Planet Earth

source: Planet Earth

Planet Earth

Apparently, networks at the time were only comfortable with one sci-fi series at a time. CBS picked "Planet of the Apes" over Genesis II, and ABC picked "Six Million Dollar Man" over Planet Earth. The main character in each was Dylan Hunt, though they were played by different actors. This is interesting because when Roddenberry made the second Star Trek pilot, he gave the new lead actor a new name. (Capt. Pike became Capt. Kirk) The name Dylan Hunt would be used in Andromeda, which was an outer space version of Planet Earth, which in turn was a land-based version of Star Trek. The script for Star Trek: The Motion Picture was based on an unused Planet Earth script. In fact, several of the first season episodes of ST: TNG were written for either the unrealized new Star Trek series in the 70s, or Planet Earth, Roddenberry believed in recycling.

PLANET EARTH and GENESIS 2 were fun pilots. PLANET EARTH was set on a earth after a nuclear war yet, was ahead of it's time. It's a shame roddenberry couldn't get a syndication deal like Gerry Anderson of SPACE 1999. Syndication would have helped this show more than network airings.

This movie was pretty awesome, with great acting(especially by Ted Cassidy and Diana Muldaur), decent special effects, and a good story. Star Trek's Gene Roddenberry, his friend Robert H. Justman, and Star Trek legend director Marc Daniels wove this tv-movie really well. It's available for rent and if you are a sci-fi fan, rent this. I guarantee you you'll like it!

If you're an obscure-movie buff like me, find "Planet Earth" and watch it. I loved it. It's sexually suggestive, it's got mutants, underground trains connecting the whole Earth, mystics and doctors and it's totally entertaining. John Saxon as Dylan Hunt is very expressive, and I swear I could watch it again and again. In a way, it's very much a prequel to Enterprise and follows suit with the usual Roddenberry ideologies. In fact, all the acting is good. Look for Gene Roddenberry's wife in the face of extras, as well as a few other recognizables. Diana Muldaur (who later played Dr Pulanski in The Next Generation) is very attractive as the domineering slave-trader and I find myself envying John Saxon in certain parts of the film - well, see for yourself! A great 60 minute flick!

In his book "Star Trek Movie Memories" William Shatner describes Roddenberry's career in the early 70's. With regards to "Planet Earth", it's stated that the network passed on the series because it was felt that it could only afford 1 expensive science fiction television series. The other choice was "Planet of the Apes". Because of the franchise success of the "Apes" films, it was felt by network bigwigs that an "Apes" TV series was the better bet and had more of a chance of being a hit. As it turned out, the "Apes" series tanked after 13 episodes. Hal

As I've said many times before, the networks dropped the ball, when they didn't pick up Planet Earth for a TV series. It seems every time Gene Roddenberry came up with a great new series(Questor Tapes, Genesis II, Planet Earth, Spectre), the networks failed to see his vision. After recently watching this show again, I'm still puzzled why this Pilot wasn't picked up for a series. This show could have been a Star Trek on Earth.

This was a second TV pilot for a proposed sci-fi series by Gene Roddenberry. The first, Earth II, starred Alex Cord. This time, things are almost the same, though John Saxon plays the lead. Saxon's characterization is less serious than Cord's and seems to be very much like Captain Kirk placed in an alternate version of Earth. The plot involves a group from PAX (a group of goody-goodies who are a lot like a planet-bound Federation--they try to make sure the world runs in peace and try to interfere in other cultures only when it's necessary). They are looking for an important scientist who disappeared in an amazon-like culture. It's up to Saxon and the others to infiltrate and return him before it's too late. FYI--Another team member is played by Ted Cassidy (Lurch the Butler from the Addams Family). I would have loved to see him return to a weekly series, though he died just a few years after this pilot was completed (died on the operating table while undergoing heart surgery).