That also proves that the Nielsen ratings were flawed, and the NBC network executives miscalculated when they cancelled TOS.
What does Star Trek mean to you?
- Thread starter albion432
- Start date
That also proves that the Nielsen ratings were flawed, and the NBC network executives miscalculated when they cancelled TOS.
When somebody's got the mic, they're going to say stupid shite like that, because being "loud" supposedly makes them "right." But the fact is, also, that even now, TOS (and STAR TREK in general, maybe) is perceived as being mostly "for kids." And there's something to that, because so many of us first discovered the franchise as kids. Maybe we tuned-in on our own, or a friend showed us, or our family was into it ... whatever it was, kids were there, hiding behind the sofa when the Gorn was on, or the Salt Creature, or take your pick. And kids' fare, for the most part, isn't treated with much respect by anyone not a kid. Part of it being that when we grow up, we look back on some of the shite we liked as kids and we're like ... "woe! How can I have been a fan of this garbage? It sucks!!!" And part of it, of course, is STAR TREK has always been a magnet for social outcasts of one sort or another ... particularly nerds and geeks.
Now, of course, it's found greater acceptance but the dweebs never left. So, between all of this and the budgetary limitations of TOS, in particular AND its age (!!!), it's kind of an open target. At the same time, if you've enjoyed STAR TREK as a kid, it's one of those things where as you grow up, it doesn't stay in its "kiddy category," because you realise that it was "about" something, it was attempting to take on mature subject matter that, perhaps, you didn't clue in on, before. And that's a rare thing, especially in entertainment ... to be fond of something as a kid that holds up for you, as an adult. And you get to appreciate it on different levels, like as I say, live theatre and so on. That doesn't mean you don't see the cheesiness of the Gorn suit, or the Horta, of course ... but nostalgia alone isn't what's supporting it, as an adult. It's the fact that it didn't talk down to its audience and accepted that they were smarter than television usually assumed them to be.
That could be said for a lot of popular television shows of the time and after!
JB
I know a guy who used to be nuts about Lost in Space when he was a kid but has said to me that he couldn't watch it now in his fifties! I don't know if that's because it was a bit silly, cheesy and the like or just because it is an out of date show from the sixties! I know others who criticize shows like TOS for being the same but if they would actually sit down and watch an episode or two they might find just how interesting and exciting the series could be!
JB
JB
I watched LIS as a kid and thought it was so cool. Now, as a slightly more mature adult, I see how awful some of the episodes were. For example....
Some episodes of Lost in Space may be hard to watch, but I'm glad to have the complete series on Blu-ray, along with Star Trek and The Twilight Zone. It's great to have these shows in HD with all the extras, and not have to worry about them being withdrawn from online availability or quietly altered in the future to make them socially acceptable (the standards of what is PC keep changing).
Kirk, Spock, and McCoy and all the crazy shit they get into. They drink, they argue, they screw up, they kid each other, and they try to be decent to folks. No condescending bull. And they could dream of beaming down to some simple planet and saying 'Behold, I am the Archangel Gabriel!'
I watched LIS as a kid and thought it was so cool. Now, as a slightly more mature adult, I see how awful some of the episodes were. For example....
"Moisture, moisture, I must have my moisture!"
JB
Seconded.
Albion432-- Star Trek meant that endless possibilities existed. The universe was bigger, more awesome, more wonderful than we could imagine. My dad built rockets for NASA in the late 60's early 70's, and we grew up fascinated with space exploration... TOS made it relatable.
Before flip phones, before instant entertainment or communication, before any of the technological innovations of the last 15+ years, we could play outside, look at the stars and imagine hurtling through space at fantastic speeds, saving worlds and learning new things.
C
C57D
Guest
Isnt it tragic that the above is so true?? We just seem to have internalised ourselves and our imagination.Seconded.
Albion432-- Star Trek meant that endless possibilities existed. The universe was bigger, more awesome, more wonderful than we could imagine. My dad built rockets for NASA in the late 60's early 70's, and we grew up fascinated with space exploration... TOS made it relatable.
Before flip phones, before instant entertainment or communication, before any of the technological innovations of the last 15+ years, we could play outside, look at the stars and imagine hurtling through space at fantastic speeds, saving worlds and learning new things.
Geotrek your dad made rockets and ST started there and through imagination leap outwards to grasp at the galaxy and the future. Now most english school kids want to be "celebrities" (that horrid nebulous famous for being famous title) not astronauts or scientists or pilots (like me and my friends did growing up in the 70's). And the only exciting science seems to be limited to designing emojis that sing along with you on Messenger (or whatever).
Imagination (which boils down to what happens if I do this, whats over there, how do I do that) seems to be rapidly dying as we are forcefed mush and nonsense.
God help us all !!!!
This is so true! If it wasn't for the fact that I loathe these Saturday night shows and refuse to watch them, then my daughter would be sat in front of the screen all night long soaking them up! The quality of our television started to die twenty years ago sadly enough!
JB
JB
Incredible as it sounds, I had never watched an entire episode until a few years ago. I cannot remember which episode it was, but I was hooked. The stories, characters, and locations seen for the first time as an adult, are so rich and deep with meaning. Each episode is such a great adventure, it is now one of only a couple of shows I can watch over and over. That is rare. So, what does Star Trek mean to me? It is something I cherish and I want to explore more of the Star Trek universe which is a treasure that is limitless.
The original episode broadcasts were from 16mm film prints, not tapes. When the show went into syndication in the early 1970s, there were often obvious splices where the local station had cut a scene or two to make more time for commercials.The Gorn scared a lot of us as kids, Poltagyst!
I think it's great somehow that the original tapes of the series were so repeated in the US that they were wearing out! It just shows how the audiences of the time really loved this show!
The BBC does not have commercials and yet they still cut the show down to forty five minutes when originally they showed them at the standard fifty minutes!
JB
JB
I would like to add, just take all of the shows in the sixties and compare to the episodes of Star Trek and I doubt they would consider it cheesy or silly. The subject matter done on Star Trek is still relevant today believe it or not and that's why this series was special.
It is indeed Stephon, it is indeed!
JB
JB
Similar threads
- Locked
