Worthy of Spinoff

[RobertScorpio]

We know that TOS's Assigment Earth was supposed to be some kind of backdoor pilot for a series based on Gary-7.

There have been other interesting characters on the various TREK shows. Which ones were so good that the episode they were on should have been a 'backdoor' pilot and that character should have been spun off into their own series.

Rob

 

[Mysterion]

I have a dim memory of having read someplace that there was thought at one point of a series based around the character of Harry Mudd. Don't recall where or when I saw that, or how "official" it was.

 

[RobertScorpio]

Huh...I would love to see that series now, since censorship rules have changed since the 1960s

Rob

 

[caisson2delta]

I think the two parter featuring Captain Jellico might have proved to make an interesting series, featuring him. Was he really the hard ass he portrayed, or was it sort of a front for the crew? Would he have shown ill will towards SF, particularly Picard, for him loosing his short lived command aboard the big E?

If he were just to play a ship captain, at the least, he would be quite different from what we are used to seeing. Perhaps the series could be based upon his exploits during the Dominion War, namely dealing with the Cardassians.

 

[RobertScorpio]

I think the two parter featuring Captain Jellico might have proved to make an interesting series, featuring him. Was he really the hard ass he portrayed, or was it sort of a front for the crew? Would he have shown ill will towards SF, particularly Picard, for him loosing his short lived command aboard the big E?

If he were just to play a ship captain, at the least, he would be quite different from what we are used to seeing. Perhaps the series could be based upon his exploits during the Dominion War, namely dealing with the Cardassians.

^^ not bad, and I liked Jelico. I know I started a debate last time I said this, but who cares? Jelico was the most authentic Commander I have ever seen on Star Trek. I served for over 20 years in the military, and in that time, many ships. And most commanders I know tilted toward his personality than the 'sweetness' of Picard.

Rob

 

[caisson2delta]

^agreed. Although I didn't serve i the navy (Army vet), he was most reminescent of several first sergeants and sergeant majors that I served with. He also reminded me of several squadron commanders and XO's during my time. He definitely made the character more memorable.

 

[RobertScorpio]

^agreed. Although I didn't serve i the navy (Army vet), he was most reminescent of several first sergeants and sergeant majors that I served with. He also reminded me of several squadron commanders and XO's during my time. He definitely made the character more memorable.

I wish he had been captain when Worf came back to the Enterprise after killing Durass. Though it was a great moment for Worf, Picard barely gives him a slap on the wrist. Would have loved to see Jelico go off on Worf...he needed it.

Rob

 

[sbk1234]

Best idea I've heard in a long time! Jellico was awesome.

An obvious example would have been focusing on the jr. officers from Lower Decks. I remember there was a lot of speculation around that time that this would serve as some kind of link to the upcoming Star Trek: Voyager.

 

[RobertScorpio]

Best idea I've heard in a long time! Jellico was awesome.

An obvious example would have been focusing on the jr. officers from Lower Decks. I remember there was a lot of speculation around that time that this would serve as some kind of link to the upcoming Star Trek: Voyager.

So did I..and I liked those lower deck kids. Too bad they didn't expand on that idea..

Rob

 

[sbk1234]

Didn't they use the same actor as Taurik as Vorik on Voyager? If so, I have no idea why they didn't just have him play the same character.

 

[Kirby]

^^ From what I heard they would have had to pay the writer for the use of his name. At least that was the case with the Locarno/Tom Paris characters.

 

[C.E. Evans]

- I could see Neela Daren (from TNG's "Lessons") spinning off in her own series leading a special Starfleet science team charged with investigating alien mysteries on various planets both within and outside the Federation. Kinda like Star Trek meets the X-Files, with an eventual rediscovery of the parasitic aliens from "Conspiracy" and their long-term plans for the Federation.

 

[RobertScorpio]

I think they could have done STAR TREK: SISKOs...it would have centered around the cafe that Sisko's dad owned. Yep..on Earth, but with a 'soap oprea 90210' aspect to it...aimed a women, with lots of sexual plots. Yeah, I know, a large part of TREK FANDOM hates anything related to sex because its a foreign concept to them, but so what...sex sells!!!

Rob

 

[jefferiestubes8]

We know that TOS's Assigment Earth was supposed to be some kind of backdoor pilot for a series based on Gary-7.

Ep#226 Assignment: Earth
It is the first I've heard of this. I'll put the info here for others who haven't heard either.
from the TrekToday episode guide the review mentions:

the episode comes across like the spin-off pilot show that it was intended as; at times it's more interested in providing a backdrop to a series that would never come to be than it is in making its story the priority.

The plot is reasonably good, but the bottom line is that I felt more like I was watching a good marketing ploy than I was watching good science fiction.

Memory Alpha mentions:

This episode was designed partly as a pilot for a new series featuring Gary Seven and his mission. "Star Trek" was teetering on the brink of cancellation late in its second year, and Roddenberry hoped to get a new show going for the fall season. The first draft pilot script (14 November 1966) had no mention of Star Trek or its characters. [1]
Assignment: Earth did not enter production as a television series, but was revisited by John Byrne in a comic book series from IDW Publishing, Star Trek: Assignment: Earth.
The plot concept of beneficial aliens secretively helping earthlings, as opposed to the much more common "villain aliens" scenarios, was later resurrected by Roddenberry for his movie The Questor Tapes.

Robert Lansing (Gary Seven) is the only Star Trek: The Original Series guest star whose credit appears after the opening credits instead of during the end credits – complete with character name. The fact that the episode was to serve as the pilot for a proposed spin-off series explains the unique credits.

more here:
"Assignment: Earth"

This episode served double duty, not only as an episode of Star Trek, but as a pilot for a proposed spin-off television series, that would have been produced by Roddenberry, under the same name, Assignment: Earth. The show would have featured actor Robert Lansing as Gary Seven, a futuristic "James Bond", as the lead character. The episode stars Teri Garr as Roberta Lincoln, who would have been a co-star in the series, had it continued on its own.

Six years later, Roddenberry returned to this theme of an outside force benevolently aiding human development. "The Questor Tapes" was a television movie and pilot for a series about an android (portrayed by Robert Foxworth) who is searching for his creator and his purpose, which turns out to be, like Gary Seven, to help humankind avoid disasters. Conceived by and executive produced by Gene Roddenberry, the script is credited to Roddenberry and fellow Star Trek alumnus Gene L. Coon. This series was also never produced.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assignment_Earth

and
Synopsis of original Pre-Star Trek pilot script
FIRST DRAFT PILOT, dated November 14, 1966 written by Gene Roddenberry script is 47 pages in length, it is a pilot for a half hour program

Any more info? Do you have a link to the story behind it with details?

 

[RobertScorpio]

^^ I think GENE was on to something with ASSIGNMENT EARTH...a TREK series, romantic comedy, AIMED at women. Maybe it wouldn't have gone over then, but it would now. IMO..

Rob

 

[Lor'Vela]

Sloan. A Section 31 series could be interesting.