Some scenes originally for Sulu went to Chekov but Sulu rocks in That Which Survives.
George Takei on why the original ‘Star Trek’ never featured a gay character
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Plus, the original slash pairing, Kirk/Spock, didn't come out of no-where. Nobody in TOS was writing them to have sexual chemistry, but nevertheless we still got moments scattered throughout the 3 seasons that were easily identifiable as such if we wanted to see it. The infamous back massage scene in "Shore Leave" being only one example from many. Kirk is vulnerable with Spock in a way he isn't with anyone else, and it's fascinating (to coin a phrase
). By the time of the movies, the subtext was being more openly acknowledged. The sickbay scene in TMP. Spock's death scene in TWOK, where to all extents and purposes Shatner plays it like he's playing a scene of finding his wife dead in their living room. Star Trek V sees Spock rescue Kirk, and as Kirk embraces him, and seems to start leaning in for the kiss, Spock only comments "Please Captain-- not in front of the Klingons". Their body language together is palpably that of lovers.Again, like Ernie and Bert nobody is suggesting these are 'canon' interpretations of those characters' sexual orientation. But it's certainly something that can be up to the interpretation of the individual viewer, and viewers have been interpreting both friendships that way for a very, very long time.
Season two.
Whoops. In that case we totally should have had another couple of episodes with Sulu.
Coon was following the input of his technical advisors on that change. Here’s a bit from the de Forest Research report for the script:
Honestly, they got it wrong, too. If the creatures are born pregnant then they're either humping in the womb and impregnating each other or they are literally fucking themselves.
Dammit, Maurice, I'm a scientist, not an obstetrician!
But seriously, tribbles must bear some similarity to your Terran aphids, the latter also being born pregnant and able to reproduce asexually (as well as sexually). See this link from one of your Earth agencies for details. Especially note in the document the sections entitled "Sex and the single aphid" and "Masters of polyphenism."
But seriously, tribbles must bear some similarity to your Terran aphids, the latter also being born pregnant and able to reproduce asexually (as well as sexually). See this link from one of your Earth agencies for details. Especially note in the document the sections entitled "Sex and the single aphid" and "Masters of polyphenism."
So, maybe they're reproducing by both methods. Damed Flat Cats.Dammit, Maurice, I'm a scientist, not an obstetrician!
But seriously, tribbles must bear some similarity to your Terran aphids, the latter also being born pregnant and able to reproduce asexually (as well as sexually). See this link from one of your Earth agencies for details. Especially note in the document the sections entitled "Sex and the single aphid" and "Masters of polyphenism."
And that Sulu's lines were given to Chekov because the GB filming schedule ran 6 weeks longer than planned meaning Mr. Takei was not available to play the part of Sulu. (And hell, I get WHY George Takei took the part and wanted to be in a big motion picture staring John Wayne -- but gthat said, it makes all his later comments about how he "immediately recognized" the "quality' of Star Trek, and knew from day one it was "unique" and something he went out of his way to make sure he was a part of, rather disingenuous.
Again, dong "The Green Berets" was a smart move because they (teh actors) all knew the writing was one the wall, and the show was on the cusp of cancellation every season because the rating were at best mediocre and it was a very expensive show (at the time) to produce. But to play up the idea thatr you 'recognized quality', etc. and forget to bring up "hey I went to film the "Green Berets" for 3 plus months and wasn't available for the first 6 episodes of Star Trek Season 2..."
(Plus Koenig says that for YEARS Takei harbored ill feelings towards Koenig because of the fact they gave the lines that would have gone to 'Sulu' had he been there, to 'Chekov' instead... I mean hell, what did George Tekei expect? "Hey lets hold up production until one of our glorified extras returns...." ??
It's clear that the actors knew that Star Trek was something special (although not wholly successful at the time) and they were anxious to protect their niche, which led to a degree of rivalry, understandable given how precarious acting careers were (and still are). George was not a glorified extra though. I think the writers were aware of the symbolic significance of keeping that Japanese character as a regular.
I recall Grace Lee Whitney saying she got into the convention circuit after bumping into Kelly in the unemployment queue. I'm sure prominent roles for Japanese actors were not numerous.
Takei's story is also familiar as numerous Trek actors turned down Trek opportunities to try and capitalise on other, often movie, opportunities. Most of them were not lucky enough to come back as a regular, although some got occasional guest appearances.
Claudia Christian was axed from the final season of B5 because she wanted a few episodes off to make a movie. Michael Shanks in Stargate is one notable exception as he took a year off, appearing as a guest star a few times, before coming back as a regular.
If you think about how many actors were never invited back despite their characters being popular or how discussions about having Grace appear as a guest star after being let go as a regular never led to anything (and potential roles for her in City on the Edge of Forever and the Trouble with Tribbles were re-written for other characters), maybe George did well to retain a role as regular and as prominent as he did.
I recall Grace Lee Whitney saying she got into the convention circuit after bumping into Kelly in the unemployment queue. I'm sure prominent roles for Japanese actors were not numerous.
Takei's story is also familiar as numerous Trek actors turned down Trek opportunities to try and capitalise on other, often movie, opportunities. Most of them were not lucky enough to come back as a regular, although some got occasional guest appearances.
Claudia Christian was axed from the final season of B5 because she wanted a few episodes off to make a movie. Michael Shanks in Stargate is one notable exception as he took a year off, appearing as a guest star a few times, before coming back as a regular.
If you think about how many actors were never invited back despite their characters being popular or how discussions about having Grace appear as a guest star after being let go as a regular never led to anything (and potential roles for her in City on the Edge of Forever and the Trouble with Tribbles were re-written for other characters), maybe George did well to retain a role as regular and as prominent as he did.
Takei’s role was rarely character specific any another part could be assigned. They even made Chekov know about grain even though botany was one of Sulu’s hobbies.
Over in B5 Ivanova was arguably a more significant role than Sulu, so perhaps more difficult to accommodate, though I cannot say for certain.
And Sulu wasn’t written to be Japanese in TOS.
Over in B5 Ivanova was arguably a more significant role than Sulu, so perhaps more difficult to accommodate, though I cannot say for certain.
And Sulu wasn’t written to be Japanese in TOS.
Mostly because of the inclusion of Chekov. Compounded on that is how the show already became "the big three" in season one. There's simply no way that Chekov or any other new regular in season 2 would be given anywhere near the same sort of screen time or quality given that half the season 1 ensemble were already put to the side.
Heck, it could be worse - Sulu wasn't running around with a stupid wig trying to look like Davy Jones while blathering about how everything was inwented in Wussia in season 2 in ways that even Davy Jones didn't. Whether it's due to actors wanting more screen time or the writers sticking to a formula that worked, I'm not sure...
Ouch. Which episode had Chekov spouting botanical factoids? (Hopefully season 3, where almost everyone is scripted badly at some point. Even Kirk.)
Sulu wasn't going to be Japanese originally?
Chekov had the botanical knowledge in “Tribbles” which was written for Sulu.
It would have made more sense for Sulu but they had previously used Chekov as an educated idiot with encyclopedic knowledge on a few subjects so not entirely out of character.
yeah that’s why it never felt off to me. He was Spock’s “student” and backup science officer.
This aspect of Chekov was lost by the time we got to year three.
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And it helped the comedic beat of the episode in that yes, one would expect Spock to know, but Chekov? Had they used Sulu it wouldn't have been as funny to the fans back then that knew Sulu had a background in Botany (IE Of course He'd also know about the grain).
In effect that scene drives home the fact that yes, practically everyone BIT the Captain knows about the grain.
Holy Apples and Oranges, Batman!
Claudia Christian was a starring actor from episode one of Babylon 5, she only wasn't in the pilot movie, and had a fully developed character that was central to the show. George on Star Trek was a day player that they wouldn't need all the time and could have Eddie Paskey or Billy Blackburn fill in for if he wasn't around that day. Totally different circumstances.
Also, Claudia didn't get "axed" she refused to sign her contract.
Grain is more agriculture than botany.
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