NBC broadcast the first episode of Star Trek on September 8th 1966. Sold as a spacey version of Wagon Train the series took a cerebral twist. Told through a sixties cultural lens it explored racism, fear of technology, and weapons of mass destruction. Unfortunately the five year mission of the opening credits ended early. Despite multiple Hugo Award nominations and two wins, NBC cancelled Star Trek after only three seasons. The final episode aired on June 3rd 1969.
The show’s 79 episodes entered syndication. They quickly developed a cult-like following. That success led to the creation of five additional TV series. There have also been thirteen movies. Six featuring the original cast and four from the Next Generation cast. In 2009 the movie franchise was rebooted with a new cast of actors. The actors portray the characters from the original series. But using a classic Star Trek plot twist their universe spins off in a different direction.
Together with Star Wars and Tolkien’s Middle Earth, the Star Trek entertainment franchise forms the trifecta of geek and nerd culture. If you’re a fan of at least two of these three, chances are you fit somewhere within that sphere. I don’t mean that as an insult. I freely admit to being a part of that culture. Some may quibble about limiting it to these three – especially Harry Potter fans. What about Dungeons & Dragons or for the younger digital generation League of Legends? I’ll grant that both games and the Potter films are part of the culture. My point is more that Tolkien, Trek, and Star Wars provided the initial critical mass for the popularization of the culture. Today’s popular science fiction and fantasy games, books, and movies are wonderful, but they were built on the shoulders of the trifecta.
Some little known, but interesting facts about Star Trek
- An Episode of The Next Generation referencing the unification of Ireland in 2024 after a successful terrorist campaign was banned in Ireland and the UK.
- Ronald Reagan once said, “I like them (the Klingons). They remind me of Congress.”
- The Klingon language actually exists. It’s based on sounds and words originally derived by James Doohan, who played Scottie.
- Star Trek inspired many modern devices. Dr. Martin Cooper credits the communicator as his inspiration for creating the first mobile phone.
- Leonard Nimoy’s father was a barber. In honor of his son’s character he offered a Spock haircut.
- Several actors couldn’t perform the classic Vulcan salute. They tied William Shatner’s hands with fishing line. Zachary Quinto performed the salute with the help of glue.
- Forty-seven is the most common number in Star Trek. It appears more than 200 times throughout the series. Apparently one of the writers had a college professor who joked that all numbers equaled 47.
- It would take 24 days of continuous watching to view every Star Trek TV episode and all thirteen movies.
- To save money two of The Original Series episodes (Miri & City on the Edge of Forever) were filmed in Mayberry. Kirk and Edith Keeler walk in front of Floyd’s Barber Shop.
- In an early script Spock had a first name. Edward, after his mother’s father.
Star Trek map of Milky Way Galaxy shortly after the mission of the USS Voyager
(Map courtesy of Startrek.com)
As always thanks for reading.
Armen
Note to Pay the Bills: While neither of my series are set in space, Penny Preston and the King’s Blade includes a reference to the Star Trek episode Mirror Mirror. If you’ve ever wondered how to mix theoretical physics and Welsh mythology in a YA fantasty story, you can learn more here or find links to purchase books here.
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