Phase II Speculation

[Harvey]

Unfortunately, no. Before being given the go-ahead for the second pilot, NBC gave Roddenberry a list of things they wanted changed from the original pilot. Among them was no female first officer.

I'm pretty sure that the memo had nothing to do with the first officer being female. They just wanted Gene to cut Majel loose.

Well, we know how well that worked since he simply recast her as another more friendly (and less in the forefront) character later.

But aside from the idea that NBC may have disapproved of Roddenberry casting his girlfriend as the ship's second banana, early screenings of "The Cage" revealed that test audiences--particularly women--responded rather negatively to Number One. They just didn't like the character, which was reason enough for NBC to want her gone.

The infamous NBC memo also told Roddenberry to get rid of "the guy with the funny ears" too.

NBC truly did want to get rid of the Spock character, but the thing about Number One is a myth. Countless sources confirm this in Inside Star Trek: The Real Story, as well as Joel Engel's biography of Roddenberry. NBC wanted a name in the role, Roddenberry wanted his no-name mistress (who, moreover, NBC didn't care for as an actress).

That's why there's no female first officer going forward. Roddenberry dropped the role rather than re-cast it.

 

[BillJ]

Roddenberry probably made up the whole "NBC opposes a female lead" to smooth over any hurt feelings on Majel's part.

 

[Harvey]

And to shed his own responsibility for the role's elimination. "NBC made me do it!"

 

[C.E. Evans]

I'm pretty sure that the memo had nothing to do with the first officer being female. They just wanted Gene to cut Majel loose.

Well, we know how well that worked since he simply recast her as another more friendly (and less in the forefront) character later.

But aside from the idea that NBC may have disapproved of Roddenberry casting his girlfriend as the ship's second banana, early screenings of "The Cage" revealed that test audiences--particularly women--responded rather negatively to Number One. They just didn't like the character, which was reason enough for NBC to want her gone.

The infamous NBC memo also told Roddenberry to get rid of "the guy with the funny ears" too.

NBC truly did want to get rid of the Spock character, but the thing about Number One is a myth.

I've always believed that myth may have a grain of truth to it, though. I do believe the character didn't fare well among test audiences back in 1964. It may not have been the main reason for the character being dropped, but I do think it was something NBC took into account.

Countless sources confirm this in Inside Star Trek: The Real Story, as well as Joel Engel's biography of Roddenberry. NBC wanted a name in the role, Roddenberry wanted his no-name mistress (who, moreover, NBC didn't care for as an actress).

That's why there's no female first officer going forward. Roddenberry dropped the role rather than re-cast it.

I think it was ultimately a case of Roddenberry picking his battles. It was simply easier to give up Number One and fight to keep Spock instead.

 

[Harvey]

I've always believed that myth may has a grain of truth to it, though. I do believe the character didn't fare well among test audiences back in 1964. It may not have been the main reason for the character being dropped, but I do think it was something NBC took into account.

The story about the (non-executive) test audience has shown up in a few books, including The Making of Star Trek (1968) and William Shatner's Star Trek Memories (1993), although neither of them present a source (and both are riddled with mistakes). I suspect it is another self-flattering Roddenberry invention.

The explanation that Roddenberry was simply picking his battles doesn't make sense. NBC liked the character of Number One, just not the actress. When it came to Mr. Spock, they didn't like the character, not the actor. Re-casting would have been an easy solution to the former problem, but Roddenberry chose to drop the character altogether.

 

[C.E. Evans]

I've always believed that myth may has a grain of truth to it, though. I do believe the character didn't fare well among test audiences back in 1964. It may not have been the main reason for the character being dropped, but I do think it was something NBC took into account.

The story about the (non-executive) test audience has shown up in a few books, including The Making of Star Trek (1968) and William Shatner's Star Trek Memories (1993), although neither of them present a source (and both are riddled with mistakes). I suspect it is another self-flattering Roddenberry invention.

Then again, maybe it isn't. Does anyone have any credible evidence that confirms or disproves the test screening took place?

The explanation that Roddenberry was simply picking his battles doesn't make sense.

Actually, it very much does. See below.

NBC liked the character of Number One, just not the actress. When it came to Mr. Spock, they didn't like the character, not the actor.

And that's the battle Roddenberry chose. He didn't acquiesce to NBC's demand to get rid of Spock. Spock stayed with his ears and eyebrows intact from the original pilot.

 

[Harvey]

Then again, maybe it isn't. Does anyone have any credible evidence that confirms or disproves the test screening took place?

Well, for one, the only test screening that is described in Inside Star Trek: The Real Story is one that was held for NBC executives. It does describe NBC conducting audience research, but not further test screenings of the pilot for audiences. For another, there isn't any documentation that I've been able to find about test screenings of the pilot, in the papers that Roddenberry donated to UCLA.

And that's the battle Roddenberry chose. He didn't acquiesce to NBC's demand to get rid of Spock. Spock stayed with his ears and eyebrows intact from the original pilot.

But, you see, there wasn't a battle over the character of Number One. The battle was over the actress, and not only did Roddenberry decide not to fight NBC over casting Barrett, he eliminated the character altogether.

 

[antiquityscion]

EH, I am going to have to say that had Star trek Phase II went ahead, based on the episodes that were rewritten as movies or TNG episodes, it would have sucked pretty hard. Especially being from the 1970s, we would have had hokey trek plots like in TAS, with Space 1999 quality live action FX. Blech!

In Thy Image: Became TMP. OK, TMP was not a bad movie, but the pacing was pretty slow. I have always thought that if someone re-edited it to pick up the pacing, it would be on par with TWOK. But as a TV pilot? Oh man, we are talking Encounter at Farpoint horribleness. Besides, this was a retread of the TOS episode, The Changeling.

The Child: became the TNG episode where Troi got preggers from some energy alien. One of the worst episodes of TNG, IMHO.

Devil's Due: another TNG episode, that I thought was pretty horrible.

The Savage Syndrome: While not a direct rewrite like the others, TNG's Genesis was a very similar premise. I never cared for that episode, either.

Are Unheard Melodies Sweet? or "Home": A planet of Amazon women needing men. Well, we know how "Angel One" worked out...badly.

Practice in Waiting: Pre-holo-deck, but similar premise to any given "trapped in the holo-deck" episode of TNG.

So, I am personally glad things turned out the way they did: We got a decent TMP, and a solid trilogy with Trek 2-4, then Trek 6. TNG, as far as I am concerned did far more to advance the Trek universe than even TOS. Sure it got off to a shakey start the first 2 seasons, but as far as I am concerned if you hate TNG seasons 3-6, you have no business calling yourself a trek fan.

 

[C.E. Evans]

Then again, maybe it isn't. Does anyone have any credible evidence that confirms or disproves the test screening took place?

Well, for one, the only test screening that is described in Inside Star Trek: The Real Story is one that was held for NBC executives. It does describe NBC conducting audience research, but not further test screenings of the pilot for audiences. For another, there isn't any documentation that I've been able to find about test screenings of the pilot, in the papers that Roddenberry donated to UCLA.

Actually, the only references to test screenings I've heard about is the one held by NBC. I haven't heard about any other.

And that's the battle Roddenberry chose. He didn't acquiesce to NBC's demand to get rid of Spock. Spock stayed with his ears and eyebrows intact from the original pilot.

But, you see, there wasn't a battle over the character of Number One. The battle was over the actress, and not only did Roddenberry decide not to fight NBC over casting Barrett, he eliminated the character altogether.

My point is that he chose not to fight that battle, but the one to keep Spock instead.

 

[T'Girl]

Devil's Due: another TNG episode, that I thought was pretty horrible.

Have to say I disagree, while I did have a problem with the con artist being able to beam on and off the Enterprise without detection (at first), other than that the basic story and it's execution was fine.

A planet of Amazon women needing men.

"You are all condemned to death, but first ... snu snu."

I've heard the story from quite a few people at various conventions and read about it in books and interviews ... the execs in New York loved the idea of a female first officer. This was the sixties, woman's liberation was a growing cultural force, women in the workplace in increasing numbers, women controlling more decisions about the spending of money. NBC executives loved the idea of female first officer to help anchor the show with that demographic.

Roddenberry had no interest in re-casting the role with another woman for the second pilot. Otherwise there would have been a female first officer opposite James Kirk. Instead of Spock.

 

[Maurice]

Re Majel and Number One going bye bye after the first pilot...

"In varying degrees, we're not too happy with some of the cast. We support the concept of a woman in a strong, leading role, but we have serious doubts as to Majel Barrett's abilities to 'carry' the show as co-star. We also think you could do better with the ship's doctor, the yeoman, and other members of of the crew. We applaud the attempts at a racial mix; it's exactly what we want. Hopefully, there'll be more experienced minority actors available for next year. Jeffrey Hunter was okay, and if you want to use him again, that's fine with us.

"'Leonard Nimoy isn't a problem, but the role he plays is a major problem! If you want to lose Nimoy, that's also fine with us. You've already heard the sales department reaction to the character.'"

Herb Solow, relating feedback from NBC's Mort Werner
Inside Star Trek, p. 60​

From reading the pages I've sampled here, Solow is paraphrasing a meeting or a call rather than citing a memo or letter, so his recall may not be 100% accurate, but it does completely contradict Roddenberry's take.

As to the topic of Phase II, it's difficult to judge the merits of the scripts in the production pipeline because we've seen so few of them, and those we've seen were usually early drafts. Having seen some of outlines and treatments and early drafts of episodes from the original series, you could just as easily conclude they were going to be terrible as well (okay, some were), but I don't think we can really judge how good or bad the final results woud be given the point at which the production was halted. The single script we an really judge is In Thy Image, which isn't so terrible, even if it's not gold.

 

[Bixby]

"In varying degrees, we're not too happy with some of the cast. We support the concept of a woman in a strong, leading role, but we have serious doubts as to Majel Barrett's abilities to 'carry' the show as co-star. We also think you could do better with the ship's doctor, the yeoman, and other members of of the crew. We applaud the attempts at a racial mix; it's exactly what we want. Hopefully, there'll be more experienced minority actors available for next year. Jeffrey Hunter was okay, and if you want to use him again, that's fine with us.

Herb Solow, relating feedback from NBC's Mort Werner
Inside Star Trek, p. 60​

This isn't the first time I've seen the mention of trying for a better racial mix in the pilot for THE CAGE...Am I misremembering, or do I only recall the asian transporter operator as the only visible racial minority in the entire pilot?

 

[Maurice]

It's possible Solow is conflating this with Where No Man Has Gone Before in reference to the "racial mix".

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

Also, Gene Roddenberry hadn't completely moved into full loony toons zone...

You can't prove that by ST:TMP.

 

[Harvey]

This isn't the first time I've seen the mention of trying for a better racial mix in the pilot for THE CAGE...Am I misremembering, or do I only recall the asian transporter operator as the only visible racial minority in the entire pilot?

As far as I can tell, that one crewman (a non-speaking b.g. role) is the only racial minority in "The Cage," and I've watched the episode closely on this point to see if I could spot anyone else. Roddenberry's claim that NBC Executives were upset because he did not cast the first pilot "sensibly, meaning, all whites" are obviously false.

However, the following memo does indicate that Roddenberry was interested in casting a mixture of races, even if he didn't follow through with those aims in "The Cage."

We should discuss a mixture of races we see on the spaceship U.S.S. Enterprise. Both SAG and SEG, the last so I can make appropriate suggestions to guide Justman.

Gene Roddenberry to Herb Solow
November 17, 1964​

 

[CoveTom]

My point is that he chose not to fight that battle, but the one to keep Spock instead.

That may be true, but his choosing not to fight that battle is not the reason we ended up without a female first officer. He could have still avoided fighting the battle and kept a female first officer by just casting a different actress in the role.

 

[C.E. Evans]

My point is that he chose not to fight that battle, but the one to keep Spock instead.

That may be true, but his choosing not to fight that battle is not the reason we ended up without a female first officer. He could have still avoided fighting the battle and kept a female first officer by just casting a different actress in the role.

Roddenberry wanted Majel for the role, so that apparently wasn't an option for him.

 

[Therin of Andor]

Roddenberry chose to drop the character altogether.

He specifically wrote the character for Majel. If they'd been married at the time, she'd have made him sleep on the couch if he'd simply recast another actress.

Supposedly, Majel used such influence to make GR urge the writing team to come up with Lwaxana Troi, too.

 

[BillJ]

Roddenberry chose to drop the character altogether.

He specifically wrote the character for Majel. If they'd been married at the time, she'd have made him sleep on the couch if he'd simply recast another actress.

He would've just found another starlet to keep him warm at night.

 

[Therin of Andor]

He would've just found another starlet to keep him warm at night.

And he did (several), but he obviously also loved Majel.