Brief
Trevor Roth credits Lucille Ball with rescuing the original Star Trek series
Roth explained at a Rome market event that Desilu’s rerun strategy turned a cancelled series into a six‑decade franchise.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Roddenberry Entertainment chief operating officer Trevor Roth told the MIA Market in Rome on Wednesday that Lucille Ball was the unlikely savior of the original Star Trek TV series. He said the show’s survival hinged on Desilu Productions’ ability to place the 80‑episode run into syndication after NBC cancelled it.
“Star Trek was a failed television series for a very long time. It did not do well, and by the stars aligning, it found its way into the hearts and minds of audiences in the United States and around the world,” Roth said, according to The Hollywood Reporter. He recalled that Ball, after seeing how her husband Desi Arnaz’s Desilu Productions kept I Love Lucy in reruns, arranged for Star Trek to follow the same path. “So when Star Trek had 80 episodes, Desilu was able to get it into reruns, or syndication, to allow it to be used as programming for places outside of NBC,” he added.
Roth said that syndication was where the series found its enduring audience, eventually becoming the multi‑media franchise it is today. He noted that the franchise now includes streaming series such as Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Lower Decks and Picard, as well as recent film projects. “It’s very different, and it changes the dynamic between the audiences and the television shows they are watching,” he explained.
The executive also commented on industry consolidation, referencing Paramount Skydance’s acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, and hinted that a new Star Trek film is in development. “I can tell you that things are being worked on in the film area very hard,” Roth told the audience.
Key facts
- Trevor Roth said Lucille Ball’s Desilu placed the original Star Trek into syndication after NBC cancelled it. (hollywoodreporter.com)
- Syndication allowed the 80‑episode series to reach audiences beyond NBC, leading to its long‑term popularity. (hollywoodreporter.com)
- Roth highlighted current franchise extensions, including Strange New Worlds, Lower Decks, Picard and a new film in development. (hollywoodreporter.com)
Sources
- [1] hollywoodreporter.com — originally reported as “How Lucille Ball Saved ‘Star Trek’ to Become a Six-Decade Juggernaut Franchise”
