Which performance stands out as the worst of the many campy, scene-chewing and simply bad performances in the series?
Robert Brown as Lazarus in The Alternative Factor stands out as one of the most memorable bad acting performances to me.
Those are my principles, and if you don't like them... well, I have others.
William Windom wasn't happy with his performance in "Doomsday Machine". He felt he badly overacted. I don't see it that way.
shareI think Windom's performance in Doomsday Machine was probably one of the best performances in TOS it made the episode more poignant and he played an excellent Cmdr. Decker who was clearly in shock and consumed by guilt over the loss of his crew.
shareWilliam Windom was so intense in that episode. Did he get an Emmy for that performance? If not, he should have! One of my favorite episodes.
shareNope.
Windom did win an Emmy two years later for the one-season-wonder, My World and Welcome to it; in his acceptance speech he "thanked" NBC for cancelling the series.
It's true Windom isn't fond of his performance as Matt Decker, but I agree with the general consensus that he's very effective in the role.
I am in agreement... Windom that a very good job.
Those are my principles, and if you don't like them... well, I have others.
I'm not saying it's the worst of anyone in the entire show, but I think Shatner's reputation hinges upon a handful of embarrassing moments- Sargon experimenting in Kirk's body in Return to Tomorrow and Kirk becoming unhinged in the elevator in And the Children Shall Lead are two of the scenes that stand out in my mind.
On the other side of the spectrum, I've come to respect Nimoy's performance even more over time. I've been watching Enterprise lately, and no one hits the right notes as a Vulcan like Nimoy does playing Spock. The only other compelling Vulcan performance to me was Mark Lenard as Sarek.
Not a fair comparison because Spock is half human and the others are all Vulcan.
shareAnd yet T'Pol somehow seemed like she was always on the edge of an emotional breakdown. Not that I think Blalock is fully to blame for that.
It is true that playing a full Vulcan doesn't give you much opportunity to show great range, but Nimoy really nailed how it should be done, and Mark Lenard followed suit with an excellent performance.
I think that is exactly why they made Spock half human, as well as explaining his knowledge of Terran history.
Nimoy of course also had the luxury of being the first person ever to portray a Vulcan making his performance whether good or bad the only guide there is.
Changes in narrative, dialogue and acting methods over time also make it hard to match the original series. So it is a tough job to follow Nimoy who did it perfectly.
Mark Lenard was also perfect for the role.
Those are my principles, and if you don't like them... well, I have others.
Nimoy really nailed how it should be done, and Mark Lenard followed suit with an excellent performance.
It seems the only people who thought he could act were himself, and the TOS producer who hired him.
shareI'd Rate the cast as follows:
Best actors
Nichelle Nichols
DeForest Kelly
James Doohan
All these actors were able to handle anything thrown at them. Comedy, drama, whatever. Nichols was criminally underused.
Good with what they Gave Him
George Takei - except for some good acting as a no-goodnick in "mirror mirror" and a stint as a swordsman, Takei was given much to do except say "Ahead warp factor 2".
Pretty Limited
A fan of the young girls, Walter Koenig was pretty bad when he was forced to be anything other than charming likable, or express some basic emotion.
Good when he didn't Ham..it...up
When Shatner himself, or a director, kept him in check he was pretty good. Sometimes he bit off more than he could chew or was almost laughably over the top. But you can't say he was a wooden or inexpressive.
The most perfectly cast actor
Nimoy - its impossible to imagine anyone else in the role.
I think Doohan and Nimoy stands out as the ones who managed to convey familarity with technical phrases of the future best while also providing some good performances.
Definetly Nimoy was perfectly cast.
Takei I am just very fond of no matter what he did.
Shatner was a bit off and on in that when he was serious he did really well but pushing the psyche of Kirk he would mostly go a bit overboard. But such was the times I think. However with Shatner you just grow to like that about him. So that is redeeming I think.
I actually struggle a bit with Nichols's performance. She is alright but her reactions and background actions always seemed a bit off. Not a whole lot but just enough to sometimes dislike her performance.
Those are my principles, and if you don't like them... well, I have others.
I actually struggle a bit with Nichols's performance. She is alright but her reactions and background actions always seemed a bit off. Not a whole lot but just enough to sometimes dislike her performance.
Robert Brown as Lazarus in The Alternative Factor stands out as one of the most memorable bad acting performances to me.
Which performance stands out as the worst of the many campy, scene-chewing and simply bad performances in the series?
The real answer here is, was, and will always be, Melvin Belli.
For guest stars, I have to agree with the pick of Melvin Belli. Granted, he was a lawyer, not an actor (dammit, Jim!), but it was just a dreadful showing.
For worst performance by a regular...I'm gonna go with Kirk's performance in "Turnabout Intruder." I get that Janice Lester is supposed to be unstable and all that, but Shatner is pretty over the top, even at that.
For worst performance by a regular...I'm gonna go with Kirk's performance in "Turnabout Intruder."