This Legendary Sci-Fi TV Series Was Created 62 Years Ago Today
Generations of fans have enjoyed several versions of the "Star Trek" franchise, ranging from Patrick Stewart's iconic run as Captain Picard to the more recent shows like "Starfleet Academy" and "Strange New Worlds."
The adventures of the various crews and factions within the Star Trek universe have spanned decades, but the sprawling media franchise began with a single television show. "Star Trek: The Original Series" premiered on CBS in 1966, but the idea for the show was conceived two years earlier.
Showrunner and series creator Gene Roddenberry would put together a pitch for "Star Trek" on March 11, 1964. His original pitch included the chronicles of a crew aboard the S.S. Yorktown in the 22nd century. The name of the ship would be changed to the inimitable Enterprise, but many of Roddenberry's original story elements would be retained.
Series Development and Eventual Success
Roddenberry's initial pitch centered around the Milky Way galaxy, and his original choice for captain - Robert April - has appeared in multiple Star Trek series after the show's creation.
Roddenberry presented the concept for "Star Trek" to executive Herbert. F Solow, who worked for Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz's Desilu Studios. Solow worked with Roddenberry to refine the cast and world of Star Trek, introducing the "Captain's Log" segments on the show to keep viewers aware of the story.
The show was initially pitched to CBS, who turned it down during development of the show "Lost in Space." After further refinements, Roddenberry would develop two pilots.
The second, which featured Leonard Nimoy in the role of Spock, convinced the network to pick up the show for its 1966 fall lineup. The second pilot would also introduce many of the series' foundational characters, including Captain James T. Kirk, played by William Shatner.
The original series would run for only three seasons and a total of 79 episodes, but it developed a devoted and passionate fanbase. "Star Trek" entered syndication in the early 1970s, and was a consistent choice for reruns at both the local and national level.
By the mid-1980s, "Star Trek" had become the most profitable show in syndication, with Paramount making around $1 million for each episode. In the 1990s, Star Trek episodes were still airing in 94% of the United States, exposing more fans to the series who were born after its original run.
What Came After The Original Series?
"Star Trek: The Next Generation" would follow the original series and the first feature film in the franchise. From 1987 through 1994, viewers followed the exploits of Jean-Luc Picard and his crew as they navigated space roughly one century after the events of the original series.
In addition to Patrick Stewart in the lead role, "The Next Generation" also featured actors like Jonathan Frakes, Brent Spiner and LeVar Burton. The show earned a total of 19 Emmy awards over its 178-episode run, and is considered one of the greatest science fiction series of all time.
The "Star Trek" universe is vast, as it now includes films, video games, novelizations and more. Fans have enjoyed the trail-blazing franchise for decades - a franchise that began with a simple pitch in March of 1964.