September 8, 1966 Heck of a Trek

“Gallivanting around the cosmos is a game for the young.” – William Shatner in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
A phenomenon today, Paramount's Star Trek was anything but when it debuted on this night on NBC. In its first season it ranked a mediocre #52, and was regularly beaten by competitors like Bewitched and My Three Sons. In successive years the network shifted its date and timeslot but audiences fell even further, and the show was axed at the end of its third season. But diehard trekkies kept the flame alive. Paramount tried an animated series for a couple years until its first feature film in 1979, and overwhelming response triggered a steady stream of movies and syndicated series ever since.

As the Cold War raged, the world carried on its hot love affair with spies led by British secret agent James Bond. Forty years ago tonight, American television networks celebrated their contributions in a dominating night at the Emmys.

For the second year in a row, Mission: Impossible (CBS) won best drama while Get Smart (ABC) snagged best comedy. Three of the four best acting…