Eugene Wesley Roddenberry
August 19, 1921 - October 24, 1991
Thanks for everything, Gene.
August 19, 1921 - October 24, 1991
Thanks for everything, Gene.
In Memoriam: Gene Roddenberry
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I always wished I could've met him, but he passed away as I started going to the conventions (1990, I was 15) and he never came around to Miami during that period that i was aware of.
I've seen him in interviews, of course, and seen clips of his personal appearances, but did anyone here meet him and what was he like?
I've seen him in interviews, of course, and seen clips of his personal appearances, but did anyone here meet him and what was he like?
I would have liked to have asked him (and had him answer) questions about Star Trek that he apparent never addressed directly. In depth on his vision of the specifics of the structure of the Federation and it's governing system, the no money economy, was Starfleet a military, women's place in the future.
Get point blank on why he didn't want gays on the show, from Farpoint forward.
Discuss why I feel that A Private Little War was really a pro-Vietnam involvement story.
Had him go into his relationship with the co-creators of TNG, and frankly why he felt the need to "force them" off the show. Some of these people were associates and friends of his for decades.
Get inside the man's head.
.
Get point blank on why he didn't want gays on the show, from Farpoint forward.
Discuss why I feel that A Private Little War was really a pro-Vietnam involvement story.
Had him go into his relationship with the co-creators of TNG, and frankly why he felt the need to "force them" off the show. Some of these people were associates and friends of his for decades.
Get inside the man's head.
.
He likely didn't know nor care about the specifics.
Tough one. It could have been him or it could've been Paramount. He still had bosses to answer to.
Pretty sure it was and it is quite obvious.
I don't think he would have answered questions about that particular subject, since the settlement was likely sealed.
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I'm always interested in the "No money" thing because even though it feels like a Roddenberry idea; and he certainly ran with it in TNG, it was The Voyage Home, a film with which he had minimum involvement, that actually introduced the idea.
Fully agreed that, for all his well documented flaws, sitting down and talking with Gene would likely have been a really interesting experience.
Fully agreed that, for all his well documented flaws, sitting down and talking with Gene would likely have been a really interesting experience.
I will always be greatful to Gene Roddenberry for returning to television - and this franchise - with STAR TREK: The Next Generation.
This show is 7 seasons of satisfying, isn't it? It's the best of everything that's great about TREK and it's got Gene's stamp ALL over it! The only problem is that it's not current, though it's aged like a fine bottle of Chateau Picard! Only some of it has not dated well - particularly lady's hairstyles. But the stories, the characters, the themes and the sets are absolutely timeless. I know it's only entertainment, but ... if loving TNG is wrong, then I don't want to be right!
This show is 7 seasons of satisfying, isn't it? It's the best of everything that's great about TREK and it's got Gene's stamp ALL over it! The only problem is that it's not current, though it's aged like a fine bottle of Chateau Picard! Only some of it has not dated well - particularly lady's hairstyles. But the stories, the characters, the themes and the sets are absolutely timeless. I know it's only entertainment, but ... if loving TNG is wrong, then I don't want to be right!
Actually, I got pretty bored with it once Gene was no longer running the day-to-day stuff. I think the first two seasons are great, but the character relationships afterward reminded me of L.A. Law in space.
It's a shame so much of the demonisation of Roddenberry happened once he had died. A bit cowardly, some might say.
Far from perfect, but clearly a fascinating man. A chat with him would've been interesting, I am sure.
Still, "he was a man; take him, for all, I shall not look upon his kind again."
Far from perfect, but clearly a fascinating man. A chat with him would've been interesting, I am sure.
Still, "he was a man; take him, for all, I shall not look upon his kind again."
Less "demonization" than a accurate appraisal of the man. He was who and what he was.
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Good analogy. So many character stories, all about people about whom I just didn't care that much. I prefer the interpersonal conflict and acting chops of TOS. But like TNG if you like it!
Thanks, Mr. Roddenberry, for all the fun. Yes, others contributed, whom he did not always credit, and they sure helped it develo the direction it did (not always good in my opinion).
But: no GR, no Star Trek.
doubleohfive
Fleet Admiral
I first saw this in Starlog Magazine (Issue #175, February 1992) over 20 years ago and never forgot it. To this day, I still think it's a lovely and loving tribute to Roddenberry, who while flawed (just like anyone else) also deserves to me remembered (just like anyone eles) for the good they did in their lives.
I first saw this in Starlog Magazine (Issue #175, February 1992) over 20 years ago and never forgot it. To this day, I still think it's a lovely and loving tribute to Roddenberry, who while flawed (just like anyone else) also deserves to me remembered (just like anyone eles) for the good they did in their lives.
Wow, I got a little choked up when I saw this. It reminds me of the "we're speechless" tribute to Mel Blanc.
No, much of what has been said and written in the last twenty years has gone WAY beyond "accurate".
Don't get me wrong, incredibly flawed man - but some if the villification has been pretty wretched.
I feel the exact opposite, that the season 3 team that mostly carried over to DS9 were able to take Gene's ideas and tell great stories of their own with them. They were able to explore the morals of the Roddenberry universe without the constraint of trying to replicate pat adventure fables in the TOS style.
Quite aside Gene Roddenberry's coup de grâce in creating TNG, he continues to inspire me, as a Man. He was a ...
World War II Pilot
Police Man
Writer/Story Teller/Weaver of Dreams
Producer of a Pop Culture Icon
Captures Lightning in a Bottle Twice, with The Next Generation
Achieves world wide fame and celebrity
Any of these, taken by themselves, is very respectable. But taken in total and to begin to realise that they are the traits of 1 Man ... that's inspiring, to me! Hell, that would be inspiring to anybody. He was driven to succeed, that's true. But he also recognised opportunties as they came and more importantly: he was ready for them! It's enough to make me want to believe in Destiny. The path to success can be a rough road, but sometimes, it can be damned easy. Will it ever be for me? I hope so. I surely do. And with inspiration like that, it almost seems inevitable, doesn't it?
World War II Pilot
Police Man
Writer/Story Teller/Weaver of Dreams
Producer of a Pop Culture Icon
Captures Lightning in a Bottle Twice, with The Next Generation
Achieves world wide fame and celebrity
Any of these, taken by themselves, is very respectable. But taken in total and to begin to realise that they are the traits of 1 Man ... that's inspiring, to me! Hell, that would be inspiring to anybody. He was driven to succeed, that's true. But he also recognised opportunties as they came and more importantly: he was ready for them! It's enough to make me want to believe in Destiny. The path to success can be a rough road, but sometimes, it can be damned easy. Will it ever be for me? I hope so. I surely do. And with inspiration like that, it almost seems inevitable, doesn't it?
I'll let everything go but this one. Gene was a good TV producer, but there's a reason Justman, Fontana and Gerrold sued for co-creator credits on TNG. Patrick Stewart was found by Bob Justman and Worf was also Justman's idea.
Gene Roddenberry of 1986/1987 wasn't the same as the Gene Roddenberry of 1966. Overall, the show felt closer to TOS during seasons one and two, but that could've easily been due to the influence Justman, Fontana and Gerrold had in laying the groundwork of the show.
As I recall, Roddenberry actively didn't want the character of Worf on the show at all. But TNG was a collaborate effort.
If Roddenberry had actually been the primary creative force on TNG, there would have been no Worf.
And Deanna might of had three breasts, Fontana supposedly killed that idea.
