Was Denise Crosby miscast ?

[TheMasterOfOrion]

As far as I understand (correct me if wrong) Roddenberry envisioned a tough chick like Ripley from Aliens. We know Denise Crosby's role as Tasha Yar in TNG, but her role was never really fleshed out and when Worf replaced her position, Michael Dorn's Klingon character would soon own the role of chief of security. Dorn's chief of security = legendary ! Denise Crosby's chief of security = meh !
Which would mean that Roddenberry got it wrong

Its not that she didn't fit in or couldn't make a great part of the series.

As she returned in Yesterday's Enterprise or as the Romulan, her role and her work was fantastic !

IMHO she might have worked better as a engineer or second officer or popular villain etc

 

[erastus25]

If we're going to compare Worf and Yar let's at least compare them for episodes in which they both appeared. First season Worf was little more than a grunting background character, and Michael Dorn's portrayal was hardly, if at all, any more compelling than Crosby's over the course of the first season. For all we know, if Yar was given 11 seasons to grow that character would have been awesome too.

 

[RobertScorpio]

As far as I understand (correct me if wrong) Roddenberry envisioned a tough chick like Ripley from Aliens. We know Denise Crosby's role as Tasha Yar in TNG, but her role was never really fleshed out and when Worf replaced her position, Michael Dorn's Klingon character would soon own the role of chief of security. Dorn's chief of security = legendary ! Denise Crosby's chief of security = meh !
Which would mean that Roddenberry got it wrong

Its not that she didn't fit in or couldn't make a great part of the series.

As she returned in Yesterday's Enterprise or as the Romulan, her role and her work was fantastic !

IMHO she might have worked better as a engineer or second officer or popular villain etc

That show only got better when she left. And her acting skills just were not up to the task.

Rob

 

[Natural]

She appeared weak and vulnerable at times. Not really what you want out of a security chief, though this was a fault of the writers - You can only act what's written for you. It did make a lot more sense having Worf as the chief though. That and the fact that having him in control of aft science station 2 was a bit ludicrous.

 

[Jon1701]

Crosby wasn't going to win any emmys for her acting performance, but weak writing didn't help matters.

Some of the charactisation was, at times, atrocious. A Chief of Security should be strong at all times, but often Yar seemed hopelessy out of her death - or just plain weak. The scene in Hide & Q where she starts blubbing about being in the "Penalty box" is a terrible scene. Truly terrible. Generally speaking the only lines she got to say in an episode were "Hailing frequencies open/closed", and at all other times her suggestions were stamped out immediately by Picard.

Having said all that, her death scene is pretty moving - and at the time it was a shame to see her go.

 

[Red Ranger]

Well, as some of you may know, they had considered Denise Crosby initially for the role of Counselor Troi and Marina Sirits as the chief of security when she was originally called "Macha" Hernandez, an homage to/ripoff of the character of Vazquez in Aliens.

I think that would have worked better. But I agree that it was more the weak writing of the character rather than the skills of the actress that was mainly at fault.

All that said, Michael Dorn eventually grew into the role, but as noted, he had some rough beginnings as well.

Red Ranger

 

[RobertScorpio]

Crosby wasn't going to win any emmys for her acting performance, but weak writing didn't help matters.

Some of the charactisation was, at times, atrocious. A Chief of Security should be strong at all times, but often Yar seemed hopelessy out of her death - or just plain weak. The scene in Hide & Q where she starts blubbing about being in the "Penalty box" is a terrible scene. Truly terrible. Generally speaking the only lines she got to say in an episode were "Hailing frequencies open/closed", and at all other times her suggestions were stamped out immediately by Picard.

Having said all that, her death scene is pretty moving - and at the time it was a shame to see her go.

Ummm...no. In her case, lack of ability came into play. That scene with her in ENCOUNTER where she over-acts during her exchange with Q is just hard to watch because she is awful. And her scenes with Data in Naked whatever were just as bad. Yes, writing does help...but in her case, not having enough background/ability can show threw as well..and it did with her..IMO

Rob

 

[Mr. Fergy]

I liked Crosby, but she just ain't Dorn. One of the best things that could have happened was to kill her off.

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

Yes.

 

[Zeo Ranger IX]

Crosby's acting might have been questionable that first year, but no more so than Marina's or Michael Dorn's. The writing was more at fault, because believe me whenever she sprung into action and flipped some dude twice her size I definitely believed it.

Her exit, though sad, did pave the way for Worf to make his sizable mark on the franchise. If she'd stayed, I'm sure Michael would have left eventually. It's well documented that he couldn't stand the makeup, and that stress wouldn't have been worth being the token Klingon for very long.

 

[Saxman1]

Yes, miscast. OK, season one writing wasn't always the greatest (athough I get a kick out of the season anyway), but Crosby's almost total lack of acting skill did not help. She was OK in Yesterday's Enterprise but the strong script and direction didn't hurt. She is never going to win any acting awards, that's for sure.

 

[Admiral2]

That show only got better when she left. And her acting skills just were not up to the task.

Rob

Horseshit.

Tasha Yar was the only female member of the cast that I liked that first season. She was the only one with an actual job. Deanna's job was to walk around "feeling" things, and Dr. Crusher's sole purpose in life seemed to be to wallk up to Picard and emote things like "But, Jean-Luc, what about the children?" (swoon and exit, stage left) so of course, look who gets bumped off.

TNG suffered mightily when Denise Crosby left that first time (in one of the stupidest death scenarios I've ever seen on a TV show) and I was glad to see her come back as Yar in the alt-universe episode and as Sela. She played her parts just fine, and there was nothing wrong with either of the characters, writing or otherwise.

 

[Triskelion]

That show only got better when she left. And her acting skills just were not up to the task.

Rob

Horseshit.

Tasha Yar was the only female member of the cast that I liked that first season. She was the only one with an actual job. Deanna's job was to walk around "feeling" things, and Dr. Crusher's sole purpose in life seemed to be to wallk up to Picard and emote things like "But, Jean-Luc, what about the children?" (swoon and exit, stage left) so of course, look who gets bumped off.

TNG suffered mightily when Denise Crosby left that first time (in one of the stupidest death scenarios I've ever seen on a TV show) and I was glad to see her come back as Yar in the alt-universe episode and as Sela. She played her parts just fine, and there was nothing wrong with either of the characters, writing or otherwise.

Thank you.

 

[Philo]

I like to give Denise Crosby the benefit of the doubt. I wouldn't say she was the wrong actress, just in the wrong season. Nobody looked good in the first season. Even Picard, who was played by arguably the finest actor on the series, often came across as a petulant blowhard.

 

[Kegek]

As I've said elsewhere, Marina Sirtis was more plausible as someone of vaguely (IIRC) Ukrainian background. This said; she was okay but nothing special in her performance; I don't think Sirtis would have been a significant improvement. Sela was similarly unexceptional; so I don't think first season hiccoughs can be blamed.

 

[WillsBabe]

I don't think that she was miscast. I don't think she could act very well.

 

[Christopher]

I don't think she was miscast. Sure, her voice was softer than you'd expect for a "tough girl" character, but I found that a positive thing, because it kept her from being a stereotype. I thought she brought a good mix of intensity and vulnerability to the role, and her occasional awkwardness or stiffness was just right for a character who'd grown up in hellish conditions and had occasional trouble adjusting to life in the Federation.

Besides, Crosby came from a troubled family background, so I think she probably had some genuine emotional scars underlying her performance, and that was just right for the character.

And for what it's worth, I don't think Crosby ever looked better than she did with that Tasha Yar buzz cut.

 

[Philo]

Yeah, I have to agree completely. The way I see it, if the character had remained we would have seen her soften up significantly to play better to Crosby's strengths. Which do exist and can be seen in fleeting moments in the first season.

I suppose the character progression would have been similar to that of Kira's on DS9. This would also have allowed Worf's development and movement to the forefront to exist just as it did when she left. He'd be the one to fill the 'tough guy' role. Might have been neat to see them work as a team. Or, Yar could even have moved to helm and we could have had the Ensign Ro character much earlier on and more permanently.

 

[Therin of Andor]

I don't think she was miscast. Sure, her voice was softer than you'd expect for a "tough girl" character, but I found that a positive thing, because it kept her from being a stereotype.

I'm with you.

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

I don't think that she was miscast. I don't think she could act very well.

Exactly so.