Just stumbled on this interesting podcast from Gerry Anderson's son Jamie
FAB Facts: What Happened to Space:1999's Professor Victor Bergman?
Wow what a pisser. Summary: Barry Morse was set to continue playing Victor Bergman (everyone's fave character am I right?), but it came down to the new American director Fred Freiberger. Freiberger, aka "The Serial Killer" known for tanking Star Trek's last season, Space 1999's last season, Six Million Dollar Man's last season, etc, had something against Morse and wanted to replace him with some 23 year old kid. To do this (without making it obvious) he sent Barry Morse an insultingly low offer (1/3 pay cut and no more travel perks) which Morse countered with a more reasonable agreement. It was rejected. Morse then said ok, he'll take the pay cut. But then was told "other plans have been made".
Just like that, this show just lost its most beloved character and half its credibility, and ultimately its entire run. If they had kept the same season 1 formula, there's no doubt the show would've picked up steam as American audiences discovered this gem. But once again, some hotshot (Freiberger) thinks it needs to be dumbed down for America, thus killing everything that made Americans love it in the first place.
Cryin shame because by all accounts, Barry Morse wasn't just a 1st class actor, he was the nicest guy you ever met.
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Reply by Dark_Sithlord
on September 14, 2023 at 3:02 AM
Yeah, it was such a travesty. Morse had already established himself as a core member of the "big 3" of Koenig, Russell, and Bergman. Cutting Victor out sent shockwaves that still affect any enjoyment I can squeeze out of season 2. I think season 2 could have been a gem....such a shame.
Reply by Knixon
on September 14, 2023 at 3:37 AM
What about claims regarding the Italian-based financing of season 2 which required hiring some Italians actors - which could also explain replacing Barry Morse?
Not that Freddie FREEEE-berger (said derisively) couldn't be counted on to make the wrong decision in any given situation, but the Italian finance mandates had some input.
Reply by Dark_Sithlord
on September 18, 2023 at 2:39 PM
I never heard about the Italian mandate to have more Italian actors on the show, but that's interesting. I had heard they also wanted to axe Nick Tate, but I think Martin Landau fought hard to have Tate return.I guess Landau had some clout. I think if there had been more protesting from some of the cast, they would have reconsidered and brought back Morse.
Reply by Knixon
on September 18, 2023 at 2:45 PM
The way I've heard/read it was that the overall budget was reduced, and enough of it came from the Italian bank or whatever it was, that they had to go along with hiring Tony Anholt - possibly among others - while losing Barry Morse and possibly Prentiss Hancock too possibly others as well.
Reply by rooprect
on September 18, 2023 at 11:05 PM
You're probably right, I wish Landau and especially Gerry Anderson had protested Victor's dismissal. In the podcast, Gerry's son gives an iffy excuse that Gerry was out of town and missed all of Barry's calls. It seems more like Gerry (and possibly Landau) chose not to get involved. I guess nobody wanted to step on the new American producer's toes, maybe fearing they'd get axed or demoted themselves.
I'm glad Nick Tate made it back as Alan Carter. He also gave the show credibility with his cynical Aussie ways. In a different podcast, they mention that the character Alan Carter was only supposed to be a minor bit for the first 2 or 3 shows, but Nick's larger than life presence, as well as him rewriting some of his lines, made him stand out as one of the regulars.
Reply by rooprect
on September 19, 2023 at 12:14 AM
That was news to me too. According to the podcast the actress playing "Sandra Benes" (Zienia Merton) was supposed to be Italian?? I always thought she had a vaguely Indian accent, and the actress herself was half Burmese half English. She was raised in Singapore and schooled in Portugal. And the character's surname "Benes" is supposedly Czech. I don't see any hints of Italy there, but maybe she confused them enough to let her fly 😬
Reply by Knixon
on September 19, 2023 at 6:38 AM
Well, it would have been too obvious if they'd replaced EVERYONE. Martini Landauian and Barbarina Bainili or something?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWxcnl8PL_o
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5gvsAB9upc