New Candid Denise Crosby Interview

[Dream]

Mark_Nguyen wrote:

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Really though, her departure strengthened the show - one less character to juggle.

I was surprised that Tasha was never replaced by another actress like how Kes and Jadzia were. Maybe they realized that the cast was way too big?

It's funny how Beverly and Wesley were never killed off when those actors left the show.

[Mr. Laser Beam]

I never did like Sela. She always was way too smug, even for a Romulan. It's like she couldn't even understand why Tasha would have tried to escape Romulus...

[davejames]

Yeah, as much as I liked Crosby as Yar, she didn't exactly make for the most convincing villain (and her scenes opposite Nimoy in Unification almost make me wanna cringe).

I will admit though it was pretty cool seeing Sela appear on the viewscreen that first time.

[BriGuy]

Based mostly on some things I've only recently heard, namely the circumstances of Dorn's casting and his late arrival to the cast, I would tend to think Worf was more the extraneous character the writers (and the actor) didn't know what to do with, at least at the start.

It might have stayed that way if Crosby and Yar and stayed on the show.

I think it was interesting that the Yar character wasn't given the happy, utopian life that seemingly most of the rest of the crew enjoyed. She had a very troubled background, and I think the writers would have delved into that a lot had Yar stayed around. I think there could have been a lot to explore there.

It seems it was only with Yar removed that Worf got more development and play. Worf (and my extension the Klingons) may not have become the character he did if Yar had been there.

[Jimi_James]

tomalak301 wrote:

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Also, interesting tidbit about her being asked about Nemesis. Berman said he couldn't see Sela coming back and here I am thinking, "I can". Man if I had done Nemesis and brought back Nimoy (If he would want to do it), Katsulas, and Denise Crosby as Sela, I think that movie could have been one of the best films in the franchise.

I agree completely. It was just one huge missed opportunity to not involve any of the Romulan characters established in TNG, or Spock for that matter. It would be like if First Contact made no mention of Picard's previous dealings with the Borg or Khan's character had been replaced with some new creation with all the same background and motives. It's as if Nemesis exists in its own separate universe where the TNG crew have had no dealings with the Romulans before.

If anything, this just goes to highlight the creative fatigue of those in charge of trek during that time. Abrams version of Star Trek may not be perfect or ideal, but I at least find it more fun and entertaining than the final years of the Berman and Braga train wreck.

On the other hand, I don't think taking the combadge was as much of an insult as she seems to think it is. What's important to remember is that she chose to leave so its not like he was kicking her out and rubbing it in. She decided she didn't want to be there and for the rest of them that chose to stay, it was a way to acknowledge that she was no longer part of the group.

I can't believe I'm defending Berman against anything...but I didn't see it as insulting. Perhaps in poor taste or simply a bad joke, but not insulting.

[billcosby]

"Excuse me, I'm just finishing up a speech–for you, Mr. Spock. I rather enjoy writing. I don't get to do it very often in this job."
"Perhaps you would be happier in another job." - Sela and Data, Reunification Part II

[tomalak301]

bbailey861 wrote:

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There are dozens of ways they could have brought Sela back, but I especially like this. I think this crew would have made for an amazing story and would have been wildly successful.

Yeah. They wanted to do something special to end TNG's run but they did the wrong story. They had the backstory for Nemesis if done right, and that was reunification. They also had the idea that the Romulans had just helped the Federation win the war against the Dominion. If you're going to do a romulan story, go all the way and bring back the idea of Reunification. You can still do a lot of what they did in the movie (Like killing Data, or at least give him a much more powerful death) and the movie can end with not only Riker moving on, but showing a sign of Reunification by actually delivering Jerok's letter home. Now you've just completed one of TNG's more popular story arcs (Everything dealing with the romulans) and given the audience a sense of, yeah this is the TNG I remember. You can have all the action you want, mainly because it's a movie, but the heart of it will still be true TNG. I still think Nemesis was Berman's greatest missed opportunity, for all the crap that he gets. I would have loved to see that kind of movie.

[BriGuy]

Iceberg warning...

Bogging down a movie with "canon" and TV show background isn't going to help. It could be said the TNG-through-to-Nemesis "universe" was being dragged down by its own canon and history. Hence, reboot with the new movie and bang, success.

Yes, Khan had a show origin "backstory," but that was explained and done with with a short little "speech" by Khan. It didn't drag the movie down.

Trying to tie in and bring in so many elements from the series is just going to appeal to hard-core fans, who aren't a big enough audience to make a movie successful.

[SchwEnt]

But I would suggest, why not?
So bring in a Romulan villain in NEM.

General movie-going audience doesn't know the difference between new unknown Shinzon or backstoried Tomalak or anyone else for that matter. They'll only know from whatever is presented in the movie. So what difference will it make? It'll all be new to a general viewer.

Hardcore fans *will* know the difference between a previously unknown villain and a recurring character from the series.

So if the script calls for a Romulan villain, and if it's appropriate for the story, bring in an existing character.

The general audience won't know who Sela or Tomalak is? So what? NO ONE knew who Shinzon was, does that mean EVERYONE was alienated and confused? No, we all learn together during the movie. As with TWOK, good writing should be able to allay any backstory issues.

[Dale Sams]

Dang Crosby, you got TWO send-off episodes, and an ingenious way of bringing you back (albiet 20 years older)...

Personally, for Nemesis, I would have had her appear to Picard in silhouette (echoing her first appearance) to warn him of this, that or the other. And that would be it. Not a big role, but a little nod.

Or barring that, could have even made her Nero's dead wife...but that would have been a bit much maybe.

[tomalak301]

BriGuy wrote:

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Iceberg warning...

Bogging down a movie with "canon" and TV show background isn't going to help. It could be said the TNG-through-to-Nemesis "universe" was being dragged down by its own canon and history. Hence, reboot with the new movie and bang, success.

Yes, Khan had a show origin "backstory," but that was explained and done with with a short little "speech" by Khan. It didn't drag the movie down.

Trying to tie in and bring in so many elements from the series is just going to appeal to hard-core fans, who aren't a big enough audience to make a movie successful.

First Contact didn't seem to have much of an issue, and that was TNG's most popular movie. You can quickly bring the general audience up to speed, but you don't want to ignore your core audience either. That's actually something I feel cynical regarding Abrams trek. It just doesn't feel like this current state of Trek is for me, yet I would love to see Star Trek return in some form and what Abrams is doing is the best we have.

[billcosby]

BriGuy wrote:

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Trying to tie in and bring in so many elements from the series is just going to appeal to hard-core fans, who aren't a big enough audience to make a movie successful.

Agreed, however in hindsight Nemesis was a spectacular failure on many, many levels. At the very least it could have been a fan pleaser or a money maker from Joe six pack. In the end it was neither.

tomalak301 wrote:

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That's actually something I feel cynical regarding Abrams trek. It just doesn't feel like this current state of Trek is for me, yet I would love to see Star Trek return in some form and what Abrams is doing is the best we have.

I'll drink to that! The spirit of Star Trek flared in it's "trap of the week" scenario and nearly always left the viewers with some sort of philosophy to ruminate over. JJ's Trek is all about fun and explosions, but afterward what is there to linger over? Nothing. You don't sit around the dinner table and debate the themes and depths of a summer popcorn flick!

Nice as JJ's Trek is, it is no substitute for Trek on TV.
On topic: ()

Lieutenant Worf: You are favored in the ship's pool.
Lt. Tasha Yar: You bet on me?
Lieutenant Worf: A sure thing.

Even Worf knew to trust in Tasha Yar.

[GalaxyX]

tomalak301 wrote:

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First Contact didn't seem to have much of an issue, and that was TNG's most popular movie. You can quickly bring the general audience up to speed, but you don't want to ignore your core audience either. That's actually something I feel cynical regarding Abrams trek. It just doesn't feel like this current state of Trek is for me, yet I would love to see Star Trek return in some form and what Abrams is doing is the best we have.

As usual, it's more the execution of the stories that makes or break them. First Contact was probably the best TNG movie, but only because the other ones are so mediocre. First Contact made a good call to properly balance the action and suspense with some light comedy. Preferably I would have liked to see a Trek movie done in a very serious tone.

Using canon is easy if you know how to pick and choose good pieces of canon that will enhance a story properly.

The only reason Abrams' Trek is doing well is because Paramount finally coughed up a budget worthy of making a Trek movie.

I would have loved to see a TNG movie with that kind of budget, and a simple sci-fi action storyline, instead of the horrible comedic misses and cringe worthy scenes.

Abrams' Trek is closer to the roots of this, which is why it was successful.

[davejames]

BriGuy wrote:

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Iceberg warning...

Bogging down a movie with "canon" and TV show background isn't going to help. It could be said the TNG-through-to-Nemesis "universe" was being dragged down by its own canon and history. Hence, reboot with the new movie and bang, success.

Yes, Khan had a show origin "backstory," but that was explained and done with with a short little "speech" by Khan. It didn't drag the movie down.

Trying to tie in and bring in so many elements from the series is just going to appeal to hard-core fans, who aren't a big enough audience to make a movie successful.

Agreed. Nemesis had a lot of problems, but not wrapping up every little Romulan plot thread from the series was not one of them.

I mean, come on. The reunification storyline was not exactly the most exciting one of the series, and while The Defector was an excellent episode, hardly anyone remembers or cares that there was supposed to be a freakin letter delivered somewhere. Lol

I do agree it would have been awesome to see Tomalak again (or the Romulan chick from Face of the Enemy). But those wouldn't have required any explanation, and could have simply been some familiar faces for the fans to see.

They also would have made for MUCH better villains than Shinzon.

[Enterprise is Great]

The only way I would've stomached Sela in Nemesis is if she appeared as one of the doomed senators in the Romulan senate at the opening of the film. i just can't stand the character.