theLogBook.com is a chronicle of how we used to imagine the future – an ever-expanding logbook of what our entertainment, our culture, and even our brightest minds thought would happen. It’s nostalgia – and some real history – that gives factual context to the fiction, cultural context to the factual, and always looks to the future.
The ongoing remodel of the site, the ongoing video series, and more are powered by your support! Join our Patreon, get access to our Discord, and help the site grow!
Welcome to Gene-ology, a podcast by Roddenberry Entertainment that dives deep into the early TV writing works of Gene Roddenberry. Is this the best television script Gene Roddenberry wrote prior to creating Star Trek? Gene's singular episode of the popular medical drama Dr. Kildare is a powerful story full of rich characters and raw emotions – the bedrock of great television drama. Hosted by Earl Green & Ashley Thomas 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 A breakdown of key moments and themes in "A Distant Thunder". Exploring Gene Roddenberry's evolving style and storytelling. How this episode ties into the broader TV landscape of the time and reflects the early seeds of Roddenberry's visionary work. Guest stars and unique production elements that bring this episode to life. Special Segment: Dramatic Recreation Since this script is not available to the public, we've brought it to life with a dramatic recreation! Special guests Jeff Gauntt and Bonnie Gordon perform a key section of the script. Listen in as they bring the story to life in this exclusive performance. 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.
The 14th episode of James Cameron & Charles H. Eglee’s cyberpunk series Dark Angel, starring Jessica Alba and Michael Weatherly, airs on Fox. John Savage guest stars.
The week-long national syndication window opens for the 106th episode of Xena: Warrior Princess, starring Lucy Lawless and Renee O’Connor. Karl Urban guest stars in an episode built around the pilot from a Xena spinoff that did not go to series.
Showtime airs the 69th episode of The Outer Limits, a revival of the 1960s science fiction anthology series. James Marsden (X-Men, Westworld) guest stars.
The 18th episode of Lois & Clark: The New Adventures Of Superman airs on ABC, starring Dean Cain and Teri Hatcher. Tracy Scoggins, John Shea, and Michael McKean guest star.
The week-long national syndication window opens for the 17th episode of the fantasy series Highlander, starring Adrian Paul (War Of The Worlds), Alexandra Vandernoort, and Stan Kirsch, and based on the mythology created in the 1986 movie of the same name.
The 11th episode of George Lucas’ historical adventure series The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles airs on ABC, starring Sean Patrick Flanery. Jeffrey Wright (Westworld) and Keith David (Gargoyles) guest star. This is the only episode of the television series in which Harrison Ford appears to reprise the role of Indiana Jones.
NBC airs the third episode of Wes Craven’s slightly supernatural series Nightmare Cafe, starring Robert Englund (V, A Nightmare On Elm Street), Jack Coleman (Heroes), and Lindsay Frost (Mancuso, FBI).
NBC airs the 43rd episode of Donald Bellisario’s science fiction series Quantum Leap, starring Scott Bakula and Dean Stockwell. Richard Herd (V) and Alan Fudge (Man From Atlantis) guest star.
The 16th episode of Love & Curses (formerly titled She-Wolf Of London) is broadcast in syndication in North America, starring Kate Hodge and Neil Dickson. Marta du Bois and Barry Van Dyke (Galactica: 1980) guest star.
Space Shuttle Discovery lifts off on a nearly-five-day mission to take NASA’s third TDRS (Tracking & Data Relay Satellite) into orbit, among other smaller experiment packages, including IMAX filming. Aboard Discovery for the first shuttle flight of 1989 are Commander Michael Coats, Pilot John Blaha, and mission specialists James Bagian, James Buchli, and Robert Springer.
CBS airs the 35th episode of Ron Koslow’s fantasy series Beauty and the Beast, starring Linda Hamilton, Ron Perlman, and Roy Dotrice. Christopher Neame guest stars.
The 41st episode of Steven Spielberg’s anthology series Amazing Stories airs on NBC. Bob Balaban (Close Encounters Of The Third Kind, 2010: The Year We Make Contact) guest stars in an episode co-written and directed by Paul Bartel.
A victory lap after its successful study of Halley’s Comet in 1985 and 1986, the Pioneer Venus Orbiter uses its unique position at the solar system’s second planet to observe another comet, the recently-discovered Comet Wilson. Spotted for the first time only the year before, little is known about Comet Wilson, a lack of data that Pioneer Venus helps to correct by imaging the comet in the ultraviolet portion of the spectrum. Pioneer Venus will also study two other comets later in 1987.
The Soviet Union launches Soyuz T-15 on an unprecedented mission into orbit. Cosmonauts Leonid Kizim and Vladimir Solovyov become the first occupants of the newly-launched Mir space station on March 15th, where they remain until early May, at which time they undock the Soyuz T-15 vehicle from Mir and visit the powered-down Salyut 7 space station, becoming its final occupants until they return to Mir in late June, bringing several pieces of equipment and experiments cannibalized from Salyut back with them. The crew spends a total of 125 days in space, at the end of which Kizim is the most-traveled man in space, having accumulated over a year of total space travel time. Soyut T-15 is the last second-generation Soyuz vehicle to fly, returning to Earth on July 16th.
NBC airs the 17th episode of James D. Parriott’s time travel series Voyagers!, starring Jon-Erik Hexum and Meeno Peluce. Nicholas Pryor guest stars as Franklin Roosevelt, and Ellen Geer guest stars as Eleanor Roosevelt.
The week-long syndication window opens for the 11th episode of The Next Step Beyond, a revival of the 1950s/60s supernatural anthology series One Step Beyond, hosted and directed by John Newland.
NBC airs the sixth episode of Quinn Martin’s horror/sci-fi anthology Tales Of The Unexpected. (This series is not to be confused with the longer-lived British series of the same name, created by acclaimed author Roald Dahl.) Lloyd Bridges guest stars.
IBM introduces the Model 3340 hard disk drive system for its System/370 mainframe computers. Housed in a large casing similar to a combined washer and dryer, this is the birth of modern hard disk technology, with read and write heads integral to the drive itself rather than being mounted on an arm which reaches into the drive casing. The 3340’s removable modules, each containing drive platters and the read/write heads, can be swapped out with other modules containing other drives. IBM ships the 3340 with two maximum storage capacities: 35 megabytes or 70 megabytes; the unit is internally called a Winchester hard drive, a case of a code name that sticks well beyond development. The 3340 is available through 1984.
The 57th episode of Irwin Allen’s adventure series Voyage To The Bottom Of The Sea airs on ABC, starring Richard Basehart and David Hedison. James Darren (future star of The Time Tunnel) guest stars.
The 62nd episode of Doctor Who airs on the BBC. This is part five of the story now collectively known as The Web Planet, though its individual episode title is easily confused with the 1969 Patrick Troughton-era eight-parter The Invasion, or the ambiguously named first part of the Jon Pertwee story Invasion Of The Dinosaurs.
The 52nd episode of The Adventures Of Superman airs in syndication, starring George Reeves, Noel Neill, and Jack Larson. Judy Nugent guest stars in the second season finale, and the final episode of the series to be filmed in black & white.
The CW airs the 84th episode of The Flash, a modern-day reboot of DC Comics’ superhero starring Grant Gustin. 
Sci-Fi Channel airs the 72nd episode of Ronald D. Moore’s re-imagining of Battlestar Galactica. Dean Stockwell (Quantum Leap) guest stars in the first part of the series finale. 
The fifth episode of Joss Whedon’s futuristic “spy-fi” series Dollhouse airs on Fox, starring Eliza Dushku. Amy Acker (Angel) guest stars.
A special Sarah Jane Adventures short airs as part of the BBC’s Red Nose Day Comic Relief telethon. Ronnie Corbett (The Two Ronnies) guest stars. 
Cartoon Network airs the 21st episode of the animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars. 
The 14th episode of James Cameron & Charles H. Eglee’s cyberpunk series Dark Angel, starring Jessica Alba and Michael Weatherly, airs on Fox. John Savage guest stars.
The week-long national syndication window opens for the 106th episode of Xena: Warrior Princess, starring Lucy Lawless and Renee O’Connor. Karl Urban guest stars in an episode built around the pilot from a Xena spinoff that did not go to series. 
Showtime airs the 69th episode of The Outer Limits, a revival of the 1960s science fiction anthology series. James Marsden (X-Men, Westworld) guest stars.
UPN airs the 35th episode of Star Trek: Voyager. 
UPN airs the eighth episode of Star Trek: Voyager. Jerry Hardin (The X-Files) guest stars. 
The week-long American syndication window opens for the 17th episode of Gerry Anderson’s sci-fi police series Space Precinct. 
The 18th episode of Lois & Clark: The New Adventures Of Superman airs on ABC, starring Dean Cain and Teri Hatcher. Tracy Scoggins, John Shea, and Michael McKean guest star.
The week-long national syndication window opens for the 17th episode of the fantasy series Highlander, starring Adrian Paul (War Of The Worlds), Alexandra Vandernoort, and Stan Kirsch, and based on the mythology created in the 1986 movie of the same name.
The 11th episode of George Lucas’ historical adventure series The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles airs on ABC, starring Sean Patrick Flanery. Jeffrey Wright (Westworld) and Keith David (Gargoyles) guest star. This is the only episode of the television series in which Harrison Ford appears to reprise the role of Indiana Jones.
NBC airs the third episode of Wes Craven’s slightly supernatural series Nightmare Cafe, starring Robert Englund (V, A Nightmare On Elm Street), Jack Coleman (Heroes), and Lindsay Frost (Mancuso, FBI).
Fontana Records releases the Tears For Fears compilation album Tears Roll Down: Greatest Hits, 1982-92, gathering highlights from the band’s first three albums. 
NBC airs the 43rd episode of Donald Bellisario’s science fiction series Quantum Leap, starring Scott Bakula and Dean Stockwell. Richard Herd (V) and Alan Fudge (Man From Atlantis) guest star.
The 16th episode of Love & Curses (formerly titled She-Wolf Of London) is broadcast in syndication in North America, starring Kate Hodge and Neil Dickson. Marta du Bois and Barry Van Dyke (Galactica: 1980) guest star.
Space Shuttle Discovery lifts off on a nearly-five-day mission to take NASA’s third TDRS (Tracking & Data Relay Satellite) into orbit, among other smaller experiment packages, including IMAX filming. Aboard Discovery for the first shuttle flight of 1989 are Commander Michael Coats, Pilot John Blaha, and mission specialists James Bagian, James Buchli, and Robert Springer.
CBS airs the 35th episode of Ron Koslow’s fantasy series Beauty and the Beast, starring Linda Hamilton, Ron Perlman, and Roy Dotrice. Christopher Neame guest stars.
The 41st episode of Steven Spielberg’s anthology series Amazing Stories airs on NBC. Bob Balaban (Close Encounters Of The Third Kind, 2010: The Year We Make Contact) guest stars in an episode co-written and directed by Paul Bartel.
A victory lap after its successful study of Halley’s Comet in 1985 and 1986, the Pioneer Venus Orbiter uses its unique position at the solar system’s second planet to observe another comet, the recently-discovered Comet Wilson. Spotted for the first time only the year before, little is known about Comet Wilson, a lack of data that Pioneer Venus helps to correct by imaging the comet in the ultraviolet portion of the spectrum. Pioneer Venus will also study two other comets later in 1987.
The Soviet Union launches Soyuz T-15 on an unprecedented mission into orbit. Cosmonauts Leonid Kizim and Vladimir Solovyov become the first occupants of the newly-launched Mir space station on March 15th, where they remain until early May, at which time they undock the Soyuz T-15 vehicle from Mir and visit the powered-down Salyut 7 space station, becoming its final occupants until they return to Mir in late June, bringing several pieces of equipment and experiments cannibalized from Salyut back with them. The crew spends a total of 125 days in space, at the end of which Kizim is the most-traveled man in space, having accumulated over a year of total space travel time. Soyut T-15 is the last second-generation Soyuz vehicle to fly, returning to Earth on July 16th.
NBC airs the 17th episode of James D. Parriott’s time travel series Voyagers!, starring Jon-Erik Hexum and Meeno Peluce. Nicholas Pryor guest stars as Franklin Roosevelt, and Ellen Geer guest stars as Eleanor Roosevelt. 
The fifth episode of Brian Daley’s radio drama adaptation of the Star Wars sequel The Empire Strikes Back airs on National Public Radio stations in the U.S. Mark Hamill and Anthony Daniels reprise their movie roles. 
BBC1 premieres the 23rd episode of Terry Nation’s science fiction series Blake’s 7. 
BBC1 premieres the 11th episode of Terry Nation’s science fiction series Blake’s 7. T.P. McKenna guest stars. 
The week-long syndication window opens for the 11th episode of The Next Step Beyond, a revival of the 1950s/60s supernatural anthology series One Step Beyond, hosted and directed by John Newland.
NBC airs the sixth episode of Quinn Martin’s horror/sci-fi anthology Tales Of The Unexpected. (This series is not to be confused with the longer-lived British series of the same name, created by acclaimed author Roald Dahl.) Lloyd Bridges guest stars.
IBM introduces the Model 3340 hard disk drive system for its System/370 mainframe computers. Housed in a large casing similar to a combined washer and dryer, this is the birth of modern hard disk technology, with read and write heads integral to the drive itself rather than being mounted on an arm which reaches into the drive casing. The 3340’s removable modules, each containing drive platters and the read/write heads, can be swapped out with other modules containing other drives. IBM ships the 3340 with two maximum storage capacities: 35 megabytes or 70 megabytes; the unit is internally called a Winchester hard drive, a case of a code name that sticks well beyond development. The 3340 is available through 1984.
The 289th episode of Doctor Who airs on BBC1. Roger Delgado guest stars as the Master. 
The 57th episode of Irwin Allen’s adventure series Voyage To The Bottom Of The Sea airs on ABC, starring Richard Basehart and David Hedison. James Darren (future star of The Time Tunnel) guest stars.
The 62nd episode of Doctor Who airs on the BBC. This is part five of the story now collectively known as The Web Planet, though its individual episode title is easily confused with the 1969 Patrick Troughton-era eight-parter The Invasion, or the ambiguously named first part of the Jon Pertwee story Invasion Of The Dinosaurs.
The 144th episode of Rod Serling’s The Twilight Zone airs on CBS. Joan Blondell, William Demarest, and Sterling Holloway star.
The 52nd episode of The Adventures Of Superman airs in syndication, starring George Reeves, Noel Neill, and Jack Larson. Judy Nugent guest stars in the second season finale, and the final episode of the series to be filmed in black & white.
The 73rd episode of the science fiction anthology series Tales Of Tomorrow airs on ABC. Much of the second season is missing, including this episode.