Troi's Appearance...if Crosby got the job?

[Orphalesion]

This is an interesting question, because apparently a lot about Troi's appearance was decided on the fly and made to fit Marina.

Apparently the producers thought her too "fat" to wear a standard uniform during the first season, so they put her in that ridiculous scant in the pilot.
Then they decided that she looked too much like a cheerleader in that, so they gave her the bun and the hideous purple suit she wore in the first season.
Her look in later seasons was just a refinement of her first season look and the hair very likely was meant to enhance her natural, classic Greek appearance.

Troi was originally conceived as tall and willowy, like Crosby. I think she would have likely had long hair (though not a fall like Marina) and worn a standard uniform.

Her alien appearance...I always hated that they kept Troi so human. I agree purple eyes would have been nice or perhaps blue/purple hair.

I do think it would have been better in the end if they had stayed in the roles they originally read for. It would have meant keeping the better actress (Marina) and the better character (Macha) though that makes you wonder whom they would have put in that third seat?

 

[kkt]

I'm not sure a ship's counselor is important enough to be a regular character. She helps people deal with their problems, but normally in a private way. She only indirectly helps accomplish the ship's mission.

And they didn't get very good use of her psychic abilities. Obvious statements like
the alien ship that's firing on us has a crew full of hostile emotions.

 

[Orphalesion]

I'm not sure a ship's counselor is important enough to be a regular character. She helps people deal with their problems, but normally in a private way. She only indirectly helps accomplish the ship's mission.

And they didn't get very good use of her psychic abilities. Obvious statements like
the alien ship that's firing on us has a crew full of hostile emotions.

I agree, hence why it would have been better Marina had stayed as Macha and remained on the show and Troi would have left along with Crosby.

Anybody have a time machine I can borrow?

 

[2takesfrakes]

... she's short.
[...] I'm not sure that it would've worked.

Since Hernandez was based on Jeanette Goldstein's fantastic Vasquez from "Aliens" (which came out as TNG production was beginning), I'd say the character would've had a great chance of working.

Indeed, this would seem to be the consensus, on these boards. Although, I'd much prefer seeing more of Goldstein, than Vasquez in the Hernandez character. I would hope that they wouldn't model on her, too closely. Jeanette was a very talented character actor and I'm glad that Cameron remembered her later, with T2. I did look her up recently, as a direct result of this thread and it seems like she runs a plus-sized bra shoppe, now, and has left Hollywood. Ah, well ...

Personally, though, I do prefer tall actresses, as their proportions are much more photogenic. I'm glad the casting worked out as it did, as a result. Still, I wish Denise would've stuck it out. Another year wouldn't have hurt her chances at anything. On the other hand, TNG needed her, more than she needed it, probably, at the time. She could always model and I have seen some of her modelling from back in the day. Like Jeanette Goldstein, Denise was surprisingly versatile for the camera.

 

[Ithekro]

How long was Crosby's hair prior to TNG?

 

[Orphalesion]

How long was Crosby's hair prior to TNG?

Shoulder length it appears. That's her in 1982:

I think looking at her like that one can very well imagine her as Troi.

Edit: Though it appears by 1986 it was shorter:

 

[Nerys Myk]

Maybe Crosby would have gotten the four boobs look.

 

[Starfury]

I wonder what Sirtis would look like with Crosby's short hair cut

I gave it a try:

 

[The Old Mixer]

Just imagine all of those already cringeworthy Troi lines coming from the actress who gave us "But my job is security....OK, helping is more important."

 

[Granola Gwen]

I wonder what Sirtis would look like with Crosby's short hair cut

I gave it a try:

You are beyond talented.

 

[WillsBabe]

Would have been interesting to see Riker and Crosby/Troi interacting.

 

[2takesfrakes]

... It certainly would!

 

[Tulin]

... she's short.
[...] I'm not sure that it would've worked.

Since Hernandez was based on Jeanette Goldstein's fantastic Vasquez from "Aliens" (which came out as TNG production was beginning), I'd say the character would've had a great chance of working.

Indeed, this would seem to be the consensus, on these boards. Although, I'd much prefer seeing more of Goldstein, than Vasquez in the Hernandez character. I would hope that they wouldn't model on her, too closely. Jeanette was a very talented character actor and I'm glad that Cameron remembered her later, with T2.

Not just T2.

Cameron cast her as the Irish mother who tells her children bed time tales as the water rushes into their room in "Titanic".

I'm almost choking up just thinking about that scene.

 

[2takesfrakes]

Oh, I see! Never watched Titanic. I never got the whole Leonardo DiCaprio thing. He's just not Leading Man material, to me. I don't know ... but I'm familiar with the History of the Titanic, so I can easily imagine the scene you refer to. And with that shock of red hair of hers, Jeanette Goldstein's got me convinced, already, she's from the Emerald Isle ...

 

[Ithekro]

How long was Crosby's hair prior to TNG?

Edit: Though it appears by 1986 it was shorter:

So this is at least a start of what Troi would have looked like if Crosby had landed that role instead of them switching.

I can see that somehow. I just wonder if they would have found more for her to do.

Also I wonder who would have been given the task of finding out if Data was fully functional in "Naked Now".