At 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 8, 1966, "Star Trek" made its debut on KPRC (Channel 2).

The Houston Chronicle was none-too-impressed about the adventures of the crew of the USS Enterprise. In a blurb in that afternoon's paper, before the premiere aired, the series was described as a "Twilight Zone-type science fiction series ... with a weird opener about an alien body on a strange planet who assumes shapes of men or women in its quest for life-giving salt."

Over at the Houston Post, TV editor Millie Budd listed six things "Star Trek" had going for it -- four of which included William Shatner.

"This is a most exciting show," Shatner said, as reported in the Sept. 8, 1966, Post. "As a matter of fact, I say unequivocally that it is going to be the best show on television."

Budd then weighed in on the "Star Trek" premiere (which was actually the eighth episode the studio produced) the day after it aired.

"While the series is not exactly the kind of provocative entertainment Shatner promised, it is superfine make believe."

Chronicle TV-Radio Editor Ann Hodges called the debut a "disappointingly bizarre hour" that "bordered on the ridiculous."

"William Shatner, who had virtually nothing to do in the opener, is a fine actor and star of the series. But in this episode, the biggest eye-catcher was Leonard Nimoy, wearing a pair of pointed ears and playing the Vulcan-born science officer of the Enterprise.

"Things better improve, or this won't be a lengthy mission," she wrote.