As another Lame Cherry exclusive in matter anti matter.
One of my most delicious enjoyments is the chessboard of random chance and absolute destiny which are roles actors have in cinema. In this episode is Star Trek, the Only Series, as the rest all are worthless retreads.
In beginning this, there is a reality in this that William Shatner who was already an established actor of some fame, probably would have never been Captain Kirk, if Gene Roddenberry had not made the mistake of casting that fickle twerp Jeffrey Hunter, as Captain Christopher Pike in the pilot.
Hunter kept jerking around the production company and was finally gotten rid of, where he faded off and died, but there was another actor up for Captain Pike in James Coburn.
Can you imagine this spectacular actor having starred in The Cage? His presence would have been the key to that cast and would have produced a cast anchored in him, and that would mean William Shatner would have never reached his greatest roll, and other actors would not have been cast.
In theory, James Coburn and Star Trek might not have ever reached the Shatner level, because for all the mocking of William Shatner, his range is what drove the Kirk character to make it timeless.
Jimmy Coburn though would have propelled The Cage to where it was meant to be.
There were many people who were up for the role of Spock. Interestingly DeForrest Kelly was actually supposed to play Spock who played Bones the doctor.
Another spectacular actor in Martin Landau was also up for the part of Spock. Leonard Nimoy though had a lilt in that character which brought it to life. I think that Kelly would have been too stern and Landau too wooden.
Rex Homan who would appear in Spectre of the Gun as one of the Earps at OK Corral was also considered for the roll of Mr. Spock.
Another most interesting consideration was Michael Dunn as Spock. Dunn appeared in numerous series and would appear in Plato's Stepchildren, but was up for the role that Clint Howard won as a child in The Corbomite Maneuver.
If you want an interesting twist, besides James Coburn, Lloyd Bridges was up for the roll of of Christopher Pike and for the additional role of Gary Seven which went to the outstanding actor Robert Lansing. One of the great disappointments in this spin off was never picked up by the networks from Desilu.
Those who remember Assignment Earth with Robert Lansing, will recall that Terri Garr was cast in the side kick role. Dawn Wells from Gilligans Island was also up for the role, but Roddenberry preferred the lesser known Garr. I enjoyed Terri Garr in all of her roles, but I still would have liked to have witnessed Dawn Wells in that role, as she had a fantastic range of siren to perky girl.
That would have made Assignment Earth in a series a great boon to the strength of balance in the Lansing character.
Another actor up for Gary Seven's roll, and earlier for the Captain Pike role was the very talented Patrick O'Neal. Anyone would have brought more strength than the shallow Jeffery Hunter, but in this Mr. O'Neal did not have the abilities that William Shatner had in the nuances that Shatner brought the later command role.
The role of Nichelle Nichols as Uhura was and is the definition of Black actresses in cinema. Nichols was a fantastic choice as she could actually act. She was the correct choice among lesser known actresses such as, Gloria Calomee who was "too African".
Ena Hartman who was too non military.
And Mittie Lawrence who was too amazon.
Nichelle Nichols was perfect in being one of the greatest female leads in cinema history and she never is given her due credit for her outstanding ability.
Another one of the tragedies of Star Trek is the wonderful actor James Hong, who people recognize from numerous roles in which he always stole the scene with his appearances, was supposed to play Sulu. In the passage of time, one can appreciate the failings of George Takei in his weakness onscreen and his betrayal of fans off screen in abusing their trust.
James Hong would not have brought any of the weakness to Sulu, which would have required even greater performances from the leading cast. His casting would have improved Star Trek all around.
In the same line of weak actors, Jack Lord was considered for the Captain Kirk role. Those who remember the wooden dummy on Hawaii Five O, that was Book em Danno in Jack Lord who had none of the David Caruso flair of CSI Miami, but did have a dick up his ass in Paul Newman and others, in this liberal gun grabbing fag.
Think of the nightmare of Lord and Takei rolling around in bath houses. The two worst considerations ever for Star Trek.
In a few additional interesting casting roles of guest stars, Michael Forest who played Apollo and would later appear as Nic Andropolis on the soap opera, As the World Turns, was perfect in the role, but the interesting part is Jon Voight was also cast. It would have been most interesting to have the raw braun of Michael Forest, instead replaced by the powerful acting presence of Jon Voight.
As a side note of interest, the actress who played Gem on Star Trek, would play Kim Hughes on As the World Turns, who would be the wife of Michael Forest.
Voight has always had an ability to reach audiences and touch them with kindness or a sinister nature. He would have been the brainy intimidation to the chiseled strength of Forest.
Lastly, John Drew Barrymore of the Barrymore dynasty was cast to play Lazarus in the Alternative Factor, but he failed to show up for the job, and was suspended from SAG for several months as punishment.
He stopped acting in the 1970's and is the father of Drew Barrymore, but the success Star Trek alumnus had in later years, would have helped is career immensely.
Robert Brown who was cast, did appear in several series, but his career never reached the transition stage. It would have been interesting if John Barrymore had starred and what his career might have risen to.
That is the short What If, if things has been different. It hurt none of these actors in not being cast on Star Trek, but I always think in watching these actors what fun it would have been to watched them interpret the roles that others did so well in.
Nuff Said
agtG
