Are certain aliens too difficult to take seriously?

LobsterAfternoon · January 10 2013, 04:51 AM

Do you guys think that there are certain Trek species that the powers that be think can't be regulars? Andorians and Tellarites are founders of the Federation, yet we've never had a regular series cast member from either species, and never had a single recurring Tellarite. We're told that the Federation is this wonderfully diverse society, yet we only ever see humans, a few vulcans, and the occasional Bolian. What do you guys attribute that too?

Mr_Homn · January 10 2013, 05:11 AM

LobsterAfternoon wrote:

Do you guys think that there are certain Trek species that the powers that be think can't be regulars? Andorians and Tellarites are founders of the Federation, yet we've never had a regular series cast member from either species, and never had a single recurring Tellarite. We're told that the Federation is this wonderfully diverse society, yet we only ever see humans, a few vulcans, and the occasional Bolian. What do you guys attribute that too?

we did have andorian regulars in Enterprise, actually.

I recall reading on this forum before that berman thought andorians were silly looking because they reminded him of 50's b movie aliens with their antennae. That was during TNG era, but once the technology and makeup advanced, he was okay with it for enterprise.

R. Star · January 10 2013, 05:13 AM

No recurring Pakleds?!

scotpens · January 10 2013, 05:22 AM

Mr_Homn wrote:

I recall reading on this forum before that berman thought andorians were silly looking because they reminded him of 50's b movie aliens with their antennae.

This man would disagree.

You want silly? What about those stupid-looking Ferengi? (And they were regulars.) Frankly, I found the pig-faced Tellarites more believable.

Nerys Myk · January 10 2013, 05:24 AM

LobsterAfternoon wrote:

Do you guys think that there are certain Trek species that the powers that be think can't be regulars? Andorians and Tellarites are founders of the Federation, yet we've never had a regular series cast member from either species, and never had a single recurring Tellarite. We're told that the Federation is this wonderfully diverse society, yet we only ever see humans, a few vulcans, and the occasional Bolian. What do you guys attribute that too?

And Klingons, Bajorans, Cardassians, Ferengi, Trills, Talaxians, Denobulans,Founders, Vortas, Jem'hadar...

-Brett- · January 10 2013, 05:29 AM

The cast of characters is not meant to be a statistical random sample of the demographics of this fictional society.

Sector 7 · January 10 2013, 05:47 AM

scotpens wrote:

You want silly? What about those stupid-looking Ferengi? (And they were regulars.) Frankly, I found the pig-faced Tellarites more believable.

Why does everyone pick on the kids... er... aliens with big ears?!

sbk1234 · January 10 2013, 05:50 AM

The Tak Tak?

LobsterAfternoon · January 10 2013, 06:13 AM

We never had a regular Andorian. Shran was a recurring.

LobsterAfternoon · January 10 2013, 06:15 AM

My apologies if my initial post was vague. I was trying to question if the designs of certain species are 'too alien' to be more than just a guest spot. Vulcans look like humans with pointy ears and lame haircuts, which is a lot simpler than blue skin, blue tinged teeth, antennae, etc.

Nerys Myk · January 10 2013, 06:22 AM

DS9 had the Ferengi.

Dream · January 10 2013, 06:23 AM

VOY had the Kazon.

LobsterAfternoon · January 10 2013, 06:51 AM

Maybe it's the skin color? Kaazon and Ferengi, while more alien looking than the average "Slap a weird forehead on a white guy" routine that Trek usually does, still have human skin tones. Whereas dudes like Andorians and Bolians are very brightly colored.

R. Star · January 10 2013, 07:03 AM

Sector 7 wrote:

scotpens wrote:

You want silly? What about those stupid-looking Ferengi? (And they were regulars.) Frankly, I found the pig-faced Tellarites more believable.

Why does everyone pick on the kids... er... aliens with big ears?!

They're just earophobes.

T'Girl · January 10 2013, 09:55 AM

LobsterAfternoon wrote:

Whereas dudes like Andorians and Bolians are very brightly colored.

Brent Spiner had yellow skin make-up applied in all but a very few of his appearances on the show.

January 10 2013, 04:51 AM	#1
LobsterAfternoon Commander	Are certain aliens too difficult to take seriously? Do you guys think that there are certain Trek species that the powers that be think can't be regulars? Andorians and Tellarites are founders of the Federation, yet we've never had a regular series cast member from either species, and never had a single recurring Tellarite. We're told that the Federation is this wonderfully diverse society, yet we only ever see humans, a few vulcans, and the occasional Bolian. What do you guys attribute that too?

January 10 2013, 05:13 AM	#3
R. Star Commodore Location: Terra 3	Re: Are certain aliens too difficult to take seriously? No recurring Pakleds?! __________________ "I was never a Star Trek fan." J.J. Abrams

January 10 2013, 05:29 AM	#6
-Brett- Rear Admiral	Re: Are certain aliens too difficult to take seriously? The cast of characters is not meant to be a statistical random sample of the demographics of this fictional society.

January 10 2013, 05:50 AM	#8
sbk1234 Rear Admiral Location: Los Angeles	Re: Are certain aliens too difficult to take seriously? The Tak Tak? __________________ In all the history of the world, a riot has NEVER broken out at a Sci-Fi convention. "It's a fucking TV show!" - Gary Lockwood

January 10 2013, 06:13 AM	#9
LobsterAfternoon Commander	Re: Are certain aliens too difficult to take seriously? We never had a regular Andorian. Shran was a recurring.

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January 10 2013, 06:15 AM	#10
LobsterAfternoon Commander	Re: Are certain aliens too difficult to take seriously? My apologies if my initial post was vague. I was trying to question if the designs of certain species are 'too alien' to be more than just a guest spot. Vulcans look like humans with pointy ears and lame haircuts, which is a lot simpler than blue skin, blue tinged teeth, antennae, etc.

January 10 2013, 06:22 AM	#11
Nerys Myk Admiral Location: House of Kang, now with ridges	Re: Are certain aliens too difficult to take seriously? DS9 had the Ferengi. __________________ Nerys Myk's Midnight In Never Land A novel of Dark Fantasy @ Amazon.com

January 10 2013, 06:23 AM	#12
Dream Admiral	Re: Are certain aliens too difficult to take seriously? VOY had the Kazon. __________________ TWoP Forums .

January 10 2013, 06:51 AM	#13
LobsterAfternoon Commander	Re: Are certain aliens too difficult to take seriously? Maybe it's the skin color? Kaazon and Ferengi, while more alien looking than the average "Slap a weird forehead on a white guy" routine that Trek usually does, still have human skin tones. Whereas dudes like Andorians and Bolians are very brightly colored.