Who Might've Been...

[Bry_Sinclair]

I randomly stumbled across an article on Memory Alpha that is really fascinating, as it deals with actors who were considered and auditioned for roles in various Trek series, with some of them getting very close only to be pipped at the post by ultimately who got the role.

It's got an impressive list of actors, some big names as well as others who would go on to appear in guest roles on one or multiple series, so if you're interested and have some time to kill I'd recommend it.

 

[Mister Spock]

I still think it's a shame that Edward James Olmos never got to play a Klingon. He's got that brooding intensity that would have made him superb in the role. Commander Kruge - a complete bastard - would have been a perfect fit for him.

Peter Capaldi supposedly auditioned for the role of Ben Sisko. The Emissary being a thirty-something Scotsman would've been an interesting take.

 

[Mojochi]

I still think it's a shame that Edward James Olmos never got to play a Klingon. He's got that brooding intensity that would have made him superb in the role. Commander Kruge - a complete bastard - would have been a perfect fit for him.

Actually, now that you mention it, it might've been a good idea to revisit the idea of having him play a Klingon, as I think he'd have been a much more interesting pick for Gorkon. There's always a cool resolve about Almos, but mixed with a gruffness. Given the tension of that encounter, it would've made for a much more uneasy vibe

Not that David Warner was bad mind you, not at all, but having those posh sounding Shakespearian guys playing the uber tough Klingons in UC was definitely an odd choice.

 

[F. King Daniel]

Peter Capaldi supposedly auditioned for the role of Ben Sisko. The Emissary being a thirty-something Scotsman would've been an interesting take.

The Benny Russel episode except it's Braveheart

 

[Kirby]

Somewhere out there is a memo for possible actors for TNG, and what struck me the most interesting was that Reggie Jackson (the baseball player) was a finalist for Geordi. That struck me as extremely weird.

 

[hbquikcomjamesl]

I still think it's a shame that Edward James Olmos never got to play a Klingon.

He still could.

 

[Qonundrum]

I still think it's a shame that Edward James Olmos never got to play a Klingon. He's got that brooding intensity that would have made him superb in the role. Commander Kruge - a complete bastard - would have been a perfect fit for him.

Peter Capaldi supposedly auditioned for the role of Ben Sisko. The Emissary being a thirty-something Scotsman would've been an interesting take.

I'd have to find a video of Capaldi screaming at people and watch it back-to-back with the ever-classic compilation of Sisko as showcased below:

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Brooks is good, real good.




The best I could find of Capaldi blowing his top at everyone was this:

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...oh my...



He's definitely one of THE best actors ever as the Doctor for sure. But as Sisko? I'm not entirely sure, but not entirely unsure either.

Sorry for the typecasting, but Avery fit the bill for that screamy-yet-still-just-about-composed archetype that was desperately needed for Sisko.

I can sorta see why Capaldi was in the running since he can swear up a storm while still looking composed and it's all rather impressive... especially as that quantity of over the top swearing would be difficult for ANY actor to even begin to pull off convincingly and with any credibility of any sort...

...just a quickie note, I almost gave up on it after 2:08 because the show is just trying way too hard with its profanity overload, and yet Capaldi just about manages to sell it to even a young prude like me... There are some really great bits after the 2:08 mark BTW so do press on with it for at least another 51 seconds... by the time you get to 4:38 you'll be real glad you pressed on with it too! By 5:38 you'll be hunting down the complete series on Blu-ray in order to hear the same overflowing pottymouth in glorious Dolby 7.1... That and the show clearly has some wit applied that I was not expecting. Shows like that really are cool ...

 

[Vger23]

Yaphet Kotto was considered for Picard, which I find absolutely fascinating.

Jenny Agutter was on the list for Dr. Crusher, which I think would have been a major win.

 

[Bry_Sinclair]

The Benny Russel episode except it's Braveheart

Oh dear Prophets no!

 

[XCV330]

Somewhere out there is a memo for possible actors for TNG, and what struck me the most interesting was that Reggie Jackson (the baseball player) was a finalist for Geordi. That struck me as extremely weird.

I remember he was doing a pretty good show to explain sports to kids on Nickelodeon in the early-mid 80's "Reggie Jackson's World of Sports" or something. He had a good TV presence and he was extremely popular at the time.

 

[Kirby]

I remember he was doing a pretty good show to explain sports to kids on Nickelodeon in the early-mid 80's "Reggie Jackson's World of Sports" or something. He had a good TV presence and he was extremely popular at the time.

That's pretty cool, I was a little to old for Nickelodeon in the 80's. The only thing I really remember him in was Naked Gun, which begs the question whenever they came across a space queen, would he try to kill her?

 

[Orphalesion]

Yaphet Kotto was considered for Picard, which I find absolutely fascinating.

I think not making either Picard or Riker non-Caucasian was very much a missed opportunity of TNG.

Another one was that they didn't cast Rosalind Chao as "Yar". And a third one was that they didn't bring her (or somebody else) in come Season 2 to create a replacement, action-oriented female character after Crosby left.

 

[Paul755]

James Coburn as Pike
Deforest Kelley as Spock
Laurence Fishburne as Sisko
Linda Hamilton as Janeway
Wesley Snipes as Geordi
Jeffrey Combs as Riker
Marlon Brando as Soren (the one that kills Kirk)
Sean Connery as Sybok
Chris Pratt as nu-Kirk
Tom Hanks as Zefram Cochrane

man, there are some interesting alternate universes out there.

 

[Bry_Sinclair]

Marlon Brando as Soren (the one that kills Kirk)

As the J'nai that Riker tries to get his leg over would be a far more amazing spot of casting

 

[Mister Spock]

Actually, now that you mention it, it might've been a good idea to revisit the idea of having him play a Klingon, as I think he'd have been a much more interesting pick for Gorkon. There's always a cool resolve about Almos, but mixed with a gruffness. Given the tension of that encounter, it would've made for a much more uneasy vibe

Not that David Warner was bad mind you, not at all, but having those posh sounding Shakespearian guys playing the uber tough Klingons in UC was definitely an odd choice.

That's a good idea. Although, personally, I would shift Olmos into the General Chang role. Gorkon I feel needs to have an air of grace and an almost gentle nature, to show that he's sincere about the peace process. Olmos as the aging war horse, not yet ready to let go of his hatred, would've been nice to see. Gruffly, dryly quoting Shakespeare under his breath.

 

[Mister Spock]

The Benny Russel episode except it's Braveheart

Benny Russell driving an ice cream van around 1950s Glasgow wouldn't have had quite the same impact.

 

[Mister Spock]

...just a quickie note, I almost gave up on it after 2:08 because the show is just trying way too hard with its profanity overload, and yet Capaldi just about manages to sell it to even a young prude like me... There are some really great bits after the 2:08 mark BTW so do press on with it for at least another 51 seconds... by the time you get to 4:38 you'll be real glad you pressed on with it too! By 5:38 you'll be hunting down the complete series on Blu-ray in order to hear the same overflowing pottymouth in glorious Dolby 7.1... That and the show clearly has some wit applied that I was not expecting. Shows like that really are cool ...

The video isn't available to me, oddly, but I'm guessing its a compilation of his insults in The Thick of It.

The series is well worth watching, as one of the best political satires ever made. Malcolm Tucker - alias the Glasgow Goebbels, the Thin White Mugabe and Iago with a Blackberry - is the Chief of Communications for the unseen Prime Minister. His role is more akin to that of a Consigliere in the Mafia: he acts as the PMs enforcer, making sure all cabinet ministers tow the party line, as well being the party spin doctor that handles all crises stemming from ministerial incompetence. He regularly uses rumours, smears, leaks and threats of violence to achieve his end, although its obvious he believes in the ideals of his party and is a self-made man from a working class background who despises classism and cronyism.

He is manipulative, aggressive, profane, short-tempered and bullying towards politicians and civil servants, but there's a complexity to Malcolm. He treats 'civilians' - such as the cleaners, secretaries, youth activists and anyone considered his social inferior - with politeness and respect, in contrast to the politicos who are regularly condescending and dismissive of anyone outside Westminster. When he is briefly manipulated into resigning in the third season, he comforts his secreatary Samantha and even protects her from harassment from the press and the people sent to escort him from his office.

It's also interesting to know that one of his 'Tuckerisms' - "Omnishambles" - has found its way into British political lexicon and is included in the Oxford English Dictionary which describes it as "something which is completely and continuously shambolic".

 

[Relayer1]

There's this (nsfw) -

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[Qonundrum]

The video isn't available to me, oddly, but I'm guessing its a compilation of his insults in The Thick of It.

The header had read "In The Loop", which to my current understanding is a spinoff?

The series is well worth watching, as one of the best political satires ever made. Malcolm Tucker - alias the Glasgow Goebbels, the Thin White Mugabe and Iago with a Blackberry - is the Chief of Communications for the unseen Prime Minister. His role is more akin to that of a Consigliere in the Mafia: he acts as the PMs enforcer, making sure all cabinet ministers tow the party line, as well being the party spin doctor that handles all crises stemming from ministerial incompetence. He regularly uses rumours, smears, leaks and threats of violence to achieve his end, although its obvious he believes in the ideals of his party and is a self-made man from a working class background who despises classism and cronyism.

He is manipulative, aggressive, profane, short-tempered and bullying towards politicians and civil servants, but there's a complexity to Malcolm. He treats 'civilians' - such as the cleaners, secretaries, youth activists and anyone considered his social inferior - with politeness and respect, in contrast to the politicos who are regularly condescending and dismissive of anyone outside Westminster. When he is briefly manipulated into resigning in the third season, he comforts his secreatary Samantha and even protects her from harassment from the press and the people sent to escort him from his office.

It's also interesting to know that one of his 'Tuckerisms' - "Omnishambles" - has found its way into British political lexicon and is included in the Oxford English Dictionary which describes it as "something which is completely and continuously shambolic".

Nice overview, thanks! I'd not seen either the main show or the spinoff, and the witticisms used in the clips (even with pottymouth galore from everybody) certainly piqued my interest.Even South Park would faint in awe over it.

 

[Qonundrum]

There's this (nsfw) -

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Just to cut a long story short: