Gene Roddenberry’s sci-fi series Star Trek boldly went where no other show in the genre went. While the show explored multiple philosophical questions and featured multiple alien worlds, it differed from the usual dystopian sci-fi franchises in providing a positive outlook on the future of humankind.
Roddenberry was known to have many rules in the characterization of the show’s many crews, which usually drove writers crazy. However, one rule from Roddenberry on Jonathan Frakes’ William Riker reportedly did not last past the first season. Frakes mentioned that Roddenberry told him that Riker would not smile as much.
Star Trek Creator Gene Roddenberry Instructed TNG Actor To Not Smile So Much In The Show
Jonathan Frakes’ William Riker is known for his flamboyant personality. The first officer of the USS Enterprise was depicted as a ladies’ man, who grows throughout the seven seasons of Star Trek: The Next Generation to become an amicable leader. He is called as ‘Number One’ by Captain Jean-Luc Picard.
However, Riker’s signature personality reportedly only came in in the middle of the first season and had a completely different idea on paper. Creator Gene Roddenberry reportedly instructed Frakes to play Riker as a serious man and told him not to smile a lot. Roddenberry reportedly compared Riker to Gary Cooper.
Frakes revealed Roddenberry’s instructions in an interview with the Syfy Network (via Showbiz Cheatsheet),
Gene Roddenberry, the late Great Space Bird Of The Galaxy, had asked me originally not to smile, that he wanted Riker to be played with what he referred to as a Gary Cooper, Midwestern glint—not a scowl, but not smiling…And my nature is to smile, so I looked, or thought I looked, very uncomfortable—certainly in the first season—because I was playing Roddenberry’s wish, his note.
The actor also mentioned that it changed when Maurice Hurley came on board as the showrunner and he included Riker’s affinity towards jazz and other elements of his signature personality.
Jonathan Frakes Said One Star Trek Episode Transitioned The Cast Into Their Characters
The first season of any TV show usually differs in some elements from the rest of the series as the cast and crew figure out their characters, arcs, and stories. Many things change along the way and while there is a show bible set that guides their arcs, audience reception, and actor inputs change things.
Jonathan Frakes mentioned that it was odd to see himself in the first season of the show he was still playing by Gene Roddenberry’s rules. However, he attributed the change to one episode in the first season. Frakes credited the episode ‘The Last Outpost’ for being the moment when the TNG cast got into their characters. He said (via ScreenRant),
I think I was so nervous during season one. When we go back and watch clips of these original shows, you can just see we’re not really quite sure how we’re supposed to behave because we haven’t found the characters yet. And whenever we went to Planet Hell, which is what we called Stage 16, and we had a strong villain, we were a little bit looser.
However, Frakes also respected Roddenberry’s vision for Riker as a loyal and honest officer.
Star Trek: The Next Generation is currently available to stream on Paramount+.
