Marjorie Monaghan as T'Pol

[Michael]

I was just reading up on the short-lived sci-fi show Space Rangers from the 90's and learned that Marjorie Monaghan was originally considered for the role of T'Pol (linky). You probably know her as Number One from Babylon 5, Freya from the Voyager episode "Heroes and Demons" or JoJo from Space Rangers.

Now, while I'm satisfied with Jolene's work as T'Pol, I can't help but wonder how the character would have turned out if it was Marjorie getting the part. I think she would have been a great Vulcan. Plus, I would have preferred her outward appearance to that of Jolene.

What do you think? And do you know of other actors originally considered for parts in Enterprise?

 

[Mach5]

An attractive woman, sure... But more than a decade older than Blalock. Plus, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and this beholder likes Jolene a lot more.

 

[star]

I find it interesting in the article that it says, Sub-Commander T'Pau. Were they originally thinking of making her T'Pau?

Oh and JB... can't imagine anyone else in the role.

 

[F. King Daniel]

^They were, but decided against because the writer of TOS: "Amok Time" would have gotten royalties every single episode. Those Trek TV people were notorious penny-pinchers (similarly, the character of Nick Locarno was renamed Tom Paris in Voyager to avoid paying royalties to the writer of TNG: "The First Duty")

Also from the early casting-sheets: Jackson Archer and "Spike" Tucker .

I loved Jolene as T'Pol and I wasn't impressed by the acting of "Number One" on B5.

 

[I am Surak]

I - Surak - found a home for my Katra in a human. I will let him commend on this.

Thank You Surak. While I enjoy your daily guidance I feel that I need to express my thoughts on Ms Monaghan v. Ms Blalock in the role of T'Pol.
I love women. I can find beauty in all of them BUT my instincts are the same as any man on the planet since the beginning of time. Long Blonde hair, Blue eyes, super slender with big boobs.
What does this have to do with the question? Marjorie is beautiful, fits the profile, and would have been a great T'Pol. A different T'Pol for sure and probably would have made a big difference in the success of Enterprise as I find out that Jolene does not seem to be that well liked by hard core Trekkies.
And it also would not have made me follow the show and eventually give a home to Surak. - What? let me explain....
When the CBS.com software sent me to Enterprise instead of NCIS I stayed for T'Pol. I was fascinated by her alien beauty. Think of it. Her character is robbed of the things girls do to us to reel us in. No smiling, no hairflip, no gentle hand movements to alternate the attention between boobs and face, no cooing, no pouting.
T'pol does all these things through her voice and facial expressions while still being Vulcan. This woman can smize -smile with her eyes- while reading a trajectory.
When I looked up Jolene Blalock on the internet I could not believe how different she looks when compared to T'Pol. Actually she is not even my type. I would have probably chosen Marjorie for the job given my previous choices. Thank God I was not in charge on this.
For me a total casting success that imho could not be duplicated with any other actress.
I - Surak - am always fascinated by the mindless babble of my host. My comment on this is simple. Ms Monaghan is a tall female that from a production point of view could have created problems for the set and the interaction between actors.

 

[star]

Surak, tell your human host that I find him agreeable too.

Sure, any good, attractive actress could have played T'Pol. Each version would have been unique. I happen to like Jolene's T'Pol.

 

[I am Surak]

Surak will forward your agreeable comments. He is doing well since I started to control him. Once Dr. Kildaire will have his ears fixed I will be able to find the image in our mirror agreeable again. I am fascinated by the picture in your profile. Such fine ear definition. Is that you?

 

[star]

It is me. However, I must disappoint in the sense that the ears and brow are not mine, but the fancies of a human woman who happens to love Vulcans. Those are the product of photoshop. The rest is all me, though.

/end threadjack

 

[Middleman]

An attractive woman, sure... But more than a decade older than Blalock. Plus, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and this beholder likes Jolene a lot more.

I agree with you here Mach 5. B&B made more than their fair share of mistakes with Enterprise but casting was not one of them. Jolene was the perfect actress to bring T'Pol to life. I have said this several times before; I think that she even "out Vulcaned" Lenard Nimoy and created Star Trek's best Vulcan character. I'm not a big fan of Jolene's work either before or after Enterprise (with the possible exception of her performance as Sister Nicci in Legend of the Seeker) but she nailed the T'Pol character. I don't think that anyone could have done a better job at taking some of those "lemon" scripts they handed her and turning them into "lemonade". I just couldn't picture anyone else being T'Pol.

 

[Admiral Shran]

Someone other than Jolene as T'Pol!? Blasphemy!

Seriously though, I wouldn't want anybody other than Jolene in the part. And, I agree with KingDaniel - I wasn't too impressed with Monaghan's work on B5.

 

[Gil T.Azell]

As T'Pol no, as some other crew-member yes.
she's hot

 

[Jack Bauer]

I think the character would've been completely different with her in the role. It's hard to imagine anyone else playing the role since Jolene Blalock did such a great job.

 

[LeadHead]

I like both actresses, but Jolene Blalock Defined T'Pol very well. I think Monaghan would have made a good recurring character, but hindsight is 20/20.

 

[jolene_b_fan]

Marjorie has softer looks, but Jolene nailed it I thought. Took her a while to get comfortable w/ the role, but seasons 2.5+ she did great. It was her role. Looking back now this many years later, tough to say. The Tpol Trip relationship is also well played by Jolene I thought too. Interesting fact though about Marjorie.

 

[Jack Bauer]

I think Monaghan would've played her more emotionless than Blalock did. You could tell with her that there was a fire below that Vulcan calm. I think monaghan would've lacked that.

 

[Pemmer Harge]

That would have been awesome! Marjorie Monaghan kicks ass.

 

[star]

I think Monaghan would've played her more emotionless than Blalock did. You could tell with her that there was a fire below that Vulcan calm. I think monaghan would've lacked that.

Exactly what made Blalock the best choice IMO. I mean, you watch Mark Lenard play Sarek, who in my opinion is the consummate Vulcan and there is so much passion underneath that incredible calm exterior. Vulcans are not robots. Sure there is the Kolinahr, but it has been implied that not every Vulcan achieves this.

 

[gblews]

From an acting standpoint, I can't say, as I don't remember this woman on B5. From a looks standpoint, she is very pretty, but Jolene, I believe, was striking as T'Pol. There was something about her that made it difficult to to take your eyes off the character when she was on screen. Marjorie, IMO, just doesn't have a compelling look.

 

[Jack Bauer]

^^^ That's true. She's pretty but there's nothing else beyond that. Jolene Blalock is pretty but she has charisma too. Marjorie Monaghan is just there. jolene Blaock exudes an aura of sexiness.

 

[I am Surak]

I think Monaghan would've played her more emotionless than Blalock did. You could tell with her that there was a fire below that Vulcan calm. I think monaghan would've lacked that.

Exactly what made Blalock the best choice IMO. I mean, you watch Mark Lenard play Sarek, who in my opinion is the consummate Vulcan and there is so much passion underneath that incredible calm exterior. Vulcans are not robots. Sure there is the Kolinahr, but it has been implied that not every Vulcan achieves this.

You are right Star - It has been explained many times that us Vulcans experience emotions just like humans. It is how the emotion is processed through meditation that provides the yardstick for processing a future emotion of similar kind.
The sum total of emotions processed will provide the ability to approach life's events logically. For those applying themselves the Kolinahr can be achieved.
Further explanation of this can be quickly read up on when the Kir'Shara is activated.
Quadrant 4, Sector 2, Vertical rows 2-5 of the hologram will explain my teachings to those interested.