Doctor change...

[An Officer]

Why did they change Crusher without any warning or explantion? ... then bring her back?

I'm re-watching the series on Virgin... and I see they haven't bothered to enlighten us...

 

[Michael]

From Memory Alpha:

McFadden left the series during the second season, replaced by Diana Muldaur as Doctor Katherine Pulaski. Officially, the producers felt that the character of Crusher had not developed as well as they had hoped. Unofficially, there were some disagreements between the show's producers and McFadden as to how the character should develop, which may have led to some bad blood between her and several executive producers, resulting in McFadden's being released from her contract before the second season.

But thanks to a letter-writing campaign, support from Patrick Stewart, and a personal invitation from Rick Berman, McFadden was brought back to the TNG cast for the third and subsequent seasons. McFadden was absent for all episodes of the second season and only appeared in stock footage during TNG: "Shades of Gray".

As for an in-universe explanation:

Crusher was offered a position as head of Starfleet Medical in 2365 and left the Enterprise during that year. She was replaced by Dr. Katherine Pulaski. (TNG: "The Child")

 

[Kegek]

I believe the fact McFadden didn't wear a wig was also important, as adjusting her hair delayed shooting of episodes and whatnot. When she returned in season three she did so wearing a wig.

The unpopularity of Pulaski - particularly excerbated by her early disdain for Data and criticisms that she was a McCoy clone - also sealed the deal on a reversal. Though I believe Muldaur has stated that it was after "Unnatural Selection", in which she had to wear heavy old age makeup, she had decided this would be her final season on the show and she would not act in sci-fi again.

 

[An Officer]

NCC-1701... What a thorough answer... thank you!

Her return was a pity... I preferred the second doctor myself... had a little more pizazz, aNd was generally a better actress.

 

[Kegek]

Her return was a pity... I preferred the second doctor myself... had a little more pizazz, aNd was generally a better actress.

Indeed. I also preferred Pulaski. She had a lot of character and was a good addition to the ensemble. Crusher, while I never disliked her (and she had some good episodes)... was just, well, there, defined by her relationships to Wesley, Picard and later Troi, with some of McFadden's own interests added for good measure.

 

[Michael]

Her return was a pity... I preferred the second doctor myself... had a little more pizazz, aNd was generally a better actress.

Indeed. I also preferred Pulaski. She had a lot of character and was a good addition to the ensemble. Crusher, while I never disliked her (and she had some good episodes)... was just, well, there, defined by her relationships to Wesley, Picard and later Troi, with some of McFadden's own interests added for good measure.

Count me in as another one who liked Pulaski more.

 

[McCoy]

I liked Pulaski better as well. It didn't hurt that she was a link to TOS.

 

[Michael]

^ She was? How?

 

[Kegek]

Diana Muldaur had acted in two TOS episodes. I presume he means that...

 

[Michael]

^ Yeah, I know that. But what's Pulaski's link to TOS (apart from her usual quibbles with the transporter)?

 

[Red Ranger]

Frankly, I disliked both Crusher and Pulaski.

I thought Crusher was far too defined by her relationship with Picard and as Wesley's mom, and never really cottoned to the actress who played her.

As for Pulaski, while Diana Muldaur is a better actress, I also felt she was too much of a McCoy clone.

I think that if they wanted to replace Dr. Crusher permanently, a younger female CMO would have been better, kind of how Geordi as a young, rising officer gets to be in charge of engineering.

Red Ranger

 

[erastus25]

Frankly, I disliked both Crusher and Pulaski.

I thought Crusher was far too defined by her relationship with Picard and as Wesley's mom, and never really cottoned to the actress who played her.

I agree. The character did improve after Wesley left the ship though. I think a lot of her struggles were because the writers didn't give her a lot of good material. All we really get about Crusher's background (pre-Sub Rosa, but that's a different story...) is a throwaway reference to her learning alternative medical techniques because of some catastrophe she lived through on a fledgling colony.

On a different note, does anyone have an actual source for the information posted on Memory Alpha about Crusher's departure? I have seen it quoted here several time, but it would be interesting to read the actual interview with either a producer or McFadden herself.

 

[Mr. Fergy]

I liked Pulaski, she was soften a bit toward Data, but McCoy:The Next Generation? I liked Crusher better.

 

[chancellorjake]

I liked Pulaski more than Crusher, as well. Pulaski had a very interesting relationship with Worf. Without Dr. Crusher we never would have had Remember Me, though.

 

[Kegek]

I liked Pulaski more than Crusher, as well. Pulaski had a very interesting relationship with Worf. Without Dr. Crusher we never would have had Remember Me, though.

Wasn't 'Remember Me' originally a Troi episode before they changed it to Crusher?