UPDATED: Monday night December 15th was a big night for former security officers of the USS Enterprise D. Firstly, Michael Dorn is the latest Star Trek crossover to appear on the NBC comic-book drama Heroes where Star Trek The Next Generation’s Worf was a surprise guest star. And on Fox Denise Crosby (TNG: Tasha Yar) showed up on Prison Break. [images of both below + SPOILERS below]
President Worf
Dorn appeared in the episode "Dual" that aired tonight on NBC. This is final episode of Heroes "Volume 3 – Villains" (aka first half of the third season). In the episode Dorn shows up in the very last scene, which is actually a preview of the opening of the next volume of Heroes (Volume 4 – ‘Fugitives’), playing the unnamed President of the United States. The scene was mostly out of focus or with such tight close-ups that it was only in the final moments that you could recognize the actor who was playing the president. But any Star Trek fan would recognize that voice from the first moment he spoke. The scene portended what could be a recurring role for the actor in the next ‘Volume’ of Heroes, which kicks off on February 2nd, 2009.
The President of the United States (Michael Dorn -L) and Senator Nathan Petrelli (Adrian Pasdar – R middle image) in Heroes [NBC]
And it wasn’t just Dorn in Monday’s big Fall finale episode. George Takei, Sulu from The Original Series, also appeared in "Dual, reprising his recurring role as Kaito Nakamura, father of Hiro Nakamura. And he got to show off some of his sword skills.
George Takei in Heroes "Dual" [NBC]
Watch it NBC, G4TV and online
Heroes airs on NBC at 9PM (8 Central). If you are catching this article within an hour of posting you still have time to catch this episode at its first showing at 9PM, and Mountain Time folks have time to catch end with Dorn. If you missed it, don’t worry as Heroes also repeats on Tuesday’s on G4TV. "Dual" should soon be available for viewing at NBC.com and Hulu.
Trek and Heroes – joined at the hip
Since its first episode, Heroes has been full of Star Trek references (both overt and subtle – see video below). The show is also home to many Star Trek cast and crewmembers. Of course almost every episode of Heroes includes Star Trek’s new Spock, Zachary Quinto as the brain sucking Sylar, but this is the the second week in a row with a main Trek cast member guest star. In addition to this week, George Takei also appeared last week in the episode "Our Fathers" (watch the full episode on Hulu – in USA). Other major Trek stars to appear on Heroes include Nichelle Nichols (TOS: Uhura), Dominic Keating (ENT: Reed), and Malcolm McDowell (GEN: Soren). There are also numerous members of the Heroes crew who are Trek vets, most notably DS9 and VOY writer/producer Bryan Fuller, who left the Heroes at the end of Season One, but is returning for the later half of Season Three (see EW interview with Fuller from last week on his return to Heroes). Some have suggested Leonard Nimoy as a possible father to Sylar (Quinto), however last week that role went to John Glover, who played Lex Luthor’s father on Smallville, but who also had a guest spot on Star Trek Deep Space Nine. And maybe Sylar needs a grandfather.
Zach Quinto shows some Trek-Heroes connections
UPDATE: Doctor Yar on Prison Break
In a bit of a strange coincidence, TNG’s Denise Crosby also had guest spot on a Monday Network show. Crosby played an unnamed ‘Doctor’ on the episode "Going Under." where she performed dangerous experimental brain surgery on the show’s hero Michael Scofield (played by Wentworth Miller). If you missed the episode, you can catch it online at FOX.com (starting later this week).
Denise Crosby on Prison Break [FOX]
Prison Break has had its fair share of Star Trek actors, including Dominic Keating (ENT: Reed) and most notably John Billingsley (ENT: Phlox), who had a major recurring character in the first season.
But does he have powers? We don’t yet know…
#1 No, but he will latter on. Then he will loose them, get them back, die and come back to life.
I love this subtle Trek salute Tim Kring and his production staff have kept going.
Who’s next?
Sirtis?
Spiner?
Mulgrew?
Stewart?
doubtful…
Beltran.
sans tatoo
who’s next,why not Nimoy to play a futur version of Sylar,or Stuwart to play the prime minister of england agains Dorm.
No no no. Clint Howard.
It’ll be Majel Barrett, and she’ll show up just as the “Countdown” comic book comes out in the fully collected edition.
Or John deLancie as the Vice President or National Security Advisor.
Other stunt casting possibilities:
Denise Crosby
Michelle Forbes
Nana Visitor
Alexander Siddig
Avery Brooks
Diana Muldaur
Armin Shimmerman
Jeri Ryan
I’ve always felt divided on this cross-pollination among the sci-fi shows. While it’s a nice nod to the fans, it also increases the “geek” factor for all of the “normal” folks in the audience. “Stargate” is probably the worst example of this, bringing in alumni from “Star Trek” and “Farscape”. Plus we’re seeing it with “Sanctuary” bringing in “Stargate” cast.
I’d like to see sci-fi shows do the kind of thing FX did by getting Glenn Close for “Damages” and “The Shield”. Why can’t we get casting like that? Can you imagine “Sanctuary” with Anthony Hopkins or Denzel Washington? How about “Heroes” with Sophia Loren or Forrest Whitaker? Or William Peterson? Now that he’s off “CSI”, he needs something to do.
This president will not be impeached. But will accept…discommendation.
they should get Jeffrey Combs! he’s been in every Star Trek, except for the original :D
Dorn!
Has “Heroes” gotten better?
Netflixing Season Two now… ouch.
#9 – “Stargate” is probably the worst example of this, bringing in alumni from “Star Trek” and “Farscape”. Plus we’re seeing it with “Sanctuary” bringing in “Stargate” cast.
Personal tastes I guess. SG-1 last 2 seasons – ok, I get your point. The Farscape casting was a coup, and frankly brought fresh air to the series. Stunt or otherwise, ratings went up and stayed up.
Robert Picardo has had a great run with his character on SG-1 and SG-A., as has Connor Trinnear (? spelling unsure) with Atlantis. As for Sanctuary, many of the actors are local to Vancouver, and great friends so yes they’d work together again.
From what I hear (I stopped watching after the S3 premiere), it’s on its last legs.
Michael Dorn playing the president of the United States!? It’s INGENIOUS!!! So good to see him in a high-profile acting gig, and a gig with substance to boot!
I’m not saying it hurts the show, creatively or otherwise. I just think that the perception of SF in the main would be enhanced a bit if they got actors who aren’t normally associated with SF all the time.
What about Eric Braden? Everyone knows him from “The Young & The Restless”, but he did a turn in the “Wonder Woman” pilot oh so many years ago.
And “Heroes” should be Eddie Paskey.
S3 way better then S2, though they say if you skipped S2 and S3 so far if you start watching on Feb 3 you won’t be missing anything.
I am so happy to have Dorn as the Prez, Heroes + Trek = Fanlove!
heres more casting ideas…THE SHAT, Spader, and a complete out-of-left field crossover, Annette O’Toole as the U.S. Senator from Kansas, Martha Kent (LOL) also whenever Heroe’s series finale is gonna be, whether in a few months or years down the road, 10-to-1 they’ll pull a ‘Newhart’-like twist and reveal that all of ‘Heroes’ is actually a hidden Star Trek prequel series, a kind of new twist on the Eugenics Wars
Was a good day for Enterprise D Security tonight.
Denise Crosby made an appearance on tonights episode of Prison Break as well.
Nimoy as Syler’s father?
” 7. caz316 – December 15, 2008
who’s next,why not Nimoy to play a future version of Sylar”
um… I don’t think that will work so well. ;-)
The overlooked side effect of the Obama presidency is that every black male actor will get a turn at playing the President.
Saw the name in the beginning of the credits and was Stoked!! It was the best part of the WHOLE volume!
Also, I’ve never seen My Own Worst Enemy, but I left the TV on after Heroes and saw a ‘First Contact’ reunion of Lily Sloane and Zefram Chrocrane (Alfre Woodard and James Cromwell!)
It is a good day to save the cheerleader !!
Qa’Pla!!
#1 : He has the power to not stay married due to his wives befalling unfortunate “accidents” . ;o)
nice catch Luke, added that to article
Shatner should do a cameo in Dexter :)
woah… Shat on Dexter would be interesting.
Or maybe as a high ranking vampire in True Blood.
Well Im glad to see that homage paid to Star Trek, then again all it is is a promo for the new movie.
9
I’ve always felt divided on this cross-pollination among the sci-fi shows. While it’s a nice nod to the fans, it also increases the “geek” factor for all of the “normal” folks in the audience.
But when this happens, do you think the “normal” folks even notice? I personally doubt it.
Michael Dorn is my boy. I have not been following Heroes lately but I would love to see him on screen again.
30. To quote Geordi,
“What’s normal?”
Denise Crosby of New Voyages? Wow!
I have to admit, I did not know that Prison Break ist still on the air…
I was not able to watch more than the beginning of season 3 for boredom…
Anyone catch the Big Bang Theory. The ending was priceless.
Shatner should be on Lost as the head of Dharma. That would be so sweet.
@35…
you are right, he looks like a matured de Groot…
Rene Auberjoniois, Marc Alaimo, Aron Eisenberg, Louise Fletchter, Colm Meany would all be good choices too.
also this season on “prison break” a one time ds9 villain had a big role in the first few episodes of this season.
cress williams has been on prison break this season. as soon as you see him on screen in prison break there is something about him that makes you go…hmmm…i’ve seen this guy somewhere before…under heavy make-up as a jem’hadar third talak’talan in the second season ds9 finale “the jem’hadar.”
Thanks, for the Heroes spoiler in the SUBJECT of this article. Couldn’t you have written something like “Michael Dorn makes surprise appearance in a show”? Did it have to be put into the subject, that he’s on Heroes? :(
I think there are going to be a lot of people from UK who will be disappointed too, because they thought, they can read the articles of this homepage without having to worry to get the newest Heroes episode spoiled.
Come on Saavik, imagine how tough this is for german fans. The dubbing takes so long that they will forget about Dorns appearance before the episode airs on the old continent ;))
The actor who plays Theodore Bagwell (T-bag) in Prison Break was in an episode of TNG as a visitor aboard the enterprise.
Always liked Michael Dorns voice over work – retro trip for I Am Weasel :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=npz0O3x3YXg
Good to see him back on TV again.
“Perhaps today is a good day to die!”
I hope he says that as the president. :P
Danya, the “normals” may not notice, but it’s one of those things where you end up talking about it with someone else who knows the language, and you get looks.
Happened to me yesterday while a colleague and I were discussing “Thomas the Tank Engine”…
Nice that they gave George some real screen time. Previously, it was usually one scene… or one scene and off the balcony with you! Ha. Also nice that Our Father and Dual were better episodes than we’ve seen for most of this season. Anyway, welcome President Worf. I don’t think anyone will be throwing shoes at you, unless they want a bat’leth up their… _____.
I was so excited to see Dorn last night! I knew he was going to be on, but I still yelped when I heard THAT VOICE!
Kaito Nakamura continues to be one of my favorite TV characters ever. Takei never really had the opportunity to show us those chops in Star Trek.
And if you were watching “Chuck” right before “Heroes”, you might have noticed that the episode was directed by Robert Duncan McNeill (Lt. Paris from VOY).
Well, to be fair, they put Dorn’s name in the opening credit scroll… it just became a matter of “when” he’d appear in the episode. I must compliment the makeup people for their youth-on-asian (that’s a joke, people) work with George. He really looked younger, not just made up to look younger, if you know what I mean.
Yes, as another poster mentioned above, another terrific and well acted reference to Star Trek in The Big bang Theory! Penny giving an autographed napkin from Leonard Nimoy to Sheldon. A really great moment!
Dorn as president was a nice surprise, saw his name in the credits so I was looking for it.
#9 “How about “Heroes” with Sophia Loren or Forrest Whitaker?”
One of the great regrets of my life is that I met Sophia Loren in 1965 when I was 9 – WAY too young to appreciate the event!
#16 “What about Eric Braden? Everyone knows him from “The Young & The Restless”, but he did a turn in the “Wonder Woman” pilot oh so many years ago.”
Don’t forget “Colossus: The Forbin Project”. But I’d rather see Hans Gudegast…