Star Trek: The Original Series
Summary
Star Trek : The Original Series’iconic mixed kiss between Captain James T. Kirk ( William Shatner ) and Lt . Uhura ( Nichelle Nichols ) would likely not have happened if not for William Shatner . Star Trekcreator Gene Roddenberry wanted his series to push bound and picture a future where everyone was take for who they were . WhileStar Trek : The Original Seriesremains a product of its time , it undoubtedly helped pave the agency for more diversity on idiot box . Kirk and Uhura ’s iconic kiss , while not technically the first interracial kiss to beam on boob tube , was a monumental moment and received very little rebound from viewers despite the worries of NBC .
Kirk and Uhura ’s kiss take place inStar Trek : The Original Seriesseason 3 , installment 10 , " Plato ’s Stepchildren , " an otherwise mediocre instalment about halfway throughTOS’final season . " Plato ’s Stepchildren " start when the USS Enterprise answer a distress call from a mass known as the Platonians . The Platonians own telekinetic office and the leader , Parmen ( Liam Sullivan ) , wish well Dr. Leonard McCoy ( DeForest Kelley ) to stay on the planet as their doctor . When he refuses , Parmen humiliates Kirk and his crew by squeeze them to do for them . In one representative , Parmen impel Kirk and Uhura to kiss in what would become one ofStar Trek’smost famous scenery .
Star Trek : The Original Series features some of the most iconic characters in all of science fiction with the crew of the original USS Enterprise .
William Shatner Says Star Trek’s First Interracial Kirk & Uhura Kiss Would Not Have Happened Without Him
Shatner made sure Kirk’s kiss with Uhura stayed in the final episode.
William Shatner appeared onReal fourth dimension with Bill Maherto push his autobiographical documentary , William Shatner : you’re able to Call Me Bill . Maher took the chance toask Shatner aboutStar Trek’smost famous kiss , and Shatner admitted it likely would not have chance if not for him . scan their conversation below :
Bill Maher : That moment , you were brave because from what I understand , NBC , of class , was aflutter about it . I intend , we had seen before when Southern stations would cancel shows or not show them over something like that . And you kind of stuck to your guns and did the candy kiss .
William Shatner : Yes , I puckered up my lips and [ pull in kiss motion ] … Like that . I signify , [ Nichelle Nichols is ] no longer with us , but in her lifetime , she was a remarkably attractive noblewoman .
Bill Maher : Yes , but that ’s not really the topic . I require to know , if you had n’t insisted on doing it , would it have not got done ?
William Shatner : It would not have got done . That ’s bad English .
According to some of his fellowStar Trekcast members , Shatner was not always the easiest to work with , but he made Captain Kirk one of the most iconic telecasting characters of all time . The fabled thespian , whocelebrated his 93rd birthdayon March 22 , 2024,ensured Captain Kirk and Uhura ’s kiss made it into the net cut of " Plato ’s Stepchildren . “The tardy Nichelle Nichols has also spoken about the buss scene in various interviews , and she , too , credits Shatner with seduce certain the scene made it to air .
William Shatner : you could Call Me Billwill be uncommitted for video - on - requirement rental or purchase everywhere on April 26th .
How Star Trek’s First Interracial Kiss Happened
Despite NBC’s worries, there are no records of any complaints about the kiss.
When it came time to film the kiss tantrum in " Plato ’s Stepchildren , " both theStar Trekepisode ’s managing director , David Alexander , and studio apartment executives at NBC were hesitating to show the full kiss , fearing it would see red sure looker . The osculation was film as the last shot on the final daytime of shot , and Gene Roddenberry was bring in to discuss how the shot should be shot.Nichelle Nichols , who famously remain inStar Trekbecause of Martin Luther King , Jr. , was not always honor on set . Roddenberry broadly sided with Nichols when it come to Uhura , and he decided to blast a take with the buss and one without . William Shatner , however , had other idea .
Shatner assert on multiple takes , causing the shoot to run even further over schedule . Finally out of time , the director importune on a no - kiss version of the shot , but Shatner was n’t done . This metre , Captain Kirk leaned Uhura back to connote a kiss without it being on - screen , butShatner deliberately reckon into the camera and thwart his eyes . The director was unable to see this from his point of position and , believe the take to be a good one , he called cutting off . Of course , as the footage was survey later , the jibe without the kiss was unusable , insure Kirk and Uhura’sStar Trek : The Original Serieskiss made television history .
Source : Real Time With Bill Maher
Star Trek : The Original Series is uncommitted to swarm on Paramount+ .
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