Rewrite TOS with Pike, one episode at a time

[Mysterion]

Who could've played Number One if the role had been recast in 1965?

Interesting question. Not too familiar with a lot of actresses available for TV in the mid-60's, but the first name that comes to mind is Diana Muldaur. Even in her two gust appearances on TOS, I think she showed that she could have been the authoritative/imposing type of personality needed for the character of Number One. At least she certainly did later on as Dr. Pulaski on TNG who, IMO, was much more believable as a CMO than McFadden was as Dr. Crusher.

 

[Christopher]

Muldaur occurred to me. How about Barbara Bain? It would've been a year before Mission: Impossible came along. Which would've changed M:I too, since without Bain as a regular, her husband Martin Landau might not have become a regular there.

 

[Mysterion]

^^^
Bain would probably would have worked, too. Haven't seen much of M:I, but do recall her from the later Space: 1999. Although she seemed kind of wooden to me on Space, that might have been a good fit for Number One.

Unfortunately for me, most of the actresses I can remember from the mid to late 1960's were primarily in sitcoms. If you can picture Barbara Feldon (Get Smart) doing a serious role, she would have had the right look for it, but possibly a bit young for the role.

 

[Wingsley]

^ Oh, you had to say that.

Then I immediately thought of Marlo "THAT GIRL" Thomas as Number One.

Talk about bizarre.

 

[Mysterion]

Well, at least you didn't say Sally "Flying Nun" Fields.

 

[Christopher]

^^^
Bain would probably would have worked, too. Haven't seen much of M:I, but do recall her from the later Space: 1999. Although she seemed kind of wooden to me on Space, that might have been a good fit for Number One.

I've heard that she was wooden there, and it surprises me, because she was very impressive and versatile on M:I (a show that required her to exhibit a broad range because her character was in turn playing other characters almost every week). In particular, when she turned on the smoldering allure, she was really something to watch, even though I didn't find her particularly beautiful per se. But she could also play tough or cool characters effectively too, which would be more fitting for Number One.

 

[Commodore_Rook]

I just have to comment on the whole renaming the charater due to an actor change. Imagine, probabaly anyone else would have simply kept the name the same and William Shatner would have been Chris Pike, instead of James Kirk. But Roddenberry had the "insight" to not only change the actor, but change the name, thus giving us instant history!!! I really think that was a stroke of genius right there!

 

[Captain Robert April]

Suzanne Pleshette as Number One, perhaps?

 

[number6]

Suzanne Pleshette as Number One, perhaps?

Piike wakes up next to her and discovers it was all some bizarre dream.