Whoopi Goldberg Expresses Interest in Worf's Role on Star Trek: The Next Generation, Reveals Executive Producer

Summary

Initially, Whoopi Goldberg expressed interest in taking on the role of the Chief of Security in Star Trek. However, it became clear that the character wasn't a perfect fit for her. As a result, the character of Guinan, the bartender, was specifically developed to highlight Goldberg's talents, ultimately establishing the tradition of having bars on Starfleet ships.

Ten Forward, created by Guinan in Star Trek: The Next Generation, offered a shared gathering spot where characters could unwind and enjoy synthehol beverages. This pioneering concept inspired the inclusion of bars on different starships throughout the Star Trek series.

In Star Trek: Strange New Worlds and Star Trek: Picard, the idea of starship bars was further developed, showcasing fresh establishments while reimagining Ten Forward as a renowned bar in Los Angeles. Remarkably, Guinan remains the dedicated proprietor of Ten Forward even years after the events of TNG.

In the book "The Center Seat: 55 Years of Star Trek" by Peter Holmstrom, executive producer Rick Berman discusses Whoopi Goldberg's desire to be a part of Star Trek: The Next Generation. Initially, Goldberg expressed interest in the role of Lieutenant Worf's Chief of Security. However, Berman reveals that they had already cast Denise Crosby as Lieutenant Tasha Yar for that position. Unhappy with her role, Crosby eventually left the series before the first season concluded, which led to her character being killed off. In response to Goldberg's request, Berman and Gene Roddenberry, the creator of Star Trek, decided to introduce the character of Guinan, a bartender, specifically for Goldberg.

When Denise Crosby decided to leave the show, we received a call from Whoopi Goldberg expressing her interest in taking on the role of head of security previously held by Denise. However, we felt that Whoopi didn't quite fit the typical head of security archetype for our show. Gene and I sat down and had a discussion about this. "What if we introduced a bartender character?" we wondered. It would be an excellent opportunity to create a space where people could socialize, and Whoopi seemed like the perfect fit for the role of a bartender. Additionally, her character would have a mysterious, undefined past relationship with Picard, adding an intriguing layer to the storyline.

Whoopi Goldberg's Guinan Led To Star Trek Creating Bars On Starships

Although it would have been unconventional to have Whoopi Goldberg as the Chief of Security on the USS Enterprise-D, the introduction of Guinan and Ten Forward established a new tradition in the Star Trek universe: bars on Starfleet ships. In the original Star Trek series, the crew of the Starship Enterprise did not have a bar and had to rely on starbases or space stations for drinks. However, Dr. Leonard McCoy (DeForest Kelley) usually kept a secret supply of spirits for Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner). With the creation of Ten Forward, the characters in Star Trek: The Next Generation were provided with a communal space to enjoy synthehol and bond together, inspiring other Star Trek series to adopt this concept.

Quark's Bar, portrayed by Armin Shimerman, was introduced in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine as an alternative to Ten Forward. Since then, subsequent Star Trek series have followed suit, ensuring that their starships also feature bars. Whether it's the bar on the USS Cerritos in Star Trek: Lower Decks or the bar on the USS Discovery in Star Trek: Discovery, it has become commonplace to have a drinking establishment on a starship where everyone is familiar with your name. In Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, the USS Enterprise was retroactively given a bar named the Port Galley. Similarly, in Star Trek: Picard, Ten Forward was reimagined as a bar in Los Angeles founded by a younger Guinan (played by Ito Aghayere), and Guinan eventually returned to her Earth-based Ten Forward after the destruction of the USS Enterprise-D, with the El Aurian bartender still operating it decades after the events of Star Trek: The Next Generation.