Star Trek: The Next Generation was a landmark in science fiction, becoming even more beloved than its predecessor. Part of this success stemmed from its cast of  beloved characters, namely Picard, Riker and Worf. There was one character, however, whose presence was more than derided throughout the show's run.

Wesley Crusher was part of the show since the beginning, and his prominent role gained him the derision of fans. Immortalized by actor Wil Wheaton, the annoying Wesley was initially going to be played by a soon-to-be reality TV star. Here's who Picard was originally meant to yell "shut up" at.

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Who Is J.D. Roth?

James David Weinroth, or J. D. Roth, is an actor, producer and TV show host whose works include several reality and game shows. These have included The Biggest Loser and Extreme Weight Loss, as well as more adult-oriented reality game shows such as Unan1mous and Sex Wars. He also voiced Jonny Quest in the 1996 series, having been a huge fan of the original.

Before all of this, however, he was originally meant to portray Wesley Crusher on Star Trek: The Next Generation. A casting sheet from early in the show's production showcases how he was initially the only one in the running for the role. Many others who were eventually cast had to clearly fight for their roles, however, with Cheryl Gates McFadden being one of three actors in consideration for Wesley's mother, Dr. Beverly Crusher. It's unknown why Roth didn't end up getting the role, especially considering he was the only real consideration at the time.

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Shut Up, Wesley!

Wil Wheaton Then and Now

This casting sheet doesn't even mention Wil Wheaton, who went on to infamously portray the character. Much of the dislike of Wesley Crusher didn't stem from Wheaton's portrayal of him, but rather how the character was written. Despite his age, Wesley was shown as being particularly gifted intellectually, allowing him to be of benefit on the ship in ways that shocked even Picard. This saw him eventually become ensign, with his role only increasing from there.

Many saw this sometimes ridiculous intellect as an example of Wesley being a "Gary Stu," with his supposed smarts getting the crew out of jams in the most inexplicable of ways. He was also seen as a sort of authorial stand-in for series creator Gene Roddenberry, whose middle name was Wesley. Once Roddenberry's influence on the show began to lessen, so did Wesley's role in it. But the damage had already been done, with Wesley remaining one of The Next Generation's most hated elements. This has made Wheaton himself into a bit of a joke, with his roles in other productions oftentimes lampooning his time as Wesley. While Roth went on to become more well-known for occasional soap opera and game show spots, Wil Wheaton is forever stuck on the bridge for his role as an unfortunate ensign.

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