Commentary: Trek Stars: The Work of Star Trek Creators Outside of Star Trek

Roddenberry Part 7: Andromeda.

With the relative success of Earth: Final Conflict, the Roddenberry estate, along with Tribune Entertainment, began production on a second series based on Gene Roddenberry’s unused concepts. Andromeda was developed by Deep Space Nine writer Robert Hewitt Wolf in 2000, and lasted five seasons in syndication. It starred Kevin Sorbo as Dylan Hunt, the Captain of the starship Andromeda, and featured many elements which had originally been tested by Roddenberry in Genesis II.

This week, Max and Mike are once again joined by Colin of Trek News and Views to cover the final series created by Gene Roddenberry. We discuss which elements originated from Roddenberry and which ones came from Wolfe, whether or not the budgetary limitations were a hindrance, the reasons for Wolfe’s departure from the show, the casting of Sorbo, the Jason X connection, Captain Hunt’s superpowers, the post-Wolfe era’s lack of direction, and whether or not Roddenberry would have created the show himself.

Direct download: ctrek-008.mp3
Category:Gene Roddenberry -- posted at: 8:00pm MDT

Roddenberry Part 6: Earth: Final Conflict.

Six years after Gene Roddenberry’s death, the first of two shows based on his concepts was produced. Earth: Final Conflict dealt with a futuristic society in which aliens, seeking refuge on Earth, share their advanced technology with humanity.

This week, Mike and Max are joined by Colin, the host of Trek News and Views, to cover the posthumous work of Gene Roddenberry as a television creator. We discuss the show’s ever-changing premise, its ever-changing cast, its unrealized potential, the proposed spinoff, the head writer’s other work, how much of the concept was Roddenberry’s, and whether or not he would have made the show himself.

Direct download: ctrek-007.mp3
Category:Gene Roddenberry -- posted at: 8:00pm MDT

Roddenberry Part 4: Genesis II.

Throughout the 1970’s, Gene Roddenberry developed numerous pilots which never went to series. The first of these was Genesis II, starring Alex Cord, about a scientist who wakes up from suspended animation to find a post-apocalyptic future.

In this week’s episode of Commentary: Trek Stars, Mike and Max take a look at Genesis II as well as its revised pilot, “Planet Earth.” We discuss the show’s similarities to other science fiction of the time period, the portrayal of the main character, the other incarnations of the concept, and the awesomeness of Percy Rodriguez’s voice.

Direct download: ctrek-005.mp3
Category:Gene Roddenberry -- posted at: 8:00pm MDT

Roddenberry Part 3: Assignment: Earth.

After two seasons on the air, the cancellation of Star Trek seemed to be inevitable. In order to hedge his bets, Gene Roddenberry designed the probable series finale to be a backdoor pilot for a new show entitled Assignment: Earth.

This week, Max and Mike are joined by Trek.fm’s TOS editor Drew Stewart to discuss what “Assignment: Earth” is and what it would have been, how it differs from Trek’s portrayal of Roddenberry’s world view, how it worked as a self-contained pilot and as an episode of Star Trek, and whether or not season one of Assignment: Earth would have been preferable to season three of Star Trek.

Direct download: ctrek-004.mp3
Category:Gene Roddenberry -- posted at: 8:00pm MDT

Roddenberry Part 2: The Lieutenant.

Star Trek is not the only show to be created by Gene Roddenberry. Three years prior, Gary Lockwood (aka Gary Mitchell) starred as The Lieutenant in Gene Roddenberry’s debut series about a U.S. Marine Corps officer serving during peace time.

This week, Mike and Max examine an episode which features numerous Trek cast and crew members (including Leonard Nimoy) in an attempt to determine what the series on the whole was like. We discuss what makes The Lieutenant different from other military shows, how those differences reflect Roddenberry’s world view, how the Vietnam War killed the show, what the similarities are between The Lieutenant and Star Trek, and how the failure of The Lieutenant may have shaped Star Trek into the show it would eventually become. We also examine the landscape of television in the early ’60s and debate whether or not “Mitchell” is the best episode of Mystery Science Theater 3000.

Direct download: ctrek-003.mp3
Category:Gene Roddenberry -- posted at: 8:00pm MDT

Roddenberry Part 1: Star Trek.

This week, Max and Mike begin a series which looks at the career of Gene Roddenberry as a television creator. Part 1 examines Roddenberry’s work in Star Trek. We discuss the impact that The Original Series had on the medium, the mystery of why The Animated Series didn’t work at all, what The Motion Picture tells us about how Phase II would’ve been, and how Roddenberry’s take on The Next Generation has influenced the franchise since his death. So grab a cup of tea, Earl Grey, hot, and settle in for half an hour of semi-entertaining musings.

Direct download: ctrek-002.mp3
Category:Gene Roddenberry -- posted at: 8:00pm MDT

The World Beyond Star Trek.

Welcome to the very first episode of Commentary: Trek Stars! Join Mike and Max of Commentary Track Stars (get it?) as they take a look at the work of Star Trek creators outside of Trek. In this episode, we tell you who we are and what you can expect from the show. Enjoy!

Direct download: ctrek-001.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:00pm MDT

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