The second half of the production year began with episode 14 out of 26, in a story that delves into certain prejudices of Vulcan society and allows us to finally meet another Denobulan.

Jolene Blalock and John Billingsley are the featured cast members in "Stigma." Dr. Phlox diagnoses T'Pol with Pa'nar Syndrome, a Vulcan malady that could eventually kill her. When Enterprise visits a planet where an Interspecies Medical Exchange is taking place, Phlox tries to obtain research on the disease from the Vulcan contingent there. But he must be careful not to reveal why, because those afflicted with Pa'nar Syndrome are stigmatized in Vulcan society.

Newcomer Melinda Page Hamilton joined the cast in this episode to become the second person ever to don Denobulan makeup. She plays "Feezal," one of Phlox's three wives, in a "B" storyline whereby she comes aboard to help Trip Tucker install a new neutron microscope in Sickbay ... and the relationship between her and Trip gets rather interesting.

Shooting on this episode commenced last Tuesday, Nov. 12, and as usual began with scenes involving the main cast on standing ship sets. Hamilton spent that day in the makeup chair getting her Denobulan look perfected, then she went before the camera starting Wednesday. Three more guest stars playing Vulcan doctors joined the cast on Friday for interior ship scenes. After the weekend those actors returned and, with a fourth Vulcan, did several scenes with Scott Bakula (Captain Archer) in a swing set called the Vulcan Medical Suite. Tuesday Hamilton finished her scenes in Sickbay, and on Wednesday, production wrapped with a night scene (shot during the day, though, in a soundstage) on an Alien City Street involving Blalock, one of the Vulcan doctors, and a handful of non-specific alien extras in the background.

The guest cast includes Star Trek alumni Michael Ensign as "Dr. Oratt" and Jeffrey Hayenga as "Dr. Yuris." Ensign has appeared in each of the previous three Trek series, in the episodes "First Contact" (Star Trek: The Next Generation), "The Forsaken" (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine) and "False Profits" (Star Trek: Voyager). Hayenga played a part in "Ensign Ro" (TNG).

"Stigma" is directed by David Livingston, a die-hard Trek veteran with dozens of episodes under his belt since the fourth season of TNG, including the recently-aired "The Seventh," the upcoming "Precious Cargo," and three Enterprise segments last year. The script was written by series creators Rick Berman & Brannon Braga. It is tentatively scheduled to air February 5.

The airdates of the upcoming new episodes produced so far are as follows:

11/27 - Vanishing Point
12/11 - Precious Cargo
12/18 - The Catwalk
1/8 - Dawn
2/5 - Stigma

On the Wednesdays not listed, UPN will run repeats (to be announced). This schedule is subject to change.

For more information about the second-season episodes, visit the Synopses and Cast & Crew sections of Production News.

Please note: All production information is subject to change.

Discuss Season Two at the Star Trek message boards!