Several networks are beaming up special Star Trek programming blocks in September to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the original series’ premiere.
Syfy, EPIX and Heroes & Icons Network are among the networks celebrating the anniversary.
“Star Trek,” created by Gene Roddenberry, debuted on Sept. 8, 1966, on NBC. It starred William Shatner as Captain James T. Kirk, Leonard Nimoy as Spock and DeForest Kelley as Dr. Leonard “Bones” McCoy. Other members of the starship Enterprise crew included James Doohan as Montgomery “Scotty” Scott, Nichelle Nichols as Uhura, George Takei as Hikaru Sulu, and Walter Koenig as Pavel Chekov.
The series inspired more than a dozen hit films, four live-action series and an animated show. H&I brings “Star Trek: The Animated Series” back to TV on Sept. 4. It originally premiered in 1973 as a Saturday morning cartoon four years after the original series’ final season. Actors from the original series voiced their characters. Nimoy voiced every single episode.
“Star Trek” also helped advance science and technology in multiple ways. A new special, “Building Star Trek,” examines the lasting influence Roddenberry’s creation has had on the pop-culture, scientific and everyday worlds. It airs at 8/7c Sept. 4 on Smithsonian Channel. For more new documentaries coming this month, check out my September 2016 TV premieres calendar here. You can watch all the “Star Trek” series when you want on Netflix.
By the way, CBS is creating a fifth series, “Star Trek: Discovery.” It will debut in January 2017 and air on CBS All-Access.
But before “Discovery” begins its space mission, it’s time to celebrate 50 years of “Star Trek.” As Captain Jean-Luc Picard would say, “Make it so.” (All schedule times below are Central.)
Star Trek: 50 Iconic Years
2 p.m. Sept. 4, Heroes and Icons Network
H&I adds “Star Trek: The Animated Series” to its Sunday night “Star Trek” lineup of all five live-action series beginning at 6 p.m. Sept. 4. Earlier in the day, the network airs six rarely seen documentaries.
Documentary block
Sept. 4 on Heroes and Icons Network
Noon—“Star Trek 25th Anniversary Special” (1991)
2 p.m.—“Star Trek: Beyond the Final Frontier” (2007)
4 p.m.—“Leonard Nimoy: Star Trek Memories” (1983)
5 p.m.—“Star Trek: A Captain’s Log” (1994)
Midnight—“Ultimate Trek: Star Trek’s Greatest Moments” (1999)
1 a.m.—“Journey’s End: Saga of Star Trek Next Generation” (1994)
Sunday night Star Trek block
Beginning Sept. 4
6 p.m.—“Star Trek: The Animated Series”
6:30 p.m.—“Star Trek: The Animated Series”
7 p.m.—“Star Trek”
8 p.m.—“Star Trek: The Next Generation”
9 p.m.—“Star Trek: Deep Space Nine”
10 p.m.—“Star Trek: Voyager”
11 p.m.—“Star Trek: Enterprise”
Week night Star Trek block
Currently airing
5 p.m.—“Star Trek”
6 p.m.—“Star Trek: The Next Generation”
10 p.m.—“Star Trek: Deep Space Nine”
11 p.m.—“Star Trek: Voyager”
Midnight—“Star Trek: Enterprise”
Star Trek 50th Anniversary Tribute
7 a.m. Sept. 8 on Syfy
Original content from the Star Trek: Mission New York convention, plus classic and “The Next Generation” movies, on-air trivia, social & digital viewer engagement
Schedule
2:30 p.m.—“Star Trek VII: Generations”
5 p.m.—“Star Trek VIII: First Contact”
7:30 p.m.—“Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home”
Encore airings begin at 10 p.m.
Star Trek marathon
7:30 p.m. Sept. 8, BBC America
“Star Trek: The Original Series” marathon presents uncut, digitally remastered HD versions of Seasons 1 and 2 through Sept. 11
50 Years of Star Trek
9 p.m. Sept. 9, History
New documentary about the iconic series with commentary from cast members of all the live action series and more.
Star Trek Fest
6 a.m. Sept. 10 on EPIX
50th anniversary celebration hosted by George Takei with classic movies and documentaries
Schedule
6 a.m.—“Trekkies” (PG)
7:20 a.m.—“Star Trek: The Motion Picture” (PG)
9:35 a.m.—“Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan” (PG)
11:30 a.m.—“Star Trek III: The Search for Spock” (PG)
1:20 p.m.—“The Captains” (TV-PG)
3 p.m.—“Star Trek IX: Insurrection” (PG)
4:45 p.m.—“Star Trek: The Motion Picture” (PG)
7 p.m.—“Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan” (PG)
9 p.m.—“Star Trek III: The Search for Spock” (PG)
10:45 p.m.—“Star Trek V: The Final Frontier” (PG)
12:35 a.m.—“Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country” (PG)
2:30 a.m.—“Star Trek IX: Insurrection” (PG)
4:15 a.m.—“William Shatner’s Get a Life!” (TV-PG)
MeTV Celebrates Star Trek
8 p.m. Sept. 10 on MeTV
Three-hour programming block includes the original series premiere of “Star Trek” and the rarely seen original pilot episode.
8 p.m.—“The Man Trap” premiere episode
9 p.m.—“The Cage” original pilot episode