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

[@TileGuyJesse]

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

[@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.

[@jakestine4753]

I remember Crusher being a much better character when she returned too. First Season Beverly was indeed annoying to watch. Nagging mom, 100% (but also the first season was pretty bad overall save for Picard and Data).

[@jkylemoses]

It’s amazing to see behind the curtain. She’s absolutely right that her interactions with Wesley were weak. But I never saw Beverly as a weak character. She was amazing. Being the successful chief medical officer of the flagship of the federation while also struggling being a widow and a mother at the same time. Gates made that character nuanced. Strong yet imperfect. I’m so happy she ended up coming back and I thank her for teaching me so much.

[@bigfrankfraser1391]

with her story and character, the weak interactions with wesley actually fits, shes trying to juggle saving lives and being a parent, since her job has more risks it requires more focus, so she is more distant around wesley because she is relaxing after work

[@poppedweasel]

She was a million times better than Diane Muldaur as Dr Pulaski.

[@casucasueq4479]

Dr. Pulaski ZZzz...

[@TheresaReichley]

@@poppedweaselshe forgot her lines and was lucky Patrick Stewart was bald enough to stick post it notes on his forehead.

[@kelqueen9998]

@@poppedweasel I think Diana Mudaur is a fabulous actress, but the character was just awful. She just stomped on in with this attitude, like the whole endeavor was beneath her.

[@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.

[@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

[@RSGill1903]

Star Trek convention, Portland Or, 1992. Met Robert Picardo, you could tell that he didn't want to be there, not vert friendly. James Doohan, he was fantastic! Warm, friendly etc. Can't say enough good things about him.

[@johnjames4834]

@@RSGill1903 robert beltran and john de lancie werent friendly either hell they are actors ACT FREINDLY

[@Scott__C]

And that's how it's done. Haven't met the Trek folks, but some folks from another classic show (not sci fi) and everyone was great to talk to and very friendly.

[@you5711]

@@RSGill1903 What was Robert Picardo doing at a Star Trek convention in 1992? Star Trek Voyager didn't start until 1995.

[@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".

[@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.

[@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

[@DanSmith-j8y]

As long as she's still beautiful I guess she still has value to you.

[@cornflake75]

I was shocked when Dr. Crusher was replaced by Dr. Pulaski. She came across as harsh and unemotional, like a completely different character. She had her moments, too and I liked her character in the end but was relieved to have Beverly back on the show.

[@theevermind]

A completely different character acted like a completely different character? (shocked Picachu face)

[@wimpymcsteel4458]

@@theevermind Dr. Pulaski was supposed to be a love interest for Picard. They had zero chemistry.

[@chriscrook4481]

I actually preferred Dr Pulaski as the CMO even though Dr Crusher was still brilliant (although I actually hate that surname - who the hell came up with such a stupid name? Is there actually anyone called that anywhere?)

[@guysmiley4830]

I hated her back then but I was like 9. Later in life I was able to appreciate the nuance of her character. I hate to say it, but she would have been better received with better hair. Those late 80's perms were a minor crime against humanity.

[@jaklumen]

Unpopular opinion, but I preferred Dr. Pulaski. Apologies for forgetting the actress's name, but she's a TOS veteran. A friend said it was because she came across as being more like McCoy and since she did indeed work with Deforrest Kelly, that makes sense. That's not to say Gates McFadden isn't a fantastic actor-- she is. And that's not to say Beverly Crusher wasn't a great character-- she absolutely was. But it's also part of the reason why fans compare Janeaway and Tuvok to Kirk and Spock; the TOS formula is quite potent even though the TNG premise has been quite revolutionary and propelled the franchise forward in its own right.

[@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.

[@EF-fc4du]

No, because he was still played by Wil Wheaton. That's why he sucks.

[@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 👍

[@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.

[@quailstudios]

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

[@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.

[@Eric_Hofmann]

season 3 episode 16 "the offspring", one of the finest episodes in all of television. she says a lot including to give his child love, to which he very data-ly responds he can't, to which she responds "now why do i find that so hard to believe" :'(( :'))) :'(((( even in an episode packed with emotional sledgehammers, that one stands out

[@kxmode]

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

[@guysmiley4830]

Well, I'll be a monkey's uncle. It's true!

[@khills]

Yes! There’s some fantastic behind the scenes with her on an extended edition of Labyrinth, including her dancing with the Chilly Down muppets!

[@kathywright6853]

I sure didnt😂

[@frontendloader1000]

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

[@allanfifield8256]

She was shot in soft focus a lot.

[@ZiggyMarlon-gf6qv]

Well, she's still striking I'll give her that. 😂

[@thevalarauka101]

@@allanfifield8256 the old trick

[@MissMarinaCapri]

@@allanfifield8256, really? I thought it was just good make up.

[@danielroher3605]

she still is GORGEOUS to me. Always will be.

[@troygaspard6732]

Glad ahe stood up for herself as well as her character. Dr. Crusher became a kick-ass science officer in the following seasons.

[@thebadgamer1967]

I remember also everytime she actually had a medical scene in the first season all the got to say was "I've never seen anything like it before..."numerous times

[@chitownbob9714]

Maybe so...but they were explorers. They frequently saw things they never saw ever before. She was asked for an opinion, she gave an honest answer, and then ...most importantly....she was able to solve the puzzle! To me....that showed that she was the source of Wesley's brains. But, being a mom, its probably hard to push your kid to your limits. Although, TBF a SINGLE mom would have an easier time of it. Recall she really had to stand up for Wesley to Picard to get him on the bridge.........

[@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.

[@ironbomb6753]

Dr. Beverly Crusher was one of my favorite characters.

[@DanSmith-j8y]

Why? She was such a weak character. Pulaski, although a McCoy ripoff, had a lot more backbone and seemed a lot more competent.

[@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.

[@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

[@christopherpericolosi-king4979]

Same! I disliked Pulaski immensely, mostly because of her indifference toward Data.

[@voicetube]

@@christopherpericolosi-king4979 bingo, agreed!!

[@gregoryjgarcia3862]

@@christopherpericolosi-king4979 I found Pulaskis' behavior abrasive and dismisive.

[@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/.

[@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.

[@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

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@travisdonaldstanley6420]

Your work in the movie Labyrinth made it a masterpiece with your dancing skills. Thanks for expecting excellence from others.😊

[@24juan68]

I remember dreading the episode, where she sees the ghost of her ancestors.. that was a very dark episode

[@kathywright6853]

Do you mean the alien life force who survived by using their energy?

[@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

[@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.

[@garrettbenedek1036]

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

[@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...

[@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! 😆

[@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.

[@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,

[@Collins311]

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

[@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.

[@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.

[@raggededge82]

IIRC she prefers to keep her choreography credits under Cheryl and her acting under her middle name Gates

[@thequantaleaper]

She has such a great personality and talent, I always felt like her character (at least in the beginning) was being held back from really evolving and growing like the rest of the crew.

[@timsmith2525]

How do you figure? The way she acted, her character had no personality. Dead pan. Painful to watch.

[@oncinaust5178]

Super ironic she says "they want girls to be pretty." When I have always...even to this day found her gorgeous. She definitely aged better than 99% of actresses of the same time.

[@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.

[@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!

[@kathywright6853]

I would loved to have seen another film,I loved the first one

[@David-jl1pk]

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

[@josephbelisle5792]

She was one of my favorite characters and I was upset when they got rid of her and was glad she was brought back. I do agree with Gates McFadden that the character should have been more rounded out.

[@EQOAnostalgia]

She offered nothing interesting to the plot whatsoever. The f'ing cyborg was more interesting.

[@crazifyit]

I can't believe I was around when this show first aired - AND THERE WAS NO SOCIAL MEDIA BACK THEN! LMAO! I LOVED Beverly's character because she was smart! She was intelligent and she approached things rationally. She was great in her role. I did think her interactions with her son were light, but I also understood them. She was a great character on that show and I love her. She gave a voice to smart women and sent the message that you could be classy, beautiful and smart - all at the same time - while doing a great job! Kudos to Gates! One of the best to do it!

[@TheFiddleFaddle]

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

[@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.

[@jeepsblackpowderandlights4305]

she was boring, bad acting, pulaski was a much better dr

[@chrisloesch1870]

@@jeepsblackpowderandlights4305 I agree. I found McFadden to be utterly boring as Beverly Crusher. People don't like Diana Muldaur (Pulaski) because she was much older in TNG than when she debuted in the original series as Dr. Miranda Jones and Ann Mulhall.

[@davidward9737]

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

[@collegeman1988]

I’m so glad they didn’t kill Dr. Crusher’s character off after the first season of TNG, which really was a lackluster season. I thought it was a bad move to kick Gates McFadden off of the show in season two. When season three came around and it was announced Gates McFadden was back as Dr. Crusher, I was thrilled. Not only that, but the producers and writers started giving her things to do and had episodes that focused on her character. My two favorite episodes with Dr. Crusher from season three are The High Ground and Transfigurations, both of which are fantastic episodes.

[@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.

[@patrickwilson1459]

I’m glad the producers decided to bring her back due to fans’s popular demand asking Paramount to do so. I believe Patrick Stewart was like a supporter.

[@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

[@jeepsblackpowderandlights4305]

i hated her charrector

[@paulaburrows8660]

She was amazing in Season 3 of Picard.

[@anniedarkhorse6791]

She was a great character. They should have done more with her.

[@malicant123]

Can I just say that this woman is 75, but still looks great.

[@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.

[@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 ...

[@travelingdude1621]

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

[@NotaNazgul]

She is awesome and has a great point. That always puzzled me a bit - Wesley being her genious child saving the day once more. With a totally mismatching mother who is keeping him small because of fear. You would expect his only parent to be skilled, brave, action-biased and somehow supportive. If the two characters would be like they are written, there would need to be lots of conflict between them, and fight for autonomy from Wesley. But then his character never was too consistent, either ;-)

[@infinity2z3r07]

Whoever decided her name was to be Beverly is genius. Such a distinctive and aristocratic-sounding name when said in Patrick Stewart's accent.

[@guysmiley4830]

My ex girlfriends Mom is a Beverley and I would always say it in Captain Picard's voice. Luckily, her and her husband were both trek fans so they tolerated it.

[@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.

[@kotoku_denjiro]

@@jetuber Except that actors often have deep insight into their characters because they're often the only consistent thing in a series production where directors, producers, writers come and go, actors become that continuity bridge to keep the character consistent, and thus believable to the audience, especially on a science fiction show where suspension of disbelief is often vital for audiences, and anything that knocks the viewer out of that suspension of disbelief can entirely ruin an episode, the character, or even the show. And if the actor really loves and cares about the character enough to pencil in some notes on her own copy of the script, it shows that she cares enough to challenge bad writing that might irreversibly damage the character at the expense of both the show and the character, as well as fans, and herself. Especially on Star Trek, a cultural phenomenon that is very very different in the increased level of scrutiny than what the average non-Trek show would get, it's vital that writers get the character right and keep getting the character right in subsequent episodes with a minimum of retconning or weird changes in the character's basic personality. The fact that it was in pencil and thus, presumably only on Gates McFadden's own copy of the script would suggest that they were more notes to _herself_ in terms of highlighting issues with the script. Whether she brought those up with the producers, writers, is another matter, but regardless, an actor is more than just a pretty face reading lines, it's an artistic interpretation of what is on the page, that the actor brings to life. That requires a certain amount of leeway and independent thinking to translate the script into something believable. Not to mention it's not usually the writers who get the massive amounts of hate mail if the writers get Dr. Crusher's character wrong, it's Gates McFadden, and that would impact her career (and her mental health) adversely if she didn't say or do something to try and fix it before filming starts.

[@alphanerd7221]

@@kotoku_denjiro Not in season 1. The writers were working on that character for almost a year before she got there. What you are talking about is what happens after a show has been around for a while.

[@davidusler4956]

About 20 years ago, I received a cardboard envelope in the mail. When they opened it, there was a photo of Gates McFadden, it was ally autographed to me with a message. I couldn't figure out why she would send me a photo even though I'm a huge Trek fan. My nephew called me and told me about it. Apparently, his best friend was dating Gate's niece. He told her that I was a huge fan and she called her aunt. I keep it in a frame it's one of my prized objects🖖🥰

[@yaelisme]

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

[@Robisme]

This is not being woke for the time. She is right. She was Wesley’s mother. But she had very little to do with him on the show. An episode that would have made their relationship closer would have made sense. Many times when kids are close to one parent and that parent dies. There is usually a stage of rebellion and animosity to the surviving parent. Would have made a great episode.

[@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.

[@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

[@Laconic-ws4bz]

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

[@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!

[@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.

[@michaelmorningstar8645]

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

[@alphanerd7221]

Name one good episode. There's that lame one where everyone is disappearing that makes no sense and the even worse one where she's having an affair with a space ghost.

[@robertphillips6296]

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

[@mpswagler6132]

I was so upset when she wasn’t in season 2 but happy they brought her back! Dr. Crusher was a phenomenal character.

[@efish206]

I'm sure most folks know, but for those that can't get enough TNG, TOS, VOY, DS9, Pluto streams 24/7

[@petersp63]

Best Thing about Season 3 was Gate's returning! oh and Best of Both Worlds!

[@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!

[@ronwanderer5685]

So... about the Wesley Crusher thing. Wheaton seems like a nice guy, and he's even made light of the character himself quite a bit. The fact is everyone hated Wesley, and they never stopped hating the genius 12 year old precursor to Anakin in the Phantom Menace. No nerdy guy watching sci-fi wants the story crapped on so they can shoe-horn in some kid, but one of the episode writers really liked the character so the kept trying to make it work. It never quite did. But the reason he always had extended dialogue with the male characters who weren't related to him on the show was that literally the only thing they could've done to make him more lame would've been writing him to constantly have long, thought provoking conversations with his mommy about every issue that one writer got him into.

[@DavidR-f6z]

She acted with Linda Hunt? She was in Silverado. "Innocent people are hurting because of me. That makes me MAD. He can't hurt me if he's dead." What an awesome actress.

[@yankee2110]

she has a good point with the mother role stuff. I am glad she came out and became a standard character.

[@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!

[@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.

[@BlitzenSpeaks]

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

[@uncriticalthinkerNZ]

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

[@thebebop321]

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

[@christophercruz8359]

I didn't.

[@jeepsblackpowderandlights4305]

i didnt... i liked pulaski better, smarter and a much better dr... crusher didnt seem very competent the acting was bleh.. and based on this interview im gonna agree with the way they wanted wesley crusher mentored by males... when you dont grow up with a dad... having male mentors helps immensly they did the right thing there... she was one of my least favorites on that show

[@jeffreyparks2371]

I didn’t, either, since you asked. I thought Pulaski was a better fit for the role. She came across as more professional and less flighty, imo. Not to mention that Diana Muldaur’s pedigree was more prestigious than Gates….

[@jeepsblackpowderandlights4305]

@@jeffreyparks2371 same.. I liked Pulaski better.. she seemed like a wayyyyy more competent doctor who knew what to do and had vastly more experience than Crusher. The actor for pulaski was great at convincing me this as well. Crusher just seemed... blehh to me and i didnt like the acting either. Same with Troy... i couldnt stand her. She seemed like a token officer in a one peice to me. Pulaski thought is THEE doctor i would expect on the FLAG SHIP of the federation. Crusher seemed more like a generic doctor to me. Pulaski to me would also make a great basis for the EMH program as well in my opinion. Only reason ppl are all over crusher and stuff is thats who they first watched and they became attached too

[@alphanerd7221]

She's kind of a two dimensional sexist waste of time.

[@thENDweDIE]

Had no clue I could just luv her even more..!! How brilliant she is..!! She respected the craft the same as the minds that began the whole thing. Like Buster Keaton, who was heart broken when everything went corporate and it became all abot the numbers, not the art..!!

[@heatherwade2373]

Long live Dr Beverly Crusher! Gates McFadden set a good example for me to follow as a young girl with the way she portrayed Dr Crusher.

[@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

[@Kllgg]

3 women in the initial cast. 1 left on her own because she felt underutilized, 1 was fired for speaking up and being right, and the only who was there the whole time was dressed provocatively and not allowed to be smart until halfway through season 6.

[@johnnyjericho8472]

Your point?

[@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.

[@IsaacSchultz]

Gates McFadden wrote one of the best episodes EVER, "Genesis," imprinted on my 9 year old brain and made me a fan FOREVER. Though Inner Light may have been the best episode ever, but my young brain didn't understand it. Thank you Gates! That episode made enough of an impression I went back to rewatch all the episodes in my 20's, and it really did make my life better, and made me aspire to be more.

[@Chefbriank]

shes so right aboput the early "leave it to beaver thing" LOL Thank god they gave her more but could have done more!

[@astrobot702]

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

[@beyondthemultiverse-nj5dj]

Uhura, Rand, Chapel, Saavik, Crusher, Troi, Kira, J.Dax, E.Dax, Janeway, Torres, Kes, Seven, T'Pol and Yoshi Sato The true women of Star Trek Love them all

[@BlitzenSpeaks]

Ro Lauren too! They wanted her for DS9, but Michelle turned it down. Hence we got Kira Nyres. But I loved that character even more! Nana Visitor made her a force to be reckoned with! Loved her! But Ro Lauren was great too. I loved that character; the fighter that never quit! Ro was the blueprint for Kira. Both made me love Bajor!

[@alphanerd7221]

It's "Hoshi." Also, two of those aren't real women. They are a parasite in the bodies of women.

[@notajp]

And let’s not forget Tasha Yar. I hated it when they killed her off, but I understand her reason for wanting to leave the show. They could have done so much more with her character, but apparently just didn’t want to.

[@johnzorklunn4854]

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

[@KosOrSomeSayKosmo]

I totally understand her, I would PAY money to do a play with the legendary Linda Hunt! Love Gates, she and Marina were capable of so much more than they were able to do in those early seasons of TNG. I can't remember the episode, but they're in a holodeck Robin Hood scene with fencing, and only Gates and Marina had actual fencing experience, but they had to bash pots on the baddies heads.

[@CrazyTechLab]

This is amazing. I absolutely hated her character up till this point. She was bland, expressionless and utterly forgettable, almost cringeworthy. But when she came back it was like her character had been given a kick up the backside and was all of a sudden a core part of the show and it couldn't be without her. I'm so glad it was Gates that orchestrated this. Well done her.

[@_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

[@alphanerd7221]

@@jetuber Wesley had flaws and made mistakes.

[@alanday5255]

I love Gates McFadden, she NEVER shies away from difficult or culturally taboo roles.

[@chancepaladin]

She was either the second or third favorite character. She was the counterbalance to Picard.

[@samgeurdi6351]

“Oh no, you were fired” 😂 pure gold and loved her laughing with it too

[@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!