And the Children Shall Lead

"And the Children Shall Lead" is a third season episode of ', and was broadcast October 11, 1968. It is episode #60, written by Edward J. Lakso and directed by Marvin Chomsky.

Trivia

• It is never made clear whether the children's psi powers are natural to them, or were "lent" to them by their alien friend.
• When the children ignore Captain Kirk, and chant "busy, busy, busy", this quote may be a reference to Cat's Cradle, by author Kurt Vonnegut. Specifically, Bokonon.
• Tommy Starnes was played by Craig Hundley, who had earlier appeared as Peter Kirk in the episode .
• Mary Janowski was played by Pamelyn Ferdin, who was very nearly cast as Regan in The Exorcist based on the acting ability she showed in this role. She was passed over for Linda Blair who was a relative unknown.
• Spock says Starnes' dispatch was never sent to Starfleet, yet in the opening scene Kirk's log says they responded to a distress call, so Starnes did manage that much.
• Gorgan is played by attorney Melvin Belli.
• In a portion of the recording which was left on the cutting-room floor, Starnes says the power started to influence the children, and the tape reveals a recording of the summoning chant we have heard the children sing to call their alien friend. This was apparently where the name "Gorgan" was initially mentioned but was never revealed until later in the episode, however Kirk oddly knew the entity's name before hearing it.