By Crewman Becky | January 18, 2011 - 12:19 am

Well, tomorrow is January 18th and we know exactly where we’re going to be at 7pm Central…sitting on the couch, smack-dab in front of the TV! That’s when PBS will be airing the “Pioneers of Television: Science Fiction”!!!

This episode (the Season 2 premiere) is going to be a doozy! It is focusing on 3 major pioneers of sci-fi television; Gene Roddenberry (Star Trek), Rod Serling (Twilight Zone), and Irwin Allen (Lost in Space). Not only will there be backstory and insights to all of these series, but there’s also a bunch of cast interviews including The Shat, Leonard Nimoy and Nichelle Nichols.

PBS says; Gene Roddenberry had the kernel of an idea for "Star Trek" as early as 1961, and he planned for each episode of the series to deliver a cathartic two-punch in the form of entertaining adventure and moral message. But Roddenberry met resistance from NBC. The network insisted that the "Star Trek" pilot presented fascinating ideas but lacked excitement. Roddenberry reworked the script and brought actor William Shatner to the key role of Captain James T. Kirk. NBC executives were satisfied with the changes, and the series "Star Trek," hit small screens in 1966. Unlike anything that had come before it, "Star Trek" addressed issues of race, gender, war, nuclear proliferation and drug abuse in a context that was palatable to the public. And the on-screen chemistry between Captain Kirk and logical Dr. Spock, played by Leonard Nimoy, was unmistakable. The series became a cult classic, spawning an impressive franchise of movies, animated series, merchandise and fan groups.

Read PBS’s full article here.

Show times are listed as Tuesday, January 18 at 8/7c on PBS. Be sure to check your local listings as air times may vary.

Now, set your DVR’s to Stun Record and bask in the fabulousness that is Star Trek!

"Pioneers of Television" Preview