The Trek Files: A Roddenberry Star Trek Podcast

A speech given by Gene Roddenberry in 1989 to the National Space Society is the perfect starting point with this week's guest, an amateur astronomer, asteroid chaser, and space enthusiast. He also happens to have played Tuvok on "Star Trek: Voyager." Tim Russ joins The Trek Files for a discussion of reaching the stars.

See the original document: National Space Society speech - January, 1989

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Continuing our discussion of Susan Oliver's career, George Pappy joins The Trek Files this week to share insights into Susan's work as a director. In an industry notoriously difficult for women, Susan had secured a few directing credits and hoped to continue on Star Trek: The Next Generation.

See the original document: Letter to Bob Justman - June 4, 1987

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A call-sheet from the Star Trek pilot episode "The Cage" (originally titled "The Menagerie") features Jeff Hunter as Captain and Susan Oliver as Vina. The Trek Files welcomes George Pappy, director of "The Green Girl" documentary about Oliver, to discuss the actress' rising star at the time.

See the original document: The Cage call sheet - December 1964

The Trek Files Season 7 on Memory Alpha

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"Oscar, Where Are You?" That's the question posed in a behind-the-scenes photo from the first Star Trek pilot, "The Cage." Today, we welcome back guest Emmy Lou Crawford (Carey Foster) who is in that very picture to share stories of working on TOS and working with "uncle Rod."

See the original document: The Cage, on-set picture - 1964

The Trek Files Season 7 on Memory Alpha

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The Trek Files welcomes back producer Don Beck for a look at how DVDs revolutionized the home video market and how Star Trek was boldly using this new medium.

See the original document: Star Trek: The Next Generation DVDs

The Trek Files Season 7 on Memory Alpha

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Gene Roddenberry sent letters to colleagues in TV production, encouraging them to give a chance to an up-and-coming actress named Carey Foster (stage name of Emmy Lou Crawford). Today we welcome Emmy Lou herself to talk about acting in the early '60s and getting a recommendation from "uncle Gene."

See the original document: Letter to Bruce Geller - 1964

The Trek Files Season 7 on Memory Alpha

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

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Selling a TV show is a difficult job, especially when the show doesn't exist yet. Don Beck continues his story of getting TV stations interested in a new Trek before TNG had gotten off the ground and how the studio made sure they promoted it.

See the original document: Star Trek Promos

The Trek Files Season 7 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.

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Before the series could be considered viable by Paramount, Star Trek: The Next Generation would need to clear 65% of the country in syndication sales. Producer/writer/director Don Beck's association with the studio made him the person to lead the undertaking, and this week he shares his experience, and personal reminiscence of Gene Roddenberry.

See the original document: Star Trek TNG syndication sales - 1987

The Trek Files Season 7 on Memory Alpha

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

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In the months leading up to the first Star Trek pilot, Gene Roddenberry had a number of other concerns: from a police show pilot to a play he was writing to his neighbor's rat problem that was now becoming his own. Take a look at 1965 through Gene's personal correspondence on this week's The Trek Files with guest John Champion.

See the original document: Gene Roddenberry correspondence - 1965

The Trek Files Season 7 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.

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When Star Trek: The Next Generation premiered in 1987, it did so in unknown territory. How would audience numbers pan out for a major science-fiction show in first-run syndication? Former Paramount executive John Wentworth returns to The Trek Files to demystify the numbers surrounding TNG's debut and how the show warped past expectation.

See the original document: Star Trek: The Next Generation results - October 1987

The Trek Files Season 7 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!

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