The Trek Files: A Roddenberry Star Trek Podcast

In a parallel universe, Gene Roddenberry successfully used the Star Trek episode "Assignment Earth" as a backdoor pilot to launch a brand new series in the fall of 1968. With episodes needing to be produced, Gene would rely on story editor Dorothy Fontana to narrow down suitable stories and, like Star Trek, draw from existing science fiction authors. The Trek Files welcomes back Rene Echevarria to...

After meeting Gene Roddenberry at the World Science Fiction Convention, John and Bjo Trimble found themselves at the center of Star Trek fandom. They organized the letter-writing campaign that secured a third season, and they were also handling fan mail, photo and merchandise requests. The Trek Files welcomes John and Bjo to talk about the earliest days of Trek fandom plus a look at the very first...

This week, The Trek Files parallels two memos from different eras. First, we'll look at the specific requests made by NBC Standards about the now-iconic kiss between Kirk and Uhura in "Plato's Stepchildren." Then we'll dig into a Michael Piller memo from nearly a quarter century later about how to handle sexual content on Star Trek. Special guest Rene Echevarria joins Larry this week on The Trek F...

Lisa Klink joins the Trek Files again for another examination of the early TNG character relationships document. What were the challenges with creating Star Trek's first Betazoid character and how did she change before the show even started production? See the original document: TNG Character Relationships part 2 - November 1986 The Trek Files  Season 2 on Memory Alpha All episodes and documents: ...

Back when Wesley was still Lesley, the small group of writers and producers on The Next Generation needed to outline how the characters would relate to each other. What motivated them? How did they react? Where were they headed? In part one of our discussion, we welcome back Lisa Klink to examine how Wesley Crusher was shaping up. See the original document: TNG Character Relationships part 1 - Nov...

Families on the Enterprise? This was a big question among the producers who assembled in the early days of The Next Generation, well before the show's first bible had been written. In this memo, Bob Justman makes a case for dealing with relationships, kids and what the crew is doing when they are off duty. Larry is joined this week by special guest Lisa Klink! See the original document: Bob Justma...

In that early development period on The Next Generation, the group of assembled producers and writers struggled with ways to make the first underaged regular Star Trek character believable. Should he be a genius? Should he have a brain implant? Should he be promoted to Commander? Three memos reveal the thoughts behind bringing Wesley to life on this week's The Trek Files. See the original document...

It's early 1973, and Leonard Nimoy has confirmed his return to the role of Spock for Star Trek The Animated Series. What Gene Roddenberry has in mind is that the series will serve as a springboard to bring his show to the big screen one day. Nimoy, in reply, sounds dubious. This week on The Trek Files, Gene's letter and Leonard's handwritten reply! See the original document: Letter from Gene Rodde...

When TV Guide requested materials about Star Trek and celebrities who counted themselves as fans, it was Richard Arnold who helped Rick Berman pull together a list. Some familiar names and some surprises show up, plus Richard shares stories about giving the VIP tour to heads of state on this week's The Trek Files. See the original document: Celebrity  Star Trek  fans - November 1989 The Trek Files...

With everything else that had to be considered before launching Star Trek for the next generation, there was the matter of bridge logistics. In early 1987, Bob Justman found himself ruminating over how the layout of the bridge would dictate what crew could be on hand to drive the plots forward. Larry Nemecek is joined this week by John Champion to discuss Justman's revisions to the TNG bible. See...

As story development proceeded on Star Trek V, Gene Roddenberry butted heads with Harve Bennett over themes of mutiny and religion. Replying to a list of TOS episodes sent by Harve's office, Gene employed Richard Arnold to research those themes in an attempt to steer Harve on a different course. Richard Arnold appears on this week's episode to add context and share background information on the TO...

Working out of the Star Trek office on the Paramount lot, Richard Arnold fielded a number of questions and requests from fans and professionals alike. In this memo from 1986, Richard outlines to Gene Roddenberry the types of requests he handles on a regular basis. Joining Larry this week to dive into fandom, behind-the-scenes and working for Gene, none other than the document's author, Richard Arn...

In August 1973, Gene Roddenberry received a letter thanking him for the Star Trek fans who truly "live" the show's message. See the original document: Paul Johnson letter to Gene Roddenberry - August 1973 The Trek Files  Season 2 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 conversa...

The character Geordi LaForge was named for disabled Star Trek fan Georgie LaForge. In this correspondence from November and December 1987, Georgie's mother Sue thanks Gene Roddenberry for honoring her late son. See the original document: Gene Roddenberry correspondence with Sue LaForge - 1987 The Trek Files  Season 2 on Memory Alpha All episodes and documents:  The Trek Files on Memory Alpha Visit...

The famous Vulcan IDIC made its debut in "Is There in Truth No Beauty," but if Gene Roddenberry had his way, we would have seen it much earlier. In this memo from July 1968, Gene sends new executive producer Fred Freiberger a suggestion for how to end season three's premiere episode and work in Spock's medallion. See the original document:  Gene Roddenberry IDIC memo - July 1968 The Trek Files  Se...

The interior and exterior of the Enterprise got an overhaul for Star Trek The Motion Picture. In this episode of The Trek Files we welcome back Andrew Probert to discuss some of his contributions as well as some of the unused directions thought up by his design colleagues. See the original document: Star Trek The Motion Picture  Enterprise design art - 1978 The Trek Files  Season 2 on Memory Alpha...

Bob Justman shares an idea with Gene Roddenberry for a potential new piece of hardware on the Enterprise. This week, The Trek Files welcomes back Paramount executive Dave Rossi to get to the bottom of the holodeck and how part of the inspiration comes from the sci-fi classic Soylent Green. See the original document:  Bob Justman holodeck memo - October 17, 1986 The Trek Files  Season 2 on Memory A...

Gene Roddenberry and Robert Vaughn had worked together on The Lieutenant, and in 1965 Vaughn was a mega-star with The Man From U.N.C.L.E. Vaughn invited Roddenberry to his performance of Hamlet, and in this episode of The Trek Files we welcome back Robert Short to connect the dots between U.N.C.L.E. and Trek, Solo and Shakespeare, and being a kid who snuck onto the Enterprise bridge! See the origi...

As early Star Trek fans were trading and collecting anything to do with the show, Gene Roddenberry's attorney was keeping a close watch over products that fell outside official bounds. In this correspondence from June and July 1968, Leonard Maizlish requests that a young fan in Chicago cease the sale of photo prints. That fan, MaryLou Tamborello, replies with a mix of awe, excitement and worry. Se...

Norman Felton had a hit on his hands with "The Man From U.N.C.L.E." when Gene Roddenberry reached out to him about possibly mentoring a young actor interested in directing - Leonard Nimoy. Gene and Norman sparred a little in this 1965 correspondence, and to give it some color we brought in U.N.C.L.E. expert Robert Short who also has quite a bit of Trek experience himself. Hailing frequencies are o...

With Paramount executives ready to push forward with a new Star Trek TV series, the braintrust held a meeting in August 1977 for a production update. Gene Roddenberry along with Gary Nardino, Michael Eisner and others kicked around story, budget and logistics ideas. Surprisingly, Gene was ready to go ahead without Spock until one executive argued that it wouldn't be Trek without him. See the origi...

Andrew Probert returns to The Trek Files to discuss early concept work for spacesuits and other wearable props on Star Trek: The Motion Picture. See the original document: Andrew Probert spacesuit designs - June 1978 The Trek Files  Season 2 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....

Season two of The Trek Files kicks off with an early "Star Trek: The Next Generation" memo that questions whether or not the production should allow pitches from amateur writers. Well before the open-submission policy sought out new talent, the handful of producers and writers on staff worried about the avalanche of paperwork and the potential for too many "Mary Sues." See the original document: N...

Season 1 of The Trek Files wraps up with our oldest document yet! As Gene Roddenberry was writing for "Have Gun - Will Travel," he got the attention of an unlikely awards committee: the American Baptist Convention. Having seen a handful of Gene's episodes, the committee reached out to recognize his work as "presenting the Christian message" to TV viewers. How would a pre-Star Trek Gene have reacte...

With production on the third season of Star Trek fast approaching, newly-hired Executive Producer Fred Freiberger sent a memo to Gene Roddenberry about the status of developing scripts. "Spock's Brain" and "And The Children Shall Lead" are there... and so is "Shore Leave 2." While we're at it, how about room for a couple of Gene Roddenberry scripts too? Doug Drexler joins The Trek Files to talk ab...