How and Why GATES MCFADDEN Was ‘Fired’ From Her Role in STAR TREK

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Gates McFadden (Star Trek, Labyrinth) joins us this week to share her decades worth of experience with Star Trek - from her true feelings about certain storylines, to her bond with the Next Generation cast, to her favorite reveals in Picard. After some ‘inside baseball’ talk about our shared passion for podcasting, Gates shares terrifying stories of coming face-to-face with her stocker multiple times… before there were safeguards or laws that protected women from predatory men. We also talk about her love for David Bowie, her forgotten kiss with Bill Murray, and her time working alongside muppet master Jim Henson.
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How and Why GATES MCFADDEN Was ‘Fired’ From Her Role in STAR TREK #insideofyou #gatesmcfadden #startrek #picard

[@TileGuyJesse]

I recall an interview with Patrick Stewart where he stated he personally went to her and asked her back. What a guy.

[@Aerojet01]

I'm glad they brought her back. I think there's a fine line between feminism and cynicism. Great actress and wonderful personality.

[@chrism.4544]

Took a man.

[@hadayimosi]

He knew the character arc with Gates's Beverley Crusher would involve him kissing her at points over the years, due to their backstories... So I would too despite being a recently married woman.

[@Unpainted_Huffhines]

It's wholesome to think about a beloved show where the cast actually, genuinely liked each other and were friends off camera.

[@jenkem4464]

@@Unpainted_Huffhines Yeah and they are all still very close friends, more like family, which is really cool. They always speak very highly of one another.

[@sasharamirez2335]

I love her voice. Her lines are always delivered 100% believably, even when the writing wasn't 100%. One of my favorites is when Beverly is "figuring" out some puzzle or mystery, she had a certain voice for that. I could never get enough of that. I'd love to see Gates do a sci-fi noir, and she's an investigator. She looks great, sounds great, and can deliver a scene.

[@frizzlezap]

I totally agree!

[@fiachramacaodha1260]

I would watch that show.

[@FekLeyrTarg]

"If there's nothing wrong with me, perhaps there's something wrong with the universe."

[@k1m6a11]

@@FekLeyrTarg Dammit you beat me by 14 hours!

[@BaritoneUkeBeast4Life]

I will go so far as to say that they should use her voice as every Starfleet computer for all future Star Trek movies and TV shows. Just like they did with Majel Barrett who played Nurse Chappel/Lwaxana Troi, and the ship's computer from Star Trek TOS through to the movies. Now that Majel Barrett has been gone 15 years already the torch should be passed to Gates.

[@spunktasticjismmonkey8569]

The episode where she gets stuck inside Wesley's experiment, and the crew starts disappearing, was one of the best episodes ever made.

[@davidbull7210]

My favourite one, probably

[@Cuprum-ws5lo]

Yes! That episode is “Remember me”. I love that one.

[@davidbull7210]

@@Cuprum-ws5lo It's the one I've watched more than any others. It's so re-watchable. The scene where Picard says "we've never needed a crew" is sinister and farcical at the same time.

[@sean202]

Best? Please explain why!

[@davidbull7210]

@@sean202 The OP said "one of the best" not "the best".

[@AuspexAO]

She's not wrong. She never talks to Wesley seriously in the show. It was a huge missed opportunity. I think people would have liked his character more if he had "grounding" in a family with his mom.

[@Mephilis78]

"You're grounded Wesley"

[@charlottehammond8975]

it is nice to see wil wheaton now calling her space mom though. he claims she was an excellent role model off acreen too and that is so lovely.

[@xBINARYGODx]

oh palease, the dislike is overboard and most people didnt give a shit until the internet got all memeish and then everyone signs up to the narrative and then later people say "see, we all think this naturally".

[@spencers4121]

@@charlottehammond8975 The cast was more his family then his family, was a lot of drama at home for him.

[@anthonyparkernearlifeexp]

I remember being so hot for Gates Mcfadden during season 1 and being totally bummed when she was gone in season 2. At least they figured out their mistake and brought her back.

[@Bob-1802]

I'm not quite sure but I think Steward asked for her to return or the producers to get her back. The chemistry between them was good.

[@elmonte5lim]

I'm certain that it wasn't just you and I who felt the exact same way.

[@Sigma1_969]

Both Gates McFadden and Marina Sirtis were smoking hot, and still are.

[@graememceachren1118]

Denise Crosby.

[@hatefuleightyseven2962]

I too had a major crush on Dr Crusher back in the day. In fact, I kinda like that she's not in Season 2, because I don't keep getting distracted every time she's on screen.

[@beyond_the_infinite2098]

A few years ago I met and talked with Gates McFadden at a Star Trek convention, got an autographed photo. She was so friendly to me and my wife. And she's still beautiful.

[@zugzug6773]

she has something time can never take, class

[@benyseus6325]

Tbh the entire TNG cast is still good looking after so long. Paragons of Star Trek beauty 😍

[@johnjames4834]

@@benyseus6325 they did look good in picard

[@alexandermacdougall7873]

Met her (and Johnathan Frakes and Brent Spiner) at a fanexpo event this year. They all came across as genuinely nice people. My interactions (and ones i saw while waiting my turn) with all three were great. I'm sure they, at times, get tired of talking about Star Trek,but they seem patient and appreciative of their fans. Each meeting/signing I saw looked like they wanted that fan to walk away thinking they were the most important fan there. Awesome experience, i cant say enough good things about them.

[@claytonberg721]

Spiner was incredibly nice to me. Frakes was nice too but his line was so busy I barely got to talk to him.

[@pincushionllama]

Also levar burton, he is a joy to talk to. I got meet brent and levar.

[@ilmaio]

Woke alert

[@charliemullineaux3534]

Ha, try working with them, they're incredibly rude people to their staff. My friends had to do it for university working at an expo in London. Gates kept snapping her fingers and was very demanding about getting her coffee.

[@aneamarlivana172]

I met McFadden and had a chance to see how she acted at a convention in 1989. She was thoroughly unpleasant, ranting at a convention worker who wanted to film her talk for the convention archives, forcing two con workers to hold a large wooden backdrop behind her so her hair wouldn't blow in the breeze while she was signing autographs outdoors, and generally just being rude. Perhaps she has learned how to behave with the fans since then.

[@MadLFC]

Crusher was a missed opportunity in TNG as she was the only member of the crew that could have been a real foil for Picard. She was the only one that could get to him personally and address him as an equal. Only with Crusher did we ever really see Picard's mask slip. Thankfully the final season of Picard gave us exactly that and it was a joy to watch. She really does bring out the best and worst in him.

[@cyberteque]

"Not on the bridge Beverly!"

[@richlisola1]

You highlighted one of the most telling flaws in STTNG. They didn’t allow the characters to live fully multi-dimensional lives. Their relationships were fleeting or at arms length. Captain Picard wasn’t allowed a lasting romantic relationship with Beverly Crusher or Vaj, Riker and Deanna were always fencing around each other, Geordi was forever womanless-Made no sense, not on long deep space missions like theirs. They didn’t grow in a multifaceted way outside of their own careers. DS9 rectified that. Worf married Jadzia, Sisko wedded Cassidy. Bashir and Ezri had a relationship-Jake didn’t do Starfleet. But Nog did! Real life. And I must say Wesley’s heartbreaking but logical rejection of Starfleet in the end, was such a great example of bold storytelling. He came into his own, for real. In DS9 I never felt the chemistry between Kira and Odo, sorry Vedek Bareil was her true love!

[@twostep919]

Guinan..

[@WaterspoutsOfTheDeep]

Exactly and lets put into perspective she was chosen and commissioned to be the chief medical officer of the whole flagship of the federation. Come on... doesn't get any more amazing and serious than that. Her character should have been so much more. I hope star trek legacy gets to be a show and she is in it as main cast.

[@damo9961]

I love TNG so I hate Picard show with a passion/.

[@Don-ol8ze]

I always liked Dr. Crusher (and basically all the members of the TNG cast). The family dynamic between them was strong, transcending mere shipmates and colleagues, and I found them all interesting and likeable people whom I would want to know. Oh, and for those who tend to dismiss Crusher, remember that she destroyed a Borg ship as acting captain with some really clever tactics that were well set up in a previous Crusher-episode. Always loved that scene.

[@MarcelNL]

I liked her FAR more than Pulaski. She was a total Karen, although she did improve over time.

[@twilightgardenspresentatio6384]

Captain crusher is my best girl

[@MarcelNL]

@@twilightgardenspresentatio6384 You have a crush on her?

[@pablocruise9514]

I couldn’t stand the character’s last name- Crusher - it sounds so fake

[@countluke2334]

​@@MarcelNLPulaski was not meant to be liked. She was meant to actualy have a character, something Beverley was totally missing. Crusher is likeable, nothing wrong with her, but to me Pulaski is far more interesting as a character.

[@Rockin_Ross]

I loved her because she kept the technobabble controlled on that show. She’d ask for “plain English, Data” and he’d explain it so the average audience could understand it. No one else really did that and I’ll always applaud her for that.

[@-taz-]

That was kind of like how Scotty always came up with an analogy to explain things...

[@kgjung2310]

The irony is that real doctors tend to go into the techno babble thinking patients know what they're talking about. Nope.

[@hanshaperle6075]

Ofc, the woman had to ask. All the men understood what Data was talking about ;) Something like that, if you follow the logic from the show.

[@-taz-]

@@hanshaperle6075 Me: "Uh, Google, what does OFC mean?"

[@hanshaperle6075]

@@-taz- Of course :p

[@benedixtify]

Yay for the fans bringing her back! I remember seeing Pulaski and thinking "who tf is this where's Crusher!?"

[@-taz-]

Me, too...

[@incredibleblaan9983]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/g2XLlGqcgbabgtE

[@mikeoyler2983]

I thought the mother and son relationship was totally underdeveloped. They never had one episode about just about them. The characters never had a chance to reflect about their feelings toward one another. Ben and Jake Sisco were much better and believable.

[@leif1075]

They did have Evolution and some scenes in other episodes like Transfigurations and Remember Me and the First Duty at least..

[@ghostsofnormmacdonald2446]

Kind of hard to have a relationship grow when everyone is yelling "SHUT UP WESLEY" at you.

[@gonzotown9438]

I wouldn't say totally, but there really should have been more developments. Maybe even play it up a little and have an episode where they are trying to do something together and he keeps trying to get away, because he wants to be more adult and spend less time with his mom. Then you could both have them spend more time apart, but also demonstrate why he doesn't go to her so often

[@john.premose]

All the family relationships were a bit unrealistic. Riker, Troi, Wesley, Dr Crusher were all only children as far as I could tell. (Except later it was revealed Troi had a sister she didn't remember). I was never sure if the woman who claimed to be Tasha Yar's sister really was or not (they kind of made that ambiguous, was she just a decoy or was she really her sister?)

[@thomriley1036]

It's kind of awkward to talk 'family' when your grandmother died simping for the Scottish version of Dracula from The Monster Squad.

[@ChrisPyle]

I met her and Deforest Kelly at an Expo in Baltimore in the early 90s. She was so gracious and kind, left a permanent happy memory on me. Thanks for that!

[@johnjames4834]

went to a convention with john de lancie he was rude and dismissive so perfectly cast so was robert beltran rude ruins the day and ruins your enjoyment of any future episodes if the actor doesn`t want to be there then they should act like they are enjoying themselves they are actors after all

[@thebebop321]

Who didn’t love Dr. Beverly Crusher? I was so happy that Gates came back.

[@christophercruz8359]

I didn't.

[@frizzlezap]

At 16 when season one came out, I was immediately drawn to her and thought of her as a role model. I loved how she spoke truth to power even when it wasn’t popular. She is so strong.

[@randybaumery5090]

I wanted to put some truth into her power , plus Troi.

[@juliapigworthy]

Her desire to intervene on the drug addict planet was a good turn for her character early on, although having two Wrath of Khan actors playing guest roles in that episode was another reason for it being memorable.

[@jovetj]

I thoguht she was hot. Really hot. :D

[@ChibiHoshiDragon]

@@juliapigworthy I like that Lower Decks addressed the problem with the solution to that drug addicted planet.

[@SpiritOfBagheera]

“Role model”… “Spoke truth to power”… “So strong”… The feminist virtue signaling is nauseous. Sheesh. This was Beverly Crusher, not Kira Nerys.

[@What.99]

I absolutely love Star Trek: The Next Generation with all my heart, but Gates is completely right here. Beverly and Wesley’s relationship was underdeveloped, and I can’t remember a single scene where she really acts like a supportive mother to him and bonds with him or gives him advice. They had an opportunity to rectify that in Star Trek: Picard, but Wesley isn’t even in the show except for a 15-second Easter egg at the end of Season 2. I thought for sure they would bring him back for Season 3 when it was announced that Gates would be a part of it, but nope. Instead, they gave her a new son and explain that she turned her back on her friends and hadn’t talked to them for the last 20 years. And she’s now a freedom fighter. Dafuq? Wil Weaton’s character really has gotten the short-stick over the years. Wesley was one of the most hated characters on the show, and that must be tough for a young actor. Throw in the stuff that happened with his parents, and I really feel bad for the guy. He seems to be happy and doing much better now. I still wish we had gotten at least a scene of him and Beverly being an actual family in Season 3 of Picard, though. Such a missed opportunity…

[@MarcelNL]

I really thought Wesley was annoying but I was interested in his storyline later. That really did have a lot of potential but I never got the feeling that they did with it what they could. His moody come-back after the accident at the academy didn't make me like him more either.

[@MagicAl5F4781]

Wil Wheaton is 50 so it's a little late to work on that mother-son relationship on Picard, even if his character hadn't become a super-being. That storyline was wrecked by firing Gates McFadden. TNG Season 2 had teenage Wesley on the ship doing fine without his mom for a year, and he's 17 when she gets back. By the time she's back he doesn't need her anymore, at least not in any way the TNG writers' room was going to come up with.

[@BryonLape]

The Star Trek overlords don't like Wil and the way he left did not help. This is why he isn't in the movies either, except the short scene in the last one.

[@gateauxq4604]

Wil Wheaton has been pretty adamant about being retired from acting. His appearance at the end of s2 was likely due to a lot of begging from the producers and he really wasn’t necessary for the story they told in s3. It’s unfortunate that we will never get a solid cap on his relationship with his mother (and his new baby brother) but that ship sailed decades ago.

[@SepherStar]

Sally Struthers said of the first few seasons of "All In the Family" that the writers didn't know how to write women. I think that applies here as well.

[@SD40Fan_Jason]

(Cheryl) Gates McFadden's talent has always been amazing! I can certainly understand her desire to have a hand in newer, more robust performances! Her hand in the choreography of Labyrinth was something few people saw the prep work for. You might even say they took it for granted, knowing the talent of Henson's. But to choreograph something like the firestarter dance where there's four or five puppeteers on each character, not even Michael Jackson was prepared for that. Her character as Dr. Crusher in the first season was underwhelming and to hear that the writers designed it that way comes as no surprise. The reference to the Mom in "Leave it to Beaver" has got to be the biggest a-ha moment and I am glad they changed it up a bit later on when they brought her character back. McFadden's work in other productions are amazing! If you only know her as Dr. Beverly Crusher, you don't know what you're missing!

[@TheCreatureWorksStudio]

She also worked behind the scenes on a lot of cool movies- one being Labyrinth.

[@-taz-]

A-maze-ing!

[@makeitsonumberone1358]

Jump magic jump

[@stevencramsie9172]

Yep, she choreographed the ballroom scene

[@ECKohns]

Cause she’s also an accomplished dancer and choreographer.

[@calkelpdiver]

One story goes that Maurice Hurley wanted to have a McCoy type doctor character in the mix. Thus we got Dr. Pulaski (Diana Mudaur), and the fans of the show put a lot of hate out for that one. People did like Dr. Crusher and the dynamic of a single mother raising her son. Unfortunately it wasn't until later seasons there were more episodes with Crusher and Troi as the focus. But overall, the second season did pull the show out and allow it to mature into what became the best Trek series (and I grew up on TOS in the 70's syndication).

[@Pyke_]

Yeah Dr. Pulaski even had the same hate of teleport!

[@howardsung108]

TNG Season One is the best season! Fight me!

[@evalramman7502]

Pulaski was the most interesting, if wildly prejudiced, character on TNG. Ah well. So it goes, eh?

[@overratedgm5713]

@@howardsung108 I say season 3 was the best, because of the Borg cliffhanger. You will be assimilated.

[@zingzangspillip1]

​@@howardsung108 Let's take this outside! 😆

[@sinebar]

My favorite episode was 'Remember Me' when Dr Crusher was alone on the Enterprise and she had to save the ship. By the time I was old enough to watch Star Trek: Next Gen it was already in reruns.

[@MiningForPies]

“If theres nothing wrong with me, there must be something wrong with the universe!”. One of the most unintentionally hilarious lines ever

[@user-pb2vo4pt3t]

Great episode!

[@frontendloader1000]

Gates McFadden was strikingly beautiful in Startrek. I loved watching her. Also so professional and believable.

[@MISTERLeSkid]

Holy cow, she's as easy on the eyes today as she was the first time I saw her in '87! Pretty cute for a 74 year old gal.

[@kossttamojaan]

Beverly Crusher was obscenely underrated and under utilized. There were so many story possiblities for not just Dr. Beverly Crusher but moreso for Commander Beverly Crusher.

[@Melsharpe95]

It's interesting that she mentioned always being portrayed as the "nagging mother" when it came to Wesley, and she's right. When she came back the writing for her character was much better.

[@adamJKpunk]

Hey at least they had the one episode where she gets freaky with a ghost ? 👻

[@BlazingOwnager]

At least Picard season 3 (the only season worth watching after the soft reboot) she got a pretty solid ending.

[@Laconic-ws4bz]

Data and Dr Crusher dancing was a hoot. BRAVO Star Trek and fans.

[@Rjhs001]

Isn't she fabulous, so unaffected and modest and, well...normal. Very refreshing to see this in someone who has had such stellar success with a show.

[@El-Burro-Grande]

Such an intelligent, talented and articulate woman. One of my favorite discoveries was watching the 'making of' feature for Labyrinth and seeing her doing all the choreography under the name 'Cheryl McFadden'. Loved seeing her back for Picard Season 3.

[@PowerHouseWash]

Intelligent doesn't come to mind after hearing this interview, but I'm sure she was smart enough to keep her thoughts to herself when she was given a 2nd chance. $20,000 per episode is much better than $400 per week. I like her character, Dr. Crusher, and I think she's talented.

[@garrettbenedek1036]

Prolly my fav from Next Gen. Thanks Gates for not getting TOOOOO fired

[@Longjohnsilver58]

Her character turned out to be one of the best and most iconic when they eventually started using her.

[@andrewpinkham9904]

I hated that dopey smirk she got on her face after she had to deliver a poorly written line. She knew a woman in her position would never say something like that

[@robertonline6543]

I love Gates McFadden , she doesn't seem like a trek fan at 1st but she seems so kind and gracious and gave her character so much respect. Love ❤️ her.

[@quailstudios]

We've been watching Star Trek Next Generation lately. We love Gates McFadden and her role in the show.

[@MrBeGood]

Gates McFadden and Marina Sirtis were the eye candy of Star Trek TNG for sure. She still looks good! she must have been a really healthy person to look this good at her age. Just like Nichelle Nichols! another one that had aged gracefully, her beauty never faded. I believe you have to have a beautiful heart to have that sort of luck!

[@rstidman]

michelle forbes got in some eye candy time as well

[@AndrewKendall71]

Allllways wondered about Hunt for Red October. Interesting to know that they lumped her with Alec when he ended up having to go. That sucks. Also, her gravitas and impact on-screen again on Picard blows her previous TNG work out of the water (not that she was bad then). Just goes to show she was criminally underused - not just in time, but in the material. She's so strong and present - much more gifted than I think we knew.

[@Locutus494]

That's not what happened though. Tom Clancy hated that they cast a British actor to play Jack Ryan's wife, so when she was to be a major character in Patriot Games, he insisted she be recast.

[@AndrewKendall71]

@@Locutus494 Hated that they cast a british actor for Caroline Ryan? Gates McFadden is from Ohio... I do recall her doing her dialogue in RP British, but...

[@gmancolo]

Alec Baldwin is a huge dooosh.

[@KRAFTWERK2K6]

I think in the Next Gen crew Movies, she was a lot more underused than in the TNG show. Which is really sad.

[@3henry214]

I can understand wanting to recast Jack Ryan. Harrison Ford did much better job as Jack Ryan, especially in "Clear and Present Danger". But why drop Gates McFadden? She only briefly appeared in the opening sequence of Hunt for Red October, where Ryan is getting ready to leave for the airport. I think she would have been well qualified to continue on as the Caroline Ryan character.

[@jameshersonjr3905]

I met Gates in Hungry when our unit was going into Bosnia. She was a real lady and so talented. You go GATES!!!

[@DabbertjeDouwe]

Oh dear. Was this during the nineties? Or were you not talking about the military?

[@jameshersonjr3905]

@@DabbertjeDouwe December 1995. I was her escort officer, she was charming and good to the troops. She was a classy lady endowed with talent.

[@scottandrewhutchins]

The play she's referring to must be David Williamson's Emerald City, a great play about the Australian film industry that's not too well known in the U.S. even though Gates McFadden was in the New York production (and Williamson is considered a national treasure in Australia, and high school students are frequently assigned to read his 1971 play, The Removalists). I did a scene from it in my play directing class that was recorded and is now on KZbin, although the character she played isn't in the excerpt I selected. The main character is a screenwriter, and she played his agent.

[@xxlCortez]

They really messed up with that. I liked Beverly's character and when they introduced Pulaski, they clearly intended to go for a Spock-McCoy dynamic. But Data wasn't like Spock and they lacked the years of friendship Spock and McCoy had, so Pulaski just came across as a discriminating bully.

[@johnradford7999]

on some of the episodes i really felt sorry for Data , then on other scenes were he was doing something important like taking command and he had to take worf to 1 side and explain command and second in commant protocal brilliant,, Data is my favourite character i think hes mint ...

[@MHSMOKEEATER]

She’s has and is always a great person to portray her part in Trek. She’s always down to earth and is very kind to fans.

[@RPhillip]

Oh man, I went to a 'local' convention to help distract a friend whose husband was in the hospital with heart issues. I wound up meeting McFadden there, totally by surprise. I got a chance to do more than just an 'autograph' and brief 'love your work'. But was still so awed by her presence that I didn't get to really ask the important questions. But she was so awesome in that short time that she instantly went to number one of my Trek actor encounters - which replaced Marina Sirtis and Nana Visitor (who my brother actually asked to go out on a date - the SACRILEGE!).

[@MHSMOKEEATER]

@@RPhillip I wasn’t lucky to meet her. My brother did but I was fortunate to meet Marina Sirtis back in 1993.

[@RPhillip]

@@MHSMOKEEATER another great fan encounter.

[@SweepingDeveloper]

Sir, you don't know the half of it. Many months prior to meeting her at Planet Comicon Kansas City in 2022, I had a personal joy, a sort of accomplishment in my life, yet I didn't tell anyone except a few people. I don't know what she asked me that prompted me to reveal this joy to her, but when I did...she might as well have been Meredith Viera congratulating the latest winner of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire. I then said, "I hope I'm not this blubbery when I see John DeLancie." She replied, "Oh no, it's good to let it out!" I was going to talk to Mr. DeLancie about the "Q Virus" from the movie "Trekkies". That changed real quick.

[@MHSMOKEEATER]

@@SweepingDeveloper she was just at the Galaxycon in Raleigh NC, got a glimpse of her at the booths and was very chatty with all the fans that asked her questions but she was happy to ramble on.

[@robertphillips6296]

I am glad they realized their mistake and brought her back. "Live Long and Prosper!"

[@kevincharbonneau5953]

Best Beverly episode was i think it was called 'Remember Me', where the crew starts disappearing at an increasing rate and only Beverly remembers the missing crew members but no one else. Until it's just her and the captain on the bridge and nobody else. Intense episode 👍

[@Collins311]

I'll never forget her in an episode of Dream On. The motorcycle scene!

[@yaelisme]

I always thought Star Trek TNG wasn’t really good until season 3 onward. And I love Gates McFadden

[@paulaburrows8660]

She was amazing in Season 3 of Picard.

[@alexshmalex]

Loved that bomb she drops at the end..."did Hunt for Red October, which was supposed to go into being in the second movie but then Alec Baldwin asked for too much money". I did not know that!

[@JohnHoulgate]

What I loved most about Dr. Crusher were her heart to heart talks with Captain Picard. I got a real sense of their friendship, even thouugh it never became romantic.

[@ViaticalTree]

Lol yes it did

[@ianhill4585]

But they did eventually marry.......

[@DabbertjeDouwe]

​@@ianhill4585...and then they divorced and went zero contact...

[@davidward9737]

Growing up. She was and will always be the woman. Like a mom to me. Love you Gates. And thank you

[@Alpha-Trion7]

I always 'hated' pulaski for her treatment of Data. But that dynamic was also interesting and relevant. Also I later found out she was a character on TOS, and that was really neat. The storyline said something like 'dr. crusher' was doing medical studies or something on Earth-so I thought that was plausible. I always thought she would come back after a while.

[@josephcasanova1975]

Dr Pulaski was great. It was just words. Her and Data had a great relationship. She had a great relationship with Worf and Will Riker. She showed Data a lot of respect even believing he was just a machine. Watch the episodes

[@junbh2]

I actually really liked her relationship with Data. It felt believable and showed a lot of character growth. I was still glad when Crusher came back, but I thought Pulaski added something to the show too.

[@nagualdesign]

To be clear, Dr Pulaski wasn't in TOS. That would be pretty anachronistic! But Diana Muldaur did play a couple of different characters in TOS, and one of them was a doctor.

[@albertbatfinder5240]

Pulaski had some great stuff going on, stuff that the show really needed. She was an independent thinker. If everyone was treating Data like Data treats Spot, then Pulaski was like “You know what? Let’s not do that. I’ve got my own ideas.” It’s like when Captain Jellico takes over the Enterprise in Chain of Command. Character dynamics go into high gear. Sometimes the crew are just too collegiate. Pulaski was like the relief teacher who stayed the whole year.

[@Melsharpe95]

I have a feeling Pulaski was brought in to create tension between the crew so they would have more stories to tell. Sadly she was a little TOO effective and ended up rubbing fans the wrong way.

[@christophermontoya5526]

Good point. If I recall correctly, at one point, I believe it was Data who asked her for parenting advice because he said she was a successful parent, so at least he acknowledged that's Wesley's abilities had something to do with her parenting skills.

[@stevelux9854]

She is right. As the mother of this supposed super genius kid, they really didn't use her as a mother that could more closely direct and challenge her son mentally. It was a failing in the writing that could have helped flesh out the Crusher family dynamics and invited a wider audience of viewers.

[@spartanx169x]

Wesley should have never been part of the series.

[@deaddudegaming]

The show was never really about family per say. Not like Voyager which kind drove more family like dynamics.

[@deaddudegaming]

@@spartanx169x I think they added him in to try and appeal to a younger audience. I actually like Wesley but to a degree I agree because the show was never really about family. I don't think it hurt the show either.

[@AboveAvgMan]

Women actors were given great roles in the past. Charlie's angels and all the bond girls.

[@gainz4dayz576]

Her voice is like velvet, I could listen to it all day.

[@kevinslater4126]

I'm glad she came back because some of the best episodes were Dr Crusher episodes.

[@Create-The-Imaginable]

How did Dr. Crusher come back? Was Dr. Pulaski killed off? It's been so long, I can't remember!

[@WDC_OSA]

​@@Create-The-Imaginable She just shows back up again in Pulaski's place at the start of the third season. I think they mention that she was off on a starbase for a year or something.

[@john.premose]

​​​​@@WDC_OSA wasn't she head of Star Fleet medical and then inexplicably she just comes back. Poor Dr Pulaski is never mentioned again lol. That's how tv shows were back in those days though.

[@Alpha-Trion7]

@@john.premose Pulaski had a gory transporter accident I think. I'm j/k :P

[@michaelmorningstar8645]

Sure, like that ep where she banged a ghost, real winner there.

[@michaelaker1621]

They talk about this in the Chaos On The Bridge documentary. Her “opinionated NY Broadway background” rubbed the showruner and writers the wrong way. They replaced her and the fans revolted.

[@travelingdude1621]

I just met her at a convention in VA and got some pictures with her. She’s a nice lady. 😃👌🏻👍🏻

[@swarkamal]

I just saw her (today)speak and answer questions at the San Francisco Star Trek Convention 2024. She was deep, funny, thoughtful and so insightful. Amazing. ❤ I am so proud of her sharing these important values and points.

[@TheTuubster]

I have the S1 scripts of TNG from Gates McFadden at home here, and she sometimes added complaining comments to her lines in pencil. :o)

[@roberts3741]

And how did you acquire those?

[@TheTuubster]

@@roberts3741 I bought them from Gates' merch store.

[@jetuber]

Yeah, that could have gotten old really fast. Writing a weekly series is an incredible strain, and one hardly needs actors besieging you with notes in addition to all of the other hundreds of people giving you notes.

[@MindHunger]

There was a two-question poll on Twitter a few years back, with a few hundred responses. The first question was who do you like better, Dr. Crusher or Dr. Pulaski, and it was 70% in favor of Crusher. Then the next question was if your child needed surgery who would you rather have operate on your child, and it was 70% Pulaski!

[@invisible.fatman]

Pulaski all the way. Both questions.

[@MindHunger]

@@invisible.fatman Same with me, Pulaski 2x.

[@DabbertjeDouwe]

​@@invisible.fatmanYeah, she had a stronger personality, better stories and was a better doctor. But she did do a murder, though.

[@user-pb2vo4pt3t]

My answer would have been Dr Crusher both times! No offense to Dr Pulaski.😁

[@Timmichanga361]

I never watch TNG until about 2001-2002 when I think TNN or Spike TV picked it up and showed it from the beginning. It was awesome and has been my fav Star Trek since. The entire cast is amazing. GM was always great.

[@markfurman4386]

Met her once at a convention. Nice lady.

[@richardruiz6972]

Dr. Crusher in 1987 was drop dead stunning !!! Great to see her on this interview

[@SumDumGy]

She still is.

[@gsxerwhite]

@@SumDumGyif you're into aliens.

[@Tony-Plinkett]

🤢🤮

[@Tony-Plinkett]

Seriously? 🤨

[@SumDumGy]

@@Tony-Plinkett ?

[@willtharp7477]

Gates McFadden has always been one of TNG's greatest castings. I was so happy when they brought her back. Also, I'm not usually a nasty person, but the guy supposedly responsible for her firing was let go. If it had to be a him OR her thing, bringing her back was the smart choice. I have thoroughly enjoyed her Dr. Crusher; I feel like she trail-blazed chief medical officer, with Deforest Kelly's shoes being impossibly large to fill. The way she played her character made the character feel so real.

[@moe47988]

I don't think he was let go, I think he left the show. Maurice Hurley was responsible for creating the Borg, so you can't fault him too much for having a problem with Gates McFadden because she was very opinionated, and from what I hear, overbearing.

[@-taz-]

@@moe47988 I thought Gene Roddenberry said he envisioned the Borg as insects like wasps, but the special effects would have been impossible.

[@DanielAppleton-lr9eq]

@@-taz- Well they're more like army ants, one hive mind, etc., so close enough.

[@-taz-]

@@DanielAppleton-lr9eq Oh yeah? I forgot the details. It must have been way back in the 90's when I heard about that. Eventually, ST:Enterprise did have an insectoid enemy though!

[@born2bbald12]

Gates McFadden is an amazing actress. She nailed the role as Chief Medical Officer Crusher. She made her character real. Aside from being a stunning beauty she elevated her character,

[@TheFiddleFaddle]

Probably my favorite random Gates McFadden role was director of choreography and puppetry for Labyrinth.

[@kemop06]

Always loved Gates McFadden so happy she was in Picard !!

[@johnjames4834]

pity wesley wasnt im guessing wesley knew his half brother was from picard and now you have to explain why he didnt tell picard

[@davidrobertson3930]

I met her at a Comic-Con, fantastic and beautiful woman.

[@davidgraichen982]

Her, and Marina in the "Yoga" episode, which started with Gates bent over, leg's spread wide, back to the audience, was Heaven!

[@TheHaratashi]

Imagine being asked to be on Star Trek and not really wanting to do it that much. I have more respect for her now she was more into acting than Hollywood which I can relate to after being in a method acting school for 5 years.

[@ZeroX02c]

Back then it was just some sci-fi show, not a cultural monolith. Patrick Stewart expected to be on for only 1 season despite his contract being for multiple years because there was an expectation that TNG would just be cancelled. Get a paycheck, move on to the next project. After all, the Star Trek movies had only mild receptions, and the original series had been cancelled twenty years before TNG. "Joining on a reboot/sequel series for a sci-fi show that had been canned two decades prior" isn't really any actor's career goal.

[@johnzorklunn4854]

Yup. I'm with her. I didn't like the shit the producers shoved into the show in the first season

[@uncriticalthinkerNZ]

I can see why she’d be excited about a play with Linda Hunt. I love that she called out stupid writing too 👍

[@kparsa1]

She had such a great role and had the biggest crush on her:)

[@philchristensen2787]

Both Gates and Dr. Crusher are classy, beautiful and smart as a whip.

[@richardgale4827]

Gates is awesome. Thought I had more to say, but nah, that covers it: Gates is awesome.

[@jaxr2958]

I always found it weird how Beverly appeared to be an absentee parent in such a small community. And then Beverly left and Wesley staying was weirder. But recently even in Picard she was treated as 'just the mum' instead of respected officer and scientist.

[@ironbomb6753]

Dr. Beverly Crusher was one of my favorite characters.

[@Buc_Stops_Here]

Diana Muldaur took her place for season 2, but she did not work well the rest of the cast during season 2. They had to beg Gates McFadden to come back because she did not want to come back. It was the fans requests via mail and Patrick Stewart that got her to come back. Who ever says Star Trek is not a fan driven show is sorely mistaken.

[@jasonabbott4210]

Just look at nu trek and all the fans that have abandoned ship. Alex kurtzman and the others who have destroyed star trek have even said directly that they don't care what we want. The "message" is more important. Orville is now a thousand times better than the trek garbage being produced, with maybe the rare exception of the last season of Picard.

[@Buc_Stops_Here]

@@jasonabbott4210 I should have been more specific. Those were the days Berman, Meyers, and Roddenbrury were in control I was writing about. You are right, the current Trek world by Krutzman is horrible. I signed up for Paramount+ for the first time a few months ago and stayed around for 3 only. The new Trek is not done by writers who are fans of the show, they are done by writers who want a paycheck. Those writers who cared are long gone except for Terry Matalas who reports to Krutzman so I don't expect much more from him.

[@DanielAppleton-lr9eq]

@@jasonabbott4210 Since you mentioned *The Orville* it moved to Hulu, but they have just one season on. The Orville went to Hulu to avoid Fox's chopping block.

[@Wagner-Vision-Produktion]

I just want to say: Hi Michael, I just came accross those videos. And I rembember, I know you..haha. So funny. We worked together on Rave Macbeth shooting in the year 2000 in Munich. I was the 2nd Unit Operator, Christine. Nice to see you here! TAKE CARE!

[@none_o_ur_bidnis]

Does it suggest that I have some degree of face blindness if I recognize actors from old shows by their voices more so than their faces?

[@Mark-pr7ug]

I was glad when Gates returne. She added a dynamic to the show.

[@albertosdad4187]

I believe my lifelong desire of redheads is because of this lady!!! I had such a crush on her in my teens.

[@mikegike7273]

Hmmmm. I'm dating myself, but when I was 9, I saw the movie Oliver Twist. The main female, happened to be a red head actress named Shani Wallis. I was hooked. Sje also had a bit of an over-bite. I was hooked. Her costume made her boobs look real big. I was hooked. So I can understand your position on red heads. Yes, Gates was-is such a natural gorgeous woman. P.S. I married a non overbite brunette 38 years ago and we are ❤still going strong.

[@albertosdad4187]

@@mikegike7273 omg, you made me laugh, and you couldn’t have said it better, she has a natural beauty.

[@jimjiminy5836]

What a wonderful lady. Thank you for being around when I was growing up

[@kxmode]

Very few people know that she was the director of the choreographer and puppet movement on Labyrinth.

[@wilburwhateley4626]

I don't know how much they actually filmed but they cut her down to literally five seconds (I timed it) right at the start of the Hunt for Red October and you never see or hear her again in the entire film.

[@thethomasj1795]

Yep, total after thought. I guess her deal insisted that she appear in the film. That type of screen time tells me that Gates was difficult to work with. The director and producers embarrassed her and got the last laugh.

[@gabelogan5877]

​@@thethomasj1795 LMFAO Another MAGA troll threatened by a strong woman

[@aaronleverton4221]

@@thethomasj1795 Boy, you got all of that from a brief appearance in a film by a character who has a brief appearance in the book being adapted? Dr Cathy Ryan is a cameo in Red October, a main character in Patriot Games and a supporting character in every subsequent book. The only reason to feature her (and daughter Sally) in Red October is to introduce her to the audience before Patriot Games instead of pulling them out of a hat.

[@Krytern]

​@@thethomasj1795This is what happens when someone pretends they know what they're talking about.

[@davetoms1]

And then the fans demanded they bring her back and all was right with the Universe 🖖❤ (except the industry politics, sexism, and the rest... but Crusher was back so that's a win!)

[@astrobot702]

If Gates McFadden ever does the computer voice for any other Trek projects she'll be perfect.

[@drcarp7377]

I love the way they gave her an iconic moment in Picard, where she kicked ass attacking the Borg ship. That’s Wesley’s mother. That’s the person she should always have been!

[@isoroxuk]

Pretty bad ass in descent too

[@_Yep_Yep_]

McFadden did a pretty decent job of it in Picard, at least. Both her and Will Wheaton were victims of poorly drawn characters in TNG contrasted against extra jumbo, larger than life heroes. Honestly, I think Will Wheaton got shafted the hardest because he was so implausibly written than fans actually hated the guy without knowing or appreciating that he privately railed against the scripts/was a ST superfan, and is in real life most often characterized as one of the most wonderful people you could meet. To circle back, as poorly received and snubbed as Mcfadden was; she got a second crack at bat in Picard and did pretty good.

[@-taz-]

It wasn't a drama or soap. Each character was an archetype and playing them off of each other was mainly a mechanism to simulate thought within one person's mind. Crusher's part was a protector / mother / caregiver. Wesley himself was not actually one of the archetypes. His mechanism was totally different -- to bridge a show full of adults to a younger audience. Everything in the design of a good show has a reason.

[@jonathanward7320]

I actually think she did more than a decent job in Picard, she was excellent. Finally allowed to show her dramatic range, something she didn’t get to do on TNG

[@jetuber]

I don't think that many people back then had anything against the actor. It was the character whom they despised, and rightly so. He was the definitive Gary Stu, a male version of the loathsome Rey from the recent Star Wars fan-fiction movies.

[@_Yep_Yep_]

@@jetuber spot on

[@johncameron4194]

I always loved Bev and her and Picard. And I agree with her about Wes

[@David-jl1pk]

Everyone’s favourite space mom. So glad she came back.

[@videoinformer]

"Remember Me", centering on Dr. Crusher and requiring her to reason through on her own an inscrutable mystery that stumps every viewer on a first watch, is still one of my favorites. Fantastic episode for an indispensable and wonderfully interesting character and crewmember.

[@miketwain202]

There were so many scenes in TNG where Gates just got back burnered or poor dialogue. They made some changes later in the series but, you’ve got this great actress why not write for her instead of make her filler or a techno-babble mechanic. I know there’s only so much time but, good writers can say a lot quickly with a single line. Still, always loved the Doctor Crusher strong episodes.

[@makeitsonumberone1358]

That episode were she falls in love with a ghost sucked

[@KZ-np8fz]

I enjoyed her on Star Trek and I loved her choreography for Labyrinth.

[@doro626]

I love all the behind the scene stories with Gates and Maria and the rest. Where they stood up to the show runners and refused to do stuff.

[@progmonster4]

i was absolutely in love with her and the character and her voice

[@johncameron4194]

I was so happy she came back

[@kuunami]

If I'm not mistaken it was Darius McCrary who played Eddie Winslow on Family Matters who said in an interview that sometimes actors forget that the show they're on is the producer's baby. They've been developing some of these shows for a decade or more before the actor's ever got involved. So be careful how you go about suggesting/telling someone what do with their baby.

[@charlottehammond8975]

ive wondered why cheryl has the name gates for acting, and this makes that make aense. i totally get her feelings, and im so proud of her for standing up for women's portrayal in the show.

[@zaz4667]

Seen her at a convention! She is awesome!

[@stonkr]

Watching as a teenager in the 80s I saw Dr Crusher as a strong, confident but gentle character and was happy when she returned in S3. Now I'm older, I find I prefer the acerbic Dr Pulaski and sometimes wish she had remained in the role.

[@powerbadpowerbad]

At first I didn't like Dr Pulaski,but,over time I began to really like her character.I'm going to have to go back and watch some of those old episodes again.

[@1aikane]

Gates McFadden ❤

[@nakfoor1846]

This is an exceptionally clear-minded criticism of the misogyny and clumsy writing of the first season.

[@donnybrasco6321]

SO GRATEFUL they came to their senses!! 😅

[@johnshafer7214]

I like Dr Pulaski but Dr Crusher was much better. I wish they could have done a small part episode towards the end or when Worf was paralyzed on how she might approach this. I also felt they should have done a better parent-child arc because Dr Crusher and Wesley better writing for their characters.

[@BlazingOwnager]

Puklaski was pretty much "What if we genderswapped Bones and made him an *actual* bigot this time?"

[@mikrich76]

@@BlazingOwnager Literally hated Pulaski and her refusal to call Data by name as an example

[@DanielAppleton-lr9eq]

@@mikrich76 She was too " old - school " to accept Data or another synthetic being as human or sentient. She made McCoy seem downright nice re. : his way of dealing with Spock.

[@juliapigworthy]

Machines make excellent and efficient servants, but if I tell my computer to display an Excel spreadsheet I don't want it to refuse and play a Sherlock Holmes RPG instead.

[@redpillcoach1855]

That's what she said.

[@michaelrocker9000]

I loved Gates as Dr.Crusher. If I was a kid she would have been the kind of mother you would bring your friends home to hear how hot she was.. Her character was smart and sexy and she absolutely took no shit from Picard. Dr. C was smooth whereas Dr. Pulaski was rough around the edges.