Robin Williams in "A Matter of Time"

[Emperor Norton]

Robin Williams was originally intended for the role of Berlinghoff Rasmussen in the episode. However, he had signed on to the movie "Hook". The role went to Matt Frewer. That begs the question, what if Robin Williams had taken the role and played that character instead?

 

[Markonian]

Was he already a superstar back then?
He would have made the role a loveable rogue, requiring a two-parter or recurring appearances.

 

[Tosk]

Was he already a superstar back then?

Heh...uh, yeah.

what if Robin Williams had taken the role and played that character instead?

Then they'd probably have made absolutely sure than he had a scene with Guinan.

 

[Guy Gardener]

There would have been a graphic in the background somewhere referring to the planet "Ork".

 

[GeorgeKirk]

It would've made for an epic blooper reel.

 

[φ of π]

Heh...uh, yeah.

Then they'd probably have made absolutely sure than he had a scene with Guinan.

What's that a reference to?

 

[Markonian]

What's that a reference to?

Guinan is played by Whoopi Goldberg, who was a superstar in the 80s and 90s.

 

[φ of π]

I know that, I love Who-pie "Ma, there's a black woman on TV and she ain't no maid!" Goldberg, but were she and Robin Williams ever in a movie together? I assumed it was a reference to that. (Kinda like in Stargate when Cameron Mitchell met Vala Mal Doran.)

 

[Tenacity]

Williams and Goldberg were (iirc) personal friends and I remember seeing an old HBO special where they were on stage together and their comedy absolutely feed off each others, it was incredible.

The chance of doing a scene (or multiple) with Goldberg would have been a incentive for Williams to create a opening in his schedule to do a episode of TNG.

Let's face it, if given the option between doing a major motion picture or appearing on weekly science fiction show, the choice would be obvious. Unless there was something more like hamming it up with a friend.

Emperor Norton when you said "Robin Williams was originally intended for the role of Berlinghoff Rasmussen in the episode," did you mean he and his agents had signed agreements and he backed out?

Or was it merely that Williams was on the production staff's wish list?

 

[tomalak301]

The episode might have had a change in tone to more comedic. Would have been rather interesting.

 

[dstyer]

From Memory Alpha:

According to Rick Berman, "I developed the show with Robin Williams in mind. He had said he wanted to do a show and when it got finished his wife was 8 1/2 months pregnant and they were about to go and he had just finished Hook and was starting something else and couldn't do it."

 

[Tosk]

were she and Robin Williams ever in a movie together?

Goldberg and Williams were two-thirds of the popular Comedy Relief USA hosting team...which is where the "Who-pie" thing you quoted comes from.

 

[φ of π]

Oh, I didn't know that. I've only seen that one specific sketch.

 

[Mojochi]

Whoopi, Robin & Billy Crystal were all dear friends, from back in the days of their "Comic Relief" homelessness charitable endeavor together. I actually think that if Billy had been the one to teach Data about humor, (Instead of Joe Piscopo) they might have been able to rework that awkward mess to actually be ok

Anyway... It surprises me to think that a star as huge as Williams was, at that time, would be interested in doing the show, but it IS Star Trek, & Whoopi's presense proves what an allure that held. The only reason I could think he'd want to do it was maybe he was a fan, like Whoopi, & the two had conversed about that interest... it got back to Berman, & they attempted a vehicle for him, which never panned out, because let's face it, it probably never WAS going to pan out. The man was Robin Williams. He might have even saw the script & just thought... "Meh... not worth returning to the small screen"

As to him playing Rassmussen, They literally would have to have let him run wild with it, because I don't think the story or writing is all that great, at least not at the level of talent Robin Williams was. So basically, it could've been brilliant... IF they just let Williams own the thing his way, & drop whatever construct that script had going on. Him playing things like what we saw Matt Frewer play? Waste of time for him.

 

[Tosk]

He might have even saw the script & just thought... "Meh... not worth returning to the small screen"

Williams was actually doing TV work on a semi-regular basis, (not one of the "I only do FILM!" style of actor ) on stuff like Friends, Homicide, Larry Sanders, and a bunch of assorted TV movies, specials, and documentaries. I'm not saying it means anything, just that "No TV for Robin" probably would not have been a roadblock.

 

[Emperor Norton]

Some thoughts I had: I think the way Williams would have played it would have been different. Matt Frewer is a fine actor. His characterization was malicious and grating. That is not said in a bad way. That is the way the character is. But I think Williams would have played it with more levity. At the end of the episode, and as it gets closer in, you kind of genuinely dislike Rasmussen. I think the way Robin Williams would have played it would have been more of a lovable con man. You would not agree with him, but you would kind of hope he got away with it. Frewer's character is someone you do not empathize with. I think Williams take would have meant you could not have helped but empathized. This was also Williams prior to taking on darker roles, so I think he would play it with more levity for that reason as well.

Given Williams' penchant for ad lib, I also think he would have expanded the character from what the writers had written, and made it his own. And given his star power, it indeed could have been expanded to include Guinan. I think it would have been more likely for the episode to become a two parter.

 

[JirinPanthosa]

That role seems like it should have gone to more of a comedic actor, like the sort of role you'd think about Bob Odenkirk for now. Too bad we didn't get Robin Williams in that role.

 

[Twilight Phoenix]

That begs the question, what if Robin Williams had taken the role and played that character instead?

I'd have been dancing on my couch, yelling "Oh Captain, my Captain" for the whole episode

...Robin Williams is my favourite actor ever
I deeply miss him...