 During filming of the pilot, Star Trek: The Next Generation actors  Brent Spiner (Lt. Commander Data) and Jonathan Frakes (Commander  William T. Riker) visited Scott Bakula on the set to give him advice  about what to expect while working on the series. Both Brent Spiner  and Jonathan Frakes guest starred in season 4 with Brent Spiner  playing Datas creators grand father Dr. Arik Soong and Jonathan  Frakes playing his original character.