How do you feel about Majel Barrett?

[ThankYouGeneR]

Lwaxana Troi was important to TNG because it helped get the show not to take itself so seriously. So how you feel about her really depends on whether you think she was funny. I thought she was annoying as hell, and yet that's exactly what made her funny, based on how much she unnerved the stuffed shirts on the ship, Picard in particular.

True. In a way she was a bit like Q: a kind of 'trickster', in the theatrical sense of the word, whose purpose was to sweep into stories and act as a kind of deconstructive element. If we look at the stories that she appeared in, many of them (not all of them, but many of them) operate along those lines.

Hmm. I have never recognized this... but now that you two say it it is like a light bulb moment for me. And absolutely yes, I do indeed agree! You two have given brilliant insight into this character, that btw as been a favorite of mine since she burst into my awareness on the transporter in Haven. Standing on it backwards.

 

[ThankYouGeneR]

She provided a lot of moral support, and was one of the more consistent people associated with Trek to do so. Also, she was involved with a lot of planning and participation around events and activities associated Roddenberry's legacy. Additionally, she at times had been known to voice input or stand up for the main casts at times. A popular story is that she argued with Rick Berman when he and Avery Brooks clashed once on the set of DS9.

So it goes beyond what happened on screen; indeed, the bulk of her Trek-related work, especially after Roddenberry died, seemed to be in very much a support role in taking care of Trek and Roddenberry's profiles.

What a nice thing to learn about her. So glad you posted this.

 

[ThankYouGeneR]

I was honoured to be a dinner guest in Majel Barrett's Bel-Air mansion in December 1991, when it was decorated for Christmas. Gene had passed away just a few months earlier. I was driven there in Gene's yellow limousine (by their driver, Ernie Over), and Majel was a most gracious and friendly hostess, with a delightfully wacky sense of humour.

Also at dinner was Majel's mother - and Rod Roddenberry, then an unassuming but friendly teenaged, longhaired, Californian skater dude.

Coincidentally, it was the night of an important Superbowl final, and Majel asked if I minded her having the game on during dinner, since "her team" was playing. (Who was I to argue? But please don't ask me who won; it's a night that's kind of hard to remember, because I was floating in a bizarre haze of disbelief, and there was a traditional house rule that "Star Trek" not be mentioned.) I did get a tour of Gene's office from Ernie and, when I got home, I wrote a column on the highlight of that US trip for my Australian Trek club. My piece was called, "For the Wallet is Hollow and I have Touched the Car."

It truly felt like I was meeting Mrs Troi - ie. Majel Barrett-Roddenberry wasn't acting whenever she played that character. Majel WAS Lwaxana Troi!

What a warm and charming anecdote! I will treasure this posted encounter you had with her.

 

[ThankYouGeneR]

I had the good fortune to know Ms. Roddenberry (I never could bring myself to call her Majel). A very gracious host and champion of all things Trek. Among other traits mentioned, she had a wit which could be vulgar or subtle, as the situation called. To fans, she was a devout keeper-of-the-flame for Star Trek and her husband's legacy.

Therin of Andor, I envy you. While I had been to her home, I had never seen it decorated for Christmas.

Oh my stars! Another personal anecdote about her. I am very grateful to hear these personal experiences with her. As previously mentioned I will treasure them!

 

[ThankYouGeneR]

I should add, re Majel. When I walked into the kitchen and went to shake her hand, she turned to me and gave me a warm grin like Dr Chapel (straight out of ST:TMP, when she smiles at seeing Spock). She was so much taller than I'd expected.

Then she started chatting - and she was Auntie Mame (Lucille Ball or Shirley Booth, take your pick!) But watching that Superbowl game on TV? That was Mrs Troi was in full flight!

Gasp! I have compared her (Lwaxana) myself to Auntie Mame! Another strong character I adore who loves life, is unique, a good person, has great depth of character, is true of heart.... and lives life FEARLESSLY!

And here you experienced her AS Auntie Mame AND Lwaxana.

I tell ya, this has made my day!

 

[Maurice]

Hey ThankYouGeneR. You should read the board rules regarding sequential posting (link). There's a multiquote feature here you ought to be using instead of writing eight separate replies in a row,

 

[ThankYouGeneR]

Hey ThankYouGeneR. You should read the board rules regarding sequential posting (link). There's a multiquote feature here you ought to be using instead of writing eight separate replies in a row,

Oh No! Thank you so much for the heads up! I will now modify my posting behavior.

EDIT: I couldn't figure out how to use the mult-quote option, could not figure out how to find TBBS instructions for using it.... but YouTube knows Everything!

It was that little Post Reply component I was missing. LOL I got it now!

Thanks again!

 

[Therin of Andor]

Then she started chatting - and she was Auntie Mame (Lucille Ball or Shirley Booth, take your pick!) But watching that Superbowl game on TV? That was Mrs Troi was in full flight!

Funny coincidence, just a few nights ago, Rosalind Russell turned up on my late-night TV as "Mame" and I'm thinking, "But what of Shirley Booth?" (Of course, IMDb then reminded me that Ms Booth played Dolly Levi - of "Hello Dolly!" fame - in a movie called "The Matchmaker", also the title of the original novel.)

In a way she was a bit like Q: a kind of 'trickster', in the theatrical sense of the word, whose purpose was to sweep into stories and act as a kind of deconstructive element. If we look at the stories that she appeared in, many of them (not all of them, but many of them) operate along those lines.

Hmm. I have never recognized this... but now that you two say it it is like a light bulb moment for me. And absolutely yes, I do indeed agree!

You absolutely must get hold of the Peter David TNG novel, "Q-in-Law" (there's also an audio version, narrated by de Lancie and Barrett).

 

[ThankYouGeneR]

Then she started chatting - and she was Auntie Mame (Lucille Ball or Shirley Booth, take your pick!) But watching that Superbowl game on TV? That was Mrs Troi was in full flight!

Funny coincidence, just a few nights ago, Rosalind Russell turned up on my late-night TV as "Mame" and I'm thinking, "But what of Shirley Booth?" (Of course, IMDb then reminded me that Ms Booth played Dolly Levi - of "Hello Dolly!" fame - in a movie called "The Matchmaker", also the title of the original novel.)

In a way she was a bit like Q: a kind of 'trickster', in the theatrical sense of the word, whose purpose was to sweep into stories and act as a kind of deconstructive element. If we look at the stories that she appeared in, many of them (not all of them, but many of them) operate along those lines.

Hmm. I have never recognized this... but now that you two say it it is like a light bulb moment for me. And absolutely yes, I do indeed agree!

You absolutely must get hold of the Peter David TNG novel, "Q-in-Law" (there's also an audio version, narrated by de Lancie and Barrett).

Okay! I have it now! The audio version w deLancie & Barrett.

 

[Vandervecken]

I think her husband should have treated her better.

This.

Truth be told I don't consider her to be a particularly good actress. I know people who have encountered her and apparently she is a nice person, but that doesn't make her a good actress.

Number One was unimpressive, as was Nurse Chapel. The only time she stood out above what a random person off the street could have done was in Half a Life.

Without her personal relationship to Roddenberry, we never would have seen her.

This.

 

[enterprisecvn65]

Well as an actress she was nothing special. I found her amusing as Deanna's mom, and she made a nice computer voice for the Enterprise but I'd hardly call her a great actress.

Never met her so I have no personal impression of her as a person. I've heard people who met her say she's personable and nice enough and never seen her called unflattering terms. So I guess her public persona is pretty good.

The one question that I really wish I could know the answer to, and would go a long way to answering the question of how I feel about her character is why did she stay with Gene Roddenberry when it's commonly accepted he cheated on her several times and didn't treat her very in general.

I don't claim to know the specifics of their relationship, all I'm doing is relating which has been mentioned too often for me to believe a large part of isn't true.

So why did she stay?

1. If she stayed with him because she truly loved him and had enough forgiveness in her soul to deal with his behaviors. Then good for her, she's a more forgiving and understanding person than I am and I have to respect her reasons she stayed.

2. If she stayed because she realized that, even though she didn't love him anymore because of his behaviors, if she divorced him she would no longer be "Mrs. Gene Roddenberry" and would probably lose a lot of the stature and opportunities that presented.....Well that's something I cannot respect in a person.

And option #2 isn't out of the question. There are often situations where one partner or the other stays in a marriage where they are treated badly and/or cheated on because they realize if they leave they'll lose significant money, stature, opportunities, etc.

I have ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA why Majel stayed, but if I could know the answer that'd help me from a stronger opinion about her character.

 

[Timewalker]

^ My opinion is that this is nobody else's business but Majel Barrett's. Only she knew how she felt and she owed no explanations to the fans while she was alive and certainly none now that she's dead.

 

[Sector 7]

Hey ThankYouGeneR. You should read the board rules regarding sequential posting (link). There's a multiquote feature here you ought to be using instead of writing eight separate replies in a row,

Oh No! Thank you so much for the heads up! I will now modify my posting behavior.

EDIT: I couldn't figure out how to use the mult-quote option, could not figure out how to find TBBS instructions for using it.... but YouTube knows Everything!

It was that little Post Reply component I was missing. LOL I got it now!

Thanks again!

Don't worry. I had a very difficult time with it, too. Finally, a MOD explained it to me, in a way I could understand. (I have a difficult time learning new things, but once I know it, I know it forever!

^ My opinion is that this is nobody else's business but Majel Barrett's. Only she knew how she felt and she owed no explanations to the fans while she was alive and certainly none now that she's dead.

+1

 

[Therin of Andor]

The one question that I really wish I could know the answer to, and would go a long way to answering the question of how I feel about her character is why did she stay with Gene Roddenberry when it's commonly accepted he cheated on her several times...

Hollywood (and, indeed, most places in the world) is filled with married couples who have non-standard relationships to the ones that you seem to expect everyone conforms to. Considering that Majel started out as "the other woman" in GR's previous marriage to Eileen, she may not have ever insisted on fidelity. Perhaps they also enjoyed being business partners, housemates, parents and friends?

... and didn't treat her very in general.

Never heard that GR treated Majel poorly in other ways.

I have ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA why Majel stayed, but if I could know the answer that'd help me from a stronger opinion about her character.

It's none of our business.

 

[enterprisecvn65]

The one question that I really wish I could know the answer to, and would go a long way to answering the question of how I feel about her character is why did she stay with Gene Roddenberry when it's commonly accepted he cheated on her several times...

Hollywood (and, indeed, most places in the world) is filled with married couples who have non-standard relationships to the ones that you seem to expect everyone conforms to. Considering that Majel started out as "the other woman" in GR's previous marriage to Eileen, she may not have ever insisted on fidelity. Perhaps they also enjoyed being business partners, housemates, parents and friends?

... and didn't treat her very in general.

Never heard that GR treated Majel poorly in other ways.

I have ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA why Majel stayed, but if I could know the answer that'd help me from a stronger opinion about her character.

It's none of our business.

Back off with your preaching. I'm well aware there are other relationships besides the traditional marriage. To be blunt though Gene was a serial womanizer so it's unlikely it was just a case of he strayed once or twice, he liked to bang women by the boatload and it's kind of an open secret he did so for most of his life.

If she accepted this as part of him and it didn't bother her. Fine.

If it hurt her but she lived with it because she loved him. Again fine. She's a very forgiving person.

If it hurt her to the point where she had no real feelings for him, but didn't leave because she didn't want to lose the perks of being "Mrs. Gene Roddenberry"....then that's poor IMHO.

I don't have any idea what it was. I'm just stating the possible scenarios. So don't preach relationship dynamics to me.

As for not treating her well, I'm not saying he beat the shit out of her or sold her as a whore. But it's also pretty well known Gene had a temper that could be intense at times. Majel herself has acknowledged in interviews that his temper caused issues between them at times. So I would say that falls into the category of not being treated very well.

And to anyone else who wants to mount the high horse and say "How dare you judge"....I'm not judging anyone because I don't know Majel's inner feelings and motivations. I'm simply saying if I could know the truth how it might influence me.

And please stop the "Oh they're Hollywood, so we shouldn't expect them to be decent people with any kind of moral code". That's a f'n cop out and part of the reason why celebrities are allowed to get away with so much shit normal people could never pull.

 

[Misfit Toy]

And please stop the "Oh they're Hollywood, so we shouldn't expect them to be decent people with any kind of moral code". That's a f'n cop out and part of the reason why celebrities are allowed to get away with so much shit normal people could never pull.

To begin with, no one here said that. Second, other people's marriages are none of your business, period.

 

[Vandervecken]

And please stop the "Oh they're Hollywood, so we shouldn't expect them to be decent people with any kind of moral code". That's a f'n cop out and part of the reason why celebrities are allowed to get away with so much shit normal people could never pull.

To begin with, no one here said that. Second, other people's marriages are none of your business, period.

What if he's a divorce/family court judge? or divorce attorney?

 

[Captain Clark Terrell]

^Only the divorce proceedings of his clients would be his business in that case, as it isn't appropriate for attorneys to access information pertaining to people who are not their clients--or who are not directly tied to a case they are trying--just as it isn't appropriate for physicians to access information regarding patients who are not their own.

In any case, I don't believe discussing the relationship between Majel Barrett and Gene Roddenberry is appropriate. None of us knows the parameters of their relationship, nor do any of us know what obstacles Majel may have faced in either her marriage or her career because of the way Gene treated her. It's impossible to draw conclusions regarding a situation about which we have only limited knowledge--and as we probably shouldn't have that information in the first place, I don't see the point in engaging in a protracted discussion of it.

--Sran

 

[TRON JA307020]

I've always liked Majel Barrett in all her roles on Star Trek, but since I joined this community in July, I can't help but notice that some members seem to like "picking on her" or making snide remarks when talking about her involvement.

I'm curious: how do you guys feel about her? Do any of you DISlike her? And if you do, why?

I always like Majel especially in TOS. She had a nice figure and really a really nice bosom. She also did a excellent job in TNG. It was nice to have a TOS actress in TNG.

 

[Cyke101]

I've always liked Majel Barrett in all her roles on Star Trek, but since I joined this community in July, I can't help but notice that some members seem to like "picking on her" or making snide remarks when talking about her involvement.

I'm curious: how do you guys feel about her? Do any of you DISlike her? And if you do, why?

I always like Majel especially in TOS. She had a nice figure and really a really nice bosom.

Way to live up to your name there, bud.