In the essential read for Trekkies, “Inside Star Trek: The Real
Story,” produced by Robert Justman and Herb Solow, the choice behind “Star Trek’s” first aired episode is explored. They penned this behind-the-scenes glimpse in 1966, offering insights and anecdotes on the show’s beginnings.
One intriguing revelation involved the episode lineup when NBC was set to choose the series opener in August 1966. They excluded the show’s actual pilot, “Where No Man Has Gone Before,” for having excessive background narrative — suitable for pitching the show but not for broadcasting. The episode would later become the series’ third episode, premiering on September 22, 1966.
Solow touched on the reasons behind rejecting other potential premiere episodes: “The Corbomite Maneuver” and “The Enemy Within” were deemed underwhelming in grandeur for launch episodes. “Mudd’s Women” was considered too racy, while “Charlie X,” with its focus on a telepathic youth, was discarded for being too subdued.
The final decision came down to either “The Man Trap” or “The Naked Time,” the latter depicting the Enterprise team losing their inhibitions due to a virus. Justman supported “The Naked Time,” arguing it would better introduce the ensemble cast to viewers. However, the network favored “The Man Trap,” despite internal consensus it was a subpar episode. It prevailed apparently because it resonated with monster-movie sensibilities, but at television’s scale.
FAQ Section
Why was “The Man Trap” chosen as the series premiere for “Star Trek”?
“The Man Trap” was chosen primarily by NBC because it had the element of a creature feature, which was expected to attract viewers, even though it was considered by the producers to be one of the weaker episodes.
Why was the pilot episode “Where No Man Has Gone Before” not chosen as the series premiere?
The pilot episode was passed over for being heavy on exposition, deemed necessary for selling the concept of the show but not ideal for broadcasting to viewers.
What were the other episodes considered for the series premiere of “Star Trek”?
The episodes considered besides “The Man Trap” were “The Corbomite Maneuver,” “The Enemy Within,” “Mudd’s Women,” “Charlie X,” and “The Naked Time.”
Why was “The Naked Time” not selected as the premiere episode?
Despite producer Justman’s preference for “The Naked Time” due to its strong character focus, NBC ultimately chose “The Man Trap.” The network’s decision overshadowed Justman’s argument that “The Naked Time” would serve as a better introduction to the cast and crew of the “Star Trek” series.