One thing I've noticed watching the first season of Star Trek after a long, long time since last viewing, is that in 60s TV you could be over 40, and normal looking, and still be on TV.

In fact, a number of the extras and general cast look like, well average people. Not mid 20s supermodels. Crew walking around the background, fixing stuff, checking on panels and things, look like guys you see doing that. Regular people. Someone who's playing a doctor or scientist actually looks like they might have gone to school and spent some time doing exactly that.

The guy that's the navigator (no Chekov this season) actually looks pretty dorky. But there he is, on the bridge, with a speaking role. Unfathomable by today's TV standards.

I'm not sure at what point we decided everyone on TV must be unrealistic (I suspect it's just increased gradually over time), but it's refreshing to see people that might actually look like you or me.

I wish TV was like that again.