Star Trek Day

On September 8th every year, Star Trek enthusiasts celebrate Star Trek Day marking the anniversary of the original series which released on this date in 1966 in the United States. 

Gene Roddenberry who created this show introduced audiences to a completely different universe where unique and various species coexist and explore the cosmos together. 

This day celebrates the franchise's lasting impact on science fiction, pop culture and the imaginations of millions of people across the globe. 

The Origin And History of Star Trek

The Birth of a Sci-fi Phenomenon (1965–1969)

One of the most influential science fiction franchises of all time was created by Gene Roddenberry who also produced and wrote with a vision of a utopian future. 

Roddenberry pitched a new television series to Desilu Productions that described as “A Wagon Train to The Stars”.

The head of Desilu, Lucille Ball, played a crucial role in approving the project. After a few modifications and development, NBC agreed to produce a pilot episode “The Cage” . It starred Jeffrey Hunter as Captain Christopher Pike of the Starship Enterprise. 

Although this first pilot was rejected by NBC, they were captivated enough by the concept to commission a second pilot, “Where No Man Has Gone Before” . This pilot featured William Shatner as Captain James T. Kirk and Leonard Nimoy as Commander Spock. 

The series debuted in 1966 and quickly became known for its exploration of complex social issues and its diverse cast. Irrespective of its innovative approach, the show's rating had a drastic decline by the end of the first season. 

NBC threatened to cancel during the second season. However, things took a turn when a passionate fan-led letter writing campaign,  led by Bjo Trimble, convinced the network to renew the series.

Even though the series continued, it was moved to the far less popular “Friday night death slot” and the budget was significantly cut down. 

Gene Roddenberry, frustrated with these changes, stepped back from his role as producer, leading to Fred Freiberger taking over for the third and final season.

After 79 episodes, NBC canceled the series in 1969.

The Rise of a Cult Following (1969–1991)

After the show got canceled, Star Trek entered syndication where a new and growing audience was found. 

By the late 2970s, Star Trek aired over 150 domestic and 60 international markets and its popularity skyrocketed. 

The first Star Trek convention was held in 1972 in New York City, and it was expected to be attended by only a few hundred fans. However, to everyone's surprise, thousands of fans solidified the show's status as a cult phenomenon. 

This increased interest led to the creation of Star Trek: The Animated Series in 1973 in which the original cast voiced their characters. Although the moment was short-lived, it eventually led to the franchise receiving its first Emmy Award. 

Paramount and Roddenberry then started developing a new series, Star Trek: Phase II. However, the project was shelved due to a feature film following the success of Star Wars and Close Encounters of the Third Kind.

This led to Star Trek: The Motion Picture which was released in 1979 and even though it received mixed reviews, its box office success paved the way for a new series of sequels. 

The franchise was revived with the release of Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan in 1982. This led to a total of six films featuring the cast of the original series cast. 

In 1987, Paramount launched Star Trek: The Next Generation (TNG), set a century after the original series. The popularity of TNG grew so much that it eventually surpassed the original series in viewership and spawning its own set of films. 

Expanding the Universe

After the death of Gene Roddenberry in 1991, executive producer Rick Berman took over the franchise. In 1994, Star Trek: The Next Generation concluded, but it was so successful that it led to the creation of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993) and Star Trek: Voyager (1995).

Both the series had a run for seven seasons, with Voyager becoming the highest-rated show of the newly launched United Paramount Network (UPN).  

A prequel to the original series, Star Trek: Enterprise premiered a prequel to the original series in 2001. However, it struggled with ratings and the show was eventually canceled in 2005 after four seasons. 

This marked the conclusion of an uninterrupted 18-year run of Star Trek television programming.

The Kelvin Timeline and Beyond (2009–Present)

After a short break, Star Trek was relaunched for the big screen in 2009 by director J.J. Abrams. This new film was simply titled Star Trek, and it introduced a new cast playing the original series characters but set in an alternate timeline. It enabled for a fresh storytelling and at the same time preserved the original legacy. 

The film was a commercial as well as a cultural success that led to two sequels: Star Trek Into Darkness (2013) and Star Trek Beyond (2016).

The premiere of Star Trek: Discovery in 2017 marked the return of Star Trek to television, launching CBS's streaming service, CBS All Access (now Paramount+). 

This series marked the beginning of a new era for the franchise along with Star Trek: Picard (2020) and animated series like Star Trek: Lower Decks (2020) and Star Trek: Prodigy (2021).

The “Star Trek Universe” keeps expanding with several series running at the same time and new projects in the works, ensuring Star Trek stays a lively and evolving part of popular culture.

Celebrating Star Trek Day

Star Trek Day is a day for fans all over the world to come together and celebrate their love for the iconic franchise.

The best part of this day is that you can join in from anywhere as the main event will be streamed live and for free on StarTrek.com/Day, as well as on YouTube, Twitch, and Facebook through the official Star Trek and Paramount+ pages.

If you’re in the U.S., you can also catch it on Paramount+, Pluto TV, Mixable, and even some local CBS channels, plus networks like Comedy Central, Paramount Network, Pop TV, Fave TV, and Smithsonian Channel.

This year’s celebration is going to be a blast, with Jerry O'Connell—who voices the hilarious Commander Jack Ransom on Star Trek: Lower Decks—hosting the event.

There’s a lot to look forward to, like a special tribute to 50 years of Star Trek animation. From the classic Star Trek: The Animated Series to the more recent hits like Lower Decks and Prodigy, it’s a nod to the animated side of the Star Trek universe.

Plus, they’ll be taking us down memory lane, celebrating 57 years of Star Trek and its huge impact on TV, movies, and culture. And for those who can’t wait for more, there’s an exclusive sneak peek at a clip from the upcoming fourth season of Lower Decks. With Star Trek: Discovery wrapping up, expect some touching tributes and maybe even a few surprises about what’s next for Star Trek.

If you're in the U.S., make sure to tune in to CBS on Star Trek Day, where they'll be airing the first two episodes of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds starting at 8 p.m. ET. There are also special screenings happening in select cities across the U.S., Canada, and the UK to celebrate 50 years of Star Trek animation. These screenings are free, but you’ll need to register in advance.

Here’s something fun-Paramount is releasing a series of short animated episodes called “Very Short Treks” to celebrate Star Trek’s animated history. The first episode, “Skin a Cat,” will debut on Star Trek Day, with new episodes coming out weekly through September and October.

You can catch these on StarTrek.com and the official Star Trek YouTube channel. So, whether you’re watching from home or attending a special screening, there’s plenty to keep you entertained and connected with the Star Trek community.

Read Star Wars Day next.