As part of the 1994 edition of Comic Relief, several cast members of “Next Generation” filmed a segment on the Enterprise sets, all in full costume and in character, investigating several bizarre 20th-Century comedians. Jonathan Frakes, Marina Sirtis, Michael Dorn, Brent Spiner, Gates McFadden, and LeVar Burton all played along. Perhaps Patrick Stewart was busy that day.
In the segment, Commander Riker, Counselor Troi, Worf, Data, Dr. Crusher, and Geordi all gathered in the Enterprise’s observation lounge to discuss certain artifacts left over from 1990s Earth, mysterious salvaged from an away mission on a faraway alien world. Data holds up several Comic Relief t-shirts as well as a primitive Comic Relief videocassette. Geordi calls up a picture of Robin Williams, Billy Crystal, and Whoopi Goldberg. The funny part: none of them know how to pronounce “Whoopi,” falling back on “Hoop-Eye.” It’s Dr. Crusher who notices that Hoop-Eye Goldberg bears a striking resemblance to Guinan. For a moment, the crew thinks about the coincidence before collectively agreeing, “Nah.”
They also examine the t-shirts and sweatshirts on the table and note that they are made of synthetic materials that havd been banned in the 21st century. The Enterprise’s transporters, it seems, couldn’t handle a 50/50 blend of cotton and polyester. They also manage to work in some of Comic Relief’s earnings reports and stats and where viewers’ donations may go.
The “Star Trek” actors were clearly doing Goldberg a favor. Judging by the actors’ costumes, the video segment was clearly filmed during the show’s seventh and final season of “Next Generation.”