Star Trek is 40!

[Benzadmiral]

They're gonna drum me out of StarFleet Academy for this . . . but I just now realized that "Star Trek", the original series, premiered 40 years ago on September 8, 1966.

Imagine that. A simple TV show that has become part of our lives and our culture in ways Gene Roddenberry could never have envisioned.

When ST premiered, TV science fiction was either "Outer Limits" (heavy on the monster-of-the-week style), "Twilight Zone" (mostly fantasy), or "Lost in Space" (Cthulhu help us all). "Star Trek" changed all that.

It's unfair to laugh at the production values, the sets, the effects, the (supposedly) sexist viewpoints of some of the scripts. We shouldn't compare ST:TOS to modern films. Compare it to what went *before* it, and realize what a leap ahead it was in scripts and characterization and imagination.

Two quotes from the show illustrate as well as anything how well done it was:

"In a month, he'll have as much in common with us as we'd have with a shipful of white mice."
(-- Spock, regarding Gary Mitchell's geometric increase in mental superpowers; what an image!)

and
Spock (rising): I am Spock.
Trelane: Oh! Not quite human, is he?
Spock: My father was from the planet Vulcan.
Trelane: Oh? And are its natives predatory?
Spock: Not generally. But there have been . . . exceptions.
(-- "Squire of Gothos"; what a classy way to say, "Back off, sucker"!)

****

I spent my childhood in the corridors of U.N.C.L.E. Headquarters (see my avatar), and my adolescence aboard the Starship Enterprise. That may explain how I turned out . . . but I wouldn't change it for anything.

Any memories of first seeing "Star Trek," great lines, favorite scenes, etc.?
.

[Larry Delor]

I first saw ST in Germany. Somewhere between 7 and 9 years old. I was fascinated by the transporter. I only saw a few shows, as my grandparents (whom I lived with) didn't think too much of it. I do remember everybody trying to imitate Spock's handgreeting (V shape between the middle and ring finger) in school one day.

We also had a German sci-fi show, that I thought was cool too. Raumpatroullie Orion. I remember them having communicators a la Dick Tracy - on the wrist.


Are you out of your Vulcan mind??

Damnit Jim, I'm a Doctor, not a bricklayer!

[riethoven]

I love Star Trek. It is amazing how science fiction becomes reality. Remember those little discs they put in the computer. Much like CD Roms.

I used to work in the design department of a condo development department. My boss had a stipulation in his contract that said he could have a TV in the office. We watched Star Trek reruns every afternoon at 4. I have seen them all many times.

One night I was watching Next Generation and they really pissed me off because they interupted it to show the OJ chase. Who cares about that loser when there is Star Trek?

Live long and prosper!

Originally Posted by Benzadmiral

Star Trek is 40!

And William Shatner is 75.

[Chris Bell]

Excuse me while I go check on my trible.

[yal]

My first major post-toddler toy was a model of the enterprise that just went around and around in circles attached to a pivot. It even had a "remote" control that just made it go up and down and backwards
Fascinated by the communicator and the old skool phaser gun, and I didn't know what Spock was looking at when he looked in that contraption on the main deck of the enterprise but I wanted one
Oh and Uhura was damn sexy though I didn't realise it until I was a little ollder that there was a lot of skin on Star Trek The Next Generation was tame in comparison LOL

[Benzadmiral]

From one of the earliest episodes:

Spock (regarding the alien who has been holding the ship hostage): "I regret not having learned more about this Balok. In some manner he is reminiscent of my father."

Scotty (murmur): "Then may heaven have helped your mother. . . ."
.

[Dee8go]

I used to love watching that and Hogan's Heroes. First few seasons were great, but I drifted away after that.

Boy, that make one feel old, doesn't it? Forty years ago!

[EricSilver]

Originally Posted by riethoven

I It is amazing how science fiction becomes reality. Remember those little discs they put in the computer. Much like CD Roms.

And Communicators became radio cell phones.

Oh and Uhura was damn sexy though I didn't realise it until I was a little ollder that there was a lot of skin on Star Trek The Next Generation was tame in comparison LOL

Yes, she was. Star Trek women were hot, and not the malnourished waifs everyone seems to love today. I bet not one of them weighed less than 140 lbs. The best figure award goes to ... the green woman in that "Garth of Izar" episode. She was also played one of the gangster chicks in "A Piece of the Action." Perfect legs!

I never got into "Next Generation," but loved "Deep Space Nine" and the last season of "Voyager." Never watched "Enterprise" at all. The original series was great because of its optimistic idealism. Next Generation was just too "contemporary American" to be enjoyable.

Favorite Line:

"They're all dead?!"
"They're dead, you're dead, Cardassia is dead. Your people were doomed the moment they attacked us."

-- DS9: Exchange between female shapeshifter and Garak when he asked if there were any Cardassian survivors from the Romulan-Cardassian attack on the Founders' homeworld.

[Old300D]

The original show set the standard, and was WAY ahead of it's time. I've also enjoyed all the spin-offs, DS9 being my favorite.

[Zeus]

Great show, lots of good memories.

I loved Kirk's leg-sweep maneuvre that he used practically every episode.

And those 70s babes in those funky outfits. Ah, here we go -

[riethoven]

Originally Posted by Benzadmiral

From one of the earliest episodes:

Spock (regarding the alien who has been holding the ship hostage): "I regret not having learned more about this Balok. In some manner he is reminiscent of my father."

Scotty (murmur): "Then may heaven have helped your mother. . . ."
.

Balok was played by Clint Howard, who is Ron Howards brother. Opie's brother is an alien!!! He couldn't have been more than 5 or 6. How about the lip syncing when he spoke. Something the youngsters won't understand.

[riethoven]

Originally Posted by Zeus

Great show, lots of good memories.

I loved Kirk's leg-sweep maneuvre that he used practically every episode.

And those 70s babes in those funky outfits. Ah, here we go -

How about Mariette Hartley in the episode where they traveled all over in time. Spock went back to cave people days and she was in the cave dressed in this little fur thing. She was so hot.

I always thought Majel Barrett was hot too. I met her at a convention and she was a real sweetheart. She had nothing good to say about William Shatner.

[Benzadmiral]

Originally Posted by EricSilver

And Communicators became radio cell phones.

. . . Yes, she was. Star Trek women were hot, and not the malnourished waifs everyone seems to love today. I bet not one of them weighed less than 140 lbs. The best figure award goes to ... the green woman in that "Garth of Izar" episode. She was also played one of the gangster chicks in "A Piece of the Action." Perfect legs! . . .

I think you mean Yvonne "Batgirl" Craig, who was the green-skinned -- and insane -- dancing girl in the 3rd-season ep "Whom Gods Destroy." But I can't find any reference to her being in "A Piece of the Action"; was she in it, but uncredited?
.

[Zeus]

Originally Posted by riethoven

How about Mariette Hartley in the episode where they traveled all over in time. Spock went back to cave people days and she was in the cave dressed in this little fur thing. She was so hot.

This the one?