Gene Play

[RobertScorpio]

If I'd make one change I'd get Gene to not rewrite every bloody script just so he could get a chunk of the payment for it (as Solow relates in Inside Star Trek), which ended up alienating writers who might've written for the show again, otherwise.

I don't know..I'd have to shown an example where Roddenberry's rewrite HURT the script...after all this talk about City on The Edge, I still believe the way Gene rewrote it was far more dramatic than the way Harlin wanted it...

Is there a concrete example where Gene's rewrite hurt the story? If not, and since it was his show, and it turned out so many great episodes when he was doing it (seasons 1 and 2 ) I would have second thoughts..

But hey...you made the suggestion. And maybe there would have been better writers, as you say..so yeah..i see your point..

Rob

 

[JoeD80]

If I'd make one change I'd get Gene to not rewrite every bloody script just so he could get a chunk of the payment for it (as Solow relates in Inside Star Trek), which ended up alienating writers who might've written for the show again, otherwise.

The rules of the guild were changed since that time (partly due to Roddenberry I suspect) so that a producer re-writing a script a little bit wouldn't get to take part of the script fee.

 

[Maurice]

If I'd make one change I'd get Gene to not rewrite every bloody script just so he could get a chunk of the payment for it (as Solow relates in Inside Star Trek), which ended up alienating writers who might've written for the show again, otherwise.

The rules of the guild were changed since that time (partly due to Roddenberry I suspect) so that a producer re-writing a script a little bit wouldn't get to take part of the script fee.

Exactly. Sometimes a change is just for a change, especially when there's money involved. I also maintain that many of the changes made to City were unnecessary. Sure, it needed a lot of work, but they went overboard, throwing the baby out with the bathwater.

 

[RobertScorpio]

If I'd make one change I'd get Gene to not rewrite every bloody script just so he could get a chunk of the payment for it (as Solow relates in Inside Star Trek), which ended up alienating writers who might've written for the show again, otherwise.

The rules of the guild were changed since that time (partly due to Roddenberry I suspect) so that a producer re-writing a script a little bit wouldn't get to take part of the script fee.

Exactly. Sometimes a change is just for a change, especially when there's money involved. I also maintain that many of the changes made to City were unnecessary. Sure, it needed a lot of work, but they went overboard, throwing the baby out with the bathwater.

Having read Ellison's version of CITY ON THE EDGE OF FOREVER, I am convinced the re-write HAD to be done. And that drama comes from Kirk letting her die...

It is no mistake that most fans, or heck non fans, pick that episode as one of the best; it was well done and it worked...

Rob

 

[T'Girl]

^ ^ ^ Roddenberry didn't re-write "City", D.C. Fontana did.

I'd go back in time and convince Roddenberry to grit his teeth and re-cast the role of Number One with an actress the network executives would accept. I love Spock, but female first officer in the mid-sixties would have been ground breaking. I'm not up on the actress of the time, but a early thirtys professional star fleet officer, not a blond titty machine. Show Kirk having a non-sexual friendship with her and a different type of friendship with science officer Spock.

 

[Maurice]

What the heck are you doing digging up yet another 10+ month old thread?

 

[RobertScorpio]

^ ^ ^ Roddenberry didn't re-write "City", D.C. Fontana did.

I'd go back in time and convince Roddenberry to grit his teeth and re-cast the role of Number One with an actress the network executives would accept. I love Spock, but female first officer in the mid-sixties would have been ground breaking. I'm not up on the actress of the time, but a early thirtys professional star fleet officer, not a blond titty machine. Show Kirk having a non-sexual friendship with her and a different type of friendship with science officer Spock.

You have a point there. Had they found an actress that was acceptable to both sides, who knows how popular TREK would have been. It may have brought in more female viewers, which would have countered the BONANZAish shows of the time....

And Shatner would have loved an extra babe on the bridge as well!!!

Rob