NBC Television via Wikimedia Commons1966: The original "Star Trek" television series airs its first regular episode, "The Man Trap." The show lasted just 79 episodes over three seasons before being canceled in 1969. Despite its low ratings and short life, the show became a cult classic in syndication in the 1970s, spawning a franchise consisting of six additional TV series, 13 motion pictures and numerous books, games, toys and more.
