# Star Trek (TOS) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** tv-shows-scripted, star-trek-paramount\ **Created:** [September 21, 2020, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-tos/921122 "2020-09-21T05:26:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 15
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2020, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-tos/921122/281 "2020-10-08T15:04:16Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > I read somewhere that Roddenberry was originally trying to sell it to the TV executives as “Wagon Train to the Stars”. And I’ve read that what he wanted to make was something like a play on Darwin’s 5 year journey on the HMS Beagle, but TV executives wanted the “wagon train to the stars.” ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2020, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-tos/921122/282 "2020-10-08T15:12:35Z")
Interesting. I’ve never heard this; do you have a cite? “Wagon Train to the Stars” was the phrase used in the original 1964 series format. _ **Wagon Train** _ was a popular TV series at the time, and the concept behind it was an easy one to grasp. While “Voyage of the _Beagle_” might be better in terms of science and discovery, I doubt it would have the same appeal to network executives. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2020, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-tos/921122/283 "2020-10-08T15:13:45Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > And I’ve read that what he wanted to make was something like a play on Darwin’s 5 year journey on the HMS Beagle That and a bit of “Hornblower in Space.” And if you look at the 1951 Gregory Peck film, that’s what they got. That movie is the second best Star Trek film. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2020, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-tos/921122/284 "2020-10-08T15:19:00Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > Interesting. I’ve never heard this; do you have a cite? > …Roddenberry was already developing an idea called _Hawaii Passage_ that involved a multi-racial ship crew that explored the ocean. One of his influences for the series had been _The Voyage of the Beagle_ , which referred to Charles Darwin’s five year journey around the world to discover strange, new species of animals. Roddenberry then decided to switch the concept from a sea-going ship to one in space, and _Star Trek_ was born. > Roddenberry wrote up a script, but rather than calling it “Episode 1” it was called “Voyage 1”. He took it to Desilu Productions, the production company that made _I Love Lucy_ . They loved the idea and went with him to pitch it to several networks. CBS already had a science fiction show in the works called _Lost in Space_ , and had to pass. Desilu’s second stop was NBC, where producer Herb Solow had a connection. He emphasized Roddenberry’s past work on westerns, the most popular genre at the time, and pitched it as “Wagon Train to the stars.” > **[The Long Trek to the Stars: Celebrating 50 Years of Star Trek](https://nerdist.com/article/the-long-trek-to-the-stars-celebrating-50-years-of-star-trek/)** > > Fifty years ago, one of the most culturally significant television shows of all time began to air. It was unusual in its style and content and while most science fiction shows were made for children, this had mature themes. Other shows at the... ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2020, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-tos/921122/285 "2020-10-08T15:29:09Z")
Again, interesting. I don’t have my copy of Solow and Justman’s book handy, but I remember Herb’s version of the story differs substantially. He never mentions _ **Hawaii Passage** _ and was critical of using _ **Wagon Train** _ to pitch the series. He thought _ **Gulliver’s Travels** _ was a better description. They did talk a lot about the series format before they went to the networks with it. Imagine that instead of Captain Kirk, we might have had Captain Gulliver… > **[Goodreads](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1138973.Inside_Star_Trek)** > > Discover and share books you love on Goodreads. ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2020, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-tos/921122/286 "2020-10-08T15:53:24Z")
I’ve read by the way, that the point of referring to Star Trek as “Wagon Train to the Stars” was to reflect the fact that Wagon Train had recurring lead characters who are put into a variety of situations that allow them to interact with guest stars going through dramatic events. And that’s pretty much what Star Trek turned out to be. Kirk, Spock and the gang encounter Frank Gorshin, or Ricardo Montalban, or Teri Garr, or William Campbell, and deal with the problems that those guests produce. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2020, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-tos/921122/287 "2020-10-08T15:55:08Z")
That’s basically the description given in the original series format. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2020, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-tos/921122/288 "2020-10-08T16:05:02Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > That and a bit of “Hornblower in Space.” And if you look at the 1951 Gregory Peck film, that’s what they got. That movie is the second best Star Trek film. 🙂 Nonsense. The second-best Trek film was _Forbidden Planet_, narrowly edging past _Galaxy Quest_. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2020, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-tos/921122/289 "2020-10-08T16:07:33Z")
Nothing in the entire history of human drama edges past _Galaxy Quest_. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2020, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-tos/921122/290 "2020-10-08T16:11:08Z")
Thanks. Just trying to make the point that “like Wagon Train” doesn’t necessarily mean “a space Western.” ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2020, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-tos/921122/291 "2020-10-08T16:43:44Z")
NOW they tell us! “Route 66 to the stars” would also have worked, and been less ambiguous. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2020, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-tos/921122/292 "2020-10-08T17:18:43Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Nothing in the entire history of human drama edges past _Galaxy Quest_. 😉 Oh … that’s not right! The best part has to be when Gwen says “ ~~fuck~~ screw this!” It was almost like the dub was done for comedy. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2020, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-tos/921122/293 "2020-10-08T17:22:50Z")
Are you sure we’re not mind-melded? Those are my two favorite moments as well. Might have to spend some time youtubing GQ clips this afternoon. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2020, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-tos/921122/294 "2020-10-08T17:23:50Z")
“This episode was _badly written_!” ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2020, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-tos/921122/295 "2020-10-08T17:38:37Z")
[![]( "YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YglIokqAfY) [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/gqRdT8m1Suo/hqdefault.jpg "Galaxy Quest Chompers") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqRdT8m1Suo) ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2020, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-tos/921122/296 "2020-10-08T17:44:58Z")
We gotta get out of here before one of those things kills (LSL)Guy. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2020, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-tos/921122/297 "2020-10-08T17:53:51Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > “Route 66 to the stars” would also have worked, and been less ambiguous. Someone (David Gerrold in Starlog?) called the Enterprise a “cosmic Mary Worth” for butting into other people’s personal problems. That, too, is a fair network pitch, ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2020, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-tos/921122/298 "2020-10-08T17:58:19Z")
> [@Kent\_Clark](#): > > Nonsense. The second-best Trek film was _Forbidden Planet_ , narrowly edging past _Galaxy Quest_ . Arguably: Wrath of Khan Forbidden Planet Captain Horatio Hornblower Galaxy Quest, downgraded just a bit because of the parody elements. 2 and 3 are so equal. FP is true Sci Fi (mosters from the Id, John!) but CHH’s ship to ship battles are pure Star Trek. Kirk couldn’t have done a better job against the Natividad, beating a superior opponent by getting her guns nearly underwater. And sneaking into the French port is pure Kirk. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2020, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-tos/921122/299 "2020-10-08T20:21:48Z")
> [@Kent\_Clark](#): > > Nonsense. The second-best Trek film was _Forbidden Planet_, narrowly edging past _Galaxy Quest_. Allegedly, the hibernation units from _Forbidden Planet_ were repurposed into the _Star Trek_ transportation room. So… yeah, there’s a connection there… ---
**Author:** ![CaptMurdock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/captmurdock/32/11736_2.png) [@CaptMurdock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaptMurdock)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2020, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-tos/921122/300 "2020-10-08T23:42:18Z")
“Oh, I know! You make a weapon out of the materials around you! Do you see anything that looks like a rudimentary lathe?” Mind you, this might only be funny if you’ve seen “Arena” a million times like I have, but … 😆 😂 😆 🤣 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-tos/921122.md?page=14) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-tos/921122.md?page=16)