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Patrick Stewart has played two pop cultural icons in his career. While he is known to a generation as Professor X in theX-Menfilms, he had his breakthrough as Captain Jean-Luc Picard inStar Trek: The Next Generation. The show made him a global star along with the rest of its cast.
However, according to co-star Brent Spiner, the show was considered seriously by audiences only when one star joined the cast. Spiner mentioned that though the series had a slow start in the first season, it gained traction when Oscar-winning actor Whoopi Goldberg joined the show as Guinan.
Brent Spiner AttributedStar Trek: The Next Generation’s Global Success To Whoopi Goldberg
While the originalStar Trekseries had its own fan following, the spinoff showThe Next Generationbecame a global sensation. Headlined byPatrick Stewartas Captain Picard, the show’s boundary-pushing stories and effects were well-regarded by critics and fans alike. Though it did not get much love from the awards, it remains a classic.
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While Stewart became a global star due to the series, his co-star Brent Spiner mentioned that the inclusion ofWhoopi Golbergin the second season took it to a whole new level. Goldberg was an Oscar-winning actress and had just come off of playing an acclaimed role in Steven Spielberg’sThe Color Purple.
Spiner, who played Data in the show, mentioned that though the show had its fans, it became a sensation after Goldberg came in. He said in the bookThe Center Seat: 55 Years of Trek(viaScreen Rant),
It may be just my opinion, but I think we became legit when Whoopi came on the show. Whoopi was a major movie star, and she came on in the second season. That was a big deal. Whoopi Goldberg is going to be on your show, and not just doing a guest spot, she’s going to be a semi-regular on the show.
Spiner mentioned that a movie star of Goldberg’s stature coming into the show led many viewers to take it seriously and get on board.
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While many prominent actors have made guest appearances in the show, Whoopi Goldberg’s inclusion gaveStar Trek: The Next Generationa boost like no other. Goldberg was an Oscar-winning actress at the time and was cast as Guinan, the bartender at the Ten Forward lounge.
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Goldberg was reportedly a fan of the franchise and was inspired by Nichelle Nichols’ role as Uhura in the original series. This made her request the producers ofThe Next Generationto include her in the series. According toStar Trek.com, the actress recounted her experience watching the original,
Well, when I was nine years old Star Trek came on. I looked at it and I went screaming through the house, ‘Come here, mum, everybody, come quick, come quick, there’s a black lady on television and she ain’t no maid!’ I knew right then and there I could be anything I wanted to be.
The actress reportedly approached LeVar Burton and asked him to pitch her as a potential cast member. While the makers thought it was a prank, they finally believed the pitch when Goldberg called the production facility.
Star Trek: The Next Generationis available to stream on Paramount+.
Nishanth A
Senior Writer
Articles Published :2417
Nishanth A is a Senior Entertainment Writer at FandomWire, majorly focusing on TV shows with over 2,000 articles published. He has been an entertainment journalist for the past two years and a scriptwriter at various corporations before that, working on educational content. With a Communications, English Literature, and Psychology triple major, Nishanth usually covers news and analyses on Star Trek, particularly Strange New Worlds and The Next Generation; Doctor Who, the DCU, and more.A Nolan fan, Nishanth spends his time exploring the filmographies of various directors with an auteurial style or can be found making short movies of his own. He has also contributed as a feature writer for Film Companion, focusing on the South division.
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Brent SpinerPatrick StewartStar Trek: The Next GenerationWhoopi Goldberg
