I am slowly starting to be slightly scared of this. I am quite aware of the concept of a photographic memory. But to date I never heard of something similar relating to voices. Or … a combination of both.I have watched quite a few episodes of TNG these last few days. But the last few (in season 6) really stirred me. I’ve seen (make that heard/seen) Lyta Alexander re-used, Tuvok, Dr. Dyer. Two of these where in very unusual make-up. One to the point where it was impossible to make out the facial structures. The same happened with ATL. In that case the actor was in such heavy make-up that it was impossible to tell how the actor looked like, in addition to the voice being altered. And still I pinpointed the exact actor within … maybe 5 seconds.

Actors will occasionally be re-used within the same franchise, or even across series. Mostly they are put in very differing roles, and/or make-up. Yet still I recognize them.

The latest actor to trigger this response appeared in four episodes of two extremely seperate series I ever watched (TNG and ER) in the total space of 14 years. A 7 year difference on ER and 5 years on TNG. Even when considering that I (individually) watched both series on DVD shortly after each became available to me (read: latert han original air-date) that constitutes a good couple of months between every encounter of this one particular voice. And I have never heard that voice for more than a few minutes – in total – per exposure.

Considering the fact, that I sometimes have difficulties discerning people on the phone when they only say something like “It’s me” … this is kind of scary, don’t you think? These people include family and other loved ones.

I kinda think I am over recating, but still … this is something I think about … a lot!