Why Did William Ware Theiss Only Work on TNG During Season One?

[FalTorPan]

Why did William Ware Theiss work on TNG for only its first season? This 1988 interview suggests that Theiss was open to working on the show for additional seasons. Is it possible that he became too ill by the time the second season began preproduction?

 

[CoveTom]

I believe he was one of the many TOS veterans who, for whatever reason, did not work on TNG past the first season. If memory serves, the second season had Durinda Rice Wood -- though I'm not sure of that name -- as the costumer designer, and then with season 3 came Bob Blackman, who stayed throughout the rest of TNG's run.

 

[CaptainStoner]

I don't know, but I'm a fan of his work and hope his last years were good ones.

 

[AstroSmurf]

Rumor was that Bill Theiss left TNG due to illness. He was credited for much of the first season as "Executive Consultant" which confirms his diminished capacity with the show's day-to-day operation. TNG was his last credit before passing away in 1992 from AID's related complications. It all sort of adds up but with so few facts we are left with lots of speculation and very little truth.