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Before she was Tasha Yar, she was Lieutenant Commander Macha Hernandez.

For the Season 14 finale of The Trek Files, Denise Crosby joins Larry Nemecek to revisit her original 1987 audition sides for Star Trek: The Next Generation, including early character descriptions that reveal a very different version of the Enterprise’s security chief.

Denise first read for Deanna Troi before Gene Roddenberry made a pivotal switch, reshaping the role of Macha Hernandez into Tasha Yar to fit Denise’s strengths. In this week’s episode, Denise reflects on the audition process, her favorite scene between Troi and Yar that was never filmed, and what those early creative decisions revealed about the direction of TNG.

She also shares memories of those uncertain early days of production, the risk of launching a syndicated sequel to an iconic series, and the emotional complexity of stepping into (and eventually stepping away from) such a historic role. Along the way, Denise speaks movingly about loss after the Palisades fire, resilience, fandom, and what it means to revisit Star Trek decades later.

It’s a revealing look at how a character evolves, how casting can reshape canon, and how even discarded script pages tell the story of Star Trek’s creative DNA.

Documents and additional references

Star Trek: The Next Generation Casting Character Bios & Audition Sides (January 30, 1987)
Original description of Lieutenant Commander Macha Hernandez and early security chief character concepts.
Star Trek: The Next Generation Pilot Casting Sides (February 11, 1987)
Troi/Yar audition scene never filmed for TNG.

The Trek Files Season 14 on Memory Alpha

All episodes and documents: The Trek Files on Memory Alpha

Visit the Trekland site for behind-the-scenes access and exclusive merchandise.

The conversation continues on Discord with live chats and the Roddenberry Podcasts community! Join today!

14-24 Denise Crosby on Auditioning for TNG: How Macha Hernandez Became Tasha Yar

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Welcome to Gene-ology, a podcast by Roddenberry Entertainment that dives deep into the early TV writing works of Gene Roddenberry.

Is this the best television script Gene Roddenberry wrote prior to creating Star Trek? Gene’s singular episode of the popular medical drama Dr. Kildare is a powerful story full of rich characters and raw emotions – the bedrock of great television drama.

Hosted by Earl Green & Ashley Thomas

About Gene-ology

Gene-ology explores Gene Roddenberry’s early television scripts, including his lesser-known works before Star Trek using the Mission Log format popularized by Roddenberry Podcasts. We analyze the themes, writing style, and cultural impact of his scripts, and we even unearth stories from the Roddenberry archives that were never produced. Join us as we trace the roots of Gene’s creative genius.

In This Episode

A breakdown of key moments and themes in “A Distant Thunder”.
Exploring Gene Roddenberry’s evolving style and storytelling.
How this episode ties into the broader TV landscape of the time and reflects the early seeds of Roddenberry’s visionary work.
Guest stars and unique production elements that bring this episode to life.

Special Segment: Dramatic Recreation

Since this script is not available to the public, we’ve brought it to life with a dramatic recreation! Special guests Jeff Gauntt and Bonnie Gordon perform a key section of the script. Listen in as they bring the story to life in this exclusive performance.

Join the Conversation What did you think of this episode? Share your thoughts, theories, and favorite moments in the comments or reach out to us on social media or email us at missionlog@roddenberry.com

Did you know Roddenberry Podcasts is on YouTube? Find the video versions of your favorite shows like Mission Log: Prodigy, Mission Log: The Orville, as well as exclusive content only available on YouTube.

Subscribe now! https://www.youtube.com/@RoddenberryEntertainment?sub_confirmation=1

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Our shows are part of the Roddenberry Entertainment family. For more great shows and to learn how we live the legacy of Gene Roddenberry, the creator of Star Trek, follow us here: RODDENBERRY PODCASTS https://www.instagram.com/RoddenberryPodcasts RODDENBERRY ENTERTAINMENT https://www.instagram.com/RoddenberryOfficial RODDENBERRY FOUNDATION https://www.instagram.com/TheRoddenberryFoundation

Support the Show For as little as $1 a month, you can gain access to our Mission Log Discord Community! There, we continue the discussion with dedicated channels and a weekly video chat with the hosts. Become a member of our Patreon today! https://www.Patreon.com/MissionLog

Subscribe and Stay Tuned Be sure to subscribe to Gene-ology for more deep dives into Gene Roddenberry’s early works. New episodes are released regularly as we uncover more of Gene’s television legacy.

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Gene-ology is produced by Roddenberry Entertainment. Executive producer Eugene “Rod” Roddenberry. Visit https://Podcasts.Roddenberry.com for more great content. Edited by Earl Green.

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In this supplemental episode of Mission Log: Prodigy, Char and Marina welcome writer Jennifer Muro to the show. Muro has worked with several well-known franchises, such as DC, Marvel, and Star Wars, but as a lifelong Star Trek fan, working on Star Trek has been one of her favorite experiences in her career. Char and Marina learn details about working on Prodigy’s second season, the contributions Jen’s most proud of, and tidbits about scenes cut from the four episodes she wrote for the show.

🌟 About Prodigy: Star Trek: Prodigy follows a group of young aliens who stumble upon an abandoned Starfleet ship, igniting an adventure to seek a better future. Packed with thrilling adventures, moral lessons, and the iconic Star Trek values, this series captivates audiences with its compelling storytelling and dynamic characters.

🔍 In This Episode:

Our hosts break down the Messages, Morals, and Meanings woven into this episode.
Explore how the events of this episode fit into the bigger picture of the season’s storyline.
We’ll discuss pivotal moments, major character developments, and what this episode reveals about the characters’ journeys.
Uncover connections to previous Star Trek lore and explore how this episode ties into the larger Star Trek universe.

💬 Join the Conversation: We want to hear your thoughts! What messages stood out to you? How do you think this episode shapes the season’s narrative? Share your theories and reactions with us by leaving a comment!

🔔 Subscribe and Stay Connected: Never miss an episode! Subscribe using your favorite Podcast player and leave a 5-Star Review while you’re at it! Thank you in advance!

👉 Follow the Hosts:

Charlynn Schmiedt: Twitter
Marina Kravchuk: Twitter | Instagram Marina’s Trek Events Database: Trek Calendar

Mission Log: Prodigy is produced by Roddenberry Entertainment. Executive Producer: Eugene “Rod” Roddenberry. For more great content, visit Roddenberry Podcasts.

Produced and edited by Earl Green.

💖 Support the Show: Join our Patreon community for just $1/month and get access to our exclusive Discord, where you can chat about Prodigy and more with fellow fans! Your support helps us continue to bring in-depth analysis to the Star Trek universe. Visit https://www.Patreon.com/MissionLog

Thank you for listening, and let’s keep exploring the stars together!

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