the role which ultimately went to LeVar Burton. And the role of Captain Picard might have gone to Patrick Bauchau or Yaphet Kotto, my second-favorite actor to play Othello if you don’t count the ones who have a daughter in porn (third-favorite if you do). Also, Wil Wheaton might have taken a massive hit to his nerd cred, because the only actor they were then considering to play Wesley was eerily-familiar-looking ginger J.D. Roth.
Many of the actors on the list ended up guest starring in episodes or playing a different character in the series. Others, like Wesley Snipes, fell off the face of the Earth. I mean seriously, what did that guy ever get cast in after 1987*?
[Double Reading Rainbow pic via TheDailyWhat.]
* I have to point out this is sarcasm, to avoid the eight “FAIL, never write again you ‘so called’ blogger, DIAF, I’m never coming back here again” comments. FML.
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When my ex wife let herself go, I called her Bunty Bailey.
LOL, having Wesley Snipes would have made STNG like a 23rd century Rutger Hauer/Blind Fury.
Geordi leaves the holodeck in a rage, cancels “Dr. Leah Brahms” program.
“Cancel that bitch, I’ll buy another one.”
I hope I didn’t hammer those Blade and New Jack City references too hard, that was a little more awkward than I intended…
Very strong list of contenders for Picard — the road not taken, eh? All strong and interesting actors, though.
It’s sad really, because Yaphet Kotto was clearly born to play a French astronaut.
Eh, there ARE black people in France. It’s no weirder than Patrick Stewart, frenchman with English accent. There’s even an episode where he goes “home” to a vineyard in the south of France…where everybody speaks the Queen’s English. Bizarre.
Anyway, the Snipes thing isn’t that amazing. He was doing little bit parts in Major League around this time. It’s not like he was any kind of star.
My question is, where was Worf? No Worf on the cast list? That is a perfect role for Reggie Jackson!
The more I think about it, the more a genuinely French Picard appeals to me. Think about the possibilities …
Borg Collective: “Resistance is futile!”
Picard: “If you say zat zen you clearly haff nevar encountered *elegantly sips his wine* ze Fronch Resistonce!”
Wait, did I say “genuinely”? I mean cartoonishly.
I think we’re missing the most important thing here. Kevin Peter Hall, the motherfucking PREDATOR was a contender to play Geordi or Data.