Roddenberry Podcasts

Following last week's look at the earliest concepts for Star Trek: The Next Generation, Larry Nemecek welcomes back author and historian Ben Robinson to examine Gene Roddenberry's handwritten response and the surprising conversation it sparked.

Revisiting documents first explored in earlier seasons of The Trek Files, Larry and Ben trace the pivotal weeks of September 1986, when Gene challenged early ideas for a Starfleet Academy-centered series, questioned the show's heavy emphasis on Klingons, and argued that Star Trek's true strength had never been its characters alone but the stories it told.

Some of Gene's observations proved remarkably prescient. Others reveal how his own thinking had evolved since the 1960s. Together, they paint a portrait of a franchise at a crossroads, just weeks before The Next Generation officially became the series we know today.

Documents and Additional References Document of the Week

• Gene Roddenberry's response to the early Star Trek: The Next Generation series proposal (September 19, 1986)

Additional References

• Early Star Trek: The Next Generation series proposal by Greg Strangis (September 1986) (revisited from Season 1, Episode 4)
• Gene Roddenberry
• Greg Strangis
• Rick Berman
• Ben Robinson
• Star Trek: The Next Generation
• Related Trek Files episodes:
  • Season 1, Episode 4 — Early The Next Generation series proposal
  • Season 13, Episode 2 — Gene Roddenberry's response to Paramount's proposal
  • Season 15, Episode 11 — Greg Strangis' earliest notes for The Next Generation

We're back! And it's time to go BACK in time with Strange New Worlds!

Join us Mondays at 7PM PT/10PM ET for our live talkback for each episode, FREE on Patreon. We'll hear your thoughts and questions as we embark on this journey together! Sign up at https://www.patreon.com/MissionLog

Jessica Lynn Verdi and John Champion return to Mission Log Reactor to chat about the Strange New Worlds Season 4 premiere, "Valles Marineris," and the question isn't WHERE are we...it's WHEN are we... SPOILERS ABOUND.

Also!

For more Trek Content, visit https://www.missionlogpodcast.com/

Join our community on Discord to share your own theories about the premiere. Subscribe for weekly Star Trek discussion breakdowns, and let us know in the comments: which classic adventure influences do you hope to see in future episodes?

It's been a long road… and Mission Log is finally back with a long-overdue check-in. John, Norman, and Rod talk about where the show has been, what's ahead, and how the journey continues as we set a course for Star Trek: Enterprise. Along the way, they reflect on the evolution of the show, the state of Roddenberry Entertainment, and what it takes to keep a 2,000+ episode legacy going strong.

Oh, and before we're done, a new voice joins the conversation. Stay tuned.

Hosted by John Champion and Norman Lao

Special guest Rod Roddenberry

Welcome to Mission Log, a Roddenberry Entertainment podcast, where we explore the Star Trek universe one episode at a time. Each week, Mission Log examines a single episode of Star Trek, diving into its ethical subtext, metaphors, and cultural significance. From the show's most iconic moments to its hidden gems, we analyze what makes Star Trek one of the greatest science fiction sagas of all time. In every episode of Mission Log we…

• Recap the story and analyze key moments.
• Discuss the morals, messages, and meanings of the dilemmas presented.
• Debate whether the episode holds up and if the themes are still relevant.

Join the Conversation: For as little as $1 a month, you can gain access to our exclusive Discord Community! There, we continue the discussion with dedicated channels and weekly video chats with the hosts. Become a member of our Patreon today! https://www.Patreon.com/MissionLog

SPECIAL THANKS the supporters of this week's show: Chris Garis, Julie Miller, Stuart, Michael Park, Paul Shadwell, Matt Esposito, Alan Simonis, Mike Richards, David Takechi, Mike Schiable, VADM Erickson, and Lars Seme Thanks to all of our Patreon Supporters https://www.missionlogpodcast.com/sponsors/ Want to share your thoughts on an upcoming episode? Email us at [email protected] for a chance to be featured during the episode. Follow us on Social Media:

INSTAGRAM https://www.instagram.com/RoddenberryEntertainment

THREADS https://www.threads.net/@roddenberrypodcasts

FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/MissionLogPod Did you know we're on YouTube? Find the video versions of your favorite shows like Mission Log: Prodigy, The Orville, as well as exclusive content only available on YouTube.

Subscribe now: https://www.youtube.com/@RoddenberryEntertainment?sub_confirmation=1

Our shows are part of the Roddenberry Entertainment family. For more great shows and to learn more about how we live the legacy of Gene Roddenberry, creator of Star Trek, follow us here:

RODDENBERRY PODCASTS https://www.instagram.com/roddenberrypodcasts

RODDENBERRY ENTERTAINMENT https://www.instagram.com/roddenberryofficial

THE RODDENBERRY FOUNDATION https://www.instagram.com/theroddenberryfoundation

THIS EPISODE IS SPONSORED BY:Listeners like you - Support Mission Log on Patreon for early access to shows and the Mission Log Discord!

Subscribe and Stay Updated:Never miss an episode! Subscribe on your preferred podcast player, leave a review, and join Mission Log on the journey of weekly deep dives into the Star Trek universe. Technical Director - Earl Green Producer - John Champion Associate Producer - Jessica Lynn Verdi Executive Producer - Eugene "Rod" Roddenberry Roddenberry Entertainment | All Rights Reserved

Before Captain Picard. Before the Enterprise-D. Before Gene Roddenberry stepped back into the captain's chair of his own creation...

This week on The Trek Files, Larry Nemecek is joined by author and Star Trek historian Ben Robinson to examine one of the earliest surviving documents in the development of Star Trek: The Next Generation: a September 1986 memo from writer Greg Strangis to producer Rick Berman outlining the first concepts for a new Star Trek television series.

The document reveals some fascinating ideas: a Starfleet Academy setting, a young captain, a Klingon observer serving aboard a Federation starship, familiar themes of friendship, diplomacy, and the Prime Directive, but viewed through the lens of Cold War politics and 1980s television.

Together, Larry and Ben explore why some of these ideas disappeared, why others evolved into the Next Generation we know today, and how the process of reinventing Star Trek began long before Gene Roddenberry ultimately reshaped the concept himself.

Documents and Additional References

• Greg Strangis to Rick Berman — Early Notes on "Star Trek: The Next Generation" (September 4, 1986)

Additional References

• Greg Strangis
• Rick Berman
• Star Trek: The Next Generation
• Gene Roddenberry
• Ben Robinson
• Related Trek Files episodes:
  • Season 1, Episode 4 — Early Star Trek: The Next Generation series treatment
  • Season 13, Episode 2 — Gene Roddenberry's response to the early Next Generation proposal

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan is regarded as one of the finest entries in the franchise, but even classics continue to evolve right up until release.

This week on The Trek Files, Larry Nemecek welcomes authors and historians John and Maria Jose Tenuto to examine a fascinating production document: a March 23, 1982 retake script created just weeks before the film premiered. The pages reveal subtle but important changes to some of the movie's most memorable moments, from Kirk's first encounter with David Marcus to the famous "Remember" scene between Spock and McCoy.

How much did Kirk originally know about his son? Who actually performed the mind-meld hand seen in the reshoot? And how did a handful of pickup shots help shape what would become one of Star Trek's greatest films?

Along the way, John and Maria Jose pull back the curtain on Nicholas Meyer's production, Harve Bennett's stewardship of the franchise, and the extraordinary efficiency that turned a modestly-budgeted sequel into a science-fiction masterpiece.

Documents and Additional References Document of the Week

• Star Trek II Retakes Script Pages — March 23, 1982

Additional References

• Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan: The Making of the Classic Film
• Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
• Nicholas Meyer
• Harve Bennett
• ⁠Titan Books author page for Maria Jose Tenuto

What if Star Trek's most iconic technology was really just a clever budget solution?

This week on The Trek Files, Larry Nemecek welcomes back actor, writer, and Does It Fly? co-host Tamara Krinsky to explore one of the foundational documents of Star Trek: an excerpt from Gene Roddenberry's August 1966 Writer-Director Information guide. Among its many insights is an early explanation of the transporter, the device that would become one of the franchise's most recognizable inventions.

What began as a practical solution to avoid expensive weekly landing sequences quickly evolved into a storytelling engine unlike anything else in science fiction. Together, Larry and Tamara examine how the transporter shaped Star Trek's pacing and opened the door to some of the franchise's most memorable stories.

Drawing on Tamara's work analyzing science fiction concepts on Does It Fly?, the conversation ventures into questions of physics and philosophy. Is transporting matter actually possible? What happens to consciousness during transport? And how did a production shortcut become one of the most enduring ideas in popular culture?

From Gene Roddenberry's original vision to modern discussions of science and storytelling, this episode beams directly into what makes Star Trek work.

Documents and Additional References

• Star Trek Writer-Director Information (Revised August 30, 1966) – transporter section and production notes
• Gene Roddenberry
• Transporter
• Tamara Krinsky
• Does It Fly? podcast⁠
• Does It Fly? – Is Star Trek's Transporter Really Possible?

Before Star Trek or The Lieutenant Gene Roddenberry explored his role as a television creator by developing a series for one of Hollywood's biggest stars: Joan Crawford.

This week, Larry welcomes Roddenberry Podcasts Technical Director and Gene-ology co-host Earl Green to examine a 1961 memo in which Gene proposes major revisions to The Joan Crawford Show, a legal drama pilot titled A Man's World. The project never made it to series, but the document reveals a writer already demonstrating the storytelling instincts, character focus, and production savvy that would later define his career.

Along the way, Earl and Larry explore Crawford's complicated transition from film to television, the realities of early TV development, Gene's final months at Screen Gems, and the behind-the-scenes negotiations that surrounded the project. They also discuss why the pilot script itself—examined in depth on Gene-ology—may rank among Gene Roddenberry's strongest pre-Star Trek works.

What begins as a rewrite memo becomes a look into Hollywood in transition and Gene Roddenberry honing his craft years before the Enterprise ever left spacedock.

Documents and Additional References

• Joan Crawford rewrite memo (April 28, 1961)
• Gene Roddenberry
• Joan Crawford on IMDb
• The Lieutenant on IMDb
• DeForest Kelley
• Gene-ology: A Man's World episode⁠

Earlier this season, we explored an unusual piece of Star Trek history: a proposed sitcom starring Lwaxana Troi. Now, the story takes an unexpected turn.

When listeners helped identify one of the creators behind the never-produced project, The Trek Files tracked down writer and media innovator Jack Myers, who hadn't seen the pitch document in decades. Together, Larry and Jack revisit Lwaxana in the 24th Century, uncovering how the project came together, Majel Barrett Roddenberry's personal investment in the series, and why Hollywood never gave it a chance.

Jack shares memories of Majel's determination, her frustrations with the industry's limitations, and her belief that Lwaxana could carry a series of her own. Looking back today, many of the pitch's ideas (from AI-powered homes and android assistants to questions of identity, family, and cultural division) feel surprisingly ahead of their time.

It's a rare opportunity to hear the history behind an unproduced Star Trek project directly from one of the people who helped create it, while reflecting on the changing world of television and the legacy of Majel Barrett Roddenberry.

Documents and Additional References

• Lwaxana in the 24th Century pitch treatment (circa 1992)
• Majel Barrett Roddenberry
• Lwaxana Troi
• Jack Myers official site
• Star Trek: The Next Generation
• Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

The story of Star Trek's officially licensed 1994 stage production continues this week on The Trek Files as actor Adrian Cohen returns to share even more memories from Star Trek: The Lost Voyage of the Enterprise.

Using a rare 1995 review from Total Theatre Magazine as the document of the week, Adrian and Larry Nemecek dig deeper into the ambitious London production that somehow brought transporters, Klingons, time travel, and a full-scale Enterprise bridge to the live stage — all during the height of 1990s Trek mania.

This time, Adrian shares stories from the chaotic opening night when the lighting system catastrophically crashed just hours before curtain, forcing the audience to wait until 9:30 PM for a performance that somehow still became a hit with fans. He also reflects on the enormous pressure of portraying Mr. Spock, the audience reaction to seeing the crew materialize live on stage, and the bittersweet realization that the production's planned Broadway future would never quite materialize.

Along the way, the conversation uncovers surprising connections to Adrian's later move to America, the early career of producer John Gore, and how one strange theatrical experiment became an almost-forgotten chapter of Star Trek history.

Documents and Additional References

• Total Theatre Magazine review of Star Trek: The Lost Voyage of the Enterprise (Spring 1995)
• Adrian Cohen on IMDB
• Reference: Leonard Nimoy
• John Gore on IMDB
• John Gore on BroadwayWorld

The Trek Files Season 15 on Memory Alpha

All episodes and documents: The Trek Files on Memory Alpha

Visit the Trekland site for behind-the-scenes access and exclusive merchandise.

The conversation continues on Discord with live chats and the Roddenberry Podcasts community! Join today!

Before there was streaming Trek or "immersive experiences," there was something almost unbelievable: an officially licensed Star Trek stage play in London in 1994.

This week on The Trek Files, Larry Nemecek welcomes actor Adrian Cohen (credited at the time as Adrian Neil), who played Mr. Spock in the ambitious theatrical production mounted during the height of the Star Trek: The Next Generation era. Using a clipping from the London Evening Standard as the document of the week, Adrian recounts the surreal experience of stepping onto a full-scale Enterprise bridge in front of packed houses of passionate British Trek fans.

What began as a skeptical audition ("I can't play Spock!") quickly evolved into a whirlwind production featuring transporter effects, Klingons, time travel, elaborate costume changes, and even an Enterprise flying out over the audience. Adrian and Larry explore how producer John Gore approached the material with both reverence and playful theatricality, creating something that celebrated Star Trek rather than parodying it.

Along the way, Adrian shares memories of discovering just how intense Trek fandom could be, the pressure of channeling Leonard Nimoy's iconic presence, and the unexpectedly emotional reaction from audiences seeing Star Trek brought to life on stage for the very first time.

This week, The Trek Files points a spotlight at a little-known corner of improbable yet completely inevitable Trek history.

Documents and Additional References

• London Evening Standard clipping covering the 1994 Star Trek stage production
• Reference: Adrian Cohen on IMDB
• Reference: Leonard Nimoy
• John Gore on IMDB
• John Gore on BoradwayWorld

The Trek Files Season 15 on Memory Alpha

All episodes and documents: The Trek Files on Memory Alpha

Visit the Trekland site for behind-the-scenes access and exclusive merchandise.

The conversation continues on Discord with live chats and the Roddenberry Podcasts community! Join today!