D.C. Fontana, the first female writer hired on the original “Star Trek” series, nearly removed her name from the Season 3 episode “The Enterprise Incident” due to severe script rewrites and creative disagreements, according to historical interviews with Cinefantastique and Future, Science Fiction Digest.
Creative Clashes on The Enterprise Incident
The core conflict surrounding “The Enterprise Incident” stemmed from heavy studio and production rewrites of Fontana’s original script. According to Fontana’s interview with Cinefantastique, the Season 3 episode featured a plot point where Spock strategically seduces a Romulan commander solely to extract information. Fontana strongly disapproved of the sequence.
“Any Romulan worth her salt would have instantly suspected Spock because they are related races,” Fontana told Cinefantastique. Beyond the character interaction, Fontana also objected to logistical script changes regarding a concealable cloaking device used by Captain Kirk, noting that the size specifications altered by the production team made little practical sense within established lore.
Did you know? Fontana worked directly as a secretary to series creator Gene Roddenberry.
Why D.C. Fontana Decided to Leave Star Trek
Despite the drastic alterations to her work, Fontana is officially credited alongside Arthur H. “I wanted to take my name off it. Gene talked me out of it, but I ended my contract shortly thereafter,” Fontana revealed.
The script dispute was not the sole catalyst for her departure. In an interview with Future, Science Fiction Digest, Fontana explained that Roddenberry “had gotten weird” during the later stages of production, citing strange behavior and frequent quarrels with staff that created widespread unhappiness. Rather than break ties mid-stream, Fontana chose to fulfill her contractual obligations before stepping away from the daily operations of the show. Concurrently, Gene Roddenberry also stepped away from “TOS” during its third and final season due to burnout and ongoing frustrations with NBC, retaining only an executive producer title.
A Lasting Legacy Across the Franchise
Though her initial stint on the original NBC series ended on a strained note, Fontana’s relationship with the science fiction franchise endured for decades. According to production history, she returned to the “Star Trek” universe periodically throughout her career, contributing scripts and editorial guidance to subsequent iterations including “Star Trek: The Animated Series,” “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” and “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Was D.C. Fontana the first female writer on Star Trek?
Yes, D.C. Fontana was the very first female writer hired on the original “Star Trek” series, which ran on NBC from 1966 to 1969.
Why did D.C. Fontana almost take her name off The Enterprise Incident?
Fontana considered removing her name because she disagreed with heavy script rewrites, specifically objecting to a forced seduction scene between Spock and a Romulan commander and changes to Kirk’s cloaking device.
Did Gene Roddenberry stay with the show until the end?
No, Gene Roddenberry stepped away from active involvement during the third and final season of “The Original Series” due to burnout and frustrations with NBC, though he kept his executive producer credit.
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