Star Trek first graced TV in the age of the great Networks, a time when programming helped to bring in the advertising dollar which in turn funded more programming. It was an uneasy relationship. The Networks needed programming which would keep viewers from changing channels. Inevitably it meant that much of the programming of the time was aimed at the lowest common denominator.
Westerns and Spy series were big attention grabbers as were programs that whole families could watch. Star Trek was originally billed as a "wagon train to the stars" by it's creator Gene Roddenberry and it was into that mold of a a stand alone program which nonetheless fitted into a wider, overarching storyline it fit. Initially Desilu studios under Lucille Ball supported it and took the chance on it becoming a popular program. It was her insistence on it having it's chance that gave it the opportunity to fine-tune itself. Without her support, it likely would never have gotten past the pilot episode.
What made it popular? It's themes, the network placing it in a useful time-slot and the fact that Desilu had a reputation for funding good, family-centered programming. Once it was shown, once people had a chance to come to grips with the characters and their interactions and relationships it became popular. As well the drive in the US to place a man on the moon helped to give it some much needed publicity.
Among the constraining factors seems to have been a lack of accurate figures on viewing age range which would likely have caused Paramount to renew it as well it was an unusual program in that it often dealt with tropes that were found challenging to the culture of the time.
Tuesday, April 9, 2019
My name is Ray. I am 58 years old and live in Christchurch, New Zealand. I have been a fan of Star-Trek ever since I saw the original series on television at the age of 9 or so. This course enables me to look at the phenomena which is Trek from a structure point of view. I am looking forward to doing this course.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)