Today in History: The first Star Trek episode is aired
The now iconic series struggled to find an audience at first, and was cancelled after just three seasons.
The first episode of Star Trek was aired for the first time on NBC on 8 September 1966.
The now iconic series struggled to find an audience at first, and was cancelled after just three seasons.
However, its cult-like popularity blossomed in syndication and would grow into a media franchise which included feature films, spin-off TV series, merchandising, conventions, and millions of devoted fans (Trekkies) all over the world.
Unlike most network executives, producer and creator, Gene Rodenberry, believed intelligent life existed on the other side of the TV screen, and he frequently used the genre of science fiction as a vehicle for social commentary.
By setting the crew of the Enterprise in an Utopian 23rd century, Star Trek could go where no series had gone before and frequently delved into taboo subject matters such as race relations.
Indeed, Star Trek is credited with he first interracial kiss on American network television in an episode entitled Plato’s Stepchildren, which aired on 22 November 1968.
The series became a worldwide cultural phenomenon, its influence extending far beyond the niche genre of science fiction, and besides making an indelible mark on the popular lexicon, it is often credited with predicting, perhaps even inspiring, the development of then futuristic gadgets such as the cellphone and hospital bed medical displays.
Star Trek: The Original Series and its later spin-offs are still broadcast today in more than 100 countries.
Information courrtesy of SA History online.
