CraveTVTM’s #iCraveFridays release schedule continues today with the debut of the rarely seen original pilot episode of STAR TREK: THE ORIGINAL SERIES, “The Cage.” The original pilot completes the entire STAR TREK library – all six STAR TREK series are only available on CraveTV and can be found in the Star Trek Collection.
Despite its completion in 1965, the original pilot did not make its television premiere until late 1988. Originally rejected by NBC, the network ordered another pilot episode, which became known as “Where No Man Has Gone Before” (1966). Original footage from “The Cage” was later incorporated into the first season two-parter “The Menagerie” (1966).
“The Cage” takes place 13 years prior to James T. Kirk taking command of the U.S.S. Enterprise and features Jeffrey Hunter as Captain Christopher Pike and Leonard Nimoy as Spock. Spock is the only character to appear in “The Cage” and the subsequent pilot. Nimoy played Spock throughout the series and in the first six Star Trek movies.
Pike, Spock, and the rest of the crew land on planet Talos IV after receiving a distress signal. They find crash survivors from a missing scientific expedition. Among the survivors is the beautiful Vina (Susan Oliver). She distracts Pike, who is then captured by the Talosians – humanoids who live beneath the planet’s surface. Imprisoned, Pike discovers the distress call was faked to lure the U.S.S. Enterprise to the planet as part of a much darker plan.
STAR TREK: THE ORIGINAL SERIES’ original pilot episode, “The Cage,” will also be available in the What’s New, Sci-Fi and Fantasy, and Drama collections. CraveTV is the only place to see every single episode of the entire STAR TREK series including: STAR TREK: THE ORIGINAL SERIES (1966), STAR TREK: THE ANIMATED SERIES (1973), STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION (1987), STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE (1993), STAR TREK VOYAGER (1995), STAR TREK: ENTERPRISE (2001).
About #iCraveFridays
New content for CraveTV will be released on Fridays, and can be found under the What’s New Collection or the Featured Collection, along with their respective permanent collection such as Superheroes, Music, Comedy, etc. Follow @CraveTVCanada for the most up-to-date information on all things CraveTV.
