Few shows have had a greater influence on pop culture than Star Trek. From the franchise’s incredible sci-fi world-building to its iconic characters that helped redefine the genre when the show premiered in 1966, it permeates pop culture so deeply that even people who don’t invest themselves in the franchise recognize names like Spock, Scotty, and Captain Kirk, who famously said, “Beam me up, Scotty!” when the characters came to the end of an adventure.
But wait—how often did Captain Kirk actually say that? Remarkably, this is one of the most notable examples of the Mandela effect, when people misremember an event, situation, or popular media quotes as fact. “Beam me up, Scotty!” is such a popular quote that it’s found on bumper stickers, t-shirts, and other Trek merchandise, but let’s revisit Star Trek’s original three seasons and discover the origin of the quote and how pop culture got it wrong.
Star Trek featured some amazing sci-fi inventions (some of which later became fact, such as flip phones and video chat), but few were as fascinating as the transporter. This device used a beam that enveloped a user, turning their bodies into particles of energy and then reassembling them in another location. It’s an intriguing notion and a creative solution to moving Enterprise crew members planetside or to other ships without having to use shuttlecrafts.
The transporter did have its drawbacks (most of them loudly voiced by Dr. McCoy whenever he had to step onto a transporter pad), but it also swept Kirk and the others away at the last minute in many episodes. In other situations, Kirk would request transportation via his communicator, and this is where “Beam me up, Scotty!” has its beginnings.
Once the transporter became a regular part of Star Trek, Captain Kirk used several different phrases to notify Enterprise once a mission ended or if he needed to return to the ship while he was planetside. While Scotty, the ship’s chief engineer, sometimes operated the transporter, he spent much more time in engineering, leaving the job to an ensign or Lieutenant Kyle.
To activate the beam, Kirk would often say, “Enterprise, beam up the landing party,” or tell the transporter operator how many there were in the party. He would even say, “Beam us up, Scotty,” in “The Gamesters of Triskelion” (S02E16). However, Kirk never uttered the phrase “Beam me up, Scotty” in the original Star Trek series. This example of the Mandela effect startles even devoted fans, who have probably used the quote when they wished for a quick escape from an awkward situation!
More from Redshirts Always Die: