Gene the Writer

I lo ve the sound of the words from S1 when he was heavily rewriting. But I like old movies and radio, Acting! and drama. Samuel Cogley declaring, "Books!" and " I demand it! " The dude could write fine, he has blessed my life immeasurably, far more than any other creative other than maybe Elvis. Go, GR, flawed human being as am I. Rest in peace.

 

I think Roddenberry was a competent writer who, like his counterpart, George Lucas, that due to ego and/or in Gene's case probably somewhat related to substance abuse, started believing that they and they alone were the creative force of their respective creations.

The primary difference is that Gene, unlike George, had the distinction of being "forced" out of Trek, not once but twice.

 

Gene was forced out after Star Trek: The Motion Picture. Paramount gave him a consulting title and a nice paycheck. Everyone knows that. When else was he forced out?

 

Do you know where I could find a copy of that script?

 

The only copy I've ever seen was in the files at UCLA. I don't think Lincoln Enterprises ever sold it.

 

IIRC, he was basically sent on a plane out of the country so he wouldn't mess with TNG any longer by the original show runner.

 

That would be Maurice Hurley.

 

Roddenberry was the original TNG showrunner. Hurley took over the role when it became clear that Roddenberry couldn't fulfill it anymore.

 

Do you mean for health reasons?

 

Not directly, but Roddenberry (or probably more accurately, Leonard Maizlish) had chased out most of the writing staff who started the season, and it was getting to the point where they were in serious danger of running out of usable scripts, which would have gotten the show cancelled for certain. At that point, Hurley basically handed Roddenberry a couple of plane tickets and promised to whip the writing staff into shape while he was on vacation, and apparently did a good enough job that he was officially given the showrunner's role.

 

According to Burton Armus (in the 50 Year Mission), a writer would hand in a good script, Rodenberry would slaughter it, and Hurley would salvage Rodenberry's rewrite. In season 2 Hurley got fed up with the pressure and chaos and Gene's rules and left.

 

Suddenly, it makes a lot more sense why the draft script of "Unnatural Selection" is so bizarre and tonally inconsistent, and why the early version of "The Outrageous Okona" is somehow ten times worse than what actually aired.

 

Hi, Ilia-Probe!

 

- Troi has three breasts...

 

I loved D.C Fontana's response to that idea. "We have enough trouble with two."

 

I never heard that before....she seems to have quite the humor :-)