TV , ▁was ▁broadcast ▁for ▁the ▁first ▁time ▁on ▁American ▁television , ▁with ▁its ▁first ▁episode ▁" The ▁Man ▁T rap " ▁showing ▁at ▁ 8 : 3 0 ▁p . m . ▁Eastern ▁time , ▁following ▁the ▁premi ere ▁of ▁N BC ' s ▁T arz an , ▁st arring ▁Ron ▁E ly . ▁( However , ▁Star ▁Tre k , ▁which ▁star red ▁Canadian - born ▁William ▁Sh at ner , ▁had ▁actually ▁been ▁tele vised ▁first ▁in ▁Canada ▁two ▁days ▁earlier , ▁at ▁ 7 : 3 0 ▁p . m . ▁on ▁the ▁C TV ▁network .) ▁Premier ing ▁also ▁on ▁September ▁ 8 , ▁ 1 9 6 6 ▁were ▁The ▁Hero , ▁an ▁N BC ▁sit com ▁st arring ▁Richard ▁M ull igan , ▁The ▁Tam my ▁Gr imes ▁Show ▁( a ▁sit com ▁on ▁ABC , ▁at ▁ 8 : 3 0 ▁p . m .), ▁and ▁That ▁Girl , ▁st arring ▁Mar lo ▁Thomas ▁( also ▁on ▁ABC ). ▁ ▁Initial ▁reaction ▁to ▁That ▁Girl ▁was ▁generally ▁positive , ▁while ▁U PI ▁critic ▁Rick ▁Du ▁Brow ▁said ▁that ▁"' Star ▁Tre k ', ▁a ▁science ▁fiction ▁op us ▁cent ering ▁around ▁a ▁m amm oth ▁space ▁ship , ▁is ▁so ▁abs urd ▁that ▁it ▁is ▁almost ▁entertain ing ." ▁The ▁Tam my ▁Gr imes ▁Show ▁would ▁be ▁can ce led ▁after ▁four ▁episodes . ▁An gry ▁over ▁being ▁denied ▁a ▁government al ▁post ▁after ▁leading ▁a ▁ 1 9 6 6 ▁coup ▁d ' état