we had all believed that that ship has sailed, that the opportunity to close the circle, if you will, had passed a long time ago."

LeVar Burton returns to Star Trek as one of its elder statesmen

While the beloved role of Geordi La Forge on "Star Trek: The Next Generation" may have been a major boost for Burton's career, it certainly never came to define him. Between taking off his Communicator badge at the end of "Star Trek: Nemesis" and reattaching it for "Star Trek: Picard," the German-born actor has enjoyed his period of "Star Trek" emeritus. His "Reading Rainbow" series, which teaches children the joys of literature, ran until 2006, and he relaunched it in 2014 as an interactive iPad app. A great love for science and books still guides much of his life, as he lately hosts a podcast on which he reads short stories. In 2019, he hosted the National Book Awards in Manhattan.

But fate brought Burton back to the bridge of a Starfleet vessel once again in Season 3 of "Star Trek: Picard." This time around, "The Next Generation" has a whole new meaning, as Burton stars alongside his daughter, Mica Burton, who plays Geordi's daughter Alandra La Forge. According to the elder Burton, returning to his "Star Trek" role after 20 years was cathartic . And now that he's boldly gone exactly where he's been before, the actor is ready to move on.

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LeVar Burton on getting cast on Star Trek: The Next Generation

The interviews: an oral history of television north hollywood, ca, united states.

Actor LeVar Burton tells the story of how he was cast as “Geordi La Forge” on Star Trek: The Next Generation . He also shares what the original series meant to him when he was growing up, and how the series’ vision of a diverse future is the reason it resonates with so many fans, and with Burton himself:

“There’s a principle in 'Star Trek' called ‘IDIC’: Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combination. And in Gene [Roddenberry’s] vision there was an inherent respect for all of the diversity that exists as life throughout the cosmos. That’s a world I want to live in.“

Watch LeVar Burton’s full interview , which spans his career from being cast on Roots to Reading Rainbow , Star Trek: The Next Generation , and more.

TelevisionAcademy.com/Interviews

• Title: LeVar Burton on getting cast on Star Trek: The Next Generation

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• Federation starship classes
• 24th century Federation starship classes
• Mirror universe starship classes
• Terran Empire starship classes
• 24th century Terran Empire starship classes
• Science vessel classes
• Lamarr class starships

Lamarr class

• View history

In the mirror universe , the Lamarr class was a Terran ship type and operated by the Empire 's Starfleet . ( PRD episode : " The Mirror Universe ")

• 1 History and specifics
• 2 Known vessels
• 3.1 Connections
• 3.2.1 Appearances
• 3.2.2 References
• 3.3 Background
• 3.4 External link

History and specifics [ ]

USS Voyager -A alongside the USS Protostar .

Terran Empire Lamarr -class in the mirror universe .

The bridge of the ISS Voyager -A in 2384 .

The USS Voyager -A, a ship of this class, was launched from the Utopia Planitia Fleet Yards over Mars in the year 2384 . It was equipped with the latest and greatest technology acquired by Starfleet in general and the original USS Voyager on its travels in the Delta Quadrant in particular. The ship had a crew complement of 800 and 28 decks. It was larger than previous ships Vice Admiral Kathryn Janeway had commanded . ( PRD episode : " Into the Breach ")

Janeway's previous command was the Dauntless II -class science vessel USS Dauntless , which itself was larger than the Protostar -class . ( PRD episode : " Lost and Found ")

Embarked craft included runabout -sized shuttlecraft . In addition, Voyager -A carried a specialized Infinity scout ship for a mission through a temporal wormhole . ( PRD episode : " Into the Breach ")

The Infinity was stored in a cargo bay and could exit Voyager -A through a hatch on the ship's port. ( PRD episode : " Who Saves the Saviors? ")

The interior was dominated by stark metal design. Cetacean ops was crewed by a humpback whale . In the mirror universe , the ship carried the same sections and was dominated by Terran sigils and red lighting. Unlike the primary universe counterpart, the Terran Lamarr class had red Imperial markings painted on the hull . Ships of the class were armed with phaser beam arrays and defended by deflector shields . In the mirror universe, the bridge could be operated by as few as two bridge officers . ( PRD episode : " The Mirror Universe ")

Known vessels [ ]

• alternates [2]
• ISS Voyager (NCC-/ISS-74656-A) [2]

Appendices [ ]

Connections [ ], appearances and references [ ], appearances [ ].

• PRD episode : " Into the Breach " (first appearance)
• PRD episode : " Who Saves the Saviors? "
• PRD episode : " The Mirror Universe "

References [ ]

• ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 PRD episode : " Into the Breach ".
• ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 PRD episode : " The Mirror Universe ".

Background [ ]

• Hedy Lamarr WP was a 20th century Human scientist .

External link [ ]

• Lamarr class article at Memory Alpha , the wiki for canon Star Trek .
• 1 Cetacean Probe
• 2 Eclipse class
• 3 Ferengi Rules of Acquisition

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‘Star Trek: Picard’: LeVar Burton & Michael Dorn Among 6 ‘Next Generation’ Alums Joining Third & Final Season

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Six Star Trek: The Next Generation cast members will be boarding Star Trek: Picard for the third and final season of the Paramount+ series. LeVar Burton and Michael Dorn, along with Jonathan Frakes, Gates McFadden, Marina Sirtis and Brent Spiner will join Patrick Stewart in the final chapter of Star Trek: Picard. This is the first time Paramount+ has confirmed Picard will be ending with the third season, although stars of the series, including Stewart, have stated as such in interviews over the past couple of months. You can watch the cast announcement below.

The casting news was announced on Tuesday, First Contact Day. As depicted in the film Star Trek: First Contact, starring the aforementioned Star Trek: The Next Generation cast members, April 5, 2063, is the day that humans first make contact with Vulcans, marking a pivotal moment of exploration and acceptance in Star Trek history. Since the film’s debut, First Contact Day is celebrated worldwide annually on April 5.

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In Star Trek: Picard , Stewart reprises his role as Jean-Luc Picard, which he played for seven seasons on Star Trek: The Next Generation, and follows the character into the next chapter of his life.

Frakes, Sirtis and Spiner have appeared in previous in Star Trek: Picard episodes over the first two seasons.

“I remember watching the premiere of Star Trek: The Next Generation almost 34 years ago with my father like it was yesterday. It was the spark that ignited my love for science fiction,” said Terry Matalas, season three showrunner and executive producer. “So, it’s most fitting that the story of Jean-Luc Picard ends honoring the beginning, with his dearest and most loyal friends from the U.S.S. Enterprise. It would be an understatement to say that giving these characters a proper send-off is an honor. The entire Star Trek: Picard team and I can’t wait for fans to experience this final, high-stakes, starship-bound adventure in season three!”

The series is produced by CBS Studios in association with Secret Hideout and Roddenberry Entertainment. For season three, Alex Kurtzman, Akiva Goldsman, Terry Matalas, Patrick Stewart, Heather Kadin, Aaron Baiers, Rod Roddenberry, Trevor Roth, Doug Aarniokoski and Dylan Massin serve as executive producers. Terry Matalas serves as showrunner for season three.

Season two of Star Trek: Picard is currently streaming on Paramount+ in the U.S., with new episodes dropping weekly on Thursdays.

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LeVar Burton and Daughter Mica on Joining Forces for 'Star Trek: Picard' Season 3 (Exclusive)

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Spoiler alert! This story contains minor spoilers from the latest episode of  Star Trek: Picard .

It's a family affair for LeVar Burton and his daughter, Mica Burton, on  Star Trek: Picard .

The real-life father and daughter share the screen for the first time on the latest episode of the Paramount+ series, "The Bounty," with LeVar reprising his beloved  Next Generation  character , Geordi La Forge, and Mica portraying one of Geordi's two daughters, Ensign Alandra La Forge. (Geordi's other daughter, Ensign Sidney La Forge, mans the controls of the USS Titan and is played by Ashlei Sharpe Chestnut.) 

The idea for LeVar to don the iconic  Star Trek  uniform alongside Mica was an idea borne out of a conversation he had with showrunner Terry Matalas about returning to the franchise, the  Next Generation  alum revealed in an interview with ET on Wednesday. "Never would I have ever thought of going to them and saying, 'Hey, what about my kids being in Star Trek ?'" the 66-year-old actor admitted. "And I would've said no," Mica, an actress and gamer in her own right, confessed.

So how did it all come together? ET spoke with the father-daughter pair about their onscreen debut together, the surreal reality of reuniting with the  Next Generation  crew and that intriguing cliffhanger at the end of the latest episode.

ET: First off, how did this all come to be?

LeVar Burton: When Terry approached me about reprising the role of Geordi La Forge and he asked me if I had any desires, any wishes in terms of where he would be when we find him, I said, "The only thing I really need is for him to be a family man and have a healthy relationship with his family." I never liked that Geordi, as the chief engineer, as the nerd, was discomforted by the presence of women. That pissed me off. I thought it was really lazy on the writers' part. And even in [the  Next Generation  series finale] "All Good Things," when it's revealed that Geordi is married and has two children -- daughters Alandra and Sidney -- the idea that he was married to Dr. Leah Brahms, the woman that he stalked in the episode, "Booby Trap," creating a holo deck of her, was really creepy to me. And so I really wanted to rehabilitate that part of Geordi's canon and Terry came through, above and beyond. I mean, I never would've dreamt this scenario up and I'm so grateful that he did.

Mica, what was it like stepping onto set with your father and being able to share this experience with him?

Mica Burton : It's interesting because every time I'm asked, "What was it like?" the first thing I can say is, professional. I went to an acting conservatory and he's been doing this his entire life, almost since he was 19, so he's one of the most consummate professionals that I know. And I think that that's what came first and foremost. I did audition for this role and I took it seriously every day at work, but I think the added benefit was we drove to work together and at the end of the day, I was hanging out with my dad and my extended family being the Star Trek family. So it was just a very comfortable environment to be doing my job.

You're playing father and daughter onscreen as Geordi and Alandra. Was that dynamic different or similar to your real-life relationship? 

Mica:  Thankfully our relationship dynamic is completely different on the screen than it is in real life. Alandra's very much that little duckling following behind Geordi. Very respectful, enamored, knows that her father is a commodore and respects that. She's an engineer herself and probably did that because of him rather than realizing that that was her passion all along. Meanwhile, I love embarrassing my father. Nothing brings me more joy than making jokes at his expense.

LeVar:  To see me squirm.

Mica:  Yes, it's so fun for me, but that's because we have that relationship and I think it's because I've grown up being able to pal around with him. We grew up gaming together and we have that easygoing relationship that sadly, Alandra doesn't have with her father. She sees him as this almost untouchable idol rather than just as a father. She sees him as Geordi La Forge trademark. I'm thankful that I don't see him as LeVar Burton trademark. I see him as dad, so I can make fun of him.

LeVar : Yes, exactly.

What were those moments like in between scenes on set because, LeVar, you are back with your Next Generation family, which is monumental. And then Mica, is now a part of that as well.

LeVar:  For me, one of the best aspects of it was... I don't know if coming out party for Mica is the right word, but she's an adult now, and so I had an opportunity to observe her in a dynamic relationship with the cast as an equal, as a grown-up and that was awesome. Very, very cool to be able to hold context for both. She's still in my eyes, the little girl that I used to play Tomb Raider with, but she's also a professional actor and seeing her act with the best acting partners I've ever had, is very cool for me as both an actor and a dad.

Mica:  And I think that that's how it was with everyone because there were moments that we've talked about before I was even in costume my first day on set, Jonathan [Frakes] broke into tears.

LeVar:  But we were just there visiting.

Mica : Just there visiting, but he was just emotional of the fact that this was the beginning of it. But then later he was directing me and we interacted, but that's just so cool that on one hand, I'm like, "Yeah, you've known me since I was literally zero minutes old." Later he was referring to me as an equal. My family was treating me as a professional actor, as an equal and how many people can say that? That Brent Spinner was in a scene with you treating you like you were his scene partner because you were, not just because you were Levar Burton's daughter. That's cool.

This episode that you're both in is quite a major one for  Picard  and includes quite a few  Next Generation  cast returns, notably Bret Spiner's Data, as well as a big revelation related to Jean-Luc. What do you want fans to know about the episode?

LeVar : What would I want the fans to know? Geordi's back and he's mad!

Mica:  I almost spat out my water. How dare you. Geordi's here to kick a** and drink tea, and he is all out of tea.

There was a funny moment with Geordi putting Jack Crusher in his place with regard to his other daughter, Sidney, as there may be something brewing there. Can you talk a little bit about that scene?

LeVar: I think that's the strength of the writing and showing the evolution of this character and all of the Next Gen crew. They've done a remarkable job of writing these characters in a way that we absolutely recognize them, and of course, they're the crew from the 1701-D [also known as the USS Enterprise] and we see that they are not the same people. They're not doing the same things. Riker has his own ship as we always knew he would. Beverly's out there on the frontier doing the Doctors Without Borders thing, right? Worf is now a Pacifist and Geordi is a family man, and his priorities are now keeping his family safe, and we see that Papa Bear comes out in many ways.

At the very end of the episode, we see the return of another Next Gen  crew member, Deanna Troi (Marina Sirtis), and learn the Changelings have stolen Jean-Luc Picard.  Literally . What can you share about what's next?

LeVar:  There is literally nothing I can say! Nothing we can say based on that question.

Mica:  Everything you asked cannot be answered.

New episodes of  Star Trek: Picard  drop Thursdays on Paramount+.

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Star wars fact check: did the acolyte star amandla stenberg really say the show's goal was "white people crying".

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Star Wars: The Acolyte Episode Guide

Who is charlie barnett the acolyte's jedi guardian actor explained, all 35 star wars easter eggs in the acolyte episodes 1 & 2.

• Amandla Stenberg's viral clip about making white people cry actually refers to her 2018 movie, not Star Wars.
• The Acolyte is facing backlash likely due to its diverse cast and themes, not just genuine critiques.
• Critics need to consider context and avoid twisting quotes to keep the conversation about The Acolyte more balanced.

A viral clip seems to show The Acolyte star Amandla Stenberg saying the show's goal is to make white people cry - but it's nothing to do with Star Wars at all. Lucasfilm's latest Disney+ TV show, The Acolyte , is proving to be massively controversial. The Acolyte is being review-bombed on Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic, with parts of the fanbase objecting to showrunner Leslye Headland and insisting the show is "woke."

An interview clip of Amandla Stenberg is currently going viral, ostensibly showing Amandla Stenberg declaring that the show's goal is to make white people cry. This appears to have originally been shared by some right-wing sites, who claim it is a recent interview, and is now being discussed at length on social media. In reality, Amandla Stenberg's comment is nothing to do with The Acolyte at all.

The Amandla Stenberg Clip Is Actually From 2018

The clip, in which Amandla Stenberg is interviewed by Trevor Noah, is taken from a 2018 interview on The Daily Show . Far from discussing The Acolyte , Stenberg is in fact talking about her 2018 movie The Hate U Give . Based on a young-adult novel, George Tillman Jr.'s movie stars Amandla Stenberg, Regina Hall, Russell Hornsby, Lamar Johnson, KJ Apa, Sabrina Carpenter, Common, and Anthony Mackie.

The Hate U Give explores the themes of racism and police brutality, and it's generally seen as an attempt to - as ABC put it - " bring the Black Lives Matter movement into the multiplex. " Given the context, that certainly explains Stenberg's comment in the 2018 clip. It's worth noting that The Daily Show is well-known for a humorous, punchy approach to popular culture and politics, and Stenberg's remark is in keeping with that tone and style.

Here's everything you need to follow along with Star Wars: The Acolyte, from references and trivia to main takeaways from each new episode.

Why Is Stenberg's Quote Being Ripped Out Of Context?

There's been a sustained backlash against modern Star Wars , even leading to a South Park parody on Lucasfilm's Kathleen Kennedy . According to this interpretation, Kennedy forces diversity into everything, damaging the overall franchise as a result. The Acolyte has female leads, the first Asian Jedi, and a lesbian showrunner, which explains why it has been subject to such strong attacks. In the build-up to The Acolyte 's release, both Kennedy and Headland issued public comments opposing racism and sexism in the fandom.

This isn't to imply all criticism of The Acolyte is in bad faith; even some critics have noted issues with pacing and some characterization. But these genuine criticisms are at risk of being drowned out by quotes wrested out of context, and this is clearly intentional. Hopefully, as The Acolyte continues, the conversation will become more nuanced and less vitriolic.

The Acolyte episodes 1 & 2 are streaming now on Disney+.

The Acolyte

The Acolyte is a television series set in the Star Wars universe at the end of the High Republic Era, where both the Jedi and the Galactic Empire were at the height of their influence. This sci-fi thriller sees a former Padawan reunite with her former Jedi Master as they investigate several crimes - all leading to darkness erupting from beneath the surface and preparing to bring about the end of the High Republic.

Phil LaMarr

• View history

LaMarr also starred in Free Enterprise (1998, directed by Robert Meyer Burnett , starring William Shatner with Thomas Hobson , Diana Cignoni , Gabrielle G. Stanton , Daren Dochterman and Chase Masterson ).

In 2000, he appeared in A Man is Mostly Water , which was Anton Yelchin 's film debut. In 2002, he appeared in Jane White is Sick & Twisted with Wil Wheaton and in Manna from Heaven with Louise Fletcher . In 2005, he starred in Back to Midnight alongside Kirstie Alley and Ed Begley, Jr. . In 2008, he appeared in Step Brothers with Gillian Vigman .

Among his many voice roles, LaMarr voiced the character of Hermes Conrad on Futurama , who was also married to a character voiced by Lower Decks co-star Dawnn Lewis .

• 1.1 Appearances as Alonzo Freeman
• 1.2 Additional roles
• 2 External links

Star Trek appearances [ ]

Appearances as alonzo freeman [ ].

• " Second Contact " ( Season 1 )
• " Strange Energies " ( Season 2 )
• " Mugato, Gumato "
• " First First Contact "
• " Grounded " ( Season 3 )
• " Old Friends, New Planets " ( Season 4 )

Additional roles [ ]

External links [ ]

• Phil LaMarr at Wikipedia
• Phil LaMarr at the Internet Movie Database
• 1 Daniels (Crewman)
• 3 Calypso (episode)

Kendrick Lamar’s ‘The Pop Out — Ken and Friends’ Concert in Los Angeles to Stream Live on Amazon Music

By Steven J. Horowitz

Steven J. Horowitz

Senior Music Writer

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For those who weren’t able to snag tickets to Kendrick Lamar’s upcoming Los Angeles show The Pop Out — Ken and Friends , Amazon Music has come to the rescue with the announcement that its hip-hop and R&B brand Rotation will livestream the concert.

Tickets for the show, taking place on June 19 at the Kia Forum, sold out instantly when they went on sale to the general public earlier today. Demand was reportedly at a staggering high, with social media users reporting that they were in line behind 100,000 others. On Ticketmaster’s site, tickets are already being resold at lofty prices, spanning $350 to $1,500 for a single seat.

Popular on Variety

Lamar announced The Pop Out — Ken and Friends, presented by pgLang and Free Lunch, earlier this week. The concert title references a line from Lamar’s “Not Like Us,” a diss track towards Drake that became the biggest hit from the feud that’s dominated headlines the past few months.

The beef between Lamar and Drake grew increasingly contentious since the former dropped his verse on Metro Boomin and Future’s “Like That” in March. In the time since, they’ve attacked each others’ character, appearance and persona. Drake was the last to release a diss song with “The Heart Part 6,” which he recently scrubbed from his Instagram profile.

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‘Real Housewives’ star Dina Manzo’s ex convicted of mob assault of her new husband

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The ex-husband of former “Real Housewives of New Jersey” star Dina Cantin , previously Dina Manzo, was convicted of hiring a mobster to assault her then-boyfriend in 2015, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey said in a statement Tuesday.

Thomas Manzo’s case — described by a federal agent as almost like a “bad TV crime drama” — concluded this week when a unanimous jury found him guilty of planning the attack against Dave Cantin, who Dina married in 2017.

In exchange for the assault, prosecutors said Manzo offered the mafia member a free wedding reception at his restaurant — which Manzo then tried to hide.

Manzo was found guilty in Newark federal court on one count of committing a violent crime in aid of racketeering activity, one count of conspiracy to commit a violent crime in aid of racketeering resulting in serious bodily injury and one count of falsifying and concealing documents related to a federal investigation. He had previously pled not guilty to the charges.

“He will now face just punishment for his crimes,” U.S. Atty. Philip R. Sellinger said.

Former ‘Real Housewives of New Jersey’ star Dina Manzo starts a new life in Malibu and a skin care line

Dina Manzo appeared on three seasons of Bravo TV’s “The Real Housewives of New Jersey” before she made a few major life changes, including getting a divorce, decamping to Malibu, walking away from those epic “Housewives” catfights and starting a skin care line.

June 15, 2016

During the almost three-week trial, federal prosecutors argued that Manzo hired John Perna of the Lucchese crime family to attack Cantin. Perna, a fully initiated member of the mafia, otherwise known as a “made man,” and a crew member assaulted Cantin on July 18, 2015.

The attack, prosecutors said, left Cantin with “significant injuries.” The next month, Perna held a “lavish” reception for about 330 attendees at Manzo’s Brownstone Restaurant. While under federal investigation, Manzo “concealed and falsified documents” relating to the wedding. He now faces up to 43 years in prison. His sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 15.

Perna pled guilty to the assault in December 2020 and was sentenced to two and a half years in prison; he was released last August.

“We truly hope the victims in this investigation are able to move on with their lives and forget about Manzo and his criminal mafia bedfellows,” Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy said Tuesday.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Angie Orellana Hernandez is a 2023-24 reporting fellow at the Los Angeles Times. She previously worked at The Times as an arts and entertainment intern. She graduated from USC, where she studied journalism and Spanish. Prior to joining The Times, she covered entertainment, as well as human interest, legal and crime stories at E! News. Her writing can also be found in USA Today, the Boston Globe, CNN and KCRA3.

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