In this update, the Paramount Television Network launches, we get episode updates for Star Trek: Reliant with brief plots and synopses, and President Reagan launches a very controversial television advertisement against Senator Kennedy.
PARAMOUNT TELEVISION NETWORK LAUNCHES WITH STAR TREK RELIANT
September 9, 1980
Fourteen years after the launch of the first Star Trek series, a miniseries, Star Trek: Reliant, became the first television show on Paramount's new television network. Paramount won its time slot against the Big Three networks with its two-hour pilot episode, where Admiral Kirk (William Shatner) and Commander Uhura (Nichelle Nichols), as the admiral's aide de camp, sent the Reliant, captained by Clark Terrell (Paul Winfield) on its mission patrolling the edges of Federation space. Two other regulars from the first Star Trek series, Commander Hikaru Sulu (George Takei) and Lieutenant Commander Pavel Chekov (Walter Koenig) reprise their roles as the Reliant's first officer and science officer, respectively. Chemistry was immediately apparent between the members of the highly diverse cast. "We absolutely love working together on this show," Winfield said. "The other cast members who haven't done Star Trek are enjoying their roles." The new members of the cast include communications officer Lieutenant Veronica Garvin (Alfre Woodard), Dr. Jabilo M'Benga (Booker Bradshaw), chief engineer Santiago Arias (Edward James Olmos) and ship counselor Helen Noel (Marianna Hill). In the premiere episode, Klingon colonies in Federation space occupied after Star Trek: The Motion Picture rebel against the Federation, and Captain Terrell must convince them, led by Christopher Lloyd, that the Federation will not threaten their way of life. Klingon vessels infiltrate Federation space to reclaim their colonies, and the Reliant fights them off.
STAR TREK RELIANT EPISODE UPDATES
EPISODE 1: SHARED VALUES (Air date: September 8, 1980). Admiral Kirk and Commander Uhura launch the Reliant's mission. Clark Terrell is assigned to assist Klingon colonies who are having difficulty adjusting to life within the Federation after the Federation-Klingon war ended in Federation annexation of Klingon territory. The Klingon colonists are led by Kruge, played by Christopher Lloyd. Initially, Kruge calls for backup from the Klingon Empire, in violation of the treaty, in order to repel the Reliant and reclaim the territory for the Empire. The Reliant fights off the two Klingon D7 battlecruisers and Kruge is forced to sue for peace. Terrell offers Kruge a deal: The Federation will still claim the territory and oversee the colony, but the Klingons are allowed to maintain their way of life as long as they do not threaten other planets in the Sherman sector. Kruge grudgingly accepts the deal, but is disgusted by seeing the flag of the Federation fluttering in the breeze above his homeworld. However, Kruge's wife, Valkris, persuades Kruge not to declare war on the Federation, because dying needlessly is dishonorable. Kruge reluctantly agrees, but vows revenge on Terrell and Kirk.
EPISODE 2: RETURN TO MIRI (Air date: September 16, 1980). We see the kids from Miri, all grown up. Two of them (William Shatner's daughters) are in Starfleet, but having difficulty adjusting to life in the fleet. Sulu and Dr. Noel must help them become proper Starfleet officers. The rest of the children, now adults, are afflicted by another disease similar to the one in Miri. Dr. M'Benga must find a cure to the disease before the Reliant crew is affected. However, none of the adults want to volunteer. Sulu convinces the two Starfleet officers (Shatner's daughters) to submit to Dr. M'Benga's experiments despite their objections. The Reliant is saved because only one of them had antibodies to the illness.
EPISODE 3: SCARS OF WAR (Air date: September 23, 1980). Captain Terrell and Commander Sulu are suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder after the combat in Star Trek: The Motion Picture and the Reliant premiere. Terrell is experiencing nightmares that cause him to stop sleeping and affect his ability to command. Dr. Noel must counsel Terrell and Sulu back to health. In the meantime, there is a distress call on Archanis IV near the Klingon Neutral Zone that Terrell must respond to. Will Terrell fight the Klingons again or will he decide not to place the Reliant at risk? It is discovered that the Klingon commander, Krell, is also sick of war and is suffering from similar psychological effects. Terrell, Sulu and Krell share their experiences of war and discuss how it has affected them and their families back home. The Klingons promise not to encroach on Archanis IV again.
EPISODE 4: SULU'S DILEMMA (Air date: September 30, 1980). Sulu receives an ultimatum from his wife back on Earth: Return to Earth or the marriage is over. Sulu considers resigning from Starfleet after a distinguished career, but Chekov persuades him not to leave the service, because they have virtually been brothers for over a decade. Sulu is torn, because he loves his daughter Demora and fears that he will never see her again. However, Sulu chooses to remain in the service, choosing Chekov and his career over his family. His wife is distraught, and they separate, but the wife promises Hikaru that he can still speak to Demora on a daily basis. We see a very emotional George Takei throughout this episode constantly flip-flopping between his family and career, and it's a major development for Takei's character.
REAGAN AIRS CONTROVERSIAL CHAPPAQUIDDICK AD
September 17, 1980
President Reagan, struggling in the polls against Senator Ted Kennedy due to a poor economy and the intransigence of Iran in respect to the hostage situation, has launched a controversial attack against Kennedy. The thirty second television spot depicts a member of Mary Jo Kopechne's family blaming Kennedy for her death, and implores the viewer to vote against Kennedy because he committed negligent manslaughter. Senator Kennedy immediately denounced the ad. "This is gutter politics, lower than anything we have seen in the history of this country," Kennedy said at a rally in California. "President Reagan is a failure on the economy and in foreign affairs, and he has no solutions for the American people. So he attacks me. I behaved responsibly at Chappaquiddick eleven years ago, and everybody, including President Reagan, knows it." President Reagan's campaign manager, John Sears, laughed at Senator Kennedy's response. "Kennedy actually believes he behaved responsibly? He ran from the scene and he'll run from his duties as President if he's elected," Sears said. "The Democrats nominated an irresponsible man as leader of their party and they deserve to pay the price." Kennedy took a lead in the polls, 50 percent to 46 percent, before the ad aired. "We knew that the Chappaquiddick attacks would come from Reagan," pollster and political pundit Louis Harris said to the Post. Now it's time for us to see if the Senator can defend himself adequately."
