TV series
In honor of the sci-fi franchise’s 55th anniversary this year and produced by The Nacelle Company, the project will feature interviews with cast, crew and experts as it explores pivotal moments in the franchise’s history, from its inception at Lucille Ball’s production company Desilu to recent film and television adaptations.
Streaming, rental and purchase options
Checked Sep 2, 2026
The Center Seat: 55 Years of Star Trek is available to stream on Peacock, Peacock Premium, Prime Video, Amazon Freevee, Cineverse, Plex, The CW, and Tubi in United States. You can also buy it from Amazon and Apple TV. Use the direct links below to open the provider.
In honor of the sci-fi franchise’s 55th anniversary this year and produced by The Nacelle Company, the project will feature interviews with cast, crew and experts as it explores pivotal moments in the franchise’s history, from its inception at Lucille Ball’s production company Desilu to recent film and television adaptations.
Choose an episode, then use the watch options above for the show.
Episode 1
It all began when Gene Roddenberry convinced Desilu to foot the bill for not one, but two "Star Trek" pilots; thanks to Desilu's boss, America's darling Lucille Ball, the world met Kirk, Spock and McCoy.
Directed by Brian Volk-WeissGuest stars Tom Gilbert, Gene Roddenberry, Nat Segaloff, Ralph Senensky, Harlan Ellison, Marc Cushman, Maria Jose Tenuto, David Gerrold
Episode 2
A cartoon version of Star Trek in the early 1970s featured original series creator Gene Roddenberry, writer D.C. Fontana, and the series' original stars.
Directed by Brian Volk-WeissGuest stars Aaron Harvey, Bob Kline, Richard Schepis, Fred Bronson, Larry Niven, Bill Reed, Marc Cushman, David Gerrold
Episode 3
Paramount wanted to launch a fourth network with the new Star Trek series Phase II as its flagship. When the network proved unworkable, Phase II appeared doomed - until Star Wars and Close Encounters of the Third Kind proved box office hits. Phase II became the 1979 blockbuster Star Trek: The Motion Picture.
Directed by Brian Volk-WeissGuest stars Preston Neal Jones, David Gautreaux, Marc Cushman, Harold Livingston, David Gerrold, Larry Nemecek, John Tenuto, Rob Klein
Episode 4
The 1980s saw Paramount release three linked Star Trek movies to huge box-office success. The first, The Wrath of Khan, saw Ricardo Montalban as Khan, a villain from the original series, return. It was followed by The Search for Spock, directed by Leonard Nimoy. He returned to the director's chair for The Voyage Home, the biggest Star Trek success yet.
Directed by Brian Volk-WeissGuest stars Marc Cushman, Harold Livingston, Harve Bennett, Jay Riddle, Maria Jose Tenuto, David Gerrold, Larry Nemecek, John Tenuto
Episode information updated Sep 2, 2026
Gates McFaddenSelf / Narrator
Gene RoddenberrySelf (archive footage)
Ralph SenenskySelf
Harlan EllisonSelf (archive footage)
HistoryUnited States
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