[kevin]

It did get a bit obvious by seasons end!!

[That Metal Beastie]

I'm just glad she returned. I absolutely love her!

[kevin]

Don't get me wrong - I really liked Pulaski (and Diana Muldaur), but I preferred Beverly myself.

[Samuel]

Originally Posted by kevin

However, Pulaski didn't work out either, and so McFadden was invited back to reprise Crusher. Reportedly (and perhaps due to a less than cordial exit first time around) the rumour was she was hired back at a lower salary than the rest of the cast.

Union rules might have prevented that unless her actual role was downgraded. Perhaps the number of episodes per season was reduced. Rumor also was that she had to be persuaded to come back by the cast. If so, actors often stand up for each other in terms of pay.

[kevin]

For the most part, McFadden's departure and return have never really been publicly clarified. I guess those elements may also be the case.

But on some shows actors do get paid different rates (not to digress but for the first couple seasons of 'Friends' the cast were on different deals until they did in fact stick together and demand an equal salary) - isn't the Union just responsible for minimum rates?

[Saquist]

I heard that she left for Broadway.

[kevin]

Well, she wasn't short of work while she spent the year away from Trek, and I believe she did do some stage work, some film work (The Hunt For Red October - though a lot of her scenes were cut from the final film, and the J.J Abrams written comedy Filofax etc.)

But I don't think she left for those reasons. Unlike Denise Crosby, who had had several movie offers around the time.

[Datalore]

Next time she does a convention someone should ask her.

I always find my self wondering how the show would have turned out if Denise Crosby never left. But it probly a good thing that she left. The show seemed to flow better with out her. Eight main charators is better than nine. The more you have the harder it is to give them each screen time.

[kevin]

Well, that is why Crosby left! But if she had hung around she probably would have gotten more. No-one really got a lot of character stuff in season 1 except Picard and Data.

[vantheman77]

They should have put Dr. Pulaski in DS9 like they did Chief O' Brien.