Happy 51st Anniversary to Star Trek TOS!

Today should always be a holiday for Trek fans everywhere!  On this day, September 8, 1966, Star Trek premiered on NBC.  I doubt anyone then thought it would become a milestone in modern science fiction, and glancing at some of these reviews you could see a sense of doubt. But aren’t we lucky that it got on the air after all? To my knowledge, Star Trek was the only network TV series that got two pilots made!

Unfortunately, the original episodes were not shown in shooting order, but rather the first episode the network preferred, which was The Man Trap. (even the artwork for its premiere featured Where No Man has Gone Before!).  Man Trap was a good episode, but not the best offering for a show that was attempting to be seen as serious. Although the Salt Vampire was seen sympathetically, she was still, alas, a monster, and  some early critics saw little potential beyond that, probably laughing it off as another kiddie sci-fi like Lost in Space.  Bit other critics saw potential, and I think if the original Trek wasn’t shoehorned into a cemetery-shift time-slot by its 3rd and final season, it might have made it to a full 5-year journey.

There’s a part of me that would have loved to see the original Trek progress into 5 seasons (up to 1971) but somehow, I think without Roddenberry as the main producer (Fred Freiberger took over in season 3) I suspect it may have gotten worse. Freiberber preferred action over deeper philosophical themes. In a way, we were lucky it ended in 1969, for I doubt it would become the timeless phenomenon it became in the decade long gap between TOS and the first movie.

It was syndication that brought it more to the masses, nation and world-wide, and when more people saw it then, NBC realized what a treasure it cast away. Fortunately for us, we can say the catchphrase which started in the ’70’s with ferocious pride:  “Star Trek Lives!”

 

Spock the Nerd – Inspired by Corylea

Hey All,

Corylea’s comment below inspired me to make this silly poster —

You and I have mentioned before that we both married Spocks, which I think is remarkable. Or maybe scary. 😉 Leonard Nimoy should have a tee shirt that says, “Spock: Getting geeky boys love since 1966.”

But it’s true ain’t it???        Enjoy, Therese  😛

Spock Geek

New Category – “Hey, That Guy was on Star Trek!” (Gambit-1966)

Hey Kids,

I’m an avid classic movie buff and my go-to station on cable is TCM (Turner Classic Movies).   Often I’ll be watching a old flick and suddenly I’ll think,  “Hey! Wasn’t that guy on Star Trek?” Depending on the movie there could be anywhere from 1 to a half dozen or more character actors we’d recognize from Trek. Of course they did a lot of TV too! The casting directors of Trek always found the best actors they could use for the series, many who were seasoned professionals.  It’s fun to see them in their other roles, and nice to know that they were well employed! Here we go…

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It’s Gambit! (Universal 1966) that has FIVE Star Trek guests peppered into its cast…

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Michael Caine as Harry, with his assistant Emile (John Abbott) who we knew on Star Trek as Ayelborne (Errand of Mercy)

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At the airport, he meets Harry Mudd! (Roger C. Carmel as Ram)

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The assistant to the rich guy they’re stealing from is Kodos the Executioner! (Arnold Moss as Abdul)

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The pretty lady selling him lighter fluid is…

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…(a fully clothed) Kara, the dancing girl! (Tanya Lemani) from Wolf in the Fold

And finally, when Nicole (Shirley MacLaine) tries to escape, the agent (right) at the airport is Jo Jo Kracko! (Vic Tayback) from A Piece of the Action.

Gambit was a fun movie and I recommend it for a good escape. See you next time on “Hey,That Guy was on Star Trek!”

My Weekly Spock (@1966) Forty Questions for Mr. Spock

Here’s a fine slice of nostalgia!  I found this on Tumblr — it’s an incredible, personal and very long interview from Mr. Nimoy in 1966, where he answers 40 questions from a movie magazine.  Love the opening shot if Nimoy talking into a state-of-the-art tape recorder (not so thrilled with the cigarette shot, but  everyone smoked in the 60’s)  Great insight into the 35 year old Nimoy’s mind! I wonder how much holds true today?

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The Daily Scrapbook 12/7/12 ‘Star Blecch” – The Original MAD magazine parody.

Here’s today’s flashback:  From the late 70’s, a reprint of the original MAD Magazine Star Trek Parody — Star Bleech.  Funny and brilliant, back when MAD magazine was the go-to for delightfully skewered satire. Excellent art by Mort Drucker, (with a nod to  Don Martin’s everyman) and hilarious writing by Dick DeBartolo,   Enjoy!

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