Star Trek Deep Space Nine and the Roddenberry Underwear - My Story (Part 1)
Wednesday, October 1, 2008 at 06:07PM My friend, Tracy B, in Los Angeles asked if I would put up the Roddenberry Underwear story inspired by my five and a half years as various aliens on Star Trek Deep Space Nine, so here it is…
A few years ago, I was invited to a party in Hollywood and there I met one of the directors of StarTrek Deep Space Nine.
“Wow, I love those shows,” I said. “Who do I have to kill to get on that show?” (I didn’t say kill and we came to an accord—not the car).
Well, the director was aware of me as a recording artist and told me that she didn’t realize I had any aspirations in the acting direction, but she would be happy to see what she could do. 
The very next day the phone rang and it was Paramount Pictures, (Opportunity Knocks) asking when I could come in for a fitting. As far as I knew, I had the rest of my life off, so I said now is good. I mean, they can’t wait to forget you in Hollywood…they are standing in line to forget you, so I figured I should strike while the iron is on fire, dontchaknow?
At the time I was sporting a ponytail that I had had for about six years. I was already losing my hair, but for some reason was holding on to this vestage of my former self. I put the ponytail in my hat and took off for Paramount.
When I arrived the sent me first to make up where I was transformed into a Bajoran (the ones with the little rubber thing on their noses—sort of like the back of a sneaker), then on to wardrobe where I was fitted for a Bajoran Security Guard costume and then to the hair trailer, where I figured that they were going to accommodate my ponytail.
As I sat in the chair, the stylist said, “Wow, how long have you had this ponytail?” “Six years,” I said.
SNIP!
“Did you want to take this with you or should I just toss it?” I literally gasped. I couldn’t believe it. I thought that my voice was going to change. Six years with a ponytail and now I just looked like some straight business guy; except for the nose thingy.
In a daze, I wandered over to the set of Deep Space Nine, which was a about a third of a two story space station, very cool. Quark’s Bar, the Replicator Lounge, Odo’s Office, it was fantastic.
Everyone seemed to like me and at the end of the day, they said that I was welcome to come back anytime I was off the road and be a part of the cast. They said I was very professional. I started smiling. Professional? I was an extra in the background. I stood around while light bounced off of me. It’s not too hard a gig. Actually you’re doing it right now.
But I guess because I didn’t actually look into the camera and scream, “MOM, IT’S ME!” they figured I was a pro. And frankly, I was flattered and excited about the idea of being on the show. I mean, I’m not exactly famous, so this made me at least a little more famous than my audience…and it gave me some more spin with the press. When I come to town, if they can’t talk about my music or my show, they can always talk about Star Trek.
I loved working on the show, such a great bunch of people and such fun. I remember being on the Replicator Lounge and playing chess with Quark (played by Armin Shimmerman). They were setting up a pyro (fire) scene and it always takes a long time to get that set up safely, so we had all this time.
I am sitting across the chess table from a Ferengi in full costume. Heiney head, all orange, purple fingernails, clothes made out of your grandmother’s sofa material, what a vision. And around us were about twenty five of the cast in full regalia. It was like that bar scene in the first Star Wars. So fantastic and I was part of it. When I was a boy, I would have given my mom to the arabs to be doing this and now I WAS doing it and getting paid for it.
I loved this gig. I loved everything about it…except the underwear…
(continued on Friday)
Reader Comments (5)
James! YOU had a ponytail...tho I feel for you ...especially cos they really didnt NEED to shorn you...but you arent THAT kind of man...I mean I think a pony tail is beneath you...I thought the same thing about Micky Dolenz when HE was wearing a ponytail...funny tho how both of you had big afros as young men...hmmm ok please continue on with your story when Friday comes....
This is one of my favorite stories....so thank you to Tracy for sugesting it!!
And even though I know how it turns out I can't wait for Part 2 <G>
Funny,,,we were just talking about underwear at work today. Wow...talk about cosmic synergy <G> (OK..it was Swedish underwear but underwear is underwear <G>)
Im not that much of a reader to be honest but your blogs pretty good, keep it up as I will bookmark ready for my next read
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I think I have to say I like this blog. Could you tell me where you're going to keep up with him? By the way, I found this site from Lycos
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Lucky you! It has been my dream to be part of any Star Trek shoot. I'd love to see how you looked like wearing the Bajoran security guard costume. security guards perth