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This takes place in 2265.
The change in Gary and Elizabeth's eyes was accomplished by Gary Lockwood and Sally Kellerman wearing sparkly contact lenses. They consisted of tinfoil sandwiched between two lenses which covered the entire eye. Wearing the lenses was difficult for Lockwood. He could only see through the lenses by looking down while pointing his head up. Lockwood was able to use this look to convey Mitchell's arrogant attitude.
The lenses were made over a weekend by Los Angeles optician John Roberts, who was hired by Associate Producer Robert H. Justman. Justman felt obligated to try wearing them before asking any actors to do so and managed to for several hours. He found them to be incredibly uncomfortable, but as long as they were only worn for brief periods, they were safe.
The lenses were made over a weekend by Los Angeles optician John Roberts, who was hired by Associate Producer Robert H. Justman. Justman felt obligated to try wearing them before asking any actors to do so and managed to for several hours. He found them to be incredibly uncomfortable, but as long as they were only worn for brief periods, they were safe.
The first time in US TV history that a second pilot for an hour-long series had to be submitted to convince the network to air it.
Leonard Nimoy is the only actor to appear in both this, the second pilot, and the original pilot episode The Cage (1966). That being so, and the fact that he is in all the rest of the episodes, makes him the only actor to appear in all 79 episodes of the series (80 for those who count "The Cage").
The phaser rifle that Kirk uses appears for the first and only time in the series. However, it can be seen on many pre-season 1 promotional photos.
Veteran character actor Paul Fix got the role of the ship's doctor, replacing John Hoyt. Gene Roddenberry wanted to cast DeForest Kelley in the part, whom he originally wanted to play Doctor Boyce in The Cage (1966). Then, he was overruled by director Robert Butler's suggestion. Here again, Fix was recommended by director James Goldstone. Roddenberry thought Fix didn't work out well in the role, and decided that if Star Trek became a weekly series, he would cast Kelley as the ship's doctor.