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The Man From U.N.C.L.E. and the Female Gaze
The 1960s was an interesting time in television. 1966 gave us the science fiction show that would become a global phenomenon. Other shows that we still remember include The Addams Family, The Munsters, the Adam West Batman show, The Avengers, The Brady Bunch…and I’m just in the Bs.
It also gave us The Man From U.N.C.L.E. A go-to Star Trek trivia question: Which show did both Shatner and Nimoy appear in an episode of, together? Fact is, everyone shows up on that show at some point…the format required a lot of guest stars. The show started in 1964 and ran for five seasons, although it does jump the shark somewhere in season four. It also spawned a short-lived spin off and eventually a 2015 movie.
A bit of Star Trek History
Star Trek was produced by Desilu Studios, which was owned by Lucille Ball. NBC rejected the original pilot, but somebody at the studio (not Ball, who mistakenly thought she’d bought something very different), persisted.
In 1966, Star Trek was almost canceled, but Ball overruled the board simply because she liked it.
Which kind of brings us to a key thing about Star Trek. It has always been a show primarily watched by women.
Except it was initially a show written by and for men. In the original pilot, Spock…