From Battleground to Final Conflict

Gene Roddenberry's Battleground EarthBroadcasting & Cable Weekly Magazine reveals that Majel Barrett Roddenberry and Tribune Entertainment have sealed a deal to produce a series first outlined by the late Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry in the 1970s, Battleground Earth. Budgeted at $1,000,000 per episode, the series will be based on a series pitch that nearly resulted in a pilot for 20th Century Fox in 1977, until Roddenberry’s attention was refocused on the impending TV revival of Star Trek for the never-launched Paramount Television Service, which then became Star Trek: The Motion Picture. Then in the 1980s, Kenneth Johnson’s V, following a very similar story outline, became a hit, leaving Battleground Earth unusable for a time. This series will premiere in syndication in late 1997 under the title Gene Roddenberry’s Earth: Final Conflict.

Earth: Final Conflict: Decision

Earth: Final ConflictThe national syndication window opens for the first episode of the posthumous Gene Roddenberry science fiction series Earth: Final Conflict, chronicling life on Earth after the arrival of an alien race who may be trying to subjugate the human race. Kevin Kilner, Lisa Howard (Highlander: The Series) and David Hemblen (TekWar) star; Majel Barrett Roddenberry (Star Trek) guest stars and executive produces the series, based on an outline for a series concept written by Gene Roddenberry during the 1970s. Read more

Earth: Final Conflict: Destruction

Earth: Final ConflictThe national syndication window opens for the 21st episode of the posthumous Gene Roddenberry science fiction series Earth: Final Conflict. (Though the 20th to air, the show’s distributor, Tribune Entertainment, skips over a critical episode, holding that show back to air during the July ratings sweeps.) Majel Barrett Roddenberry (Star Trek) guest stars. Read more

Earth: Final Conflict: The Joining

Earth: Final ConflictThe national syndication window opens for the 22nd episode of the posthumous Gene Roddenberry science fiction series Earth: Final Conflict, bringing the series’ first season to a close. (Though the 21st to air, the show’s distributor, Tribune Entertainment, is holding the 20th episode back to air during the July ratings sweeps.) The marks the final regular appearance of series star Kevin Kilner, who would be replaced in the upcoming second season; he would later make a few guest appearances in the fifth season. Read more

Earth: Final Conflict: Infection

Earth: Final ConflictThe national syndication window opens for the 20th episode of the posthumous Gene Roddenberry science fiction series Earth: Final Conflict, the last first season episode to be broadcast, though wildly out of order. Somewhat inexplicably, the show’s distributor, Tribune Entertainment, has held this episode back to air during the July ratings sweeps, despite its storyline being referenced in later episodes that were moved up in the running order. Read more

Earth: Final Conflict: First Of Its Kind

Earth: Final ConflictThe 23rd episode of Gene Roddenberry’s Earth: Final Conflict airs in syndication, starring Robert Leeshock, Lisa Howard, Von Flores, and Richard Chevolleau. Leeshock plays the series’ new lead character, replacing Kevin Kiner from the first season. This episode is the first of a series of major rethinks of the series’ format (and accompanying recasting). Read more

Earth: Final Conflict: The Sleepers

Earth: Final ConflictThe 28th episode of Gene Roddenberry’s Earth: Final Conflict, airs in syndication, starring Robert Leeshock, Lisa Howard, Von Flores, and Richard Chevolleau. Wanda Cannon (My Secret Identity) guest stars.

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Earth: Final Conflict now streaming on Amazon Prime