Posted on 09/07/2015 4:19:27 PM PDT by EveningStar
"To boldly go where no man has gone before..." So the opening narration claims, and since it debuted in 1965 [sic], Star Trek became the epitome of optimistic futurism. What began as a cult show--and a failed one at that--became a cultural touchstone, and quite likely the most influential television show in history, as well as a long running series of films. Even Americans who have never seen an episode or film know of the pensive Mr. Spock, the transporter, the alien Klingons and the famous warp speed. As the fiftieth anniversary celebration of the beloved franchise approaches though, Star Trek has become less of a pop culture driving force, and more of a bumper sticker on a sputtering, self-renewing money machine. How did something so influential become something so cheap? What happened to Star Trek, and can it ever regain its emeritus status again?
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Ran out of steam as everyone got old. That is the story of life, nothing wrong with that. Would anyone like “I Love Lucy” without Lucy?
In a word, CGI
The guy may have mixed up some dates but the original pilot was actually filmed in late, 1964 and completed early, 1965. The public did not see it until 1966 as you say
Interesting. My teenagers are somewhat interested in the recent productions, but I’m not. I’d rather watch reruns of TNG.
I think it’s a characteristic of aging that one can get pop-culturally “stuck,” and that’s where I am with “Star Trek” and “Star Wars.” I don’t want to see anything new.
“In a word, CGI”
+ generic, wooden, young actors devoid of any personality whatsoever.
I always liked Star Trek.
Now I watch it Saturday evenings on “METV”. A lot of good episodes but I also realize there are some pretty weak ones too.
A couple of nights ago they had one which was so boring that I started watching something else before it was over. It was one in which they had Abraham Lincoln.
Advertisers just weren’t ready for it.
All the loyal viewers in the world can’t keep a show on if the advertisers can’t figure out what to sell them.
Now there’s more Star Trek merchandise than you can fill a black hole with and the story lines are carefully crafted for young women.
Abraham Lincoln fighting lizard aliens, right?
It sucks because Star Trek became nothing more than a pan galactic cargo transport for leftist ideology.
Star Trek, Socialism in Space.
I wonder who the Paymaster on the Enterprise is?
Thanks. As a Trek fan, I'm aware of that. :)
Well all I can remember is Abe and the greatest Vulcan of all time were fighting a bunch of mean people from past history. Oh yeah, there were these boulders which turned into aliens.
Plus, since the modern Star Trek franchise is being used as a summer tentpole by the studio, the executives are going to insist on lots of CGI and explosions.
Maybe that was a different episode from the lizard one.
I agree on your main point: some of the original episodes were garbage. Some were brilliant, though.
It lost something when it went from exploration to some big bad enemy is out to get the federation storylines...Borg in STNG and Voyager, subspace aliens in Enterprise, the Dominion.
The Abe Lincoln episode was titled The Savage Curtain. It was a 3rd season episode, and one of the worst. The 3rd season was the last, and it was generally terrible, but there were a few decent episodes.
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