MAIN Pop Culture Star Trek

When Star Trek made its TV debut more than 40 years ago, on September 8, 1966, no one could have known what the future would hold for the Captain and crew of the Enterprise.

When the captain of the Enterprise, James T. Kirk, introduced the show each week, hearts and hopes soared along with the music theme.

"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..."

It may be hard to believe, but the first season was not a big success and the show was almost cancelled after a poor showing in the ratings and lack of interest from advertisers during the second season.

A massive letter writing campaign—trekkies didn't have e-mail back then—kept the show alive for its third and final season on network TV. In all three years, the original network series of Star Trek ran for only 80 episodes, but it was enough to spark a movement.

Even with the show cancelled, the fans had their way.

The show went to syndication and the faithful followed. A vanguard of trekkies brought along more friends and the Star Trek phenomenon was born.

The original Star Trek series was so popular that a whole family of shows loosely modeled on Gene Roddenberry's sci-fi series took off to explore the universe.

Some of the many successful spinoffs that were launched:

• The Animated Series ran for 22 episodes;
• Star Trek The Next Generation lasted for 178 episodes;
• Deep Space Nine another 176 episodes;
• Star Trek Voyager ended at 172 episodes and
• Star Trek Enterprise lasted for 98 episodes.

Star Trek Movies

In addition there were the full length films including: The Motion Picture; Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan; Star Trek III: Search for Spock; Star Trek IV: Voyage Home; Star Trek V: Final Frontier; Star Trek VI: Undiscovered Country; Generations: First Contact and Insurrection · Nemesis · XI.

Now comes the hotly-awaited new installment, Star Trek (official site) slated for a May 2009 premiere:

Star Trek XI Photo Stills

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Star Trek Culture

A host of novels, video games and merchandising followed the success of the Star Trek Universe and today Star Trek fans, or trekkies, gather at conventions in all parts of the world to share their favorite stories, dress up like their favorite characters and become part of the Star Trek phenomenon for a few days. Trivia is king and many collectibles from the series are available for viewing and perhaps open to a swap or a sale.

Star Trek introduced viewers to plenty of fantastical ideas—from the Borg to Vulcan mind melds to a transporter that could beam humans across space (NASA is still trying to figure that one out).. But Roddenberry's research made sure that the science fiction was backed up by quite a bit of real science.

“In addition to all the camp, Star Trek offered viewers a surprising amount of insights into psychology and neuroscience,” Randolph Blake, Centennial Professor of Psychology and Vanderbilt Kennedy Center for Research on Human Development investigator said.

“You might have tuned in for science fiction, but walked away being introduced to and perhaps learning about concepts such as emotional expression across cultures, aphasia, vision, brain organization and more.”

Blake and Brandeis University neuroscientist and psychologist Robert Sekuler co-authored Star Trek on the Brain, a non-fiction look at psychology, neuroscience and other scientific topics explored on the series.

“The show’s lasting popularity, I think, is due in part to the detail and attention that went into its scripts and the way it so deftly blended science with fiction,” Blake said.

The Star Trek Universe mirrored the world with all of its blemishes. Each planet that the crew discovered featured a problem that Earth, in the 20th century, was wrestling with. Using Spock's impeccable logic and Kirk's leadership and compassion, all of the troubles in the universe were resolved in each episode.

The captains who followed in Jim Kirk's footsteps all possessed the same amazing ability to resolve planetary and universal problems within the scope of a single episode—always with the help of a logically modified human—but emotional reactions tempered by logic were the true remedies.

Star Trek Boldly Goes ...

In 2006, Star Trek: The Original Series was cleaned up and digitally remastered for a new run in syndication as Star Trek fans celebrated the 40th anniversary of the show’s first episode on September. 8, 2006.

Here's betting that Star Trek XI in 2008 may yet launch an entirely new generation of Star Trek fans who will add their voices to demand that the saga continue ... forever?

Live long and prosper...

Star Trek The Official Movie Site - Stay glued to the screen for upcoming photos, screen captures and movie trailers leading up to the premier in May 2009.

Star Trek - The official site of all things Star Trek, featuring a slick presentation, daily quotes, video clips, photos, trivia, contests and more on the Star Trek TV & movie compendium. Find out if a local TV channel carries any of the Star Trek shows, or catch "The Trek Life," a weekly cartoon celebrating the Trekkie in all of us, along with the latest on conventions and other get-togethers.

Wikipedia - Star Trek - All the facts and plenty of trivia on the Star Trek franchise. Details on each of the series, movies and the planets and civilizations that the crew of the Enterprise visited throughout the run of the shows. Links to plenty of other great trekkie places.

Sci Fi Channel - Star Trek - Search the episodes for a synopsis, some trivia and quotes. Check out the crew members—including info on the characters and the actors who played them—or stop in at the forum or chat room to meet with other trekkies online.

You Tube Star Trek - Includes the anniversary video and many more based on the original and later Star Trek series. Enjoy...

Trekweb - Premier fan site that spins off in all directions and featuring all the latest hot news & rumors, busy forum, story articles, reviews, related links.

Star Trek Schematic Database - Ever wondered exactly how many spaceships, shuttles, cruisers and battle ships there were in the Federation Fleet? Wonder no more. This database lists them all with drawings that will make models builders out of all Trekkies.

William Shatner .com - If you're a fan of the former captain you'll love this site.

Star Trek - Complete history of the original series with background info, trivia, controversies and photos from the Museum of Broadcast Communications.

also see -> Astronomy & Space Travel

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