This episode looks at the development of the science fiction genre on US television in the 1950's and 1960's.
Gene Roddenberry had long been working as writer in television but realized that the industry was not prepared to deal with major social issues such as race relations, drug addiction and war. By setting his stories in a fictional future, he was able to do that and thus
Star Trek (1966) was born. Somewhat surprisingly, its greatest competition came from
Lost in Space (1965) produced by
Irwin Allen who was also responsible for
The Time Tunnel (1966) and
Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (1964). The classic series
The Twilight Zone (1959) set a very high bar that the others had to follow.
—garykmcd