November 13: Happy Birthday Whoopi Goldberg

Whoopi was simply a huge Trek fan and she (as the story goes) pestered the producers to get any type of spot on the show (even if she were a janitor on the Enterprise). Whoopi in particular, idolized Nichelle Nichols (AKA Lt. Uhura) because while it may not be such a big deal now, she was astonished by the notion of a black woman on 1960s TV playing a decidedly non-stereotypical role (a la a maid or any other type of house servant), in the future no less.

https://www.datalounge.com/thread/18099667--and-whoopi-goldberg-as-guinan-wtf-

I heard that when it got out that Gene Roddenberry was creating a new Star Trek series Whoopi Goldberg got wind of it and contacted him and kissed his ass from here to high heaven: "I love Star Trek, I'm such a big fan, I'd love to be part of your new show" and so on. She pretty much begged him for a role on the show and he gave it to her, which was a big mistake. She stuck out like a sore thumb, with her permanent smirk, dressed from head to toe in purple with a purple satellite dish on her head. Her character, the all knowing, all seeing Guinan was completely unlikable, a full of herself know-it-all. I often wondered why whenever there was a crisis on the ship why Picard didn't just go to the bar and ask Guinan what to do, since she was supposed to know everything. God, I hated that character. And Whoopi Goldberg.

—Anonymous

reply 6 4 hours ago

here's the story as Whoopi told it -- she was friends with LeVar Burton and he told her about ST coming back. She told him to tell the producers she wanted to be on the show because she watched Nichelle Nichols on the original show and it told her that black people existed in the future and had important roles. They initially didn't believe that she was serious (Whoopi was big in the late 80s) about doing TV. She finally got a dinner with Roddenberry and the producers and told them she wanted to be on the show. So they created 10 Forward and Guinan after Texas Guinan on of the first female emcees of a big club.

—Anonymous

reply 7 4 hours ago

Originally she wanted to play the new doctor who replaced Dr. Crusher, but the producers didn't think she'd be believable. She said, "Then just have me in the background cleaning up the place," and that's how they got the idea to have her be the bartender.

At about the same time, she was also lobbying the producers of "The Simpsons" really hard to be the voice of Maggie once Maggie started speaking, but thank God the speakers decided never to have Maggie speak (except for one word once, and they gave it to Elizabeth Taylor).

—Anonymous

reply 22 11 minutes ago

JayHova12; What sexual predator?!

I enjoy Whoopi immensely. Great as Guinan, Sister Act, I loved her on Hollywood Squares.

RIP Gene Wilder. One of the funniest people of all time. RIP Robert Vaughn

Foebane 72; Me too.

I recall hearing Whoopi saying that if she's gotten heavier lately it's because she's simply gotten older and she stopped smoking.

😆 Keep up the new spamming, my ragey brother.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0898266/board/flat/262826373?d=263298847#263298847

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0898266/board/thread/262826373?d=262840636#262840636
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