What dynamic would it have brought to the show?
What if Kirk was killed off at some point in the original series?
- Thread starter John Vasiliou
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I seriuosly doubt that they would have done something like that in the 60s. But IF they really killed him off I guess they would have brought in another actor as the captain. (I just can't imagine that they would have Spock as captain.) How that would have changed the dynamic? Hm, maybe it wouldn't change at all. Of course the new captain is still the star of the series; so he HAS to be likable. I'd think they'd relatively fast develope a friendship between the leads.
David Gerrold wrote an amusing alternate history short story for the anthology Alternate Kennedies in which the Kennedy family never leaves Hollywood, and where after the second season of Star Track the fed-up producers replace William Shatner with John F Kennedy. Since Leonard Nimoy was being just as annoying as Shatner, he gets tossed overboard too. A few intriguing changes to the show's dynamics result.
^ Okay, ROFL!
So did Captain Kennedy crash the Enterprise?
Anyways, I can't see them doing something as drastic as killing the lead back in the 60s, especially since it quickly became obvious that the relationship between Kirk, Spock and McCoy were what drove the show for a large part.
That and the character dynamics were perfect. Had they brought in another actor, he would have had to be rather different from Kirk and I am not sure that would have worked with the other characters. Too similar to Kirk and what's the point, too different and the basic format woulda been screwed.
So did Captain Kennedy crash the Enterprise?
Anyways, I can't see them doing something as drastic as killing the lead back in the 60s, especially since it quickly became obvious that the relationship between Kirk, Spock and McCoy were what drove the show for a large part.
That and the character dynamics were perfect. Had they brought in another actor, he would have had to be rather different from Kirk and I am not sure that would have worked with the other characters. Too similar to Kirk and what's the point, too different and the basic format woulda been screwed.
None. They'd only have killed him off over a contract dispute, in which case they'd have brought in Lloyd Bridges or Jack Lord or whoever, and as professonals they'd have fit right in with everyone else.
Actors back then knew how to create chemistry.
I doubt a series lead would ever have been considered being killed off in a '60s TV show. Heroes back then were invinicble and always survived no matter the odds.
Had Phase II gone before the cameras, maybe Kirk would've died a hero's death midway through Season One, leaving Will Decker and Xon running the Enterprise. I could see that happening, especially if Shatner demanded a pay rise.
Had Phase II gone before the cameras, maybe Kirk would've died a hero's death midway through Season One, leaving Will Decker and Xon running the Enterprise. I could see that happening, especially if Shatner demanded a pay rise.
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Or in a cliffhanger at the end of Season Three.
Question is, would Majel Barrett have played two roles? Nurse Chapel and Ilia's mother too?Or in a cliffhanger at the end of Season Three.
I think you are probably right. They would have probably done just this-brought in some other leading man type to take over with little modification of the overall show. I doubt they would have killed Kirk off, but if Shatner had really gone over the edge they could have written him out somehow. This used to be common on TV-less so now (fortunately for all of us). Such substitutions usually just weakened an already troubled show (remember the other southern-belle they replaced Flo wth on Alice?)
In Gerrold's story, no, not so much. However, there are fans of the Original Series who have rather strong opinions on the change in captain-and-first-officer role for the third season.
In the story, for what it's worth, the story given for Kirk and Spock leaving the ship is that they're transferred to another ship (I believe), which is probably how it would have played out had Shatner and/or Nimoy been fired during the show. It's simple, it does leave the way open for either to come back if ratings desperately require it, and it makes sense in context for the show as well.
The answer is: Jack Lord as Captain McGarrett! Aloha! -- RR
I really wish that he could've guested as one of the other starship captains (like Robert Wesley, not one of the crazy ones). Jack Lord would've made an insanely cool captain.
Someone in the Trek Art section did a fantastic "PhotoShop" matting Lord's features over those of Shatner's in one of his early publicity shots holding a phaser rifle. The angle and scaling were perfect, at least to me, and because their respective noses were of vaguely similar shape, it just looked right.
Of course, I've read the theories Lord, when originally considered, wanted more control of the show than Roddenberry felt safely sharing. And supposedly Lloyd Bridges did not want to risk being typecast and ridiculed for having taken on a "sci-fi" role.
But back to my original point, that manip' demonstrated Lord would have looked impressively intimidating as a starship captain.
Sincerely,
Bill
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