For me and many of my friends, one of our endless debates will always be: Star Trek or Star Wars? Like Coke vs. Pepsi, Ginger vs. Mary Ann or Mac vs. Windows, geeks always have a fun time debating the merits of their favorite things.

One of those favorite things celebrating a milestone today is Gene Roddenberry’s venerable franchise Star Trek. 45 years ago today the show first aired on NBC and from that moment on it spawned generations of devoted fans and turned into a worldwide phenomenon beloved by millions of people all over the world.

To help celebrate that milestone, the Science Channel is working with Gene Roddenberry’s only son, Rod Roddenberry, to produce the world premiere documentary, Trek Nation.

According to the Science Channel, the film “shadows Gene Roddenberry’s son, Rod, as he explores his family legacy and the crusade his father’s passion and curiosity for exploration. Through interviews with his most devoted fans, including George Lucas and J.J. Abrams, Trek Nation follows a son searching for the wisdom of his father.”

Sounds pretty interesting. Think I’ll give it a look.

Trek Nation is set to air on Wednesday, November 30 only on Science Channel. Check out a new clip from the doc after the break.

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Sure, Kirk, Spock, McCoy, Picard, Riker and the rest of the “good guys” have always been the primary focus of Star Trek movies, TV shows and even comic based on the series. But what about the cool bad guys?

Well, at least one of them is finally getting his due in IDW’s just announced comic series based on the hugely popular Star Trek villain Khan. First made popular by the late Ricardo Montalban in the priginal Star Trek series, Khan will now live on and continue his story in comic book form.

According IDW:

“What happened to Khan and his followers on Ceti Alpha V? Star Trek: Khan: Ruling in Hell answers just that, explaining how this once proud warrior-king turns into the grizzled maniac seen in Star Trek II: Wrath of Khan.”

In addition to the comic, IDW will also be offering a plush doll in conjunction with the release, available exclusively at comic dealers or via comicshoplocator.com.

Star Trek: Khan: Ruling in Hell will be written by Scott and David Tipton, with Fabio Mantovani bringing the story to life by doing the art. The first comic will be 32 pages and will be released in October.

To be honest, I just assumed this was something that had already happened. For someone who created such an enduring TV and film legacy and such a phenomenon, I thought Gene Roddenberry was already in the TV Academy Hall of Fame. Apparently, I was wrong because at a special ceremony at the Beverly Hills Hotel next year, the “Great Bird of the Galaxy” himself will join the ranks of Academy Hall of Fame inductees.

Other inductees to be honored at the ceremony include Candice Bergen, production and art director Charles Lisanby, announcer Don Pardo, Tom and Dick Smothers and game show producer Bob Stewart. Seriously, and I apologize in advance for the rant I’m about to go on, the guy who created Star Trek and Don Pardo are getting the Hall of Fame treatment at the same time? Come on TV Academy, what the heck are you thinking?

I don’t think I’m alone here, and this is nothing personal against Mr. Pardo who’s great at what he does, but Star Trek is one of the most popular, longest lasting and incredibly innovative pop culture icons ever created in the history of TV and the guy who announces Saturday Night Live and some production designer get into the Academy Hall of Fame at the same time as he does? I just don’t get it. I guess all I can say at this point is about frakkin’ time.

There was a lot of concern from fans about J.J. Abrams reboot (Yes, I realize he doesn’t want to call it that but if the shoe fits…) of Star Trek.  Trekkies/Trekkers take this content very seriously making it a daunting task to appease those loyalist while making a film accessible to regular movie-goers. Fortunately, Abrams pulled it off and the new Star Trek universe was met with excitement and anticipation for future films.

Speaking to the L.A. Times, Abrams talked about what avenue the second film would take and how it would get back to the roots of the original series:

“The ambition for a sequel to ‘Star Trek’ is to make a movie that’s worthy of the audience and not just another movie, you know, just a second movie that feels tacked on. The first movie was so concerned with just setting up the characters — their meeting each and galvanizing that family — that in many ways a sequel will have a very different mission. it needs to do what [the late 'Trek' creator Gene] Roddenberry did so well, which is allegory. It needs to tell a story that has connection to what is familiar and what is relevant.”

There’s a significant importance in that mention of allegory. The best stories are the ones viewers can relate to and is what made the the new Battlestar Galactica TV series so successful. In fact, you were so drawn into that world you nearly forget it took place in space. If Abrams can capture that same formula for subsequent Star Trek films it would be a huge win for him. If anyone can do it Abrams certainly can, especially considering his track record of character driven shows like Lost and Fringe. Now with Star Trek on the right path, the only thing I’d like to know now is what Slusho is an allegory for?