Episode Behind the Scenes

TREKCORE > ENTERPRISE > EPISODES > BROKEN BOW > Behind the Scenes
 

Several of the guest characters' names are homages to The Original Series. Admiral Forrest (named after DeForest Kelley), Admiral Leonard (Leonard Nimoy), Commander Williams (William Shatner) and Tos (an abbreviation of The Original Series).
   
Farmer Moore was named after Ronald D. Moore, former Trek staff writer and friend of Brannon Braga, the cowriter of this episode and cocreator of the series.
   
The model starship which young Jonathan Archer plays with in flashbacks throughout this episode was designed by illustrator Jim Martin and built by the Paramount prop shop. It would appear again in the Season 3 episode "Similitude".
   
In one scene, Trip and Mayweather are discussing various planets they've been to, during which Mayweather alludes to a planet where women have three breasts. This is a tip of the hat to The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.
   
Brannon Braga on the pilot, "Broken Bow": "Our pilot tells the story of a crew that comes together for the very first time. The crew's mission is simple: a Klingon has crash-landed on Earth - we've never seen a Klingon before - and the Klingons want him back. We've got to take him home or there's going to be trouble with the Klingon Empire. So it's a little bit like 'Saving Private Ryan' - get the Klingon home. Along the way, we uncover a huge galactic conspiracy involving a new and deadly species called the Suliban".
   
The pilot was screened to cast, crew, and special guests at the Paramount lot on Thursday the 20th of September.
   
The episode's novelization was written in less than a week, according to writer Diane Carey: "The novelisations [usually take] about two weeks, although Broken Bow was a four-day rocket ride. I sure don't want to do that very often! My hands still hurt!"
   
The role of the twin butterfly dancers was the first major television role for the Klimaszewski sisters: "We've put our skills to use in all different forms of entertainment. Enterprise gives us a chance to stretch our abilities even further, and we're pleased that our efforts have led us to share in Star Trek history."
   
Location shooting took place at several places in California, including the Hyperion Sewage Plant in Los Angeles and Westward Beach, Malibu.
   
The pilot was rumoured to have been budgeted at $10-$15 million.
   
The infamous decontamination scene is among TV Guide's list celebrating the top 35 moments in Star Trek history.
   
There are two animal actors who portray the character "Porthos" on this series. The two female beagles are named "Prada" and "Breezy", the latter being younger (Porthos is supposedly a male). Scott Rowe is their trainer for Performing Animal Troupe, which is owned
by Kathy and Greg Pitman.

Prada was the "lead beagle" for the film "Cats & Dogs", and appears in "Broken Bow" and early episodes, but last appeared in the Risa villa scenes of "Two Nights and Two Days" working opposite Maggie, a Chinese crested who played "Rhylo", the pet of a disguised Tandaran woman.

Breezy debuted in "Strange New World", has had the role solo ever since late in Season One, and has now been seen in 20 of the series' first 52 episodes.
   
Commander Tucker's nickname was originally to be "Spike."
   
Captain Jonathan Archer was originally to be called Jackson Archer. Jeffrey was also considered. While the (American) producers of the show didn't see any problems with this name, UK fans pointed out the link to disgraced author Jeffrey Archer.
   
T'Pol was originally to be called T'Pau. The character's name was changed to avoid confusion with the T'Pau of the Original Series episode "Amok Time". Viewers may have thought it was the same character.
   
Ensign Travis Mayweather was originally to be called Joe Mayweather.
   
The following dedication appeared on screen before the original airing: "This episode is dedicated to the heroic firefighters who lost their lives in the World Trade Center tragedy."

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