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At 8:30 PM, on September 8, 1966, a new type of science fiction television show premiered in the United States. Star Trek would have a three-year run and be considered mildly successful. The series was first pitched to CBS, which passed, given their series "Lost in Space" was already in production. NBC picked up the series after commissioning a second pilot, believing the first too high-minded.
Its original audience consisted primarily of the affluent and well-educated: scientists, doctors, professors, lawyers, and wealthy people, setting it apart from other shows and allowing it to achieve three seasons, despite its less than stellar ratings. In Star Trek's case, it wasn't the number of viewers but their quality (advertising value) that kept the show going. A massive letter-writing campaign didn't hurt either.
The original series had 79 episodes.
Where Star Trek shined was in re-runs throughout the 1970s.
In 1979, "Star Trek, The Motion Picture" premiered, riding the wave of space blockbusters, including 1977's "Star Wars" and "Close Encounters of the Third Kind."
In 1987, the first live-action scripted spinoff, "Star Trek The Next Generation," premiered. The Star Trek franchise exploded with at least 13 different television series and 13 feature-length films. The franchise isn't shy about taking on social and political issues, making it one of the most influential television series globally.
Everyone who knows the show has a favorite episode. At LEEP, ours is "The Trouble with Tribbles," episode 15, season 2. It premiered on December 29, 1967.
Happy Star Trek Day!
PS: The series premiered in Canada on CTV on September 6, 1966, two days before the US.
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