Why was Mabel Barret really dropped as Number One?

[Noname Given]

"Dammit John...I'm not a Doctor, I'm a Bricklayer!"

 

[ClayinCA]

I swear, at this point I'm starting to believe that the TOS universe was populated by about six people.

It was, but there were only three actors (they doubled up).

 

[JonnyQuest037]

It was, but there were only three actors (they doubled up).

And people say that Shatner's not versatile!

 

[tim0122]

And people say that Shatner's not versatile!

I personally enjoyed his alternative role as Kirk's brother Sam. I was really invested in that mustache.

 

[JonnyQuest037]

I personally enjoyed his alternative role as Kirk's brother Sam. I was really invested in that mustache.

He gave it his ALL in that .5 seconds onscreen, didn't he?

 

[johnnybear]

Wonder if that swept back greasy mop was a syrup too?
JB

 

[1001001]

He gave it his ALL in that .5 seconds onscreen, didn't he?

He Shatnered the Hell out of it!

 

[JonnyQuest037]

He Shatnered the Hell out of it!

 

[MarsWeeps]

I personally enjoyed his alternative role as Kirk's brother Sam. I was really invested in that mustache.

What's strange is that I never remembered them actually showing Sam's face. I always thought that they just showed him from the side. Guess I'll have to rewatch the episode.

 

[HGN2001]

Following Pike's mission on the Enterprise, Number One was given a position in Starfleet's Computer Sciences division, wherein she was given the enviable assignment of voicing many of the Starfleet's computers.

 

[UnknownSample]

Trek fans are very accepting and polite, often, and so do not notice how flat and unacted MB was as #1. I won't say bad, just because it was suposed to be an unemotional character, and we can't all be Nimoys, who can rise to that weird acting challenge. MB was good as Christine.

 

[MarsWeeps]

Trek fans are very accepting and polite, often, and so do not notice how flat and unacted MB was as #1. I won't say bad, just because it was suposed to be an unemotional character, and we can't all be Nimoys, who can rise to that weird acting challenge. MB was good as Christine.

So you are basing that on a single episode, which really isn't fair to her. It's like judging Nimoy's performance as Spock in that same episode which is nothing like what we know the character to be.

 

[suarezguy]

It's kind of interesting that Roddenberry claimed the network executives would let him have either Number One or the alien Spock, a rather specific claim, although also a self-serving one as Spock became probably the most popular character.

 

[Noname Given]

So you are basing that on a single episode, which really isn't fair to her. It's like judging Nimoy's performance as Spock in that same episode which is nothing like what we know the character to be.

That's because Spock's character WAS changed from "The Cage" to the second pilot "Where No Man Has Gone Before". Spock was originally supposed to be a 'firey young Lt.' (He comes from Vulcan a hot inhospitable desert world where the inhabitants have to fight to survive.) One the major changes was the combination of the 'Number 1' logical 'computer-like' character trait into the character of Spock.

As for the 'after only a single episode' defense of her acting (which I'm sorry wasn't that good in the episode) <--- That's what separates a person with 'lead' qualities from your rank and file. Again, while I do believe the fact she was GR's mistress at the time colored the NBC suits decision to say 'recast the role or drop it' - she wasn't the only member of the cast they felt should have been recast.

 

[JonnyQuest037]

It's kind of interesting that Roddenberry claimed the network executives would let him have either Number One or the alien Spock, a rather specific claim, although also a self-serving one as Spock became probably the most popular character.

It's that specific because it was total BS on Roddenberry's part.

 

[Joel_Kirk]

I like how it was both progressive and both favoritism on Roddenberry's part. A woman in charge, but the actress who got the role was only because she was 'banging' the producer, the married producer no less.

 

[MarsWeeps]

That's because Spock's character WAS changed from "The Cage" to the second pilot "Where No Man Has Gone Before".

But it's still not the Spock that we came to know. He was still a smiling Spock when playing chess with Kirk and says the following:

SPOCK: Irritating? Ah, yes. One of your Earth emotions.

There's something called character development that takes place over time. Nimoy had 79+ episodes to develop his character. It's ridiculous to compare that to Majel Barret's single episode. Who knows how she would have developed if they kept her character?

 

[Pauln6]

In many ways, she put in a better Vulcan performance than a lot of those who came after her.

 

[Peach Wookiee]

Captain Zero?

That sounds kinda pulpy--CAPTAIN ZERO AND THE SPACE PATROLLLLLLL!

Or... Captain N: The Gamemaster! Sorry, I know that's awful...
ETA: For alternate names...
Sue-Ellen Synagogue
Page Prayer-Meeting
Katherine Kingdom-Hall

 

[ZapBrannigan]

It's kind of interesting that Roddenberry claimed the network executives would let him have either Number One or the alien Spock, a rather specific claim, although also a self-serving one as Spock became probably the most popular character.

He was just setting up a punchline, that he kept the alien and married the woman, and to do it the other way around would have been illegal in California. I think he told that joke on the LP Inside Star Trek.