I was made into a lifelong fan of TOS because of the action and adventure in deep space. What was your motivation to become a TOS fan?
What Hooked You On TOS?
- Thread starter Spock's Barber
- Start date
My mom was a fan during the NBC run and when she had me the year after TOS was cancelled, she used to watch the reruns on our local station and I got used to hearing it. She used to tell me that when I was a year old and she'd turn on the reruns, I used to stop whatever I was doing and sit on the floor and watch the show, and I would not move until it was over.
She also used to like to tell me that when Spock would come onscreen, I'd point to the TV and say "Spock!". Also, when I was three and TAS was new, the station that aired it also played TOS in the evenings and I used to ask her "Mommy, was is Spock a cartoon on the morning show, but a real person on the dinner time show?".
She also used to like to tell me that when Spock would come onscreen, I'd point to the TV and say "Spock!". Also, when I was three and TAS was new, the station that aired it also played TOS in the evenings and I used to ask her "Mommy, was is Spock a cartoon on the morning show, but a real person on the dinner time show?".
The premise of the show, the story lines (most of them anyway 
), as well as the great personalities of the crew! I was barely 5 years old when TOS ended, so I grew up watching it on reruns in the early 70s. I'm a huge Scotty fan, so there ya go! 
TOS rules, but I have also come to appreciate the new portrayals of Kirk, Spock, McCoy and Scotty and others in the Kelvin timeline movies. 
), as well as the great personalities of the crew! I was barely 5 years old when TOS ended, so I grew up watching it on reruns in the early 70s. I'm a huge Scotty fan, so there ya go! TOS rules, but I have also come to appreciate the new portrayals of Kirk, Spock, McCoy and Scotty and others in the Kelvin timeline movies. 
The setting. The characters. The stories. A perfect storm,
As a preteen I'm sure it was the action, aliens and ray guns.
As a teen it might have been the attractive women in sexy costumes. But the messages were sinking in too.
As an adult the messages meant a little more and there's a nostalgia component too. Plus the behind the scenes/make off stuff.
As a preteen I'm sure it was the action, aliens and ray guns.
As a teen it might have been the attractive women in sexy costumes. But the messages were sinking in too.
As an adult the messages meant a little more and there's a nostalgia component too. Plus the behind the scenes/make off stuff.
I can just imagine GR saying to Bill Theiss, "We have a very small budget for female costumes, SO make the female costumes very small."
Right, "Budget" limitations.I can just imagine GR saying to Bill Theiss, "We have a very small budget for female costumes, SO make the female costumes very small."
For Halloween and to celebrate ST's 50th anniversary, a co-worker and I dressed up in TOS and TNG costumes. If you think it didn't take guts for me to wear that super short 1960s uniform dress at my age.....
In a word, The Triumvirate. The Kirk, Spock, and McCoy dynamic is just that rare, perfect chemistry. Although I love the other Treks too, none of them had the magic of that trio. They are what really made me a passionate TOS fan.
IIRC, Isaac Asimov recommended that GR emphasize the trio of Logic, Emotion and Decision in TOS. I think it created some of the best characters and episodes in the series.
I was a Johnny-come-lately compared to my contemporaries...the show didn't appeal to me when I was in my single digits during the '70s rerun heyday. I got hooked in my teens, when I could better appreciate the intelligent storytelling. In the time leading up to that, it didn't hurt that Trek had become such a cultural touchstone that I was routinely seeing it referenced everywhere from interviews with comic book writers/artists to major comedians' stand-up routines. Guess I should give the TOS films some credit, too, for easing me into the series.
I've heard some people say the best way to get someone into TOS is actually to start them on TWOK. That's probably not bad advice. My dad's VHS box set of the original six films is what got me into Star Trek when I was a little kid.
I actually watched TMP first, on cable, before TWOK was out...and got into it sufficiently to hold my interest. Not sure what was putting me off from getting into the series at that point...it was a slow burn of building interest before I made the plunge. Part of that was seeing TSFS in the theater with a friend, and only after that catching TWOK via home video that summer.
For Halloween and to celebrate ST's 50th anniversary, a co-worker and I dressed up in TOS and TNG costumes. If you think it didn't take guts for me to wear that super short 1960s uniform dress at my age.....
That's awesome
I have no idea. I was 4 when I first saw it. I just know I always loved it and what I love is what probably roped me in to begin with: the action/adventure, fast pace and the characters. It was fun! Even when it was bad, there was always something cool to see.
Also Shatner. Primarily Shatner, actually. Jim Kirk was, is and always will be my favorite character.
As I got older, I discovered the nuances, which is what kept me coming back. Now, it's really like spending time in the comfort of the pleasantly familiar. No TV series gives me nearly as much joy.
I was 4 when I first saw it. I just know I always loved it and what I love is what probably roped me in to begin with: the action/adventure, fast pace and the characters. It was fun! Even when it was bad, there was always something cool to see. Also Shatner. Primarily Shatner, actually. Jim Kirk was, is and always will be my favorite character.
As I got older, I discovered the nuances, which is what kept me coming back. Now, it's really like spending time in the comfort of the pleasantly familiar. No TV series gives me nearly as much joy.
For all of the great reasons already listed here, plus it was on TV every day after school and a few times on the weekend.
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