Star Trek

In his last newsletter

Dan Malloy

noted the 50th anniversary of "Star Trek." I asked

him

if I could write up

some of my thoughts about the show

for his Hopedale website.

ith generous amounts of your patience, I

thought I would also post it here.

Good science fiction was hard to come by until 8:30 Thursday night, NBC, Sept. 8, 1966. The debut of “Star

Trek.”

In the dark ages the two best bets for sci-fi were 1959s “Men Into Space,” a series about man’s first

tentative steps in exploring the moon. It was my fave as a first grader and I still remember many of the

episodes. (Catch them on

ube.) The other was 1963s “The Outer Limits,” an anthology series

grappling with concepts in sci-fi. Some memorable episodes: “A Feasibility Study,” wherein a group of

captured humans make a horrific sacrifice to save humanity; “Nightmare,” Earth soldiers are tortured by an

alien race to test their breaking point, “The Zanti Misfits,” ant like criminals sent to exile on Earth, “Demon

with a Glass Hand,” Robert Culp is the last human being hunted by aliens who have conquered Earth. It

was the best of the lot.

The dark ages continued with the utter trash produced by Irwin Allen. We all remember these shows. “Lost

in Space,” “Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea,” and “The Time Tunnel.” All were initially intriguing but soon

devolved into bad episodes and the only thing watchable was purer than pure June Lockhart. (I don’t think

any mother could object to that.)

Then came the summer of ’66. I saw the promo of “Star Trek.” My younger brother David and I gave it a

chance and right from the opening shot we were totally hooked. We were there! In front of our old B&W TV

Thursday night, Sept. 8, 1966, NBC, 8:30-9:30. We have bragging rights forever. First episode “The Man

Trap.” OK. Not the best episode, but it was good enough. After the opening shot of the U.S.S. Enterprise, a

totally unique design for a spaceship, and William Shatner’s voice over: “Captain’s log –star date 1513.1”

we knew we had left the Shire and life would never be quite be the same.

Many of you are familiar with the show. 79 episodes over three seasons and only about half still hold up.

“Whom the Lord loveth he chaseneth.” Who in Hopedale loved Star Trek more than I? And did I ever chasten

the show. By the third season it was a horrible mess and everyone knew it. But I kept watching the way old

Red Sox fans did hoping against hope that somehow the magic would return. It never did. Even in the

incarnations that followed, “Star Trek” only got one thing right, “The Wrath of Khan.” Otherwise… “game over,

man! Game over!” (Hudson from “Aliens.”)

But when Star Trek was good there was nothing better; not to my 13 year old mind. Who can forget the

conscience stricken Romulan commander in “Balance of Terror?” Spock hijacking the Enterprise in “The

Menagerie.” Two starships duking it out with an indestructible planet killer in “The Doomsday Machine.”

Laughing at Kirk buried in tribbles. “Amok Time,” Mr. Spock is getting married! Or the heart-wrenching

sacrifice Kirk makes in “City on the Edge of Forever,” an award-winning episode considered by many to be

Star Trek’s finest hour. There were many, many others.

I had “Star Trek” on the brain, no doubt about it. I wrote up three episodes word for word (having used an old

reel-to-reel to record the episodes). I still have them. The idea was to write all my faves the same way.

Never have quite gotten around to it. I did write an original Star Trek story, “The Vulcan Stone.” My brother

loved it. (Thanks, Dave). But, honestly, it was pretty good. I even wrote it into script format and sent it

Hollywood. Never did hear a thing back. Ah, but one night I’m watching “Star Trek: The Next Generation” (a

homage to pastel colors, lackluster music and Haagen-Dazs vanilla ice cream) and what to my wondering

eyes did I see? My story! Well, elements of my story infused into an episode. I could never prove it in a court

of law (and wouldn’t want to) but I know someone read my story. (“When you know, you know!” Charlie

Sheen, “Platoon”)

I’m not upset they stole it. I’m not upset they didn’t pay me. I’m not upset they didn’t give me credit. I’m upset

they turned it into another offering of mediocrity to the now pagan gods of Star Trek. Still…to know

something of you has entered the Star Trek omniverse, well, I smile over it.

Better TV shows have been made: “The X-Files,” “The West Wing,” “The Shield,” “Breaking Bad,” “Game of

Thrones.” But those twenty or so really good episodes of Star Trek will always be my faves. Like…well, like

our Red Sox or whoever your best friend was at 15…or your first love…that’s where they stay, in your heart -

foreve

HOME

DAYS OF STAR TREK PASSED
(Or how I learned to stop worrying and fall in love with Yeoman Rand)

By Fred S. Loeper