10 Things You Didn't Know About How Star Trek Got Started

by Debbie Gilbert

1. At The Time, Star Trek Was The Most Expensive TV Show In ProductionStar Trek Before Star Trek, all science-fiction TV series had been anthologies such as "The Twilight Zone." They had a different setting and characters each week, and could be filmed anywhere. Star Trek was the first sci-fi show to have a regular cast and permanent sets. But when Roddenberry set out to create an entire universe 300 years in the future, he didn't foresee the implications. He soon realized that because the show had to look futuristic, nothing from the 20th century could be used. Costumes, props and furnishings all had to be designed from scratch. This, of course, was prohibitively expensive. And NBC didn't want to spend more on Star Trek than it did on any other TV show. So the production crew had to find creative ways to cut corners. That's why Dr. McCoy's surgical instruments were actually salt shakers, and why the tribbles had no eyes or feet. As always with Star Trek, necessity was the mother of invention.

Contributor

Debbie Gilbert is an award-winning journalist who's been writing for magazines and newspapers since 1988. A Memphis native who grew up near Graceland, she became a Star Trek fan in 1975.