Did You Ever Notice Riker Doing This?

I saw this hilarious compilation video of how Riker sits. Did you ever notice how funny he sits down? BTW, notice how he gets out of his chair at 0:17. How in the world did Frakes decide to start swinging his leg over his chair to sit down (or get up)?

 

Good catch! Yea it is rather funny. XD

 

Haha, he got a little less flexible by the end.

 

This was pretty much the most popular question at the San Francisco Convention. A lot of people (including myself) had to scramble to think of another question once someone asked Mr. Frakes about it. He has apparently seen that video.

 

I dunno, when the back of the chair is below crotch-level and you have the dexterity and height to do it, why not?

 

What did he say about the video?

 

I don't quite remember, I was too nervous about getting to talk to them.

 

Actors have to not only say things that are contrary to reality, but they have to behave in such a way, as well. Between this and the Riker lean, it gave him his own, signature style ... something unique to the character.

 

The first time this video started to go around (probably a year or so ago), someone asked him about it and he stated it was due to an old back injury that he had, which made it difficult for him to sit in a chair "normally"

 

Between that, putting his foot up next to Data's console, the way he cocks his head, the way he looks the opposite direction when he turns into a corridor, etc.

The man has a lot of odd mannerisms for sure.

 

Him putting his leg on Data's console and hunching is so he can stay in frame. He is pretty tall, after all.

 

As it 2takesfrakes said up thread, it makes for a distinct character. We're always looking out for these familiar mannerisms.

 

I like that even did one in a dismount.

 

Hahaha

 

Years ago we had a "meme" here on the board where we called Riker "Stinknuts" because of that. The idea being that Riker is so promiscuous from all of the alien tail he was getting that he had a smelly crotch but he was proud of it and liked to have everyone at crotch-smelling level to him.

 

Yes, I noticed it in the original run and we used to laugh about it. Recently I watched the entire TNG run with my 13 year old daughter and she even commented on it and laughed.

 

It's due to weird character motivation. Riker originally seemed like a 'cowboy' so naturally he sit down by swingin' his leg over the saddle. This didn't really jive with the character development though, so it seems unnatural. I think Picard is the only one we see riding in TNG - although in one of the books I read recently, Riker claims to have 'ridden a variety of animals from different planets' which is DEFINITELY a claim you can prove with canon.

I sit like this pretty often; thanks for making me self-conscious!

 

Well, you have to realize that Jonathon is very tall, 6'4", but he towered over me, at 6'2" (Musta been those boots) and those chair backs were kinda small, and every time that I sat in them, I always looped my leg over the back, just like Riker did!

 

What an interesting way to refer to all those women he slept with