Amazing Fact about Paul Dooley

[PSGarak]

Ok, I realize I'm seriously dating myself with this, but anybody else around here ever watch "The Electric Company" when they were a little kid? You know, that tremendously clever educational show with huge talents like Morgan Freeman and Rita Moreno? I just discovered that Deep Space 9's very own Enabran Tain actor, the fabulous Paul Dooley, was head writer for the first season of the show and created some of its best known recurring characters. Anybody else remember "Easy Reader"?

As if his potrayal of Tain wasn't enough to make me respect his talent, I now find he had a big hand in shaping my favorite early childhood television entertainment. This made my day. What can I say? I'm easily enter-tain-ed.

 

[Thor Damar]

You win the "Loki Dukat award for achievements in the field of punning"
And I love the Groucho Marx joke setup "well, who else would?"

 

[PKTrekGirl]

Where's Neroon when you need a super-punster????

 

[Thor Damar]

Where's Neroon when you need a super-punster????

You should see the flaptain lounge

 

[Mr. Scott]

I could never get around Enabran Tain being evil, just because he was played by Paul Dooley. I mean, Paul Dooley is our favorite uncle, the guy we play golf with, drink beer with, talk sports with. The man is simply not a Cardassian, especially not an evil one.

 

[PSGarak]

I could never get around Enabran Tain being evil, just because he was played by Paul Dooley. I mean, Paul Dooley is our favorite uncle, the guy we play golf with, drink beer with, talk sports with. The man is simply not a Cardassian, especially not an evil one.

I was also surprised at the casting, but I have to say, I felt like he did such a good job with that role that I was able to buy it completely. Have you ever noticed that people who typically play comedic roles actually do really, really well in dramatic ones? I think they have superb timing. What helped to sell it for me was precisely that avuncular attitude. He wasn't a mustache twirler. He was simple, understated perfection.

 

[Thor Damar]

You see that's what made Mr Tain such a compelling villain, he seems like such a friendly harmless old man but in the next instance he would order your death in that same charming voice...

plus he attempted genocide, how evil is that!

 

[PSGarak]

plus he attempted genocide, how evil is that!

Exactly, although when it came to the Founders and the threat they posed to the Alpha quadrant, I can at least see that particular instance as an understandable reaction. I'm not saying I think it was right, but I did understand the fear and paranoia they all felt. The Founders could be anyone at all, could theoretically take out the head of every major government and replace them with one of their own. Against that sort of threat, it's hard not to react with overkill.

 

[DevilEyes]

I could never get around Enabran Tain being evil, just because he was played by Paul Dooley. I mean, Paul Dooley is our favorite uncle, the guy we play golf with, drink beer with, talk sports with. The man is simply not a Cardassian, especially not an evil one.

He played a cuddly old incestuous child molestor on Millennium...

 

[AdmiralGarak]

You see that's what made Mr Tain such a compelling villain, he seems like such a friendly harmless old man but in the next instance he would order your death in that same charming voice...

How could the mentor/father of Elim Garak be played by anybody else?

 

[Kegg]

You see that's what made Mr Tain such a compelling villain, he seems like such a friendly harmless old man but in the next instance he would order your death in that same charming voice...

How could the mentor/father of Elim Garak be played by anybody else?

Exactly. Being a ruthless member of the Obsidian Order doesn't mean you forget your manners. It's summed up rather aptly in "The Wire", where Tain offers Bashir a drink by selecting the doctor's preferred beverage - he's being a charming host while effortlessly displaying his comprehensive grasp of even the littlest details.

 

[PSGarak]

I could never get around Enabran Tain being evil, just because he was played by Paul Dooley. I mean, Paul Dooley is our favorite uncle, the guy we play golf with, drink beer with, talk sports with. The man is simply not a Cardassian, especially not an evil one.

He played a cuddly old incestuous child molestor on Millennium...

I had forgotten all about that. It has been years since I saw that show, but I loved it.