50 Years of Star Trek Page #12

You know, I think, um...

I think the biggest thing to me,

in terms of its longevity and success,

is that it is unique in

that its portrayal of the future,

the optimistic portrayal of the future,

does kind of stand alone in pop culture.

The vast majority of

science fiction pieces

that take place in the future, you know,

show us a dystopian

future, a terrible future.

Here's the only real science

fiction construct

that I wanna go live in, you know,

that I want to be part of.

I want to join that

crew. I want to live that life.

I want to have those

adventures with those people.

"Star Trek" has something to

say about who we are as people,

who we aspire to be,

and it says that we will endure.

We will overcome all obstacles.

I think "Star Trek" will be around

for a long, long time

because it's a unique piece

of science fiction

in that it's optimistic.

"Star Trek" is optimistic.

It holds out the hope

not that humans are gonna be

somehow perfect in the future

but things can get better.

I think "Star Trek" succeeded

because a number of

elements fell into place.

They had a great overall story.

They're modern-day pioneers

where no man has gone before.

So it could be the Wild West.

It's the Wild West in space,

really, led by a great captain

and an incredible team.

And I think it's gone

on for 50 years so far

because it is a show

about human interest

and adventure and how far we will go

to try to learn more and

to expand our own worlds

and our own minds.

And I think that's

something that resonates

with people 50 years ago,

and it'll resonate with

people 50 years from now.

And now, of course, J.J. has

taken it to a whole other place.

Why "Star Trek" is still relevant

is because of the paradigm

that Gene Rodenberry came up with,

the idea of unity, of humanity...

And other species,

actually... working together.

There's an optimism to it

that I think we've never

needed more than now.

Well, it starts with the

characters, you know.

I love the ensemble.

I love the idea that, you know,

this group of people came together

and through the shared

journey, they become a family.

The sense of family that

goes beyond blood.

And I also love every night

there's a sense of discovery

and exploration, you know,

and that, to me, is

the DNA of "Star Trek."

You know, I think "Star

Trek's" enduring appeal

is really because it

presents a vision of humanity

that is united and,

particularly in this day and age,

it's wonderful to have kind

of a beacon of morality

to see that, you know, maybe

the dystopian future

that you see in a lot of movies

like the "Mad Max" movies

and the "Blade Runner"

movies is not gonna be our future.

Collectivism versus separatism,

which is a big thing in

today's society, you know.

About how we're better together.

And that was something that

we felt obligated to do.

This is "Star Trek."

"Star Trek" has always

spoken about who we are now.

And now it's, I guess, coming

back on another network.

You know I'ma try to get on

there, you know, just to see.

Because I try... You know,

Guinan is everywhere all the time.

A majority of the "Star

Trek" fans that I've met

are proactive

in making that vision of

a better future a reality.

The "Star Trek" fans are

the most unique people

you've ever met.

They know your character.

They know every

episode and what it meant

and how it affected them.

If I were given the choice

of any character ever

portrayed on television...

That I could play any

character I wanted...

I would choose Spock.

Well, people identified with us.

They identified with "Star Trek,"

they identified with the characters.

They were dressing in their own uniforms

and their own costumes.

It resonated with that group of people

that were kids, you know,

and now they're young adults.

"Star Trek" created an umbrella

for everybody else.

And then once we got in under the shade,

we then said, "Oh,

come. Come and join us."

That's what "Star Trek" did.

And that tent will continue to grow.

And it's now 30 years

later for our show,

when I'm talking to you,

50 years for the original

show, and, I mean,

it goes in waves, but people are still

attached to, committed to,

affected by, interested in

this thing that Gene invented,

and I was blessed enough to be part of.

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