With Scheider's departure, NBC brought in Michael Ironside to replace him as the star of the show as Captain Oliver Hudson, who was named after Henry Hudson, a famous sea explorer in the 16th century. Rosalind Allen (Dr. Wendy Smith), who joined the show in season two, and Marco Sanchez (Sensor Chief Miguel Ortiz), who had been with the show since the pilot, were both released as well, as NBC had opted to downsize the number of cast members in order to cut costs.