Gene Play

[RobertScorpio]

Gene Roddenberry..Gene L Coon.

Roddenberry created Star Trek, and no one can take that from him. Gene L Coon also brought some interesting components to the franchise as well. William Shatner, in his first book, and I think Nimoy at some point too, have both seem to indicate that they thought Roddenbery underplayed the importance of Coon's involvement.

If you take away Gene L Coon's involvement with TOS, would it have been as good as it became? Or would someone else filled the seat just as well?

Rob
Scorpio

 

[Kelso]

I tend to prefer the first half of season one (production order) to the rest of the Trek franchise... so, I think Trek was doing just fine without him.

 

[JoeD80]

If another writer had been brought in, the show would have developed differently. Would it have been better? Who knows? Different doesn't necessarily mean better or worse. Coon did keep the show on track between season 1 and season 2 but he left the show partway through the 2nd season and I think John Meredyth Lucas did just as fine a job as writer-producer in the 2nd half of that season.

 

[egonbeeblebrox]

I tend to prefer the first half of season one (production order) to the rest of the Trek franchise... so, I think Trek was doing just fine without him.

The first half of season one is my favorite, too. Though Coon definitely wrote, or had a hand in writing, some of the very best episodes.

 

[RobertScorpio]

I tend to prefer the first half of season one (production order) to the rest of the Trek franchise... so, I think Trek was doing just fine without him.

The first half of season one is my favorite, too. Though Coon definitely wrote, or had a hand in writing, some of the very best episodes.

It is from my understanding that Coon came up with the concept of the Klingons, and Romulans. And that Coon was the one who tried to put more of a military look to the show. Take those three items away, and TREK may not have gone on as long as it did..

Rob

 

[JoeD80]

It is from my understanding that Coon came up with the concept of the Klingons, and Romulans. And that Coon was the one who tried to put more of a military look to the show. Take those three items away, and TREK may not have gone on as long as it did..

He did create the Klingons, but he didn't create the Romulans. Paul Schneider created the idea of Romulans, but it was likely Roddenberry's decision or possibly John D. F. Black's to have them look like Vulcans (in the original script, it was thought Romulans might even look like humans, and the comment that Stiles makes about spies on board was just a reference to everybody, rather than a specific reference to Spock after having viewed them on screen). Coon wasn't working for Star Trek yet at the time of that episode, "Balance of Terror."

 

[Kelso]

I don't think Coon joined the show until Miri (someone correct me if I'm wrong).

Which means the following eps. were produced before he came along...

The Cage
Where No Man Has Gone Before
The Corbomite Maneuver
Mudd's Women
The Enemy Within
The Naked Time
Charlie X
Balance of Terror
What Are Little Girls Made Of
Dagger of the Mind

So, I don't think he was responsible for the Romulans or the military look of the show.

I think he definitely did a lot for the series, but I don't think he "made Star Trek what it was" as some have claimed.

 

[trevanian]

Coon made the show work more consistently, but more importantly, he made it FUN.

I don't think the show would have survived season 1 if GR had gotten Freiberger like he first intended ... no, let me say I don't think it would have survived season 1 with anybody other than Coon there. He is the missing ingredient in all the attempts to do trek again, and that level of craftsmanship and heart doesn't seem to exist in other trek filmmakers.

 

[Shatmandu]

Gene Roddenberry..Gene L Coon.

Roddenberry created Star Trek, and no one can take that from him. Gene L Coon also brought some interesting components to the franchise as well. William Shatner, in his first book, and I think Nimoy at some point too, have both seem to indicate that they thought Roddenbery underplayed the importance of Coon's involvement.

If you take away Gene L Coon's involvement with TOS, would it have been as good as it became? Or would someone else filled the seat just as well?

Rob
Scorpio

I have several first draft scripts of Coon's episodes.

In 95% of the cases, 98% of the final episode is right there from the get-go.

For what that's worth.

Joe, badger

 

[Saxman1]

Gene Roddenberry..Gene L Coon.

Roddenberry created Star Trek, and no one can take that from him. Gene L Coon also brought some interesting components to the franchise as well. William Shatner, in his first book, and I think Nimoy at some point too, have both seem to indicate that they thought Roddenbery underplayed the importance of Coon's involvement.

If you take away Gene L Coon's involvement with TOS, would it have been as good as it became? Or would someone else filled the seat just as well?

Rob
Scorpio

I have several first draft scripts of Coon's episodes.

In 95% of the cases, 98% of the final episode is right there from the get-go.

For what that's worth.

Joe, badger

Dude, I have to tell you this: there is a guy where I work whose first name is Shatmandu! I am NOT making this up!

 

[Shatmandu]

Dude, I have to tell you this: there is a guy where I work whose first name is Shatmandu! I am NOT making this up!

No shit?

If he ever Googles his first name, tell him I'm sorry.

Joe, amazed

 

[Saxman1]

Dude, I have to tell you this: there is a guy where I work whose first name is Shatmandu! I am NOT making this up!

No shit?

If he ever Googles his first name, tell him I'm sorry.

Joe, amazed

Last name is Patel. He said that's a common Indian (the country, not Native American) name.