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Welcome to Gene-ology, a podcast by Roddenberry Entertainment that dives deep into the early TV writing works of Gene Roddenberry. To fans, they were the Great Bird of the Galaxy and the First Lady of Star Trek. To their friends and co-workers, Gene Roddenberry and Majel Barrett Roddenberry were, perhaps, slightly less mythic figures with their own very human quirks, but still beloved and admired. In this panel from the TrekTalks 5 telethon in support of the Hollywood Food Coalition, Gene and Majel are remembered by those who knew them. Podcast hosted by Earl Green & Ashley Thomas TrekTalks panel hosted by John Champion Panel guests: Fred Bronson, Denise Crosby, Ernie Over, Rod Roddenberry About Gene-ology Gene-ology explores Gene Roddenberry's early television scripts, including his lesser-known works before Star Trek using the Mission Log format popularized by Roddenberry Podcasts. We analyze the themes, writing style, and cultural impact of his scripts, and we even unearth stories from the Roddenberry archives that were never produced. Join us as we trace the roots of Gene's creative genius. In This Episode Memories of Gene Roddenberry and Majel Barrett Roddenberry from those who knew and worked with them Join the Conversation What did you think of this episode? Share your thoughts, theories, and favorite moments in the comments or reach out to us on social media or email us at missionlog@roddenberry.com Did you know Roddenberry Podcasts is on YouTube? Find the video versions of your favorite shows like Mission Log: Prodigy, Mission Log: The Orville, as well as exclusive content only available on YouTube. Subscribe now! https://www.youtube.com/@RoddenberryEntertainment?sub_confirmation=1 Follow us on Social Media: INSTAGRAM https://www.instagram.com/roddenberrypodcasts BLUESKY https://bsky.app/profile/roddenberrypod.bsky.social THREADS https://www.threads.net/@roddenberrypodcasts FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/MissionLogPod Our shows are part of the Roddenberry Entertainment family. For more great shows and to learn how we live the legacy of Gene Roddenberry, the creator of Star Trek, follow us here: RODDENBERRY PODCASTS https://www.instagram.com/RoddenberryPodcasts RODDENBERRY ENTERTAINMENT https://www.instagram.com/RoddenberryOfficial RODDENBERRY FOUNDATION https://www.instagram.com/TheRoddenberryFoundation Support the Show For as little as $1 a month, you can gain access to our Mission Log Discord Community! There, we continue the discussion with dedicated channels and a weekly video chat with the hosts. Become a member of our Patreon today! https://www.Patreon.com/MissionLog Subscribe and Stay Tuned Be sure to subscribe to Gene-ology for more deep dives into Gene Roddenberry's early works. New episodes are released regularly as we uncover more of Gene's television legacy. – Gene-ology is produced by Roddenberry Entertainment. Executive producer Eugene "Rod" Roddenberry. Visit https://Podcasts.Roddenberry.com for more great content. Edited by Earl Green.
Streaming service Apple TV debuts the second episodes of Ronald D. Moore’s For All Mankind, a fictional alternate history of the American space program, starring Joel Kinnaman (Altered Carbon, Robocop, Suicide Squad), Michael Dorman (Patriot), and Sarah Jones (Alcatraz, Damnation). Colm Feore (Chicago, Thor) guest stars.
Streaming service Apple TV debuts the first episodes of Ronald D. Moore’s For All Mankind, a fictional alternate history of the American space program. Based on the premise of a rapid acceleration of the Apollo program after the Soviet Union places the first man on the moon, the series stars Joel Kinnaman (Altered Carbon, Robocop, Suicide Squad), Michael Dorman (Patriot), and Sarah Jones (Alcatraz, Damnation). Colm Feore (Chicago, Thor) guest stars. Though covering some of the same subject matter (Apollo missions to the moon), this series is unrelated to the well-regarded 1989 documentary movie of the same name.
Streaming service Apple TV debuts the third episodes of Ronald D. Moore’s For All Mankind, a fictional alternate history of the American space program, starring Joel Kinnaman (Altered Carbon, Robocop, Suicide Squad), Michael Dorman (Patriot), and Sarah Jones (Alcatraz, Damnation). Colm Feore (Chicago, Thor) guest stars.
The 813th episode of Doctor Who airs on BBC1 (the 114th episode since the series’ revival), starring Peter Capaldi and Jenna Coleman. Michelle Gomez guest stars.
Television writer and producer Michael Piller, credited by many for the success of the revived Star Trek franchise (and co-creator of spinoff series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Star Trek: Voyager) dies at the age of 57 after a prolonged battle with cancer. Piller, who had previously been a producer on Simon & Simon and the SF series Probe, joined Star Trek: The Next Generation as the head of the writing staff for the third season in 1990, replacing Maurice Hurley. Piller was generally credited with bringing a more friendly vibe to the show’s writing sessions and with finding new talent, such as fan writer Ronald D. Moore. Piller also wrote the popular two-part episode The Best Of Both Worlds and many others, and went on to create Deep Space Nine with Rick Berman and Voyager with Berman and fellow Next Generation veteran Jeri Taylor. Piller created the short-lived series Legend for UPN, starring Richard Dean Anderson (pre-SG-1) and John de Lancie, and later formed a production company with his son Shawn, where he developed the recent version of The Dead Zone for TV, as well as ABC Family Channel’s Wildfire, starring DS9 alumnus Nana Visitor.
The week-long national syndication window opens for the 95th episode of Xena: Warrior Princess, starring Lucy Lawless and Renee O’Connor. Jennifer Sky guest stars.
The 49th episode of Gene Roddenberry’s Earth: Final Conflict, airs in syndication, starring Robert Leeshock, Jayne Heitmeyer, Von Flores, and Richard Chevolleau.
Simon & Schuster releases the audio play Star Trek: Spock vs. Q, starring Leonard Nimoy (Star Trek) and John de Lancie (Star Trek: The Next Generation), on cassette and CD. This is a rare foray into full-cast audio drama as opposed to the publisher’s usual standard audiobooks.
Fox airs the 28th episode of Tracy Torme’s alternate-universe science fiction series Sliders, starring Jerry O’Connell, John Rhys Davies, Sabrina Lloyd, and Cleavant Derricks.
The week-long national syndication window opens for the 44th episode of Babylon 5, bringing the series’ second season to a close (thanks to the delay of the final four episodes, the third season begins airing a week later). Roy Dotrice (Beauty & The Beast) guest stars.
After dropping his kids off at school, Star Wars creator George Lucas sits down with a box of pencils and a blank legal pad, and begins writing, in longhand, the script of what will become Star Wars Episode I (though at this point, the script draft is titled Star Wars: The Beginning). Having already amassed continuity notes on the original trilogy as well as story notes dating back to the early 1970s from the early “Journal of the Whills” drafts of the Star Wars storyline, Lucas knows only that the story will involve the early days of Jedi Knights Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker.
The week-long national syndication window opens for the 28th episode of the fantasy series Highlander, starring Adrian Paul (War Of The Worlds), Stan Kirsch, Jim Byrne, and Philip Akin.
The fifth episode of the superhero series The Flash, based on the DC Comics character, airs on CBS, starring John Wesley Shipp and Amanda Pays. Richard Belzer guest stars.
The second episode of the science fiction crime drama Super Force is broadcast in syndication in North America, starring Ken Olandt, Larry B. Scott, and Patrick Macnee (The Avengers). Richard Hatch (Battlestar Galactica) guest stars.
The 650th episode of Doctor Who airs on BBC1. Lynda Bellingham, Michael Jayston and Honor Blackman guest star; Bonnie Langford debuts as new TARDIS traveler Melanie.
ABC premieres the eighth episode of The Real Ghostbusters, an animated series based upon the hit 1984 movie and featuring the voices of Arsenio Hall, Maurice LeMarche, and Lorenzo Music. This episode, timed to coincide with Halloween, is written by J. Michael Straczynski.
ABC premieres the 26th episode of Star Wars: Ewoks, an animated series based upon George Lucas’ furry primitive (and very marketable) characters from the 1983 film Return Of The Jedi.
CBS airs the sixth episode of a revival of Rod Serling’s The Twilight Zone. David Mendenhall and Robert Duncan McNeill (Star Trek: Voyager) star in an episode comprised of two short stories.
The fourth episode of James D. Parriott’s lighthearted sci-fi series, Misfits Of Science, airs on NBC, starring Dean Paul Martin, Kevin Peter Hall, and Courteney Cox. Jesse Dizon (Operation Petticoat) and Branscombe Richmond (Renegade) guest star.
General Consumer Electronics (GCE) introduces a self-contained vector graphics video game unit, Vectrex. Using its own monitor instead of connecting to a television, Vectrex is an attractive proposition for parents, but the high price tag makes it a luxury item. Toy maker Milton Bradley eventually buys out GCE and takes over manufacture and marketing of Vectrex, and plans add-ons such as a light pen and 3-D glasses.
Exidy’s colorful coin-op video game Mouse Trap arrives in arcades, challenging players to not only keep up with the action on screen, but to tap the right color-coded door button on the control panel at the right time, allowing the mouse to escape from hungry cats. In a very short time, Mouse Trap is deemed worthy of song on Buckner & Garcia’s upcoming album Pac-Man Fever.
The eighth episode of the Hammer Studios-produced horror anthology series Hammer House Of Horror airs on ITV. Christopher Cazenove (Dynasty) and Diana Dors guest star.
The 535th episode of Doctor Who airs on BBC1. This story introduces Matthew Waterhouse as new companion Adric, and is the first part of a trilogy based on the dimension of E-space.
Atari releases the vector graphics arcade game Asteroids, a space game with as much Newtonian physics as can be simulated in a tiny amount of code. As one of Atari’s biggest hits to date, with over 50,000 cabinets produced, a sequel and home console ports are inevitable.
The 411th episode of Doctor Who airs on BBC1. Michael Sheard (The Empire Strikes Back) and Gabriel Woolf guest star in an episode regarded by many fans as one of the series’ all-time classics.
Jet Records releases Roy Wood‘s second solo album, Mustard, which shows off the ELO/Move co-founder’s penchant for ’50s-style rock and his ability to play every instrument in a given song by himself.
Absolutely no generative AI was used in the creation of the content on this website. It’s mostly just some guy named Earl.
Ten Acre Films publishes the non-fiction book The Long Game: 1996-2003 – The Inside Story of How the BBC Brought Back Doctor Who by Paul Hayes. The book covers the BBC’s numerous attempts to revive Doctor Who between the one-off 1996 TV movie and the series’ return in 2005. 
Streaming service Apple TV debuts the second episodes of Ronald D. Moore’s For All Mankind, a fictional alternate history of the American space program, starring Joel Kinnaman (Altered Carbon, Robocop, Suicide Squad), Michael Dorman (Patriot), and Sarah Jones (Alcatraz, Damnation). Colm Feore (Chicago, Thor) guest stars. 
Streaming service Apple TV debuts the first episodes of Ronald D. Moore’s For All Mankind, a fictional alternate history of the American space program. Based on the premise of a rapid acceleration of the Apollo program after the Soviet Union places the first man on the moon, the series stars Joel Kinnaman (Altered Carbon, Robocop, Suicide Squad), Michael Dorman (Patriot), and Sarah Jones (Alcatraz, Damnation). Colm Feore (Chicago, Thor) guest stars. Though covering some of the same subject matter (Apollo missions to the moon), this series is unrelated to the well-regarded 1989 documentary movie of the same name. 
Streaming service Apple TV debuts the third episodes of Ronald D. Moore’s For All Mankind, a fictional alternate history of the American space program, starring Joel Kinnaman (Altered Carbon, Robocop, Suicide Squad), Michael Dorman (Patriot), and Sarah Jones (Alcatraz, Damnation). Colm Feore (Chicago, Thor) guest stars. 
The CW airs the 51st episode of The Flash, a modern-day reboot of DC Comics’ superhero starring Grant Gustin.
The 813th episode of Doctor Who airs on BBC1 (the 114th episode since the series’ revival), starring Peter Capaldi and Jenna Coleman. Michelle Gomez guest stars.
The 60th episode of the science fiction comedy Red Dwarf airs on UK cable/satellite comedy channel Dave. This is the fifth episode of Red Dwarf X, the first full season of the series since 1999. 
The 42nd episode of The Sarah Jane Adventures airs on CBBC, starring Elisabeth Sladen (Doctor Who). 
The University of Nebraska Press publishes Ambassadors From Earth: Pioneering Explorations With Unmanned Spacecraft, a comprehensive history of American robotic outer solar system missions written by Jay Gallentine. The book is part of University of Nebraska Press’ Outward Odyssey: A People’s History of Spaceflight series. 
The University of Nebraska Press publishes Homesteading Space: The Skylab Story, a comprehensive history of the American Skylab space station program written by David Hitt and Skylab astronauts Owen Garriott, Joe Kerwin, and Alan Bean. The book is part of University of Nebraska Press’ Outward Odyssey: A People’s History of Spaceflight series. 
ABC airs the 52nd episode of the J.J. Abrams-produced series Lost. 
Television writer and producer Michael Piller, credited by many for the success of the revived Star Trek franchise (and co-creator of spinoff series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Star Trek: Voyager) dies at the age of 57 after a prolonged battle with cancer. Piller, who had previously been a producer on Simon & Simon and the SF series Probe, joined Star Trek: The Next Generation as the head of the writing staff for the third season in 1990, replacing Maurice Hurley. Piller was generally credited with bringing a more friendly vibe to the show’s writing sessions and with finding new talent, such as fan writer Ronald D. Moore. Piller also wrote the popular two-part episode The Best Of Both Worlds and many others, and went on to create Deep Space Nine with Rick Berman and Voyager with Berman and fellow Next Generation veteran Jeri Taylor. Piller created the short-lived series Legend for UPN, starring Richard Dean Anderson (pre-SG-1) and John de Lancie, and later formed a production company with his son Shawn, where he developed the recent version of The Dead Zone for TV, as well as ABC Family Channel’s Wildfire, starring DS9 alumnus Nana Visitor.
Meco Monardo releases the instrumental cover album Star Wars Party (which will be reissued under various other titles in the years to come). 
Fox airs the sixth episode of Joss Whedon’s science fiction series Firefly, starring Nathan Fillion. Mark A. Sheppard and Larry Drake guest star. 
UPN airs the 150th episode of Star Trek: Voyager. Larry Drake guest stars. 
BWD Press prints the non-fiction book The First Quarter: A 25-Year History Of Video Games by Steven L. Kent, chronicling the early history of the video game industry. This book will be reprinted at a later date under a different name, The Ultimate History Of Video Games. 
The week-long national syndication window opens for the 95th episode of Xena: Warrior Princess, starring Lucy Lawless and Renee O’Connor. Jennifer Sky guest stars. 
The 49th episode of Gene Roddenberry’s Earth: Final Conflict, airs in syndication, starring Robert Leeshock, Jayne Heitmeyer, Von Flores, and Richard Chevolleau.
Simon & Schuster releases the audio play Star Trek: Spock vs. Q, starring Leonard Nimoy (Star Trek) and John de Lancie (Star Trek: The Next Generation), on cassette and CD. This is a rare foray into full-cast audio drama as opposed to the publisher’s usual standard audiobooks. 
Varese Sarabande releases Marty Simon’s soundtrack from the TV series Tales From A Parallel Universe (which will become better known by another name later: Lexx). 
Fox airs the 28th episode of Tracy Torme’s alternate-universe science fiction series Sliders, starring Jerry O’Connell, John Rhys Davies, Sabrina Lloyd, and Cleavant Derricks. 
Varese Sarabande releases the first volume of Joseph LoDuca’s soundtracks from the TV series Xena: Warrior Princess. 
The week-long national syndication window opens for the 44th episode of Babylon 5, bringing the series’ second season to a close (thanks to the delay of the final four episodes, the third season begins airing a week later). Roy Dotrice (Beauty & The Beast) guest stars. 
Atlantis Records releases the INXS compilation album Greatest Hits, covering the band’s career through the 1993 album Full Moon, Dirty Hearts. 
After dropping his kids off at school, Star Wars creator George Lucas sits down with a box of pencils and a blank legal pad, and begins writing, in longhand, the script of what will become Star Wars Episode I (though at this point, the script draft is titled Star Wars: The Beginning). Having already amassed continuity notes on the original trilogy as well as story notes dating back to the early 1970s from the early “Journal of the Whills” drafts of the Star Wars storyline, Lucas knows only that the story will involve the early days of Jedi Knights Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker.
The week-long national syndication window opens for the 26th episode of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Wallace Shawn (The Princess Bride) guest stars. 
The week-long national syndication window opens for the 28th episode of the fantasy series Highlander, starring Adrian Paul (War Of The Worlds), Stan Kirsch, Jim Byrne, and Philip Akin.
The week-long national syndication window opens for the 158th episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation. Majel Barrett Roddenberry guest stars. 
The fifth episode of the superhero series The Flash, based on the DC Comics character, airs on CBS, starring John Wesley Shipp and Amanda Pays. Richard Belzer guest stars.
The second episode of the science fiction crime drama Super Force is broadcast in syndication in North America, starring Ken Olandt, Larry B. Scott, and Patrick Macnee (The Avengers). Richard Hatch (Battlestar Galactica) guest stars.
The 692nd episode of Doctor Who airs on BBC1. Dinsdale Landen, Alfred Lynch and game show host Nicholas Parsons (in a rare dramatic role) guest star.
NBC airs the 13th episode of Donald Bellisario’s science fiction series Quantum Leap, starring Scott Bakula and Dean Stockwell.
UK regional broadcaster TVS airs the eighth episode of Richard Cooper’s alternate-history series Knights Of God, portraying a struggle between oppressive government and rugged resistance fighters in a post-civil-war UK. 
The 650th episode of Doctor Who airs on BBC1. Lynda Bellingham, Michael Jayston and Honor Blackman guest star; Bonnie Langford debuts as new TARDIS traveler Melanie. 
Polarware (formerly Penguin Software) releases a remake of the adventure game Oo-Topos for the Apple II home computer. 
ABC premieres the eighth episode of The Real Ghostbusters, an animated series based upon the hit 1984 movie and featuring the voices of Arsenio Hall, Maurice LeMarche, and Lorenzo Music. This episode, timed to coincide with Halloween, is written by J. Michael Straczynski. 
ABC premieres the 26th episode of Star Wars: Ewoks, an animated series based upon George Lucas’ furry primitive (and very marketable) characters from the 1983 film Return Of The Jedi. 
CBS airs the sixth episode of a revival of Rod Serling’s The Twilight Zone. David Mendenhall and Robert Duncan McNeill (Star Trek: Voyager) star in an episode comprised of two short stories.
Electronic Arts releases the game development toolkit Adventure Construction Set for the Apple II home computer, allowing users to design their own tile-based computer RPGs, defining characters, settings, weapons, magic use, and more. 
The fourth episode of James D. Parriott’s lighthearted sci-fi series, Misfits Of Science, airs on NBC, starring Dean Paul Martin, Kevin Peter Hall, and Courteney Cox. Jesse Dizon (Operation Petticoat) and Branscombe Richmond (Renegade) guest star.
General Consumer Electronics (GCE) introduces a self-contained vector graphics video game unit, Vectrex. Using its own monitor instead of connecting to a television, Vectrex is an attractive proposition for parents, but the high price tag makes it a luxury item. Toy maker Milton Bradley eventually buys out GCE and takes over manufacture and marketing of Vectrex, and plans add-ons such as a light pen and 3-D glasses. 
Exidy’s colorful coin-op video game Mouse Trap arrives in arcades, challenging players to not only keep up with the action on screen, but to tap the right color-coded door button on the control panel at the right time, allowing the mouse to escape from hungry cats. In a very short time, Mouse Trap is deemed worthy of song on Buckner & Garcia’s upcoming album Pac-Man Fever. 
The eighth episode of the Hammer Studios-produced horror anthology series Hammer House Of Horror airs on ITV. Christopher Cazenove (Dynasty) and Diana Dors guest star.
The 535th episode of Doctor Who airs on BBC1. This story introduces Matthew Waterhouse as new companion Adric, and is the first part of a trilogy based on the dimension of E-space.
NBC airs the seventh episode of Buck Rogers In The 25th Century. Jamie Lee Curtis (Halloween) guest stars. 
ITV airs the 12th episode of P.J. Hammond’s science fiction series Sapphire & Steel, starring David McCallum and Joanna Lumley.
Atari releases the vector graphics arcade game Asteroids, a space game with as much Newtonian physics as can be simulated in a tiny amount of code. As one of Atari’s biggest hits to date, with over 50,000 cabinets produced, a sequel and home console ports are inevitable. 
The fifth episode of the science fiction series Man From Atlantis airs on NBC, starring Patrick Duffy and Belinda J. Montgomery. Victor Buono (Batman) and Gary Owens (Space Ghost) guest star. 
The 411th episode of Doctor Who airs on BBC1. Michael Sheard (The Empire Strikes Back) and Gabriel Woolf guest star in an episode regarded by many fans as one of the series’ all-time classics.
Jet Records releases Roy Wood‘s second solo album, Mustard, which shows off the ELO/Move co-founder’s penchant for ’50s-style rock and his ability to play every instrument in a given song by himself. 