The Center Seat: 55 Years of Star Trek

It all begins when Gene Roddenberry convinces Desilu to foot the bill for not one, but two Star Trek pilots. Thanks to Desilu's boss, America's darling Lucille Ball, the world meets Kirk, Spock, and McCoy.

Star Trek: The Animated Series is released in 1973. With original series creator Gene Roddenberry, writer D.C. Fontana and the series' original stars on board, it is the official continuation of the Star Trek story.

Paramount wanted to launch a fourth network with the new Star Trek series Phase II as its flagship. When the network proved unworkable, Phase II appeared doomed until Star Wars and Close Encounters Of The Third Kind proved box office hits.

The 1980s sees Paramount release three linked Star Trek movies to huge box office success. The first, The Wrath of Khan, sees Ricardo Montalban as Khan, a villain from the original series, return. It is followed by The Search for Spock.

In 1987, Paramount decides 'Trek' should return to its roots: television. Star Trek: The Next Generation becomes the first hour-long scripted show sold directly to the syndicated television market.

After Gene Roddenberry's death, "Trek" ventured into yet another incarnation; "Deep Space Nine" was different from its predecessor, set on a space station; its 1993 debut featured an African American Captain and heavily serialized story arcs.