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Gene Roddenberry's Star Trek remains one of Science Fiction's richest commodities. Arguably, it's one of the few franchises that remains as relevant today as it was when it was first launched onto the broadcast dial: granted, it's shape and delivery may have changed ... but would you believe that, perhaps, it's richest behind-the-scenes tale involves one of entertainment's greatest comediennes?
I've known this story for quite some time, and I think it's definitely made the rounds certainly in many quarters which have covered Trek to even to a passing degree. Still, I happened across this article (link) over the weekend which once more gave credit where credit is due -- Trek's biggest fan in its earliest days was none other than comedy legend Lucille Ball, whose Desilu Studios produced the show.
For those who've never heard it, I won't spoil all of the details (I encourage you to follow the link and read it for yourselves), but -- suffice it to say -- it involves the actress greenlighting both the original pilot as well as its second chance ("The Cage" was found much too cerebral for television executives), and lovely lady even ponied up some of her own money to make that happen. The rest -- as they say -- is history ... but when our modern era is so replete with focusing on what's wrong in our collective world I thought it worth sharing a bit of positive news when this funny lady did something that, truly, changed the world, even if it was just believing in a little ol' television program.
As always, thanks for reading ... and live long and prosper!
I've known this story for quite some time, and I think it's definitely made the rounds certainly in many quarters which have covered Trek to even to a passing degree. Still, I happened across this article (link) over the weekend which once more gave credit where credit is due -- Trek's biggest fan in its earliest days was none other than comedy legend Lucille Ball, whose Desilu Studios produced the show.
For those who've never heard it, I won't spoil all of the details (I encourage you to follow the link and read it for yourselves), but -- suffice it to say -- it involves the actress greenlighting both the original pilot as well as its second chance ("The Cage" was found much too cerebral for television executives), and lovely lady even ponied up some of her own money to make that happen. The rest -- as they say -- is history ... but when our modern era is so replete with focusing on what's wrong in our collective world I thought it worth sharing a bit of positive news when this funny lady did something that, truly, changed the world, even if it was just believing in a little ol' television program.
As always, thanks for reading ... and live long and prosper!
2 Comments
I've come across images of Lucille looking like she is in a Star Trek uniform, but did she ever appear in any episode?
No. Ms. Ball never appeared in any episode of Star Trek. I suspect any pictures of her in a Starfleet uniform are Photoshopped.