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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. With his own show just months away from launching, Gene Roddenberry racks up one last rodeo, so to speak – his final script for a TV western, and a fairly prestigious one at that, with famous faces and a message or two along for the ride with The Virginian. 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 "Run Away Home". 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 Duncan K. Fraser, Kevin Ibbotson, Alan Simonis, Matthew Corey and Heather Engholm 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.
The first episode of The Man Who Fell To Earth, a series continuation of the 1976 David Bowie film, starring Chiwetel Ejiofor, Naomie Harris, and Bill Nighy, premieres on the Showtime pay cable channel.
The 762nd episode of Doctor Who (the 64th since the series’ revival) airs on BBC1. Alex Kingston reprises the role of River Song in the first part of a two-part story that also brings back the Weeping Angels.
The tenth episode of Joss Whedon’s futuristic “spy-fi” series Dollhouse airs on Fox, starring Eliza Dushku. Aisha Hinds (Invasion, Under The Dome) guest stars.
The 17th episode of James Cameron & Charles H. Eglee’s cyberpunk series Dark Angel, starring Jessica Alba and Michael Weatherly, airs on Fox. John Savage and Nana Visitor (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine) guest star.
The 96th episode of Joss Whedon’s supernatural series Buffy The Vampire Slayer, starring Sarah Michelle Gellar, airs on the WB network. James Marsters, Anthony Stewart Head, and Alyson Hannigan also star. Clare Kramer guest stars.
The week-long national syndication window opens for the 109th episode of Xena: Warrior Princess, starring Lucy Lawless and Renee O’Connor. Ted Raimi guest stars.
The 63rd episode of Gene Roddenberry’s Earth: Final Conflict, airs in syndication, starring Robert Leeshock, Jayne Heitmeyer, Von Flores, and Richard Chevolleau. Michael Hogan (Battlestar Galactica) guest stars.
Showtime airs the 75th episode of The Outer Limits, a revival of the 1960s science fiction anthology series. Gregory Harrison (Logan’s Run, Trapper John M.D.) and William Atherton (Ghostbusters, Defiance) guest star.
With many of the Chris-Craft television stations that formed its backbone now allied to Paramount’s UPN network, fledgeling network PTEN is in a precarious position – especially when many of those stations bail out or only show PTEN programming in late-night time slots. PTEN parent company Warner Brothers announces that the network’s two most popular shows, Babylon 5 and Kung Fu: The Legend Continues, will be renewed for the fall season, but also reveals that PTEN is giving up its ambitions to become the next Fox: in order to keep stations from ditching PTEN entirely, Warner is basically keeping the PTEN brand afloat only as a syndication package for those two shows. The action series Pointman is cancelled, with its remaining episodes to be “burned off” during the summer months prior to the fall season premieres of the two surviving shows.
The week-long American syndication window opens for the 23rd episode of Gerry Anderson’s sci-fi police series Space Precinct. Kenneth Farrington guest stars.
The third episode of Escape From Jupiter airs on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Co-produced by ABC and Japanese network NHK, this children’s sci-fi series stars Steve Bisley (Mad Max).
The week-long national syndication window opens for the 18th episode of the fantasy series Highlander, starring Adrian Paul (War Of The Worlds), Alexandra Vandernoort, and Stan Kirsch, and based on the mythology created in the 1986 movie of the same name. Elizabeth Gracen makes her first appearance as Amanda, another Immortal character.
In the planning stages since the 1970s, and delayed by the post-Challenger-disaster downtime for the shuttle program, the Hubble Space Telescope is finally lifted into orbit aboard Space Shuttle Discovery. Hubble is just one of the scientific payloads for the five-day flight, with other experiments being conducted in the crew cabin and the cargo bay. Discovery’s crew for this flight is Commander Loren Shriver, Pilot Charles Bolden, and mission specialists Steven Hawley, Bruce McCandless and Kathryn Sullivan.
Tom Petty‘s solo album Full Moon Fever is released on MCA Records. (Though many of his Heartbreakers bandmates play on the album, the album is credited to Petty alone). Fellow Traveling Wilbury Jeff Lynne produces the album and co-writes some of the songs.
Not quite ready to bring the Apple II line to an end, Apple Computer launches the Apple IIc, a smaller form-factor enhanced Apple IIe specifically designed for portability (an optional LCD monitor – with no backlighting – is also made available on this date). Introduced alongside the IIc is a new Apple operating system, ProDOS, meant to mimic some of the object-oriented features of the Macintosh user interface, as well as an Apple II mouse. Perhaps not surprisingly, Apple also chooses to quietly discontinue support for the Apple III on this date as well.
The week-long syndication window opens for the 17th episode of The Next Step Beyond, hosted and directed by John Newland. This is a remake of the 1959 One Step Beyond episode Father Image.
After a day in space aboard a spacecraft crawling with technical glitches, cosmonaut Vladimir Komarov orients the Soyuz 1 capsule for return to Earth. Though the vehicle survives reentry through Earth’s atmosphere, the main parachute fails to open, and the first Soyuz capsule returns to Earth at a speed of well over 100 miles per hour, killing Komarov instantly. The Soviet Union’s space program is stalled – much like the American Apollo program, postponed after the fatal Apollo 1 fire – well into 1968 as a result of the need to redesign Soyuz from the inside out.
The 68th episode of Doctor Who airs on the BBC. This is part one of the story now collectively known as The Space Museum. Peter Craze and Jeremy Bulloch guest star.
The first episode of The Man Who Fell To Earth, a series continuation of the 1976 David Bowie film, starring Chiwetel Ejiofor, Naomie Harris, and Bill Nighy, premieres on the Showtime pay cable channel.
The CW airs the 87th episode of The Flash, a modern-day reboot of DC Comics’ superhero starring Grant Gustin.
The 20th episode of Arrow, a modern-day reboot of DC Comics’ Green Arrow superhero starring Stephen Amell, airs on the CW.
Cartoon Network airs the 43rd episode of the animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars. 
The 762nd episode of Doctor Who (the 64th since the series’ revival) airs on BBC1. Alex Kingston reprises the role of River Song in the first part of a two-part story that also brings back the Weeping Angels. 
UK cable channel Disney XD airs the tenth episode of K-9. The Australian-made series features no Doctor Who-related characters other than K-9. 
The tenth episode of Joss Whedon’s futuristic “spy-fi” series Dollhouse airs on Fox, starring Eliza Dushku. Aisha Hinds (Invasion, Under The Dome) guest stars.
BBC Home Video and 2|entertain release Blake’s 7: The Complete Series Four on DVD. (This title is a UK release only.) 
Big Finish Productions releases the 43rd Doctor Who audio drama in its main monthly range, starring Colin Baker and Maggie Stables. Bill Oddie guest stars in a very musical audio drama. 
The 20th episode of the Star Trek prequel spinoff Enterprise premieres on UPN. Scott Bakula’s former Quantum Leap co-star Dean Stockwell guest stars. 
The 17th episode of James Cameron & Charles H. Eglee’s cyberpunk series Dark Angel, starring Jessica Alba and Michael Weatherly, airs on Fox. John Savage and Nana Visitor (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine) guest star.
The 96th episode of Joss Whedon’s supernatural series Buffy The Vampire Slayer, starring Sarah Michelle Gellar, airs on the WB network. James Marsters, Anthony Stewart Head, and Alyson Hannigan also star. Clare Kramer guest stars.
Ark 21 Records releases Steve Wood & Daniel May’s soundtrack from the IMAX documentary Journey Into Amazing Caves, based on music by the Moody Blues and featuring new performances from the band. 
Phantom Records releases the album Necessity: The 4-Track Years by Jason Falkner, a compilation of the ex-Jellyfish guitarist’s home studio recordings and demos. 
The week-long national syndication window opens for the 109th episode of Xena: Warrior Princess, starring Lucy Lawless and Renee O’Connor. Ted Raimi guest stars. 
The 63rd episode of Gene Roddenberry’s Earth: Final Conflict, airs in syndication, starring Robert Leeshock, Jayne Heitmeyer, Von Flores, and Richard Chevolleau. Michael Hogan (Battlestar Galactica) guest stars.
Showtime airs the 75th episode of The Outer Limits, a revival of the 1960s science fiction anthology series. Gregory Harrison (Logan’s Run, Trapper John M.D.) and William Atherton (Ghostbusters, Defiance) guest star.
SuperTracks releases a “composer promo” CD of Joe Harnell‘s soundtrack from the 1983 miniseries V. 
The week-long national syndication window opens for the 65th episode of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Andrew Robinson and Paul Dooley guest star. 
With many of the Chris-Craft television stations that formed its backbone now allied to Paramount’s UPN network, fledgeling network PTEN is in a precarious position – especially when many of those stations bail out or only show PTEN programming in late-night time slots. PTEN parent company Warner Brothers announces that the network’s two most popular shows, Babylon 5 and Kung Fu: The Legend Continues, will be renewed for the fall season, but also reveals that PTEN is giving up its ambitions to become the next Fox: in order to keep stations from ditching PTEN entirely, Warner is basically keeping the PTEN brand afloat only as a syndication package for those two shows. The action series Pointman is cancelled, with its remaining episodes to be “burned off” during the summer months prior to the fall season premieres of the two surviving shows.
UPN airs the 11th episode of Star Trek: Voyager. Christopher Neame guest stars. 
The week-long American syndication window opens for the 23rd episode of Gerry Anderson’s sci-fi police series Space Precinct. Kenneth Farrington guest stars.
The third episode of Escape From Jupiter airs on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Co-produced by ABC and Japanese network NHK, this children’s sci-fi series stars Steve Bisley (Mad Max).
The week-long national syndication window opens for the 18th episode of the fantasy series Highlander, starring Adrian Paul (War Of The Worlds), Alexandra Vandernoort, and Stan Kirsch, and based on the mythology created in the 1986 movie of the same name. Elizabeth Gracen makes her first appearance as Amanda, another Immortal character.
In the planning stages since the 1970s, and delayed by the post-Challenger-disaster downtime for the shuttle program, the Hubble Space Telescope is finally lifted into orbit aboard Space Shuttle Discovery. Hubble is just one of the scientific payloads for the five-day flight, with other experiments being conducted in the crew cabin and the cargo bay. Discovery’s crew for this flight is Commander Loren Shriver, Pilot Charles Bolden, and mission specialists Steven Hawley, Bruce McCandless and Kathryn Sullivan.
The week-long national syndication window opens for the 39th episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation. 
Tom Petty‘s solo album Full Moon Fever is released on MCA Records. (Though many of his Heartbreakers bandmates play on the album, the album is credited to Petty alone). Fellow Traveling Wilbury Jeff Lynne produces the album and co-writes some of the songs. 
Not quite ready to bring the Apple II line to an end, Apple Computer launches the Apple IIc, a smaller form-factor enhanced Apple IIe specifically designed for portability (an optional LCD monitor – with no backlighting – is also made available on this date). Introduced alongside the IIc is a new Apple operating system, ProDOS, meant to mimic some of the object-oriented features of the Macintosh user interface, as well as an Apple II mouse. Perhaps not surprisingly, Apple also chooses to quietly discontinue support for the Apple III on this date as well.
The week-long syndication window opens for the 17th episode of The Next Step Beyond, hosted and directed by John Newland. This is a remake of the 1959 One Step Beyond episode Father Image.
The 295th episode of Doctor Who airs on BBC1. Roger Delgado, John Ringham and Bernard Kay guest star.
After a day in space aboard a spacecraft crawling with technical glitches, cosmonaut Vladimir Komarov orients the Soyuz 1 capsule for return to Earth. Though the vehicle survives reentry through Earth’s atmosphere, the main parachute fails to open, and the first Soyuz capsule returns to Earth at a speed of well over 100 miles per hour, killing Komarov instantly. The Soviet Union’s space program is stalled – much like the American Apollo program, postponed after the fatal Apollo 1 fire – well into 1968 as a result of the need to redesign Soyuz from the inside out.
The 68th episode of Doctor Who airs on the BBC. This is part one of the story now collectively known as The Space Museum. Peter Craze and Jeremy Bulloch guest star. 
The 150th episode of Rod Serling’s The Twilight Zone airs on CBS. Barry Nelson and Nancy Malone star.
The 79th episode of the science fiction anthology series Tales Of Tomorrow airs on ABC. Much of the second season is missing, including this episode.