Gene-ology: A Mission Log Look into Gene Roddenberry's Works

It could have been the first television series created by Gene Roddenberry...but it never made it to a soundstage.  For the first time ever, Gene-ology reveals and analyzes Gene's 1957 series pitch for the unmade show "The Man From Texas".

Gene-ology follows Gene Roddenberry's early TV writing career every week, and this week we join the Harbor Command as it tries to prevent a would-be killer's appointment with "The Psychiatrist".  But how much of the final product did Gene write? Guest starring Mike Richards as Captain Baxter, Amy Nelson as the Housekeeper (first draft)/Etta (final draft), and Elliot Kronsberg as the Control voice...

Gene-ology follows Gene Roddenberry's early TV writing career every week, and this week we complete our tour of duty with the '50s series "West Point" with Gene's episode, "Duty, Honor, and Trouble". Guest starring Adam Pranica as Cadet Carter, Matthew Corey as Cadet #1, Ryan Husk as Cadet #2, and William Corey as Cadet #3

Gene-ology follows Gene Roddenberry's early TV writing career every week, in this case chronicling a tradition of "West Point" cadets undergoing field training, namely the Drowning of the Gun, something that is most assuredly can(n)on. Guest starring John Champion as TAC Officer, and Mikayel Balian as Cadet Davis

Somewhere at the Point, all of this may be happening right now. It's a story of a boy, a girl, and an unexpected pet monkey. Gene-ology follows Gene Roddenberry's early TV writing career as a West Point cadet faces "McKinley's Challenge". Guest starring Mike Richards as the General, Rand Hurrle as the Major, and Vic Sage as Cadet McKinley

Every week, Gene-ology is on the lookout for the development of Gene Roddenberry's early TV writing career, searching for his trademark messaging, but did West Point's "The Manhunt" episode throw us off the trail?

Is the word given?  Gene-ology follows Gene Roddenberry's early TV writing career as he issues "The Command" to the '50s military show West Point, with plenty to say about leadership and balancing individual achievement with the greater good. Guest starring Matthew Corey as Colonel Bellman, and Sam Kogan as Cadet John Bellman Jr.

Let's fly!  West Point takes to the sky as an episode Gene wrote for the '50s military series puts Army cadets in the jump seat of Air Force jet fighters, whether they're ready to pull some G's or not. And one nervous cadet's training flight could be his last. Guest starring Steve Spindler as Chuck Cawlstatt and Canaan Hess as Kenny.

Love is in the air as Gene-ology tackles an unusually romantic Roddenberry-written episode of the '50s series West Point. Did Norman and Earl love this episode as much as the episode's leads loved each other by the end? Guest starring Ryanne McKay as Doreen and Robin Nystrom as Stan

Gene-ology's coverage of Gene Roddenberry's early TV writing continues with another tale from the '50s series West Point. But "Man Of Action" lives up to the "based on fact" part of the show's opening credits much more than most. Guest starring Victor Vanegas as Cadet Matson, and Shawn McDaniel as Major King.

Gene-ology's coverage of Gene Roddenberry's early TV writing continues with the '50s series West Point. "Thicker Than Water" has familiar faces and familiar story elements, along with fresh questions about who the intended audience was. Guest starring Ross Gallo as Cadet Joel Hamilton, Michael Roman as Ed, and Jared Ballard as James.

Gene-ology enlists for a tour of duty at the 1950s series West Point, Gene Roddenberry's first gig as a TV staff writer.  Only one episode could bring you oddly formal ice cream presentation, live chicken delivery, and a very young Robert Vaughn and Chuck Connors.  That episode is "The Operator and the Martinet". Guest starring Jack Harris as Maj. Nielson.

Gene-ology takes a pause to catch its breath before moving on to covering the next phase of Gene Roddenberry's early TV writing career, and reads some letters we've received from our listeners.

Gene-ology completes Gene Roddenberry's short stint on the 1950s TV series I Led 3 Lives with the second script he wrote for the show, "Discredit Police". Guest starring Vic Sage as Herb Philbrick and Cody Banning as Potter.

Gene-ology ventures into another series from early in Gene Roddenberry's TV writing career, I Led 3 Lives - a show for which Gene himself had very little love.  Get ready for a "rad" history lesson as Norm and Earl get "Radioactive". Guest starring Vic Sage as Herb Philbrick and Robert Parson as Agent Jerry Dressler. Gene-ology returns on January 8th, 2024!

In the latest Gene-ology, an "Oil Lease" is in jeopardy as Earl and Norman examine Gene Roddenberry's final script for the 1950s cop show Highway Patrol. Guest starring Mark Pracht as Detective Dan Mathews, Matt Hensley as Fletcher, and David Takechi as the Colonel.

In the latest Gene-ology, the Highway Patrol protects a wayward "Prospector" as Norm and Earl sift through another of Gene Roddenberry's 1950s TV scripts. Guest starring Paul Harvath as Asa McQueen, and Michelle Harvath as Maggie Hammond.

The Highway Patrol joins the hunt for a "Mental Patient", and Norm and Earl might just have witnessed the birth of Edith Keeler, in the latest Gene-ology. Guest starring Mark Pracht as Detective Dan Mathews and Larry Nemecek as Mylo Hobson.

The Highway Patrol faces a race against time as another 1950s Gene Roddenberry script sees Mathews trying to prevent a suicidal "Human Bomb" from taking others with him. Guest starring Mark Pracht as Detective Dan Mathews and Adam Drosin as Sellers.

It's 1955, and Gene, still writing as Robert Wesley, returns to the police drama with "Reformed Criminal", an early episode of the '50s TV mainstay Highway Patrol. Guest starring Mark Pracht as Detective Dan Mathews and Scott Martin as Mr. Morse.

So what was Gene Roddenberry's first produced piece of television science fiction?  This week, Earl and Norm field-strip The Secret Weapon of 117 and find, logically enough, some very familiar concepts. Guest starring James Kerwin as Alfred Mark and Charlynn Schmeidt as Kamala Mark.

Gene-ology's survey of the early television writing of Gene Roddenberry arrives at the earliest instance of Gene writing in the genre for which he would become most famous.  Step into "The Transporter" - a story that was never produced.

It's Gene's last script for the 1950s series Mr. District Attorney... has he devised the DA's most cunning foil yet?  And what about the alarming accusations of "Police Brutality"? Guest starring Sean Darr as Officer Richards, Glenn Rigberg as Captain Delaney, and John Kirkorian as District Attorney Paul Garrett.

Crime knows no bounds, taking to land and sea, with Mr. District Attorney in hot pursuit.  This week, Gene-ology checks the "Patrol Boat" episode to see if it's seaworthy. Guest starring Shawn McDaniel as Henry Higgins and Ria Papageorgiou as Paula Higgins.

Mr. District Attorney is trying to solve a clever caper on his home turf, as Gene-ology digs into the inner workings of Gene's fourth script for that show. Guest starring Doug Robertson as Trey, Bill Smith as Wick, and David Takechi as Dedrick.