Recasting Number One

[Shawnster]

No need to look too far...how about Nichelle Nichols?

Yeah, I know, making her second in command would probably have been too much for the era.

Ignoring the obvious racist impossibility for the times (although it would definitely have been groundbreaking), I think that would necessitate a new character instead of simply recasting the same character (ala Saavki). Of course the character issue only comes into play with "The Menagerie."

 

[Nerys Myk]

Ignoring the obvious racist impossibility for the times (although it would definitely have been groundbreaking), I think that would necessitate a new character instead of simply recasting the same character (ala Saavki). Of course the character issue only comes into play with "The Menagerie."

They didn't seem to have a problem casting non-white actors in one off roles like Commodore Stone, Lt. Boma and Dr. Cory.

 

[Spock's Barber]

They didn't seem to have a problem casting non-white actors in one off roles like Commodore Stone, Lt. Boma and Dr. Cory.

And my favorite 2 time guest star, Dr. Mbenga.

 

[Christopher]

They didn't seem to have a problem casting non-white actors in one off roles like Commodore Stone, Lt. Boma and Dr. Cory.

And of course other shows were breaking ground with featured African-American leads like Bill Cosby in I Spy and Greg Morris in Mission: Impossible -- both of whom were far more central than Uhura ever was, so TOS was actually a bit behind the curve.

 

[Nerys Myk]

And of course other shows were breaking ground with featured African-American leads like Bill Cosby in I Spy and Greg Morris in Mission: Impossible -- both of whom were far more central than Uhura ever was, so TOS was actually a bit behind the curve.

Yes, while difficult, I'm not sure it was impossible.

 

[Shawnster]

They didn't seem to have a problem casting non-white actors in one off roles like Commodore Stone, Lt. Boma and Dr. Cory.

No, but I bet they would have balked at a non-white primary character who would be seen taking command regularly.

But yes, as I got older I realized how special the casting of Stone was. And I wish we'd gotten to see a lot more of M'Benga.

 

[Nerys Myk]

No, but I bet they would have balked at a non-white primary character who would be seen taking command regularly.

But yes, as I got older I realized how special the casting of Stone was. And I wish we'd gotten to see a lot more of M'Benga.

But as Christopher pointed out, other shows were doing it and Star Trek was behind the curve.

 

[Christopher]

No, but I bet they would have balked at a non-white primary character who would be seen taking command regularly.

There were a couple of times in Mission: Impossible where Barney acted as the de facto team leader when Jim was missing or captured, although they were in later seasons in the early '70s.

Oh, yeah, and in Land of the Giants, from around 1969-71 IIRC, Don Marshall played the second-in-command of the Spindrift. So that's an even better example.

 

[Tenacity]

And in I Spy, neither Culp nor Cosby's characters was overtly the boss of the two man team, and Cosby's character was often depicted as smarter than Culp's.

A Black actress might have meant ratings problems in the deep south, but not in America in general.

If Roddenberry ever wanted to use The Cage is some form (as he eventually did), he might have kept the female first officer, while dropping the use of "Number One."

Make Number One a previous first officer and giving the new character a name.

 

[Pauln6]

Most of the shows mentioned black actors. Was there anything prominently featuring black actresses? I can recall a couple of cartoons in the seventies (Astra in the Sentinels, Dee Dee in Captain Caveman) but not many black women in live action sixties shows, albeit that was before my time.

 

[Harvey]

Most of the shows mentioned black actors. Was there anything prominently featuring black actresses? I can recall a couple of cartoons in the seventies (Astra in the Sentinels, Dee Dee in Captain Caveman) but not many black women in live action sixties shows, albeit that was before my time.

Not many. Off the top of my head.

East Side/West Side (1963-64)
Julia (1968-71)
Mannix (1968-1975*)
Room 222 (1969-1974)

*Gail Fisher joined the show beginning in its second season, broadcast 1968-69.

 

[Nerys Myk]

Most of the shows mentioned black actors. Was there anything prominently featuring black actresses? I can recall a couple of cartoons in the seventies (Astra in the Sentinels, Dee Dee in Captain Caveman) but not many black women in live action sixties shows, albeit that was before my time.

Cicely Tyson in East Side/West Side. Gail Fisher in Mannix. Denise NIcholas in Room 222.

 

[Ryan Thomas Riddle]

A balck female co-star would have really been pushing the envelope for an action-adventure series in 1965, but wouldn't that have been something? Still, I don't think Nichelle Nichols had the range to carry a show like that.

I've always thought Eartha Kitt would've made a fantastic Number One. She had a striking look and a very unique voice. And she was a great actress. Sorry, Julie Newmar, Eartha was my favorite Catwoman.

 

[Pauln6]

It's hard to know if they would have made decent number ones or if there was sufficient will to put a black woman in charge of white men. Uhura didn't get to give orders very often in TOS so I think she was symbolic more than anything else. The female dynamic of the show backslid considerably after the pilot.

 

[Tenacity]

Another possibility is Julie Newmar. Neither Number One nor Spock were portrayed as their receptive captains "side kick." Something I would not have been interested in seeing.

Being a inch taller than Shatner, Newmar's stature might have made it easier for her not to be written as the side kick, and more likely to be written as Kirk's equal.

Another thought is despite the actresses I've suggested, maybe it would have been better to cast an actress who (to be blunt) wasn't all that attractive.

Ann B. Davis (Alice on The Brady Bunch) would be more along this line. She would have been about forty at the time of the recast, but could have played a younger character. Just prior to a possible casting on Star Trek, Davis was a regular on The John Forsythe Show.

 

[Ryan Thomas Riddle]

Another possibility is Julie Newmar. Neither Number One nor Spock were portrayed as their receptive captains "side kick." Something I would not have been interested in seeing.

Being a inch taller than Shatner, Newmar's stature might have made it easier for her not to be written as the side kick, and more likely to be written as Kirk's equal.

Another thought is despite the actresses I've suggested, maybe it would have been better to cast an actress who (to be blunt) wasn't all that attractive.

Ann B. Davis (Alice on The Brady Bunch) would be more along this line. She would have been about forty at the time of the recast, but could have played a younger character. Just prior to a possible casting on Star Trek, Davis was a regular on The John Forsythe Show.

You know, Newmar might've made an interesting Spock, had they made him a woman.

 

[Nerys Myk]

You know, Newmar might've made an interesting Spock, had they made him a woman.

She did play an android in My Living Doll.

 

[david kelly]

If they would've considered an English actress, Caroline John would have been a good choice. She played Liz Shaw in Doctor Who. She exudes competence, authority and command. Also, Barbara Bain could have been a good choice. The character she played in Space 1999 could be stoic and controled at times which would be perfect for how Number One was envisaged.