The difference in performances delivering the same lines shows how much an actor can bring to a character

@michac3796

4 жыл бұрын

Völlig richtig, die berechnende Kaltschnäuzigkeit und Gleichgültigkeit von Saul Rubinek passt wesentlich besser zum Charakter. Absolutely right, the calculating coldness and indifference of Saul Rubinek fits the character much better. (DeepL)

@thewewguy8t88

4 жыл бұрын

@@michac3796 i actually feel like the coldness while it fits the character i also think it adds to just being not a bland or even generic villian of the week but more of standard tng villian of the week.

@j.p.9522

4 жыл бұрын

Absolutely!!!!!

@cakestalker

4 жыл бұрын

I guess we'll never know completely how the final episode would have turned out. These takes while looking good still might not have been final. They could have been planning to do more and alternative takes as well as some final ADR here and there etc.

@randomrazr

4 жыл бұрын

whihc do u prefer

I have to say, I feel like Rubinek's sliminess suits the role better than Rappaport's more overtly sinister delivery.

@ricardogalvan1031

Жыл бұрын

Also a nuance with Rubinek's character. Recall him crying over his past (which he then snapped out of, in an instant, declaring it to be a lie), his shocked look after killing the woman, and then this conclusion: it gives the air that Fajo, deep down, understood he was a bad guy and WANTED to die by Data's hand, but he was always too cowardly to do it himself.

@javaman7199

4 ай бұрын

@@ricardogalvan1031 I think his flair for flamboyance really sold his delivery as well. It is the kind of thing that you would expect from someone who collects these things.

I think it's Robert Meyer Burnett who found the footage while he was working on the bonus features for the TNG blurays. It's nice that they included it.

@marks47

3 жыл бұрын

I think he knew about it already... A LOT of die-hard fans did.... And asked for it to be dug up, but yeah, his work on the DVD's is what allowed this to finally be seen. They also had to ask the family of Rappaport

It's cool how they didn't try to replicate the exact same character. Instead they worked with what they had and try to make the best with it. That's commitment to quality.

CORRECTIONS. _David_ (not Michael) Rappaport _attempted_ suicide during the filming of this episode. He tried again on May 2, 1990, succeeding this time, which was three days before "The Most Toys" premiered on American television (May 5). They didn't hire Saul Rubinek, shoot his scenes, do all the post-production, and distribute the tape to broadcasters, in a mere three days.

@Pyrolonn

20 күн бұрын

I noticed that too. I thought maybe his middle name was Michael or some other quirk, but you are correct. Brent Spiner is speaking off the cuff about someone he worked with decades before so it's easy to see how a mistake was made.

Honestly I prefer Rubinek’s Fajo. He has a punchable face and the way he delivers his lines makes him feel more manipulative and cutthroat. I don’t get that vibe with Rappaport’s version because it feels static to me, but we are comparing two performances where there could’ve been more editing touches and reshoots done with Rappaport’s version. This is an unfair comparison.

@slowfreq

4 жыл бұрын

Rubinek's performance was so smarmy, and and arrogant, and unlikeable, that it puts his Fajo easily in my top list of most-hated characters. But that's precisely what I loved about it, and what made the character so memorable.

@towtruckmafia

3 жыл бұрын

I keep hearing I'm a writer.

@slowfreq

3 жыл бұрын

@@towtruckmafia Is it because you have schizophrenia

@lujon103

3 жыл бұрын

The vibe Rappaport gave was his severe depression. He had a wooden performance because he didn't care anymore. The fact he killed himself a couple of days later shows that he didn't give it his all. I've seen him in other movies and shows and he's a damn good actor. It was clear that he wasn't trying in this one. If he actually gave a damn, I'd bet a Year's pay he would have given a memorable performance

@the51project

Жыл бұрын

I think they adjusted the voice to be much deeper - have seen that online.

Before you included this material I'd never known about this actor's part in the series. It's a terrible shame to read about what happened to him.

@jamessmyth3952

4 жыл бұрын

What he did to himself.

@SpreadingtheMuse

4 жыл бұрын

It doesnt come up much. In the pre-internet days it was mentioned in the Making-Of books at the time (The TNG Compendium). These days you can find information on every episode on the Trek wiki. Memory Alpha. memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Portal:Main

@something.icantrememberany1365

4 жыл бұрын

@@jamessmyth3952 Is the distinction worth it? I hope it makes you feel good.

@G11713

3 жыл бұрын

@@user-qp4ij4yl8y Sounds suspiciously like cycles of mental illness, perhaps bipolar cycles spanning years.

@aluthman281

3 жыл бұрын

@@jamessmyth3952 Maybe you could be more of a dick about it.

Wow, Saul Rubinek made that role! His delivery is so much more palpable and sadistically vile.

2:01 The little hand wave dismissing the crewmember was an awesome touch.

As much as I loved Rappaport, I prefer the second Fajo.

@wolfgangkranek376

4 жыл бұрын

Did he play a Star Trek-Hobbit? kzread.info/dash/bejne/dHdnl8WKe6vdqso.html

@hariman7727

3 жыл бұрын

I think there's two factors that make the final version better: The makeup, and the line delivery. Both line reads are good, but I think they refined the lines between the original and the final version. I also think the makeup for the original was too heavy, and restricted the nonverbal acting of expression too much.

@RaeSyngKane

3 жыл бұрын

Herman Cillo I agree, makeup on Rappaport was a bit too extensive. Speech patterns of the second are better though. Actor was going for smug more than just superior. Probably a more fleshed out script providing a more accurate role.

@dorianleakey

3 жыл бұрын

it was early in the filming, it would have improved.

@l.e.miller1208

3 жыл бұрын

@@RaeSyngKane Is it too extensive, or is most of the makeup in TNG just some ridges glued to actors faces and very little done to distinguish species other than Klingons?

Saul Rubinek never gets the credit he deserves as an actor. He's got such range. He played Fajo here, as just someone who isn't just a villain, but cruel beyond measure, dismissive, but at the same time, when threatened acts like an angry child. Then you see him in movies like Unforgiven, more of a curious coward, wanting to tag along to whoever is the popular guy and the toughest guy trying to get the story. I remember him as Donny on Frasier too, where he did comedy very well.

@Taijifufu

3 жыл бұрын

Wait which of those characters is a lawyer again??

@williamsmith1399

2 жыл бұрын

Agree. Saul also played the role of Dr Jim Curran in the 1993 movie, And The Band Played On. He was very good at juggling the role of a CDC doctor and the role of a politician. Walked a fine line between being a likeable character while at the same time irritating enough to allow the audience to turn on him. Very similar to how he played the Fajo character.

@SuperMarioBrosIII

Ай бұрын

@@williamsmith1399 He was also in Death Wish 5. 🔫

I much prefer Saul Rubinek's performance. He breathes so much life into Fajo's character. He makes me hate Fajo. Rapaport's Fajo almost feels like he wants the watcher to feel sorry for him, but that's not what Fajo is about. Rubinek's Fajo is emotional, manipulative, and breathes life into every sentence. Rapaport may have been a good actor, but Rubinek is exactly what the Fajo character needed.

@lastswordfighter

3 жыл бұрын

It looks like Data is talking to the Leprechaun.

@marcellachine5718

3 жыл бұрын

I absolutely loved this episode. I had no idea there was an earlier removed actor for the fajo character.

@lujon103

3 жыл бұрын

I'm pretty certain the guy didn't give his best performance is because he was extremely depressed and didn't care anymore. I've seen him in other movies and shows and he's a very good actor. He was very capable how giving an excellent performance. He was just in a dark place at the time

@GiselleGauthier

3 жыл бұрын

@@lujon103 It was a very unfortunate and dark time for him. Brent Spiner misspoke at that convention though. Rappaport *attempted* to take his life over that weekend and Saul Rubinek was then brought in to replace him. He only succeeded in taking his own life two months later.

@WoodysAR

2 жыл бұрын

@@marcellachine5718 'removed'? Is that a euphemism for death?

Damn this highlights what a great actor Saul Rubinek is. He turns this from a very forgettable episode into a classic for me.

@thomasdevine867

3 жыл бұрын

The British actor gave us a cold sadist. The American actor gave us a recognizable sleeze. The American actor took real world experiences of creeps and gave us a realistic evil. The British actor was going for something more abstract and with a cold dignity. A minor version of Milton's Satan.

@JulianPG17

3 жыл бұрын

Saul rubinek

@bordaz1

3 жыл бұрын

@Moth breeder an innocent mistake....admit it you had to look it up....or at least wouldn't have guessed on accent alone. USA vs. Canada is like England vs. Cornwall

@Moutopher

3 жыл бұрын

@Moth breeder Canada is in America

@thomasdevine867

3 жыл бұрын

@Moth breeder Pure lack of information. I went with the accent.

CORRECTION: The actor was not Michael Rapaport. He is still alive ( and much taller). It was David Rappaport.

@j0nt

3 жыл бұрын

Also, I believe he failed in his suicide attempt but had to be replaced. It wasn't until a few months later (just before the episode actually aired) that he successfully committed suicide.

@KameronJ7

3 жыл бұрын

That makes more sense. Michael Rappaport would also be a bit young at that point

@brucehubbard1852

3 жыл бұрын

Good that you said that, now I don't have to.

@DeltaAssaultGaming

Жыл бұрын

To be fair, Michael Rappaport is also quite crazy.

@smadaf

Жыл бұрын

@@j0nt , you're right. David Rappaport died on May 2, 1990; "The Most Toys" premiered on May 5, 1990. They didn't hire someone else, shoot his scenes, do all the post-production, and distribute the tape to broadcasters, in a mere three days.

Poor guy was struggling that’s why he didn’t pull off the part.

@hilaryc3203

4 ай бұрын

It's not that he didn't pull it off. He attempted suicide due to his depression. He succeed later.

Oh, man. ☹️ Growing up in the UK, David Rappaport was in so many of the TV shows and films I watched as a kid. Poor guy. He just couldn't face going on, I guess.

@Craig_Spurlock

Жыл бұрын

His TV series, 'The Wizard' from 1987 should have been more successful, IMO.

@peppermintspacecapsule9898

Жыл бұрын

@@Craig_Spurlock - To me, he'll always be one of the O-Men, with Sylvester McCoy!

DAVID Rappaport. MICHAEL Rappaport is a tall blond guy.

@dorkmax7073

4 жыл бұрын

David Stephen Rappaport (here) and Michael David Rappaport

@GeppettoProductions

4 жыл бұрын

Oddly enough Michael Rapaport was in a movie with Saul Rubinek (2nd Fajo actor).

@gregquinn7817

4 жыл бұрын

@@GeppettoProductions I'm sure they can call get to Kevin Beacon in less than 6 degrees.

@johnburns9634

4 жыл бұрын

@@GeppettoProductions Yup, The Movie was True Romance with Christian Slater.

@terrancegerber8902

3 жыл бұрын

Omg thanks I was so fing confused like wait why I dont remember rapport being so short...hmmmmm

I feel like I saw Rappaport on TV in the UK, when I was a child, quite often, so I'm sorry that I had no idea of his sad departure. The performances can't really be compared, Rubinek was obviously a fine actor & made Fajo chilling & utterly loathsome, Rapppaport's talents lay elsewhere & his line delivery was obviously not the most inspired.

@adamsmith7058

Жыл бұрын

"...his line delivery was obviously not the most inspired." I know you didn't mean anything bad with this observation. But it's worth noting, given what happened, that the guy's mind was probably elsewhere and not on the job at hand. I too think Rubinek's performance was more effective, there are extenuating circumstances for Rappaport though, given his ,likely poor, mental state at the time..

Saul Rubinek is awesome! His presentation and reality, plus little subtleties & facades of a nefarious "criminal character" are shown here in this nearly overlooked episode ST:TNG as it's a gem. Sad how Rubinek got the part. Rappaport's interpretation of Fajo, was more Napoleonic concerning an individual that can & will never fill a gaping void in his life: Rappaport transliterated that personal angst into his final acting role that the World never got to see till the Internet came along.

Saw Time Bandits today,David Rappaport was in a couple of Monty Python off shoots,the Baron Munchausen film and Time Bandits and a lot of british tv stuff.

@DeathBYDesign666

3 жыл бұрын

Who was he in Baron Munchausen? Was he the executioner's assistant? I know he wasn't the main little guy with the Superman breath and huge ears.

The moment that struck me the most is when they realized that as Data was beamed over… he had fired the weapon. Even without emotion chip, Data was already pushed too far. I loved that they added these original scenes to the bonusmaterial of the Blu-ray. The whole restoration of the show was soooooo worth it and the GREATEST thing CBS ever did.

@heidikickhouse-

2 жыл бұрын

Oh please. There's not a woman on this planet (exactly who elected me spokesman for half the population?? I'm just saying, we can tell!) - that doesn't believe Spiner's super-specific, super-nuanced pauses, phrasing and looks don't frequently betray his fledgling (probably undefined/unrecognized) emotions once in a while!

Rubinek’s “murrr-der”. “Rage”. His delivery has much more punch / impact imo

Rappaport wasnt the right fit for the role. I understand the idea behind it, having a character with a small appearance with such power, but he couldnt represent the menacing aspect of the character. But the blame goes also to the casting director, who should have said no.

It's a masterclass in how less is more. Rubinek delivers most of the lines with insouciance and disinterest, which ultimately conveys more malevolence.

Thanks for showing these clips of David Rappaport's performance as Kivas Fajo. Very sad about what happened to him 😥 On a side note, the Fajo character was named for TNG pre-production and script coordinator Lolita Fatjo--an interesting little homage that Ms. Fatjo herself mentioned at a convention I attended.

@heidikickhouse-

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for that!

The guy who actually did it, is maybe the most evil and unsettling part in the whole series. Only is topped by David Warner playing that cardassian torturer.

@KRAFTWERK2K6

3 жыл бұрын

David Warner was always a WONDERFUL guest actor in Star Trek, in EVERY role :)

@tomvignola9896

3 жыл бұрын

THERE ARE FOUR LIGHTS!!!!!

@Connection-Lost

Жыл бұрын

Gul Macet demands you remember his name

So sad about David Rappaport, it would have been fascinating to see his Kivas Fajo in the episode. However, with all due respect to David, I think Saul Rubinek's performance was superior.

@MajorGrin

4 жыл бұрын

I agree . not to speak ill of the dead but Saul was just better for that specific role . David would have been great as a different alien villain (or hero)

@thewewguy8t88

4 жыл бұрын

@@MajorGrin i actually kind of enjoyed both but saul did come across as more tng standard villian of the week. david i felt like gave bit of a uniqueness to the role not just in looks but in terms of how confident he was compared to saul.

@Johnny-rx4hs

4 жыл бұрын

@@MajorGrin He would have been good as someone like the pirate captain in "Gambit" or something along those lines.

@lujon103

3 жыл бұрын

David could have played this character far better than the way he ended up doing it. I've seen his past works. Damn good actor, just didn't care anymore.

I believe what actually happened was that Rappaport ATTEMPTED suicide in the middle of filming the episode. I suppose he was replaced because he might have been held on a psych hold, or perhaps he had physical injuries. But he made a SECOND, successful suicide attempt a couple of days before the episode aired.

@GooglyEyedJoe

4 жыл бұрын

It's worrying to think whether their recasting of him was one of the reasons behind what really pushed him over the edge in the end, granted he had depression but maybe he wanted to appear in the episode and when they completely got rid of him from it, it was like adding insult to injury.

@bazzokzwattom2655

4 жыл бұрын

You're correct. Brent Spiner misremembered what happened.

@cakestalker

4 жыл бұрын

@@GooglyEyedJoe He was the first choice for the role. The recasting only happened after the director learned of his suicide attempt (he was found in his car with a tube running from the exhaust). Had he not done that he would have been in the final episode.

@beingsshepherd

4 жыл бұрын

'On March 4 [1990], Rappaport was hospitalized suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning. Police found him lying unconscious and not breathing in an idling Volkswagen with a hose connected from the exhaust pipe to the inside of the car. Detectives described the incident as “an obvious suicide attempt.”' www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-05-04-mn-145-story.html 'On 2 May 1990, he committed suicide by shooting himself in the chest in Laurel Canyon Park in the San Fernando Valley in California.' en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Rappaport#Final_years,_death_and_legacy '"The Most Toys" is the 22nd episode of the third season of the American science fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation, and the 70th episode of the series overall. [...] Original air date May 5, 1990' en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Most_Toys

@MaximilianonMars

4 жыл бұрын

@@beingsshepherd what a sad story :( I heard this sermon and it reminds me of this, called "Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God" to mean if you have anything else at the top of your desires other than God, when it's taken from you you end up killing yourself. The pastor had examples from his own friends and family where, for example, an avid sportsman and runner became paralysed and rather than live in a chair chose to commit suicide. For Rappaport we could speculate why he was so deeply unhappy. Here's the sermon: www.faithfulwordbaptist.org/020920a.mp3 Currently the pastor's main KZread channel Sanderson1611 is under attack, but you can find his second channel Sanderson1769 for other sermons and documentary films. And a short, clear gospel presentation: kzread.info/dash/bejne/iXh5pNxrZc-tlLw.html Getting saved is extremely easy and permanent, Christ paid it all, we don't pay our own way to heaven, we just accept the free gift of salvation in faith.

I remember when this aired. It remains among my top five, and Rubinek was jaw-dropping. I'd never seen a more wilful, childish, chilling portrayal of evil and still haven't.

Saul Rubinek rocks in everything he's in.

I actually enjoy both performances, albeit for different reasons. Different feelings.

the broadcast one is far better. Vocal emphasis is much more appropriate. The first one is quite flat and unconvincing.

@GODCONVOYPRIME

4 жыл бұрын

It feels wooden.

@xxlCortez

3 жыл бұрын

I suppose the crippling depression had a lot to do with it.

@lujon103

3 жыл бұрын

Well he was suicidal and didn't care anymore. I highly recommend watching some of his past performances. He's not a bad actor at all. If he actually cared, this could have been a memorable performance of his. A lot better than what he gave in the end.

David Rappaport would have made a very memorable villain, but beside that unfortunate tragedy, this comparison shows that he really wasn't in the moment at all, IMO. I mean, he's delivering his line fine, hitting his marks, but somehow there's really no "character" in his character. Just pretty bland delivery, which I feel is more a symptom of his depression that he was having at the time. Very sad. Still glad to finally have seen this footage, thank you!!!

@erin_3569

3 жыл бұрын

I think he was already planning to commit suicide when filming He bought the gun 15 days before killing himself

@lujon103

3 жыл бұрын

I completely agree. I've seen his performances in other shows and movies. He's a damn good actor. His heart just wasn't in it.

@toomanyaccounts

2 жыл бұрын

@@erin_3569 the attempt while filming was car exhaust. he killed himself before the episode aired.

@heidikickhouse-

2 жыл бұрын

I appreciate this information. It's hard to say how great Rubinek was without feeling like you're disrespecting the wonderful actor David Rappaport. Even while consumed with depression, he was ominous.

I prefer Saul Rubinek’s performance, because you can sense the character’s transference of his own cold, intellectual curiosity onto Data, whereas David Rappaport feels more like a conventional villain from the original series. I just don’t feel what he’s feeling. Rubinek’s take on the character just feels more modern to me. There’s even a moment when you see a flash of amusement on Rubinek’s face when his character contemplates Data acting out of rage. He ever streamlines and skips some of the less necessary lines to improve the pacing. It’s a very nuanced performance.

@InfernosReaper

3 жыл бұрын

the skipping lines might've been inevitable as scripts sometimes get refined. Rapport does seem more fanciful, but definitely oldschool, which has a more niche appeal

@MilesLougheed

3 жыл бұрын

I believe he also adds in a "Data" to help punctuate one of his lines. He does an excellent job building Fajo without getting carried away. I *hate* Fajo... A definitive way to say Rubinek nailed it.

Saul Rubinek's performance was brilliant, one of the best guest spots on any TNG episode. I feel that he was better that the little guy. That said, Rappaport would still have made for a compelling villain and it's a shame that he felt that he had no choice but to take his own life (the second attempt at doing so, sadly).

I dunno man... I like the actor who plays the Fajo in the actual ep... I've seen him in other shows, he's a good actor

@hariman7727

3 жыл бұрын

They're both good performances.

@RealMonoid

2 жыл бұрын

@@hariman7727 No. The dwarf sucks

Very tragic situation, but damn this makes me appreciate Saul's performance

One of the best dialogues in TNG ever.

It is almost as if he is lecturing himself. “Murder me!” He was asking himself the question if he could feel the need to get revenge on himself.

Wow, I just watched this episode today. Thank you for sharing this.

"If only you could feel anger." That whole scene is great writing.

I prefer the version we got (maybe because I am used to it), but it felt more fitting for TNG. Getting some more TOS villain vibes from David's version and I think he could have been an interesting choice for other characters. Really sad to hear what happened to him

"We said 'We'll see you on Monday. Over the weekend, he killed himself." 1. He killed himself on Wednesday, May 2, 1990. Not "over the weekend". 2. “There was a story going around that they had found him in his car with a tube running from the exhaust. Obviously I had to replace him.” - Timothy Bond, director of the episode. Therefore, he was replaced after the first attempt, but before his successful attempt from a gunshot wound.

Wow, this is a fascinating bit of trivia about TNG I was utterly unaware of. The Most Toys happens to be my favorite Trek episode so it was kind of shocking learning about what happened in production.

I DID NOT KNOW THIS! I knew that David Rappaport had committed suicide. Time Bandits was the only thing I'd seen him in. I had no idea he was filming The Most Toys at the time.

Poor David Rappaport. As sorry as I am to hear about what happened to him, Saul really nailed that monologue. I could hear it fifty times (and I have) without getting tired of it.

"What did I say?" 😧🤣

@MajorGrin

4 жыл бұрын

kind of a low blow

@neiloch

4 жыл бұрын

@@MajorGrin yeah that was kind of cringey. Always annoys me how hilarious Brent Spiner thinks he is with his edgelord dad jokes.

@skyserf

4 жыл бұрын

It didn’t strike me as if he was looking for laughs.

@DesireeStamat

3 жыл бұрын

I think this was a legitimate question one would have in this situation as an acting partner.

I like both

I had no idea that Michael Rapaport also played Kivas Fajo in early days of production. I loved him in Boston Public.

@SpreadingtheMuse

4 жыл бұрын

It doesnt come up much. In the pre-internet days it was mentioned in the Making-Of books at the time (The TNG Compendium). These days you can find information on every episode on the Trek wiki. Memory Alpha. memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Portal:Main

@119Agent

2 жыл бұрын

@@SpreadingtheMuse he was joking. Brent Spiner got his name wrong. It is David Rappaport.

@SpreadingtheMuse

2 жыл бұрын

@@119Agent What makes you think he was joking? Its completely possible that no one would know about Rappaport so many years later.

@119Agent

2 жыл бұрын

@@SpreadingtheMuse i think it went over your head. Michael vs David Rappaport.

@SpreadingtheMuse

2 жыл бұрын

@@119Agent If that's the case, as a comedian he shouldn't quit his day job.

OH wow! Thanks for posting this -- really fascinating to learn about this. Where do you come up with all this?!

Don't want to speak bad of the dead.. especially when he committed suicide just after this. RIP. But this was a very poor performance. You can see the difference immediately between both actors. Great episode.

@CBfrmcardiff

4 жыл бұрын

I prefer the original - up until the final bit there, where Daphne's fiance suddenly improves enormously.

@erin_3569

3 жыл бұрын

He was probably not really in the moment He had already bought the gun he used to kill himself

@WoodysAR

2 жыл бұрын

He does amazing job in Time Bandits and years of UK tv roles. His depression was sapping his creativity...

David Rappaport was Ftumsh in The Young Ones. “Oh look, a little girl!”

Saul Rubinik is so good.

This is a fascinating look behind the curtain of acting. And how casting can change the tone and vibrance of a scene or show. The circumstances are of course tragic as to why this re-casting was required, but I must concur with the majority of comments here. Saul Rubinek is a fantastic character actor, and his gift is bringing devious or "prick"-like characters to the screen. Being Canadian helped as well, he played a real twit of a lawyer on Street Legal here in Toronto back in the day. Reviewing both performances it's clear that Saul brought more to the role. We've all met a guy in our lives like Saul's version of Fajo. Perhaps to a less murderous degree of course, but you get my point. The Rappaport version of Fajo was TOO alien, too unrelatable. I think to a great episode of ST:Voyager where Bilana Torres was trapped on an alien ship where all of the crew were killed and the only entity left is a hologram caretaker who is asking for help. This character is just seething with anger, rage and disgust and played wonderfully by another great character actor, Leland Orser ....fantastic casting in this one, his hatred of humans and himself for being cast in their likeness is wonderfully vile. Man, it's great to talk about Star Trek again and watch examples of what made ST great!! Too bad Discovery and Picard are made by people who HATE Star Trek and great storytelling for want of F-bombs and feeling the urge to constantly piss on the grave of Gene Roddenberry. Discovery was bad enough, but dragging classic characters like Jean Luc Picard, Will Riker, and Deanna Troi through the same mud is just unforgivable! Hire some real Sci-Fi writers, have at least a shred of respect for what came before and maybe, just maybe Picard could become a third the show that TNG became through it's 7 seasons.

good thing they changed it

Both actors bring there own uniqueness to the character

Interesting to see this comparison, but I do prefer Rubinek's version. There's something so much more manipulative and slimy about his take on the character.

I never knew this but it's nice to see two actors interpretations of the same material!

@toomanyaccounts

2 жыл бұрын

one of the set design ideas for Fajo's ship was that it was made to fit the small alien so Data and others had to hunch down.

Oh wow . Both actors bring something completely different to the scene. Thanx for sharing

Wow, I had no idea

All due respect to the original actor, no question hands down Rubinek is the better Fajo. He is childlike, playful, giddy and thus much more sinister and dangerous. You really want to like him because he manipulates you into thinking he's a nice guy...but he's unpredictable and dangerous.

@erin_3569

3 жыл бұрын

I don't think the comparison is fair, considering he was depressed and tried to kill himself There would have probably reshoots and editing before finishing the actual episode

This is excellent......Both very good performances

Man, it's a shame that Rappaport's footage ended up being cut. The actor who replaced him for the broadcast episode did a better job conveying a spoiled psychopath, in my opinion, but I wonder now what would have happened if it had gone to air with Rappaort as Fajo.

@phoenixman8569

4 жыл бұрын

Good point there but its hard to say, there was not enough footage of him as he sadly ended his own life on the weekend when the episode was only half finished..

@NeoTechni

8 ай бұрын

naw, he sounded goofy

Rappaport was the star of a show I watched as a kid called The Wizard, where he played a toymaker. I don't remember a whole lot about it, though. (This show is unrelated to the Fred Savage movie / Super Mario Bros. 3 commercial.)

@119Agent

2 жыл бұрын

I loved the Wizard. It should have ran longer.

I do like Saul Rubinek's performance here. He's got that Willy Wonka blend of benevolence and sadism. Rappaport's version is harder to judge, but it seems more like he's reading off a page. Perhaps the change in actors also allowed them to change Fajo's tone. Either way, it's probably one of my favorite episodes and Spiner's greatest performance.

I feel Rubinek’s version is far more menacing, like he is a full-on sociopath. But Rappaport had a sort of pathetic nature, like he’s been broken down all his life for one reason or another, and his experiences turned him bitter, manipulative, and lustful for control. Honestly I think his take had room for the kind of deeper moral play TNG was known for, if the writers were willing to put in the effort.

First I heard of this, How Terrible how tragic. what must he have gone through to do that. how sad , how very sad

I don't think we can make any comparisons based on this performance when he was probably thinking about blowing his head off the entire time

The best part is, you can see the exact moment near the end as data prepares to fire where both Fajos shit themselves.

Holy cow, Michael Rappaport was so cool - when I was growing up, Herve was the "mean little guy" and Michael was the cool one - Time Bandits, The Wizard, and more. When we heard he killed himself a lot of nerds made sure everybody knew about it (pre-internet news took longer to flow often). I hadn't known he was originally playing the part Saul Rubinek ended up playing in the episode we saw.

Saul Rubinek (Second Fajo) definitely had the superior performance. His words every inflection and look he gave was full of emotional intent. The other guy....eh...sounded too much like he was just reading lines, and I found it not believable.

Data was aiming way too high at the dwarf alien

@MajorGrin

4 жыл бұрын

I wonder how it would have looked when he was trying to attack him through his personal forcefield

@magoffin

Жыл бұрын

It's the same shot of Data both times, they hadn't filmed his scene with Rappaport yet.

I get very different vibes from the performances. Rappaport comes across as evil. Rubinek comes across as a self absorbed sociopath, like he's charming and enjoys putting up the facade but he ultimately doesn't care about anyone or anything except his collection and himself.

@IHWKR

Жыл бұрын

Rubineks character is more calculated, which would classify him as a psychopath.

Wasn’t that the varyon t disruptor or some other rare weapon?

Omg that's right Time Bandits! I forgot! How sad. He was so charming:(

Both great performances IMO, very unique but still so much impact.

I remember hearing about this back in the day, but I didn’t realize who the original actor was. I recognize his voice from Time Bandits. Very sad

The author from the movie 'Unforgiven', if you recognize him

When they first said the name, I was thinking they meant 'Michael Rapaport' ... Doh!

Always thought it was funny how Data always raises his eyebrows when he shoots a phaser.

This was so cool, you hear about actors replacing during filming and a lot of times it is either obvious one was better or we never see the other footage but this time we see the footage and both actors do amazing jobs while bringing different aspects to the character. Rappaport brings a wicked and manipulative quality while Saul has kind of a sleazy aspect that is rather humor full but with a darker aspect just under the surface. This was a really a case of two good performances in a very good episode.

David Rappaport committed suicide during the production of this episode? That's very, very dark. But his performance here is truly great, there's a real cold anger to it, whilst those autocratic British tones give Fajo a real commanding presence (even though he's a dwarf). Thanks for that Grin, you're a treasure to Star Trek for your parodies, commentaries, recuts, compilations and ability to find rare gems like these.

@killdeer

4 жыл бұрын

He attempted suicide during the production and they replaced him while he was in hospital. He successfully ended his life several weeks later.

@christopherdean1326

4 жыл бұрын

He lived just down my road when I was a kid, think we went to the same schools. He was a nice, quiet guy. RIP

Been a fan my whole life and this is one of my favorite episodes but I never knew this. I've always liked Saul Rubinek ever since this show. I've never seen him do a bad performance in anything.

I wonder when Rappaport said murder me, if he said it in a way that he meant those words or if those words could have been the words that led him to his own suicide. Chilling.

We all just glass over a robot making a decision to kill on its own...roll credits and never bring up that terrifying fact...

Saul's performance is more comical and charming. He's more humorous while the Rappaport guy is playing it more straight and cold

The actors name is David Rapport. Great actor. he was a small person and suffered from depression hence he took his life. .

His performance is so raw and real. The other guy just sounds like he's reading lines off a card.

Fascinating.

Would very much have liked to see both performances in full comparison for the duration of an episode. R.I.P. Mr. Rapaport.

All respect to Mr. Rappaport, RIP. But Saul Rubinek was absolutely phenomenal in this role. The way he played this scene, _I_ felt rage.

I prefer Rubinek. His interpretation of the character just fits perfectly.

Even his facial gestures, his movements, contain more emotion and character than the original Fajo. You see the sudden surge of fear, "he's really gonna do it!" You see his pathology, his mental sickness and humor. With Rappaport, you see a TOS baddie of the week. With Rubinek, you see a person.

@smadaf

Жыл бұрын

It also helps that he looked and sounded like a typical American or Canadian human. The choice to use Rappaport's small height and (for most initial viewers) foreign accent, and to cover his face in shape-changing makeup and doctor his voice electronically, makes him harder to relate to as the dark side of one of us. Instead, he's just a caricature villain, like all those posh-English-accented Romans in Biblical epic movies and posh-English-accented Nazis and Soviets in World War II and Cold War movies, playing against American-accented Palestinian Jews and American good guys.

They're both such good performances.

Would've been nice to keep the more alien makeup.

Did the replacement guy also play a Norman Bates type character on Voyager?

The difference I saw was one actor who just read the lines, and one that put passion into it. It saddens me that the passion was missing from his life before he took it.

@MegaZidzid

2 жыл бұрын

it seems that skill vanishes when depression jumps into the game

I had no idea this event happened with the actor who took his own life. How very sad.

Michael Rappaport’s scenes and makeup seem more like something from TOS, imo. Good, but one dimensional. (It could also be that Rappaport’s line delivery was off because of his internal struggles, RIP) Saul Rubinek layered this performance with menace and sliminess and cowardice and rage… fantastic work.

3:36 when Data plays too much Nier Automata