October 13, 1966
"Mudd's Women"
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NBC was very worried about airing this episode of STAR TREK in 1966. It was, after all, a story about “hookers in space,” as one staff memo described it, with a secondary plot point (and story theme) regarding drug use – both heavy topics and taboo subjects for primetime entertainment in 1966. NBC’s Broadcast Standards department had a network censor on set during the filming to be sure not too much skin was shown. William Shatner said, “As for the drug angle, well, it’s possible the network executives weren’t aware of what was going on. That NBC allowed ‘Mudd’s Women’ to be produced at all is still a minor miracle.”
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As documented with the publishing of all the A.C. Nielsen ratings reports for every STAR TREK, in the Saturn-award winning book series, These Are the Voyages – TOS (The Original Series), the series was not the ratings dud NBC and over 45 years of folklore would like to have us believe. “Mudd’s Women” was typical of many first season episodes when STAR TREK aired on Thursday nights over most NBC stations. Check out the results.
RATINGS / Nielsen 30-Market report for Thursday, October 13, 1966
8:30 - 9 p.m., with 60.5% of U.S. TVs in use. Rating: Audience Share:
NBC: Star Trek (first half) 19.0 31.4%
ABC: The Dating Game 17.3 28.6%
CBS: My Three Sons 17.4 28.8%
Local independent stations: 7.7 11.2%
ABC: The Dating Game 17.3 28.6%
CBS: My Three Sons 17.4 28.8%
Local independent stations: 7.7 11.2%
9 ‑ 9:30 p.m., with 60.4% of U.S. TVs in use.
NBC: Star Trek (second half) 19.0 31.5%
ABC: Bewitched 18.2 30.1%
CBS: Thursday Night Movie 19.0 31.5%
Local independent stations: 6.2 6.9%
ABC: Bewitched 18.2 30.1%
CBS: Thursday Night Movie 19.0 31.5%
Local independent stations: 6.2 6.9%

From 8:30 to 9 p.m., STAR TREK was No. 1. From 9:00 to 9:30, it tied for the top spot with The Victors, a 1963 war film on CBS starring George Hamilton and George Peppard. Bewitched, one of ABC’s biggest hits, came in third this night.
The numbers were equally impressive when NBC repeated the episode.
The numbers were equally impressive when NBC repeated the episode.
RATINGS / Nielsen 30-City report for Thursday, May 4, 1967
8:30 - 9 p.m., with 57.5% of U.S. TVs in use. Rating: Audience Share:
NBC: Star Trek (first half) 17.1 29.7%
ABC: Bewitched 17.6 30.6%
CBS: My Three Sons 12.5 21.7%
Local independent stations: 12.0 18.2%
ABC: Bewitched 17.6 30.6%
CBS: My Three Sons 12.5 21.7%
Local independent stations: 12.0 18.2%
9 - 9:30 p.m., with 53.9% of U.S. TVs in use.
NBC: Star Trek (second half) 20.5 32.1%
ABC: That Girl 14.9 23.3%
CBS: Thursday Night Movie 16.9 26.4%
Local independent stations: 13.4 18.2%
ABC: That Girl 14.9 23.3%
CBS: Thursday Night Movie 16.9 26.4%
Local independent stations: 13.4 18.2%
So much for folklore. Get the truth, finally, in These Are the Voyages – TOS: Season One, Season Two, and Season Three.
For the best prices anywhere (buy them together as a “Collector Set” and save even more!), and autographed by author Marc Cushman, click below:
For the best prices anywhere (buy them together as a “Collector Set” and save even more!), and autographed by author Marc Cushman, click below: