Three years earlier than Star Trek’s authentic collection reworked tv, a groundbreaking sci-fi present known as The Outer Limits debuted on ABC. Sadly, this present isn’t broadly identified immediately exterior of avid science fiction followers. But, it was simply as vital to display screen sci-fi as Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock, or The Twilight Zone earlier than it.
Over the previous half-century, loads of new TV exhibits have tried to be new Star Trek. What most individuals don’t understand is that Star Trek itself was, in some respects, the brand new Outer Limits of tv within the Sixties. This anthology collection had opened up a window into one other world for the Starship Enterprise to fly via.
We should always rely it among the many greatest sci-fi exhibits of all time, alongside Star Trek: The Unique Sequence and Star Trek: The Subsequent Era. With out The Outer Limits, neither of those collection would exist, together with many others within the pantheon of TV sci-fi greats.
The Outer Limits Was The first Nice Sci-Fi Present On Tv
Again in September 1963, display screen science fiction was primarily the protect of B-movies, dystopian nightmares, and cartoonish TV collection involving action-hero astronauts and mad scientists. The one exception was The Twilight Zone on CBS, however this present wasn’t primarily involved with science fiction, regardless of lots of its episodes that includes parts of sci-fi.
Then, The Outer Limits appeared like a bolt from the blue. It was the primary real sci-fi present of any actual high quality on tv, and it paved the way in which for a lot of extra. From its disturbingly meta intro sequence to its preoccupation with extraterrestrial life and sensible technological advances, this collection laid the blueprint for what constitutes small-screen sci-fi.
Stephen King means that The Outer Limits tops The Twilight Zone as a piece of horror, too. Nevertheless, there’s no mistaking which style it suits into on a basic stage. If there have been any doubts, Star Trek quickly dispelled them, given the big debt it owes to The Outer Limits.
Star Trek Was Massively Influenced By The Outer Limits
In relation to influential sci-fi exhibits, few are as important as The Outer Limits. It’s arguably the largest catalyst for the manufacturing of Star Trek, the collection that went on to encourage nearly the whole lot extraterrestrial that got here after it within the subject of TV science fiction.
Along with themes and storylines, Star Trek reappropriated crew members, costumes, and even props from The Outer Limits, though the 2 exhibits belonged to completely different networks. Most significantly, The Outer Limits gifted Star Trek three actors who’d go on to be legends of the sci-fi style.
The present positioned William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, and James Doohan within the store window, and, positive sufficient, they had been quickly ushered aboard the Starship Enterprise. As we speak, it is not possible to think about Star Trek: The Unique Sequence with out these actors.
The Outer Limits Deserves Extra Recognition As we speak
The Outer Limits is the right instance of a traditional sci-fi present that’s simply nearly as good as its fashionable counterparts. The present’s particular results are simply as jawdropping as they had been on the time it first aired, and its storylines are nonetheless a number of the most artistic within the historical past of TV sci-fi.
However not like The Twilight Zone and Star Trek, it will get nearly no recognition immediately, and is just about unknown to the general public. It’s excessive time The Outer Limits was given the total recognition it deserves as a masterpiece of early display screen science fiction.
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The Outer Limits
- Launch Date
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1963 – 1965-00-00
- Administrators
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Gerd Oswald, Byron Haskin, Charles F. Haas, James Goldstone, László Benedek, Leonard Horn, Paul Stanley, Alan Crosland, Jr., John Brahm, Abner Biberman, Felix E. Feist, John Erman, Leon Benson
- Writers
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Joseph Stefano, Seeleg Lester, Robert C. Dennis, Sam Neuman, Milton Krims, Meyer Dolinsky, Allan Balter, Anthony Lawrence, Jerry Sohl, Robert Mintz, Harlan Ellison, Stephen Lord, Robert Towne, William Bast, William R. Cox, John Mantley, Otto Binder, Robert Specht, Samuel Roeca, Oliver Crawford, Richard H. Landau, Orin Borsten, Ib Melchior, Francis M. Cockrell
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Alex Nicol
Gen. Lee Stocker
