Venusian

What's the deal with this episode?

Did Denise Crosby want to leave the show? Why did they give her such a stupid death? Were they planning on bringing her back?

I could go read through encyclopedias of fanboy pages giving their explanation but I figured I'd ask here first.

datagirl7

She wanted to leave if I remember right, but I hated it too.

grunter

She had that once-in-a-lifetime "Pet Semetary" script in her lap and couldn't resist the pull of a "z"-grade horror scream-girl career.

"Linnea Quigley's days are numbered," she was heard muttering as she hosed off the oil-slick monster's spooge.

elektra

She felt that the character was not doing enough, and wanted out. She went off to persue her movie career and about two months later realized what a HUGE mistake she made.

Yes, it sucked.

adamblast

As the others have said -- it was her own damn fault -- she quit, and then regretted it...

As to the manner of her death, I wish it had been in a better written episode -- but at the time, I admired that they killed her off her quickly and didn't make it some typical "noble sacrifice."

I loved her occasional parallel world return visits, and I loved the idea of her as Sela, even though the character really went nowhere once they'd set it up...

adamblast

I've always wished they'd talk more openly about the whole Dr. Crusher/Dr. Polaski story... No one's ever given us much inside scoop on that situation... They decide they hate Gates McFadden? Then they decide they hate Diana Muldaur even more and hire her back? Sheesh; talk about fickle...

Groucho

Isn't that the title of the movie about the glow-in-the-dark condoms?

Venusian

adamblast, doesnt that have something to do with Crusher going to head Starfleet medical...atleast isnt that the explanation on the show?

dgmayor

Glow in the dark condoms? That would be Skindeep with John Ritter.

Sad I remember that >

elektra

I have a friend who worked on the show. Here's what I can tell you. Producer Maurice Hurley wanted something extra from Gates McFadden who basically told him where to go and how to get there. She was "fired."

Patrick did not like Diana Muldar. Season Three, Maurice Hurley is gone and Gates McFadden is back.

cooper2000

Yeah, Denise wanted to leave and now she is doing documentaries on Trek? Hmmmm.

She has a great career in the movies now doesnt she?

I had never heard the Gates story. I heard they just wanted more to add more of a Doctor McCoy character to the mix and that it didn't work but thats interesting gossip.

I do have to say that Tasha coming back on Yesterdays Enterprise was one of the better episodes of TNG.

Just think if she had waited another season and a half, they would have fleshed out her character, just like they did everyone else.

Her loss.

just_al

[comic book guy]Worst Alien Ever[/comic book guy]

They should have had her just take a phaser hit and disintergrate. That would have been totally cool. Either that or maybe she could have fallen into a volcano or something else cool...

grunter

Actually I thought the oil-slick had a far more interesting personality than any of the Ferengi ever introduced in the entire pantheon of Trek series.

Yes, Ferengi are grunter's trek kryptonite.

cooper2000

I never cared for the race of Ferenghi either.

One alien I wish they had gone back to are those space slugs that were taking over Starfleet. It ended with a message being sent out to space and then.....

AJW

Denise wanted out of the series because all that was required for her character to do in many episodes was announce "Frequencies Open" or "Frequencies Closed". She was very unhappy with the lack of character development for Tasha Yar.

Fittingly, her hologram's last words at the end of this episode were.....you guessed it....."Frequencies Closed".

elektra

I never viewed it as gossip. If I had heard it second or third hand maybe. I heard it from someone who was there to witness it.

vaporware

I'm not sure why she was bitching. She did get to bone an android.

cooper2000

The Gates story makes sense. I have heard about her attitude from friends who have seen her at Conventions.
As far as Denise, well, yeah.... she did get Datas fully functional mode.

Since she played a Romulan in some of the later episodes, too bad shes ot in the upcoming movie.

Did anyone see the Trek movie preview on ET last night?

elektra

Really? I've seen Gates and she was pretty cool. Signed autographs and everything. But, people are entitled to have bad days.

grunter

Gates McFadden with an attitude? She was unbelievably gracious when I saw her at a convention - even stooping to showing off some of her tap moves.

The only "bitter pill" I've ever seen at a Trek con was Walter Koenig - but then he just hates the whole world anyway.

cooper2000

Ive heard a few rumors about Gates but they are just rumors.

There were two people that I was unimpressed with at a Con from TNG and thats Worf and Troi themselves.

BizRodian

elektra, thank you for confirming (or thank him rather for telling you...)

I had heard that before from someone else on the inside, but they refused to tell me which person it was who did it. Hehe, Hurley... funny.

I don't like the episode, but I like her death. Most great figures die a death that is not nobel. Not some grand death that people sing songs about. They just die. Normally in a very humble way, or a very stupid way.

Many Trek deaths are like that, and If or one am glad.

(elektra, thank your source for that too )

elektra

Biz - not a problem.

Also, the one thing that I have to say that I really did like about this episode was the memorial on the holodeck to Tasha. That was very well done.

cooper2000

Yes the Memorial was cool but how did Tasha know where everyone would be standing???

sherm42

I can also confirm the Gates story. Let's just say that I was told directly by someone high up on the show that she was fired for what was described as "diva-like" behavior. I was told that she was much nicer when she was brought back during season 3. Probably grateful that she got her job back.

Again, this is not just some rumor.