Star Trek's 40th Anniversary

Sept. 8, 2006 — -- Captain's Log, Stardate: Sept. 8, 2006 -- It's now 40 years after the debut of the original "Star Trek" TV series, the "wagon train to the stars" which offered "space as the final frontier."

While the original TV series was cancelled after just three seasons, it spawned four spinoff series, 10 -- and soon to be 11 -- feature films, and a multitude of video games, books, and action figures

It's become a $4 billion franchise with millions of fans all over the world. They are celebrating the anniversary of the pioneer TV show's debut on Sept. 8, 1966, with parties in locales from the Space Needle in Seattle to glitzy Las Vegas. "Trekkies" sporting pointy ears or dressed as Klingons are out in force.

In the spirit of full disclosure, I don't consider myself a Trekkie. I've seen some of the countless reruns of the TV show, and I've enjoyed the movies, but I would argue that the phenomenon that is "Star Trek" extends beyond its base of die-hard fans. It has become a cultural icon that represents a kinder, gentler version of the future.

The show, which promised "to boldy go where no man has gone before," did just that -- breaking racial and gender stereotypes.

At the helm of the starship Enterprise was Japanese-American actor George Takei. Just 20 years before he made his debut as an actor, he and his family had been sent to a U.S.-run detention camp after the attack on Pearl Harbor.

And before woman's liberation had hit full stride, "Star Trek" had, as its technical officer, a woman, Lt. Uhura, who, despite her very short skirts, could be considered TV's first feminist. Her role as a communications expert was a stark contrast from most of the female characters portrayed on TV at that time -- the perky wife as embodied in Mary Tyler Moore, or the perfect mother found in June Cleaver.

Nichelle Nichols, an African American, played Lt. Uhura. Nichols shared television's first interracial kiss with "Star Trek's" brash Captain James T. Kirk, played by William Shatner.