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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. To fans, they were the Great Bird of the Galaxy and the First Lady of Star Trek. To their friends and co-workers, Gene Roddenberry and Majel Barrett Roddenberry were, perhaps, slightly less mythic figures with their own very human quirks, but still beloved and admired. In this panel from the TrekTalks 5 telethon in support of the Hollywood Food Coalition, Gene and Majel are remembered by those who knew them. Podcast hosted by Earl Green & Ashley Thomas TrekTalks panel hosted by John Champion Panel guests: Fred Bronson, Denise Crosby, Ernie Over, Rod Roddenberry 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 Memories of Gene Roddenberry and Majel Barrett Roddenberry from those who knew and worked with them 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.
Streaming service CBS All Access releases the second episode of Star Trek: Discovery, starring Sonequa Martin-Green (The Walking Dead) and Michelle Yeoh (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Marco Polo). This episode drops immediately after the conclusion of the first episode’s broadcast premiere on CBS.
CBS premieres the first episode of Star Trek: Discovery, the first new Star Trek TV series in 12 years, starring Sonequa Martin-Green (The Walking Dead) and Michelle Yeoh (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Marco Polo). The second episode also premieres on this date, but instead of airing on CBS, it streams on CBS’ fledgling CBS All Access paid streaming service. Despite the unusual distribution arrangement for a two-parter, the premiere is watched by over nine million viewers.
Cable channel Disney XD premieres the 36th episode of the series Star Wars: Rebels. The third season opener guest stars Tom Baker (Doctor Who) as the mysterious Bendu, and reintroduces the character of Grand Admiral Thrawn (voiced by Lars Mikkelsen), originated in the 1991 novel “Heir To The Empire”, to the current Star Wars continuity.
The unmanned Mangalayaan space probe arrives, intact and functioning, in Mars orbit, making India the first country on Earth to successfully reach Mars on its first attempt. (A high failure rate among past Mars missions has plagued both the Russian and American space programs.) A 23-minute engine burn slows Mangalayaan down enough to be captured by Mars’ gravity, but leaves the vehicle with twice the fuel reserves expected for its projected six-month mission.
The 123rd episode of Joss Whedon’s supernatural series Buffy The Vampire Slayer, starring Sarah Michelle Gellar, airs on UPN. James Marsters, Anthony Stewart Head, and Alyson Hannigan also star in the seventh season premiere.
Fox premieres the two-hour pilot episode of Space: Above And Beyond, a military science fiction series created by X-Files writers Glen Morgan and James Wong. Shot in Australia with a huge budget, the series only lasts one seasons but gains an immediate fan following. F. Lee Ermey (Full Metal Jacket) guest stars.
Virgin Records releases The Monty Python Instant CD Collection, a box set gathering much of the label’s Monty Python material on CD, some of it for the first time in that format.
The third episode of Chris Carter’s modern-day science fiction series The X-Files airs on Fox, starring Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny, and guest starring Donal Logue and Kevin McNulty.
Fox airs the fifth episode of the sci-fi western, The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr., starring Bruce Campbell, Julius Carry, and Christian Clemenson. John Astin (The Addams Family) and Judith Hoag (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) guest star.
After months of build-up and publicity (and not very many cable systems signing up to carry it), USA Network’s genre-specific offshoot Sci-Fi Channel launches on American cable TV. Its early schedule is comprised entirely of reruns of such series as Doctor Who, Dark Shadows, and several series from Gerry Anderson’s Century 21 Productions, as well as genre movies. In the years to come, Sci-Fi Channel begins originating its own programming (primarily by entering co-production deals with the makers of Canadian-made and other foreign-made genre series). A protest from a small but vocal number of industry figures and science fiction writers, all of whom object to the “derisive” term “sci-fi,” fails to convince the network’s Florida-based founders to change its name to “SF Network.”
The week-long national syndication window opens for the 74th episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation. Despite a summer of rumors (spread primarily via pre-internet computer bulletin board systems) involving cast members being killed off in the conclusion of the Borg two-parter, the regular cast returns, leaving Riker with the task of recovering and restoring the Borg-abducted Captain Picard. A soundtrack album for both parts of the story is released in 1991 by popular demand. This episode opens the series’ fourth season.
CBS airs the second episode of the animated series Superman, starring the voices of Beau Weaver and Ginny McSwain, and comprised of two stories: Fugitive From Space and The Supermarket.
The 36th episode of a revival of Rod Serling’s The Twilight Zone airs in syndication. Harry Morgan (M*A*S*H) stars in the third season premiere. The third season, still produced by CBS despite the cancellation of the series on the network’s schedule, is produced in Canada with the intention of increasing the number of episodes to make further syndication of the new Twilight Zone viable. The third season is overseen by Mark Shelmerdine (I, Claudius) and J. Michael Straczynski (Babylon 5, Jeremiah, Sense8), and is reformatted into single-story, half-hour episodes.
NBC airs the 18th episode of the Marvel animated series Spider-Man And His Amazing Friends, starring the voices of Dan Gilvezan, Kathy Garver, and Frank Welker.
The second episode of the science fiction series The Powers Of Matthew Star airs on NBC, starring Peter Barton and Louis Gossett Jr. Carmen Argenziano (Stargate SG-1) guest stars.
Sega releases the arcade game Tac/Scan in American arcades. The vector graphics coin-op switches rapidly between a traditional overhead view and a first-person view several times during each game, including a sequence in which players are asked to navigate a dizzying warp tunnel.
Activision releases the Megamania! cartridge for the Atari VCS home video game system. Inspired by the arcade game Astro Blaster, and subtitled “A Space Nightmare”, Megamania! pits players against airborne bow ties and hamburgers – and their own energy management skills. A national TV ad campaign featuring The Tubes heralds the game’s arrival.
The 16th episode of Star Blazers, an English rewrite and dub of the 1974 anime series Space Battleship Yamato, premieres in syndication across the U.S.
The 457th episode of Doctor Who airs on BBC1. The Rutans, shapeshifting mortal enemies of the Sontarans, appear for the first and only time in the original series.
The third episode of Filmation’s Saturday morning science fiction series Space Academy airs on CBS. Something is causing everyone at Space Academy to vanish, occasionally in mid-sentence.
The 39th episode of The Bionic Woman, starring Lindsay Wagner and Richard Anderson, airs on NBC. James Olson (The Andromeda Strain) and Melinda Fee (The Invisible Man) guest star.
NBC airs the 30th episode of Night Gallery, an anthology series of original short plays and short story adaptations hosted by Rod Serling. Vincent Price and Bill Bixby guest star in the third season opener; the series has now been cut down to a half-hour time slot.
The first episode of the modern-day science fiction series The Immortal premieres on ABC, starring Christopher George. Carol Lynley and Glenn Corbett guest star.
The 22nd episode of the syndicated science fiction Science Fiction Theatre airs on stations across the U.S. Hosted by Truman Bradley, the episode stars Edmund Gwenn and William Schallert.
Streaming service CBS All Access releases the second episode of Star Trek: Discovery, starring Sonequa Martin-Green (The Walking Dead) and Michelle Yeoh (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Marco Polo). This episode drops immediately after the conclusion of the first episode’s broadcast premiere on CBS. 
CBS premieres the first episode of Star Trek: Discovery, the first new Star Trek TV series in 12 years, starring Sonequa Martin-Green (The Walking Dead) and Michelle Yeoh (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Marco Polo). The second episode also premieres on this date, but instead of airing on CBS, it streams on CBS’ fledgling CBS All Access paid streaming service. Despite the unusual distribution arrangement for a two-parter, the premiere is watched by over nine million viewers. 
Cable channel Disney XD premieres the 36th episode of the series Star Wars: Rebels. The third season opener guest stars Tom Baker (Doctor Who) as the mysterious Bendu, and reintroduces the character of Grand Admiral Thrawn (voiced by Lars Mikkelsen), originated in the 1991 novel “Heir To The Empire”, to the current Star Wars continuity. 
The unmanned Mangalayaan space probe arrives, intact and functioning, in Mars orbit, making India the first country on Earth to successfully reach Mars on its first attempt. (A high failure rate among past Mars missions has plagued both the Russian and American space programs.) A 23-minute engine burn slows Mangalayaan down enough to be captured by Mars’ gravity, but leaves the vehicle with twice the fuel reserves expected for its projected six-month mission.
The 784th episode of Doctor Who (the 86th since the series’ revival) airs on BBC1. James Corden guest stars. 
Nonesuch Records releases Ben Folds’ fourth solo album Songs For Silverman, featuring lyrics written by author Nick Hornby. 
The third episode of The Sarah Jane Adventures premieres on iPlayer with its broadcast premiere to follow a week later, a pattern that will continue for the remainder of the first season. 
The second episode of The Sarah Jane Adventures airs on CBBC. The Slitheen, a recurring enemy in Doctor Who, return for the series relaunch, which also adds Daniel Anthony as new series regular Clyde Langer. 
The 54th episode of the prequel spinoff Star Trek: Enterprise airs on UPN. 
The Peter Gabriel album Up is released, featuring the single “The Barry Williams Show”. 
The 123rd episode of Joss Whedon’s supernatural series Buffy The Vampire Slayer, starring Sarah Michelle Gellar, airs on UPN. James Marsters, Anthony Stewart Head, and Alyson Hannigan also star in the seventh season premiere.
Sci-Fi Channel airs the 82nd episode of the science fiction series Sliders, starring Cleavant Derricks, Kari Wuhrer, Robert Floyd, and Tembi Locke.
UPN airs the 71st episode of Star Trek: Voyager. 
Alan Parsons releases a solo album, On Air, themed around the history of flight. 
Fox premieres the two-hour pilot episode of Space: Above And Beyond, a military science fiction series created by X-Files writers Glen Morgan and James Wong. Shot in Australia with a huge budget, the series only lasts one seasons but gains an immediate fan following. F. Lee Ermey (Full Metal Jacket) guest stars. 
The 45th episode of Lois & Clark: The New Adventures Of Superman airs on ABC, starring Dean Cain and Teri Hatcher. David Leisure guest stars.
Virgin Records releases The Monty Python Instant CD Collection, a box set gathering much of the label’s Monty Python material on CD, some of it for the first time in that format. 
The third episode of Chris Carter’s modern-day science fiction series The X-Files airs on Fox, starring Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny, and guest starring Donal Logue and Kevin McNulty.
Fox airs the fifth episode of the sci-fi western, The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr., starring Bruce Campbell, Julius Carry, and Christian Clemenson. John Astin (The Addams Family) and Judith Hoag (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) guest star.
After months of build-up and publicity (and not very many cable systems signing up to carry it), USA Network’s genre-specific offshoot Sci-Fi Channel launches on American cable TV. Its early schedule is comprised entirely of reruns of such series as Doctor Who, Dark Shadows, and several series from Gerry Anderson’s Century 21 Productions, as well as genre movies. In the years to come, Sci-Fi Channel begins originating its own programming (primarily by entering co-production deals with the makers of Canadian-made and other foreign-made genre series). A protest from a small but vocal number of industry figures and science fiction writers, all of whom object to the “derisive” term “sci-fi,” fails to convince the network’s Florida-based founders to change its name to “SF Network.”
The week-long national syndication window opens for the 74th episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation. Despite a summer of rumors (spread primarily via pre-internet computer bulletin board systems) involving cast members being killed off in the conclusion of the Borg two-parter, the regular cast returns, leaving Riker with the task of recovering and restoring the Borg-abducted Captain Picard. A soundtrack album for both parts of the story is released in 1991 by popular demand. This episode opens the series’ fourth season. 
CBS airs the second episode of the animated series Superman, starring the voices of Beau Weaver and Ginny McSwain, and comprised of two stories: Fugitive From Space and The Supermarket. 
The 36th episode of a revival of Rod Serling’s The Twilight Zone airs in syndication. Harry Morgan (M*A*S*H) stars in the third season premiere. The third season, still produced by CBS despite the cancellation of the series on the network’s schedule, is produced in Canada with the intention of increasing the number of episodes to make further syndication of the new Twilight Zone viable. The third season is overseen by Mark Shelmerdine (I, Claudius) and J. Michael Straczynski (Babylon 5, Jeremiah, Sense8), and is reformatted into single-story, half-hour episodes.
The 14th episode of Black Adder airs on BBC1, starring Rowan Atkinson. 
NBC airs the 18th episode of the Marvel animated series Spider-Man And His Amazing Friends, starring the voices of Dan Gilvezan, Kathy Garver, and Frank Welker.
The second episode of the science fiction series The Powers Of Matthew Star airs on NBC, starring Peter Barton and Louis Gossett Jr. Carmen Argenziano (Stargate SG-1) guest stars.
Sega releases the arcade game Tac/Scan in American arcades. The vector graphics coin-op switches rapidly between a traditional overhead view and a first-person view several times during each game, including a sequence in which players are asked to navigate a dizzying warp tunnel. 
Activision releases the Megamania! cartridge for the Atari VCS home video game system. Inspired by the arcade game Astro Blaster, and subtitled “A Space Nightmare”, Megamania! pits players against airborne bow ties and hamburgers – and their own energy management skills. A national TV ad campaign featuring The Tubes heralds the game’s arrival. 
The 34th episode of Star Blazers, an English rewrite and dub of the 1974 anime series Space Battleship Yamato, airs in syndication across the U.S. 
The 16th episode of Star Blazers, an English rewrite and dub of the 1974 anime series Space Battleship Yamato, premieres in syndication across the U.S. 
The second episode of Glen A. Larson’s science fiction series Battlestar Galactica airs on ABC. Part one of a two-part story, this is one of a handful of two-part episodes that hint toward Larson’s original preference toward occasional miniseries events rather than a weekly series. Jane Seymour guest stars. 
The 457th episode of Doctor Who airs on BBC1. The Rutans, shapeshifting mortal enemies of the Sontarans, appear for the first and only time in the original series.
The third episode of Filmation’s Saturday morning science fiction series Space Academy airs on CBS. Something is causing everyone at Space Academy to vanish, occasionally in mid-sentence. 
The 39th episode of The Bionic Woman, starring Lindsay Wagner and Richard Anderson, airs on NBC. James Olson (The Andromeda Strain) and Melinda Fee (The Invisible Man) guest star.
NBC airs the 30th episode of Night Gallery, an anthology series of original short plays and short story adaptations hosted by Rod Serling. Vincent Price and Bill Bixby guest star in the third season opener; the series has now been cut down to a half-hour time slot.
The first episode of the modern-day science fiction series The Immortal premieres on ABC, starring Christopher George. Carol Lynley and Glenn Corbett guest star.
The 129th episode of Doctor Who airs on the BBC. This episode is now missing from the BBC’s archives.
The 62nd episode of The Adventures Of Superman airs in syndication, starring George Reeves, Noel Neill, and Jack Larson. Myron Healey guest stars.
The 22nd episode of the syndicated science fiction Science Fiction Theatre airs on stations across the U.S. Hosted by Truman Bradley, the episode stars Edmund Gwenn and William Schallert.