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Leonard Nimoy became a pop culture icon for playing Spock in Star Trek: The Original Series. Along with Captain Kirk and Dr. Leonard McCoy, Spock formed the golden trio of TOS, and his half-Vulcan traits defined the species. However, a reference to this legend reportedly caused a huge rift between the team at The Next Generation.
Writer Ira Steven Behr, who would go on to be a producer and writer on Deep Space Nine and Voyager, reportedly feuded with producer Rick Berman on including a reference to Spock in The Next Generation. Steven Behr mentioned that he feuded with Berman over including a reference to Spock in an episode focused on Sarek, his father.
A reference to Leonard Nimoy caused a huge rift between the Star Trek: TNG crew members
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Leonard Nimoy was undoubtedly the breakout star from Star Trek: The Original Series. Sure, William Shatner would go on to attach himself to the franchise at every turn, but Nimoy’s Spock is one of the most recognizable characters in pop culture. His popularity was so huge that it reportedly even caused a rift between him and William Shatner.
However, that was not the only rift related to Spock. When it came to The Next Generation, creator Gene Roddenberry made a rule that little to no references to the original series should be made. However, in the season 3 episode ‘Sarek’, there was no choice but to include Spock as the eponymous character was the half-Vulcan’s father.
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Still, writer Ira Steven Behr recalled facing stiff resistance from producer Rick Berman over a reference to Spock in the episode. Steven Behr mentioned that he fought tooth and nail for its inclusion, but he faced a lot of resistance. He said (via Looper),
When we did the ‘Sarek’ rewrite, the fight over the word ‘Spock’ was insane. I was absolutely not allowed to use the word ‘Spock.’ Rick [Berman] made a big issue of it and said we can’t do it. There’s no way. We did it once. We had McCoy show up at the beginning, but no more. No references to the original series. I said, ‘It’s Spock’s father, we’re already in that territory.’ He said, ‘Absolutely not.’
Steven Behr finally got what he wanted by asking Berman to give a logical reason as to why Spock could not be referenced, and when the producer could not, he relented. Spock eventually showed up in The Next Generation in the episode ‘Unification.’
Writer Ira Steven Behr left Star Trek: TNG due to repeated clashes
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The inclusion of Leonard Nimoy’s Spock in Star Trek: The Next Generation was not the first reference to TOS in the show. Dr. Leonard McCoy made an appearance in the pilot episode of the series, and Spock’s father, Sarek, was the focus of a season 3 episode, which is often considered to be among the best in the series.
However, the clash with respect to the reference and other such creative differences reportedly led Ira Steven Behr to leave the show after a year. The Next Generation really became a global phenomenon after season 3, but Steven Behr mentioned that he never regretted leaving the series. He said (via Star Trek.com),
Yeah, there’s the wow factor, but there were just too many rules and regulations. I called TNG, perhaps unfairly, the Connecticut of Star Trek, and I still kind of feel that way. Maybe if I’d come on in the fourth season or stayed through the fourth season, things would have gotten better, but creatively, I just felt trapped.
The Next Generation was the last series to have active involvement from Gene Roddenberry, who was notorious for his rules and regulations on how the show should go. Ira Steven Behr would return for Deep Space Nine and Voyager as a writer and producer.
Star Trek: TNG is available to stream on Paramount+.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire