Making better use of UHURA with expanded Job duties

[Captain Tracy]

Wow,.. okay A LOT of excellent observations,....

GSNAIL - Although I know nothing of any of the later "TREKS" which you cite from, however, you absolutely nailed the fundamental problem surrounding not just the character of UHURA,... but ALL the secondaries as well,....

The primary focus MUST remain on KIRK,... and although the format changed from 'The Captain Kirk Show', to 'The Kirk and Spock Show", and finally into 'The Kirk, Spcok and McCoy Show',.... the show, and therefore all the stories were NOT written to showcase the anyone BUT The Big Three - yes, I know they threw a bone to SCOTTY in 'Lights of Z' and 'Wolf' - but always with the accent on KIRK.

JAYRATH - You identified the other part of the problem, and that is: NONE OF THE SECONDARY ROLES WERE ORGINALLY CONVIEVED OR WRITTEN TO BE EXPANDED BEYOND A FACE, A NAME, AND A FUNCTION, and 'therein lies the rub'.

Also, you amke an outstanding point: Lack of fan imagination,... for some,.. if it doesn't happen ON SCREEN,... apparently nothings happening,... unless the character has an exit speech proclaiming what he is going to be doing while O.S.

Personal Side-Bar: I got saved from that common aliment, as Dad was a Doctor, I KNEW when McCoy was absent or left the bridge - as Dad was absent a lot - I KNEW he was off working in the lab or tending to patients, so I personally never had to be SHOWN what people like McCoy were busy doing when not giving 'knock-out' hypos to hostile aliens.

MAURICE - Glad to see you joining in on this discussion. I have read many of your other posts; quite excellent! And right your are, and so well put. Thanks for jumping in with us.

NEYRS MYK - Absolutely correct!, as above, the show was conceived as all of us aware, "Horatio Horblower in Space', and that in itself is limiting, as it was NEVER designed to be an ENSEMBLE SHOWCASE,.. it was CAPTAIN KIRK and the crew of the Enterprise (noting lower case letter usage).


BUT GENTLEMAN,..... I state again to all of you, from my original first post,... working within the constraints of the format of the show and the primary character balance - WHAT CHANGES WOULD YOU MAKE - AS THE EMPOWERED PRODUCER OF STAR TREK - TO MAKE MORE AND JUSTIFIED USE OF THE CHARACTER OF UHURA, AND HOW WOULD YOU DO IT?

Okay, we have assembled A LOT of brain power here, let's see if we can do better - with 40+ years of prep - than what the real producer(s) came up with as a SOLUTION.

 

[Maurice]

My discussion of the problem is my idea for the solution: figure a job for Uhura that would give her a more active role on the bridge, as on TNG, where they gave communications and defense operations to the same person, who wasn't merely answering the phone and placing person-to-planet calls.

 

[Shazam!]

ANYWAY,... How would YOU, as STAR TREK's producer, have made changes to the format to make better use of the UHURA character on a recurring basis, and yet, not throw off the established primary character balance?

I would have her do exactly what each story required her do to so. As I would with any character.

 

[Captain Tracy]

MAURICE - Assigning so-called 'Defense Operations' speeches to UHURA offers possibilities to be sure and one major potential problem, in that often reporting the status of the Deflector Screens was minor dialog shared randomly among SCOTT, SULU, and CHEKOV,.. except when it really counted dramatically, and then, of course, those speeches were always given to SPOCK.

LOOKING AT THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM NOW - As the character of SPOCK grew out of proportion to the other crew members, take notice of how many speeches he ends up giving, which really belong to other characters, BUT in the interest in feeding viewer-hunger and Network demand, they are re-assigned, or written to SPOCK.

REFERENCE: For as 'faulty' an episode as it is: 'Spock's Brain', demonstrates a very BALANCED DIALOG between all characters on the BRIDGE,... as SPOCK is not there, with all the sundry and expository speeches assigned normally to his character, now properly voiced by all the SECONDARIES,... and it just feels more correct.

It is worth viewing that BRIDGE SEQUENCE in this light, juxtaposed against other episodes, to see just how much dialog SPOCK is given which rightfully should be voiced by other characters.

However, the producers could not reduce SPOCK or even reign his character back in, as viewers, sponsors, and the Network demanded MORE SPOCK.

So, the 'real estate' MUST come from elsewhere.

 

[Captain Tracy]

ANYWAY,... How would YOU, as STAR TREK's producer, have made changes to the format to make better use of the UHURA character on a recurring basis, and yet, not throw off the established primary character balance?

I would have her do exactly what each story required her do to so. As I would with any character.

SHAZAM! - If this was Philosophy of Screen Writing, you would get a big, fat, whopping A+,... and you would end up right back where she was at POST 1 PAGE 1 of this discussion,.... however, what do you offer as a real-world SOLUTION to this specific hypothesis?

 

[Pauln6]

Uhura was the communications OFFICER. So she was in charge of the saps in the comms bay who had to filter the thousands of spam communication messages out every minute and just send her the important stuff to report to the captain. She could order ensigns around.

I don't think her role needed to change much beyond recognising that she was an officer more often. Troi suffered from exactly the same issue. So put her in charge of junior officers and crew more often. Let her be the one to work on comms devices and linguistic tasks instead of Spock. Put her on landing parties with a yeoman instead of just usng her to fill in for the yeoman. Give her the chair once or twice. Apart from that she remains a third tier character.

 

[Cyke101]

This may sound a little sexist and outdated, but considering the 60s, I'm a little surprised that Uhura wasn't made into a femme fatale: that is, a strong, commanding woman who used her sexuality as an asset along with the rest of her skillset. Mission: Impossible had Cinnamon Carter, a model by day but gifted actress and improviser during missions. Then there's the iconic Emma Peel. Then again, those are two spy shows that can't really be compared to a sci-fi show. Then again, I do like the idea of Uhura simply firing a phaser.

I like the suggestion that in addition to Comm Officer and interpreter duties, Uhura is also the crew's code-breaker. STXI had her doing that, and it was pretty crucial to the mission. Additionally, the benefit of 40 years of hindsight means I'd take a page from Hoshi Sato and write a few first contact away missions, where Uhura would surely thrive.

 

[Captain Tracy]

So put her in charge of junior officers and crew more often. Let her be the one to work on comms devices and linguistic tasks instead of Spock.

Put her on landing parties with a yeoman instead of just usng her to fill in for the yeoman. Give her the chair once or twice. Apart from that she remains a third tier character.

PAULN6 - Spot on about SPOCK sucking up too many jobs and speeches which rightfully belong to other characters- as posted previously - However this is what the Fans, Network, and Sponsors demanded, so that is what happened.

Agreed about giving UHURA the Big Chair,... why not,... there were enough episodes where SCOTT, CHEKOV and SULU were all absent from the BRIDGE for one reason or another, and I cannot see any reason why it would have diminished KIRK to have said: 'Lieutenant UHURA, you have the con." IF ONLY TO SHOW HER CHANGING DUTY STATIONS, simply to ESTABLISH the fact.

What is your opinion on that simply solution?

As far as your 2nd suggestion - The only problem I can see with your idea is:

1) Number of Transporter Pads available

2) Budget for actors

3) Amount of meaningful and sharable dialog

After all, we can't justify paying even more money to put a non-speaking Yeoman in a story for the sole purpose of giving UHURA a character to boss around - and thereby justify UHURA's existence in that same story.

Other than those concerns, very nice contribution PAULN6, Thanks.

 

[Captain Tracy]

This may sound a little sexist and outdated, but considering the 60s, I'm a little surprised that Uhura wasn't made into a femme fatale: that is, a strong, commanding woman who used her sexuality as an asset along with the rest of her skillset.,.... Then again, I do like the idea of Uhura simply firing a phaser.

CYKE101 - GREAT CONCEPT CYKE,... UHURA as the 'Mata Hari' of the Enterprise,... Now I really like this concept,... but again HOW would we pull it off and not upset the Primary Character Balance,... as KIRK is always plays the 'MASTER SPY/THIEF/ESPIONAGE ARTIST,...

So without writing special scripts revolving around UHURA: MISTRESS OF ESPIONAGE,... HOW might you pull it off within the established framework of the original format?

And greed about the UHURA/Phaser thing,... there is just something so,... ummm,.... curiously thrilling, about how she grips one of those things, and makes it shoot.

LOL!!! I HEAR YOU!

 

[smalltalk66]

[FONT=Calibri]Okay, Mr. Man…here goes. [/FONT]
[FONT=Calibri]Let’s go back to “Elaan of Troyius.” This would have been a perfect character episode for both Kirk and Uhura. If I were sole producer, the script would have Kirk put Uhura in charge of the Dohlman as the way to initially test her for higher responsibilities. In this case, Kirk needs to see if Lt. Uhura has the patience to deal with very difficult situations and personnel. Uhura is shown as capable, but unsure of herself, at one point seeking out the captain’s help; Kirk observes and comments, but does not interfere, and at the end we see his decision (sort of like “Ensigns of Command”). [/FONT]
[FONT=Calibri] Later, after the ship is taken hostage in “The Way to Eden,” we revisit this again; Kirk is now being ordered by Starfleet to appoint an operations chief to oversee the secondary hull as a way to reduce such instances. Kirk—over the objections of Scotty and McCoy, who both think she is not ready—decides to temporarily test her with the OC duties after he sees her diplomacy with Lincoln in “Savage Curtain.” [/FONT]
[FONT=Calibri]If the show gets a fourth season, Lt. Commander Uhura would become OC; the duties of communication flunky could be given to any redshirt by this point. The episode “Training Day” would have her thrown right into the job during yet another crisis…[/FONT]

 

[Maurice]

MAURICE - Assigning so-called 'Defense Operations' speeches to UHURA offers possibilities to be sure and one major potential problem, in that often reporting the status of the Deflector Screens was minor dialog shared randomly among SCOTT, SULU, and CHEKOV,.. except when it really counted dramatically, and then, of course, those speeches were always given to SPOCK.

Perhaps you could start by taking my analogy as analogy instead of literally, as I nowhere said that Uhura should fill a "so-called 'Defense Operations'" role.

 

[Captain Tracy]

MAURICE - Assigning so-called 'Defense Operations' speeches to UHURA offers possibilities to be sure and one major potential problem, in that often reporting the status of the Deflector Screens was minor dialog shared randomly among SCOTT, SULU, and CHEKOV,.. except when it really counted dramatically, and then, of course, those speeches were always given to SPOCK.

Perhaps you could start by taking my analogy as analogy instead of literally, as I nowhere said that Uhura should fill a "so-called 'Defense Operations'" role.

MAURICE - Perhaps it would be more beneficial, proper, and expedient if you would write literally and with specificity; as opposed to generally and analogically.

Hmm?

,... figure a job for Uhura that would give her a more active role on the bridge, as on TNG, where they gave communications and defense operations to the same person,...

:::making scanner whirly noises::: My sensors MUST be faulty,... I keep seeing the words 'Defense Operations' in you post.

Obviously, the error is mine.

 

[Nerys Myk]

I think thats called an "example" but not one that needs duplication for it to work for Uhura.

My own suggestion (as stated previoiusly) would have been to play up Uhura as an engineer. Give her the enginnering based dialog that went to Spock (and should have been Scotty's) She is sitting on the bridge with all sorts of gizmos and information literally at her finger tips. No need to call Scotty who's busy down in secondary hull working miracles.

 

[Bixby]

I think thats called an "example" but not one that needs duplication for it to work for Uhura.

My own suggestion (as stated previoiusly) would have been to play up Uhura as an engineer. Give her the enginnering based dialog that went to Spock (and should have been Scotty's) She is sitting on the bridge with all sorts of gizmos and information literally at her finger tips. No need to call Scotty who's busy down in secondary hull working miracles.

Since Uhura works at the communication station, wouldn't she be more of a technician than an engineer?

 

[Pauln6]

I would say she is a technician too but there were numerous occasions where Spock (an astrophysicist) carried out technical tasks like modifying equipment, repairing communications devices etc.

Also, I wasn't suggesting that Uhura should be sent on a mission with a yeoman just so she had someone to boss around. Uhura is a lieutenant, she can already boss about over half the crew. I was simply pointing out that many landing parties had at least some of the big 3, one or two guest males (including Scott, Chekov, or Sulu in various combinations) and a woman who was often a yeoman. When Uhura was on a landing party there was no yeoman so it fell to Uhura to record things on the tricorder instead of doing something interesting. If, instead of replacing the yeoman, you have two women, Uhura AND the yeoman, it frees up Uhura to do more interesting stuff. She did get to command a security team on the Guardian planet though which was cool.

 

[Nerys Myk]

I think thats called an "example" but not one that needs duplication for it to work for Uhura.

My own suggestion (as stated previoiusly) would have been to play up Uhura as an engineer. Give her the enginnering based dialog that went to Spock (and should have been Scotty's) She is sitting on the bridge with all sorts of gizmos and information literally at her finger tips. No need to call Scotty who's busy down in secondary hull working miracles.

Since Uhura works at the communication station, wouldn't she be more of a technician than an engineer?

She has been shown to have the skills to repair, upgrade and modify equipment. Perhaps she's both.

 

[Captain Tracy]

PAULN6 - Completely understood.

Interesting you cited 'City',.. is this not one of those episodes wherein once the STAR TREK producer got her planet-side,... her character basically stands there next to SCOTT, until she finally says the equivalent of: "Captain,... I'm confused."?

That wasn't very interesting for anyone LOL!

But you didn't tell us what 'Interesting Stuff' would you have her doing,...????

 

[Captain Tracy]

I think thats called an "example" but not one that needs duplication for it to work for Uhura.

My own suggestion (as stated previoiusly) would have been to play up Uhura as an engineer. Give her the enginnering based dialog that went to Spock (and should have been Scotty's) She is sitting on the bridge with all sorts of gizmos and information literally at her finger tips. No need to call Scotty who's busy down in secondary hull working miracles.

Since Uhura works at the communication station, wouldn't she be more of a technician than an engineer?

She has been shown to have the skills to repair, upgrade and modify equipment. Perhaps she's both.

Alright, sounds good,... HOW do you work it into the format of the show and retain the primary character balance?

 

[Nerys Myk]

She gets to spout the technobabble instead of Spock or Scotty. And maybe work a miracle or two each season. Yeah, Doohan or Nimoy might not like it, but thats show biz.

 

[Captain Tracy]

She gets to spout the technobabble instead of Spock or Scotty. And maybe work a miracle or two each season. Yeah, Doohan or Nimoy might not like it, but thats show biz.

NERYS MEK - That is absolutely correct, and what must occur to make her character a viable part of a story,.. but

Can you share with us an illustrative example of how YOU as a writer/producer might have that played out in a scenario.scene ?