The Trek Files: A Roddenberry Star Trek Podcast

In a speech, Gene Roddenberry proposes a set of laws in the future that will supersede the limits of modern nations, replacing them with "Metalaw" that makes humans primarily citizens of Earth. The Trek Files welcomes Mclee Kerolle from The Space Court Foundation to explain how the law applies to space and humanity's future. See the original document: Gene Roddenberry 'Metalaw' speech The Trek Fil...

As many creatives work in TV production, they all answer to one overwhelming force: the budget. A true insider from Star Trek's longest run, producer/director David Livingston is here to kick off season 8 of The Trek Files with a look at how producers and studios keep it all in line. Or not. See the original document: Writing to Budget - 1987 The Trek Files  Season 8 on Memory Alpha All episodes a...

Closing out the season, The Trek Files is pleased to welcome back special guest Adam Nimoy. In this week's show, Adam discusses the sights (and smells) of his boyhood visit to the TOS set as well as creative tensions within the production. A memo about "Maiden Wine" promos discussion about Leonard Nimoy's music career. See the original document: Maiden Wine poem - 1968 The Trek Files  Season 7 on...

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 The Tr...

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 The Trek Files  Season 7 on Memory Alpha A...

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 All...

"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 All episodes and docum...

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 All episodes and documents:  The Trek Files on Memory Alpha Visit the  Trekland site  for behind-the-scenes access and exclusive merchan...

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 All...

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 ...

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...

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...

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  r...

Production documents from two Star Trek: The Next Generation episodes introduce us this week's special guest: Adam Nimoy. Discussing his on-set education on the Trek films and his transition to television director, Adam gives us an inside look behind-the-scenes. Visit Dr. Trek - larrynemecek.com Visit the Trekland shop See the original document: Timescape call sheet - April 1993 The Trek Files  Se...

This week on The Trek Files, we return to the archival mail bag to sample some of the letters Gene Roddenberry ("Mr. Trek") was receiving in 1975. From the requests for props, plans and insider information to the insights hiding between the lines. Mission Log's John Champion joins Larry for our seasonal look at some of Star Trek's most ardent supporters. Visit Dr. Trek - larrynemecek.com See the o...

Go inside production of Star Trek TOS with another visit from director Ralph Senensky. At 98 years old, Ralph sat down with host Larry Nemecek to discuss his work on the series. This time: details of Ralph's work on classic episodes "Metamorphosis" and "Bread and Circuses." See the original document: Star Trek  director memos - 1967 The Trek Files  Season 7 on Memory Alpha All episodes and documen...

There were cast changes for the second season of Star Trek: The Next Generation, and that meant a new writer/director guide to explain the crew dynamics. The Trek Files welcomes back Susan Sackett, Gene Roddenberry's longtime assistant, to offer insight into those early production days of TNG. See the original document: Star Trek: The Next Generation Writers Guide  - Season 2 The Trek Files  Seaso...

Starlog magazine profiled Gene Roddenberry in July 1986 to discuss the Star Trek movies and TV legacy. We are joined by Ian Spelling, author of that piece as well as former editor of startrek.com and co-author of Star Trek: A Celebration. See the original document: Homeward Bound -  Starlog , July 1986 The Trek Files  Season 7 on Memory Alpha All episodes and documents:  The Trek Files on Memory A...

It's a constant in the TV business: the collision of production and promotion. On at least one occasion in 1967, Herb Solow complained to Bob Justman that that local promos were taking up production resources on Star Trek. Our guest, John Wentworth, reminds us that even decades later it was a familiar refrain. See the original document: Local promo shoots - July 12, 1967 The Trek Files  Season 7 o...

An early script draft for Star Trek IV: The Adventure Continues draws pointed critique in Gene Roddenberry's office. The Trek Files is joined by the author of the memo, Susan Sackett, to describe Gene's challenges with the film. See the original document: Star Trek IV  comments - December 9, 1985 The Trek Files  Season 7 on Memory Alpha All episodes and documents:  The Trek Files on Memory Alpha V...

There are a few ways to gauge the popularity of a TV show, and fan mail, by volume, is one important factor. Former Paramount executive John Wentworth stops by The Trek Files to explain some of Star Trek's audience appeal and share insights about his time with the show's producers. See the original document: Star Trek  vs  The Monkees  - 1967 The Trek Files  Season 7 on Memory Alpha All episodes a...

As we approach the centennial of Gene Roddenberry's birth, Larry Nemecek recounts the story of his only meeting with the Great Bird himself on August 15, 1989. It's a post-STLV episode, and we will return to our regular format next week. Trek well, everybody! The Trek Files  Season 7 on Memory Alpha All episodes and documents:  The Trek Files on Memory Alpha Visit the  Trekland site  for behind-th...

In the second part of Larry Nemecek's interview with Ralph Senensky, the conversation focuses on Ralph's departure from the series with the third season episode "The Tholian Web." From Gene Roddenberry's files, find the deal memo that brought Herb Wallerstein on board and the DGA to determine who got the credit. See the original document: Ralph Senensky - The Tholian Web The Trek Files  Season 7 o...

Special guest Steven Lance returns to The Trek Files to share his experiences as MC at Star Trek conventions in the 1970s. Hear about the origin of "Heash" and the special friendships that led to Steve's career and time on set with Star Trek legends. See the original document: Star Trek  Conventions - 1975 - 1976 The Trek Files  Season 7 on Memory Alpha All episodes and documents:  The Trek Files...

The famous "rec deck" scene in Star Trek: The Motion Picture was filmed in October 1978 and featured hundreds of friends and fans who had supported the journey from small screen to big screen. Actor/host/writer Steven Lance was among those on set that day and tells the personal story how James Doohan got him there! See the original document: Star Trek: The Motion Picture  call sheets - October 197...