Honestly, Dr. Smith would have been better off as a one shot. All of that screaming and prissy marching around did not do LiS any favors.
Yeoman Tamura & Guest Stars You Would've Liked to Have Returned
- Thread starter EnriqueH
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Honestly, Dr. Smith would have been better off as a one shot. All of that screaming and prissy marching around did not do LiS any favors.
What budget cuts? The second season saw De Kelley promoted to co-star and Walter Koenig added as a supporting player. The diversity was mandated from day one of series.
From what I've been able to suspect from random articles, Jonathan Harris came up with the idea of changing Smith from a villain into a buffoon because he sensed the character was in danger of being killed off. Smith didn't become an irritation for me until after the first dozen episodes, and I was 14 then.
And that my friends is typecasting! We decry it when we read of networks or studios or casting directors doing it. We decry it when George Takei or James Doohan or Nichelle Nichols went on-record of how typecasting may have limited their post-Trek careers, but we jump at every chance to do it ourselves (yes, I can be just as guilty).
Fortunately, I enjoy a wide variety of TV shows from mid-50's through late-60's on DVD or streaming services whereby the versatility of these actors are a little more fresh in my mind. Campbell could play very dark and Lansing could play lighter ... they were actors. Actors who made a career in Hollywood that spanned decades.
Assignment: Earth failed, I believe, as a potential pilot for a TV series for the reasons stated by Herbert Solow and Robert Justman in their book, Inside Star Trek: The Real Story. Basicly, Assignment: Earth really didn't work as either a proper Star Trek episode nor as a dedicated pilot. That in trying to "serve two masters" it failed to satisfy the requirements of either. It was, in and of itself, too light, too weak to inspire or support an ongoing series. That with Star Trek on the verge of cancellation, it was one of a couple of desperate attempts by Gene Roddenberry to secure himself a job for the next (1968-69) season.
Garrovick was an Ensign, not a Lieutenant. And nowhere was it established he was head of Security, particularly given since he was only an Ensign.
My mistake!
JB
JB
Denebian slime devil skull?
(and unrelated to the question, but does anyone know what that weird picture on the wall is supposed to be?)
(and unrelated to the question, but does anyone know what that weird picture on the wall is supposed to be?
Happy Halloween?
Boy, that is not attractive art. But, then again, art is subjective. I'm just glad it's not on My wall.
Bisected tribble maybe?
Doctors in TOS have a habit of displaying strange things in their offices. McCoy's Lizard, anyone?
http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l103/Raventree442000/thedeadlyyearshd0270.jpg
http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l103/Raventree442000/thedeadlyyearshd0270.jpg
However, some actors learn what their forte is, and for Campbell was hired by TOS twice--to play lighter roles. He excelled as Trelane and Koloth, as he used his natural strength to play it light.
We know the reason why it was created, but "serving two masters" is not always a negative, if we consider pilots seen (for a few examples) on Happy Days, All in the Family, or The Andy Griffith Show. On each series, the pilot characters' story was in the forefront, but both the parent and pilot characters managed to function within the plot.
As a one-shot character and situation to the audience of 1968, "Assignment: Earth" worked well enough. Perhaps Solow and Justman felt (not admitted) the opposite thanks to what did not happen, instead of first accepting its purpose to entertain within the ST framework?
As had been said here before, Campbell had been typecast as a heavy or villain before appearing on Star Trek, something he was still subject to into the '70s. Comedy wasn't a 'strength' for him. He had been cast against type to play both Trelane and Koloth, and happened to do both very well. It took several years, but he was able to use his appearances on ST to get work in lighter roles later on.
I'd only noticed pretty recently just how many skulls and such McCoy had in his sickbay. I'm not sure how I'd feel if I went to the doctors' office, and he had those all over the place. I might wonder if mine would find it's way into the collection someday.
The picture behind M'Benga on the wall seems to be labeled, with unreadable text pointing to various parts. Curious...
Apparently, the ST producers saw his comdic side as his strength. They were not asking (for example) Morgan Woodward to return in such a role, as it (light or comedic) was not his strength.
Holy cow. Never noticed that before. This could be a whole new thread.... Strange set dressing.
Dr. M'Benga. Two appearances, but he too seemed to have personality which went beyond the part. Seemed like a good guy.
(and unrelated to the question, but does anyone know what that weird picture on the wall is supposed to be?
Yeah, i think he had everything to be a more recurring character! It would have been fun to see a little off McCoy staff more often... It would give a more realistic feeling to the ship to have some static people instead the ones that ware there once and never more.
While I think Dr M'Benga would have been great, just how many doctors should a crew of 430 get? In books I often see one doctor for each shift.Dr. M'Benga. Two appearances, but he too seemed to have personality which went beyond the part. Seemed like a good guy.
(and unrelated to the question, but does anyone know what that weird picture on the wall is supposed to be?
Yeah, i think he had everything to be a more recurring character! It would have been fun to see a little off McCoy staff more often... It would give a more realistic feeling to the ship to have some static people instead the ones that ware there once and never more.
I suppose the crew do get knocked around a bit and Kirk's always putting McCoy in danger by dragging him on landing parties. I just think most of the time two doctors would be sitting around getting bored.
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