Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
50 years ago tonight: Star Trek premieres on NBC
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Man_Trap
"The Man Trap" is the first episode of the American science fiction television series Star Trek to be broadcast. It aired on NBC on September 8, 1966 and two days earlier on Canadian network CTV.[1] Set in the 23rd century, the series follows the adventures of Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) and his crew aboard the Starfleet starship USS Enterprise. In this episode, the crew visit an outpost to conduct medical exams on the residents, only to be attacked by a shapeshifting alien creature seeking to extract salt from their bodies. "The Man Trap" was written by George Clayton Johnson and directed by Marc Daniels.
The story—part of the original Star Trek pitch by series creator Gene Roddenberry—was first assigned to Lee Erwin. Johnson took on the writing duties after Roddenberry disliked his work on another plot proposal. Johnson's first draft was entitled "Damsel With a Dulcimer", incorporating elements from his Twilight Zone episode "The Four of Us Are Dying". Roddenberry, producer Robert H. Justman and story editor John D. F. Black all tweaked elements of the episode, including the title. "The Man Trap" was the sixth episode to be filmed but the first to be shot to schedule. Prop creator Wah Chang and costume designer William Ware Theiss created the creature.
The episode was chosen as the first of the series to be broadcast by the studio due to the horror-based plot. "The Man Trap" placed first in the timeslot with a Nielsen rating of 25.2 percent for the first half-hour and 24.2 for the remainder. After broadcast, reviewers criticized the levels of violence but praised the acting. More recent appraisals have been mixed; praise has been given to the plot and diverse cast but Hollywood.com listed it as among the worst episodes of the series. The creature has been dubbed the "salt vampire" by fans; it was redesigned for possible inclusion in the 2009 film Star Trek but was not used.
"The Man Trap" is the first episode of the American science fiction television series Star Trek to be broadcast. It aired on NBC on September 8, 1966 and two days earlier on Canadian network CTV.[1] Set in the 23rd century, the series follows the adventures of Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) and his crew aboard the Starfleet starship USS Enterprise. In this episode, the crew visit an outpost to conduct medical exams on the residents, only to be attacked by a shapeshifting alien creature seeking to extract salt from their bodies. "The Man Trap" was written by George Clayton Johnson and directed by Marc Daniels.
The story—part of the original Star Trek pitch by series creator Gene Roddenberry—was first assigned to Lee Erwin. Johnson took on the writing duties after Roddenberry disliked his work on another plot proposal. Johnson's first draft was entitled "Damsel With a Dulcimer", incorporating elements from his Twilight Zone episode "The Four of Us Are Dying". Roddenberry, producer Robert H. Justman and story editor John D. F. Black all tweaked elements of the episode, including the title. "The Man Trap" was the sixth episode to be filmed but the first to be shot to schedule. Prop creator Wah Chang and costume designer William Ware Theiss created the creature.
The episode was chosen as the first of the series to be broadcast by the studio due to the horror-based plot. "The Man Trap" placed first in the timeslot with a Nielsen rating of 25.2 percent for the first half-hour and 24.2 for the remainder. After broadcast, reviewers criticized the levels of violence but praised the acting. More recent appraisals have been mixed; praise has been given to the plot and diverse cast but Hollywood.com listed it as among the worst episodes of the series. The creature has been dubbed the "salt vampire" by fans; it was redesigned for possible inclusion in the 2009 film Star Trek but was not used.
Live Long and Prosper!
14 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
= new reply since forum marked as read
So maybe we should let Trump win?
And happy birthday TOS! 
ETA = NYT Editorial - "Who Stole My 'Star Trek'". 
The English teachers growled about it for decades.
