'Fringe': Leonard Nimoy is William Bell?

So it's official: Leonard Nimoy has been cast as William Bell for the May 12 season finale of "Fringe."

My first reaction was "Isn't he a little old?" I mean, he's supposed to be Walter Bishop's former lab partner, and the last time I saw Nimoy, he looked like a pile of unironed laundry. Checking on IMDB, it seems that Nimoy is only 17 years older than John Noble, and he's actually looking pretty good.

Plus it's Leonard Friggin' Nimoy (That's his actual middle name. I think it's Yiddish for "Not actually his middle name."). I can't think of a single actor who would be a better get for a science fiction show. Sigourney Weaver? Christopher Lee? Tom Baker? They all come in second place at best. Though seriously, what's Tom Baker up to these days? Wouldn't he be an awesome addition to the cast?

Though, again on the downside of this announcement I can't help but worry that casting Nimoy might mean that William Bell won't be making regular appearances on "Fringe." The show already seems rife with characters who just appear, then vanish. How many villains did they set up in the first season? David Esterbrook? Jacob Fisher? John Mosley? Heck, even David Jones felt like he was just here and then gone. And what about Harris or Nina Sharp? Where are they off to?

But I may just be looking a gift horse in the mouth. Nimoy is going to be William Bell. How cool is that? And hopefully it'll draw more fans to my favorite new show of the season.

Guess Bell isn't going to end up being Walter from another universe. That's OK too.

-- Andrew Hanson

Credit: Spencer Weiner / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[Steve]

Ian McDiarmid. I don't know where they want to take the character, but Emperor Palpatine as the head of Massive Dynamic?? Now that would be sweet.

Anyway, Spock will be awesome too, and the age difference shouldn't be an issue. First of all they can make Leonard appear younger. Secondly they don't have to be exactly the same age, having been lab partners does not mean they were born at the same time.

[Jamie]

Having lots of villains come and go does mean they believe in the strength of their stars, and aren't wedded to the idea of making it a rainy-sweaty-science fiction-island soap opera. Which is a relief. Now if they'd only dispense with Rachel and Ella, both of whom are really annoying. I do miss Blair Brown, though. And love the idea of seeing her and Nimoy interact.