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THE STAR TREK ENCYCLOPEDIA APPENDIX 0: TIMELINE OF STAR TREX PRODUCTION 682

Early 1960s: Ex-police officer and noted Western writer Gene 10:00, considered at the time to be a “death slot” because Roddenberry begins developing ideas for a new adventure of low viewership potential. Roddenberry subsequently television series. One of his concepts involves a 19th- resigns as show producer (retaining the title of executive century dirigible a la Jules Verne. His ideas eventually producer) and Fred Freiberger produces Star Trek's third evolve into Star Trek, which Roddenberry refers to as season. “Wagon Train to the Stars.” 1969: Star Trek is canceled after its third season, ironically at 1964: Roddenberry submits a series proposal for Star Trek to almost the same time as Neil Armstrong becomes the first MGM, where he receives the first of several rejections. human to walk on the moon. The last episode to be proConventional wisdom in the television industry holds that duced and aired is “Turnabout Intruder” (TOS). science fiction is too expensive and too difficult to produce. Star Trek returns immediately to television in syndicated reruns around the country, frequently in more favorable Desilu Studios agrees to develop Star Trek, and signs time slots than it had during its original network run, This Roddenberry to a development deal. Desilu attempts to extensive exposure wins many new viewers for Star Trek. sell the series concept to CBS, which initially expresses interest, but instead develops a series called Lost in 1972: Star Trek's popularity continues to grow, and the first Star Space. The NBC network agrees to fund the Star Trek Trek convention is held in New York. The organizers expect pilot, featuring a script written by Gene Roddenberry. a couple of hundred attendees, but are surprised to find the final count exceeds 3,000. NBC considers a Star Trek “The Cage” (TOS) is filmed with Jeffrey Hunter in the part revival, possibly as a television movie, although this projof Enterpnse captain Christopher Pike. ect never comes to fruition. 1965: The completed episode is delivered to NBC, which subse- 1973: An animated version of Star Trek airs on NBC, produced quently rejects the pilot. by Filmation Associates. Gene Roddenberry and D.C. Fontana are both actively involved in writing and producNBC makes the highly unusual move of ordering a second ing the series, which runs for some 22 half-hour episodes. pilot episode, requesting that several changes be made in Original series actors contribute their voice talents to the the Star Trek format. Among these is the elimination of a Emmy Award-winning show. woman second-in-command and the alien Mr. Spock. Roddenberry accedes to the first request, but refuses on 1976: Paramount attempts to develop a low-budget feature-film the second. NBC also requests that the series be more version of Star Trek. Numerous big-name writers are invitsolidly action-adventure based. Three new scripts are ed to pitch story ideas, but nothing comes of the project, developed for the second pilot. These include “Mudd's although James Bond production designer Ken Adam and Women," “The Omega Glory,” and “Where No Man Has Star Wars illustrator Ralph McQuarrie are engaged to Gone Before.” design a new version of the Enterprise. “Where No Man Has Gone Before” (TOS) is filmed with NASA unveils the prototype of its new space shuttle. This William Shatner in the role of Captain James T. Kirk. first reusable spaceship is named Enterprise, in honor of Leonard Nimoy as Mr. Spock is the only character retained Star Trek's starship. from the first pilot episode. 1977: Paramount announces plans to produce a new weekly 1966: NBC accepts the second Star Trek pilot episode and series entitled Star Trek Il for syndication, bypassing the places the show in its upcoming Fall schedule. Production existing networks. This show (also known as Star Trek: begins on the first regular episode, entitled “The Phase Il) would be the flagship of a studio attempt to creCorbomite Maneuver” (TOS). ate a new network, much as was done years later with UPN and Star Trek: Voyager. This proposed Star Trek Il September 8: The first episode of Star Trek airs on the series would feature the adventures of a second five-year NBC television network. The episode is “The Man Trap” mission of the Enterprise under the command of Captain (TOS), which was actually the fifth segment filmed. Kirk. All of the original series actors agree to return, except for Leonard Nimoy, whose character is slated to be 1967: Desilu Studios and Paramount Pictures are acquired by replaced by a full-Vulcan officer named Xon. Gulf & Western Industries, which combines the two facilities under the Paramount name. 1978: Spurred by the unprecedented success of Star Wars, as well as lackluster interest in Paramount's network project, : Star Trek is renewed for a second season by NBC. the studio cancels Star Trek Il just two weeks before the Although the show is far from a ratings hit, it develops a scheduled start of principal photography. Instead, loyal viewership. Paramount announces plans to expand the first episode into a major feature film to be directed by Robert Wise. In a 1968: Prompted by low ratings, NBC cancels Star Trek at the end surprise last-minute move, Leonard Nimoy agrees to of the second season. An extraordinary outburst of fan return as Mr. Spock. support, including a massive letter-writing campaign spearheaded by Bjo Trimble, results in the network being 1979: Star Trek: The Motion Picture is released. The film is a deluged by letters. NBC bows to viewer pressure and resounding financial success, although fan and critical makes an on-air announcement that Star Trek is renewed reaction is mixed. for a third year. 1980: Based on the success of Star Trek: The Motion Picture, a In the aftermath of the dramatic renewal announcement, second Star Trek feature is placed in development under NBC schedules Star Trek's third year for Friday nights at the supervision of Harve Bennett. The project eventually