| If you ask any lover of science fiction what the | | | | made a huge and long lasting impact on its adoring |
| hottest movie release of the moment is, they would | | | | fans is Star Trek. It first aired in 1966. As with other |
| most assuredly tell you it is, I Am Legend, staring the | | | | science fiction shows, people either loved it or hated |
| very talented, Will Smith. Some people simply are not | | | | it. It came to have what is referred to today as a |
| impressed by science fiction films or television series, | | | | cult following. Some people that are now called to as |
| but those who do love them are dedicated fans. | | | | Trekkies, were simply obsessed with the show. |
| Some of the first science fiction movies like The Day | | | | The characters on the original series, Captain Kirk, |
| the Earth Stood Still, Invaders from Mars, The | | | | played by William Shatner and Spock, played by |
| incredible Shrinking Man, The Fly, and so on, started a | | | | Leonard Nemoy will always be remembered for their |
| craze for movies of that sort. They could cover a | | | | Star Trek roles. The original series was finally |
| wide range of topics from laboratory science gone | | | | canceled after only a short three year run, but that |
| wrong, as in Frankenstein and The fly, to UFOs and | | | | was not by far the end of the mania that just kept |
| alien life forms and the prospects of man traveling | | | | holding on. |
| into space. | | | | There was a cartoon series followed by several |
| During the 1950's the first television series that | | | | more Star Trek series with different actors but |
| became popular were Buck Rogers, Space Patrol, and | | | | similar to the original version. There are a total of 10 |
| Flash Gordon, and Science Fiction Theatre. The next | | | | Star Trek movies that are based on the original |
| biggest shows that came along were The Twilight | | | | series. Nemoy, Shatner, and other original cast |
| Zone in 1959 and in 1963, The Outer Limits. | | | | members played in some of these movies. |
| These programs dealt with a variety of different and | | | | As big as Star Trek was, as more elaborate special |
| weird situations. Then there was Lost in Space, about | | | | effects were developed, it led to many more great |
| a family who went together on a space ship to | | | | science fiction films and television shows. The |
| explore the universe. This show was really popular to | | | | Terminator with Arnold Schwartzenegger was really |
| kids. The re runs of these series can still be seen on | | | | successful. The television series The X Files still has a |
| cable or satellite channels. | | | | similar cult like following as that of Star Trek. |
| The one single television science fiction series that | | | | |