ST:TNG Episode: 122

Title: Skin of Evil

Originally Aired: 4/25/88

Stardate: 41601.3

This is the episode where Lt. Yar was magically scripted out of the Star Trek universe. Well, when Riker, Geordi and Worf negotiating with Armus to release Troi in her damaged shuttlecraft, Riker is suddenly knocked off his feet. Riker yells, "Somethings got me!!!" and is dragged into the oil slick feet first. When Worf (stage right) and Geordi (stage left) run to his aid, Geordi's phaser drops off his belt and into the oil slick. Moments later, his phaser is back on his belt, with no sticky residue. I can understand why this was not cut. I'd imagine that Jonathan Frakes probably didn't want to re-shoot a scene where he was dragged through the sand into a pit of oil more than once, but who can blame him.