• Welcome! The TrekBBS is the number one place to chat about Star Trek with like-minded fans.
    If you are not already a member then please register an account and join in the discussion!

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.
 
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?
 
His 2nd pilot script for "The Omega Glory" (which features the weirdest take on Spock ever) and the episode finally developed from it is interesting in bits (the starship captain who goes native) then falls apart going for a kindergarten attempt at a Twilight Zone twist.

...

The memos and draft scripts also make clear that Roddenberry was the originator of a number of things people have credited other writers for, i.e. Coon getting credit for the Prime Directive when it's right there in that 2nd pilot version of "The Omega Glory".
Do you know where I could find a copy of that script?
 
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?

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.
 
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.

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.
 
Last edited:
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.
 
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.
 
If you are not already a member then please register an account and join in the discussion!

Sign up / Register


Back
Top