Today marks the 50th anniversary of "Star Trek." And to celebrate the occasion, some of the franchise's biggest names including Brent Spiner, William Shatner, Jeri Ryan, Scott Bakula and Michael Dorn took a moment to say Happy Birthday.
The first episode of "Star Trek" was premiered on NBC on Thursday Sept. 8, 1966 and fifty years later, Trekkies all over the world are celebrating its 50th anniversary, the much-loved sci-fi franchise and Gene Roddenberry's visionary TV series.
The debut of "Star Trek" on NBC was not an immediate success, in fact, it was canceled and stopped just three years later. Nevertheless, a famously devoted fan base made the sci-fi epic alive and since then ,it has spawned numerous hit TV spin-offs and over a dozen blockbuster films that have ruled the box office for 35 years.
"Star Trek" show follows the exploits of a 23rd century team of interstellar explorers who works for the fictional United Federation of Planets, or "Federation." The show differentiated itself with its intricate plotlines that often featured prescient social commentary, and its great cast of characters among them, the , the compassionate Dr. "Bones" McCoy, logical half-human Spock and the purely passionate Captain James T. Kirk.
To celebrate the good work, like so many other pop culture phenomenon, fans have projected all sorts of sociopolitical ideas onto "Star Trek" in the last many years since it was first aired.
"Star Trek" show takes place in a relatively Utopian environment where there is no money, this has inspired a book called "Trekonomics." The distinctly diverse series has also boasted the first interracial kiss in the TV history (provoking the ire of Southern affiliates) just about an year after the Supreme Court's legendary Loving v. Virginia decision. The series is still breaking new ground even today, with the latest big screen adaptation displaying the character of Sulu as gay, NBC reported.
The original series of "Star Trek" nuanced portrayal of casts of different racial backgrounds and species working amiably together even made an uncommon fan out Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
In 2011, Nichelle Nichols, the African-American actress who displayed Uhura on the 1960s TV show and later in six successive feature shows, remembered how Dr. King revealed himself as a Trekkie during an NAACP fundraiser. Dr. King encouraged her to stay on the TV series instead of taking a Broadway position because she had been a "symbol" for young black women, Washington Post reported.
Just four months away from the arrival of the newest addition to the hallowed franchise, "Star Trek: Discovery," viewers will enjoy a special screening of the 1982 film "Star Trek II: Wrath of Khan". The screening will take place at Linlithgow Palace over the weekend, to mark the franchise's 50th anniversary. This will be the first time a film has been shown at the historical landmark, which dates back to Medieval times, BBC reported.
"Star Trek" fans based in London will also get a chance to enjoy a 70mm print of "Khan" tonight at the Prince Charles Cinema.
Meanwhile, as the fans await for the arrival of "Star Trek: Discovery," they should join in the celebration! As part of the global celebration, fans should honor 50 years plus of "Star Trek" in the most logical way, with a "Live Long and Prosper" salute to the franchise!
Share your "Live Long and Prosper" selfie on online via social media and use hashtags #StarTrek50 and #LLAP50!
The new series of "Star Trek" is set in the prime timeline, and will take place about 10 years before James T. Kirk helmed the "Enterprise's" five-year mission.
Here is Happy 50th Anniversary video for Star Trek: