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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.
	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.
	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.
	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.
	Armin Shimerman was the first actor seen for the role of Quark. He beat out Max Grodénchik, who was cast as Rom.
	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.
	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.
	When "Emissary" first aired in January 1993, it was the highest-rated series premiere in syndication history at the time.
	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.
	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".
	The episode won Robert Legato, Gary Hutzel, Michael Gibson, and Dennis Blakey an Emmy for outstanding special visual effects.

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