John Hoyt vs. Paul Fix: Battle of the Doctors
- Thread starter EnriqueH
- Start date
A few people here have said that Fix didn't have much to work with.
And while true that he didn't get much of a chance to make an impression, I seem to remember he had a sort of aloof, "What the hell am I doing here?" aura about him. He may not have understood the material very well, because neither Doohan or Takei had very much to work either, but made more of an impression, particularly Doohan, who in about 2 seconds of dialogue seemed to establish a rapport with Shatner with his enthusiasm for engineering.
Fix seemed kinda lost in the shuffle. He may not have understood Star Trek and felt out of place in the sci-fi surrounding.
I feel kinda bad that Fix got clobbered in the poll. I thought it was just me, but I guess a lot of people feel the same way.
Thanks!!!
Some actors seem to take science fiction trappings in stride. But could these befuddle other actors?
I agree. Hoyt wins this contest, but almost entirely because of the scripts. I think Fix showed in The Rifleman that he was quite capable of holding the screen given the chance.
Hoyt's talk with Hunter in Pike's quarters was a great scene, but I did detect a bit of staginess in Hoyt's delivery. I could see him acting, if you know what I mean. Based on some of Fix's heart-to-heart chats with Lucas McCain, I'd bet even money he could have done that scene better.
I agree. Hoyt wins this contest, but almost entirely because of the scripts. I think Fix showed in The Rifleman that he was quite capable of holding the screen given the chance.
Hoyt's talk with Hunter in Pike's quarters was a great scene, but I did detect a bit of staginess in Hoyt's delivery. I could see him acting, if you know what I mean. Based on some of Fix's heart-to-heart chats with Lucas McCain, I'd bet even money he could have done that scene better.
Both were money-in-the-bank character actors. Fix was more identified with Westerns I guess but Hoyt did plenty, too. Hoyt seemed better than Fix at heavies and high-status bad guys (landowners, judges) but could also be warm. But it's not a fair contest because Hoyt had the great heart-to-heart scene with Hunter in The Cage, as others have noted, and Fix just had some run-of-the-mill doctor business. But if the WNMHGB cast had continued in the series, I have no doubt that Fix would have turned out just fine, as he did in many other roles. He was a professional and very well-regarded among actors of the day. Plus I like him because he was Dobe Carey's father-in-law.
Hmm, maybe. Seemed to me like Fix did OK in BSG, but then again he was supposed to be past his prime and a little out of it.
Hmm, maybe. Seemed to me like Fix did OK in BSG, but then again he was supposed to be past his prime and a little out of it.
Damn. I thought Commander Kronus looked familiar but never thought it was Paul Fix. Thanks.
Damn. I thought Commander Kronus looked familiar but never thought it was Paul Fix. Thanks.
You bet! Of course, Hoyt was in one too, as Sire somebody on the Quorum of Twelve in "Baltar's Escape." I won't comment on the hair(piece).
I always liked Piper's silent reaction to Mitchell's "walking freezer unit" comment... 
Boyce is mentioned in STID, actually. His name is on the readout screens when Kirk is being treated at the end of the film. So there is an Abramsverse Boyce!
I just want to add, I was speaking as strictly Boyce vs. Piper in their one each appearances.
As for John Hoyt vs. Paul Fix acting ability, that's one I wouldn't want to chose between. I think they were both capable actors and either one or both would have been good for the show, but that's not how it worked.
I think Dr. Piper could have been a good character, he was never given the chance to, and I think Paul Fix could have done it. But I would have kept Dr. Boyce/John Hoyt from the first pilot, anyway.
But of the three, Dr. McCoy/Kelly is my favorite, so there's that.
As for John Hoyt vs. Paul Fix acting ability, that's one I wouldn't want to chose between. I think they were both capable actors and either one or both would have been good for the show, but that's not how it worked.
I think Dr. Piper could have been a good character, he was never given the chance to, and I think Paul Fix could have done it. But I would have kept Dr. Boyce/John Hoyt from the first pilot, anyway.
But of the three, Dr. McCoy/Kelly is my favorite, so there's that.
I hereby grant you the name and rank of:
Captain Obvious.
With all the rights and priviledges thereto.
And may God have mercy on your soul.
It's a pretty sure bet that Boyce in the beginning was written by Roddenberry FOR Kelley - Roddenberry had known De for for quite a while (watch 333 Montgomery on YouTube sometime), and knew he could do the role - but NBC only knew him as the guy whose career was being nasty on a 100 different westerns, and figured the audience did also. Also, Robert Butler knew and liked Hoyt, and so did NBC, and both knew the audience would like him.
When it came time for WNMGB, Roddenberry was so busy fighting to keep Spock/Leonard Nimoy, and doing other things knowing it truly was the last shot for ST, when NBC turns down Kelley AGAIN, he really could not fight it. Plus, since GR wasn't the writer of the show, he couldn't input as much about the doctor as he could before, when it was more his baby.
As we all now know, its only after ST gets picked up by NBC, and Kelley had that 'Police Story' pilot, with the good audience reactions from it, that GR could finally bring in him as Dr McCoy. That pilot also allowed him to bring Grace Lee Whitney in as the yeoman character as SHE got good audience test scores from there as well. She also had a better track record than any of the other yeoman candidates from before too.
(speaking of Police Story - has anyone actually SEEN this pilot?? Its not on YT!)
One thing about Boyce is that it really IS the McCoy character - note Boyce's reluctance to get into the transporter, and then after the Talos IV beam down, him subtly checking himself as if to see if he is all there! A very quick moment many miss...
appurtentant thereto. It drives me batshit crazy that Generations got that wrong. You'd think Stewart would have noticed.
Damn. I thought Commander Kronus looked familiar but never thought it was Paul Fix. Thanks.
You bet! Of course, Hoyt was in one too, as Sire somebody on the Quorum of Twelve in "Baltar's Escape." I won't comment on the hair(piece).
I'm embarrassed to say that I knew his name was Sire Domra.
This thread title makes me think of Boyce and Piper as a pair of those boxing hand puppets. That would be cool.
With the possible exception of the choice of libation: "Who wants a warm mint julep?"
With all the shit that Generations got wrong, THAT is what you noticed?
I just saw Paul Fix tonight on MeTV. He plays a mafia henchman in The Adventures of Superman. The episode is "Czar of the Underworld." And his boss is Anthony Caruso (Bella Oxmyx), billed as Tony Caruso.
Once again, Fix was not a standout. Poor guy.
Once again, Fix was not a standout. Poor guy.
Niiiice. I'm going to have to bust out my Adventures of Superman DVDs. Did you happen to notice which season?
Similar threads
