Why was Worf added to DS9 in Season 4 ?

[GlennSTL]

I’m new around here and pretty new to Star Trek. I’ve been watching DS9 for the first time...and I just got to Season 4 where Work joins the crew,

I was curious..,why exactly was he added to the cast at that time? I like Work and everything... but I’m just curious how that decision came about? Was it a ratings thing? Was the actor looking for work? Why did they add Worf and not someone else from Next Generation?

Thanks for any info!

 

[GlennSTL]

Obviously I mean Worf...not “ Work” ...sorry, it sure how to go back and edit my original post

 

[tomswift2002]

I think it was more along the lines of “TNG’s done, let’s expand our sandbox and raid TNG’s character’s since Voyager’s not going to be using them”.

 

[kkt]

Worf was a popular character on TNG and gave a ratings boost to DS9. Voyager wouldn't have been plausible as they are supposedly out of contact with the Alpha Quadrant.

 

[Bad Thoughts]

Paramount: we like ratings, be more like TNG, take Worf!

 

[The Wormhole]

Paramount wanted someone from TNG to join DS9 mostly to boost the ratings. As for why Worf specifically was chosen, he was the one the DS9 writers felt had the greatest potential to contribute to DS9.

 

[Ithekro]

I guess they figured the ratings boost would offset the makeup cost and any change in pay scale for Dorn coming in to do Four more seasons of Star Trek after having just finish Seven season of Star Trek.

 

[tomswift2002]

I guess they figured the ratings boost would offset the makeup cost and any change in pay scale for Dorn coming in to do Four more seasons of Star Trek after having just finish Seven season of Star Trek.

Also he was a movie star by this point having appeared in both Star Trek Vi and Generations. So he might’ve asked for more pay.

 

[HaventGotALife]

It was done for ratings, but the way it was handled--the consequences of the Klingons in the show--really allowed them to explore their theme better. Worf has a relationship on the show, significant one, and the Klingons were necessary. When you finish the show, I'll be less cryptic. The show needed a new element, Paramount wanted something from TNG, and it serves the show well.

 

[Jedman67]

I think DS9 really fleshed out the Klingons in a way not really explored in TNG. That said, some klingon episodes worked better than others.

 

[arch101]

Worf was written far better on DS9 than he was on TNG. Also, notice how DS9 could add a character without taking away from the others? Poor Kes, if only she’d been on DS9.

 

[Jedman67]

Worf was written far better on DS9 than he was on TNG. Also, notice how DS9 could add a character without taking away from the others? Poor Kes, if only she’d been on DS9.

I didn't even realize until a couple of years ago that Andrew Robinson was a recurring cast member, not a main. Garak was just *that* good.

 

[Relayer1]

I didn't even realize until a couple of years ago that Andrew Robinson was a recurring cast member, not a main. Garak was just *that* good.

He was better than that.

 

[Seven of Five]

It was definitly a ratings thing asked for by the executives. I think Worf was definitely the right choice.

Maybe Troi could have come at a push?

 

[Bad Thoughts]

Maybe Troi could have come at a push?

She was too much in the whining club with Susan Sackett and the like to be worthwhile.

 

[Prax]

Thank Rick Berman. Worf was one of TNG's most popular characters. You can see this in the prominence he was given in the TNG films. He's up there with Picard and Data, and they make a good trio sometimes. Dorn was allegedly DS9's highest paid actor, possibly to the chagrin of some of his co-stars

It's also worth pointing out that the Homefront/Paradise Lost storyline was going to either be the finale/premiere or season 3/4, or the first two episodes of 4, and the adversary had its budget cut severely, and became a bottle episode.

A 7 year show needs to reinvent or reinvigorate itself half way through. In DS9's case, they introduced a klingon storyline, and put the changeling infiltrator stuff on the backburner(but still incorporated it back in at the end of the season).

And of course, Voyager did something similar with 7 of 9, and the Borg.

 

[Bry_Sinclair]

Poor Kes, if only she’d been on DS9.

The writers could've had her ascend to a higher plain of existence which put her in touch with the Prophets, only to be ripped out of it when a runabout was passing through the wormhole and end up taking up residence on the station, having lost her mental powers. She'd make a good assistant for Bashir.

 

[HugeLobes]

They tried getting Spot, but aggressive contract negotiations failed to match his salary demands.

Worf was an okay second choice, but I can’t help imagining the DS9 that could have been...

 

[Bad Thoughts]

Spot the Vol Slayer

 

[Nyotarules]

TNG - Season 8, Episode 1 opener - Spot.The Cat.