Harlan Ellison sues CBS-Paramount, Writers Guild

We highly recommend Harlan’s The City on the Edge of Forever book that he wrote back in 1977. It’s a great read not only for Trek and Ellison fans, but for folks who enjoy knowing just how exactly a screenplay goes from the writer to the screen (at lesat in this case.

Professional curmudgeon Harlan Ellison is suing CBS-Paramount in connection with his famed teleplay for the original Star Trek episode, “City on the Edge of Forever”, 42 years after its original airing. He’s alleging the Big Media company allegedly has failed to pay him for the merchandising, publishing, and other exploitations of his work from inception to present day. The suit filed Friday in U.S. District Court for the Central District of California also names the Writers Guild of America — despite Ellison being a 47-year member and twice on its board of directors — and accuses the guild of failing to act on Ellison’s behalf after numerous requests. You may recall Ellison’s episode because it starred Joan Collins as salvation sister Edith Keeler, the woman Captain Kirk loved and then watched die, andis often ranked among “100 Greatest Television Episodes of All Time”. Also according to Ellison’s complaint, CBS-Paramount will not send statements or admit anything is owed. – From Nikki Finke