Sure, a 42nd anniversary usually isn’t a celebrated milestone, but when we’re talking about a television series — no, an institution – such as Star Trek, we can make an exception.
As Wired.com notes, Gene Roddenberry’s brainchild debuted on network television on Sept. 8, 1966, running for just three seasons before it was canceled for low ratings. But, oh what a glorious — and, admittedly, often cheesy — three seasons they were, eventually spawning five spin-off series, 10 movies (soon to be 11), and countless novels and comic books.
And what other TV show has had such an impact on popular culture?
So, happy 42nd anniversary, U.S.S. Enterprise!
September 8th, 2008 at 9:33 am
>And what other TV show has had such an impact on popular culture?
Doctor Who.
September 8th, 2008 at 10:38 am
No disrespect to Doctor Who, or its fans, but I’m not sure it’s even a close second.
September 8th, 2008 at 11:06 am
The original series was good fun.
Also this: http://dubqnp.dk/images/to_baldly_go.jpg
September 8th, 2008 at 12:25 pm
Yes, Doctor Who is big in the UK, bigger even than Star Trek was in the US, but in the US Doctor Who never became more than a cult favorite and only a fraction of the many episodes were ever shown in the US. Even now it’s only shown on the Sci-Fi Channel and BBC America but the Sci-Fi Channel’s owners (who also own NBC) don’t consider Doctor Who popular enough to show on NBC, even as a summer replacement.
Oh, and Star Trek actually premiered in Canada on Sept. 6, 1966 (two days before the US premiere) because I watched it then. Anyone in the US who lived near the Canadian border back then could view many US TV shows days before they aired on the US networks. And when Canada showed movies the networks were showing, they were uncut on Canadian TV and weren’t censored for violence the way the US airings were.
September 8th, 2008 at 2:33 pm
Definitely not Dr. Who… If there’s any show that could claim to have had such impact on popular culture, I’d have to say The Simpsons. 20 years from now, which will be about 40 years since The Simpsons made its debut, we’ll still be talking about it and using catch phrases from the show. Just like we do with Star Trek.
I thought about SNL too, but how long has it been since anyone cared about that show?
September 9th, 2008 at 8:56 am
Right now, kids are playing Cybermen, just as they were forty years ago. People will talk about their living rooms being like a TARDIS. And executives will be referred to as Daleks. It’s part of the everyday language, not just a reference.
September 9th, 2008 at 9:01 am
Required viewing: How William Shatner Changed the World.
September 9th, 2008 at 11:13 pm
LOL, Rich… I almost thought you were being serious. Funny stuff.
@Kevin: I saw that special a year or two ago… That was great. I think the best part was Jon Frakes in his pajamas though.