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On this day in 1966, the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise takes off on its mission to "boldly go where no man has gone before," with the premiere of Star Trek.


also, on this day in 1941, the Siege of Leningrad starts.

Star Trek is arguably the TV show that has had the most effect on history...

A whole generation inspired to take up an interest in space exploration. Congress would find out how powerful the effect of Star Trek was during the naming process for the first space shuttle. Originally intended to be named Constitution, the first shuttle would be renamed Enterprise after the US public wrote millions of letters demanding the name change.

The Battle of Leningrad was important too.

i guess its also fitting that scotties last convention show was so close to its original air date

It's a pretty corny show when you look at it today but it must have been revolutionary when it first aired.

It's a pretty corny show when you look at it today but it must have been revolutionary when it first aired.

The interesting thing about the original show was that it was basically social commentary - set in the future.  The actual original series was a (relative) flop, lasting only two and a half (or was it three and a half) seasons .. . Its impact has been incredible. I still remember the dorms falling silent when Star Trek was on - and this was early seventies, with the series on re-runs!

Star Trek took on just about every conceivable social issue...racism ("Let this be Your Final Battlefield/"Plato's Stepchildren"), war (A Private Little War/"Balance of Power"), disabled rights ("Menagerie")...

It also raised a few eyebrows when it featured the very first inter-racial kiss (Kirk/Uhura in "Plato's Stepchildren") on TV. Martin Luther King was a fan and personally asked Nichelle Nichols (Uhura) to stay on the show when she wanted to quit...he felt it was important that a black woman be seen in an important, non-stereotypical role.

The original show lasted a scant 78 episodes (2 1/2 seasons)...but lives on in syndication anyway.

It has had one other affect on science that has yet to come...

Much like Asimov's "Laws of Robotics", which are expected to be featured in any true AI...Star Trek postulates "The Prime Directive". Many people have expressed the belief that the Prime Directive will be a feature of any future manned interstellar exploration.

It also raised a few eyebrows when it featured the very first inter-racial kiss (Kirk/Uhura in "Plato's Stepchildren") on TV. Martin Luther King was a fan and personally asked Nichelle Nichols (Uhura) to stay on the show when she wanted to quit...he felt it was important that a black woman be seen in an important, non-stereotypical role.

Here's a true fact. When Whoopie Goldberg first saw Nichelle Nichols on Star Trek, she was inspired to become an actress. Whoopie later got to be a Star Trek character herself in TNG.

I was 12 years old if 1966 is an accurate date.

My science teacher's assignment each Friday was "Watch Star Trek".  We were surprised when a ST question appeared on the final exam (it's been a while so I don't recall the exact question).

Don't forget, this was the height of the Space Race.  It's possible that any space-based series would have done well.

My overall opinion of the original ST (I liked Next Generation much better) was that it was quite lame.  I like the idea of the prime directive but I was always annoyed that they never explained artificial gravity (TNG did explain it).

Ah, I love that show!

Ah, I love that show!

WHy does it not surprise me?  

Thesa days, at least, a series is generally 26 episodes, so the 78 episodes of TOS is actually 3 full series. Not important, but they are selling a boxed set of all three series here, and they don't call it a "2 1/2 series boxed set"...............................

I'm definitely a TNG or Voyager preferrer, although I believe that without Kirk, Spock and the rest and more especially, their MOVIES, TNG etc would never have been conceived. I think Star Trek The Movie and consequent movies were definitely the catalyst for TNG.

[quote]WHy does it not surprise me?

I like TOS and TNG the best  ;).  I have never seen DS9.  I have also never seen Star Trek Enterprise and it doesn't sound that good.  Voyager was not bad, but didn't keep you watching and seemed unserious.  I think one thing is for sure.  It was amazing TOS got on TV considering it was the first type of show of it's kind.

Thesa days, at least, a series is generally 26 episodes, so the 78 episodes of TOS is actually 3 full series. Not important, but they are selling a boxed set of all three series here, and they don't call it a "2 1/2 series boxed set"...............................

SilverFox's comment also surprised me. In the UK a TV series would usually be 6 episodes or 13 at most. Kirk, Spock et al certainly started something. I'm amazed it's lasted so long & produced so many spin-offs.

PS. Possibly the most popular comedy series ever screened on British TV was Fawlty Towers. They still show repeats on a regular basis. Only two series of six episodes (Series One - 1975, Series Two - 1979) were ever made. http://www.fawltysite.net/
Maybe John Cleese is a believer in the old show-biz adage - leave the punter gasping for more.

Hagar, I read somewhere there was a "13th" episode of Flowery Twats. But then I heard no more about it. Can you shed any light on, at least, the rumour, or 'misconception'?

As for DS9, Spitfireattack, it's like all the series I suppose. You have to give them a few episodes and get to know the characters etc. I recall the first few episodes of DS9 and thought: "If this isn't taking place on a ship, how is it going to be anywhere near as good as TNG and Voyager" (which had been showing for a few years when I started to watch the DS9 videos from Blockbuster).

After the first few episodes, I got to know who was who and what was what and developed that 'fondeness' for the show. I ended up watching the entire 7 series on video over about 6 months, and loved it.

They had all the same types of adventures and problems etc that occur in the other series (i.e. Time travel and paradoxes, wars, alternate universes etc).

I was beginning to get right into 'Enterprise' when Blockbuster decided not to bring over anymore of the tapes. It's not out on DVD yet and the TV episodes are 2 years or so behind the US. So I've seen the first series, but was cut sgort by Blockbuster. But it will come out on DVD eventually and I'll watch it then.

There's nothing like a Star Trek yarn. I got "The Wrath of Khan" out last night and am going to look at it tonight. I haven't seen it for about 5 years.  ;D