Roddenberry's Worst Ideas

ZapBrannigan · March 16 2013, 10:24 AM

Gene Roddenberry had some great ideas and some not so hot.

I'd say one of his worst ideas was that a beautiful woman in TMP should be bald.

A bad costume idea, and probably Roddenberry's, was the "skant" uniform in early TNG, where a male extra would be seen walking around in a dress. If it was a good concept, the male regulars (audience representatives) would have worn it. The simple fact that that would be unacceptable should have told them something.

teacake · March 16 2013, 11:49 AM

No money.

Mankind having evolved past greed and now working only to better themselves.

No conflict on TNG among the crew because of all this enlightened evolving.

Wesley.

C.E. Evans · March 16 2013, 01:22 PM

Star Trek

Forbin · March 16 2013, 03:29 PM

Sometimes I think Trek was his only good idea. Most of his other attempts after that were pretty crappy.

scotpens · March 16 2013, 03:47 PM

Deanna Troi having three breasts.

Mr. Laser Beam · March 16 2013, 03:57 PM

People walking around naked and having a collective consciousness (the "New Humans").

Underground cities.

The first season of TNG except for "Symbiosis" and "Conspiracy".

Everything that teacake mentioned.

Hartzilla2007 · March 16 2013, 04:12 PM

Spock killing JFK.

SchwEnt · March 16 2013, 05:38 PM

Forbin wrote:

Sometimes I think Trek was his only good idea. Most of his other attempts after that were pretty crappy.

And even then, many say ST became good only with the talented contributions of others.

sonak · March 16 2013, 05:54 PM

his later ideas seemed to be worse-the whole "evolved, enlightened Humanity" thing, plus the wacky idea that Starfleet wasn't military.

yousirname · March 16 2013, 07:58 PM

No money seems fine to me. My only beef with that whole aspect is actually the failure to explore in any meaningful way the ramifications of a post-scarcity economy. We just get these rather smug hew-mons endlessly gassing on about how enlightened they are. Show, don't tell, I say.

Data shouldn't use contractions (OK I'm not sure that was Roddenberry himself).

'Klingon' is a really silly name.

The Traveler and Wesley's destiny with him.

Relayer1 · March 16 2013, 08:09 PM

ZapBrannigan wrote:

Gene Roddenberry had some great ideas and some not so hot.

I'd say one of his worst ideas was that a beautiful woman in TMP should be bald.

I thought that was brilliant. Persis was far more stunning without hair than she was with it. It wouldn't have been so with most women...

The Wormhole · March 16 2013, 08:16 PM

yousirname wrote:

'Klingon' is a really silly name.

The Traveler and Wesley's destiny with him.

Klingons were developed by Gene L Coon from Roddenberry's request to develop a recurring villain for the Federation.

The Traveler was introduced in an episode written by Diane Duane and Michael Reaves. Roddenberry had no input regarding Wesley's destiny with him, Roddenberry always wanted Wesley to go to the Academy and become a Starfleet officer. In fact, the episode Journey's End was written after Roddenberry died, so how the hell can you blame him for that?

scotpens · March 16 2013, 08:19 PM

yousirname wrote:

'Klingon' is a really silly name.

Tell that to Lt. Wilbur Clingan of the LAPD. (Assuming the story about the origin of the name "Klingon" is true.)

yousirname · March 16 2013, 08:36 PM

The Wormhole wrote:

Klingons were developed by Gene L Coon from Roddenberry's request to develop a recurring villain for the Federation.

Well, I stand corrected.

The Traveler was introduced in an episode written by Diane Duane and Michael Reaves. Roddenberry had no input regarding Wesley's destiny with him, Roddenberry always wanted Wesley to go to the Academy and become a Starfleet officer. In fact, the episode Journey's End was written after Roddenberry died, so how the hell can you blame him for that?

And again. Though I wasn't thinking of Journey's End, since the 'destiny' is hinted at in the Traveler's first appearance.

scotpens wrote:

Tell that to Lt. Wilbur Clingan of the LAPD. (Assuming the story about the origin of the name "Klingon" is true.)

Well, I like my surname, but it would make a silly name for an alien species. I mean it sounds like "Cling on". I guess your mileage may vary.

Metryq · March 16 2013, 08:51 PM

"Nanny" aliens, such as Gary Seven and Questor of THE QUESTOR TAPES.

If a civilization cannot—and is not allowed to—overcome its own faults, then it is baggage. Or as Spock said in "The Day of the Dove": "Those who hate and fight must stop themselves, Doctor. Otherwise, it is not stopped."

Alternatively, "the only kind of discipline is self-discipline."

March 16 2013, 10:24 AM	#1
ZapBrannigan Commander Location: New York State	Roddenberry's Worst Ideas Gene Roddenberry had some great ideas and some not so hot. I'd say one of his worst ideas was that a beautiful woman in TMP should be bald. A bad costume idea, and probably Roddenberry's, was the "skant" uniform in early TNG, where a male extra would be seen walking around in a dress. If it was a good concept, the male regulars (audience representatives) would have worn it. The simple fact that that would be unacceptable should have told them something.

March 16 2013, 11:49 AM	#2
teacake Admiral Location: Militant Janeway True Path Devotees Compound. With Sehlats.	Re: Roddenberry's Worst Ideas No money. Mankind having evolved past greed and now working only to better themselves. No conflict on TNG among the crew because of all this enlightened evolving. Wesley. __________________ Rider: I can't believe you'd kill me for a field of empty holes. J'onn: It's all I have. ■ ■ ■ Janeway does Melbourne

March 16 2013, 01:22 PM	#3
C.E. Evans Vice Admiral Location: Saint Louis (aka Defiance)	Re: Roddenberry's Worst Ideas Star Trek __________________ "Shout, shout, let it all out..."

March 16 2013, 03:29 PM	#4
Forbin Admiral Location: I said out, dammit!	Re: Roddenberry's Worst Ideas Sometimes I think Trek was his only good idea. Most of his other attempts after that were pretty crappy. __________________ My kitbashes: http://www.inpayne.com/models/kitbash/trekpage.html My Kitbash Wallpapers: http://www.inpayne.com/models/wallpa...allpapers.html My kitbash calendar: http://inpayne.com/calendar/kbcalendar2013.html

March 16 2013, 03:47 PM	#5
scotpens Rear Admiral Location: Los Angeles, CA	Re: Roddenberry's Worst Ideas Deanna Troi having three breasts. __________________ “All the universe or nothingness. Which shall it be, Passworthy? Which shall it be?”

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March 16 2013, 03:57 PM	#6
Mr. Laser Beam Fleet Admiral Location: The visitor's bullpen	Re: Roddenberry's Worst Ideas People walking around naked and having a collective consciousness (the "New Humans"). Underground cities. The first season of TNG except for "Symbiosis" and "Conspiracy". Everything that teacake mentioned. __________________ It is by caffeine alone I set my mind in motion. It is by the beans of Java that thoughts acquire speed, the hands acquire shakes, the shakes become a warning. It is by caffeine alone I set my mind in motion.

March 16 2013, 04:12 PM	#7
Hartzilla2007 Vice Admiral Location: Star Trekkin Across the universe.	Re: Roddenberry's Worst Ideas Spock killing JFK.

March 16 2013, 05:54 PM	#9
sonak Rear Admiral Location: in a figment of a mediocre mind's imagination	Re: Roddenberry's Worst Ideas his later ideas seemed to be worse-the whole "evolved, enlightened Humanity" thing, plus the wacky idea that Starfleet wasn't military.

March 16 2013, 07:58 PM	#10
yousirname Commander	Re: Roddenberry's Worst Ideas No money seems fine to me. My only beef with that whole aspect is actually the failure to explore in any meaningful way the ramifications of a post-scarcity economy. We just get these rather smug hew-mons endlessly gassing on about how enlightened they are. Show, don't tell, I say. Data shouldn't use contractions (OK I'm not sure that was Roddenberry himself). 'Klingon' is a really silly name. The Traveler and Wesley's destiny with him.

March 16 2013, 08:51 PM	#15
Metryq Commander	Re: Roddenberry's Worst Ideas "Nanny" aliens, such as Gary Seven and Questor of THE QUESTOR TAPES. If a civilization cannot—and is not allowed to—overcome its own faults, then it is baggage. Or as Spock said in "The Day of the Dove": "Those who hate and fight must stop themselves, Doctor. Otherwise, it is not stopped." Alternatively, "the only kind of discipline is self-discipline." __________________ "No, I better not look. I just might be in there." —Foghorn Leghorn