Few people know that this famous line from the original Star Trek series was from one of the first episodes shot, one of the legendary episodes that was never aired and has yet to be released to the public.
The expression came about unexpectedly -- it was uttered improvisational fashion, by Bones (Dr. McCoy, as performed by DeForest Kelley). In the midst of a pitched battle with an alien race Bones suddenly clutched the captain's chair where Captain Kirk was orchestrating the Enterprise's efforts. He cried out, "Dammit Jim! We're human!"
The peculiar utterance, something of an apparent non sequitur, was in response to Kirk's sudden scowl, directed the doctor's way, when McCoy broke wind with a fierceness usually associated with mid-Atlantic storm systems.
It was intended as both explanation and apology. Though the episode never aired, the expression was worked into later episodes to become a staple phrase of the original Star Trek series, though it was never used in the context of its original utterance.
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