Avery Brooks; open up!

[Lateralus]

Co-creating and executive producing DS9.

Right.

Berman, as steward of the franchise, had his name attached to pretty much everything. Berman's DS9 accomplishment ends with his desire to launch another series alongside TNG.

He co-wrote Star Trek: First Contact, a fan favorite.

Berman contributed to the screenplay written by Ron Moore. Berman suggested the time travel part. Which, by and large, is the most scrutinized part of the entire film.

Yeah, go Berman...

 

[KirkPicard]

A very introspective gentleman and a charismatic speaker the two times I have met him. Today he is 60! Happy Birthday Avery Brooks.

 

[RobertScorpio]

Is anybody else offended by Robert's implication that DS9 is a 'Berman Trek'?

It is. He co-created and produced DS9.

People have a remarkable talent for ignoring all the good he's done for Trek over the years.

First off..I am not anti-Berman. I think he is the easy 'go to guy' when trashing Berman Trek (all shows produced by him). He had his ups and down, but I really think, when you consider all he did, he finished up on the positive side...IMO..

Rob

 

[RobertScorpio]

...Such as?

Co-creating and executive producing DS9.

And executive producing TNG. He did quite a lot for that show. He fought to cast Patrick Stewart as Picard. He produced the show during its heyday. He co-wrote Star Trek: First Contact, a fan favorite.

Brooks is not retired from acting.

Sorry. Sorry. I meant to say "screen acting".

I'll go one further Admiral..Berman saved Trek from Gene Roddenberry.

Rob

 

[JoeD80]

I know I'm just following the derailed thread here, but after the pilot Berman was a showrunner on DS9 in the technical aspects only. Creatively it was Michael Piller's show for the first two and half seasons and then Ira Steven Behr's after. Berman was like the overall boss that everyone reported to.

 

[Cyke101]

I remember reading that Brooks would teach acting at the college level while doing DS9. Sometimes, rather than get an actual substitute whenever there was a scheduling conflict between class and DS9, he'd videotape the lesson from the DS9 set, sometimes in full uniform. Which, of course, is always a treat.

 

[PKTrekGirl]

I remember reading that Brooks would teach acting at the college level while doing DS9. Sometimes, rather than get an actual substitute whenever there was a scheduling conflict between class and DS9, he'd videotape the lesson from the DS9 set, sometimes in full uniform. Which, of course, is always a treat.

I'd never heard this before, but it wouldn't surprise me.

I know Avery Brooks was a professor at Rutgers University long after DS9 was over.

 

[ncc74302]

Err.... how did he do that? DS9 was filmed most months of the year (with a break normally when colleges are on break) on a very notoriously grueling schedule.

 

[Cyke101]

Err.... how did he do that? DS9 was filmed most months of the year (with a break normally when colleges are on break) on a very notoriously grueling schedule.

Easy: you become tenured.

Also, I bet he has a LOT of frequent flyer miles. I hope he used to fly in uniform, too.

 

[Jono]

Avery Brooks seems like an interesting guy. Last year I think he was at a convention here in Oz, unfortunately it was down in Adeliade, which is basically the otherside of the country from where i was so I didn't attended...plus I didn't know he was there until the news on the night it was held when they showed a brief interview with him.

Come to think of it I think the convention was on at the same time as the comic one...can't recall what it was called. That one was in the city I live in and Billy Dee Williams was there, I came so close to going to that one too. Alas I was busy.

 

[FPAlpha]

First of all, I've seen Avery Brooks at a convention, and I thought he was very nice and quite open with the fans. He really had a good time, and told us so.

That said, Avery Brooks has never been lacking for work and he is not one of those Trek actors who cling to Star Trek like a toddler clings to a blankie because they don't have anything else on their resume worth having.

Brooks was successful before Star Trek, and he has been successful since. Perhaps not in the way YOU think he should have been successful (more Trek or scifi related projects seem to be a favorite measurement of 'success' around here), but certainly by the standards with which he himself measures success.

So he doesn't go to every Star Trek convention, eager to cash in on Sisko at every possible opportunity. Big deal. I respect him for that - certainly more than I respect Marina Sirtus, who, despite the fact that she's such a terrible actress that she can't get a gig which doesn't have 'Star Trek' in the name, bashes DS9 at every opportunity.

I respect Avery Brooks. Star Trek was a job, and he was done with the job years ago. He doesn't need a bunch of nerd-love at conventions to bolster his ego...nor his bank account.

Good for him!

I am not saying thats what he needs to do, since most fans don't get to go to conventions. But I think, for the history of Star Trek as a production, he should go on the record with some kind of video interview. You may disagree, and he certainly does, and thats cool. But I, a regular fan, think even Avery needs to let us know more about his Star Trek involvement...IMO!

Rob

If i'm being impolite or insulting i apologize in advance.

Why? You strike me as the type of fan who demands things from the actors of their favorite shows yet never seem to be satisified.
Those actors just sometimes don't feel this connection to a franchise, a role or whatever.. they are hired to do a job, they do it, get paid and then leave.

Would you accept people years after you've finished a job to go back and talk about every detail over and over even when you've moved on to another job?

The words "he needs to do xyz".. "he should.." etc just don't sit well with me and that's why some shows get a bad rep because of their overzealous fans who just have to know how it was going to the toilet and some other star was sitting in the booth next to him letting out a fart.

 

[RobertScorpio]

First of all, I've seen Avery Brooks at a convention, and I thought he was very nice and quite open with the fans. He really had a good time, and told us so.

That said, Avery Brooks has never been lacking for work and he is not one of those Trek actors who cling to Star Trek like a toddler clings to a blankie because they don't have anything else on their resume worth having.

Brooks was successful before Star Trek, and he has been successful since. Perhaps not in the way YOU think he should have been successful (more Trek or scifi related projects seem to be a favorite measurement of 'success' around here), but certainly by the standards with which he himself measures success.

So he doesn't go to every Star Trek convention, eager to cash in on Sisko at every possible opportunity. Big deal. I respect him for that - certainly more than I respect Marina Sirtus, who, despite the fact that she's such a terrible actress that she can't get a gig which doesn't have 'Star Trek' in the name, bashes DS9 at every opportunity.

I respect Avery Brooks. Star Trek was a job, and he was done with the job years ago. He doesn't need a bunch of nerd-love at conventions to bolster his ego...nor his bank account.

Good for him!

I am not saying thats what he needs to do, since most fans don't get to go to conventions. But I think, for the history of Star Trek as a production, he should go on the record with some kind of video interview. You may disagree, and he certainly does, and thats cool. But I, a regular fan, think even Avery needs to let us know more about his Star Trek involvement...IMO!

Rob

If i'm being impolite or insulting i apologize in advance.

Why? You strike me as the type of fan who demands things from the actors of their favorite shows yet never seem to be satisified.
Those actors just sometimes don't feel this connection to a franchise, a role or whatever.. they are hired to do a job, they do it, get paid and then leave.

Would you accept people years after you've finished a job to go back and talk about every detail over and over even when you've moved on to another job?

The words "he needs to do xyz".. "he should.." etc just don't sit well with me and that's why some shows get a bad rep because of their overzealous fans who just have to know how it was going to the toilet and some other star was sitting in the booth next to him letting out a fart.

Then why doesn't he just do it because he's a 'nice guy'? Hmmmm???? I mean, you have other actors from that show, Shimmerman and Dorn, stating that they think the show suffered in the ratings because Brooks didn't go out and PR the show. Hmmmm???? There is a 'sense' out there that he was aloof from the rest of the cast, and that as the star he set the tone and it wasn't all fine-and-dandy between the cast.

How about because the dude made some good dough off the fans of Star Trek. Heck he could come out and thrash the show like Beltran did, or love the show like Frakes did...but to just take his marbles and go home seems a bit too much.

You don't want to know? Fine..that is your choice, and all the power to you. But some fans do, and that is cool too. But to suggest your way is better than someone elses seems a bit...well..demanding don't you think???

Rob

 

[Brian]

He does conventions. I don't see how he could be more "open". Want to talk about closed, let's discuss Colm Meany or Scott Bakula.

 

[FPAlpha]

I am not saying thats what he needs to do, since most fans don't get to go to conventions. But I think, for the history of Star Trek as a production, he should go on the record with some kind of video interview. You may disagree, and he certainly does, and thats cool. But I, a regular fan, think even Avery needs to let us know more about his Star Trek involvement...IMO!

Rob

If i'm being impolite or insulting i apologize in advance.

Why? You strike me as the type of fan who demands things from the actors of their favorite shows yet never seem to be satisified.
Those actors just sometimes don't feel this connection to a franchise, a role or whatever.. they are hired to do a job, they do it, get paid and then leave.

Would you accept people years after you've finished a job to go back and talk about every detail over and over even when you've moved on to another job?

The words "he needs to do xyz".. "he should.." etc just don't sit well with me and that's why some shows get a bad rep because of their overzealous fans who just have to know how it was going to the toilet and some other star was sitting in the booth next to him letting out a fart.

Then why doesn't he just do it because he's a 'nice guy'? Hmmmm???? I mean, you have other actors from that show, Shimmerman and Dorn, stating that they think the show suffered in the ratings because Brooks didn't go out and PR the show. Hmmmm???? There is a 'sense' out there that he was aloof from the rest of the cast, and that as the star he set the tone and it wasn't all fine-and-dandy between the cast.

How about because the dude made some good dough off the fans of Star Trek. Heck he could come out and thrash the show like Beltran did, or love the show like Frakes did...but to just take his marbles and go home seems a bit too much.

You don't want to know? Fine..that is your choice, and all the power to you. But some fans do, and that is cool too. But to suggest your way is better than someone elses seems a bit...well..demanding don't you think???

Rob

So just because he apparently earned some good money from the show he's obligated to still be attached to it and fulfill fan demands?

I don't feel any obligation to my former employers. I worked for my money and we parted amicably when i moved on. I guess it's the same for Brooks. He saw it as a job, fulfilled his obligations (when many actors ditch even well paying steady jobs out of arrogance and sheer child like mentality) and because he acknowledges the huge organized fanbase returns from time to time.

That the frequency with which he does that is too low in your opinion is tough luck for you.. be glad that Brooks doesn't see Star Trek as the center of his life but only a part of it.

 

[Mr. Fergy]

I think Avery really appreciates the fans, I've seen him at a con in Tulsa, K.

I believe he has no love for how he was treated at Paramount, and is content teaching at the University Level.

 

[indranee]

so what kind of show is the Shatman having?

 

[Sean Aaron]

The fact that he does conventions is enough for me; maybe someday I'll attend one when he's there. I've never been to a Trek convention, but meeting Mr. Brooks would definitely be incentive!

 

[NKemp3]

Brooks dissed DS9 really bad on the DVD extras, saying he's lucky to have survived it, and he only stayed on because he wanted to set a good example to his son for keeping his word etc. etc.

Good grief. This is an exaggeration that he "dissed" the show. His point about surviving it (which I saw/heard as well on the DS9 extras) could have just as easily meant not succombing to all the pressure, the doubt, the time away from his family, the long hours, etc. We don't know for sure what he meant and if it was a jab at the show it was still a rather subdue one. And despite what Robert Scorpio wrote Brooks has never been a guy to openly criticize the show to the media. Someone is mistaking him for cast members of Voyager (although they were justified in their criticism).

The revisionist bs and accusations about Brooks that sometimes are posted in these forums are never backed up with evidence it seems. Often they contradict what has been told on record. Now, I have no idea if Brooks was complaining non-stop behind the scenes but if people can find me quotes, articles, videoes, etc in which Brooks trashes DS9 then please provide it to us. I have read/heard TOS actors complain about their show, I have also come across various complaints from VOY cast members. Heck Mulgrew even started to complai after awhile when she shard her concens about the focus on Seven (another justified complaint IMO). Brooks was not that vocal about such things maybe in part because he was not that vocal to the press at all. And when he does conventions I don't hear of any stories of him being critical of DS9. I'm sure he had his issues but the man tends to keep things quiet because of his level of professionalism.

By the way in the DC arae there was a splendid recent interview with Brooks on "Evening Exchange". Perhaps I'll upload it to YouTube one day.

 

[Marie1]

I think I read that Brooks was a prof. while he was filming DS9 and sometimes had to film his classes when he couldn't make it to them- sometimes in uniform.

(I don't think I've mentioned this...)

But as a long time prof., as long as he can slake his acting bug- which he does on stage, he's probably content. He's got a family to support, and a wife whom I think he's been married to longer than I've been alive- so he puts things before acting. Seems like a good, down-to-earth normal person IMHO.

 

[DEWLine]

Apparently, Prof. Brooks is doing fairly well on all fronts. Good to know.

I have to admit to being curious on his current opinions on a number of different topics, and if he felt inclined to discuss them in any number of venues I could get to, I'd be glad of it. I don't plan to pressure him on that, though.