The Trek Files: A Roddenberry Star Trek Podcast

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3-22 Shel Dorf letter to Gene Roddenberry - Comic Con 1973 Jul 16, 2019

Show notes

San Diego Comic Con organizer Shel Dorf sent Gene Roddenberry the 1973 program book along with an invitation to appear at the next event he'd host, King Kon. On this, the 50th anniversary of SDCC, The Trek Files is proud to welcome someone who was there from the beginning: the original Comic Con Star Trek liaison, Jean Graham.

See the original document: Shel Dorf letter to Gene Roddenberry - Comic Con 1973

The Trek Files Season 3 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 conversation continues on Discord with live chats and the Roddenberry Podcasts community! Join today!

3-21 Michael Piller TNG sex memo - February 1991 Jul 09, 2019

Show notes

Concerned about encroaching sexual content on Star Trek: The Next Generation, Rick Berman instructed Michael Piller to send out a memo to the writers with guidelines on what was acceptable and what was not. Were the Trois going too far? Was it Picard's relationships? "Dr. Trek" Larry Nemecek and John Champion pick apart TNG's "sex policy."

See the original document: Michael Piller TNG sex memo - February 1991

The Trek Files Season 3 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 conversation continues on Discord with live chats and the Roddenberry Podcasts community! Join today!

3-20 Dorothy Fontana notes One of Our Planets is Missing - 1973 Jul 02, 2019

Show notes

With Dorothy Fontana working as Associate Producer on Star Trek The Animated Series, she was in the in-house Trek expert when it came to story, continuity and detail. In this letter to Gene Roddenberry, she spells out some of them items that need correction in "One of Our Planets is Missing" and further notes the difficulty of catching problems early with the Filmation workflow. Special guest Dorothy Fontana joins The Trek Files this week to discuss her work on TAS!

See the original document: Dorothy Fontana notes One of Our Planets is Missing - 1973

The Trek Files Season 3 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 conversation continues on Discord with live chats and the Roddenberry Podcasts community! Join today!

3-19 Gene Roddenberry to Dick Sylbert - November 1975 Jun 25, 2019

Show notes

Who was Paramount executive Dick Sylbert, and why was Gene Roddenberry anxious to set the tone of their partnership? This week, a fascinating letter from the development of "The God Thing" in which Gene sets the record straight about what made Trek successful and who's really running the show.

See the original document: Gene Roddenberry to Dick Sylbert - November 1975

The Trek Files Season 3 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 conversation continues on Discord with live chats and the Roddenberry Podcasts community! Join today!

3-18 Further notes on the Ferengi - June 22, 1987 Jun 18, 2019

Show notes

Before The Next Generation had premiered, the Star Trek production office was outlining the traits of TNG's chief adversary: the Ferengi. In a memo from Jun 1987, Dorothy Fontana outlines to Gene Roddenberry how some of those storylines might play out and what the Ferengi hierarchy may look like. Here to discuss the memo on this week's show, Dorothy Fontana herself!

See the original document: Further notes on the Ferengi - June 22, 1987

The Trek Files Season 3 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 conversation continues on Discord with live chats and the Roddenberry Podcasts community! Join today!

3-17 Code of Honor first draft script notes - April 30, 1987 Jun 11, 2019

Show notes

Before TNG's premiere, Herb Wright sends a memo in praise of the first draft script of "Code of Honor" to Gene Roddenberry. Here to discuss the pressure cooker of production schedules and just how "bad" episodes get made, Paramount exec Dave Rossi sits in with Larry on this week's Trek Files.

See the original document: Code of Honor first draft script notes - April 30, 1987

The Trek Files Season 3 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 conversation continues on Discord with live chats and the Roddenberry Podcasts community! Join today!

3-16 Convention Profits Letter to Gene Roddenberry - 1972 Jun 04, 2019

Show notes

From the very first Star Trek convention in 1972, the prospect of commercial exploitation rubbed some fans the wrong way. In an exchange between Gene Roddenberry and one fan, Cole Whiteman, the economic realities take center stage.

See the original document: Convention Profits Letter to Gene Roddenberry - 1972

The Trek Files Season 3 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 conversation continues on Discord with live chats and the Roddenberry Podcasts community! Join today!

3-15 A Hole in the Universe - NBC Standards - 1973 May 28, 2019

Show notes

If Star Trek had its battles with NBC standards over content in a prime-time show, it stands to reason there would be just as much concern over a Saturday-morning cartoon. This week, a look at Standards comments on an episode that was never produced along with social guest and TAS insider Fred Bronson.

See the original document: A Hole in the Universe - NBC Standards - 1973

The Trek Files Season 3 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 conversation continues on Discord with live chats and the Roddenberry Podcasts community! Join today!

3-14 Sam Peeples notes on The Cage - April 1965 May 21, 2019

Show notes

After NBC rejected Star Trek's first pilot "The Cage," Gene Roddenberry reached out to his friend (and later Trek contributor) Sam Peeples for notes that could possibly salvage the show. Sam offers up his ideas, and we have a TOS insider and friend of both, Dorothy Fontana, this week to discuss Peeples and Trek's early years.

See the original document: Sam Peeples notes on The Cage - April 1965

The Trek Files Season 3 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 conversation continues on Discord with live chats and the Roddenberry Podcasts community! Join today!

3-13 STAB Paramount letter - July 1973 May 14, 2019

Show notes

In the 1970s, Star Trek fans anxiously awaited news about the return of Trek, whether as a feature film or a revived series. Some fans even called for a boycott of Paramount until such time that an announcement was made. What did Gene Roddenberry make of this? Find out on this week's Trek Files.

See the original document: STAB Paramount letter - July 1973

The Trek Files Season 3 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 conversation continues on Discord with live chats and the Roddenberry Podcasts community! Join today!

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