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Welcome to Gene-ology, a podcast by Roddenberry Entertainment that dives deep into the early TV writing works of Gene Roddenberry. Target: The Corruptors! was a short-lived crime drama that unfolded from the perspective of an ace newspaper reporter. Gene turned in a single script that was significantly altered prior to broadcast, resulting in him receiving only a story credit. Find out what happens in both versions of "To Wear A Badge". 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 "To Wear A Badge". 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 Shawn McDaniel and Brendan Berndt 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.
Cable channel Disney XD premieres the 29th episode of the series Star Wars: Rebels, a CGI animated storyline falling between the original and prequel trilogies of the Star Wars saga. Robin Atkin Downes (Babylon 5) guest stars.
JAXA, the Japanese Space Agency, launches the ASTRO-H X-ray observatory satellite, nicknamed Hitomi, from Tanegashima Space Center. Carrying equipment provided by NASA and the Canadian Space Agency, Hitomi is intended to remain operational for three years, conducting X-ray astronomy from low Earth orbit. Though the launch proceeds without apparent problems, major technical issues will prevent Hitomi from fulfilling its mission objectives.
The 83rd episode of Arrow, a modern-day reboot of DC Comics’ Green Arrow superhero starring Stephen Amell, airs on the CW. Neal McDonough (Boomtown) and Rachel Luttrell (Stargate Atlantis) guest star.
The seventh episode of the Marvel Cinematic Universe series Agent Carter, starring Hayley Attwell as Agent Peggy Carter, is broadcast on ABC. Ralph Brown (Star Wars Episode I, Lexx) guest stars.
The 14th episode of The Flash, a modern-day reboot of DC Comics’ superhero starring Grant Gustin, airs on the CW. Victor Garber (Alias, Legends Of Tomorrow), Clancy Brown (Highlander, Earth 2), and Robbie Amell (The Tomorrow People) guest star.
The 190th episode of Stargate SG-1 airs on the Sci-Fi Channel, starring Ben Browder, Amanda Tapping, Christopher Judge, Beau Bridges, and Michael Shanks.
Unmanned space prove Voyager 1, launched in 1977, surpasses its forerunner Pioneer 10 as the furthest man-made object in space. Due to a sharp increase in its speed imparted by a very close pass by Saturn’s large moon Titan in 1980, Voyager 1 has outrun Pioneer 10, which was launched in 1972. Both vehicles are still returning science data, and Voyager 1 is now 6.5 billion miles from the sun, 70 times further out from the sun than Earth. Voyager’s on-board nuclear power source is expected to keep it active through 2020.
The 17th episode of The Cape airs in syndication in North America, starring Corbin Bernsen and Adam Baldwin, presenting a fictionalized version of NASA’s shuttle program.
The NEAR (Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous) unmanned spacecraft, built and flown for NASA by John Hopkins University’s Applied Physics Lab, lifts off from Cape Canaveral on a mission to orbit and study asteroid 433 Eros, a target it won’t reach until 1998 at the earliest; it will fly by another asteroid in 1997. Other trajectories under consideration during mission planning included a combination of several asteroids and comets, before the limitations of NEAR’s chemical propulsion system forced those plans to be scaled back. (A more ambitious multi-asteroid mission, Dawn, will be launched in the 21st century.) NEAR will become the first human-made spacecraft to land on an asteroid.
The 41st episode of Chris Carter’s modern-day science fiction series The X-Files airs on Fox, starring Gillian Anderson, David Duchovny, and Mitch Pileggi. Peter Donat (Time Trax) guest stars as Mulder’s father.
Virgin Publishing releases the 23rd book in the Doctor Who New Adventures series, “No Future” by Paul Cornell. This book concludes a five-book cycle involving someone trying to ensnare the Doctor by making paradoxical major changes to the Time Lord’s established history. “No Future” also explains the somewhat cryptic “breakdown” suffered by Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart during the 1970s, leading to his retirement from UNIT.
The 44th episode of the syndicated series Superboy, starring Gerard Christopher and Stacy Haiduk, airs. Stuart Whitman, Salome Jens, Britt Ekland, and George Lazenby guest star.
CBS airs the 32nd episode of Ron Koslow’s fantasy series Beauty and the Beast, starring Linda Hamilton, Ron Perlman, and Roy Dotrice. Piper Laurie (Twin Peaks) guest stars.
ABC airs the 22nd episode of Stephen J. Cannell’s superhero comedy series The Greatest American Hero, starring William Katt, Connie Sellecca, and Robert Culp. Thalmus Rasulala and Ron O’Neal (Super Fly) guest star.
The 504th episode of Doctor Who airs on BBC1, continuing the Key To Time storyline. John Woodvine (Knights Of God) and Lalla Ward guest star. Valentine Dyall makes his first appearance as the Black Guardian. This is the final six-part Doctor Who story to be broadcast.
The third episode of the short-lived NBC series The Fantastic Journey premieres. Roddy McDowall joins the cast as an amoral scientist, adding some star power (and a bunch of androids) to the show’s lineup.
With work having started mere days earlier on Buran, a Soviet version of the American space shuttle design, the Soviet Union’s space agency is given new marching orders to create a new generation of space station hardware, based on the experience gained thus far with the four Salyut space stations and their associated Almaz military space hardware. A modular design is chosen, with multiple docking ports and multiple station components launched over a period of time, concepts which will be tested with yet-to-be-launched Salyut stations. Frequently fighting with the Buran shuttle development program for money and resources (despite the fact that the two spacecraft are expected to be compatible), this new station will not be launched until 1986, almost exactly ten years later, at which time it will be known as Mir.
The seventh episode of The Changes airs on BBC1, adapting the novels of Peter Dickinson into a ten-part television serial starring Vicky Williams and Keith Ashton. The series was filmed in 1973, but has been held for broadcast until 1975.
The 337th episode of Doctor Who airs on BBC1. Jon Pertwee’s “Navy Lark” co-star Tenniel Evans guest stars, and making his first Doctor Who appearance is Ian Marter.
The 18th episode of Gerry Anderson’s live-action UFO series airs on ITV, starring Edward Bishop and Michael Billington. Wanda Ventham and Patrick Allen guest star.
NBC announces that it is dropping Star Trek from the fall 1969 network schedule. Having taken the show’s Friday night “death slot” as a sign of things to come, Gene Roddenberry has already begun seeking greener pastures, leaving the day-to-day showrunner duties to Fred Freiberger. Roddenberry also has no plans to manipulate fan protests against the cancellation this time (as he had done in 1967 and 1968); some NBC publicity and promotions executives are surprised when the seemingly inevitable backlash fails to materialize.
The 194th episode of Doctor Who airs on the BBC. This story sees the return of the Yeti, now in the modern-day London Underground, and the introduction of Colonel (future Brigadier) Lethbridge-Stewart. This episode is now missing from the BBC’s archives.
The 23rd episode of Irwin Allen’s science fiction series The Time Tunnel airs on ABC, starring James Darren and Robert Colbert. Victory Jory, Robert Duvall, and Lee Meriwether geust star.
The 12th episode of Batman airs on ABC. Frank Gorshin guest stars as The Riddler. (This is part two of a two-part story; each week’s story unfolds in two half-hour episodes on Monday and Tuesday.)
UK broadcaster ATV Midlands airs the 21st episode of Gerry Anderson’s Supermarionation science fiction series Thunderbirds, featuring the voices of Shane Rimmer, David Graham, Sylvia Anderson, Ray Barrett, and Peter Dyneley.
NASA launches the Ranger 8 lunar probe, built by Jet Propulsion Laboratory and intended to go directly to the moon, transmitting pictures of the surface back to Earth until it impacts the lunar surface. Ranger 8 functions flawlessly, sending pictures back to Earth until it slams into the Sea of Tranquility at high speed. Over 7,000 photos are returned, with the last complete picture transmitted prior to impact showing lunar surface features as small as five feet across.
ABC airs the fifth episode of the supernatural anthology series One Step Beyond, hosted and directed by John Newland. Paul Richards and Jean Allison guest star.
Cable channel Disney XD premieres the 29th episode of the series Star Wars: Rebels, a CGI animated storyline falling between the original and prequel trilogies of the Star Wars saga. Robin Atkin Downes (Babylon 5) guest stars. 
JAXA, the Japanese Space Agency, launches the ASTRO-H X-ray observatory satellite, nicknamed Hitomi, from Tanegashima Space Center. Carrying equipment provided by NASA and the Canadian Space Agency, Hitomi is intended to remain operational for three years, conducting X-ray astronomy from low Earth orbit. Though the launch proceeds without apparent problems, major technical issues will prevent Hitomi from fulfilling its mission objectives.
The 83rd episode of Arrow, a modern-day reboot of DC Comics’ Green Arrow superhero starring Stephen Amell, airs on the CW. Neal McDonough (Boomtown) and Rachel Luttrell (Stargate Atlantis) guest star.
The seventh episode of the Marvel Cinematic Universe series Agent Carter, starring Hayley Attwell as Agent Peggy Carter, is broadcast on ABC. Ralph Brown (Star Wars Episode I, Lexx) guest stars.
The 14th episode of The Flash, a modern-day reboot of DC Comics’ superhero starring Grant Gustin, airs on the CW. Victor Garber (Alias, Legends Of Tomorrow), Clancy Brown (Highlander, Earth 2), and Robbie Amell (The Tomorrow People) guest star.
ITV premieres the second episode of the science fiction series Primeval. 
Sci-Fi channel airs the 30th episode of Ronald D. Moore’s re-imagining of Battlestar Galactica. Richard Hatch and John Heard guest star. 
Sci-Fi Channel airs the 37th episode of Stargate Atlantis. Colm Meaney (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine) guest stars. 
The 190th episode of Stargate SG-1 airs on the Sci-Fi Channel, starring Ben Browder, Amanda Tapping, Christopher Judge, Beau Bridges, and Michael Shanks. 
UPN airs the 109th episode of Star Trek: Voyager. 
UPN airs the 108th episode of Star Trek: Voyager. 
Unmanned space prove Voyager 1, launched in 1977, surpasses its forerunner Pioneer 10 as the furthest man-made object in space. Due to a sharp increase in its speed imparted by a very close pass by Saturn’s large moon Titan in 1980, Voyager 1 has outrun Pioneer 10, which was launched in 1972. Both vehicles are still returning science data, and Voyager 1 is now 6.5 billion miles from the sun, 70 times further out from the sun than Earth. Voyager’s on-board nuclear power source is expected to keep it active through 2020.
The week-long national syndication window opens for the 111th episode of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. 
The week-long national syndication window opens for the 39th episode of Xena: Warrior Princess. 
The 17th episode of The Cape airs in syndication in North America, starring Corbin Bernsen and Adam Baldwin, presenting a fictionalized version of NASA’s shuttle program. 
The week-long national syndication window opens for the 74th episode of J. Michael Straczynski’s science fiction series Babylon 5. 
The NEAR (Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous) unmanned spacecraft, built and flown for NASA by John Hopkins University’s Applied Physics Lab, lifts off from Cape Canaveral on a mission to orbit and study asteroid 433 Eros, a target it won’t reach until 1998 at the earliest; it will fly by another asteroid in 1997. Other trajectories under consideration during mission planning included a combination of several asteroids and comets, before the limitations of NEAR’s chemical propulsion system forced those plans to be scaled back. (A more ambitious multi-asteroid mission, Dawn, will be launched in the 21st century.) NEAR will become the first human-made spacecraft to land on an asteroid.
The 41st episode of Chris Carter’s modern-day science fiction series The X-Files airs on Fox, starring Gillian Anderson, David Duchovny, and Mitch Pileggi. Peter Donat (Time Trax) guest stars as Mulder’s father.
Virgin Publishing releases the 23rd book in the Doctor Who New Adventures series, “No Future” by Paul Cornell. This book concludes a five-book cycle involving someone trying to ensnare the Doctor by making paradoxical major changes to the Time Lord’s established history. “No Future” also explains the somewhat cryptic “breakdown” suffered by Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart during the 1970s, leading to his retirement from UNIT. 
The first episode of Russell T. Davies’ supernatural drama Century Falls airs on CBBC. 
The week-long national syndication window opens for the 113th episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation. Michelle Forbes guest stars as Ensign Ro. 
The 44th episode of the syndicated series Superboy, starring Gerard Christopher and Stacy Haiduk, airs. Stuart Whitman, Salome Jens, Britt Ekland, and George Lazenby guest star.
CBS airs the 32nd episode of Ron Koslow’s fantasy series Beauty and the Beast, starring Linda Hamilton, Ron Perlman, and Roy Dotrice. Piper Laurie (Twin Peaks) guest stars.
Scotti Bros. Records releases “Weird Al” Yankovic‘s second album, In 3-D, featuring the singles “Eat It” and “I Lost On Jeopardy”. 
ABC airs the 22nd episode of Stephen J. Cannell’s superhero comedy series The Greatest American Hero, starring William Katt, Connie Sellecca, and Robert Culp. Thalmus Rasulala and Ron O’Neal (Super Fly) guest star.
The 504th episode of Doctor Who airs on BBC1, continuing the Key To Time storyline. John Woodvine (Knights Of God) and Lalla Ward guest star. Valentine Dyall makes his first appearance as the Black Guardian. This is the final six-part Doctor Who story to be broadcast.
The 30th episode of Wonder Woman airs on CBS, starring Lynda Carter and Lyle Waggoner. Ross Martin (The Wild Wild West) guest stars.
The third episode of the short-lived NBC series The Fantastic Journey premieres. Roddy McDowall joins the cast as an amoral scientist, adding some star power (and a bunch of androids) to the show’s lineup. 
With work having started mere days earlier on Buran, a Soviet version of the American space shuttle design, the Soviet Union’s space agency is given new marching orders to create a new generation of space station hardware, based on the experience gained thus far with the four Salyut space stations and their associated Almaz military space hardware. A modular design is chosen, with multiple docking ports and multiple station components launched over a period of time, concepts which will be tested with yet-to-be-launched Salyut stations. Frequently fighting with the Buran shuttle development program for money and resources (despite the fact that the two spacecraft are expected to be compatible), this new station will not be launched until 1986, almost exactly ten years later, at which time it will be known as Mir.
The seventh episode of The Changes airs on BBC1, adapting the novels of Peter Dickinson into a ten-part television serial starring Vicky Williams and Keith Ashton. The series was filmed in 1973, but has been held for broadcast until 1975. 
The 337th episode of Doctor Who airs on BBC1. Jon Pertwee’s “Navy Lark” co-star Tenniel Evans guest stars, and making his first Doctor Who appearance is Ian Marter.
The 18th episode of Gerry Anderson’s live-action UFO series airs on ITV, starring Edward Bishop and Michael Billington. Wanda Ventham and Patrick Allen guest star.
NBC announces that it is dropping Star Trek from the fall 1969 network schedule. Having taken the show’s Friday night “death slot” as a sign of things to come, Gene Roddenberry has already begun seeking greener pastures, leaving the day-to-day showrunner duties to Fred Freiberger. Roddenberry also has no plans to manipulate fan protests against the cancellation this time (as he had done in 1967 and 1968); some NBC publicity and promotions executives are surprised when the seemingly inevitable backlash fails to materialize.
The 194th episode of Doctor Who airs on the BBC. This story sees the return of the Yeti, now in the modern-day London Underground, and the introduction of Colonel (future Brigadier) Lethbridge-Stewart. This episode is now missing from the BBC’s archives.
The 23rd episode of Irwin Allen’s science fiction series The Time Tunnel airs on ABC, starring James Darren and Robert Colbert. Victory Jory, Robert Duvall, and Lee Meriwether geust star.
The 12th episode of Batman airs on ABC. Frank Gorshin guest stars as The Riddler. (This is part two of a two-part story; each week’s story unfolds in two half-hour episodes on Monday and Tuesday.) 
UK broadcaster ATV Midlands airs the 21st episode of Gerry Anderson’s Supermarionation science fiction series Thunderbirds, featuring the voices of Shane Rimmer, David Graham, Sylvia Anderson, Ray Barrett, and Peter Dyneley.
NASA launches the Ranger 8 lunar probe, built by Jet Propulsion Laboratory and intended to go directly to the moon, transmitting pictures of the surface back to Earth until it impacts the lunar surface. Ranger 8 functions flawlessly, sending pictures back to Earth until it slams into the Sea of Tranquility at high speed. Over 7,000 photos are returned, with the last complete picture transmitted prior to impact showing lunar surface features as small as five feet across.
ABC airs the 21st episode of Leslie Stevens’ anthology series The Outer Limits. Lee Kinsolving and Kent Smith star.
The 20th episode of the science fiction drama series Men Into Space airs on CBS, starring William Lundigan. Robert Vaughn guest stars.
ABC airs the fifth episode of the supernatural anthology series One Step Beyond, hosted and directed by John Newland. Paul Richards and Jean Allison guest star.
The 94th episode of The Adventures Of Superman airs in syndication, starring George Reeves, Noel Neill, and Jack Larson.