Earlier this week it was reported that Star Trek icon Leonard Nimoy would appear on the FOX drama Fringe as the mysterious William Bell in the season 1 finale, airing May 12. Bell was Walter Bishop’s old lab partner and is now the head of the technologically advanced company Massive Dynamics.

On its surface, this bit of stunt casting might seem like a brilliant move, attracting even more sci-fi fans to J.J. Abrams’ show. But is casting this legend really the smartest move for the show, or just a shameless bit of marketing?

Obviously Nimoy’s involvement with Fringe has a lot to do with the fact that he’s also appearing in the new Star Trek movie directed by Abrams. Much like when stars host Saturday Night Live the same weekend their movie opens, J.J. is using his TV show to bring even more attention to his movie, and vice versa. It might not be as shameless as product placement, but it comes a close second.

In addition, the question remains whether Nimoy can actually play a new character. He’s so closely identified with Spock that it becomes difficult to see him as anything else. The role of William Bell on Fringe is an important one to the underlying mythology of the show and fans shouldn’t want just a timely bit of stunt casting.

However, it’s equally possible that Nimoy will be yet another Star Trek veteran turning in a great performance for a new generation of viewers. William Shatner may forever be known as Captain Kirk, but on Boston Legal, he made Denny Crane his own, breathing fresh life and energy into an aging David E. Kelley franchise.

Similarly, George Takei defied expectations as the strict Kaito Nakamura on Heroes. He transformed himself into a stern father and businessman, turning a cute bit of sci-fi stunt casting into a fantastic and memorable performance.

So which one will Leonard Nimoy be? Are you excited to see him on Fringe, or does the stunt casting and Star Trek cross promotional tie-in strike you as illogical?


-John Kubicek, BuddyTV Senior Writer
(Image courtesy of WENN)