Gene Roddenberry: Pioneering TV Writer Producer of Star Trek

Gene Roddenberry, the visionary behind Star Trek, had a profound impact on the television landscape, particularly with his creation of the original Star Trek series. His contributions extended beyond just writing the pilot; he was deeply involved in the supervising, producing, and directing of numerous episodes, even though he did not step behind the camera personally.

Writing the Original Pilot

One of Roddenberry's most significant contributions to television history was writing the pilot episode of the original Star Trek. This event marked the beginning of a groundbreaking series that would go on to revolutionize not just science fiction, but popular culture as a whole. The pilot, titled The Cage, featured a different captain, Christopher Pike, portrayed by Jeffrey Hunter, which was later adapted into the famous two-part episode, The Menagerie.

Other Writing and Producing Roles

Beyond the pilot, Roddenberry was heavily involved in the production of numerous episodes of the original series. He wrote or had significant input in several episodes, including:

The Omega Glory: This episode, while intricate in concept, posed a challenge for fans to accept the alternate history setup. The Menagerie: A critically acclaimed two-part episode that cleverly incorporated scenes from the pilot into the main storyline. The Cage: The first episode of the series, which featured an earlier version of Captain Kirk. Bread and Circuses: Another episode where Roddenberry took the lead in writing and production.

His role as the producer of these episodes was crucial in ensuring high standards of quality and consistency in the show.

A Diverse Career Background

Roddenberry's journey to television production was quite diverse and rich. Before diving into TV, he was a wartime hero who flew B-17 bombers during World War II. He received the Distinguished Flying Cross for his bravery during 89 bombing missions. His operational aircraft, "Yankee Doodle," was involved in several crashes, with the plane receiving little remaining after its fatal crash.

Transition to Writing

After the war, Roddenberry sought employment as a plane crash investigator. Concurrently, he wrote stories for flying magazines. An irony of his experiences, given his multiple crashes, was his 1945 article entitled “War Made Flying Safe”, published in Flying Aces.

Soon after, he moved to Los Angeles, driven by his vision for the emerging television industry. Despite the challenges of finding writing jobs in the infancy of TV, Roddenberry took on a role as a Los Angeles police officer. Even in this capacity, he continued to write scripts and familiarize himself with the television industry. By the time he won his first Writers Guild Award in 1957 for his episode of Have Gun Will Travel, he had transitioned fully to a career in television writing and producing.

Credits and Controversies

The extent of Roddenberry's writing credits can be somewhat controversial. He is credited with producing the original pilot of Star Trek, as well as writing for several pivotal episodes. However, his involvement in the writing process of other episodes is more complex. He took credit for some episodes, such as The Menagerie, but also contributed to other series like TNG with less direct involvement.

Financially, Roddenberry was accused of taking credit and profit-sharing without due consent. For instance, the inclusion of a clause in Alexander Courage's contract for the TOS theme music allowed Roddenberry to write lyrics, which he did without the composer's knowledge.

The legacy of Gene Roddenberry in television production is indelible. His work on Star Trek set a new standard for storytelling, character development, and visionary thinking that continues to influence the genre to this day.