Thanks to everyone who has commented, letting me know that Isis' human form was portrayed by April Tatro. trekmovie.com/2019/03/12/star-trek-mystery-solved-isis-actress-from-assignment-earth-identified/ (This information only came to light after this video was published.)
@@copasetic87 April Tatro did not deny it; she has discussed it publicly, and it is definitively known that she is the woman in the episode. Her scene was filmed on January 5, 1968. Victoria Vetri was the actress long-thought by fans to have played the role, but she denied having done it...that' probably what you're thinking of.
While working as an electronics repair technician for Harman/Kardon back in 1975, I had the privilege and honor of meeting Robert Lansing in person. He walked into our repair department carrying his own H/K receiver for service. A nicer, genuine and friendlier person you would probably never meet. He took the time to talk with me and a few other employees about his life and career and about this Star Trek episode, Assignment Earth. While you hear how many actors are full of themselves and wouldn't give you the time of day, Robert Lansing made that meeting very special for me. R.I.P. Robert Lansing and Gary Seven!
Good to know that he was a nice guy. He never should have been replaced in 12 O'Clock High. He had the maturity and screen presence to lead that squad and the TV show. He passed away too early at age 66.
@@kronos5385 I thought he was great in 12 O'clock high as well as the movies and many of the other guest appearances he made on various TV shows. They don't make them like that anymore.
@@thereallightwarrior906 You're very welcome. I felt compelled to write about how positive the meeting of Robert Lansing was since I didn't have as good an experience with another major celebrity who became more popular in France than in America ( I won't mention any names but he teamed up with another celebrity for a while in movies and TV).
I grew up in the 1960's and that included watching the original series. This was one of my favorite episodes and I remember it very well. It would have made a wonderful spin-off show and we will never know how great it would have been. NBC never understood what it had in Star Trek and made a huge mistake in cancelling it after only 3 seasons. No other television show has ever had the impact on popular culture than Star Trek!
Unfortunately the 3rd season of Star Trek wasn't very good. Also, it trailed to the bottom in the Neilson ratings during the last year. One problem it had was its time slot. Friday and Saturday nights are not good for shows that are popular with young people
Desliu studios did NOT understand what it had. Desilu owned the star trek episodes after they were aired on the NBC schedule and could have made more episodes and sold them into syndication, but Desilu simply sold the three seasons to Paramount!
It's not that NBC, like FOX would be guilty of later, didn't know what they had; they just didn't care. If it wasn't a sitcom, soap, or drama: cop, lawyer, or doctor --- it was a waste of air time for them.
That episode, now that you mention it, had a certain gravitos that rose above most of the other, admittedly often deep, first series episodes. Too bad Garr hated her role. I thought she was a pretty kewl everywoman, and of course, gorgeous. She hated Trekkies, too - when many would go on to be pioneers in tech companies and private enterprise space industry. I'd guess the powers that be didn't want something so profound about modern politics on the air.
Garr apparently had such a bad experience making the episode that she has repeatedly refused to talk about it. She has said she was glad it didn't get picked up. She once agreed to be interviews by a reporter from Starlog Magazine, and once she found out what they were asking, refused to say anything. Just guessing, but I would speculate it might have involved Shanter harrassing her....
@@davidmarkham1837 he harassed her too? Didn't Shatner know she wasn't an alien? ...And here I thought he was only into *Alien womanizing* Perhaps she was so hot that he made an exception for a mere human 😅
I've always thought that "Assignment: Earth" should have been a series. The leads were perfectly cast and had great chemistry together. I think none of the networks picking up the series was a missed golden opportunity. Maybe when someone figures out time travel, somebody can go back and change history to give the series a chance. :)
@@rafijaxsen7227 Or there is time travel in the future, and giving "Assignment: Earth" a chance won't be something anybody involved with time travel wants to do.
I was fully expecting Gary, Roberta, and his "cat" Isis to be having thier own series and was actually suprised it never happened. What a waste of a great idea.
@@edwardpate6128 They could have gotten someone else. There have always been thousands of attractive young actresses looking for a chance to be in a movie or TV show. Series often differ considerably from the pilot episodes from which they're drawn. Sometimes even running series have replaced stars (Dick Sargent replaced Dick York as Darren on Bewitched) or been rewritten with another character (Paul Burke as Col. Gallagher replaced Robert Lansing as Gen. Savage in 12 O'clock High, which changed the whole dynamic of the show). I very much wanted to see Assignment:Earth as a series, and expected to see it, too. Perhaps I'd have been disappointed at the show had it run without Terri Garr, but I'd still have liked to have seen it. By the way, IMDB says the human form of Isis was played by April Tatro.
There was a very bad sci fi show produced in the 90's I think called Hard Time on Planet Earth that I deeply suspected was a reworking of the Assignment Earth concept. What made it so bad was the lead character was played as a complete moron. Sort of a fish out of water type character rather than an intelligent and sophisticated alien secret agent. He did have an annoying computer assistant I think but it was pretty stupid.
@@CAMacKenzie Goldie Hawn would have been more than able to fill Garr's shoes. And she was already being featured in "Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In" which was just starting that year.
The episode with Gary seven, was one of my favorites and still is to this day. I think it was one of the best shows that was written and produced. It had more potential and could have made a really solid hit if it were produced. It could be done today .The concept of past present and future being dynamic and fluid and happening simultaneously is an interesting concept. Thank you so much for this video . I look forward for more.
Agreed! I think this is one of the best ST episodes produced. For more (non-Trek) Past/Present/Future melding, read To Sail Beyond the Sunset, by Heinlein. Some VERY intriguing possibilities...
I agree with "It could be done today" but not back then. Star Trek is it's own industry today. Then, Roddenbury had to cook up a youth letter writing campaign to keep it on the air for a third season. It took the Boomer generation coming of age (into a merchandise-buying demographic) to re-ignite the ST franchise - and launch Star Wars - in the mid-70's.
Even as a kid, seeing these before I learned about reruns, I was SURE these guys would show up again, based on the epilogue. It would be worth watching just the "Gary and Isis Show". I wonder if their interactions are a racial subconscious thing or if that formed the basis for how I talk to cats, 'cause they seem very similar.
Unfortunately, I'd hate to see anything made today. It would be hamstrung by political correctness, and all the daring concepts which could be explored freely in the 60s would be untouchable.
This would have been a great Star Trek spin-off. At least the equivalent of Mission Impossible. Shame it did not get launched. Terri Garr was such a cutie.
Apparently Terri was glad to get it over. Then you consider it would probably take a lot to upset carefree cutie Terri...always a happy addition to any cast.
Everybody who's saying oh, wow, what a cutie, has probably never had to deal with her. A friend of mine tried to interview her for Starlog about Mom and Dad Save the World, but found her to be extraordinarily difficult. She walked out of the interview saying the film was science fiction and so all the science fiction fans would come anyway. They didn't. Budget of $14 million. Worldwide gross of $2 million.
This had a lot of potential. Kind of a mix of James Bond and Dr Who. A sci-fi secret agent. If it was done now, (not by CBS) it could still be an awesome show.
I agree, but I would say more Star Trek meets James Bond. I also agree quite emphatically, *not CBS*, although I think most fans would prefer a more traditional, ship-based series to start with, say, a (properly done) Pike, No 1 and Spock prequel for 1 season, then start Assignment Earth the following year, but closer to our time. A post-Voyager series might also be the best option to begin with though.
@@emsleywyatt3400 That would have been more '90s as Lisa didn't get into acting until '89. Something along side DS9 maybe? Definitely crossover possibilities there. Now that I think of it, having a feel like Next Gen with a touch of DS9 would have been a good update.
It couldn't be done properly right now. Like it or hate it entertainment is solely identity politics driven at this point, therefore divisive. It would be a disaster. Just like Discovery
And now Gary Seven is mentioned, and another person like himself is in the New Picard series 2nd season, episode 5. They even had a similar teleport effect as used in the original series.
DON PENNY ( SCHNEIDER ) = Mr. Gary Seven Rock born in 1933 was very good actor best I know him from the first season of the show 12 O´ CLOCK HIGH ( the show not the movie with Gregory Peck in the same role ) worth watching. You can see complete episodes on RUclips.
Boy, I'll have to tell you, I'm not a trekie but this upload got my attention. "Assignment Earth" has always been my favorite episode of Star Trek. As kid in the 60's, I saw every episode numerous times and always loved this. I was always a fan of Teri Garr as well as Robert Lansing. Loved the guy on "12O'Clock High". thanks for showing this and explaining. I wish it had become a TV show too.
The network barely accepted Star Trek, after two pilots; and even then the censors crushed every hint adult situations that might occur. It's no wonder they didn't have the imagination to pick up this series.....
IBM Shoebox voice typewriter was developed in 1961 and could understand by "ear" numbers 0 - 9 and sixteen words. Huge progress was made in the early 70's courtesy of Darpa. So, GR may have been aware of Shoebox and other treatments of similar advances as used in novels and etc. He showed a great ability to take these things and extrapolate what they could mean for society.
@@davidburroughs2244 My hunch is that Gene was involved with the same deal as Kubrik with 2001: A S O. NASA was still in its infancy but was gaining support in Congress. Kubrik got funding from Uncle Sam to excite Americans (and other Earthlings) about the prospects of space exploration. Kubrik then pitched this same notion to heads of corporations he thought would, and did, help finance 2001 for the prospects they could have a piece of the action once we had a moon based and a need for PanAm to fly us there and Howard Johnsons to host us.
And now, in 2022, Gary Seven and the entire concept of an alien-led supervision of Earth's timeline continues in Star Trek Picard, season 2. Fascinating.
I watched when it first aired, and at the time I could tell they were setting things up for a series or maybe later episodes with the characters returning.
Huh. I was going to say the same thing. I would have loved to have seen this show. I've read the comic book and I thought it was very good. I did like Seven trying to tell Ms. Lincoln how the Enterprise could be be back again, but this Enterprise was from an earlier time; "time travel is like that, Ms. Lincoln." I wonder if Rodenberry had any ideas for episodes back then.
I had gotten involved with a fan film group about 5 years or so ago and the producer had decided he wanted to do an Assignment: Earth show similar to New Voyages. I was tasked with writing the pilot. It began with the final scene from Assignment: Earth and went on to show Gary Seven having been recognized as a presence in 1960's Earth that was unexpected and unwanted by certain factions. Throughout the episode, he was hunted down by a mysterious figure who seemingly failed in his mission to take Seven out. At the end of the episode, the figure goes to his leader to express his condolences over not accomplishing the mission. The leader retrieves a knife and in front of the group of his followers in attendance, he slices the figure's throat. As the body is being carried from his office, the leader, who's face is never seen until the final moment of the episode, goes to a window toward the back of his office and opens heavy curtains to look down into a gigantic warehouse where a DY-100 is being built. That's when he says, "Nobody fails Khan Noonien Singh." Then CBS put their stipulations on what fan films can do because of Axanar and it killed our project. I really think it would have been pretty damn good though.
Season 2 was really TOS's best season. "The Doomsday Machine", The Immunity Syndrome", "The Guardian of Forever", "Space Seed" and "Assignment Earth", all just well written standout classics that do hold up well today as well.
I saw this show back in the 60s. At the time I was 6 or 7 and I didn't know what it was. But when I saw it here on you tube I recognized it and it was so excellent to see it again! I love the 60s background and style. It would have been a great show. It probably would have enhanced the story of the regular Star Trek.
Wikipedia says this about the Isis the Cat casting The uncredited human form of Isis was portrayed by actress, dancer, and contortionist April Tatro. Her identity was unknown until 2019, when The Trek Files podcast cited a production call sheet for extras dated 5 January 1968, and host Larry Nemecek interviewed her for confirmation.[8] Previously in fan circles, it had been speculated that the briefly seen human form of the cat Isis was portrayed by actress Victoria Vetri, and this has been repeated so often that many articles and websites treat it as fact. However, Vetri herself confirmed that she was not in the episode
For any fans of Robert Lansing (Gary Seven)... He was one of the main supporting characters in the original 1980's 'The Equalizer' series with Edward Woodward. Lansing played a CIA upper manager and Robert's friend known only as "Control." He was in 29 episodes.
He was also in Kung Fu the Legend Continues. Lansing's final acting performance. It aired on November 28, 1994, a month after the actor died, and was dedicated to his memory.
Terri Gar: hits the typewriter that is typing everything she says and hollers "stop it stop it stop it!" Me over 50 years later talking to a smartphone: "Hey Google, text my brother..." 🤣
I was very smug when I managed to disable Google’s speech to text. Until my phone started saying “Google assistant has been disabled. For further information, consult the account administrator.” every time it hears me say the word Google in whatever context!
Perhaps my favorite ST-TOS, I wish that it would have led to an actual series. I always liked Robert Lansing, especially his time on the Twelve O'clock High TV series (even better than the movie on which it was based).
I think this was one of the first pieces of fiction that made me a fan of Time travel science fiction. Even now, it's a good episode. It aged well, which we just can't say about ALL the TOS episodes. I just watched it the other day and it still translates!
Excellent article, thank you. I'm 61 and a life long fan of Star Trek. This was a very informative article pulling together details that, while I was aware of most, had not reconciled and understood how important the episode was. I, too, would have loved to have seen the spin off but alas, money decisions beat us. Too bad. It would have been fabulous.
I had no idea Roddenberry originally conceived this as its own series. It makes sense though. The guest characters do far more than support the story line, and it does seem clear that we are meant to get to know them. It really is a pilot disguised as an episode.
My uncle says that when he was in college, it was going around that Roddenberry thought Star Trek was going to be cancelled because it was so expensive to produce. Roddenberry wanted to continue a science fiction series in which he could present his ideas of universal brotherhood, so he designed this series to be minimal in the science fiction tropes: no funny costumes, few if any special effects, no outlandish aliiens (if any), and so on. True or not, my uncle doesn't know. But that was the rumor going around then, and that was fifty years ago.
Also the three comic episodes: "I, Mudd", "The Trouble With Tribbles", and "A Piece of the Action". However, "Space Seed" and "The City on the Edge of Forever" were first-season episodes.
@@LoesserOf2Evils We have Lucille Ball to thank. There were problems in the beginning and it was going to be totally cancelled. She helped with money and the production. If you see at the end of every original Star Trek episode it says DesiLu Productions.
I’ve been a fan all my life and never knew about this! I think it would’ve made an interesting series, and the lead actors seemed perfect choices. Thanks for sharing!
a wonderful video. I got to watch the original "The Cage" on the original film with Gene in the late 80's. A memory I will never forget. As well after the showing we sat down and had dinner and had a wonderful conversation, a true highlight of my Star Trek younger days.
I remember seeing that episode on Tv in 68? It was Brilliant, I had no idea it was designed to be a spin off. Gene Roddenberry was a Genius. 7 and his Cat!!!! Brilliant!!!
@@jimmyramone5714 No, the correct terminology is another universe. the multiverse is the collection of *all* the universes in existence. To say it airs in the multiverse would mean it airs in all the universes of the multiverse. The only possible mistake would be the term alternate but it would indeed be an alternate universe (for us). For the people in that universe it would just be "the universe".
an actor's career is so varied. Up, down, gone, replaced, etc. Usually, actors say when they leave a "job", even successful ones, they worry if the next one is coming.
I always thought Gary Seven would of made a return in TNG. Shame it never happened as the Doctor Who feel of the character would of worked well. Nice sonic screwdriver too.
Wow, thanks for this. Yesterday is Tomorrow was great and everything you say about it makes sense to me and rings true according to my recollection of the episode.
I would have loved to see it made into a series! A lot of great potential that TV producers failed to follow up on. Robert Lansing and Teri Garr were a great match.
@@Maples01 "According to a story Lance Parkin, the author of The Impossible Has Happened: The Life and Work of Gene Roddenberry, wrote, Teri Garr ended up walking off the set off Star Trek when Gene Roddenberry wanted her skirt to be even shorter than it already was. If you’ve seen the episode, you know there wasn’t a whole lot more material that could have been removed to shorten it even more." I also heard Roddenberry, a notorious womanizer, kept hitting on her.
@@academyofshem Outfits were always scandalous, watch Cleopatra if you think that was new, Elizabeth Taylor was near nude, there was no rating system then either. He was married yet having sex with Nichelle
My favorite part of this video is when Gary Seven is attempting to escape the Enterprise and Kirk grabs a phaser, instead of telling him to stop or anything he just blasts him. It was just so KIRK.
Apart from City on the Edge of Forever, Assignment Earth is my favourite episode and I would have loved to see the series. I think it would have been iconic in the same way that The Invaders and Star Trek OS is iconic.
City on the edge of forever is supreme. Joan Collins never looked better, Spock was superb , McCoy was particularly fantastic. The unlimited possibilities of space and time travel had been completely opened up to them and all that Kirk could say after his loss was “ let’s get the hell out of here”
Comic book great John Byrne wrote and drew a number of Star Trek comic books, and since he wasn't comfortable with his ability to draw the classic TOS cast members (ironic, since he's an amazing artist), he mostly worked with different settings in the TOS world, including a series about the Romulans. Another setting he wrote stories for was "Assignment: Earth", and gave us several stories about Gary Seven and Roberta. It's a chance to see what the TV show might have been. Oops, I spoke to soon. The video mentions this.
Not really. The genre (which was considered niche) was playing itself out by this time. Lost in Space, Batman, and The Invaders were cancelled in 1968. The Time Tunnel the year before. Trek itself was seriously threatened with ending each season. The networks had reason to be careful about which genre shows to greenlight.
@@PantherBlitz Agree. And Star Trek didn’t become the phenomenon we now know today until it went into syndication. In 1968, it even needed a letter writing campaign to get a third season.
This was before demographics came into play in selling advertising. Sure, you may have a half of all viewers watching your show, but how did Madison Avenue perceive them as target markets. Lawrence Welk had a great viewership during it's run, but who were the viewers? My grandmother and those of HER generation. Couldn't sell Dippety-Doo to retirees, so they stuck with Geritol. The people watching it were the major consumers of the day: America's youth market. Not just teens in high school, but college students watching in their dorms. Young, educated people: the dream demographic of the advertising agencies. Assignment Earth would have been the perfect addition to a current TV schedule. CBS wouldn't have carried it, but ABC likely would have. NBC never liked the idea of cerebral television.
I think "The Questor Tapes" was a reworking of the same concept. A character whose job it was to watch over the human race's development and help keep it from self destructing before maturing ... but the character being damaged in a way that a companion was needed to help complete the task.
OMG, another fan of Questor Tapes, great movie .( with BJ from MASH as I recall), If you like that one you might enjoy Colossus: The Forbin Project - 1970'ish. Very risqué scene with win glass, a real hoot on when computers were just begining. I've got both on DVD - what a small world.
Yes, apparently that's quite true. Just as the year 2000 TV show GENE RODDENBERRY'S ANDROMEDA represented a reworking of the 1973/1974 GENESIS II pilots. Fortunately ANDROMEDA was made, and turned out to be a fun TV show (except for the Magog). Alas, ASSIGNMENT: EARTH/QUESTOR TAPES never got remade. It would be neat if some studio/network picked it up and made it today. Still a great concept with fun characters.
I have the pilot on DVD and it does bear some rough plot similarities such as an advanced being trying to help Earth through its technological adolescence. It was rejected because ABC already had a "robotic" show on the schedule which became "The Six Million Dollar Man".
Assignment: Earth as a series probably woulda been awesome. Gary Seven the stoic human agent from outer space, Roberta Lincoln the local who knows the terrain, the snarky Beta-5 computer, and the shapeshifting cat/woman Isis who may or may not be from the same race of aliens backing Gary Seven. All working to secretly keep Earth from destroying itself. I wonder if the 2 agents Gary Seven was supposed to meet up with really died in an accident, or if they were murdered and it was made to look like an accident...
All cats on Earth are aliens from that planet keeping an eye on us? Series ends when Lazarus, jealous of Seven's relationship with Roberta, sends him a Medusan in a carrier. When he sees what's in the box, he goes insane and causes Lazarus to make contact with antimatter Lazarus and destroy both universes.
Thanks for posting this video. I watched it when it first came on television back in the sixties. The episode was very well done and I fully expected to see the new series at some later time. A couple of years later they cancelled the original series and any chance of a spin off. That is too bad since the acting and writing in the spin off was some of the best available on television during those days.
I remember seeing this episode when it came out, and I am 65 years old now and enjoy everything about the way this episode was written. And it was a stroke of genius having me sarcastic back talking female computer voice getting sassy with him. I think me and most guys have been in love with Teri Garr our entire lives. Another equally well done episode which when they went back in time to the same. Basically and they were picked up on radar. The Air Force scrambled and interceptor and it got caught up in their energy field and was breaking up and they had to beam the pilot on board to save his life. And then convince the officer to help them with stopping the crisis they had came back for. Flawless episode! 👍🏻
I'm 64 and waited impatiently for the Assignment Earth series. Teri Garr was a special presence that could not have been easily replaced, but Roddenberry could have been if his skirt shortening was her issue with returning, But the casting of Robert Lansing is what sold me on the pilot! He had a vibe like Michael Rennie, from The Day The Earth Stood Still, both stoic and blandly compassionate. His unaffected performance was also Spock-like without being completely alien. The only other pilot that I wish had been made into a series was The Questor Tapes, which featured the prototype for Data in The Next Generation.
When I had initially seen this episode of Star Trek (1968), I was excited when I heard of a sign-off featuring Robert Lansing, whom I had enjoyed his portrayal of General Savage on "12 0'Clock High". Yet, waiting for Paramount's confirmation of this series, which never came through, disappointed not only Gene Roddenberry but other friends in high school who had seen it.
I do believe the episode would have made for a great spinoff. I always thought Mr. Seven looked like Steve McQueen. As for Miss Garr, she is my all time favorite actress. Cute, funny, and someone you could imagine being able to approach, as a man, in real life.
I loved that episode was definitely better than most, and it makes sense it was intended as a Spinoff because it seems a lot of love and thought went into the new characters,, much more than the typical episodic supporting cast.
I think that "Star Trek: Assignment Earth" would have been a great addition to the original StarTrek portfolio. I think I have also been envisioning a few cross-over episodes with both franchises appearing together. It would have been fun to see more interaction between Terri Garr's character and Isis in her human form.
Teri Garr has been one of my favorite actresses ever since this episode. I was about 7 years old. Assignment Earth! was one of those episodes that they didn't air very often.
Possibly my favourite Star Trek episode. It was definitely worth a spin off series. I was disappointed too, the two actors were great and their characters were very interesting. I first saw Terri Garr in Close Encounters Of The Third Kind and liked her ever since. For me, this could have turned out to be a better and more interesting series than Star Trek. Maybe it's still not too late, however, I can't imagine another two actors playing the roles, these two were perfect.
Oddly, Assignment Earth was the first Star Trek episode I saw. I lived in the middle of WY and my parents did not buy cable so I was limited to the one over the air channel (NBC then, I think). But one evening an announcement came on the TV stating that there were network difficulties and by agreement content would be temporarily switched to another network. Lo and behold, there was Gary Seven! I had been aching to see Star Trek. I had to wait until college before I was finally able to watch the reruns (which I did over and over). Thanks for adding more to something already special to me.
I also very mushed liked the Assignment Earth episode, it was just on as a TV rerun a couple of weeks ago in my area. I never knew that it was being floated as a spinoff. I think it might have been a success. Robert Lansing played another caricature on an earlier TV show that was and is still my favorite shows "Twelve O'clock High". Lansing played General Savage in the first season, 1964. One thing I will state, TV was far better back in the 60's through the 80's then it is today.
I'm surprised this didn't take off. Considering the success of the Matt Helm Series (Dean Martin) and the Flynt Series (James Coburn) and, of course, James Bond. All of these had elements of futuristic sci fi (tricky new gadgets, robots, etc.). It is a shame that it didn't get a chance. I really liked the actor and character of Gary 7.
Roddenberry was said to be combative and obnoxious whether he got his way or not. Many reports describe him as highly unlikable. Maybe that’s the reason why the spinoff never flew.
@@Flap999 Gene knew better. He really knew better than the network brass. It is frustrating to know you are right and have mediocre minds hold the power to shoot you down.
Same way with A Man From UNCLE with Robert Vaughn and David McCallum in 1950s early 1960s lots of gadgets much like James Bond before James Bond became a popular movie series.
No one can hold a cat like Gary Seven! One of my all-time favorite episodes. Teri Garr was adorable, and that typewriter which took his and Garr's dictation was not a prop trick. It actually was a new working model available for sale at the time - but never took off commercially because of the high cost. It was really typing what they spoke. I always wished Assignment Earth had become a spin off series.
@@ScottyColoradoKid The Edison Responsive Environment Learning System, or the Talking Typewriter Developed by Thomas A. Edison Laboratory, a Subsidiary of McGraw Edison Company.
The "Talking Typewriter" is a computerized electric typewriter with visual and audio capabilities. It was designed to create an environment where learning to read would be a successful, enjoyable experience for the student by allowing him to explore, discover relationships, to progress at his own speed, and to receive feedback. This report describes the "Talking Typewriter" and discusses its characteristics; the rationale behind its development; the hardware, software, lessons, and other materials to be used with it; and procedures for its use. Key personnel, sources and evolutions of ideas, and funding for the project are briefly discussed in a section on origins, and the procedures used in developing the hardware and software of the "Talking Typewriter" are described. Information about formative and summative evaluations is provided, and the extent of diffusion and adoption of this innovation are also described. Speculations about the future of the product are offered, and a list of the crucial decisions made during the development of the product concludes the report. (SH)
I don't normally go for time travel but Assignment Earth is one of my favourites and I've often thought this would have been a great spin off. Thanks so much for letting me know it very nearly was!
My fave time travel was, Planet of the Apes, Time after Time, and of course the Time Machine. Hot Tub Time Machine was pretty good too...especially when they went to the slopes and the dude asked what color Michael Jackson was.
As I recall, I missed the original airing of the episode and saw it first during a 're-run'. Loved it as a boy of single-digit years and it is still among my favorite episodes as I step into retirement. Loved the Roddenberry humor and optimism woven into the script and as you said, it had extremely likeable characters with chemistry.
@@matambale "cat lady" has always meant one of the same two things. A sexy young woman, slinky, feline, graceful, playful, maybe dangerous, probably wearing a catsuit. Or a crazy old woman who owns far too many cats.
BTW, the voice of this computer in this show was Barbara Babcock, who was in 6 different shows on the the original series (TOS). Some she was only a voice but she also showed up as actor in others. She's still with us as of this writing.
It was an awesome episode, the innocence of the secretary and his counterpart who was morphed into a cat. A whole bunch of mischief to be had in future episodes. It would have made a great series!
I was unaware that any such series was ever contemplated. Heck, back in the 1960s, in our small town, we only got one network and I had to wait until university to ever see a Star Trek re-run episode. It quickly became a favorite and I had to watch every show, then every spin-off's show and every movie. The Gary-7 episode is one of my very favorite ones and remains so today. Assignment Earth would likely have been a hit. After all, My Favorite Martian took a similar tack - an alien in modern Earth society. I can only fantasize about how a show with Robert Lansing, then a big name star, Teri Garr, and April Taro would have been.
Notice that when Isis transforms to her human form, only Roberta sees her this way, but not Kirk and Spock. That means Isis is not exactly a shapeshifter. I'm sure Kirk would have noticed that woman!
Maybe Isis simply projects an hallucination. The reason why only Roberta sees Isis in human form is that she's the only one who happens to be looking in Isis' direction when Isis projects, so to speak. Roberta looks away, goes over to Mr. Seven, and asks who Isis the person is. Now having everyone's attention, everyone else looks over. Isis stops projecting the hallucination during the interval.
Funny you should mention that. William Shatner did actually ask the actress, April Tatro, out to lunch. (Google "‘Star Trek’ Mystery Solved - Isis Actress From “Assignment: Earth” Identified".)
I might also add I understand that both Lansing and Garr were excited and totally willing to commit to the series long term. Just another brilliant, ahead of its time Roddenberry series flushed into oblivion by short sighted TV executives. If he were alive today, he'd have plenty of indepentent help to realize his visions.
There was an article about this in 2019. 50 year old Isis cat lady mystery solved. April was a contortionist by trade and an actress second, and she was great as both!
I haven’t watched this video but suddenly the whole thing clicked! That’s why that episode seems so weird (yet great), with two sets of characters, really.
I had heard "Assignment: Earth" was intended to serve as a pilot episode for a new series when I saw it as a teenager originally broadcast in the 60's. I think my mother read it in an article in TV Guide magazine.
I think the people who paid attention to this episode would have liked to have seen that happen. I agree with your analysis about this episode. I have believed that for many years and imagine what it would be like to see it through.
Thanks to everyone who has commented, letting me know that Isis' human form was portrayed by April Tatro.
trekmovie.com/2019/03/12/star-trek-mystery-solved-isis-actress-from-assignment-earth-identified/
(This information only came to light after this video was published.)
Remember when youtube wasn't obnoxiously innundated with excessive commercials ?!?
Pepperidge Farm Remembers !
Then what's the point of her denying it? Is it related to the same reason(s) Teri Garr never wanted to talk about Star Trek ever again? 😕
@@copasetic87 April Tatro did not deny it; she has discussed it publicly, and it is definitively known that she is the woman in the episode. Her scene was filmed on January 5, 1968. Victoria Vetri was the actress long-thought by fans to have played the role, but she denied having done it...that' probably what you're thinking of.
If it were made today, it would be a pointless woke bucket of garbage.
@@johnbrittingham4471
Unfortunately for all of us, Yes, that is correct.
While working as an electronics repair technician for Harman/Kardon back in 1975, I had the privilege and honor of meeting Robert Lansing in person. He walked into our repair department carrying his own H/K receiver for service. A nicer, genuine and friendlier person you would probably never meet. He took the time to talk with me and a few other employees about his life and career and about this Star Trek episode, Assignment Earth. While you hear how many actors are full of themselves and wouldn't give you the time of day, Robert Lansing made that meeting very special for me. R.I.P. Robert Lansing and Gary Seven!
I got to meet a number of star trek folks iam a hard core fann
Good to know that he was a nice guy. He never should have been replaced in 12 O'Clock High. He had the maturity and screen presence to lead that squad and the TV show. He passed away too early at age 66.
@@kronos5385 I thought he was great in 12 O'clock high as well as the movies and many of the other guest appearances he made on various TV shows. They don't make them like that anymore.
Thank you for sharing your story! Glad to hear it.
@@thereallightwarrior906 You're very welcome. I felt compelled to write about how positive the meeting of Robert Lansing was since I didn't have as good an experience with another major celebrity who became more popular in France than in America ( I won't mention any names but he teamed up with another celebrity for a while in movies and TV).
Yes, Assignment Earth would have made a worthy Star Trek Spinoff!
Someone could still make it! I'd frickin' watch if the writing was good.
I grew up in the 1960's and that included watching the original series. This was one of my favorite episodes and I remember it very well. It would have made a wonderful spin-off show and we will never know how great it would have been. NBC never understood what it had in Star Trek and made a huge mistake in cancelling it after only 3 seasons. No other television show has ever had the impact on popular culture than Star Trek!
Unfortunately the 3rd season of Star Trek wasn't very good. Also, it trailed to the bottom in the Neilson ratings during the last year. One problem it had was its time slot. Friday and Saturday nights are not good for shows that are popular with young people
Desliu studios did NOT understand what it had. Desilu owned the star trek episodes after they were aired on the NBC schedule and could have made more episodes and sold them into syndication, but Desilu simply sold the three seasons to Paramount!
@@grahammaui - Exactly! By the time they realized their mistake, it was too late. The rest is history.
It's not that NBC, like FOX would be guilty of later, didn't know what they had; they just didn't care. If it wasn't a sitcom, soap, or drama: cop, lawyer, or doctor --- it was a waste of air time for them.
That episode, now that you mention it, had a certain gravitos that rose above most of the other, admittedly often deep, first series episodes. Too bad Garr hated her role. I thought she was a pretty kewl everywoman, and of course, gorgeous. She hated Trekkies, too - when many would go on to be pioneers in tech companies and private enterprise space industry. I'd guess the powers that be didn't want something so profound about modern politics on the air.
I remember this episode...I would have loved it as a series..
I liked the assignment Earth episode. Teri Garr was the coolest chick back in the day
I always thought of myself as a pretty cool chick 🐣 LOL
Ridiculous legs
Her character was really attractive, in the full sense of the word. I think I kind of fell in love with her, although I was only 6.
Garr apparently had such a bad experience making the episode that she has repeatedly refused to talk about it. She has said she was glad it didn't get picked up. She once agreed to be interviews by a reporter from Starlog Magazine, and once she found out what they were asking, refused to say anything. Just guessing, but I would speculate it might have involved Shanter harrassing her....
@@davidmarkham1837 he harassed her too? Didn't Shatner know she wasn't an alien?
...And here I thought he was only into *Alien womanizing* Perhaps she was so hot that he made an exception for a mere human 😅
I've always thought that "Assignment: Earth" should have been a series. The leads were perfectly cast and had great chemistry together. I think none of the networks picking up the series was a missed golden opportunity. Maybe when someone figures out time travel, somebody can go back and change history to give the series a chance. :)
@Norm T I just looked up Time Tunnel. The actor James Darren
played Dr. Tony Newman. Vic Fontaine from DS9 ! "Crazy!"
Terri Garr was definitely not into it.
If time travel were ever to be possible, then the series would have been made and we would not be having this little chat right now.
@@rafijaxsen7227 Or there is time travel in the future, and giving "Assignment: Earth" a chance won't be something anybody involved with time travel wants to do.
One of many blunders over the years was NBC never picking this up, or extending TOS to at least a fourth season.
I was fully expecting Gary, Roberta, and his "cat" Isis to be having thier own series and was actually suprised it never happened. What a waste of a great idea.
Among other things Terri Garr wanted no part of it.
@@edwardpate6128 They could have gotten someone else. There have always been thousands of attractive young actresses looking for a chance to be in a movie or TV show. Series often differ considerably from the pilot episodes from which they're drawn. Sometimes even running series have replaced stars (Dick Sargent replaced Dick York as Darren on Bewitched) or been rewritten with another character (Paul Burke as Col. Gallagher replaced Robert Lansing as Gen. Savage in 12 O'clock High, which changed the whole dynamic of the show). I very much wanted to see Assignment:Earth as a series, and expected to see it, too. Perhaps I'd have been disappointed at the show had it run without Terri Garr, but I'd still have liked to have seen it. By the way, IMDB says the human form of Isis was played by April Tatro.
Agreed.
There was a very bad sci fi show produced in the 90's I think called Hard Time on Planet Earth that I deeply suspected was a reworking of the Assignment Earth concept.
What made it so bad was the lead character was played as a complete moron. Sort of a fish out of water type character rather than an intelligent and sophisticated alien secret agent. He did have an annoying computer assistant I think but it was pretty stupid.
@@CAMacKenzie Goldie Hawn would have been more than able to fill Garr's shoes. And she was already being featured in "Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In" which was just starting that year.
I love original star trek talk ,please bring more
Everything about Star Trek is GREAT. More please SMILE...
The episode with Gary seven, was one of my favorites and still is to this day. I think it was one of the best shows that was written and produced. It had more potential and could have made a really solid hit if it were produced. It could be done today .The concept of past present and future being dynamic and fluid and happening simultaneously is an interesting concept. Thank you so much for this video . I look forward for more.
Got to be the right combo tho,Robert Lansing a great underrated actor.
What combo can you Pic today to fit in with the SCI FI community?
Agreed! I think this is one of the best ST episodes produced. For more (non-Trek) Past/Present/Future melding, read To Sail Beyond the Sunset, by Heinlein. Some VERY intriguing possibilities...
I agree with "It could be done today" but not back then. Star Trek is it's own industry today. Then, Roddenbury had to cook up a youth letter writing campaign to keep it on the air for a third season. It took the Boomer generation coming of age (into a merchandise-buying demographic) to re-ignite the ST franchise - and launch Star Wars - in the mid-70's.
Even as a kid, seeing these before I learned about reruns, I was SURE these guys would show up again, based on the epilogue. It would be worth watching just the "Gary and Isis Show". I wonder if their interactions are a racial subconscious thing or if that formed the basis for how I talk to cats, 'cause they seem very similar.
Unfortunately, I'd hate to see anything made today. It would be hamstrung by political correctness, and all the daring concepts which could be explored freely in the 60s would be untouchable.
This would have been a great Star Trek spin-off. At least the equivalent of Mission Impossible. Shame it did not get launched. Terri Garr was such a cutie.
Yes she was! I had the teen age "hots" for her way back in the day.
Apparently Terri was glad to get it over. Then you consider it would probably take a lot to upset carefree cutie Terri...always a happy addition to any cast.
You got that right what a cutie
Terri was the CUTEST
Everybody who's saying oh, wow, what a cutie, has probably never had to deal with her. A friend of mine tried to interview her for Starlog about Mom and Dad Save the World, but found her to be extraordinarily difficult. She walked out of the interview saying the film was science fiction and so all the science fiction fans would come anyway. They didn't. Budget of $14 million. Worldwide gross of $2 million.
This had a lot of potential. Kind of a mix of James Bond and Dr Who. A sci-fi secret agent. If it was done now, (not by CBS) it could still be an awesome show.
I agree, but I would say more Star Trek meets James Bond. I also agree quite emphatically, *not CBS*, although I think most fans would prefer a more traditional, ship-based series to start with, say, a (properly done) Pike, No 1 and Spock prequel for 1 season, then start Assignment Earth the following year, but closer to our time. A post-Voyager series might also be the best option to begin with though.
It could have worked in the '80's with Robert Patrick and Lisa Kudrow.
@@emsleywyatt3400 That would have been more '90s as Lisa didn't get into acting until '89. Something along side DS9 maybe? Definitely crossover possibilities there. Now that I think of it, having a feel like Next Gen with a touch of DS9 would have been a good update.
Agreed. This series could work well.
It couldn't be done properly right now. Like it or hate it entertainment is solely identity politics driven at this point, therefore divisive. It would be a disaster. Just like Discovery
And now Gary Seven is mentioned, and another person like himself is in the New Picard series 2nd season, episode 5. They even had a similar teleport effect as used in the original series.
DON PENNY ( SCHNEIDER ) = Mr. Gary Seven Rock born in 1933 was very good actor best I know him from the first season of the show 12 O´ CLOCK HIGH ( the show not the movie with Gregory Peck in the same role ) worth watching. You can see complete episodes on RUclips.
Boy, I'll have to tell you, I'm not a trekie but this upload got my attention. "Assignment Earth" has always been my favorite episode of Star Trek. As kid in the 60's, I saw every episode numerous times and always loved this. I was always a fan of Teri Garr as well as Robert Lansing. Loved the guy on "12O'Clock High". thanks for showing this and explaining. I wish it had become a TV show too.
James Bond meets Trek meet Dr. Who. The possibilities are endless and I have no doubt it would have flourished.
Kirk meets the 4th Doctor Who.
I love your description, Would have been a fantastic show!
A very modern view on a potential (none existent) series of the past.
The network barely accepted Star Trek, after two pilots; and even then the censors crushed every hint adult situations that might occur. It's no wonder they didn't have the imagination to pick up this series.....
@@maskedmarvyl4774 - TV Programs designed by Committy is not IDEAL.
I saw this episode as a child. It was my absolute favorite, and definitely expected a spin off. Loved Teri Garr's character.
The voice activated typewriter is another astoundingly accurate prediction.
IBM Shoebox voice typewriter was developed in 1961 and could understand by "ear" numbers 0 - 9 and sixteen words. Huge progress was made in the early 70's courtesy of Darpa. So, GR may have been aware of Shoebox and other treatments of similar advances as used in novels and etc. He showed a great ability to take these things and extrapolate what they could mean for society.
@@davidburroughs2244 Oh, that's fascinating.
@@davidburroughs2244 This I did not know, thanks!
@@davidburroughs2244 My hunch is that Gene was involved with the same deal as Kubrik with 2001: A S O. NASA was still in its infancy but was gaining support in Congress. Kubrik got funding from Uncle Sam to excite Americans (and other Earthlings) about the prospects of space exploration. Kubrik then pitched this same notion to heads of corporations he thought would, and did, help finance 2001 for the prospects they could have a piece of the action once we had a moon based and a need for PanAm to fly us there and Howard Johnsons to host us.
In the video 4:14 it lists the flip phone with screen being used by a kid a year after I was born in 1973 XD
And now, in 2022, Gary Seven and the entire concept of an alien-led supervision of Earth's timeline continues in Star Trek Picard, season 2. Fascinating.
RIP Teri Garr (Dec 11, 1944-Oct 29 2024) you'll always be a young kid's first tv crush because of this episode
I watched when it first aired, and at the time I could tell they were setting things up for a series or maybe later episodes with the characters returning.
Huh. I was going to say the same thing. I would have loved to have seen this show.
I've read the comic book and I thought it was very good. I did like Seven trying to tell Ms. Lincoln how the Enterprise could be be back again, but this Enterprise was from an earlier time; "time travel is like that, Ms. Lincoln." I wonder if Rodenberry had any ideas for episodes back then.
I had gotten involved with a fan film group about 5 years or so ago and the producer had decided he wanted to do an Assignment: Earth show similar to New Voyages. I was tasked with writing the pilot. It began with the final scene from Assignment: Earth and went on to show Gary Seven having been recognized as a presence in 1960's Earth that was unexpected and unwanted by certain factions. Throughout the episode, he was hunted down by a mysterious figure who seemingly failed in his mission to take Seven out. At the end of the episode, the figure goes to his leader to express his condolences over not accomplishing the mission. The leader retrieves a knife and in front of the group of his followers in attendance, he slices the figure's throat. As the body is being carried from his office, the leader, who's face is never seen until the final moment of the episode, goes to a window toward the back of his office and opens heavy curtains to look down into a gigantic warehouse where a DY-100 is being built. That's when he says, "Nobody fails Khan Noonien Singh."
Then CBS put their stipulations on what fan films can do because of Axanar and it killed our project. I really think it would have been pretty damn good though.
I'm pretty sure that goes against Star Trek Lore ... *ducks*
@@happyman6102 hunh?
@@happyman6102 Quack! Nice pun.
Lovely, has that been released as fanfic anywhere?
@@niche0boven sadly, no
Season 2 was really TOS's best season. "The Doomsday Machine", The Immunity Syndrome", "The Guardian of Forever", "Space Seed" and "Assignment Earth", all just well written standout classics that do hold up well today as well.
The Doomsday machine is my favorite episode from season 2 and my second favorite episode. My favorite episode is Arena from season 1
The Guardian of Forever is actually City on the Edge of Forever and is in season one. Space Seed is also in season one.
@@madmanmark8387 Those two and "Balance of Terror" and "Journey to Babel".
Dont forget 'Amok Time', the season 2 opener!
@@madmanmark8387 My alternate title for The Doomsday Machine is, "The Cornucopia of Death"
I saw this show back in the 60s. At the time I was 6 or 7 and I didn't know what it was. But when I saw it here on you tube I recognized it and it was so excellent to see it again! I love the 60s background and style. It would have been a great show. It probably would have enhanced the story of the regular Star Trek.
I remember watching that episode when it aired and I was amazed by it!!!
I was expecting this episode to be about Assignment: Earth, and I was not disappointed.
A spinoff series would have been a great idea-- Lansing & Garr were a very good acting team.
@strobava fwiffo she was also in Young Frankenstein.
@strobava fwiffo I only remembered "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" 👽
@strobava fwiffo She was also in Dumb and Dumber.
@strobava fwiffo I thought the film was hilarious.
She was brilliant in Tootsie! "I don't have to take this shit from friends. Only from lovers."
Wikipedia says this about the Isis the Cat casting
The uncredited human form of Isis was portrayed by actress, dancer, and contortionist April Tatro. Her identity was unknown until 2019, when The Trek Files podcast cited a production call sheet for extras dated 5 January 1968, and host Larry Nemecek interviewed her for confirmation.[8]
Previously in fan circles, it had been speculated that the briefly seen human form of the cat Isis was portrayed by actress Victoria Vetri, and this has been repeated so often that many articles and websites treat it as fact. However, Vetri herself confirmed that she was not in the episode
yes, I would have liked to see Assignment Earth become its own series, one of my favorite TOS episodes
For any fans of Robert Lansing (Gary Seven)... He was one of the main supporting characters in the original 1980's 'The Equalizer' series with Edward Woodward. Lansing played a CIA upper manager and Robert's friend known only as "Control." He was in 29 episodes.
He was also in Kung Fu the Legend Continues. Lansing's final acting performance. It aired on November 28, 1994, a month after the actor died, and was dedicated to his memory.
even when a kid... I am old enough to have seen TOS first time around... I always felt even back then that this should have been a show... Thank you
Terri Gar: hits the typewriter that is typing everything she says and hollers "stop it stop it stop it!"
Me over 50 years later talking to a smartphone:
"Hey Google, text my brother..."
🤣
Oh, I'm with you on that one !
I was very smug when I managed to disable Google’s speech to text. Until my phone started saying “Google assistant has been disabled. For further information, consult the account administrator.” every time it hears me say the word Google in whatever context!
I used a program years ago for voice to type on my PC. I could never get into it. I guess that is why I never owned a Dictaphone.
Give ma report. Did Gary Seven really need a "report" on a piece of paper to read? Three days of "everything" Really????
yes I would've and would like to see "Assignment: Earth" series!
"WOULD HAVE"....NOT happening. "IF" it had.. WE all would NOT be having THIS conversation.
Always one of my favorite episodes. It certainly could have been a great story.
Perhaps my favorite ST-TOS, I wish that it would have led to an actual series. I always liked Robert Lansing, especially his time on the Twelve O'clock High TV series (even better than the movie on which it was based).
I think this was one of the first pieces of fiction that made me a fan of Time travel science fiction. Even now, it's a good episode. It aged well, which we just can't say about ALL the TOS episodes. I just watched it the other day and it still translates!
Excellent article, thank you. I'm 61 and a life long fan of Star Trek. This was a very informative article pulling together details that, while I was aware of most, had not reconciled and understood how important the episode was. I, too, would have loved to have seen the spin off but alas, money decisions beat us. Too bad. It would have been fabulous.
I had no idea Roddenberry originally conceived this as its own series. It makes sense though. The guest characters do far more than support the story line, and it does seem clear that we are meant to get to know them. It really is a pilot disguised as an episode.
It was what is known in the business as a back door pilot.
My uncle says that when he was in college, it was going around that Roddenberry thought Star Trek was going to be cancelled because it was so expensive to produce. Roddenberry wanted to continue a science fiction series in which he could present his ideas of universal brotherhood, so he designed this series to be minimal in the science fiction tropes: no funny costumes, few if any special effects, no outlandish aliiens (if any), and so on.
True or not, my uncle doesn't know. But that was the rumor going around then, and that was fifty years ago.
@@LoesserOf2Evils Makes sense. Though, if A:E were successful, it could have bankrolled Trek for a few more seasons.
Also the three comic episodes: "I, Mudd", "The Trouble With Tribbles", and "A Piece of the Action".
However, "Space Seed" and "The City on the Edge of Forever" were first-season episodes.
@@LoesserOf2Evils We have Lucille Ball to thank. There were problems in the beginning and it was going to be totally cancelled. She helped with money and the production. If you see at the end of every original Star Trek episode it says DesiLu Productions.
I’ve been a fan all my life and never knew about this! I think it would’ve made an interesting series, and the lead actors seemed perfect choices. Thanks for sharing!
a wonderful video. I got to watch the original "The Cage" on the original film with Gene in the late 80's. A memory I will never forget. As well after the showing we sat down and had dinner and had a wonderful conversation, a true highlight of my Star Trek younger days.
I remember seeing that episode on Tv in 68? It was Brilliant, I had no idea it was designed to be a spin off. Gene Roddenberry was a Genius. 7 and his Cat!!!! Brilliant!!!
I would have loved to see this developed into a full series. I’d still like to see it, in fact!
It kinda was in Enterprise. The Temporal Cold War was more than likely inspired from this episode.
The spinoff was made, but only airs in an alternate universe 🤪
Ever read "The Fold" by Peter Clines?
That's multiverse
@@jimmyramone5714 Sorry, I'm old school 🤓
@@jimmyramone5714 No, the correct terminology is another universe. the multiverse is the collection of *all* the universes in existence. To say it airs in the multiverse would mean it airs in all the universes of the multiverse. The only possible mistake would be the term alternate but it would indeed be an alternate universe (for us). For the people in that universe it would just be "the universe".
@@carlo1831 ok, in the 4th dimencion
This is in my top 10 episodes. Lansing and Garr seemed to be perfect for this spin off. Always sad that it wasn't made.
12 Oclock High should have Kept Lansing !
@@edwardgoering1237 Yeah, I never knew the reason why Robert Lansing was suddenly off Twelve O'Clock High and replaced by actor Paul Burke!
an actor's career is so varied. Up, down, gone, replaced, etc. Usually, actors say when they leave a "job", even successful ones, they worry if the next one is coming.
I always thought Gary Seven would of made a return in TNG. Shame it never happened as the Doctor Who feel of the character would of worked well. Nice sonic screwdriver too.
Wow, thanks for this. Yesterday is Tomorrow was great and everything you say about it makes sense to me and rings true according to my recollection of the episode.
I would have loved to see it made into a series! A lot of great potential that TV producers failed to follow up on. Robert Lansing and Teri Garr were a great match.
Teri would not have done it, she doesn't even like Star Trek fans asking about it.
@@Maples01 It's because that perv Roddenberry kept hitting on her.
@@academyofshem Never heard of such a thing from her, just Janice, and it wasn't Gene in her case.
@@Maples01 "According to a story Lance Parkin, the author of The Impossible Has Happened: The Life and Work of Gene Roddenberry, wrote, Teri Garr ended up walking off the set off Star Trek when Gene Roddenberry wanted her skirt to be even shorter than it already was. If you’ve seen the episode, you know there wasn’t a whole lot more material that could have been removed to shorten it even more."
I also heard Roddenberry, a notorious womanizer, kept hitting on her.
@@academyofshem Outfits were always scandalous, watch Cleopatra if you think that was new, Elizabeth Taylor was near nude, there was no rating system then either. He was married yet having sex with Nichelle
Yes, this episode was/is one of my favorites. I’d love to see this series get developed. It had/has so much potential.
It is sad that this did not become a spinoff series.
I always thought this episode of Star Trek was interesting. Live Long and Prosper.
Yet
My favorite part of this video is when Gary Seven is attempting to escape the Enterprise and Kirk grabs a phaser, instead of telling him to stop or anything he just blasts him. It was just so KIRK.
Another person who liked Assignment Earth. Was hoping for it back then when I was watching the original broadcast. 👣
Apart from City on the Edge of Forever, Assignment Earth is my favourite episode and I would have loved to see the series. I think it would have been iconic in the same way that The Invaders and Star Trek OS is iconic.
Loved the Invaders. An innovative show at the time.
@@KindCountsDeb3773 Yes, so spooky and a series that can be watched again and again without becoming bored. Not bad for a 1967 production.
City on the edge of forever is supreme. Joan Collins never looked better, Spock was superb , McCoy was particularly fantastic. The unlimited possibilities of space and time travel had been completely opened up to them and all that Kirk could say after his loss was
“ let’s get the hell out of here”
Comic book great John Byrne wrote and drew a number of Star Trek comic books, and since he wasn't comfortable with his ability to draw the classic TOS cast members (ironic, since he's an amazing artist), he mostly worked with different settings in the TOS world, including a series about the Romulans. Another setting he wrote stories for was "Assignment: Earth", and gave us several stories about Gary Seven and Roberta. It's a chance to see what the TV show might have been.
Oops, I spoke to soon. The video mentions this.
Another example of the shortsightedness of television network executives
Not really. The genre (which was considered niche) was playing itself out by this time. Lost in Space, Batman, and The Invaders were cancelled in 1968. The Time Tunnel the year before. Trek itself was seriously threatened with ending each season. The networks had reason to be careful about which genre shows to greenlight.
@@PantherBlitz Agree. And Star Trek didn’t become the phenomenon we now know today until it went into syndication. In 1968, it even needed a letter writing campaign to get a third season.
If you read Nichelle Nichols' autobiographical "Uhura Speaks", she blamed some of the series cancellation on studio execs' racism.
This was before demographics came into play in selling advertising. Sure, you may have a half of all viewers watching your show, but how did Madison Avenue perceive them as target markets. Lawrence Welk had a great viewership during it's run, but who were the viewers? My grandmother and those of HER generation. Couldn't sell Dippety-Doo to retirees, so they stuck with Geritol. The people watching it were the major consumers of the day: America's youth market. Not just teens in high school, but college students watching in their dorms. Young, educated people: the dream demographic of the advertising agencies.
Assignment Earth would have been the perfect addition to a current TV schedule. CBS wouldn't have carried it, but ABC likely would have. NBC never liked the idea of cerebral television.
And it wasn't Fox
I have always thought that would have made an excellent spin-off show.
They got the concept for each invention right, just got the year it came out, wrong LOL. Love it.
I think "The Questor Tapes" was a reworking of the same concept. A character whose job it was to watch over the human race's development and help keep it from self destructing before maturing ... but the character being damaged in a way that a companion was needed to help complete the task.
OMG, another fan of Questor Tapes, great movie .( with BJ from MASH as I recall), If you like that one you might enjoy Colossus: The Forbin Project - 1970'ish. Very risqué scene with win glass, a real hoot on when computers were just begining. I've got both on DVD - what a small world.
Yes, apparently that's quite true. Just as the year 2000 TV show GENE RODDENBERRY'S ANDROMEDA represented a reworking of the 1973/1974 GENESIS II pilots. Fortunately ANDROMEDA was made, and turned out to be a fun TV show (except for the Magog). Alas, ASSIGNMENT: EARTH/QUESTOR TAPES never got remade. It would be neat if some studio/network picked it up and made it today. Still a great concept with fun characters.
I have the pilot on DVD and it does bear some rough plot similarities such as an advanced being trying to help Earth through its technological adolescence. It was rejected because ABC already had a "robotic" show on the schedule which became "The Six Million Dollar Man".
@@c123bthunderpig Then of course you must include I Robot with Will Smith.
I remember Robert Lansing in the movie '4D Man', and absolutely loved it. This would have been a spectacular series in the late 60's!
using the story line they had they would have had so much creativity and ideas for every show.
Assignment: Earth as a series probably woulda been awesome. Gary Seven the stoic human agent from outer space, Roberta Lincoln the local who knows the terrain, the snarky Beta-5 computer, and the shapeshifting cat/woman Isis who may or may not be from the same race of aliens backing Gary Seven. All working to secretly keep Earth from destroying itself. I wonder if the 2 agents Gary Seven was supposed to meet up with really died in an accident, or if they were murdered and it was made to look like an accident...
All cats on Earth are aliens from that planet keeping an eye on us?
Series ends when Lazarus, jealous of Seven's relationship with Roberta, sends him a Medusan in a carrier. When he sees what's in the box, he goes insane and causes Lazarus to make contact with antimatter Lazarus and destroy both universes.
If the show episode had been written in the "next generation"(snark HAHA!)...Q might have had a "hand" in the deaths of the agents!!
Michael Mathis The time space continuum would not allow Q to interfere
@@CaptChrispy
Like the nerve pinch, Seven would have been immune to the insanity. AND, he would have recognized it as a Medusan!
According to a novel featuring Bobby Lincoln and our heroes, they were.
Thanks for posting this video. I watched it when it first came on television back in the sixties. The episode was very well done and I fully expected to see the new series at some later time. A couple of years later they cancelled the original series and any chance of a spin off. That is too bad since the acting and writing in the spin off was some of the best available on television during those days.
I loved that show first time out and have waited all this time for that to spin off. Well, can't have everything !
I remember seeing this episode when it came out, and I am 65 years old now and enjoy everything about the way this episode was written. And it was a stroke of genius having me sarcastic back talking female computer voice getting sassy with him. I think me and most guys have been in love with Teri Garr our entire lives.
Another equally well done episode which when they went back in time to the same. Basically and they were picked up on radar. The Air Force scrambled and interceptor and it got caught up in their energy field and was breaking up and they had to beam the pilot on board to save his life. And then convince the officer to help them with stopping the crisis they had came back for. Flawless episode! 👍🏻
I'm also 65 and have the same experience
a "sarcastic balk talking female computer voice getting sassy..." You mean SIRI? ;-)
I'm 64 and waited impatiently for the Assignment Earth series.
Teri Garr was a special presence that could not have been easily replaced, but Roddenberry could have been if his skirt shortening was her issue with returning,
But the casting of Robert Lansing is what sold me on the pilot!
He had a vibe like Michael Rennie, from The Day The Earth Stood Still, both stoic and blandly compassionate.
His unaffected performance was also Spock-like without being completely alien.
The only other pilot that I wish had been made into a series was The Questor Tapes, which featured the prototype for Data in The Next Generation.
As an almost 65er, I totally agree!
What episode name is this? Want to go back and watch it.
When I had initially seen this episode of Star Trek (1968), I was excited when I heard of a sign-off featuring Robert Lansing, whom I had enjoyed his portrayal of General Savage on "12 0'Clock High". Yet, waiting for Paramount's confirmation of this series, which never came through, disappointed not only Gene Roddenberry but other friends in high school who had seen it.
I do believe the episode would have made for a great spinoff. I always thought Mr. Seven looked like Steve McQueen. As for Miss Garr, she is my all time favorite actress. Cute, funny, and
someone you could imagine being able to approach, as a man, in real life.
I loved that episode was definitely better than most, and it makes sense it was intended as a Spinoff because it seems a lot of love and thought went into the new characters,, much more than the typical episodic supporting cast.
Gary Seven was Perfectedly, Casted. a Solid 12 out of ten. I love his cat too.
I think that "Star Trek: Assignment Earth" would have been a great addition to the original StarTrek portfolio. I think I have also been envisioning a few cross-over episodes with both franchises appearing together. It would have been fun to see more interaction between Terri Garr's character and Isis in her human form.
Teri Garr has been one of my favorite actresses ever since this episode. I was about 7 years old. Assignment Earth! was one of those episodes that they didn't air very often.
Possibly my favourite Star Trek episode. It was definitely worth a spin off series. I was disappointed too, the two actors were great and their characters were very interesting. I first saw Terri Garr in Close Encounters Of The Third Kind and liked her ever since. For me, this could have turned out to be a better and more interesting series than Star Trek. Maybe it's still not too late, however, I can't imagine another two actors playing the roles, these two were perfect.
She was excellent in Tootsie, nominated for an Oscar. She had talent for sure.
Oddly, Assignment Earth was the first Star Trek episode I saw. I lived in the middle of WY and my parents did not buy cable so I was limited to the one over the air channel (NBC then, I think). But one evening an announcement came on the TV stating that there were network difficulties and by agreement content would be temporarily switched to another network. Lo and behold, there was Gary Seven! I had been aching to see Star Trek. I had to wait until college before I was finally able to watch the reruns (which I did over and over). Thanks for adding more to something already special to me.
I also very mushed liked the Assignment Earth episode, it was just on as a TV rerun a couple of weeks ago in my area. I never knew that it was being floated as a spinoff. I think it might have been a success.
Robert Lansing played another caricature on an earlier TV show that was and is still my favorite shows "Twelve O'clock High". Lansing played General Savage in the first season, 1964. One thing I will state, TV was far better back in the 60's through the 80's then it is today.
I'm surprised this didn't take off. Considering the success of the Matt Helm Series (Dean Martin) and the Flynt Series (James Coburn) and, of course, James Bond. All of these had elements of futuristic sci fi (tricky new gadgets, robots, etc.). It is a shame that it didn't get a chance. I really liked the actor and character of Gary 7.
The actor was Robert Lansing who also played Capt. Paul Blaisdel on Kung Fu The Legend Continues until right before he died of Cancer
Roddenberry was said to be combative and obnoxious whether he got his way or not. Many reports describe him as highly unlikable. Maybe that’s the reason why the spinoff never flew.
@@Flap999 Gene knew better. He really knew better than the network brass. It is frustrating to know you are right and have mediocre minds hold the power to shoot you down.
Robert Lansing
Same way with A Man From UNCLE with Robert Vaughn and David McCallum in 1950s early 1960s lots of gadgets much like James Bond before James Bond became a popular movie series.
No one can hold a cat like Gary Seven! One of my all-time favorite episodes. Teri Garr was adorable, and that typewriter which took his and Garr's dictation was not a prop trick. It actually was a new working model available for sale at the time - but never took off commercially because of the high cost. It was really typing what they spoke. I always wished Assignment Earth had become a spin off series.
No way that technology existed then! Really? Serious? Any idea which company made it? 😍
edison responsive environment talking computer 1963 sold in hamden, conn
@@ScottyColoradoKid The Edison Responsive Environment Learning System, or the Talking Typewriter Developed by Thomas A. Edison Laboratory, a Subsidiary of McGraw Edison Company.
The "Talking Typewriter" is a computerized electric typewriter with visual and audio capabilities. It was designed to create an environment where learning to read would be a successful, enjoyable experience for the student by allowing him to explore, discover relationships, to progress at his own speed, and to receive feedback. This report describes the "Talking Typewriter" and discusses its characteristics; the rationale behind its development; the hardware, software, lessons, and other materials to be used with it; and procedures for its use. Key personnel, sources and evolutions of ideas, and funding for the project are briefly discussed in a section on origins, and the procedures used in developing the hardware and software of the "Talking Typewriter" are described. Information about formative and summative evaluations is provided, and the extent of diffusion and adoption of this innovation are also described. Speculations about the future of the product are offered, and a list of the crucial decisions made during the development of the product concludes the report. (SH)
@@hillbillyintheasia6122 Wow! Thanks Hillbilly!! 😀
I don't normally go for time travel but Assignment Earth is one of my favourites and I've often thought this would have been a great spin off. Thanks so much for letting me know it very nearly was!
My fave time travel was, Planet of the Apes, Time after Time, and of course the Time Machine. Hot Tub Time Machine was pretty good too...especially when they went to the slopes and the dude asked what color Michael Jackson was.
Assignment Earth was one of my favorite Star Trek episodes.
As I recall, I missed the original airing of the episode and saw it first during a 're-run'. Loved it as a boy of single-digit years and it is still among my favorite episodes as I step into retirement. Loved the Roddenberry humor and optimism woven into the script and as you said, it had extremely likeable characters with chemistry.
Cat Isis's human actress was played by April Tatro.
Listed as 'cat lady', which has a completely different meaning now.
@@matambale "cat lady" has always meant one of the same two things.
A sexy young woman, slinky, feline, graceful, playful, maybe dangerous, probably wearing a catsuit.
Or a crazy old woman who owns far too many cats.
@@pwnmeisterage Well, it did have two Catwomanses in there, Newmar & Meriwether.
@@fryingpanhead8809 don’t forget Eartha kitt
@@weswolever7477 She was never on Star Trek.
BTW, the voice of this computer in this show was Barbara Babcock, who was in 6 different shows on the the original series (TOS). Some she was only a voice but she also showed up as actor in others. She's still with us as of this writing.
It was an awesome episode, the innocence of the secretary and his counterpart who was morphed into a cat. A whole bunch of mischief to be had in future episodes.
It would have made a great series!
The scene on the transporter pad when Seven first appeared all noble was unforgettable.
There has been so si fi possible show that could have been made this is one of them !
I was unaware that any such series was ever contemplated. Heck, back in the 1960s, in our small town, we only got one network and I had to wait until university to ever see a Star Trek re-run episode. It quickly became a favorite and I had to watch every show, then every spin-off's show and every movie. The Gary-7 episode is one of my very favorite ones and remains so today. Assignment Earth would likely have been a hit. After all, My Favorite Martian took a similar tack - an alien in modern Earth society. I can only fantasize about how a show with Robert Lansing, then a big name star, Teri Garr, and April Taro would have been.
I am most definitely would’ve loved to see that television show.
That was one of my favorite episodes!
I would have loved the spin-off. The two main characters had great chemistry.
I loved the concept. It was later used for a StarTrek movie. My cousin played Roberta in the proposed spin-off.
Notice that when Isis transforms to her human form, only Roberta sees her this way, but not Kirk and Spock. That means Isis is not exactly a shapeshifter. I'm sure Kirk would have noticed that woman!
Maybe Isis simply projects an hallucination. The reason why only Roberta sees Isis in human form is that she's the only one who happens to be looking in Isis' direction when Isis projects, so to speak. Roberta looks away, goes over to Mr. Seven, and asks who Isis the person is. Now having everyone's attention, everyone else looks over. Isis stops projecting the hallucination during the interval.
Kirk would have done more than just 'notice' that woman.....
Funny you should mention that. William Shatner did actually ask the actress, April Tatro, out to lunch. (Google "‘Star Trek’ Mystery Solved - Isis Actress From “Assignment: Earth” Identified".)
@@WyomingGuy876 she wasn't green enough
I agree 100%.
A attractive female within 200 yards of Kirk and his radar would have gone-off.
I might also add I understand that both Lansing and Garr were excited and totally
willing to commit to the series long term. Just another brilliant, ahead of its time Roddenberry
series flushed into oblivion by short sighted TV executives. If he were alive today, he'd have
plenty of indepentent help to realize his visions.
Teri Garr was enthusiastic about A:E? I'd like a source.
Awesome video!! I remember the episode vividly; I was 15. Such a sad outcome for us Trekkies. Thanks very much for producing and posting this.
i always wanted an assighment earth spinoff. if they do it today the effects will be great.
I loved this episode in the original series & I think that a spin off featuring Gary Seven & Roberta Lincoln would have been "fascinating". 🖖
The actress who played the humanoid form of Isis was named April Tatro
There was an article about this in 2019. 50 year old Isis cat lady mystery solved. April was a contortionist by trade and an actress second, and she was great as both!
I really loved that episode, and at the time was thinking: "I wish Mr. Seven could be in a series of his own" (little did I know)
Honestly, I thought that the show had gone forward but that I just didn't know the title. Oh how the internet has changed our lives.
I haven’t watched this video but suddenly the whole thing clicked! That’s why that episode seems so weird (yet great), with two sets of characters, really.
Assignment Earth was one of my favorite episodes!
I had heard "Assignment: Earth" was intended to serve as a pilot episode for a new series when I saw it as a teenager originally broadcast in the 60's. I think my mother read it in an article in TV Guide magazine.
Nice presentation; bravo. I always enjoyed watching Robert Lansing, and with a talented writing team I think the show would have been a hit.
I think the people who paid attention to this episode would have liked to have seen that happen.
I agree with your analysis about this episode.
I have believed that for many years and imagine what it would be like to see it through.
I would have loved to see this serie. Great actors, promissing story idea.
I have always liked 'Assignment Earth' and would have very much loved to watch a spinoff. I was about 7 yo at the time of it's release.
This was one of my favorite episodes.