theLogBook.com is a chronicle of how we used to imagine the future – an ever-expanding logbook of what our entertainment, our culture, and even our brightest minds thought would happen. It’s nostalgia – and some real history – that gives factual context to the fiction, cultural context to the factual, and always looks to the future.
The ongoing remodel of the site, the ongoing video series, and more are powered by your support! Join our Patreon, get access to our Discord, and help the site grow!
Welcome to Gene-ology, a podcast by Roddenberry Entertainment that dives deep into the early TV writing works of Gene Roddenberry. Is this the best television script Gene Roddenberry wrote prior to creating Star Trek? Gene's singular episode of the popular medical drama Dr. Kildare is a powerful story full of rich characters and raw emotions – the bedrock of great television drama. Hosted by Earl Green & Ashley Thomas About Gene-ology Gene-ology explores Gene Roddenberry's early television scripts, including his lesser-known works before Star Trek using the Mission Log format popularized by Roddenberry Podcasts. We analyze the themes, writing style, and cultural impact of his scripts, and we even unearth stories from the Roddenberry archives that were never produced. Join us as we trace the roots of Gene's creative genius. In This Episode A breakdown of key moments and themes in "A Distant Thunder". Exploring Gene Roddenberry's evolving style and storytelling. How this episode ties into the broader TV landscape of the time and reflects the early seeds of Roddenberry's visionary work. Guest stars and unique production elements that bring this episode to life. Special Segment: Dramatic Recreation Since this script is not available to the public, we've brought it to life with a dramatic recreation! Special guests Jeff Gauntt and Bonnie Gordon perform a key section of the script. Listen in as they bring the story to life in this exclusive performance. Join the Conversation What did you think of this episode? Share your thoughts, theories, and favorite moments in the comments or reach out to us on social media or email us at missionlog@roddenberry.com Did you know Roddenberry Podcasts is on YouTube? Find the video versions of your favorite shows like Mission Log: Prodigy, Mission Log: The Orville, as well as exclusive content only available on YouTube. Subscribe now! https://www.youtube.com/@RoddenberryEntertainment?sub_confirmation=1 Follow us on Social Media: INSTAGRAM https://www.instagram.com/roddenberrypodcasts BLUESKY https://bsky.app/profile/roddenberrypod.bsky.social THREADS https://www.threads.net/@roddenberrypodcasts FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/MissionLogPod Our shows are part of the Roddenberry Entertainment family. For more great shows and to learn how we live the legacy of Gene Roddenberry, the creator of Star Trek, follow us here: RODDENBERRY PODCASTS https://www.instagram.com/RoddenberryPodcasts RODDENBERRY ENTERTAINMENT https://www.instagram.com/RoddenberryOfficial RODDENBERRY FOUNDATION https://www.instagram.com/TheRoddenberryFoundation Support the Show For as little as $1 a month, you can gain access to our Mission Log Discord Community! There, we continue the discussion with dedicated channels and a weekly video chat with the hosts. Become a member of our Patreon today! https://www.Patreon.com/MissionLog Subscribe and Stay Tuned Be sure to subscribe to Gene-ology for more deep dives into Gene Roddenberry's early works. New episodes are released regularly as we uncover more of Gene's television legacy. – Gene-ology is produced by Roddenberry Entertainment. Executive producer Eugene "Rod" Roddenberry. Visit https://Podcasts.Roddenberry.com for more great content. Edited by Earl Green.
Space Shuttle Endeavour lifts off on the 122nd shuttle flight, a 16 day mission to deliver two new key components of the International Space Station. The unpressurized portion of the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency’s Kibo laboratory is delivered and attached, while the two-armed Dextre robotic arm system built in Canada is also installed. Aboard Endeavour for her 21st flight are Commander Dominic Gorie, Pilot Greg Johnson, and mission specialists Garrett Reisman, Robert Behnken, Mike Foreman, Takao Doi and Rick Linnehan. Reisman remains on the ISS, while station astronaut Leopold Eyharts hitches a ride back to Earth aboard the shuttle.
The 171st episode of Stargate SG-1 airs on the Sci-Fi Channel, starring Richard Dean Anderson, Amanda Tapping, Michael Shanks, and Christopher Judge. Isaac Hayes (South Park) guest stars.
Artemis Records releases the Firesign Theatre album All Things Firesign, gathering highlights of the radio comedy troupe’s recent revival as part of National Public Radio’s All Things Considered, with much of the content themed around the 2002 U.S. midterm elections.
Cable channel TNT premieres the 96th episode of J. Michael Straczynski’s science fiction series Babylon 5. Guest starring magicians Penn & Teller, this episode is written by Neil Gaiman, and is the first episode of Babylon 5 since the second season to be wholly written by someone other than series creator J. Michael Straczynski (and it’s also the last such episode as well, as Straczynski is either sole writer or co-writer of all of the series’ remaining episodes).
Fox airs the 21st episode of the sci-fi western, The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr., starring Bruce Campbell, Julius Carry, and Christian Clemenson. Casey Siemaszko (Back To The Future) and Matt McColm (Nightman) guest star.
NBC airs the 69th episode of Donald Bellisario’s science fiction series Quantum Leap, starring Scott Bakula and Dean Stockwell. Alan Oppenheimer (He-Man And The Masters Of The Universe) and Jerry Hardin (The X-Files) guest star.
The second episode of George Lucas’ historical adventure series The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles airs on ABC, starring Sean Patrick Flannery. Margaret Tyzack, Elizabeth Hurley, Vanessa Redgrave, and Jane Wyatt guest star.
The 44th and final episode of the horror anthology series Freddy’s Nightmares is broadcast in syndication in North America, hosted by Robert Englund in character as Freddy Krueger. Penny Johnson Jerald (The Orville) guest stars.
The 18th episode of the syndicated Alexander and Ilya Salkind-produced Superboy series, starring John Haymes Newton and Stacy Haiduk, airs. Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa guest stars.
The 60th episode of a revival of Rod Serling’s The Twilight Zone airs in syndication. Janet Leigh (Psycho) stars in an episode written by J. Michael Straczynski (Babylon 5, Jeremiah, Sense8).
The 19th episode of the science fiction series The Powers Of Matthew Star airs on NBC, starring Peter Barton and Louis Gossett Jr. Scott Marlowe (Valley Of The Dolls) guest stars.
The 479th episode of Doctor Who airs on BBC1. This is the finale of Doctor Who’s 15th season, and the exit of Louise Jameson as Leela, who elects to remain on the Time Lord planet, Gallifrey. (Though this is technically the swan song for K-9, the Doctor reveals that he has built a backup.)
The 314th episode of Doctor Who airs on BBC1. Roger Delgado and Clive Morton guest star. This is the first appearance of the Sea Devils, identified here as an offshoot of the Silurian species.
BBC2 airs the 35th episode of science fiction anthology series Out Of The Unknown. Written by Michael Ashe, the story stars Richard Pearson and Freda Bamford. This episode no longer exists in the BBC’s archives.
Actor/singer John Barrowman is born in Scotland. At a young age, he moves to the midwestern United States with his family, where he remains until graduating college in the late 1980s. Moving back to the UK, he begins a career on the musical stage, though he retains dual citizenship allowing him to work on either side of the Atlantic. Early US TV roles in such series as Titans and Central Park West pay the bills, but most genre fans know him best as Captain Jack Harkness, a character Barrowman has played on both Doctor Who and its spinoff, Torchwood, which centers around his character. Further television guest starring and regular roles follow, including Desperate Housewives and Arrow.
The 27th episode of the spy-fi series Adam Adamant Lives! airs on BBC1, starring Gerald Harper and Juliet Harmer. Directed by Ridley Scott (Alien), this episode is missing from the BBC’s archives.
Television writer Gene Roddenberry, who has already written scripts for shows such as Have Gun, Will Travel, writes his first-draft series proposal for a new hour-long science fiction drama, which he calls Star Trek. The series involves the starship S.S. Yorktown, commanded by Captain Robert April. Roddenberry will spend several months refining his concept before it is bought by Desilu Studios and shopped around to the American television networks. At the time he’s writing the pitch, Roddenberry is still overseeing his latest TV creation, a military series called The Lieutenant, which has enjoyed decent ratings but is leaving its network, NBC, nervous with its tendency to deal directly with issues related to the widening conflict in Vietnam.
Actress Alex Kingston, a familiar face in both British and American television, is born in England. With a variety of roles on UK TV throughout the 1980s and ’90s, she will make the leap to American television in 1997 with a regular role on the hospital drama ER through 2004. In 2008 she will make her first appearance as Professor River Song, occasional companion and gadfly to the Doctor in Doctor Who, opposite both David Tennant and Matt Smith.
Future Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy writer/creator Douglas Adams is born in England. Demonstrating an early ability to write short stories with a hint of the absurd, Adams would find himself a member of the renowned Cambridge Footlights theatrical comedy group in the early 1970s, leading to his “discovery” by Monty Python’s Graham Chapman. (Adams would become one of only two people outside of the core six-man Python troupe to contribute any scripted material to Monty Python’s Flying Circus, and made a few appearances as a guest cast member.) He would go on to contribute radio comedy sketches to various BBC Radio shows through the 1970s, until the premiere of his own project, the science fiction comedy The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy, put him on the map.
The 153rd episode of Arrow, a modern-day reboot of DC Comics’ Green Arrow superhero starring Stephen Amell, airs on the CW.
Cable channel Disney XD airs the 53rd episode of the series Star Wars: Rebels. Josh Gad (Jobs, Frozen, Pixels) guest stars. 
Big Finish Productions releases the tenth Doctor Who audio drama in its Fourth Doctor Adventures range, starring Tom Baker and Mary Tamm. Christopher Benjamin and Trevor Baxter guest star. 
Big Finish Productions releases the ninth Doctor Who audio drama in its Fourth Doctor Adventures range, starring Tom Baker and Mary Tamm. Hayley Atwell and David Warner guest star in the second part of a two-part story. 
Space Shuttle Endeavour lifts off on the 122nd shuttle flight, a 16 day mission to deliver two new key components of the International Space Station. The unpressurized portion of the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency’s Kibo laboratory is delivered and attached, while the two-armed Dextre robotic arm system built in Canada is also installed. Aboard Endeavour for her 21st flight are Commander Dominic Gorie, Pilot Greg Johnson, and mission specialists Garrett Reisman, Robert Behnken, Mike Foreman, Takao Doi and Rick Linnehan. Reisman remains on the ISS, while station astronaut Leopold Eyharts hitches a ride back to Earth aboard the shuttle.
Sci-Fi Channel airs the 51st episode of Ronald D. Moore’s re-imagining of Battlestar Galactica. Mark Sheppard guest stars. 
Sci-Fi channel airs the tenth episode of Ronald D. Moore’s re-imagining of Battlestar Galactica. 
Sci-Fi Channel airs the 17th episode of Stargate Atlantis. Claire Rankin guest stars. 
The 171st episode of Stargate SG-1 airs on the Sci-Fi Channel, starring Richard Dean Anderson, Amanda Tapping, Michael Shanks, and Christopher Judge. Isaac Hayes (South Park) guest stars. 
Artemis Records releases the Firesign Theatre album All Things Firesign, gathering highlights of the radio comedy troupe’s recent revival as part of National Public Radio’s All Things Considered, with much of the content themed around the 2002 U.S. midterm elections. 
The 48th episode of the science fiction comedy Red Dwarf airs on BBC 2. 
Cable channel TNT premieres the 96th episode of J. Michael Straczynski’s science fiction series Babylon 5. Guest starring magicians Penn & Teller, this episode is written by Neil Gaiman, and is the first episode of Babylon 5 since the second season to be wholly written by someone other than series creator J. Michael Straczynski (and it’s also the last such episode as well, as Straczynski is either sole writer or co-writer of all of the series’ remaining episodes). 
Highbridge Audio releases the audio drama Star Wars: Dark Forces: Rebel Agent, based on the lore of the video game Dark Forces. Randal Berger stars as Kyle Katarn. 
RCA/Victor releases an expanded edition of John Williams‘ soundtrack to the Star Wars sequel Return Of The Jedi; the release is timed to coincide with the re-release of the movie in “Special Edition” form. 
Fox airs the 21st episode of the sci-fi western, The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr., starring Bruce Campbell, Julius Carry, and Christian Clemenson. Casey Siemaszko (Back To The Future) and Matt McColm (Nightman) guest star.
NBC airs the 69th episode of Donald Bellisario’s science fiction series Quantum Leap, starring Scott Bakula and Dean Stockwell. Alan Oppenheimer (He-Man And The Masters Of The Universe) and Jerry Hardin (The X-Files) guest star.
The second episode of George Lucas’ historical adventure series The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles airs on ABC, starring Sean Patrick Flannery. Margaret Tyzack, Elizabeth Hurley, Vanessa Redgrave, and Jane Wyatt guest star.
The week-long national syndication window opens for the 89th episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation. 
The 44th and final episode of the horror anthology series Freddy’s Nightmares is broadcast in syndication in North America, hosted by Robert Englund in character as Freddy Krueger. Penny Johnson Jerald (The Orville) guest stars.
The 18th episode of the syndicated Alexander and Ilya Salkind-produced Superboy series, starring John Haymes Newton and Stacy Haiduk, airs. Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa guest stars.
The 60th episode of a revival of Rod Serling’s The Twilight Zone airs in syndication. Janet Leigh (Psycho) stars in an episode written by J. Michael Straczynski (Babylon 5, Jeremiah, Sense8).
The third episode of the Glen A. Larson’s futuristic action series The Highwayman airs on NBC, starring Sam Jones (Flash Gordon), Jane Badler (V), and Tim Russ (Star Trek: Voyager). Wendie Malick (Baywatch) guest stars in an episode written by Larson. 
The 19th episode of the science fiction series The Powers Of Matthew Star airs on NBC, starring Peter Barton and Louis Gossett Jr. Scott Marlowe (Valley Of The Dolls) guest stars.
ABC airs the second episode of the cop show spoof Police Squad, in color, starring Leslie Nielsen and created by the Zucker-Abrams-Zucker team behind the hit movie Airplane! 
The 18th episode of Glen A. Larson’s science fiction series Battlestar Galactica airs on ABC. 
The tenth episode of Watermark Radio’s syndicated sci-fi radio drama Alien Worlds is broadcast across the U.S., created by Lee Hensen and starring Roger Dressler, Linda Gary, and Corey Burton (Star Wars: The Clone Wars). Janet Waldo (Battle Of The Planets) guest stars. 
The 479th episode of Doctor Who airs on BBC1. This is the finale of Doctor Who’s 15th season, and the exit of Louise Jameson as Leela, who elects to remain on the Time Lord planet, Gallifrey. (Though this is technically the swan song for K-9, the Doctor reveals that he has built a backup.)
The 19th episode of The Tomorrow People is broadcast on ITV. Sylvia Coleridge guest stars. 
The eighth episode of The Sixth Sense airs on ABC, starring Gary Collins. Mike Farrell (M*A*S*H) and Chloris Leachman guest star.
The 314th episode of Doctor Who airs on BBC1. Roger Delgado and Clive Morton guest star. This is the first appearance of the Sea Devils, identified here as an offshoot of the Silurian species.
BBC2 airs the 35th episode of science fiction anthology series Out Of The Unknown. Written by Michael Ashe, the story stars Richard Pearson and Freda Bamford. This episode no longer exists in the BBC’s archives.
The 153rd episode of Doctor Who airs on the BBC. This episode is now missing from the BBC’s archives. 
Actor/singer John Barrowman is born in Scotland. At a young age, he moves to the midwestern United States with his family, where he remains until graduating college in the late 1980s. Moving back to the UK, he begins a career on the musical stage, though he retains dual citizenship allowing him to work on either side of the Atlantic. Early US TV roles in such series as Titans and Central Park West pay the bills, but most genre fans know him best as Captain Jack Harkness, a character Barrowman has played on both Doctor Who and its spinoff, Torchwood, which centers around his character. Further television guest starring and regular roles follow, including Desperate Housewives and Arrow.
British broadcaster ABC airs the 113th episode of the spy-fi series The Avengers, starring Patrick Macnee and Diana Rigg. Michael Gough guest stars.
The 27th episode of the spy-fi series Adam Adamant Lives! airs on BBC1, starring Gerald Harper and Juliet Harmer. Directed by Ridley Scott (Alien), this episode is missing from the BBC’s archives.
Television writer Gene Roddenberry, who has already written scripts for shows such as Have Gun, Will Travel, writes his first-draft series proposal for a new hour-long science fiction drama, which he calls Star Trek. The series involves the starship S.S. Yorktown, commanded by Captain Robert April. Roddenberry will spend several months refining his concept before it is bought by Desilu Studios and shopped around to the American television networks. At the time he’s writing the pitch, Roddenberry is still overseeing his latest TV creation, a military series called The Lieutenant, which has enjoyed decent ratings but is leaving its network, NBC, nervous with its tendency to deal directly with issues related to the widening conflict in Vietnam.
Actress Alex Kingston, a familiar face in both British and American television, is born in England. With a variety of roles on UK TV throughout the 1980s and ’90s, she will make the leap to American television in 1997 with a regular role on the hospital drama ER through 2004. In 2008 she will make her first appearance as Professor River Song, occasional companion and gadfly to the Doctor in Doctor Who, opposite both David Tennant and Matt Smith.
The 23rd episode of Rod Serling’s The Twilight Zone airs on CBS. Howard Duff and Eileen Ryan star in an episode written by Richard Matheson.
Future Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy writer/creator Douglas Adams is born in England. Demonstrating an early ability to write short stories with a hint of the absurd, Adams would find himself a member of the renowned Cambridge Footlights theatrical comedy group in the early 1970s, leading to his “discovery” by Monty Python’s Graham Chapman. (Adams would become one of only two people outside of the core six-man Python troupe to contribute any scripted material to Monty Python’s Flying Circus, and made a few appearances as a guest cast member.) He would go on to contribute radio comedy sketches to various BBC Radio shows through the 1970s, until the premiere of his own project, the science fiction comedy The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy, put him on the map.
