From the magazine "TV Picture Life" comes this 1970's article about one of the close calls wherein we almost saw Leonard replaced by another actor in the Spock role. This one was over a script; the other time, according to the book "Inside Star Trek" was over him wanting a raise. Fortunately, the conflicts were resolved. Can you imagine someone else in the role? Actor
Lawrence Montaigne (Decius in "Balance of Terror" and Stonn in "Amok Time") was their backup plan if negotiations failed, and even Mark Lenard was considered. How weird would
that have been?
(Click on images to enlarge. Once it opens, you may have to click again to view full size.)
Bonus: Below, a behind-the-scenes shot from the first episode filmed when the series began production, "The Corbomite
Maneuver." Note Uhura's command-gold uniform, the only time she wore that color. I liked her in red better. (Update: an asute reader pointed out in the comments that she still wore gold in "Mudd's Women," which was the next episode filmed after "Corbomite." Thanks!)
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5 comments:
Uhura also wore gold in Mudd's Women, but after that it was red.
Hmm, I wonder how much of the Nimoy article is true (Not that I doubt Nimoy, but he does seem to be the sole source for the article). Has anyone else heard similar stories?
It wasn't an issue of money. Nimoy wanted out of the role. He famously wrote the book I Am Not Spock because he didn't want to be pigeonholed as the character. And that's the same reason why Spock's death was written into Wrath of Khan. He changed his mind and even the director, Nicholas Meyer, had to be overruled to include the possibility of a resurrection.
Really that sounds exactly like Nimoy as I have come to know of him in articles and interviews. One of the words frequently used about him by producers and his fellow actors is "integrity". If he thought something was too out of character he wouldn't do it. Remember the way he reacted to the director's changes to the script of 'Whom Gods Destroy'? I'm betting it was something like that. The thing to do to confirm it would be to write to Bob Justman or Herb Solow and ask them.
I read about what I think was this event in the book "Inside Star Trek" and it amazes me that Leonard had to fight this battle with Gene at all. Gene should have been the very first one to veto bad dialog, but he butted heads with Leonard over it and had to be coerced into it. I suppose it was a matter of time equals money and actor/director relationship, but it's still hard to fathom the need for any conflict over this.
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