Star Trek

The Original Series

“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 The Original Series follows the adventures of the starship USS Enterprise (NCC-1701) and its crew. The show is set in the Milky Way galaxy, from 2266 to 2269. The ship and its crew are led by Captain James T. Kirk, First Offer and Science Officer Spock, and Chief Medical Officer Leonard H. “Bones” McCoy.


Star Trek was created by Gene Roddenberry and produced by Paramount Pictures. It was produced 1966 to 1969. The show was canceled after 3 seasons. However, the series became a hit in broadcast syndication in the 1970s, achieving cult classic status and developing influence on popular culture. This led to Star Trek becoming a franchise consisting of many tv series, films, books, games, and toys. Star Trek: The Original Series is now considered one of the most popular and influential tv series of all time.


Picture of starship Enterprise NCC-1701.

Starship USS Enterprise NCC-1701.

Interesting Facts

  • It was one of the first shows to feature an interracial kiss between Captain Kirk and Uhura.
  • Nichols (Uhura) was going to leave the show at one point but then Martin Luther King Jr. convinced her to stay.
  • The original number one was a woman in the first pilot episode, "The Cage". However, test audiences did not like the character so it was removed.
  • One of the most popular catchprases from the show "Beam me up, Scotty" is never actually said in the show.
  • Nimoy (Spock) sucessfully fought for equal pay for the cast after he learned Nichols (Uhura) wasn't being paid as much as other cast members.
  • The design of the Enterprise almost ended up being upside down, although it was ultimately decided it would be too disorienting for audiences.
  • While acting for the show, Nimoy (Spock) thought of the vulcan salute and improvised the vulcan nerve pinch idea in a scene where the script called for him to punch Captain Kirk.
Picture of Gene Roddenberry

Gene Roddenberry, the creator of Star Trek.

Cast

  • William Shatner as James T. Kirk.
  • Leonard Nimoy as Spock.
  • DeForest Kelley as Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy.
  • James Doohan as Montgomery "Scotty" Scott.
  • Nichelle Nichols as Nyota Uhura.
  • Walter Koenig as Pavel Chekov.
  • Majel Barrett as Christine Chapel and computer voices.
  • Grace Lee Whitney as Janice Rand.
  • And many guest appearances.
Picture of Star Trek The Original Series Cast.

From left to right: Scotty, Chekov, Bones, Chapel, Kirk, Uhura, Spock, and Sulu.


Picture of William Shatner (James T. Kirk)

William Shatner as James T. Kirk, the Captain of the starship Enterprise.