Vintage Video: Shatner On Kirk v Crane, Why He Did Trek and Kirk’s Death March 14, 2008
by Anthony Pascale , Filed under: Feature Films (TMP-NEM), Shatner, TOS , trackback
Four years ago this month, the Museum of Television & Radio held a ‘Tribute to William Shatner’ at their annual Paley Festival. Video for this 2004 event is now online at Fancast, where you can see The Shat on subjects ranging from meeting Spencer Tracy to the death of Kirk. Plus in videos for a separate MTR event for Boston Legal, Shatner declares which role is bigger: Kirk or Crane…see below
Shatner on the beginning and end of Kirk and more
The seven available clips from the 2004 Museum of Television and Radio ‘Tribute to William Shatner’ are not embeddable, but can be found on the William Shatner page on Fancast mixed in with other clips (5 here and 2 here). Regarding why he took the job for the Star Trek series after turning down others, he said he attributed it to the success of Steve McQueen in the 1958-1961 series Wanted Dead or Alive, saying “Suddenly it was not just all right, it was almost a necessity to get a series to get those roles we wanted.” Regarding the death of Kirk scene in Generations, Shatner said:
I thought at the moment of death, Kirk would look up and see death, whatever it is, approaching and face death the way he faced all those aliens. Which was a mixture of awe and wonderment. And so I added the word “oh yah” and died, and it never sold…
Shatner goes in depth at the MTR, March 2004
Here are direct links to each of the videos from the 2004 event, by topic. Shatner on:
- Why he took the job on Star Trek
- The death of Kirk
- Comedians impersonations of him and meeting Kevin Pollack
- Learning from Star Trek TMP director Robert Wise
- Working with Spencer Tracy
- Preparing to play “Alexander The Great”
- Doing live TV
Shatner on who is bigger…Kirk or Crane?
A year later Shatner returned for the 2005 Paley Festival along with the cast (including DS9’s Rene Auberjonois) and producers for Boston Legal. Seven clips from this “Inside Boston Legal” event can be found here. In one clip, Shatner was specifically asked about the popularity of the show and he compared appeal of both Star Trek and Boston Legal, declaring that Boston Legal was “the most popular thing I have ever done, including Star Trek.” And when asked why Boston Legal is so popular, The Shat answered without a pause, but with a smile “it’s me.”
Shatner and his “Boston Legal” colleagues, March 2005
Lost and BSG at the Paley Fest too
The 2005 Boston Legal event is also available to purchase on DVD at the MTR site (unfortunately the 2004 Shatner-only event is not available). On the 2005 Paley Festival DVD page you will also see a DVD for an event with the cast and producers of Lost (including Trek producers JJ Abrams, Bryan Burk and Damon Lindelof). Clips of that event are also available at Fancast. The 2006 Paley Festival looked ‘Inside Battlestar Galactica’ with the stars and producers (including Ron Moore). That isn’t available on DVD either, but clips are at Fancast as well.
By the way, Fancast is one of the new sites in the ‘CBS Audience Network’ that is showing every episode of Star Trek The Original Series. Check em out here.
Paley Fest 2008
The 2008 Paley Fest kicks off this weekend. There are a couple of Trek celebs in attendance. Tomorrow night (Saturday) Voyager producer Bryan Fuller will be on hand for a panel for his new show Pushing Daisies. On March 17th, Star Trek (and Lost) producer Damon Lindelof will be moderating a discussion with the cast and crew of Chuck. Later in the month there is also a reunion for the cast of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and a talk with the producers of the X-Files. Tickets to events are still available, for more goto paleycenter.org
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Comments»
Shatner’s looking healthier these days!
I wish they would have given us that “oh yah” part in the bonus features, as well as the first death scene that was re-shot after test audience disappointment. No one wants to see Kirk shot in the back, but then again, we didn’t really want to see him go at all!
cranes bigger.
i can see that.
Boston Legal was “the most popular thing I have ever done, including Star Trek.” And when asked why Boston Legal is so popular, The Shat answered without a pause, but with a smile “it’s me.”
i love that answer
shats great
#1 I noticed the same thing too. He looks great!
1 and 4
yes shatner *did* look good, but the videos are from 2004…as noted.
The Shat is indeed looking young & fit these days, perhaps it’s for a role that has not been announced—-yet.
the first words in the article are ‘Four years ago’ and ‘2004′ or a variation appears in the article six times, yet it appears that people are missing it. I do wonder if people even read anymore or just look at pictures…perhaps I should make the site solely with icons and pictures
anyway i have added ‘vintage video’ to the title
He looks four years younger!
Boston Legal is popular because its him - its a combination of his “Kirk” and his previous dramatic work. Most of his ST stories did not allow for him to be anything other than “Captain Kirk”…other than the allotted ‘mourn Spock’ and ‘mourn son’ moments. Oh, and the ‘oh, darn, I’m gettin’ old’ moments.
The episode that came closest to really showing his range is The Enemy Within. If it wasn’t so rushed and a bit later on in the series, I’m sure his performance would have been even better.
I’m a huge huge HUGE fan of his work before ST. And I just *love* Boston Legal because its the best of both worlds. =D
In response to the video about the comic: Yes, Bill, yes you do :)
You’re a god, but yes … oh yes you do (and really, that’s part of why you’re a god).
Shatner simply played an icon… To paraphrase Carrie Fisher, Kirk, T. J. Hooker and whomever this Crane is, just happen to look like William Shatner. That said, It would be nice to eventually see the Shat/Kirk again in some capacity. Death isn’t final in such a fictional setting, and time travel/flashback/alternate universe story ideas abound!
If he’d not done the “Oh my” and refused to do the death scene…. things would have been far different.
#9 His ‘overuse’ of the dramatic pause isn’t anywhere near as present in his earlier work/stuff before ST. I read a quote by someone who said they thought it was just him trying to remember his lines due to the rigorous filming schedule and I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if that’s how it started out and he just added it into the ‘Kirk persona’ and it just sort of kept happening.
Either that or he suffered a traumatic brain injury that causes those pauses right before he started filming ST.
It’s very odd watching his earlier/other stuff sometimes…there’s that whole “OMIGOSH! William Shatner just completed a sentence without a long dramatic pause! Two sentences! No way! THREE?!” (Probably the strangest performance - in light of his role on ST - is the Hitchcock Presents episode “Mother, May I Go Out to Swim?”)
Love him. =D
Are these videos avalaible only for those in the US? Because I can’t watch them, the page keeps saying they are unavalaible. :( I’m from Hungary.
The Trek 11 movie adds Tyler Perry to its list of actors… So now the Shat CAN be in the movie! Hear me out… We’ll take a nod from Perry’s playbook and cast Shats as a woman! Here she comes, Kirk’s long lost aunt/sister Barry…
Xai, I couldn’t agree more.
kg
And another thing, Bruce Campbell rocks… He’d be killer in a Trek role! He’s got the look potential of a Kirk-level iconic captain or admiral.
Shatner is such a ham, hard to take him seriously.
Decloaking . . .
After watching the vids I feel like we saw the real Shat, more so than on his Vlogs which seem to be more of the Shat self-marketing.
Recloaking.
Kirk has become such a great character because he perfectly combines Shatner’s personal expressiveness and mannerisms, but on the other hand because Shatner was able to breath life into Kirk by actually creating him, i.e. portraying him without smothering him.
In BL, Shatner in turn was able to realize different quirks of his own personage for the Denny Crane character - a most successful performance, as well.
Kudos to Shatner for his ability to show us credible characters.
#7:
Anthony, being this site is devote for the most current Trek news & updates you have to keep in mind people automatically assume postings are of current media.
Even if the video is from four years ago, in current appearences it’s clear time has stopped itself for The Shat (and may even have reversed itself) so this easily could have been recorded now.
#11: “If he’d not done the “Oh my” and refused to do the death scene…. things would have been far different”
Lets not forget the fact Kirk’s death was insisted upon by Rick Berman before the script was even written. When the preview with the original death tanked, Berman could have rewritten it for Kirk to live but still insisted on his morbid lust for burying the soul of TOS on Veridian III. Shat regrets now doing GEN & I for one forgive him. A rousing early birthday wish to The Shat!
Actually it was Paramount that wanted TOS out, Berman actually had to fight to get Kirk in the seventh film.
The sad thing about Kirk in Generations is that he was totally wrong. Berman and the TNG crew were not able to write Kirk the right way, so in my opinion we had a flat action man without soul, light years away from the captain we know and love.
@22 - Ron Moore has said that they were trying to be unconventional for the movie, and with hindsight went too far, so they were trying to make Kirk’s death less obvious, make Picard cry, make Data emotional and it really never worked for any of the cast.
They completely nailed Kirk in the prologue though. That first 15 minutes or so are easily the best parts of the film in my opinion.
To be honest, if he never appeared in the Nexus or on Veridian III (or whatever number that place was) then he’s have had an acceptable sendoff. He was being heroic, saving the ship and being big enough not to take the Big Chair off Harriman.
Ah, it could’ve been epic, but they were just trying too hard.
Anthony — I wish you’d put more Clifford the Red Dog pictures in these articles. These words are so hard to understand.
Beyond that, Shatner’s definitely got ideas. The problem is that he doesn’t think visually. That is, he thinks of stuff to throw on the screen without considering whether that stuff is believable or something ridiculous that takes the audience out of the moment. It takes a strong director to rein him in and get a good performance.
Big Red Dog — dadnabbit, I wish I could go back and fix my own posts
Regardless of when the videos were made, Shatman still looks better today, as he appears to be trimming down some. He looks better at 77 than he did at 73 and could pass for a guy in his 50’s, no sweat. I should be so lucky when I’m pushing 80 to have his looks and energy.
I wouldn’t want his kidneystones, but If they could just package this guy’s genes…
26 jonboc
i too would like the shatners genes…then when i got to my 50s i could walk around with that uber thick sexy black fro - man i’d LOVE to have hair like that..
full..
thick..
curly..
oh yeah..
Id grow it out a bit like Shats had it in TWOK….id probably look in the mirror to perfect my ‘KHHAAAN!!’ scream then do it on nights out in a nightclub into my mobile phone when i’m loaded up with booze.
80s Shat was the business…its like what was your fave Elvis? 50s Sun Studio Elvis ..Army Elvis…Movie elvis…68 Comeback Elvis…Vegas Elvis…
Same with the shat….Nightmare at 20,000 Shat…TOS shat….70s wilderness years Columbo Shat……TMP ‘comeback’ Shat…TWOK Shat …Hooker Shat….Denny Crane Shat…Priceline Shat etc etc
#27
In addition to having a soft spot for TOS Shat, I very much like your etc etc Shat option…;-)
#7
You are not alone.
Anthony#7- The information-rich articles you provide us are the best and most comprehensive Trek news out there - please don’t change a thing about this site. When a new column goes up it is usually accompanied by a subtle tingle of excitement in one’s gut, and I think perhaps this is the reason some of us jump right into discussion. We might not say it often enough, but the efforts of the Trekmovie team go beyond outstanding, and I am sure appreciated just as much by those coming here to see what’s up in Trekdom.
Don’t forget Ms. Congeniality Shat…
#7—Anthony, be assured that there are those of us who always read your work (and that of Mr. Trotter and the rest of the “crew” at trekmovie.com) before exercising the priviledge of posting a comment. Your efforts are always appreciated…
“Boston Legal was “the most popular thing I have ever done, including Star Trek.” And when asked why Boston Legal is so popular, The Shat answered without a pause, but with a smile ‘it’s me.’ “—-William Shatner, 2005
Imagine the backlash here in the comments section if this statement had been made by anyone but the Shat….I, for one, couldn’t disagree more with that statement. He is universally recognized for his portrayal of Captain Kirk. 40 years from now, few (if any at all) will remember who Denny Crane was. In fact, he is probably more well known now for doing Priceline commercials than being a supporting actor on that show.
I watched an episode of Boston Legal once (only because that episode was hyped by this site), and was unimpressed…However, I am glad he is finding success in his “golden years”.
As for Kirk’s death, the “blame game” is tired. He was offered the part, and accepted it. It is what it is. My personal opinion is that he has never had any personal affection for the character of Jim Kirk or Star Trek in general (he has never even watched the show). I think that, to him, it was really just a job. That is fine, of course. That is the way most actors approach their business. But anyone (IMO) who believes that he regrets killing off Kirk for any reasons other than the poor public reception of that performance, and the fact that it may be now costing him an opprotunity to get a paycheck, is kidding themselves.
With that said, I love the Shat in Trek from 1966-1986. But, like an athlete who plays one more season than he should—just to get another big paycheck, he should have been shown the door after the poor outing in STV. I’m not a big fan of TUC, but it was at least proof that it did not have to be THAT bad. Casting him at all in Generations was too much, and it showed.
In retrospect, it would have been much better (again, IMO) to have seen he and the rest of the original cast ride off into the Sunset after the success of TVH, once again having saved the Earth and its people, and having sent a real Trek-like message to the audience.
Personally, I wanted to see a recast of the original characters long ago, especially after my disappointment in the bland TNG characters. However, I have to admit to being anxious and excited to see Leonard Nimoy strap on the ears one more time as Spock, especially since the role they have for him is such an intregal one. I don’t need any more gratuitous Shat…
It’s a tough argument, Boston legal(hilarious) or Star Trek(supercoolio).
I’m split down the middle on this one!!!!!!!!!
Closettrekker Britanica uber long anti-Shat post reads like war and peace. Go back in the closet, sorry couldn’t resist!!!
Hey Ballzio’s back !!!!!! So how was the Hanoi Hilton????
#34—If all you got was an “anti-Shat post”, you didn’t read it anyway…And you apparently have never read War And Peace either…I love him in his heyday as James T. Kirk. Do I have to be a TJ Hooker or a Boston Legal fan, or more importantly, agree with everything the man says and does to not be labeled “anti-Shat”? Give me a break, Garth.
Well, since White Apache Shat is the same as Season 1-2 Shat, I’ll go with that shat. Although, Barbary Coast Shat and Margerine Shat are cool, too.
i can’t watch the videos either……… (I’m in the UK) anyone else having problems?
I’ve always been a Shat fan. I remember when he was pretty much considered a joke. When did that end? Maybe with The Practice/Boston Legal–somewhere in there. But I stayed with him during the “joke” years…
Those who posted about the Shat’s appearance on the four year old video, don’t feel bad. He really IS looking pretty good, based on pics from the Alzheimer’s benefit.
Although I do agree that the Shat has a tendency to over-do things acting-wise, and I do agree it takes a good director to rein him in, I would not have wanted him retired after V, VI, or Generations. He’s awesome, looks great, why retire him at the end of IV?
Settle down sonny I was teasing you for your thesis like post. Don’t be a Mr. poopey face!!! And don’t be so childish
#20
“Lets not forget the fact Kirk’s death was insisted upon by Rick Berman before the script was even written. When the preview with the original death tanked, Berman could have rewritten it for Kirk to live but still insisted on his morbid lust for burying the soul of TOS on Veridian III.”
Uh…sorry, no. Shatner could’ve just said “no” and prevented EVERYTHING that came after in regards to the Kirk controversy. Period. Shatner fans can rationalize it to themselves all they want but that will alter the fact not one whit. In the end it was Shatner who had the final say, indeed it was he who had the ONLY say.
It’s not like they would’ve recast Kirk to get Kirk in the movie. No, the story would’ve been re-written Kirk-less or it would’ve been about something different altogether. It’s really that simple and it’s a damn shame that their are people so bizarrely in love with the man that they will attempt blame everyone but the one person who had the ultimate say so.
So, one more time……if Shatner had said no….the last we would’ve seen of Kirk is ST6, which while the movie wasn’t that great, had the PERFECT ending for the original cast. One Shatner f@#cked up because he couldn’t bring himself to say a simple two letter word.
I bet JJ said. Dude I want you in my film but Kirk would never let himself go physically and I need you to lose some weight man. Do this and well revisit it Shat.
He does look like hes trimming up. Still probably not in the film though.
#39—I’m just not a fan of the polarization phrases like “Pro-Shat” and “Anti-Shat”, that’s all. No worries.
“Mr. Poopey face”? Ironically, that’s what I call my 11 year old from time to time, in reference to the occasion about 10 years ago when I discovered him in my closet having removed his dirty diaper and proceeded to….well, you get the picture. That was quite a mess (one I remedied like any good Dad left alone with the children—outside with a garden hose!), and great ammunition when I feel the need to humble him.
42 - Closettrekker — Yep, Trek Dads are resourceful. I’m just waiting to use the duct tape and WD-40.
I still don’t get the backlash against Shatner or even against Berman for killing Kirk. Remember when this was happening. Hollywood was enamored with telling us the genesis and demise of every character, including most of our childhood friends. Personally, I found Scotty’s fate far less dignified than Kirk’s. (If you agree that he should have gotten more than a shuttle and a ticket to the galactic old fart’s home, then read “Ship of the Line.” spoiler: Scotty’s back!)
Paramount was making movies to make money. Um, they’re still doing that. Generations missed the mark. I think a little more money and a lot more commitment to excellence could have turned the death sequence into something meaningful, rather than another example of why Starfleet DOT should be investigated for faulty bridge construction. Again — Shatner (and probably Berman) have ideas. Neither is the best at ’showing us’ on the screen what’s in their heads. I hope, and do believe, that JJ has much much more of that talent.
Ha now that’s a funny story!!!! That doesn’t beat my friend’s doopey kid whom he caught eating doggy waste!!!
Agree with the Scotty stuff I thought that and the Voyager Sulu episode were both Berman-Braga not so thinly veiled backhand slaps at TOS and hence quite lame
“Boston Legal” is more popular than “Star Trek” - today. In five years the opposite will be the case.
I remember “The Practice” - real good show. So was “Chicago Hope.” So was “Boston Public.” Nonetheless, the sell-through on DVDs of such shows five, ten, fifteen years after their cancellation is minimal.
The first sentence of Shatner’s obituary will be along the lines of “William Shatner, popular stage and television actor, best known as ‘Captain Kirk’ of ‘Star Trek’…”
Both “Relics” and “Flashback” treated TOS with extravagant reverence and portrayed Scotty and Sulu with far more respect and with more importance than the characters had actually earned.
#43—There is no question that Scotty’s demise in that god-awful TNG episode was despicable. I didn’t like the treatment of his character in general, particularly by the Enterprise-D’s chief engineer of all people! That episode was poorly written, disrespectful of a character with 100 times the iconic status of all TNG characters combined, and never should have aired.
As for killing Kirk, my issue is more to the point of thinking that he shouldn’t have been in the film, period. I can hardly blame Berman for wanting to add more appeal to his project by bridging the two series with a familiar character, but I didn’t need to see Shatner’s Kirk in another geriatric fistfight with an alien, or being lectured by Jean-Luc “I’m French, but I drink Earl-Grey and speak with an English accent” Picard.
Having recently been convinced by my kids to start watching “Lost” (I purchased the first season dvd’s), I am confident that JJ is a good storyteller. He must have liked what Orci and Kurtzman wrote, and I’m sure he’ll bring his own rather effective storytelling style to the project. I look forward to it. We definitely have “more money and more committment” to this project.
#44—I’m not as bothered by VOY, “Flashback”. It’s actually the only VOY episode I bothered to see more than once. As for the rest of that series…
Re: #31. Kras
“Don’t forget the ‘Ms. Congeniality’ Shat…”
I loved him in that movie. Well done. Not too over-the-top.
Re: #42. Closet-Trekker
Mr. Poopey-Face? LOL! Priceless. Wonderful anecdote for his wedding… (Don’t tell him I told you that!)
kg
I for one could not watch Bl over and over like ST TOS, my conclusion is in 40 years shat will be will be remembered as Capt. James T Kirk mostly. Does anyone think that anything from BL will be in the Smithsonian Institution?
I was a little disappointed in the “Relics” episode, but darned if I know how to improve it. I’m only an artist in the areas of music (singing, guitar) and photography. The art of writing a good story is not one of my gifts. Wish it were. I revere and envy the contributors to Star Trek. Stories, planets, races/cultures, languages, wardrobe, space ships, special effects - even music just blow me away. All I can do is enjoy what they’ve created.
kg
Isn’t “Oh yeah” captured by “Oh, my”? I mean, what’s the difference there?
I think the list of “Recommended Videos” under the video clip answers the question about whether Trek or BLegal is bigger.
There’s a list of twenty full-length Star Trek episodes linked.
Nice to see his enormous ego is alive and well. But then again his reaction to not being in the current film showed that. I love you Bill but give your ego a rest. It’s not always going to be about you.
Lord Garth- Have a feeling “Mr. Poopey-face” is going to stick to Closet after this like a tribble on quatrotriticale (sp?).
Closet- Agree with you for the most part. After viewing Generations in the theatre, I felt like I was in some alternate universe of my own in wonderment that the Shatman would do such a thing to/with Kirk’s character. Nimoy, as usual, was the most sensitive to what that would mean to the fans when he warned Shat against letting his character be mishandled in such a way.
CmdrR- Duct tape and WD-40? I’ m gonna’ call your wife and tell…
Shat’s tombstone (as glimpsed through the donut hole in the GOF:
William R. Shatner
1931-20(indeciferable)
Loving husband and father
Star of “Devil’s Rain,” “Kingdom of the Spiders,” “Incubus”
Champion of Esperanto
His like will not be seen again
#12: Yeah, I’ve had similar reactions to some of his other material … although it’s not JUST the pauses … those interesting upper-body shifts (subtle but unmistakable in Kirk, duly exaggerated by the comics) that really complete the package. These days I don’t see him doing those anymore, but it could just be a matter of physical flexibility going a bit in the ol’ dotage :)
#48—-His mother would probably never forgive me if I told that story at his wedding!!! His brothers would love it though.
Re: #55. S. John Ross
For me it was torn shirts and the way he dove and rolled, lovingly (?) imitated in “Galaxy Quest” by Tim Allen.
BTW Anthony, can you change Closettrekker’s post name to “Mr. Poopey Face” like you changed the “Avery Brooks” one to “Benjamin Sisko”?
Please?
:-)
kg
#40
- It’s really that simple and it’s a damn shame that their are people so bizarrely in love with the man that they will attempt blame everyone but the one person who had the ultimate say so. -
Sorry to cut in - but let me just point out that imo expressions like “bizarrely in love” with Shatner have no right in a discussion like this. I for one am well aware of his involvement in Generations. I think it’s just that I and others prioritize differently and don’t think this should be a reason for not including him in XI - on the contrary, Kirk is a fictional character, this is scifi, and I think getting old Kirk back would be a valorizing and crucial element for the film. Just different views - no need to get personal.
Not meaning to try pushing the merry-go-round again, promised. Just wanted to say that.
#49
Although I love BL, I agree that TOS will always be far more important. But I think that by now the Balcony Scenes from BL have become sort of classic - maybe they’ll put the armchairs in a museum, as well.;-)
#57—-It’s Mr. Poopey face.
Sorry.
Anthony:
Make that a small ” f ” : Mr. Poopey face.
kg
Re: #53. Denise de Arman
“… like a tribble on quatrotriticale (sp?)…”
Very good!! I looked it up and startrek.com spells it
q u a d r o t r i t i c a l e.
You were very close. Don’t know how accurate they are. Who knows if they have it right. Don’t know where to look for sure.
Gotta go. Have a good evening, all.
kg
#57
- For me it was torn shirts and the way he dove and rolled, lovingly (?) imitated in “Galaxy Quest” by Tim Allen. -
Agreed, the torn shirts are priceless;-), not to mention Kirk Fu, and the subtle change in his facial expression when Spock tries to fool him. As regards Galaxy Quest - imo, it’s a wonderful, spot-on parody, and I very much like Tim Allen’s portrayal. I’m confident it was a lovingly imitation.
#32:
I wouldn’t be too harsh on Mr. Shatner for having not ever watched “Star Trek,” though I do find that statement a little hard to believe.
Tons of actors do not watch their performances because it makes them too self-conscious, something I can identify with completely. When I do interviews for the U.S. Navy I cannot stand to hear my taped voice, and I always avoid being in front of the camera!
In the few instances when I have acted in a play, I would have been horriied to learn someone had videotaped it (grin).
Some actors are simply too busy to watch something they have already lived (and in movie/tv land, the production of an unfinished product means living a scene over and over and over and….) through once.
I actually kind of liked Kirk’s death.
He was a hero, a superman to those of us who knew him … and he died falling on some rocks. It takes you out of the fantasy and reminds you that he is NOT a God. He is human, built from flesh and bone, and really, he is something we are all capable of being. Kirk’s was the most human, down-to-Earth death of them all. It reminded me of the fragility of life. Kirk’s death grounded me. Star Trek had a way of sweeping you away into fantasy, and when he died on those rocks with that smile, it grounded me. I was reminded that many human heroes have died without a flash or a bang for centuries.
Forgive the cliche, but: It isn’t how you die, it’s how you live.
#46: “Both “Relics” and “Flashback” treated TOS with extravagant reverence and portrayed Scotty and Sulu with far more respect and with more importance than the characters had actually earned.”
I simply have to disagree. The success of “Star Trek” has never rested solely upon the shoulders of the big three (KSM), but as a collective hole.
Just ask NASA engineers, communications technicians or doctors what chracters they watched that inspired them to be who they are today. Each character of each of the ST series have inspired fans to better themselves in some way… or to follow career path and as such, they each deserve our respect.
It’s true though, Boston Legal is alot more popular because of Shat! At least it was originally! I think currently it’s largely due to the great chemistry between the cast…… and Saffron Burrows helps too!
I agree aswell, he has aged those 4 years!
Katie- Thank you, K. I was actually closer than I thought! I also make a motion that Closet be referred to as Mr. Poopey face from now until May 2009, at which time he has the right to change it back should he be so inclined (the poopey might have grown on him by then).
#47: “I didn’t like the treatment of his character in general, particularly by the Enterprise-D’s chief engineer of all people! That episode was poorly written, disrespectful of a character with 100 times the iconic status of all TNG characters combined, and never should have aired.”
Right, because the attitudes of characters in an episode toward one another always represent the attitude of the writers toward those characters, and because characters in an episode acting in ways that you don’t approve of constitutes “bad writing.”
Neither of those makes any sense, of course.
LaForge was impatient with Scotty - god forbid! No character in a story should ever act in a bad or fallible way, or make us uncomfortable or unhappy in any way.
Simple truth: “Relics” made James Doohan, for the first and only time in his “Star Trek” career, the central actor and character in an episode of “Star Trek.” TNG gave him the opportunity, just once, to be the lead actor and carry the show, and he did it wonderfully.
(”Wolf In The Fold?” Don’t make me laugh - Kirk and Spock dominated that episode like every other; Doohan got a larger part than the pittance he usually did, but he was a long way from getting to carry it.)
Ah well, guess Doohan should have remained relegated to the status of Supporting Comic Character and been grateful to get the chance to deliver lines like “I know this ship like the back of my hand” before he walks into a beam - Wah-Wah-Wah-Wah. It’s what True Trek Fans would want for him, after all.
#64 - PINKY
That’s an interesting observation. I always hated Kirk’s death because it always seemed so banal (falling off a bridge), when I’m sure most of us here would have liked to have seen him go out in an intergalactic blaze of glory.
But your succinct, well-put words may make me rethink my original position. Very interesting take on Kirk’s demise…
#68—I have no issue with “Flashback”, but I hated “Relics”. And for the record, I didn’t like STV’s treatment of Scotty either.
“True Trek fans”?
How arrogant…
I also have to add that, IMO, Scotty stole the show in TOS, “The Trouble With Tribbles”.
His iconic status has little to do with whether his character was a “supporting” one. Scotty is recognized worldwide as Chief Engineer of the Enterprise.
Having said that, I recognize that James Doohan enjoyed his role in “Relics”. I just never liked the episode or the writers treatment of his character. I never saw Scotty as buffoonish in TOS (although he was unfortunately portrayed that way in The Great Trek Turd (aka STV) . That is how he was treated by the TNG writers. That is, of course, my not-so-humble opinion.
Decloaking . . .
All you guys and Ladies of Trek are killing me with the “Mr. Poopey Face” thing.
Thanks for a couple hours of laughs while I’m trying to get OGAM Pt. 2 to load.
Thanks Ya’ll.
Recloaking.
Decloaking . . . again . . .
Like Denise, I’d like to petition that hereafter, STV The Final Frontier be known as
“The Great Trek Turd”
Delivered so aptly by: “Mr. Poopey face(the poster formerly known as Closettrekker) .”
Recloaking.
20. I Love My Moogie - March 15, 2008
#11: “If he’d not done the “Oh my” and refused to do the death scene…. things would have been far different”
“Lets not forget the fact Kirk’s death was insisted upon by Rick Berman before the script was even written. When the preview with the original death tanked, Berman could have rewritten it for Kirk to live but still insisted on his morbid lust for burying the soul of TOS on Veridian III. ”
Nice try. No Cigar. Try reading #40. The Lensman - March 15, 2008…if you had not already. He said it best.
Lord Garth
the Hanoi Hilton stunk…………no hot water!
#71 “That is how he was treated by the TNG writers. That is, of course, my not-so-humble opinion.”
And it’s an incorrect opinion. From your posts, I gather that you haven’t seen this one recently. (For example, you state in #47 that Scotty met his “demise”; not true, he was a hero in true innovative Scotty style again and then sailed off into the sunset.) It was integral to the plot that Geordie treat Scotty poorly initially - this TNG episode, like many of the best Trek episodes, was an allegory for a timely concern, in this case, the plight of the elderly in society. Geordie saw Scotty as just a nuisance who was “in the way” … UNTIL Picard set him straight and admonished him:
“One of the most important things in any person’s life is that they feel useful. Captain Scott is a Starfleet Officer. And I would like for him to feel useful again.”
And of course, Picard was right. Once Geordie became open to the possibility of listening to Scotty, the former Chief Engineer quickly proved his worth by saving the day. You need to watch that episode again. Love for Scotty showed through in every frame of that thing.
As far as your anti-Shatner comments:
“My personal opinion is that he has never had any personal affection for the character of Jim Kirk or Star Trek in general (he has never even watched the show). But anyone (IMO) who believes that he regrets killing off Kirk for any reasons other than the poor public reception of that performance, and the fact that it may be now costing him an opprotunity to get a paycheck, is kidding themselves.”
Please, spare us. Shat has stated too many times to count that he loves the series and is extremely proud of it, and who wouldn’t love something that so positively transformed thier lives?? I choose to believe the man himself, not you.
He loves the series Shatner Fan? Why hasn’t he watched the episodes at least? Why did he allow the Kirk character to die so badly?
You’re just a sycophant, plain and simple, and very hard to take seriously.
Mr Poopy Face…….. Your choice or Anthony’s
He looks easily four years younger in some of those clips.
He loved it so much he agreed to kill Kirk, knowing full well how the character would die. And now he loves it so much he wants (wanted) back in. He needs to make up his mind on how much he loves Trek, or just being where the action is.
This such an old, tired argument now.
#76—First of all, you mean spare you. Second,”loving” his time on the show/movies and being proud of its success is hardly the same thing.
#78—Self-depricating indulgence of our dear friends, Katie and Denise.
71
That is, of course, my not-so-humble opinion.
No it’s not just your opinion. I was angered when I first saw that episode and how Geordi was so above, rude and dismissive of him. Although it didn’t surprise me because it just went along with everyone thing else I thought was wrong about the new show.
I mean, c’mon! He didn’t know who Scotty was?!! The man who’d broken and re-invented the laws of physics many times saving the Enterpirse and the universe from danger. There wasn’t “the Scotty jury rigging technique of 2268″ or something to that effect?! There wasn’t even a freaking plaque in the engineering section dedicated to the man.
I hated how the new show worked really hard at not acknowledging that crew. Kind of like Leno being advised not to acknowledge Johnny on his first night as Tonight Show host. In other words - a mistake.
There should have been this or that Kirk maneuver, the McCoy serum, the Spock theorem. I mean that crew invented things on the spot. Just another in a long line of reasons as to why I hated The Next Generation.
And I had this opinion long before I knew of or had seen Free Enterprise.
#81
so….. you…… agreed…..?
#82 “No it’s not just your opinion. I was angered when I first saw that episode and how Geordi was so above, rude and dismissive of him. Although it didn’t surprise me because it just went along with everyone thing else I thought was wrong about the new show.
I mean, c’mon! He didn’t know who Scotty was?!! The man who’d broken and re-invented the laws of physics many times saving the Enterpirse and the universe from danger.”
Yep. Any chief engineer serving aboard the starship Enterprise would surely know the name Montgomery Scott.
Piss-Poor writing for an absolutely wretched episode.
Mr. Poopey face- You are the coolest, well, right up there with all the other cool dudes that come to Trekmovie. And we know that any dude who will go along with the gals and allow himself to be called Mr. Poopey face is very secure in his own masculinity; indeed, a most assuredly confident male-type person period, and nothing turns on a woman like confidence. So, go grab the missus, look her right in the eye, and say in a sexy tone of voice, “Hi there. My new name is Mr. Poopey face.”
#77 “He loves the series Shatner Fan? Why hasn’t he watched the episodes at least?”
The real question is, why do you interpret everything so literally? A lot of actors say they don’t watch their old work, that they find it difficult to watch for various reasons. This does not mean that he’s never once seen it. I mean, come on. Seriously.
” Why did he allow the Kirk character to die so badly?”
Because A) the TOS era of films was over, and many actors like to play dramatic death scenes (don’t forget, this is also what enticed Nimoy back for Trek II) … and B) Shatner had an idea - later turned into the novel “The Return” for bringing Kirk back. He has since admitted that the way it all played out onscreen was disappointing to him, as well as the audience. Did you watch the clips above? That’s what one of them is about.
“You’re just a sycophant, plain and simple, and very hard to take seriously.”
No, I’m a fan who is using *facts* to dispute unsubstantiated claims. If Bill tells Leonard in “Mindmeld” that he loves the series and he’s proud of it, then some anonymous poster on here (like you) claim that he really doesn’t, in essence calling Shatner a liar … why the heck should anyone take your word over his?? The man has devoted nearly all of his adult life to Star Trek in one way or another. He would’ve disassociated himself with it all long ago if he hated it.
#86—No one claimed he hated it, just that he never watched an episode. It was the Shat who said, “I have never watched an episode of Star Trek”.
He “devoted” his adult life to being an actor, and Star Trek paid a lot of bills. Of course he would not disassociate himself from it.
Since on the one hand, he says he’s never seen an episode, and on another hand—he says he “loves the series”—-there are really two reasonable possibilities…
Either he IS lying, or what he meant was that he loved WORKING on the series, and he is proud of its success….I’d go with the latter, since I have no reason to believe he is a liar.
When I claimed he had no real affinity for the character of Jim Kirk or Star Trek in general, it was not presented as fact, but opinion. However, it is not at all unsubstantiated. It is Shatner’s own seemingly contradictory statements which substantiate that opinion.
#87 Sorry, but NO ONE would spend 40 years acting, attending conventions year after year all over the world, pitching new story ideas (for Star Trek V, Star Trek VIII, Enterprise, and an all-new series a few years back), writing novels and non-fiction books, doing hundreds of interviews on the subject, appearing at the openings of brand new Star Trek events (like The Experience), and genrally indelibly marrying themselves to one role and franchise if they had “no real affinity” for it.
That would be ridiculous, Closet. You’re really, really reaching.
#88—LMMFAO!!!! That’s absurd!!! He gets paid, Shatner fan…When he finished TOS, he ended up penniless and living out of a p/u truck.
So, is it reaching to say that he would be willing to do all of that for money and exposure?
It is not me who is reaching…
Yeah, I am aware he got paid. Most people do at their jobs! That’s kind of a worthless point. The point is not whether he got paid, it’s whether he has “affinity for” the franchise, right?
Let’s get back to the basic argument: Shat says he likes Star Trek, you’re trying in vain to say he doesn’t. I and I’m sure most others believe the man. At some point, he could’ve closed the book on all of it if he chose to. He could simply refuse to talk about it and close himself off to it. His wealth has been secured for many years now, I’m sure. Your assertion is based on zip excpet some out of context quote about him not spending hours watching the DVDs, like we are. Again, if Shat says he likes Trek and you say he doesn’t, why should anyone believe you? You’re just trying to attribute something else negative to him. Give it up, man.
He likes Trek because its the most lucrative job, its not hard to see that.
Battletrek,
Really? In #77, you were questioning whether he liked it at all. Now you’re saying he likes it only because of the money. Please. The truth is, neither you nor anyone else has any place to say what Shatner thinks of Trek. Except Shatner. And he has stated time and time again that he likes it. Devoting huge chunks of his life to it for 40 years (regardless of the fact that he was getting paid!; 40 years is a lonnng time) would seem to support his statements.
If I were to ask you for your opinions on Trek, and someone else butted in and said, ‘Don’t listen to him, I’ll tell you what he really thinks!’, I’m sure you’d find it presumptuous at best.
#90—I’m not trying “in vain”, at all. The quote is actually quite clear.
“I have never watched an episode of Star Trek”.—William Shatner
He didn’t say anything at all about spending hours watching dvd’s. He said he has never watched an episode.
It is you who is trying to discount that statement—-”in vain”.
Pointing out that he gets paid for such appearances, his ghost-written novels, and acting performances, etc. is not a worthless point at all, particularly when you were inferring that the reason for those actions was primarily an “affinity” for the show .
#92—You’re right about one thing. Only Shatner can tell us what he really thinks about Star Trek.
“I have never watched an episode of Star Trek.”
I have no doubt that he loves the financial opprotunities which Star Trek has made available to him, nor do I doubt that he is proud of the show’s popularity and that of the character he portrayed. He would be a fool not to.
But your dismissal of the argument that he has no genuine affinity for the series or the character of Jim Kirk as without merit, crumbles before it even gets started, because it is so difficult to believe that he could. It is so hard to believe because he’s never seen it! I find it. I find it equally difficult to believe that you are incapable of comprehending the extremely basic logic behind that very reasonable conclusion.
I don’t care how many times he said he loved it, either one of those statements is false, or by “loving the show”, he must have meant he loved working on the show.
And he most likely wouldn’t find it presumptuous at all, considering it was he who said he has never watched it!
I don’t understand why you have such a hard time with this. The man is an actor, not a deity. We all loved him as Captain/ Admiral Kirk, but he is not really James T. Kirk, TJ Hooker, or Denny Crane. He is just another person like anyone else, so curb the worship, if not for the rest of us, then for the sake of your own dignity—please!
One more thing. I don’t find the fact that he says he never saw it to be “negative” at all. He can watch whatever he wants! Most of the people I know don’t watch it, and I am certainly not carrying a grudge against them for it. I like it, and that’s all that matters.
Once again, I am not anti-Shatner. I watch him regularly on some of my favorite dvds! But I don’t feel that I have to like everything the man says and does to be a fan. I love Bill Shatner as Jim Kirk from the mid-60’s to the mid-80’s.
86, 87 and 88
Yeah that’s like the late great comic artist John Buscema saying he hated drawing superhero comic books but everyone knew he just liked to be grumpy. If you look at the work he put out, he clearly loved what he was doing. Some people like to put a gruff exterior on a subject to hide their soft side.
#95 “Some people like to to put a gruff exterior on a subject to hide their soft side”
That’s like me……I have a hard shell, but a nice chewy center!
“by ‘loving the show’, he must have meant he loved working on the show.”
Ok, Closet, as usual, we are down to splitting tribble hairs now. No point in continuing that particular argument. Once we’re down to trying to define which aspects of Trek Shatner *might* like, it’s time to move on.
This paragraph of yours deserves a response, though:
“The man is an actor, not a deity. We all loved him as Captain/ Admiral Kirk, but he is not really James T. Kirk, TJ Hooker, or Denny Crane. He is just another person like anyone else, so curb the worship, if not for the rest of us, then for the sake of your own dignity—please!”
Your patronizing tone is not appreciated. I am not an idiot. I know the man is just like everybody else, and makes as many mistakes as the rest of us. It is no more “indignified” for me to argue your position that he “has no affinity” for Trek than it is for you to post that in the first place. We are all here posting our opinions on a sci-fi tv show -a pastime that many people would doubtless view as a waste of time - and you post quite a bit more than I do. You should be able to make your points without suggesting that other posters are somehow deluded because they don’t agree with your long and frequent contributions, many of which come off as knocks on Shatner (just as #34 suggested).
#57: Fair enough :) As quickly as I could formulate the response in my mind that “well, okay, but I’ve never seen a comedian actually parody that aspec–” you already had a half-dressed Tim Allen in my mind proving me wrong :) So, yeah. And I agree that Galaxy Quest was fine tribute.
#93: Amen. A man doesn’t need to review a videotape of his own experiences to decide if he loved them.
Gentlemen, perhaps a good night’s rest will calm the moment a bit?
Yeah, keep this up and There Will Be Blood!
Sorry, Xai. I’ve been out all day and had company until 12:45 a.m.. Just tuned in now (1:20 a.m. Toronto time). Looks like I’m too late to mediate!!
:-)
Missed you guys.
I personally like “Trekhead”. Aren’t the fans of the “Grateful Dead” called ‘deadheads’?.
Re: #96. Harry
“That’s like me……I have a hard shell, but a nice chewy center!”
Good one, Harry. Keep trying to lighten everyone up!
Re: #82 Andy Patterson and #84. jonboc
Regarding the treatment of Scotty in Relics: I have to agree with Shat Fan 2000 in the following:
“It was integral to the plot that Geordie treat Scotty poorly initially - this TNG episode, like many of the best Trek episodes, was an allegory for a timely concern, in this case, the plight of the elderly in society. Geordie saw Scotty as just a nuisance who was “in the way” … UNTIL Picard set him straight and admonished him…”
It’s my opinion that, just like writers make a villain REALLY evil and horrible so when the hero kills him it evokes a HUGE response from the viewing audience, Geordie was “written” to be this way to Scotty to illustrate the above point. That is the impression I got. However, I do agree that it did seem out-of-character for him because he’s usually a really nice guy but at least the writers allowed him to come around after being spoken to by Picard, someone he greatly respected .
And re: #82 Andy Patterson
“I hated how the new show worked really hard at not acknowledging that crew.”
I disagree that they worked hard not to acknowledge the TOS crew. They had De Kelley make an appearance as Dr. McCoy in the premier episode (”Farpoint”), they had Scotty found in a transporter beam (above-mentioned “Relics”) and they had Spock (and Sarek) in yet a few more episodes. Maybe I’m wrong but I’d call that at least a tip of the hat (albeit sparse).
Aw, man, it’s 2:03 a.m. I gotta get to bed!!
kg
I bet you if Shatner had said he did like watching TOS, you guys would have taken this as another proof of his big ego.
Ok, that’s it from me, folks - have a nice venom-free day.
Shatner doesn’t care, I wish you guys would realize that and stop with your stupid idolatry.
#49 “Smithsonian Institution” LOL
101
Yes Katie, they had those few guest shots. And although they may have even thought they were paying tribute to the old show i always felt it was more perfunctory. And perfunctory in the sense that is served a ratings purpose and not tying in continuity from the thing that started it all.
That was one of my big gripes about TNG. It felt like it was another world. Not the Star Trek I knew. I kept looking for a language, a symbol, - a sensibility that I understood and felt familiar with. Tachyon particle this and tachyon that. Whatever. Just blow up the alien race’s computer and or hit them in the small of back.
It just felt like a new show that was unassociated with the one I grew up with. I know this ruffles a lot of feathers of TNG fans. I just never felt it went in the direction of how I felt it would have. All subjective I know.
If one is subjective
Then join the collective
You’ll change your tune
As we all sing Brigadoon
No more being selective!
Harry#106- One of your better limericks, my dear, top notch.
Why, thank me, thank me very much!
Re: #105. Andy Patterson
Don’t apologize for having an opinion (even if it is dead wrong).
Kidding. Never mind about feather-ruffling. Most of us are big enough to take it. As long as we all understand that we all see things differently (and are entitled to see things differently), we’ll be fine. Some of us think the same and thus the ‘factions’ (if you’ll pardon the use of the word here)are formed. However, we can disagree agreeably.
Anyway, I totally understand what you mean about the “feeling” of TNG being different than TOS. It WAS different. And some didn’t want that difference. I embraced it, all the while mourning the loss of the original gang. Even the TOS movies they made had a slightly different feel to them but that is to be expected. One was made in the mid-sixtes, others in the late seventies/early eighties.
It is quite possible that even the stories that included any of TOS cast were for ratings alone and not for reasons of sentimentality. Only the writers themselves know the truth.
Here’s a thought. I like fruit. There are many kinds: cherries, plums, watermelon, oranges, grapefruit, apples peaches… I also like Star Trek. There are many ‘kinds’: TOS, TNG, DS9, VOY, ENT… I enjoy them all for the same reasons. Whenever I start pining (no pun intended) for TOS, I just pop a DVD into the machine and there they are!
The debate over whether the franchise was for fans or the almighty dollar will continually be argued. It is possible that some among the high-powered execs were in it for the love of the craft (and the Trek). And being able to make money doing what you love to do doesn’t hurt.
I’m just glad that it was all recorded and we can pick and choose which one we want to participate in when we have the hankering.
kg
Well….I will say this. After all these 20 something yrs. I can appreciate TNG on a certain level.
I was just, I guess foolishly waiting every week for it to be something it was not. (I really did expect it to change - I even gave a speech on this once)
Ah well, it was not my Father’s Star Trek. And he didn’t even watch Star Trek. I’m the Father now.
#106
Hmmmm……. The collective…. The ultimate equal opportunities employer?
#111
Yeah, the collective is kind of like those who work for the government….wait, I take that back, that would be insulting to the Borg!
#110–I liked post #105 better…
TNG was, IMO, a kinder, blander Trek. Too much technobabble, and not enough “phasers on stun”, “photon torpedos armed”, neck pinching, shirt-tearing, fistfighting, or fornicating with alien females who look an awful bit like Hollywood starlets with a limited supply of fabric.
Ship’s counselors, female crewmembers without mini-skirts, holodecks, artificial officers, Klingons in Starfleet, children in the corridors…..no thank you. Beam me back to the 23rd Century!
#112
Yeah, The borg are actually efficiant!
Mr. Poopey face#113- Can I hear a witness?! Say it brother!
That’s the thing about different decades. Different things are in fashion. Different ideals, different hairstyles, different TV shows. Try watching an episode of the 70’s Mod Squad and not roll your eyes and laugh at it. If you can, I have a groovy polyester leisure suit from Halloween I would like to unload…..er…..donate to you.
TNG was a reflection of the more sensitive, politically correct decade it began in. That’s what they thought an advanced society would be about: Exploring the galaxy with your family with much less emphasis on the military aspect of the show. What they found out was that audiences craved a bit more action, and a bit less cerebral storytelling. I thought they did a pretty good job adjusting the way the show was presented after the first couple of seasons.
TNG was a great show. It’s long run and status as “appointment” TV are a testament to that.
#116—No question that its longevity and huge following are big indicators of the show’s success. My personal preference is just that—a personal preference. I did like one episode, “Yesterday’s Enterprise”. I thought that was great writing.
117
Was that the one when the ship is in wartime in an alternate time line and they find Tasha alive? That’s when I thought my prayers had finally been answered. If that’s the one I liked it too.
Out of a seven year run you liked one episode…..high praise indeed!
Although I have sometimes been accused of being a “one Trek minded” fan, I actually highly enjoyed TNG (the series, not so much the movies). And I thought season 4 of Enterprise was pretty great. I think if Manny Coto and crew had been able to keep going for 1 more season, the series could’ve made a great transition into the 23rd century/TOS.
Denny Kirk! Denny Kirk!
#118—That’s the one.
#119—Yep. That’s about it. That was just great writing, and could have worked on any Trek series.
#120—”I thought season 4 of Enterprise was pretty great. I think if Manny Coto and crew had been able to keep going for 1 more season, the series could’ve made a great transition into the 23rd century/TOS.”
On that, we completely agree!
#122 … See there, just like Kirk and the Klingons, we can agree. It is possible.
……I’m Kirk. ;-)
Here’s a question: When is Boston Legal back on?
Andy, I guess you missed last week’s episode:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=RSLvGH1mw2Q&feature=related
125
Ah you tricky…..that was actually pretty funny. “Nonchalante and urbane”
#123—As long as I’m not a TNG-era Klingon. I like my Klingons as articulate and cunning as they are brutal, like Kang and Kor…not the Klingons who make you wonder how such a primitive and simple-minded bunch ever made it into space…
“As long as I’m not a TNG-era Klingon.”
No problemo! Here you are!
http://memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/Arne_Darvin
#128—Watch your back, or I’ll make you be Pine’s Kirk!
It’s Kang or Kor for me!
The easiest way to get Shatner back into Trek is for him to only sort of play Kirk. I think a good way would be to have a time travel thing where instead of resurrecting Kirk, they have him as Tiberius from the novels that the Reeves-Stevens wrote with him.
As a villianous Kirk, who we really only got to see him play for a few seconds in “Mirror, Mirror” he could really chew some scenery. It might be best to leave our universe Kirk dead, but bring back Stewart or even have him interact with the new movie cast in that capacity as the villian.
The plot could be something along the lines that with the Terran Empire in ruins thanks to the initial interference from Kirk “Mirror, Mirror” era, old Spock, old alt-Spock and any other Trek era cast could join in fighting Emperor Tiberius Kirk…
It would lend itself to having Tiberius say still having the TOS look Enterprise as his flagship abet now wickedly be-weaponed (can I make that term up?) and fighting any number of other Trek era ships.
Any better ideas?
I doubt anyone will read this, but…
Shatner says a lot of things. In this interview, he says he never watched an episode of Star Trek. And yet in other interviews he claimed to have watched and enjoyed episodes like “Devil in Dark” and “City on the Edge of Forever” and seems to know enough about those episodes to back up that claim.
Poopeyface/Closettrekker has his opinions and once again I disagree with them.
The truth is, he obviously does like Star Trek. I’m willing to bet everything in my bank account that he was being playfully acerbic in this interview, which he does often. I don’t know if he has actually seen an episode of Star Trek from beginning to end, but I’m willing to bet he’s seen a lot of footage and is very familiar with the show and movies. He isn’t an uber fan that knows almost every detail of Star Trek like most of us are, but I’m sure he’s more knowledgeable than people give him credit for, the credit he’s given being none. I’d also like add that Shatner doesn’t like to watch himself period. Most actors don’t, that’s why some do stage threater exclusively.
I also disagree with Dennis Bailey’s opinion that Scotty was never given an episode of TOS that focused on him. “Wolf in the Fold” and “The Lights of Zetar” were the episodes that centered on him and while he didn’t get the most screen time, those episodes clearly regarded his character as an integral part of the story.
I read it.
I’m still looking forward to another Boston Legal.
Friday night I’m seeing Young Frankenstein on Broadway. Another comment for no one reading.
Hey, you never know who’s reading…………..
(cue Twilight Zone score) dee dee dee dee dee dee………..
#131—”Poopeyface/Closettrekker has his opinions and once again I disagree with them.”
Which of my opinions did you disagree with? Shatner never seeing an episode of Star Trek is not an opinion. He has said as much on many occasions, not just this one. I don’t doubt that he enjoyed being a part of it, as it has obviously brought him good financial standing and the popularity associated with representing such an iconic character. I also believe that he is very proud of Star Trek’s success over the years and his role in that. I’m not upset with Shatner for not watching Star Trek. The truth is, most people I know do not. He is an actor, and as a huge fan of original Star Trek, I do not require anything more from him than that.
#132:
Jelousy: I’ve got it!
I *so* want to see “Young Frankenstein”! Post in the chat your thoughts afterwards, please?!
Peace. Live long and prosper.
The Vulcanista }:-|
That would be “jealousy” that I’ve got. I thought that looked funny. Sheesh. It’s late.
Peace. Live long and prosper.
The Vulcanista }:-|