The New Fan's Guide to All the "Star Trek" TV Series By Nigel Mitchell Updated May 09, 2016. If you're new to the Star Trek franchise, the idea of catching up might be overwhelming. But there are only six shows that have aired on television, so you can catch up.Here's an overview of all the other Star Trek shows that have aired on television. Promotional photo from Star Trek: The Original Series. Paramount Television 1. Star Trek (Aired: 1966 - 1969) More commonly known as " The Original Series ," this is the TV series that started the entire franchise. Created by Gene Roddenberry, Star Trek told the story of the starship USS Enterprise exploring the Galaxy in the distant future. The cast featured William Shatner as Captain James T. Kirk , Leonard Nimoy as science officer Mister Spock , DeForest Kelley as Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy, James Doohan as engineer Montgomery "Scotty" Scott, and Nichelle Nichols as communications officer Lt. Uhura. Its five-year mission took the show to worlds no one had ever seen before on television.

The optimistic view of the future, and deep science fiction concepts made the show wildly popular among science fiction fans. Unfortunately, CBS cancelled the show after three seasons due to poor ratings. Anyone new to the franchise would be best served watching this series first. Animated Crew of "Enterprise". NBC/Filmation 2. Star Trek: The Animated Series (Aired: 1973 - 1974) After the original series' cancellation, the Enterprise returned in this short-lived animated version. The cartoon used most of the original cast to voice the characters, and writers from the original series wrote many episodes. While the show could explore more exotic locations and alien creatures than the live-action version, it suffered from poor quality animation and a need to keep the show kid-friendly. Though the animated series ended up being disowned by Roddenberry as "non-canon," many fans have come to appreciate it, and have taken elements into the official Star Trek universe. Viewing this series is entirely optional, as it is only partially supported by the later series, but this would probably be the best start for younger viewers. Cast of "Star Trek: The Next Generation". Paramount Television 3.

Star Trek: The Next Generation (Aired: 1987 - 1994) Set one hundred years after the original series, Star Trek: The Next Generation centered on a new starship Enterprise in adventures that brought in another generation of fans. Led by Patrick Stewart as Captain Jean-Luc Picard, the crew included Jonathan Frakes as Commander William Riker, Marina Sirtis as Counselor Deanna Troi, Michael Dorn as Klingon security officer Lt. Worf, Gates McFadden as Dr. Beverly Crusher, LeVar Burton as Engineer Geordi La Forge, and Brent Spiner as the android Commander Data. The show featuring epic adventures and introduced new alien races and worlds. It ran for seven years, and achieved a popularity the original series never enjoyed. Many fans consider this the second best Star Trek series, and some even prefer it over the original. It's definitely a must-watch after the original series. Cast of "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine". Paramount Television 4. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (Aired: 1993 – 1999) This show was the first to break away from the traditional model of Star Trek TV shows.

Instead of exploring on a starship, Deep Space Nine focused on a space station. When a wormhole is discovered next to a decrepit space station, Deep Space Nine becomes the focus of an interstellar war. Instead of a group of heroic and friendly characters, DS9 featuring a flawed group who often fought against each other. Led by Avery Brooks as Commander Benjamin Sisko, the show also featured Nana Visitor as Major Kira Nerys, Rene Auberjonois as shapechanger Odo, Alexander Siddig as Doctor Julian Bashir, and Terry Farrell as Jadzia Dax. The series also featured episodic storylines involving an alien war, and religious themes with Sisko seen as an alien prophet. While it was a controversial series for its time, many fans now consider it a much deeper and richer series than any of the others. Cast of "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine". Paramount Television 5. Star Trek: Voyager (Aired: 1995 - 2001) The theme of exploration continued with this TV series with a new starship, the USS Voyager , being transported to the previously unexplored Delta Quadrant.

The show featured the first female captain heading a series, Kate Mulgrew as Kathryn Janeway. The series also starred Robert Beltran as Commander Chakotay, Robert Picardo as the holographic Doctor, and Roxann Dawson as the half-Klingon engineer B'Elanna Torres. The characters struggled with dwindling supplies and unfamiliar territory as they tried to make their way home. In later seasons, Jeri Ryan joined the crew as Seven of Nine, a sexy cyborg. Though the show struggled with declining ratings and fatigue over the franchise, it still managed to run for seven seasons. This series is definitely one to watch, but after TOS, TNG, and DS9. Cast of "Star Trek: Enterprise". Paramount Network Television 6. Star Trek: Enterprise (Aired: 2001–05) This series attempted to restore the sense of wonder to Star Trek by going to the past. The show goes to the beginning of Earth's first long-range exploration vessel, also known as the Enterprise. Scott Bakula played Captain Jonathan Archer, and Jolene Blalock played the Vulcan T'Pol.

The show attempted to be a prequel to the original series, where they met aliens like the Andorians, and created new technology like the phasers for the first time. Enterprise struggled throughout its run, alienating fans who were unhappy with the uneven tone and conflicts with established Trek canon. When the show ended, it signaled the end of the Star Trek franchise until the movie reboot in 2009. While dismissed in its initial airing, some fans have come to appreciate this series, and it's prequel status foreshadowed the movie reboot, so it's worth seeing. Final Thoughts No matter which show you start with, you'll find Star Trek to be fun and exciting. Enjoy the voyage into history! 'Star Trek: The Original Series' 1 / 25 Galactic Legends circa 1966: From left to right, Canadian actor William Shatner as Captain Kirk, American actor DeForest Kelley (1920 - 1999) as Dr 'Bones' McCoy and American actor Leonard Nimoy as Mr Spock in a promotional portrait for the television series, 'Star Trek'.

(Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images) Reblog Star Trek Classic - Star Trek: The Original Series, Classic Trek Star Trek Classic The Original Series aired from 1966 - 1969 Star Trek Classic or TOS is a culturally significant science fiction television series created by Gene Roddenberry in the 1960s. It spawned a strong fandom (TV Guide rated it #1 in its list of the "25 Top Cult Shows Ever"), and was followed by five additional television series and ten theatrical movies (the Guinness Book of Records lists it as having the largest number of spinoffs). To distinguish the Star Trek classic series from the sequels which followed, it has become known as Star Trek: The Original Series, abbreviated as ST:TOS or TOS. Set in a utopian vision of the 23rd century, Star Trek follows the adventures of the Starship Enterprise and her crew. A voiceover at the beginning of each episode states their goal (ungrammatically according to some, since "to boldly go" is a split infinitive): Space, the final frontier. These are the voyages of the Starship Enterprise.

Its five-year mission: to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly go where no man has gone before. Star Trek debuted on NBC on Wednesday, September 8, 1966. Initially, it was not successful; ratings were low and advertising revenue was lackluster. However, when threats of cancellation loomed in the show's second season, the show's devoted fanbase conducted an unprecedented campaign, petitioning NBC to keep the show on the air. They succeeded in gaining a third season, but the show was moved to a Friday night "death slot," and was cancelled at the end of its third season. The last episode aired on June 3, 1969. But then the fans got a very lucky break. The show was sold into syndication, and stations were able to air it when they thought fans and potential fans would be able to watch it. Many fans soon joined those who held the campaign which made the series popular, and they created a broad market for the franchise. The first six Star Trek movies were based on the original series (and the seventh included characters from it). Fans of the original Star Trek series became known as Trekkies.

To true aficionados of Trek fandom Trekker would be more correct. Trekkie (or Trekker) is a term used to describe a fan of the Star Trek science fiction franchise. Thirty some odd years ago, science-fiction editor Art Saha coined the term "trekkies" when he saw a few fans of Star Trek's first season wearing pointy ears at a science fiction convention. He used the term in an interview with Pete Hamill that Hamill was conducting for TV Guide concerning the phenomenon of science fiction. Today, the word is found in the Oxford dictionary, and aficionados of the long-run series have seen their subculture achieve stratospheric status. We were originally Trekkies, but in the 70s & 80s, that was considered to be crazy, so we became Trekkers. I think in the 21st Century we're Trekkies again. The Creation of Star Trek In 1964, Roddenberry's concept for "Star Trek" secured him a three-year development deal with leading independent TV production company Desilu (founded by comedy stars Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz).

Roddenberry pitched the series to the major TV networks as a sort of "Wagon Train to the Stars", depicting it as a futuristic version of the westerns (such as Wagon Train and Gunsmoke) which were popular on television at the time. In Roddenberry's original pitch, the protagonist was Capt. Robert April of the "S.S. Yorktown". Eventually, this character became Capt. Christopher Pike. The first pilot episode, "The Cage", was made in 1964. Many of Roddenberry's concepts were ahead of their time. He envisaged a multi-racial, multi-species crew, based on the assumption that racial prejudice would not exist in the 23rd century -- a decidedly challenging approach at a time when racial segregation was still firmly entrenched in many areas of the United States. He also included recurring characters from other alien races, including Spock, who was half human and half alien. Other innovative Star Trek features Other innovative "Star Trek" features were clever solutions to basic production problems. The idea of the faster-than-light warp drive was not a new concept in science fiction, but it provided the writers with an effective narrative device that allowed the Enterprise to quickly traverse the vast distances of deep space.

The matter transporter -- which enabled crew members to be instantly 'beamed' from place to place -- neatly solved the problem of how to move the characters quickly from location to location, since the production team soon realised that filming a spacecraft landing sequence for each episode would be prohibitively expensive. The First Pilot The "Star Trek" pilot was first offered to the US television network CBS, but they turned it down, opting instead for the more mainstream Irwin Allen production, "Lost In Space". "Star Trek" was then offered to NBC, who initally rejected it as being too cerebral and lacking in action. However, NBC executives were favourably impressed with the concept and they made the highly unusual decision to commission a second pilot -- "Where No Man Has Gone Before". Only the character of Spock (played by Leonard Nimoy) remained from the original pilot, and only two of its cast members (Majel Barrett and Nimoy) carried on to the series. It is also notable that the character of the ship's female First Officer was changed to a male for the second pilot. Although the first pilot was never broadcast in its original form until many years later, much of the footage was cleverly recycled in a later episode.

The Second Pilot It was in the second pilot that almost all of the main characters (and the actors who played them) came into the series -- Captain Kirk (William Shatner), chief engineer Lt Cmdr Scott (James Doohan) and Ensign Sulu (George Takei), who was ship's botanist in this episode and helmsman later in the series. Still missing at this point was chief medical officer Dr. Leonard McCoy (DeForest Kelley) (a Dr. Piper was present on the ship instead) and communications officer Lt Uhura (Nichelle Nichols). Roddenberry's inclusion of the Sulu (and later Uhura) characters was a bold move, given the conservative nature of American TV at the time (and the deep-rooted racism in much of American society). There is no doubt that Takei and Nichols were the first actors from their respective ethnic backgrounds (Nichols is African-American, Takei is Japanese-American) to have regular featured roles that did not depict their characters as inferior racial stereotypes. Nichols' character is also notable as one of the very first roles in American TV in which a woman held a senior position and worked as an equal with male collegeaues.

Indeed, according to Nichols her presence in the series was considered such an important advance for the profile of African-Americans that when she told Dr Martin Luther King, Jr that she was considering leaving the series, he personally pleaded with her to remain in the cast. Many aspects of starship life in the series were modeled after the British Royal Navy of the age of sail. Roddenberry had intended to make Christopher Pike (the captain in the original pilot episode) similar to the fictional captain Horatio Hornblower. There is a certain formality among the characters; the series writer's guide points out that sudden emergencies are not to be met with a beautiful crewman rushing into the captain's arms and awaiting certain doom. The Enterprise is one vessel of thousands in Starfleet, which is governed by the United Federation of Planets, consisting of more than a hundred fifty member planets. There is no doubt that Takei and Nichols were the first actors from their respective ethnic backgrounds (Nichols is African-American, Takei is Japanese-American) to have regular featured roles that did not depict their characters as inferior racial stereotypes.

Nichols' character is also notable as one of the very first roles in American TV in which a woman held a senior position and worked as an equal with male collegeaues. Indeed, according to Nichols her presence in the series was considered such an important advance for the profile of African-Americans that when she told Dr Martin Luther King, Jr that she was considering leaving the series, he personally pleaded with her to remain in the cast. Many aspects of starship life in the series were modeled after the British Royal Navy of the age of sail. Roddenberry had intended to make Christopher Pike (the captain in the original pilot episode) similar to the fictional captain Horatio Hornblower. There is a certain formality among the characters; the series writer's guide points out that sudden emergencies are not to be met with a beautiful crewman rushing into the captain's arms and awaiting certain doom. The Enterprise is one vessel of thousands in Starfleet, which is governed by the United Federation of Planets, consisting of more than a hundred fifty member planets. Copyright (C) 2000,2001,2002,2003,2004,2005 Free Software Foundation, Inc.

59 Temple Place, Suite 330, Boston, MA 02111-1307 USA Everyone is permitted to copy and distribute verbatim copies of this license document, but changing it is not allowed. DeForest Kelley, Actor Beloved as Dr. McCoy on 'Star Trek,' Dies at 79 - latimes DeForest Kelley, Actor Beloved as Dr. McCoy on 'Star Trek,' Dies at 79 June 12, 1999 |ELAINE WOO | TIMES STAFF WRITER DeForest Kelley, who played the irascible but wise Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy in the "Star Trek" television series and movies, died Friday at the Motion Picture and Television Fund Hospital in Woodland Hills. He was 79. Kelley entered the convalescent home three months ago and died after a lingering illness, said A.C. Lyles, a longtime producer at Paramount Studios, where the original series was shot. Kelley's wife of 55 years, Carolyn, who was recuperating from a broken leg in the home, was by his side when he died.

Kelley was a supporting actor on film, stage and television for 20 years before landing his distinctive role on what would become a cult science fiction series. "Star Trek," which aired on NBC from 1966 to 1969, was director Gene Roddenberry's saga of the star ship Enterprise, a 23rd century spacecraft with a mission to study unexplored worlds and transport supplies to Earth colonies in space. For the Record Los Angeles Times Friday June 18, 1999 Home Edition Part A Page 30 Metro Desk 4 inches; 123 words Type of Material: Correction Kelley movies--In Saturday's Times, the obituary of DeForest Kelley, the actor who played Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy in the "Star Trek" television series and movies, incorrectly stated that Kelley appeared in all of the first seven "Star Trek" movies. He did not appear in the 1994 release "Star Trek: Generations." Also, the story stated that the original series was produced at Paramount.

The production originated at the old Desilu studio, shifting to Paramount after Gulf & Western, then the parent company of Paramount, bought Desilu in 1967. Of the first seven "Star Trek" movies, the most successful was the first, "Star Trek: The Motion Picture," which grossed $138.8 million worldwide, according to Exhibitor Relations Co., which tracks box-office receipts. The story also gave an incorrect year for the film "Gunfight at the O.K. Corral," which was released in 1957. On the Enterprise's motley crew, Kelley was the resident surgeon, diagnostician and humanist, the perfect foil for the coldly logical Mr. Spock played by Leonard Nimoy and the macho Capt. James Kirk played by William Shatner. "He was one of a kind, a great friend and a very important part of a collection of personalities," Nimoy said Friday. "He had the humanist point of view in the show. It fit him very well.

He brought a decency and sensibility that made you want to have him around." The son of a Baptist minister, Kelley was born in 1920 in Atlanta, where he sang in the church choir. He left Atlanta after high school to visit an uncle in Long Beach, and joined a theater group. In the mid-1940s he was discovered by a Paramount talent scout who saw him in a Navy training film. The scout offered him a screen test and later a contract. He made his film debut as a man who may have committed murder while under hypnosis in a 1947 film noir called "Fear in the Night," which showcased Kelley's distinctive arched eyebrows and occasional wild-eyed expressions.

He appeared in several more films before moving to New York, where he worked in theater and in early television anthology dramas such as "Schlitz Playhouse of Stars." He returned to Hollywood in 1955 to resume his film work, appearing in director Sam Fuller's "House of Bamboo" and "Tension at Table Rock." He had a slight Southern drawl and a weathered face that he parlayed into roles as ranchers, town folk and minor villains in westerns such as "Gunfight at the O.K. Corral" in 1956. In 1960 he landed more television roles, including the lead in a pilot written and produced by Roddenberry. Although Roddenberry later cast another actor, Edmond O'Brien, in the series "Sam Benedict," he did not forget about Kelley. Kelley was not a fan of science fiction. But when Roddenberry invited him to a screening of the original pilot for "Star Trek," which starred Jeffrey Hunter, he did not turn him down.

After the screening, Roddenberry said: "Well, cowboy, what did you think?" Kelley replied: "Gene, that will be the biggest hit or the biggest miss ever." Over lunch in the studio commissary, Roddenberry offered him a choice of two roles, one of which he described as "this green-painted alien." Kelley chose the other role. "I'm glad it turned out that way," he told the Chicago Tribune some years ago, "because I wouldn't have been anywhere near Leonard [Nimoy]. He's been marvelous." Although his character often clashed with Nimoy's character, the two were united in loyalty to Shatner's Kirk. He was often beamed down to hostile spots in the galaxy along with the other members of the show's trinity, but was most at home in the high-tech dispensary aboard the Enterprise. McCoy's sarcasm endeared him to fans. "Did you see the love light in Spock's eyes? The right computer finally came along," McCoy said in an episode called "The Ultimate Computer," in which the Enterprise tests a computer designed to run the ship without a crew.

Kelley stalwarts loved his trademark lines: "I'm just a country doctor," uttered when he was faced with some ghastly outer-space malady, and, "He's dead, Jim." Few could have predicted the extraordinary longevity of the "Star Trek" craze. The original series, premiering on Sept. 8, 1966, was a ratings failure. It routinely lost in its time period. At its peak in 1966-67, it still ranked 52nd among all series. NBC canceled the show in 1969. But a legion of "Star Trek" fanatics lobbied fiercely to return the program to network television. It achieved cult status in the 1970s and succeeded in reruns. Annual "Star Trek" conventions were held in the United States and abroad. An animated version ran on NBC from 1973 to 1975, with original cast members, including Kelley, supplying the voices. Kelley developed his own loyal following over the years, welcomed by "Trekkies" at confabs around the world.

In 1989, the year Paramount released "Star Trek V: The Final Frontier," he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He reprised the role of McCoy in all seven "Star Trek" movies made with Shatner and Nimoy, beginning with "Star Trek: The Motion Picture" in 1979 and ending with "Star Trek: Generations" in 1994. (A new generation of Enterprise officers was featured in the 1996 release "Star Trek: First Contact," which starred Patrick Stewart and Jonathan Frakes.) Most of the movies were roundly panned, and the endless sequels became targets for late-night television show jokes. The last in the series fared best at the box office, grossing $70 million. After a while, Kelley came to dread the critics' words. "The one thing I always dread about critics' reviews of the 'Star Trek' movies is they first review us," Kelley said in 1991, when "Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country" was released.

"We've heard it a hundred times, that Bill's getting fat and I'm looking like death." At the time, Kelley was 71, Shatner and Nimoy both 60. MORE: Star Trek, The Original Series: A Beginner's Guide | ScreenPrism 0 The Star Trek universe is beloved by legions of people from all ages, walks of life, and origins. But for the unfamiliar, starting on Star Trek for the first time can be overwhelming with 700+ hours of TV, over a dozen movies, and novels and comics to boot. Wondering where you should get started? If you're looking to kick things off by watching The Original Series, here are some pointers. Aired 1966-1969 -- 3 Seasons, 79 Episodes Starring William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, George Takei, Walter Koenig, Nichelle Nichols, DeForest Kelley, James Doohan In the mid-60s, Gene Roddenberry had a vision of peace for humanity among the constant peril of the Vietnam War, the Civil Rights movement and the looming threat of nuclear war that permeated the everyday American lives.

His original television series, Star Trek, depicted a world where such issues as hunger, racism and inequality had been resolved. Humanity no longer struggled against these issues but worked toward a society of betterment, of intelligence and of collaboration. He created a science fiction show in which Captain Kirk (William Shatner), a cocky and confident but morally sound man led a group of mixed individuals on journeys across space as members of Starfleet, an Earth-based coalition of explorers and adventurers. Along with the half-human, half-Vulcan Spock (Leonard Nimoy) and Dr. Leonard “Bones” McCoy (DeForest Kelley), the three men represented typical powers of persuasion and fueled the core of Star Trek’s story promoting peace. Their comrades, progressively comprised of an African-American woman in a position of power (Nichelle Nichols as Uhura), an Asian man (George Takei as Sulu) and, eventually, a Russian (Walter Koenig as Chekov), presented people who were working together in unity to find common ground. Do all of its messages hold up today? Of course not. Is it regularly goofy and melodramatic? Absolutely. And despite its inclusive intentions, is it still sometimes contextually offensive and frequently sexist?

You bet. But at the time of its release, Star Trek was unlike anything anyone had seen before, and its cult success eventually birthed a widespread fandom that thrives half a century later, decades after its creator’s death. Yes, the aliens all look curiously human. Yes, the guy in the red shirt usually dies. Yes, Star Trek inventions like the transporter were actually budgetary shortcuts that became science fiction icons. This is The Original Series. Crucial Episodes: Where No Man Has Gone Before (Season 1, Episode 1) It's hard to suggest anyone break into Star Trek without watching the pilot episode. In reality, the episode isn't amazing, but it's the first of hundreds and hundreds of Star Trek episodes to come. That alone makes it worth the investment. The Naked Time (Season 1, Episode 6) In one of the series’ most famous episodes, The Enterprise crew finds they are under the spell of an intoxicating contagion that lowers their inhibitions and causes insanity all over the ship. We get a great look at how physically fit George Takei was in 1966.

The episode was re-done on The Next Generation (1987) as The Naked Now, in a second-episode misstep for the new spinoff. Star Trek: TOS - Balance of Terror Balance of Terror (Season 1, Episode 8) In The Original Series’ Cold War suspense thriller episode, The Enterprise comes in contact and does battle with a Romulan ship near the Neutral Zone. The plot of this episode is based on the 1957 movie The Enemy Below , with the Enterprise taking the part of the American destroyer and the Bird-of-Prey with its cloaking device taking the part of the submarine. Dagger of the Mind (Season 1, Episode 10) It’s the episode that introduces the Vulcan mind meld, a huge piece of Star Trek lore. The Menagerie, Parts I and II (Season 1, Episodes 15-16) Spock fakes a message from the Enterprise's former commander, Christopher Pike, steals the vessel, and sets it on a locked course for the forbidden planet Talos IV.

This pairing of episodes is essentially a courtroom drama examining Captain Kirk, which is great Star Trek, and also features the famous dancing green girl, which is great laughable 1960s television. Space Seed (Season 1, Episode 24) In an examination of eugenics, The Enterprise discovers an ancient spaceship carrying genetically enhanced supermen from late 20th century Earth and their enigmatic warlord leader, Khan Noonien Singh (Ricardo Montalban). Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982) is the sequel to this episode while Star Trek Into Darkness (2013) portrays a different set of events leading to Khan's introduction to the 23rd century. Star Trek: TOS - The City on the Edge of Forever The City on the Edge of Forever (Season 1, Episode 28) After taking an accidental overdose of cordrazine, Doctor Leonard McCoy goes back in time and changes history. The episode is both an anti-Vietnam war statement and an episode filled with time travel, humor, and ethical content.

It is also the most expensive episode of the series, save for the pilots, due to its sets and effects, and is often referred to as the best episode of Star Trek across all the series. The Trouble With Tribbles (Season 2, Episode 13) Not a good episode by any technical measure, The Trouble With Tribbles has gone on to become another enduring entry in TOS’s lineup for its goofy, comedy-hour styling. It’s a hard episode to find anything less than entertaining and is a favorite of any true Trek fan. Amok Time (Season 2, Episode 5) This episode both introduces Chekov (Walter Koenig) and the idea of the Pon Farr, the Vulcan mating ritual. It is an episode about culture, sexuality, and human ritual and one of the most memorable from the series’ second season.

Other notable mentions include Plato’s Stepchildren (Season 3, Episode 10), which featured one of television’s first interracial kisses; The Tholian Web (Season 3, Episode 9), one of season three’s only great episodes; and Mirror Mirror (Season 2, Episode 10), fun for its introduction of Evil Spock; Journey To Babel (Season 2, Episode 15), Spock's father Sarek is accused of murder and only Spock can come to his aid; and The Doomsday Machine (Season 2, Episode 6), in which The Enterprise discovers a weapon capable of destroying entire planets, along with a fellow crazed by ideas of revenge. What are your favorite episodes for introducing beginners to the world of TOS?

Star Trek: The Original Series | Memory Alpha | Fandom powered by Wikia Star Trek: The Original Series 42,155pages on Star Trek: The Original Series (Modern) 1st of 7 Star Trek series → 79 (3 seasons), 1 unaired pilot Timespan: The crew during the five-year mission The blue logo from Season 3 Star Trek: The Original Series (formerly called just Star Trek) is the first Star Trek series. The first episode of the show aired on 6 September 1966 on CTV in Canada, followed by a 8 September 1966 airing on NBC in America. The show was created by Gene Roddenberry as a " Wagon Train to the Stars". Star Trek was set in the 23rd century and featured the voyages of the starship Enterprise . Star Trek was later informally dubbed The Original Series , or TOS, after several spin-offs aired. The show lasted three seasons until canceled in 1969 . When the show first aired on TV, and until budgetary issues in its third season resulted in a significant drop in quality, Star Trek regularly performed respectably in its time slot.

After it was canceled and went into syndication , however, its popularity exploded. It featured themes such as a Utopian society and racial equality, and the first African-American officer in a recurring role. Ten years later, Star Trek: The Motion Picture reunited the cast on the big screen aboard a refurbished USS Enterprise. They appeared in five subsequent films, ending with Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country in 1991, during production of the spin-off series Star Trek: The Next Generation and shortly before Gene Roddenberry's death. The series was also given the prequel/alternate reality treatment with a new cast for a 2009 feature film of the same name . Edit Star Trek was created by Gene Roddenberry, whose interest in science fiction dated back to the 1940s when he came into contact with Astounding Stories. Roddenberry's first produced science fiction story was The Secret Weapon of 117, which aired in 1956 on the Chevron Theatre anthology show. By 1963 Roddenberry was producing his first television series, The Lieutenant, at MGM .

In 1963, MGM was of the opinion that "true-to-life" television dramas were becoming less popular and an action-adventure show would be more profitable (this prediction turned out to be right, and led to series such as The Man from U.N.C.L.E). Roddenberry had already been working on a science fiction concept called Star Trek since 1960 , and when he told MGM about his ideas, they were willing to take a look at them. As the production of The Lieutenant came to an end, Roddenberry delivered his first Star Trek draft to MGM. The studio was, however, not enthusiastic about the concept, and a series was never produced. Roddenberry tried to sell his " wagon train to the stars " format to several production studios afterward, but to no avail. In 1964 , it was rumored that Desilu was interested in buying a new television series. Desilu was a much smaller company than MGM, but Roddenberry took his chances, greatly aided with the help of Desilu Executive Herb Solow . This led to a three-year deal with Desilu in April 1964 .

The first attempt to sell the Star Trek format to broadcasting network CBS (Desilu had a first proposal deal with the network) failed. CBS chose another science fiction project, Irwin Allen 's more family-oriented Lost in Space instead of Roddenberry's more cerebral approach. But in May 1964 , NBC 's Vice-President of Programming Mort Werner agreed to give Roddenberry the chance to write three story outlines, one of which NBC would select to turn into a pilot. One of the submitted story lines, dated 29 June 1964 , was an outline for " The Cage ", and this was the story picked up by NBC. Now, the daunting task that Roddenberry and his crew faced was to develop the Star Trek universe from scratch. Roddenberry recruited many people around him to help think up his version of the future. The RAND Corporation's Harvey P. Lynn acted as a scientific consultant, Pato Guzman was hired as art director, with Matt Jefferies as an assisting production designer.

This phase of creativity and brainstorming lasted throughout the summer, until in the last week of September 1964 the final draft of the "The Cage" script was delivered to NBC, after which shooting of the pilot was approved. The first pilot Edit In early October, preparations for shooting "The Cage" began. A few changes in the production crew were made: Roddenberry hired Morris Chapnick , who had worked with him on The Lieutenant, as his assistant. Pato Guzman left to return to Chile and was replaced by Franz Bachelin . Matt Jefferies finalized the design for the Enterprise and various props and interiors. By November 1964 , the sets were ready to be constructed on stages Culver Studios Stage 14 , 15 , and 16 . Roddenberry was not happy with the stages, since they had uneven floors and were not soundproof, as Culver Studios had been established in the silent movie era when soundproofing had not been an issue to consider. Eventually, in 1966 , the rest of the series was shot on Paramount stages 9 and 10 , which were in better shape.

Casting of the characters was not a problem, apart from the lead role of Captain Pike (still known as "Captain April " at this point, later renamed "Captain Winter" before finally choosing "Pike") who Roddenberry convinced Jeffrey Hunter to play. Leonard Nimoy ( Spock ) had worked with Roddenberry on The Lieutenant. Majel Barrett , also a familiar face from The Lieutenant, got the part of the ship's female first officer, Number One . Veteran character actor John Hoyt , who had worked on many science fiction and fantasy projects before, was chosen to play the role of Doctor Phillip Boyce . Young Peter Duryea and Laurel Goodwin were hired as José Tyler and Yeoman J.M. Colt , respectively. The extras were cast from a diversity of ethnic groups, which was significant because integration was not a usual occurrence in 1960s television, and segregation was still a reality in the United States. To produce the pilot episode, Robert Justman was hired as assistant director; he had worked on The Outer Limits shortly before. Makeup artist Fred Phillips was brought in as well, whose first job it was to create Spock's ears.

Another veteran from The Outer Limits was producer-director Byron Haskin , who joined as associate producer. On 27 November 1964 , the first scenes of "The Cage" (or "The Menagerie," as it was briefly known), were shot. Filming was scheduled to be eleven days, however the production went highly over budget and over schedule, resulting in sixteen shooting days and US$164,248 plus expenses. But there were still a lot of visual effects to be made. An eleven-foot filming model of the USS Enterprise , designed by Matt Jefferies, was built by Richard Datin , Mel Keys , and Vernon Sion in Volmer Jensen 's model shop , and was delivered to the Howard Anderson Company on 29 December 1964 . In February 1965 , the final version of "The Cage" was delivered at NBC and screened in New York City. NBC officials liked the first pilot.

Desilu's Herb Solow says that NBC was surprised by how realistic it looked, and that it was "the most fantastic thing we've ever seen." The reason the pilot was rejected was because it was believed that it would attract only a small audience, and they wanted more action and adventure. They also had problems with the "satanic" Spock and the female first officer (Number One). However, NBC was convinced that Star Trek could be made into a television series, and that NBC itself had been at fault for choosing the "The Cage" script from the original three stories pitched. Also, after spending US$630,000 on "The Cage" (the most expensive TV pilot at the time), they didn't want to have their money wasted. NBC then made the unprecedented move to order a second pilot. The second pilot Edit For the second pilot, NBC requested three story outlines again. These were " Where No Man Has Gone Before " by Samuel A. Peeples , and " Mudd's Women " and " The Omega Glory " by Roddenberry. Although it was the most expensive of the three, NBC chose " Where No Man Has Gone Before ", as it had the most action and most outer space spectacle.

However, the other two premises were also made into episodes of the series later. Filming the second pilot began in July 1965 , and took nine days to complete. The entire cast of " The Cage " was replaced except Spock. Jeffrey Hunter chose not to reprise his role as Captain Pike, mostly by the advice of his wife, who felt that "science fiction ruins her husband's career". Roddenberry wanted both Lloyd Bridges and Jack Lord for the role of the new captain, however both declined. Finally William Shatner , who had previous science fiction experience acting in episodes of The Twilight Zone and The Outer Limits, was chosen. The new captain was named James R. Kirk (later renamed James T. Kirk). For the role of the chief medical officer, Roddenberry chose veteran actor Paul Fix . Canadian actor James Doohan got the role of chief engineer Scott , and young Japanese-American George Takei was featured as ship's physicist Sulu . The latter two reprised their roles in the upcoming series. Other actors considered for being regulars were Lloyd Haynes as communications officer Alden and Andrea Dromm as Yeoman Smith , but neither of them were re-hired after the pilot.

Many of the production staff were replaced. Robert Dawn served as head make-up artist, however Fred Phillips returned to the position in the series itself. Academy Award winner cinematographer Ernest Haller came out of semi-retirement to work as the director of photography. Associate producer Byron Haskin was replaced by Robert Justman , who now shared double duties as producer and assistant director. The Enterprise model was updated for the second pilot, and many new outer space effects shots were made, most of which were reused in the series itself. The sets were also updated a bit, most notably the main bridge and the transporter room. Most of the uniforms, props, and sets were reused from " The Cage ", however some new props (including the never-seen-again phaser rifle ) and a brand new matte painting (the planet Delta Vega ) were made specially for this episode. " Where No Man Has Gone Before " was accepted by NBC and the first season of a regular series was ordered for broadcasting in the 1966-67 television season. History was made. The series begins Edit Preparation for the first regular season began in early 1966 . All the Enterprise interior sets were updated, as well as the introduction of brand new uniforms.

The look of the show became more colorful and more vivid. The Enterprise model was also updated once more. Also, the entire production was moved from Desilu's Culver City studios to the main Gower Street studio's Stage 9 and 10 ( Paramount Stage 31 and 32 from 1967 onwards) in Hollywood. Kirk (Shatner) and Spock (Nimoy) were kept as the series stars, with Grace Lee Whitney joining the two as Yeoman Janice Rand (replacing Andrea Dromm as Yeoman Smith). Whitney had worked with Roddenberry a year before on an unsold pilot titled Police Story. Publicity photos promoting the new series were made at this time, with the three of them, mostly using props left from the two pilots (most notably the aforementioned phaser rifle). Shatner and Nimoy wore their new uniforms on these photographs, while Whitney had to wear an old, pilot version. Scott (Doohan) and Sulu (Takei) were also kept, the latter becoming the ship's helmsman instead of physicist.

Two additions made the Enterprise main crew complete: DeForest Kelley was hired to play the new chief medical officer, Leonard McCoy , as Roddenberry had known him from previous projects, including the aforementioned Police Story. Actress Nichelle Nichols got the role of communications officer Uhura , who became a symbol of the racial and gender diversity of the show. Nichols was a last minute addition, weeks before filming began on the first regular episode. Jerry Finnerman became the new director of photography, while Fred Phillips, Matt Jefferies, and Rolland M. Brooks returned to their former positions. Writer John D.F. Black was brought in as the second associate producer (next to Justman). While Roddenberry and Black handled the script and story issues, Justman was in charge of the physical aspects of production. Filming of the first regular episode, " The Corbomite Maneuver " began on 24 May 1966 . Finally Star Trek debuted on NBC with a "Sneak Preview" episode at 8:30 pm (EST) on 8 September 1966 .

NBC chose " The Man Trap " (the fifth episode in production order) to air first, mainly because they felt it was more of a "traditional monster story" and featured more action. The first season Edit In August 1966 , several changes were made in the Star Trek production staff. Roddenberry stepped down as line producer and became the executive producer. His replacement was Gene L. Coon , who also regularly contributed to the series as a writer. While Black had also left the series, story editor Steven W. Carabatsos came in, sharing story duties with Roddenberry and Coon. To handle post-production, Edward K. Milkis was brought in by Justman. Carabatsos had left Star Trek near the end of the season, and was replaced by D.C. Fontana , formerly Roddenberry's secretary and a writer for the series. Background information Edit Gene Roddenberry wrote lyrics for the " Theme from Star Trek " in order to secure a partial writer's credit for the song. These lyrics were never recorded as part of the original theme song, and thus were never aired.

Due to the overall length of the episodes of The Original Series, several minutes of each episode are frequently cut during the show's reruns, notably on the Sci-Fi Channel . Starting in April 2006 , the G4 network began airing the full length episodes in "Uncut Marathons" on Saturdays. G4 stopped airing these full-length versions in November 2006, and has discontinued its run of Star Trek 2.0 , which was a trivia-oriented and interactive version of the show for the viewers. For current airings see Where to watch .

Star Trek inadvertently created a split infinitive in its opening tagline: "To boldly go where no man/one has gone before." This fact was memorably highlighted by Cambridge-educated sci-fi writer and satirist Douglas Adams who wrote in his Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy that, "all dared to brave unknown terrors, to do mighty deeds, to boldly split infinitives that no man had split before, and thus was the Empire forged." The pilot episode of Star Trek: Enterprise , " Broken Bow ", has Zefram Cochrane delivering that phrase without the split infinitive as "to go boldly." The English rule forbidding split infinitives appeared in the mid-19th century; however, modern reference books do not include this rule, and the "to boldly go" from Star Trek is a prime example of where a split infinitive is perfectly acceptable. The Original Series has been nominated for and won a number of awards over the years. Some of the awards include: The series was nominated for thirteen Emmy Awards during its run, but did not win any. It was nominated eight times for the "Best Dramatic Presentation" Hugo Award , sweeping the nominees in 1968.

It won twice, and Roddenberry won a special award in 1968. The 2003 "Pop Culture Award" in the TV Land Awards . The 2005 Saturn Award for "Best DVD Retro Television Release." Remastered See the main article . On 31 August 2006 , CBS Paramount Television announced that, in celebration of the 40th anniversary of Star Trek, the show would return to broadcast syndication for the first time in sixteen years. The series' 79 episodes were digitally remastered with all new visual effects and music. The refurbished episodes have been converted from the original film to high-definition video, making it on par with modern television formats.

Question: In the original Star Trek TV series that aired from 1966 to 1969, who played Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy?
Answer: DeForest Kelley