The Center Seat: 55 Years of Star Trek

Thanks to Desilu's boss - America's darling Lucille Ball - the world met Kirk, Spock, and McCoy.

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.

The 1980s saw Paramount release three linked Star Trek movies to huge box-office success.

In the mid 1980’s, Leonard Nimoy came to save the whales, William Shatner helmed the crew’s search for God, and Nicholas Meyer returned for the original crew’s final adventure!

In 1987 Paramount decided Trek should return to its roots. ST: The Next Generation would become the first hour-long scripted show sold directly to the syndicated television market.

Deep Space Nine was different from its predecessor, set on a space station. Its debut featured an African American Captain and heavily serialized story arcs both firsts.

1995 brought another Trek series. This one featured a new starship, a return to episodic storytelling, and Trek's first female Captain, Kathryn Janeway.

Kirk, Spock, Picard, Data - the list of great Trek characters is incomplete without the Enterprise, Starfleet's flagship vessel.

Plagued by fledgling UPN's under performance, Enterprise's premise was undercut by the decision to make the third season a reaction to 9/11.

From the series regulars and recurring roles down to the folks who just did guest spots, thousands of actors have brought the characters of STAR TREK to life.