This month’s header is the third incarnation of <i>Star Trek</i>. You may recognize (unfortunately) the uniforms and cast from the horrible 1979 film which could’ve prevented the story from continuing until Nicholas Meyer and Harve Bennett saved the franchise. It wasn’t always the case. The movie recycled all the plans, designs, etc. from the show’s anticipated return to TV…<i>Star Trek: Phase II</i> which would be the cornerstone of the new commercial network Paramount.
There were a few problems. Paramount didn’t learn NBC’s lessons on when to schedule the show. They were going to have it on Saturday evenings. As if nerds didn’t make weekend plans? The VCR’s affordability was a few years away too. Leonard Nimoy refused to return. He was going to be replaced by David Galtreaux playing a full-blooded Vulcan named Xon. I think Nimoy was OK with a guest appearance due to one episode having him as the head of the Vulcan Science Academy.
The final nail in the coffin was the year 1977 and a little independent film called <i>Star Wars</i>. This made Paramount think again. They obviously didn’t think too hard for they just recycled the show’s pilot and padded it into a rather dull movie. On the upside, Leonard Nimoy agreed to reprise Spock.
Eventually, <i>Star Trek</i> did come back as a weekly show in 1987 and Paramount stupidly let Roddenberry run the first season in which he recycled his <i>Phase II</i> ideas again via Riker (aka Decker) and Troi (aka Illia) the alien empath.
I’m glad <i>Star Trek II</i> ditched these uniforms. They resemble pajamas and probably induced more audience members to fall asleep. Sadly, they’re canon.