Airdate Order or Production Order?

[Christopher]

The original network airdate order is only representative of what episodes were ready to air at the time, and thus pretty arbitrary. It's also why a lot of the effects heavy episodes don't show up until fairly late in the season.

Another factor that went into it was the content of the episodes, especially for the season openers. In the first season, the network opened with "The Man Trap" because it had a monster and action and stuff, instead of being a more cerebral, dramatic piece like "The Corbomite Maneuver" or "The Enemy Within" or a humor piece like "Mudd's Women." And they led with "Amok Time" in the second season and "Spock's Brain" in the third because they were Spock-centric; they wanted to open the season with an emphasis on the breakout star character of the show.

 

[PlainPatrick]

You saw my vote. I think I am sensible, and so are 18 others. The Man Trap was first because they needed a monster to attract children. And sex to attract adults. But this is a story. The Production Order is what Gene Roddenberry, God rest his soul, had in mind.He was a good man. Many are not good. And many use things and material fortune to divert sensible Godly people. I am allowed to enjoy Andrea the android (no coincidence in names) but when I am looking only at the spaces in her costume, I am not seeing things as they are meant to be. And that is why Dr Korby was half human, as i said. So think about that.

 

[number6]

Alphabetic Order is the only way to go for any true fan.

 

[PlainPatrick]

Put these in Computer File Alphabetical Order. ^^^sex, - sex, sex---sex

 

[PlainPatrick]

Mwahaha

 

[Captain Robert April]

The original network airdate order is only representative of what episodes were ready to air at the time, and thus pretty arbitrary. It's also why a lot of the effects heavy episodes don't show up until fairly late in the season.

Another factor that went into it was the content of the episodes, especially for the season openers. In the first season, the network opened with "The Man Trap" because it had a monster and action and stuff, instead of being a more cerebral, dramatic piece like "The Corbomite Maneuver" or "The Enemy Within" or a humor piece like "Mudd's Women." And they led with "Amok Time" in the second season and "Spock's Brain" in the third because they were Spock-centric; they wanted to open the season with an emphasis on the breakout star character of the show.

Well, there is the fact that "The Man Trap" is the first episode in which anyone dies, and that equals "drama" to the typical mid 60's network exec, so...

(And don't cite "Where No Man..." as a counter example, since I'm convinced that the second pilot was never intended to be aired, especially once all the cast and costume changes were enacted. It was only the utter lack of airable episodes that got that one in the lineup.)

 

[Harvey]

Hate to be whiny, but production order is the way to go. It's why I still have my two volume DVDs instead of the shiny new box sets. In production order you see the uniforms change from pilot to series regular, and you lead off (after the two pilots) with The Corbomite Maneuver, which is about as close as you'll get to an episode that defines what Star Trek is and what it is setting out to do.

Plus, production order eliminates the obnoxious bit of the yeomen almost getting married in Balance of Terror (but her husband to be is killed)... and then running around with another guy in the very next episode (Shore Leave). Production order spreads these episodes apart.

 

[cooleddie74]

Production Order starting with "Cage" and ending with "Turnabout Intruder."

 

[Smiley]

I voted production order, but it doesn't matter too much to me. The series was not that continuity-heavy, and people changing their shirt colors every so often is not important to the entertainment of the stories.

By the way, why do you have to keep the two-episode DVD volumes, Hirogen Alpha? The season sets do have the production numbers quite visible in the menus, and it would not take much more disc-changing than the 40 you're already doing to watch them in production order.

 

[Christopher]

(And don't cite "Where No Man..." as a counter example, since I'm convinced that the second pilot was never intended to be aired, especially once all the cast and costume changes were enacted. It was only the utter lack of airable episodes that got that one in the lineup.)

I doubt that's the case. As was mentioned in the "Why switch from Kirk to Pike?" thread, the makers of this low-budget show wouldn't have been willing to waste the $354,974 they spent on the second pilot (nearly $140K over budget) by refusing to air it. TV producers, studios, and networks are not in the business of trying to lose money. They shot it, they paid for it, so they'd make whatever use of it they possibly could. The cast, costume, and set changes wouldn't have been a deal-breaker, certainly not in the 1960s when continuity was not highly prized or expected in television the way it is today. After all, the only regulars in the first season were Shatner and Nimoy, and they were both in "Where No Man." We saw different guest stars or extras at helm, navigation, and communications throughout the series, so having a different supporting crew in the second pilot wouldn't have bothered the producers in the slightest.

I voted production order, but it doesn't matter too much to me. The series was not that continuity-heavy, and people changing their shirt colors every so often is not important to the entertainment of the stories.

The episode that works worst in airdate order is "The Corbomite Maneuver." In it, it's made pretty clear that Yeoman Rand is a new appointee that Kirk hasn't gotten used to yet; that doesn't make sense when it runs as the 10th episode. Also, it's such a great episode for establishing the basics of the series -- the characters, the relationships, the ideas and values behind their mission -- that it belongs at the beginning.

 

[Captain Robert April]

In a way, "The Corbomite Maneuver" works like a third pilot, where they finally got everything, more or less, in its proper place.

If only the effects had been ready, that first review in Variety might've read much differenty.

 

[PlainPatrick]

All episodes should be sorted by erectability. At the top should be the female costumes that raise the flag within 5 seconds. After that come those which hoist the sail if you cover the part of the screen which includes her face. The third set would include slightly attractive ones with sassy sexy voices. Last comes the gay episodes. So let me start you, you do the rest. Elaan of Troyius, Elaan of Troyius, What Are Little Girls Made Of, By Any Other Name, Dagger of the Mind. Now please allow your diddle to participate in the ranking.

 

[number6]

My girlfriend prefers to watch in order according to episode title length, starting with Miri and ending with For The World is Hollow and I Have Touched the Sky.

 

[Outpost4]

(And don't cite "Where No Man..." as a counter example, since I'm convinced that the second pilot was never intended to be aired, especially once all the cast and costume changes were enacted. It was only the utter lack of airable episodes that got that one in the lineup.)

I doubt that's the case. As was mentioned in the "Why switch from Kirk to Pike?" thread, the makers of this low-budget show wouldn't have been willing to waste the $354,974 they spent on the second pilot (nearly $140K over budget) by refusing to air it. TV producers, studios, and networks are not in the business of trying to lose money. They shot it, they paid for it, so they'd make whatever use of it they possibly could.

In the 1960s, networks would air unbought pilots in the summer, somewhat to fill time and somewhat to recoup their loses. Most of them were terrible. If those turkeys could make it onto the air, there is no way a great piece of television like WNMHGB, from a series that had been purchased, would not be shown. The same thing holds true for The Cage.

 

[Christopher]

^^That's true, but the practice of burning off unsold pilots as summer "specials" actually continued into the early '90s.

 

[Shatmandu]

Production order makes it a little less jarring to see the costume changes and the "Hey, Spock's a horndog!" moments.

But honestly, it doesn't matter to me.

Joe, horndoggy

 

[Therin of Andor]

^^That's true, but the practice of burning off unsold pilots as summer "specials" actually continued into the early '90s.

No doubt some now come out direct-to-DVD when and if the star becomes "hot".