Home / Arts and Entertainment / TV's Friday Night Curse: How 'Star Trek' Became a Victim
TV's Friday Night Curse: How 'Star Trek' Became a Victim
19 Sep
Summary
- Friday nights were known as the 'death slot' for TV shows.
- Original 'Star Trek' aired in the 1960s and faced cancellation threats.
- Fan campaigns and syndication proved the show's broad appeal.
Throughout television history, Friday nights have been notoriously challenging for new shows. This evening slot earned the grim moniker of the "death slot," as networks often relegated programs to it when viewership was expected to be low. Young adults, a key demographic, were typically socializing rather than watching television.
The original "Star Trek" series, which aired on NBC from 1966 to 1969, is a prime example of a show impacted by this trend. Initially airing on Thursdays, it was moved to Friday nights for its second season and then to an even later Friday slot for its third. This scheduling, coupled with budget cuts, led to acute ratings drops, proving network doubts about its broad appeal were misplaced, as evidenced by its enduring popularity in syndication.
