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Quick Takes: Smithsonian Channel’s Building Star Trek 

Quick Takes: Smithsonian Channel’s Building Star Trek
Courtesy Smithsonian Channel
Footage and elements from Star Trek, the series - Courtesy of CBS Television Studios
Footage and elements from Star Trek, the series – Courtesy of CBS Television Studios

Star Trek‘s looking good for a 50-year-old. Yes, this week, the original series marks its 50th anniversary with the franchise more alive than ever.

  • Earlier this summer, Star Trek Beyond flew into theaters and received good reviews and great box office.
  • In January 2017, CBS launches Star Trek: Discovery, a scripted show that first debuts on the network and then moves to its digital arm, CBS All Access.

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  • The U.S. Postal Service recently unveiled a set of Forever stamps celebrating the original series that aired from 1966 – 1969.
  • From September 16 – 25, the New York headquarters of The Paley Center for Media salutes Star Trek with special screenings, exclusive events, and an art exhibit called Star Trek: 50 Artists. 50 Years.

And airing this week on the Smithsonian Channel is Building Star Trek. This two-hour special explores the long-range influence of the series. It’s all about how much of that universe’s science-fiction has turned into science-fact.

Synopsis for Building Star Trek

Footage and elements from Star Trek, the series - Courtesy of CBS Television Studios
Footage and elements from Star Trek, the series – Courtesy of CBS Television Studios

When the series debuted on September 8, 1966, the world was introduced to a number of alien concepts, such as hand-held communication devices, desktop computers, space shuttles, touch screens, and more. Star Trek’Â’s visionary creator was remarkably able to conceive of a world so different from his own that the series would go on to have a profound legacy in television history.

Courtesy Smithsonian Channel
Courtesy Smithsonian Channel

Building Star Trek will follow the conservation team from the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum as they attempt to restore and conserve the original 11-foot, 250-pound model of the U.S.S. Enterprise from the original series. The special also will track the effort to rebuild a model of the original U.S.S. Enterprise bridge by using authentic set pieces and props, which recently went on display at Seattle’s EMP Museum.

Footage and elements from Star Trek, the series - Courtesy of CBS Television Studios
Footage and elements from Star Trek, the series – Courtesy of CBS Television Studios

Nichelle Nichols and Simon Pegg along with writers from the original series are interviewed for this special. Building Star Trek repeats on the Smithsonian Channel Wednesday at 3pm ET, Thursday at 6pm ET and Saturday at 8pm.

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