"Star Trek: The Original Series" (TOS), often referred to as just "Star Trek" before the franchise expanded, is an American science fiction television series created by Gene Roddenberry. The show follows the adventures of the starship USS Enterprise (NCC-1701) and its crew as they explore the Milky Way galaxy in the 23rd century. The Enterprise's mission is "to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly go where no man has gone before". The series presents a Utopian future, addressing themes of racial equality and the human condition. "Star Trek" originally aired on NBC from September 8, 1966, to June 3, 1969. It is available for streaming on Paramount Plus.
The main cast members of "Star Trek: The Original Series" include:
- William Shatner as James T. Kirk, Captain of the USS Enterprise
- Leonard Nimoy as Spock, First Officer and Science Officer
- DeForest Kelley as Leonard "Bones" McCoy, Chief Medical Officer
- James Doohan as Montgomery "Scotty" Scott, Chief Engineer
- Nichelle Nichols as Nyota Uhura, Communications Officer
- George Takei as Hikaru Sulu, Helmsman
- Walter Koenig as Pavel Chekov, Navigator and Security/Tactical Officer
- Majel Barrett as Nurse Christine Chapel, Medical Officer, and voice of the ship's computer
"Star Trek: The Original Series" holds an IMDb rating of 8.4. The show has an 80% Tomatometer score and an 88% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. Despite low Nielsen ratings during its initial run, "Star Trek" gained international success through syndication in the 1970s, achieving cult classic status and influencing popular culture. It received mixed reviews initially, but its popularity grew over time, leading to high prices for syndicated reruns.
"Star Trek: The Original Series" consists of 3 seasons and 79 episodes. The series originally aired from September 1966 to June 1969. The show was cancelled by NBC due to low ratings, but its popularity grew significantly in syndication.
While an official trailer for the original series is difficult to pinpoint, here's a trailer for "Star Trek: The Motion Picture" (1979), which reunited the original cast:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1lzxJ0kyBc
Viewers who enjoy "Star Trek" might also like:
- "The Orville": A sci-fi series with comedic elements that homages "Star Trek".
- "Babylon 5": A space opera set on a space station that serves as a trading hub embroiled in military conflict.
- "Stargate SG-1": A series that explores new and distant worlds while trying to create alliances, similar to "Star Trek".