Gene-ology: A Roddenberry Podcast

Gene-ology 53 - Beyond Atlas Nov 04, 2024

Welcome to Gene-ology, where we explore the earliest TV writing works of Gene Roddenberry, the creator of Star Trek!

Gene-ology examines "Beyond Atlas", a one-off script for an unmade series might have been "West Point, but for the Air Force Academy" - except that, as written by Gene Roddenberry, it reads like a pitch for Starfleet Academy, which is impressive considering it was written mere weeks after Sputnik changed the world.

Join us as we dig into the Roddenberry archives and discuss how Gene’s early writing shaped the groundbreaking worlds he would later bring to our screens. Hosted by Earl Green and Ashley Thomas

Guest starring Geoff Gottlieb as Lt. Col. Caulfield and Michael Richards as Jim Highland

🌟 About Gene-ology: Gene-ology is a Roddenberry Entertainment podcast dedicated to exploring the formative years of Gene Roddenberry’s career before Star Trek. We explore his early TV scripts—including unproduced works—and examine the evolution of his storytelling. Buckle in and get ready for Gene-ology!

🔍 In This Episode:

A breakdown of key moments and themes from Threshold, “Beyond Atlas”.
Insight into Gene Roddenberry’s early career and how this episode fits into his body of work.
How the themes in this episode connect to the larger Roddenberry universe.

💬 Join the Conversation: What do you think of Threshold, “Beyond Atlas”? Share your thoughts and theories in the comments!

🔔 Subscribe and Stay Tuned: Make sure to subscribe for more deep dives into Gene Roddenberry’s earliest TV writing. We release new episodes every other week!

Follow us on Social Media: INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/MissionLogPod X: https://x.com/MissionLogPod THREADS: https://www.threads.net/@roddenberrypodcasts FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/MissionLogPod

Gene-ology is produced by Roddenberry Entertainment. Executive producer Eugene "Rod" Roddenberry. Visit https://Podcasts.Roddenberry.Com for more great content.

💖 Support the Show:

Join our Patreon for exclusive content, and connect with fellow fans in our Discord community. Every contribution helps us continue our mission to explore the early works of Gene Roddenberry. https://www.Patreon.com/MissionLogPod

Gene-ology 52 - The Rescue of the Strangers Oct 28, 2024

Welcome to Gene-ology, where we explore the earliest TV writing works of Gene Roddenberry, the creator of Star Trek!

The fourth and final episode Gene Roddenberry wrote for Boots & Saddles is a challenging piece of work; the story pitch that got him hired to write the episode is even more challenging and perhaps a bit shocking. Gene-ology takes a deep dive into "The Rescue of the Strangers."

Join us as we dig into the Roddenberry archives and discuss how Gene’s early writing shaped the groundbreaking worlds he would later bring to our screens. Hosted by Earl Green and Ashley Thomas

Guest starring Jeff Gauntt as Captain "Shank" Adams and Chris Thomas as Corporal Ben Hall

🌟 About Gene-ology: Gene-ology is a Roddenberry Entertainment podcast dedicated to exploring the formative years of Gene Roddenberry’s career before Star Trek. We explore his early TV scripts—including unproduced works—and examine the evolution of his storytelling. Buckle in and get ready for Gene-ology!

🔍 In This Episode:

A breakdown of key moments and themes from Boots & Saddles, “The Rescue of the Strangers”.
Insight into Gene Roddenberry’s early career and how this episode fits into his body of work.
How the themes in this episode connect to the larger Roddenberry universe.

💬 Join the Conversation: What do you think of Boots & Saddles, “The Rescue of the Strangers”? Share your thoughts and theories in the comments!

🔔 Subscribe and Stay Tuned: Make sure to subscribe for more deep dives into Gene Roddenberry’s earliest TV writing. We release new episodes every other week!

Follow us on Social Media: INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/MissionLogPod X: https://x.com/MissionLogPod THREADS: https://www.threads.net/@roddenberrypodcasts FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/MissionLogPod

Gene-ology is produced by Roddenberry Entertainment. Executive producer Eugene "Rod" Roddenberry. Visit https://Podcasts.Roddenberry.Com for more great content.

💖 Support the Show:

Join our Patreon for exclusive content, and connect with fellow fans in our Discord community. Every contribution helps us continue our mission to explore the early works of Gene Roddenberry. https://www.Patreon.com/MissionLogPod

Gene-ology Mailbag #2 Oct 21, 2024

Gene-ology has been covering Gene Roddenberry's early TV writing for a year now, so it's an opportune time for Ashley and Earl to take a well-deserved break from the wild west and dig into your comments and questions on past episodes of the podcast.

Gene-ology 51 - The Marquis of Donnybrook Oct 14, 2024

Gene-ology examines the last produced script Gene Roddenberry wrote for the western series Boots & Saddles, one which happened to mark his first collaboration with one DeForest Kelley. But did Gene's script land a knockout punch?

Guest starring Jeff Gauntt as Captain "Shank" Adams and Larry Nemecek as Captain Merriweather

Gene-ology 50 - The Prussian Farmer Oct 07, 2024

Gene Roddenberry's short stint as a writer on the 1957-58 western Boots & Saddles continues in his second script, "The Prussian Farmer", which thrusts a pacifistic retired soldier into a situation where he may have to fight once more.

Guest starring John Billingsley as Franz Mueller, Bonita Friedericy as Mrs. Mueller, and Jeff Gauntt as Captain "Shank" Adams

Gene-ology 49 - The Gatling Gun Sep 30, 2024

Gene-ology jumps tracks to another late '50s western, Boots & Saddles, where Gene wrote a number of scripts chronicling the exploits of the Fifth Cavalry, including "The Gatling Gun", tackling the thorny issue of ageism.

Guest starring Jeff Gauntt as Captain "Shank" Adams, Kyle Clark as Colonel Hays, and Kerstan Szczepanski as Colonel Parker.

Gene-ology 48 - Alice Sep 23, 2024

Gene-ology examines the Have Gun - Will Travel episode "Alice", a challenging, impressively nuanced Gene Roddenberry script that may be notable for what it avoids saying as much as for what it does say.

Gene-ology 47 - El Paso Stage Sep 16, 2024

Paladin's next job may require him to do something he finds morally questionable. If he turns it down, innocent people may start dying. Gene-ology covers "El Paso Stage", Gene's only script from season 4 of Have Gun - Will Travel.

Gene-ology 46 - Charley Red Dog Sep 09, 2024

Gene-ology gives Gene Roddenberry's "Charley Red Dog" episode of Have Gun - Will Travel a fresh watch and finds the classic Roddenberry elements, messages aplenty for the audience, and a hard-to-ignore casting issue.

Gene-ology 45 - Tiger Sep 02, 2024

Gene's scripts for Have Gun - Will Travel continue with a third season entry that seems to be about the unlikeliest of antagonists: a "Tiger" is loose in Texas! But is it truly a threat, or will someone else show Paladin their real stripes first?

Gene-ology 44 - The Golden Toad Aug 26, 2024

Gene-ology keeps hopping through Gene Roddenberry's scripts for Have Gun - Will Travel, examining "The Golden Toad", a tale dropping Paladin between two families fighting over the rights to what they believe is buried treasure...a treasure they're willing to kill for.

Gene-ology 43 - The Posse Aug 19, 2024

Framed for murder, Paladin walks a tightrope between justice and revenge, and even if he establishes the truth, someone dies at the hands of "The Posse", a grim but much-loved episode of Have Gun - Will Travel written by Gene Roddenberry.

Gene-ology 42 - Les Girls Aug 12, 2024

Do you hear all the giggling cover from that covered wagon winding its way through Oregon? That's the sound of "Les Girls", one of the episodes Gene Roddenberry wrote for Have Gun - Will Travel, with a storyline and subject matter that Star Trek reused and expanded upon.

Gene-ology 41 - Episode In Laredo Aug 05, 2024

Gene-ology continues examining Gene Roddenberry's early TV scripts, including Have Gun - Will Travel's "Episode In Laredo", encompassing topics from toxic masculinity, to parental responsibility, to the futility of bloodshed, to possible pathways to peace paved with potatoes.

Gene-ology 40 - The Return of Roy Carter Jul 29, 2024

Paladin responds to an urgent request for help from Roy Carter, whose own lack of urgency is strange considering that a man's life is at risk. Gene-ology examines Gene Roddenberry's final script for the second season of Have Gun - Will Travel, "The Return of Roy Carter".

Gene-ology 39 - Maggie O'Bannion Jul 22, 2024

Beaten up and robbed, Paladin must make a fresh start at a nearby ranch while he looks for his attackers. It turns out they work for his new boss, "Maggie O'Bannion", and they're robbing her blind too. How much does Paladin risk to reveal the truth? And...is he seriously hitting on his new boss!?

Gene-ology 38 - The Monster of Moon Ridge Jul 15, 2024

Trouble brews in Moon Ridge as Paladin tries to sort through supernatural superstitions and possibly the involvement of some meddling kids, as Gene-ology examines "The Monster of Moon Ridge", another Gene Roddenberry script from Have Gun - Will Travel.

Gene-ology 37 - Juliet Jul 08, 2024

Gene-ology explores the early TV writing of Gene Roddenberry, including "Juliet", a 1959 episode of "Have Gun - Will Travel" that has potentially interesting ideas to explore, but fixates on a relationship that would be problematic in 1959...or now.

Gene-ology 36 - The Road To Wickenburg Jul 01, 2024

Gene-ology's coverage of Gene Roddenberry's scripts from "Have Gun - Will Travel" continues in an episode that opens with Paladin already in a very tough spot - and then someone asks him to save her life. Unless a better offer comes along for one of them. Next exit: "The Road to Wickenburg".

Gene-ology 35 - The Hanging of Roy Carter Jun 24, 2024

As Gene-ology continues examining Gene Roddenberry's scripts from "Have Gun - Will Travel", Paladin and several others face a situation that demands an answer to the question: which is more important, justice or revenge?

Gene-ology 34 - Ella West Jun 17, 2024

At the end of a month-long string of Gene Roddenberry scripts on "Have Gun - Will Travel", "Ella West" arrives with a curious stew of mixed messages for Earl and guest host Ashley Thomas to sort through.

Gene-ology - coming soon - Ella West May 27, 2024

Gene-ology will cover Gene's Have Gun - Will Travel episode "Ella West"... after we get back on track from some persistent real life stuff. Thanks for your patience, and feel free to catch up on past episodes at podcasts.roddenberry.com.

Gene-ology 33 - Helen of Abajinian May 20, 2024

"Helen of Abajinian" wasn't just a largely comedic episode of Have Gun -- Will Travel, but its Gene Roddenberry script was an award winner, among other firsts.

Gene-ology 32- The Hanging Cross May 13, 2024

If you're dreaming of a Have Gun -- Will Travel Christmas, Gene-ology has you covered - not only did the show's first season contain a special Yuletide episode, but "The Hanging Cross" was written by Gene Roddenberry.

Gene-ology 31- The Yuma Treasure May 06, 2024

Gene-ology joins Paladin on a hunt for "The Yuma Treasure", the second episode Have Gun -- Will Travel written by Gene Roddenberry, but how closely do we need to look at the episode's dialogue?

Gene-ology 30 - The Great Mojave Chase Apr 29, 2024

Have camel, will travel? Gene-ology begins its ride alongside Paladin by examining Gene's first episode of Have Gun -- Will Travel, "The Great Mojave Chase".

Gene-ology 29 - Exile Apr 22, 2024

Gene-ology's travels with The Man From Texas conclude as we examine Gene Roddenberry's second unmade script for this unrealized series, "Exile", before we embark upon our coverage of Have Gun -- Will Travel.

Guest starring Cody Banning as Sam Houston, Robert Parson as Secretary Burnett, and Earl Green as Major Barrington

Gene-ology 28 - Destiny and the Raven Apr 15, 2024

Gene-ology continues exploring Gene Roddenberry's unmade western series about the life of Sam Houston in the first of two unproduced scripts, "Destiny and the Raven".

Guest starring Cody Banning as Sam Houston, Zeke Sidwell as Major Reeves, and Todd Allen Fischer as Bearley

Gene-ology 27 - The Man From Texas Apr 08, 2024

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 26 - The Psychiatrist Apr 01, 2024

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

The Harbor Command episode can be viewed at Archive.org.

Gene-ology 25 - Duty, Honor, and Trouble Mar 25, 2024

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 24 - The Drowning Of The Gun Mar 18, 2024

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

Gene-ology 23 - McKinley's Challenge Mar 11, 2024

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

Gene-ology 22 - The Manhunt Mar 04, 2024

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?

Gene-ology 21 - The Command Feb 26, 2024

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.

Gene-ology 20 - Jet Flight Feb 19, 2024

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.

Gene-ology 19 - A Double Reverse Feb 12, 2024

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 18 - Man Of Action Feb 05, 2024

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 17 - Thicker Than Water Jan 29, 2024

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 16 - The Operator and the Martinet Jan 22, 2024

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 Mailbag #1 Jan 15, 2024

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 15 - Discredit Police Jan 08, 2024

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 14 - Radioactive Dec 18, 2023

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!

Gene-ology 13 - Oil Lease Dec 11, 2023

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.

Gene-ology 12 - Prospector Dec 04, 2023

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.

Gene-ology 11 - Mental Patient Nov 27, 2023

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.

Gene-ology 10 - Human Bomb Nov 16, 2023

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.

Gene-ology 9 - Reformed Criminal Nov 09, 2023

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.

Gene-ology 8 - The Secret Weapon of 117 Nov 02, 2023

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 7 - The Transporter Oct 26, 2023

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.

Gene-ology 6 - Police Brutality Oct 19, 2023

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.

Gene-ology 5 - Patrol Boat Oct 12, 2023

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.

Gene-ology 4 - Court Escape Oct 05, 2023

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.

Gene-ology 3 -Police Academy Sep 28, 2023

Gene-ology returns to the fifties - and Mr. District Attorney - yet again, and enrolls in "Police Academy", Gene's third script for the show.

Guest starring John Krikorian as Paul Garrett and Dan Davidson as Capt. MacPherson.

Gene-ology 2 - Wife Killer Sep 21, 2023

Is this episode about a wife killer...or about a wife who is a killer? Gene-ology cross-examines the "Wife Killer" episode of Mr. District Attorney from 1954.

Guest starring John Krikorian as Paul Garrett and Mike Richards as Clingham.

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Gene-ology 1 - Defense Plant Gambling Sep 14, 2023

Gene-ology kicks off its deep dive into the early TV work of Gene Roddenberry with his first sold TV script, the "Defense Plant Gambling" episode of Mr. District Attorney from 1954.

Guest starring Mark Stablein as Macauley and Jonathan Woodward as Zaratt.

Gene-ology 0 - Gene-ology 101 Sep 07, 2023

The Mission Log family tree has a new branch, exploring the TV writing works of Gene Roddenberry starting with his earliest script sale. Rod Roddenberry drops in to discuss the coming deep dive into the archives, including scripts that were never produced. Buckle in and get ready for Gene-ology.

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