star trek actors are so strong for doing technobabble with a straight face. if you asked me to talk about how the technicron particles are mainlining the quantum blorbonator I would fall apart immediately
ANDRÉ BORMANIS (science consultant, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)
An important lesson on technobabble came to me courtesy of Terry Farrell. I was at my first Deep Space Nine wrap party at the end of second season, and it’s the first time I’ve ever been to wrap party so it was like a pretty big deal to me. I’m walking around and talking to the people I know. And I see Terry Farrell standing off by herself. I’d never actually met her, so I sheepishly go up and introduce myself to her, and I said, “Ms. Farrell, I’m André Bormanis.” “Oh, nice to meet you. What do you do on the show?” I’m like, “I’m the science consultant. I’m the guy who puts all that technobabble into your dialogue.” And she literally grabbed me by the lapels and lifted me off my feet. She’s six feet tall. She’s a very tall, striking woman. She’s, like, “You fucking asshole!” And she starts shaking me, and I’m, like, “I’m sorry, it’s my job!”
— “The 50 Year Mission: The Next 25 Years” by Edward Gross and Mark A. Altman
