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

Kirk's thoughts,. . .

[cashman73]

It's . . . just a . . . TV . . . show!

It has lived long...

[The_REAL_DZA]

...and it has prospered. Who could ask for more (besides the fans...)?

Re:It has lived long...

[AKAImBatman]

Who could ask for more?

Is it so much to ask that B&B be fired for incompetence? But noooooooo. Paramount had to keep them on until the bitter end. :(

Funny Interview with Shatner and Nimoy

[blcamp]

SHATNER: Money.

NIMOY: Yeah. The big, the big bucks.

SHATNER: Money. The money gets you fired up.

TOGETHER: The biiiig bucks.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/SHOWBIZ/TV/09/06/star.trek .40/index.html

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.

Influence on Technology?

[Aqua_boy17]

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.

Now if I could only figure out a way to turn my PDA into a fully functional phaser...

Re:Influence on Technology?

[computechnica]

There is a Palm app that turns your PDA into a LCARS interface Tricorder, Includes sound effects and works with newer Palm OS5
Tricorder v1.0 C

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.

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:Best captain

[Apocalypse111]

I'd have to put Sisco above Archer, and I'd put Janeway as a very close runner up to Picard. However, I think Janeway's abilities would be better used behind and Admiral's desk, with Chakotay captaining under her. Sisco was kind of average as a captain, he just had some extraordinary people working under him (a Trill, a genetically engineered genious doctor, a pretty good engineer [not Geordi, but what can you do], and later a well cultured Klingon). If anything, his best strength was delegating. Kirk was pretty gung-ho about everything, but fails on several diplomatic points. He's a man of action, but I wouldn't trust him to mediate any talks. Picard was a truely multi-talented individual. Excellent tactical ability (Picard maneuver), diplomatic ability (numerous examples including playing the Arbitor of Succession), historical knowledge (he's an archeologist), scientist (first impulse is almost always to scan and lay low), spying (trip to the Romulan homeworld to find Spock), and many others. He was also surrounded by many very talented people, as was Sisco, but he didn't rely on them as much as the Sisco did. He accomplished so much, and yet rarely had to fire a phaser himself. If this isn't the epitomy of the kinder, gentler Federation of his time, then I don't know what is.

of its time ..

[rs232]

It was the ideal the show tried to put across. The idea of all the various ethnic groups working and living together as they brought peace and justice to the far flung corners of the Galaxy. Remember this was also the first inter-racial kiss on US television, Uhura and Kirk. Although they were under alien mind control at the time and the camera actually never registered the event. That episode was never shown in the South of course.

With hindsight the characters were a bit steriotypical. Scotty the Scotish engineer (what else). Nurse Christine Chapel and Spock as the token Alien.

And right in the middle of the cold war, there on the bridge was Sulu and Chekov, possibly the only Russian sounding name the viewer would be familiar with. Better that Svyatoslav Likhovtseva or that other guy perry stroika.

Ignoring the cardboard sets and the fact that all the alien planets looked the same it did make a huge impact. A number of scientists say they took their inspiration from it.

Re:Death by Fandom

[DragonWriter]

I'm STILL irritated they never explained how the "Heisenberg Compensators" worked...

An oversight that left fans with too much uncertainty...

Re:Death by Fandom

[prgrmr]

I'm STILL irritated they never explained how the "Heisenberg Compensators" worked

You can have either the working device or the explanation for how the device works, but not both.

Never was a fan

[GodfatherofSoul]

I always hated Star Trek. It creates such an unbelievable vision of the future. Everything is so pristine, but you never the the laborers or even robots to keep it that way. Even the actors (in the Next Generation and later) were stiff and spoke perfect emotionless english. Just a bunch of cold automatons moving through pristine sci-fi sets.

Contrast that with the original Star Wars trilogy. Everything is dirty, weathered and worn. The banter added to the credibility of the characters. Humans aren't living in some utopian vision with just the occassional evil alien to battle. I had the Star Wars RPG as a kid and their description of the Star Wars feel nailed it. Lucas' characters felt like they actually lived in their world. They weren't impressed with their own technology. I remember after the first shot of the Millenium Falcon (which is amazing to the movie viewer), Luke calls it a piece of junk. It's a small remark, but it tells you a hell of a lot about the setting the writer is trying to present.

Re:Never was a fan

[PCM2]

I always hated Star Trek. It creates such an unbelievable vision of the future. Everything is so pristine, but you never the the laborers or even robots to keep it that way... Contrast that with the original Star Wars trilogy. Everything is dirty, weathered and worn.

In the original show you see the support crew a couple times, in early episodes. Maintenance men don't typically make for great drama. And to be fair, the Enterprise is a military ship. Go tour a Navy aircraft carrier sometime and you'll probably find it's pretty clean and everybody's pretty well-behaved when they're on duty, because that's how you run a military. The inside of the Death Star was pretty clean too. It was just Tatooine that looked like a 70s party town. It sounds like you just prefer the aesthetic of Star Wars, but come on ... do you think the Millennium Falcon would really look like it did, if it was designed to take off and land through planetary atmospheres? All those little panels and radars and things would fly right off. Look at the troubles the space shuttle has just putting a little paint and insulation on its fuel tank. Star Wars looks cool but that's not the same thing as being "more realistic."

Remember remember...

[Arceliar]

Remember Remember the Eighth of September
The Enterprise, phasers, and Spock
I know of no reason that Star Trek's first season
Should ever be forgot

Sorry, I couldn't resist.