Star Trek

Lieutenant Uhura’s name means “freedom” in Swahili.g Martin Luther King Jr. talked Nichelle Nichols (Lt. Uhura) out of leaving Star Trek: The Original Series (TOS).l The popular line “Beam me up, Scotty,” was never said exactly in this way in the Star Trek series or film.d An alternate juror for the 1996 Whitewater trial wore a Star Trek: The Next Generation (TNG) uniform with a phaser and tricorder during the trial. She was later dismissed for talking to a journalist.f Star Trek: TNG character Geordi La Forge was named after George La Forge, a devoted fan of the original Star Trek series. George La Forge had muscular dystrophy and died in 1975.j Despite Lucille Ball’s attempt to save the series, Star Trek was cancelled after three seasons Lucille Ball, from I Love Lucy and head of Star Trek’s parent company Desilu Productions, single handedly kept Star Trek: TOS from cancellation during the first season. The series was finally canceled in its third season, after 79 episodes. It then gained immense popularity in syndication.l The original Star Trek series was originally marketed as “Wagon Train to the Stars,” after the popular 1957 western, Wagon Train.l Star Trek: TOS aired from September 8, 1966, to September 2, 1969. The show was a way for its creator Eugene Wesley “Gene” Roddenbery (1921-1991) to comment on contemporary issues through the guise of science fiction.d Scientists from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory wore “Spock ears” while monitoring the Mariner V on its October 1967 fly-by of Venus.d Star Trek: TNG had the highest ratings of any Star Trek series.d