Summary
The originalStar Trekseries aired in 1966 and only lasted three seasons before being unceremoniously canceled, and if not for the dedication and love of fans, it might have faded into obscurity forever. Almost sixty years later, andStar Trekis one of media and entertainment’s biggest IPs, and it’s still thriving, resonating with audiences and looking into humanity’s future.
Star Trekfans might want to mark their calendars this weekend and ensure they have time to commemorateStar Trek Daythis year, which takes place on September 8th. Of course, one of the most popular and longest-running science fiction franchises would have a special day, and this year,there’s even more to celebrate.
5Save The Date
On This Day In 1966
September 8th wasn’t chosen randomly or to coincide with back-to-school trends. On this date in 1966,the first official episode ofStar Trek, “The Man Trap,” aired on NBC. The show had two previous pilots, “The Cage” and “Where No Man Has Gone Before,” which was unusual in the first place. The plot makes Dr. McCoy the main protagonist and sets up the triumvirate of Spock, Kirk, and Bones as the main characters. There’s also some exposition included regarding the mission of the Enterprise, and the writing sets the trend of including a twist and a moral in every story.
Despite the popularity of the show, it stubbornly remained a niche interest, which is partly why it was canceled in February of 1969. However, the show lived on through syndication, and the fan base grew over the years to prompta whole library of spin-offs and sequels, starting with movies in the late 1970s and new TV shows in the 1990s.
4The Fifth Annual Celebration
Five Years After The First “Official” Star Trek Day
A lot of people who enjoyStar Trek(even dedicated fans) aren’t aware that there’s a Star Trek Day, but it’s been a thing for a while. The first Star Trek Day was officially announced and celebrated by Paramount 5 years ago, but fans and the companies that cater to them have made the occasional nod to September 8th as a special day in previous years.
One of the best-known was the Oreo promotion in 2012 that featured an Enterprise with one of the iconic black and white cookies as the ship’s saucer, in celebration of “the 46th annual Star Trek Day.” There was also the occasional"Google Doodle"created to mark the occasion along with smaller, private events staged by fans.
3Everyone Has A Mission
A Different Year And A Different Theme
Previous Star Trek Days were focused on the commemoration of the first airing of the show, but these days, the holiday encourages looking into the future as much as celebrating the past. The fact is thatStar Trekwas “woke” before the concept even existed, and fans who know the history of the show understand how stars like Nichelle Nichols, Leonard Nimoy, and George Takei fought for inclusion.
At the time, fans were even upset about Spock’s pointed ears, as if confirming the racism that Roddenberry challenged in the show. Making a Russian character a helmsman at the height of the Cold War was peak subversion during this time. There was eventalk of a gay character, but NBC always pushed against it. Following Gene Roddenberry’s vision of a future in which humanity had grown out of its bigotry toreach outside the bounds of Earth, the publicity for the shows is also integrated with promotions for outreach and charity organizations.
2"Pop Up" Activations
Three Cities Have Been Designated For Special Events
AnyTrekfans who are lucky enough to live in any one of these three cities can enjoy what is known as “pop-up activations.” These are small events that feature a famous prop, character, or other famousStar Trekfeature that most people would recognize.
This year, the theme of “Take the Chair, Make an Impact” is somewhat literal, featuring a display of the iconic Captain’s chair. This year, the chairs in Berlin and Vancouver are constructed from sustainable materials as a nod tothe ongoing environmental crisis. Fans can sit in the chair, take a photo, and get a “personalized mission” connected to one of the progressive charities that are also participating in the event.
1Free Star Trek
Paramount+ Is Giving Away Stuff
What better way to commemorate one of history’s most successful media franchises than by watching some of the shows or movies? For those living in the United States, Paramount+ is offering a part of their library to watch for free between September 7th and September 13th.
The samples chosen are some of the more famous episodes from every serializedStar TrekTV show, even the animated ones. “The Cage” fromTOS, and more recent shows such asStar Trek: Discovery, “The Vulcan Hello,” andtheStar Trek: Picardepisode, “Remembrance,“are included. It’s also possible to watch a few of these shows on AppleTV, Amazon, Roku, and Paramount’s official YouTube channel.
