From: CXMP@MUSICA.MCGILL.CA (CXMP000)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.startrek.current
Subject: Re: Chief O'Brien
Date: 11 Jan 93 00:31:17 GMT
Organization: McGill University

In article <1993Jan6.201153.23639@CSD-NewsHost.Stanford.EDU> dugal@Xenon.Stanford.EDU (Douglas S. Gray) writes:
>In article <1993Jan5.203255.21480@umr.edu> S104374@UMRVMA.umr.edu writes:
>>Another point for enlisted personel on the Enterprise...
>>
>>Chief O'Brien...Doesn't this indicate rank (Chief Petty Officer)
>>or is he just chief transporter officer?
>
>Along those lines, I noticed during DS9 that O'Brien had a single open
>pip on his collar.  Has that always been the case?  Perhaps it indicates
>he's a warrant officer then?  (sorta halfway between a non-commissioned
>officer and a commissioned officer)  Anyone?  Anyone?
>

From <Bvqnuz.EGp@acsu.buffalo.edu> v075q5fr@ubvmsb.cc.buffalo.edu       (Scott J Gorcey) writes:
I stole:

>     This is what happened (not made up: ask Meaney or Ron Moore
>     to tell the story of O'Brien at a con sometime).  During
>     the third season, it was decided Meaney's character, the
>     main TRANSPORTER CHIEF, would be given a name and a backstory.
>     It was stupid to keep having him appear arbitrarily; if Meaney
>     was going to continue to recur with the frequency he had during
>     season two and the opening part of season three, he should BE
>     SOMEONE.
>
>     O'Brien was created in these story sessions.  Details were
>     later laced into some scripts: first a name; then some past
>     details, more interaction with the regular cast; a first
>     name; a wife; a kid; a fuller backstory...
>
>     The most important detail decided on during O'Brien's creation
>     was that he would be an ENLISTED MAN, to offset the all-officer
>     cast.  He would be down to earth Irish and ENLISTED MAN.
>
>     We find out in "Realm of Fear" that O'Brien's run the transporter
>     for 22 years.  This is entirely consistent with the excitement
>     a CPO can expect during a long career in the military.

OK but O'Brien was always treated as though he was an officer.
>
>>By FAR the clearest "spoken dialog" was when Riker called
>>Miles a Lieutenant.
>
>     Here's an impasse.  This reference comes from "Loud as a
>     Whisper," doesn't it?  This is early second season: in
>     the script for that episode, Riker is addressing TRANSPORTER
>     CHIEF.  If Meaney had been unavailable to come in that week,
>     Riker could have been talking to Gary Coleman just the same.
>
Fine so they *hadn't decided* whether the TRANSPORTER CHIEF should
be an officer or not and yet he always wore a Lieutenant's Uniform?

>     Let me explain wardrobe: you are measured once for your
>     costume.
>     The costume is made or bought, the proper acoutrements
>     (rank pips included) are put on the costume.  The uniform
>     O'Brien wears was therefore FIRST CREATED FOR 'Transporter
>     Chief'

or rather for the actor Colm Meany who could have done Lieutenant
Generic for all time.

>     New Measurements are taken at the beginning of work each
>     season if needed - a change in actor's size or change in
>     the costume itself.
>     TNG changed costumes between the second and third season.
>     DURING the third season.  And Colm Meaney was wearing
>     season two's wardrobe most of the third season, wasn't he?
>
>     Maybe what you're not seeing is this: NOBODY but Star Trek
>     geeks watches the show SO CLOSELY as to be irked by the
>     appearance or disappearance of a couple of buttons.
>
I'm satisfied.

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