Were there better scripts?

[Grant]

After peeking in on the "Fix Mark of Gideon" thread and remembering how much I hate that episode........

I wondered if you were to take the 10 "worst" episodes of TOS (by consensus) and toss them out.....

Do you think there were 10 scripts ready at the time that would have been better?

In other words, when they shot Mark of Gideon, was there a script in your estimation that was lying around that was probably better?

So either they had nothing better at that moment to schedule for filming or someone(s) just made a bad decision and passed over a script that was likely better--maybe not a classic, but better than __________.

I'd be willing to bet that during the run of the show they rejected or set aside a few scripts that were available and probably better than the one they picked to shoot.

Of course, we have hindsight to say, "Wow, that sucked, was that the best they could do?"

What do you think?

 

[Nerys Myk]

Full scripts? Was the show ever that far ahead?

 

[Harvey]

There were plenty of story assignments that were cut off at the outline stage, but very few completed scripts that weren't shot.

One could argue that some scripts suffered in rewrites, but I wouldn't suggest that there were better (and completely different) scripts ready than some of the turkeys that were ultimately filmed.

 

[Grant]

There were plenty of story assignments that were cut off at the outline stage, but very few completed scripts that weren't shot.

One could argue that some scripts suffered in rewrites, but I wouldn't suggest that there were better (and completely different) scripts ready than some of the turkeys that were ultimately filmed.

This site list many TOS scripts and outlines that were written---11 have lengthy descriptions.

3 on the list are full scripts, but none of those 3 are available to be read.

A few seem pretty good or at least better than the bottom of the barrel episodes that did get shot.


http://www.orionpressfanzines.com/articles/unseen.htm

 

[T'Girl]

It isn't alway a matter of "better scripts," there is also the consideration of execution. The director chosen, selection of guest stars, so on.

Personally I thought the concept behind The Mark of Gideon was fine. Over population was a hot topic in the '60's, the actor who played the planet's leader did a good job, the only new set was the government chamber and so they likely saved some money. At least it wasn't Masks.

(IMHO the "Enterprise" Kirk was wondering around in was something like a holodeck)

 

[Warped9]

If "The Mark Of Gideon" and other stories from Season 3 had been filmed during Seasons 1 and 2 it would have gotten more informed attention and polish. That's a key difference between many of Season 3 episodes and ones shot in the previous seasons.

It's even possible some of them wouldn't have been produced in the earlier seasons. We can only think that if Roddenberry and Fontana (at least) had remained in place than quite a few of the Season 3 episodes would have come off better.

 

[BillJ]

There were plenty of story assignments that were cut off at the outline stage, but very few completed scripts that weren't shot.

One could argue that some scripts suffered in rewrites, but I wouldn't suggest that there were better (and completely different) scripts ready than some of the turkeys that were ultimately filmed.

I think the other thing they had to consider was cost. Were there other options available that would've been cheaper (or cost the same) than "The Mark of Gideon" to make?

 

[Harvey]

There were plenty of story assignments that were cut off at the outline stage, but very few completed scripts that weren't shot.

One could argue that some scripts suffered in rewrites, but I wouldn't suggest that there were better (and completely different) scripts ready than some of the turkeys that were ultimately filmed.

This site list many TOS scripts and outlines that were written---11 have lengthy descriptions.

3 on the list are full scripts, but none of those 3 are available to be read.

A few seem pretty good or at least better than the bottom of the barrel episodes that did get shot.


http://www.orionpressfanzines.com/articles/unseen.htm

I am well aware of Orion Press -- I have used that page often, and made a few (minor) contributions to it.

But, as I said, most of the unfilmed stories were abandoned at the outline stage. Thus, they weren't anywhere close to being shootable (and the completed teleplays they did have on hand, but never used, were all considered problematic for one reason or another).

 

[Therin of Andor]

David Gerrold's "Bem" and "More Tribbles, More Troubles" were in early form, AFAIK, and eventually used for TAS. Also his "The Protracted Man" and "Bandi".

Vonda McIntyre had contributed an early version of what became her novel, "The Entropy Effect".

Alan Dean Foster had contributed a two-parter Klingon script (he no longer recalls its title, but it featured Kumara, Kirk's former Klingon Exchange roommate) for the potential Season Four, and eventually mined it thoroughly to pad out "Star Trek Log Seven" when Ballantine asked him to start using only one TAS script per volume.

And yeah, T'Girl, "The Mark of Gideon" only makes sense if the replica starship is a holodeck!) I've often said so.

 

[Shawnster]

(IMHO the "Enterprise" Kirk was wondering around in was something like a holodeck)

I like this idea. Maybe the holodeck had no real walls, either, and that explains the appearance of the people out the window - bleed through the holo image.

 

[Kor]

Wasn't there some idea about a kid Klingon messiah who would be their next leader? Kirk and co had to go to the Klingon homeworld and do something or other (I know that's pretty vague). We would have gotten some interesting insights into Klingon society and culture (instead of all that viking biker gang stuff was thought up later).

Or was this for Phase II?

Kor

 

[Harvey]

Sounds like John Meredyth Lucas' "Kitumba."

That was written for Phase II.

 

[johnnybear]

Didn't Star Trek Continues adapt Kitumba for their web series?
JB

 

[Warped9]

Didn't Star Trek Continues adapt Kitumba for their web series?
JB

No, that was New Voyages/Phase II.

 

[Forbin]

Here ya go:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=419hNYe2OaY