Star Trek was created by Gene Roddenberry and was described as a Wagon Train of the stars. The first episode was The Cage starring Jeffrey Hunter as Captain Christopher Pike of the Starship USS Enterprise and Majel Barret-Roddenberry as his first officer (or number one); Leonard Nemoy played a not so solemn Mr. Spock, the science officer (in subsequent episodes he was the first officer). The show aired on NBC, initially, at 8pm. The first episode was not taken well. The NBC executives felt that the show was too cerebral, so they canceled the show.

Letters started pouring into NBC in defense of Star Trek. NBC decided to try again, but since Hunter wasn't available, they decided to go with a little known Canadian actor named William Shatner to play Captain James Tiberius Kirk. NBC decided to go with a new pilot, "Where no Man has Gone Before". In the years to come, Roddenberry tempted fate by producing some of the most controversial episodes of the times. In "Plato's Stepchildren", William Shatner (Kirk) kisses Nichelle Nichols (Lt. Uhura), a very lovely African-American woman. Ms. Nichols nearly quit Star Trek herself due to threatening letters. If it were not for the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. convincing her to stay as a role model for other blacks, Lt. Uhura would have been totally different.

The show covered a wide range of topics from racial upheaval to political intrigue to weapons created for global destruction. Unfortunately, Star Trek was created during a time when people could not accept minorities and women in high-ranking positions. So, after 3 years and 79 episodes (80 with "The Cage"), Star Trek was canceled. "Turnabout Intruder" was the last episode aired in 1969.

Loyal fans would not allow this to happen. Letters, again, poured in demanding Star Trek to be brought back. In 1980, Paramount Pictures came out with "Star Trek: The Motion Picture". Fans were again happy, but Paramount decided this would be the only Trek movie. Fortunately, it was a hit! Paramount started working on a second Trek motion picture. In "Star Trek 2: The Wrath of Kahn", we are reunited with the notorious Kahn Noonian Singh played by Ricardo Montalban. Kahn first appears in "Space Seed" and was the product of late 20th century genetic engineering. After a struggle with Kahn, Kirk banishes him to Seti Alpha 5. In the 2nd movie, the Starship Reliant, with Pavel Chekov as first officer (played by Walter Koenig), is running a survey of Seti Alpha 6 for an experiment. The planet is suppose to be devoid of life but the landing party soon find out that the planet they were actually on is Seti Alpha 5, not 6. It turns out that 6 months after Kirk maroons Kahn on Seti Alpha 5, Seti Alpha 6 exploded and shifted the orbit of Seti Alpha 5. Kahn captures the reliant crew and nearly destroys the Enterprise. One important thing to note, Spock dies in this movie and Leonard Nemoy's career with Star Trek is over, or was it? Nemoy enjoyed his role so much as Spock, Paramount brought him back in "Star Trek 3: The Search for Spock".

Star Trek has been the most successful franchise in Hollywood history. There have been nine movies and 3 spin-offs, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, and Star Trek: Voyager. Gene Roddenberry may have passed on, but his dream will live on forever. Peace and Long Life, Qa' Plaq', May the Prophets be with You, and may Captain Proton protect you always.