The 40th Anniversary of Star Trek

Digitus1337 writes to mention the 40th Anniversary of the original Star Trek series. StarTrek.com's article has a look back at that first episode, and tries to explore the whys behind the popularity that followed it. From the article: "On the evening of the 8th of September, following Daniel Boone, this new NBC show premiered with an episode called 'The Man Trap.' The angle of the story was different, to say the least: It was a love story with a sci-fi twist, borne of a relationship from the doctor's past, featuring a monster that, in the end, just wanted to live. It was moving, tragic and anything but cheesy. The viewers -- at least the ones who were paying attention -- were hooked." Update: 09/09 16:16 GMT by Z : Just to be sure you're aware of it, Slashdot's own CleverNickName is celebrating the 40th anniversary by reviewing episodes of ST:TNG on TVSquad. He begins with "The Naked Now". You know, "You are fully functional, aren't you?"

Comments

on TVLand tonight

[peter303]

TVLand is showing four episodes tonight starting a 8PM:
Man Trap (the first broadcasted )
City on the Edge of Forever
Trouble with Tribbles
Platos Stepchildren

I think these are ones with new digital F/X, but not sure.

Re:I thought the "Managerie" was the pilot?

[MLease]

The Cage was supposed to be the pilot, but NBC rejected it. Roddenberry reworked the series, replacing Jeffrey Hunter's Captain Pike with William Shatner's Kirk, and making other cast changes. Once TOS got off the ground, footage from "The Cage" was reused as flashbacks for "The Menagerie", with its plot line of Spock being tried for violating General Order 7, breaking the quarantine of Talos IV. The "trial" turned out to be a sham to keep Kirk busy and to explain to Kirk and Starfleet (in the person of Commodore Mendez, whose physical presence on the Enterprise was an illusion, but who saw the "trial" from Starbase 11) why Pike should be allowed to live out his days on Talos IV. The exception was granted, and everyone lived happily ever after.... :)

-Mike

Re:Influence on Technology?

[ptbarnett]

I was thinking about this the other day when I opened my Razr to make a call. And it suddenly occured to me how much my phone reminded me of the old ST communicators especially when I flip it open to make a call. Too bad I don't have the sound effect to go along.

On a recent episode of Boston Legal, Denny Crane (portrayed by Shatner) received a text message on a newly-received cell phone, to the amusement of Shore (James Spader). Apparently, Crane had never had a cell phone until his new girlfriend gave him one so she could send him lewd text messages.

Of course, it was a flip-phone. And when Crane/Shatner opened the phone to read the message, the foley artist inserted the easily recognizable sound of a communicator being opened on the original Star Trek series.

Earlier this year, The Discovery Channel broadcast a mockumentary entitled: How William Shatner Changed the World. It was a semi-amusing look at the technology (cell phones, computers, etc) that was either predicted by Star Trek or even inspired by it. The "hook" was Shatner projecting his infamous ego throughout the show, taking credit for all of it.