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In late 1991, Rick Berman (executive producer of Star
Trek: The Next Generation) was asked by Brandon Tartikoff, head of
Paramount, to create a new Star Trek series. He got together with
Michael Piller (another Next Generation executive producer) to develop a
concept Tartikoff had in mind, that of an outer-space version of The
Rifleman -- a logical outgrowth of the often-repeated comparison of the
original Star Trek to Wagon Train. (Gene Roddenberry was told of the new
series shortly before his death, and approved of the idea, but had no
other involvement.) The characters were mainly developed by Michael
Piller; the station by Herman Zimmerman; and the makeup by Michael
Westmore. |
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Sisko was not originally conceived to be played by a black actor, per
se; the producers saw a number of actors of varying racial backgrounds
before choosing Avery Brooks for the role. |
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The producers planned at first to bring Ensign Ro over
from TNG to be Sisko's first officer; however, actress Michelle
Forbes declined, so the character of Kira was created instead as the
head Bajoran on the station. |
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The three finalists for the role of Odo were Rene Auberjonois, Gerrit
Graham, and Andrew Robinson. Auberjonois won; Graham was later cast as
the Hunter in "Captive Pursuit", while Robinson was given the recurring
role of Garak. Odo was originally envisioned as a "young John Wayne"
type. Early notes on the character indicate that Piller at one time
thought of making shapeshifting painful for him, and of giving him an
unpleasant odor. |
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Armin Shimerman was the first actor seen for the role of
Quark. He beat out Max Grodénchik, who was cast as Rom. |
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Famke Janssen (Kamala in TNG's "The Perfect Mate") was offered the role
of Dax, but turned it down. Dax was the last major role to be cast;
"Emissary" was already filming when Terry Farrell was finally hired.
Westmore decided to give her spots because the producers didn't like the
look of the original Trill head appliance (from TNG's "The Host") on
Farrell. |
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Bashir's original name was Julian Amoros. Siddig el Fadil was first
considered for the role of Sisko, until the producers learned that he
was only in his 20's. |
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When "Emissary" first aired in January 1993, it was the highest-rated
series premiere in syndication history at the time. |
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Sisko's viewpoint of the interior of the wormhole was filmed at
Paramount's Stage 18, while Dax's viewpoint was filmed at Huntington
Gardens in San Marino. Oak Grove Park in Pasadena was used for the
baseball sequence. Sisko's flashback to his first meeting with Jennifer
was filmed at Leo Carillo Beach in LA. The picnic scene with Jennifer
and the fishing scene with Jake were both filmed at the Golden Oaks
Ranch in Newhall. |
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Quark's nose in this episode was actually the one intended for Rom; his
own was still being made, and wouldn't be seen until "A Man Alone". |
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The episode won Robert Legato, Gary Hutzel, Michael Gibson, and Dennis
Blakey an Emmy for outstanding special visual effects. |
