The truth behind McFadden's absence in the second season?

So, I understand that she was fired and that's why Diana Muldaur took the doctor role in season two, but why exactly was she fired? Do we know? How did she get her job back?

Jumping in-universe, why would Dr. Crusher return to the Enterprise, after being appointed to such a high rant at Starfleet Medical? Seems like sort of a monumental thing to use a write-off for an unwanted character.

 

Someone can correct me if I'm wrong (and they will!), but I believe there was a member of the staff, a writer I think, who kept harassing her, so she left. That staffer was let go later on, and she came back. So she wasn't fired, but she left due to harassment.

As for in-universe, that can be anything: missed Wesley, missed her friends, didn't like the added pressure being head of Starfleet Medical, any number of reasons.

 

Here's ALL of the information you need:

http://trekmovie.com/2009/08/26/rick-berman-talks-18-years-of-trek-in-extensive-oral-history/

August 26, 2009

Berman on TNG [19:30 - 1:17:15]

Gates McFadden was fired at the end of the first season because of head writer Maurice Hurley - "he had a real bone to pick" with Gates and didn’t like her acting. Berman brought Gates back for the third season after Hurley left.

 

I thought it was because they hoped Muldaur's character would be more confrontational, like "Bones" in TOS. But, the rest of the cast didn't seem to take well to that whole situation, so McFadden was brought back.
Muldaur is a fine actor. I just saw her in a moving role on--of all places--The Loveboat! But, her attitude did not sit well with viewers, especially her attitude toward Data.

 

Gates McFadden had a ton support from Trek fans and even Patrick Stewart to bring her back for season 3.

It must have been VERY awkward on set for Muldaur and the rest of the actors in season two.

 

From what I understand, Muldaur was very uncomfortable onset during her time there.

 

That's the polite version. Hurley was, indeed, the problem.

That series improved remarkably in the third season.

 

She was wonderful and glad she returned.

 

Agreed. I liked Polaski. It was nice having a female Bones on the new show, but Dr. Crusher was irreplaceable and I like the little romance that went nowhere between her and Picard.

 

Muldaur voluntarily quit the show. She only accepted it as a favor to Roddenberry, and I think after the makeup-intense episode Unnatural Selection, she decided to quit after the season. Berman was faced with the tough decision of hiring a third doctor in three seasons, so he tried bringing McFadden back since Hurley was gone, and she agreed.

 

I prefer McFadden, but sometimes i feel so sorry for Muldaur knowing that her collegues wanted McFadden back. I wouldn't want to be in her situation then

And big kudos she agreed to the new interview.

 

Well, she herself never felt "part of the cast" which is why she was never in the main credits and only listed as a guest star.

 

One of the problems (as I understand it) was that as Roddenberry friend Muldaur was being paid more than any of the other actors, with the possible exception of Stewart.

 

Muldaur had more acting credentials than any of the others besides Stewart. Even though the role wasn't a likable one, her delivery wasn't as wooden as the others often were (at least in the early years).

 

Yes, odd contrast. The early crew also had bad dialogue, and when they were at their most pompous or incompetent, she was the voice of reason. In Pen Pals, she and Data were the only ones arguing for saving that planet of people. Everyone else was following the party line. Minor example in Contagion where she has to argue with the medic because he thinks splints are antiquated and not good medicine.

 

I guess I'm weird. I like Pulaski more than Crusher - although I liked Crusher too. Pulaski just had more of a toughness but also more intelligent humor. To me, she seemed more like a Starfleet doctor. That said, I think Crusher gave them more range and flexibility in terms of story-lines. Pulaski was so strong, independent and not afraid to voice her opinion. She also seemed to be more someone who demanded respect.

 

Pulaski is the kind of character that, if given the position of Head of Star Fleet Medical would petition the board of governors to let her keep it until she's sick and tired of it, rather than the 'year long assignment' that was used for Crusher being able to come back. In all honesty, I'd actually rather see her in that kind of position, coming on every once in a while to oversee medical crises and emergencies that Enterprise gets ordered to assist with.

 

I actually watched Season 2 because Diana Muldaur was a connection to the original series. For me, it seemed like TNG was getting farther and farther away from its roots.

 

Like Picard's hair!

 

Diana Muldaur was reportedly treated poorly by most of the cast. There was a lot of resentment over Gates McFadden's firing and it didn't help that Muldaur was being paid more than any member of the cast except Patrick Stewart. Muldaur had a hard time remembering her lines and had to resort to cue cards placed around on set which infuriated Patrick Stewart. Muldaur never signed a prolonged contract like the other actors, so when the season was up she exited the show and went on to huge success of LA Law.

I think the original idea behind Pulaski was to be more of a foil to Picard who wasn't afraid to stand up to him and question his orders but her character ended up being more of a bad rip-off of McCoy.

It would have been interesting to see how the character would have developed if she stayed with the show.