One of the best US made TV series of all time, after Star Trek of course, was The West Wing. At least in my opinion. Some people don't like the pretentious, fast-paced dialogue that Aaron Sorkin whips up, but I really dig it. I think that the West Wing was perfectly cast, but I can't help but think that a couple of parts would have worked beautifully with some Trek alum actors. If you're familiar with the West Wing, you know that Richard Schiff as Toby Zeigler is fantastic, but I can't help recasting that role with Walter Koenig in my mind. Much of the dialogue that Zeigler has, reminds me of the way Koenig actually speaks in interviews and at conventions. Naturally, Koenig would have had to play that role without his rug, but he'd be perfect as a middle-aged, Jewish intellectual. The other character from West Wing that could have been preformed by a Trek actor is Josh Lyman, as played by Brad Whitford. Lyman is based upon Rahm Emanuel, and Bent Spiner even looks like Emanuel. If you've ever seen Rahm Emanuel, you know what I mean. There have been some Trek alum that played guest roles on The West Wing including Malachi Throne, Bob Picardo, Steven Culp, George Coe, and John de Lancie. There are probably more but I cannot think of them offhand.
Can we instead picture west wing actors playing star trek roles? Martin Sheen as Captain Picard, Brad Whitford as Worf, etc?
That's great! It's too low resolution though. Any chance we can get a better image? I'd like to send it to a buddy of mine from the West Wing cast who is a big Trek fan.
From the same EAS page: West Wing casualties And here's a Star Trek reference from The West Wing: USS Botany Bay (DY-100)
And don't forget about James Cromwell, who played a former President (D. Wire Newman) in "The Stormy Present".
Just forwarded that screen capture to https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?....499256232894.268504.588062894&type=3&theater
We know that Star Trek actually exists in-universe in The West Wing, because there's a subplot in the episode "Arctic Radar" [transcript], about a Star Trek fan who works at the White House. It's really hilarious, and on point in the same way that William Shatner's "Get a Life!" SNL skit was.
That WW Trek episode is the only place I know of besides Trek on TV where Cardassians were mentioned...
From the title I thought the thread might be imagining the different Trek casts into West Wing-type roles. Picard as President, Riker as Chief of Staff (or VP?), Wesley as President's aide etc. I like the idea of a Kirk/Spock ticket.
To continue sumbuddyx's TNG comparison, Data would be Sam Seaborn, Geordi would be Toby ZIegler, and I guess Deanna would be CJ Cregg.
I wrote this for fun a couple of years ago. It's probably a bit more Sports Night than The West Wing, but I hope it captures the Sorkin flavor: STAR TREK by Aaron Sorkin Int. Enterprise. CHEKOV and SULU are walking thru the hall on their way to the bridge. CHEKOV: …The Neutral Zone? SULU: That’s right. CHEKOV: We’re going to the Neutral Zone? SULU: Yes. CHEKOV: Refresh my memory. What exactly is the Neutral Zone? SULU: It is a zone that is neutral. CHEKOV: Thanks, that clears that right up. And why, exactly, are we going to the Neutral Zone? SULU: We are going to the Neutral Zone to meet with the Romulans. CHEKOV: Not the Klingons? SULU: The Romulans. CHEKOV: Why not the Klingons? SULU: Because we’re meeting with the Romulans. CHEKOV: You’re just a fount of information today, aren’t you? SULU: Staying so well-informed is how I became the man I am today. CHEKOV: Helmsman on a starship. SULU: That’s right. CHEKOV: Fourth in command. SULU: Three heartbeats away. CHEKOV: In the inner circle. SULU: Privy to many, many secrets that my lowly subordinates in the lesser ranks are not. Sulu and Chekov step into the turbolift. CHEKOV: And what exactly is our secret mission involving the Romulans in the Neutral Zone that mere ensigns like myself are not privy to? SULU: No idea. The turbolifts doors close in front of them.
I've never heard of any, but given that Mike Okuda did graphics on TWW, I'd bet there're tons more. dJE
And Christian Slater. If Paxton Whitehead never appeared on Trek, he should have. He would have made a hilarious Picard.
Is it Jason Vigo or Wesley or Rene that gets kidnapped by the Romulans and throws the Picard administration into crisis? JELLICO: You're relieved Mr. President.
You all forgot about the great Commander Kruge's appearance!....or, Doc Brown... Christopher Lloyd played someone helping write the constitution for a country in the later seasons... On an unrelated note, Edward James Olmos from BSG was in an episode from Season 1 too. Great episode.