CelebWatch: Political Quinto, Country Takei, Stickyfingers Ryder, B’Day Shatner, and More March 20, 2008
by Charles Trotter , Filed under: CelebWatch , trackback
This week, the Watch brings you Quinto on Obama, Billingsley on life after Phlox, Winona Ryder’s latest possible five fingered discount, a TV deal for Kirstie Alley, Mulgrew out on the town, George Takei showing new talents, news from Trek’s "welder guy," and more. PLUS: The Watch now covers Trek celebrity birthdays!
Quinto Groks Obama
Zachary Quinto (the new Spock) has been spending his week flying to various colleges and universities (along with Psych star Dulé Hill) to rally support for presidential candidate Barack Obama. The Sentinel reports on Quinto at Shippensburg University where Quinto said “Barack Obama is our hope. He is our change. He is our future.” Reader Nick Schu sends in some pictures of Quinto visiting Lehigh University on St. Patrick’s Day. Dickinson College has put up video clips of Quinto’s visit this week:
Takei’s A Little Bit Country
William Shatner isn’t the only original Trek star going country. Variety reports that George Takei (the original Sulu) will try his hand at country singing on the new CBS reality series Secret Talents of the Stars. Takei will be competing against the likes of real country music singer Clint Black (who tries his hand at stand up comedy) and Partridge Family actor Danny Bonaduce (who’s doing circus acts). The show debuts April 8th at 10pm. In the meantime, Takei will be the Masters of Ceremonies at the sixth annual Reggae Rhythm of Life Run at the Rose Bowl in California on March 22nd, according to Pasadena Now.
Sticky Fingers Winona?
A little over six years ago, Winona Ryder (Amanda, Spock’s mother, in the new Star Trek) was arrested on shoplifting charges in what became a worldwide media frenzy. And according to this week’s National Enquirer (but denied by Ryder’s publicist), the actress is at it again. They are reporting Ryder made some purchases at the Hollywood CVS Pharmacy, but didn’t pay for everything:
Winona had a bag of stuff, but she set off the theft alarm when she left the store. When a security guard stopped her, he found make up she had not paid for. When asked about the make up, she said that she didn’t know how that happened. We took unpaid items back and she left the store.
“Um…” Ryder contemplates how to get herself out of her latest predicament.
Billingsley Talks Acting, Post-Phlox
BackStage has a report on various actors who moved on after their respective series came to an end, including Star Trek: Enterprise’s John Billingsley (Dr. Phlox). Billingsley tells BackStage that he just picked up where he left off when Enterprise was cancelled, going around Hollywood and "knocking on a few doors and re-introducing" and taking on TV guest spots and roles in indie films. Billingsley says he wasn’t exactly saddened when the show ended, explaining:
For me, having it end after four years was kind of perfect. Although I had a lot of fun and I really enjoyed that character a lot, given the nature of the show and the inherent confines of the show, four years was fine.
Billingsley’s optimism is still intact.
Lt. Hawk Fights Back
Actor Neal McDonough, who played the ill-fated Lt. Hawk in Star Trek: First Contact, has joined the cast of Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li, based on the popular video game series. According to The Hollywood Reporter, McDonough will be playing the villainous General M. Bison, the role the late Raul Julia played in the 1994 Street Fighter film. The new Street Fighter does not yet have a release date but is expected to be out sometime in 2009.
Left: McDonough as Hawk in ‘First Contact’; Right: Raul Julia as Bison in 1994’s ‘Street Fighter’
Talk Show Is Up Kirstie’s Alley
Mr. Saavik… er, that is, Kirstie Alley, has signed a deal with Oprah Winfrey’s Harpo Productions to develop some new TV projects, according to The National Enquirer. Alley is not ruling out the possibility that this deal might lead to her own daily talk show:
I’m very open with what I’ve been through in my own personal life, and nothing — I mean nothing — is off-limits for me to talk about. Nothing shocks me. I’m a great listener. I’m a good comedian. And I won’t lie — I live a beautiful life. So I hope to bring those elements together to offer something totally fresh for the television audience.
Vitale and Berryman go to war
Anthony Vitale (‘welder guy’ from the Star Trek trailer) sends CelebWatch a message that post production has been completed on Brother’s War, where he appears alongside two-time Trek actor Michael Berryman. The WW2 movie is looking for distribution and was first screened industry folks last week, more at the official site.
Vitale (L), Hugh Daly and Berryman (R)
Stewart’s Play Benefits Actors Fund, Bakula’s Play Extended
Playbill has news regarding the current plays starring Starship captains Patrick Stewart (Jean-Luc Picard) and Scott Bakula (Jonathan Archer). Stewart’s Macbeth will hold a final dress rehearsal on March 28th as a fund raiser for the Actors Fund of America. Bakula’s Dancing in the Dark, on the other hand, has extended its run an extra week due to popular demand; it will now run at San Diego’s Old Globe until April 20th.
Mulgrew Sightings
Kate Mulgrew (Kathryn Janeway) was among those in attendance at this year’s Signature Theatre Company awards gala on March 10th, as reported by Playbill. Mulgrew was also spotted at the opening of the Off-Broadway production of The Seagull at Pangea in New York City on March 13th. She even stayed for the after party.
Kate at the after party for ‘The Seagull.’ We’re assuming she attended the show, as well.
Burton To Speak at Williams, May Need New Representation
LeVar Burton (Geordi La Forge) has been named as the baccalaureate speaker at William College’s 219th commencement ceremony on May 31st and June 1st. (iBerkshires) In the meantime, Burton may have to find a new agency to represent him: Metropolitan Talent Agency, of which Burton is a client, is laying off the majority of its staff and may be shutting down entirely. (The Hollywood Reporter)
Meet the Browns Tomorrow
Meet the Browns, the latest film from Tyler Perry (Starfleet Academy’s superintendent in the new Trek film), opens in theaters tomorrow. The plot involves a single mother (played by Angela Bassett) who takes her family to Georgia for the funeral of the father she never met, where she must deal with her father’s crass, fun-loving, Southern family. Check out the official site for more; see the trailer below.
Happy Birthday!
Believe it or not, William Shatner (he who was Kirk) turns 77 this Saturday (March 22nd). Other Star Trek veterans celebrating their birthday this week include:
- Vanessa Branch (adult Naomi Wildman, VOY: “Shattered”) will be 35 on the 21st
- Richard Carlyle (Karl Jaeger, TOS: “The Squire of Gothos”) is 88
- John de Lancie (Q) is 60
- Brad Dourif (Lon Suder, VOY) is 58
- Greg Ellis (Ekoor, DS9: “What You Leave Behind”; Chief Engineer Olsen, Star Trek) will be 40 on the 31st
- J.G. Hertzler (Martok, etc.) is 59
- Sabrina LeBeauf (Ens. Giusti, TNG: “Gambit”) will be 50 on the 21st
- Chuck Madalone (DS9 stuntman) will be 75 on the 22nd
- Marjorie Monaghan (Freya, VOY: “Heroes and Demons”) is 44
- Louis Race (1st assistant director on DS9) is 57
- Maurice Roëves (Romulan Captain, TNG: “The Chase”) is 71
- Lise Simms (Annorax’s wife, VOY: “Year of Hell, Part II”) is 45
- Robert Schenkkan (Dexter Remmick, TNG: “Coming of Age” & “Conspiracy”) is 55
- Connor Trinneer (Trip Tucker) is 39
- Michael Westmore (veteran Trek make-up artist) will be 70 on the 22nd
- Vanessa Williams (Arandis, DS9: “Let He Who Is Without Sin…”) is 45
Happy B’Day Bill…long may you reign
In Memoriam
In a story that’s making nationwide news, Star Trek Nemesis set construction foreman Michael Van Dyke (48) committed suicide Tuesday by hanging himself on the property of actor/director Mel Gibson. Van Dyke, who also worked on such films as Dr. Dolittle 2 and The Matrix Reloaded, had reportedly been facing desperate financial issues. (TMZ.com) There was no direct connection between Van Dyke and Gibson, who says he feels “terrible” about the incident. (StarPulse)
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Comments»
Ooh is this two in a row?
kg
wow is it possible they missed a single obscure actor playing a bit part in any star trek production ever? Oh, i am dying to know what the goofy-haired guy in Star Trek three is doing now! ~genesis planet is forbidden!~
Brad Dourif is a brilliantly creepy actor (Lon Suder) along the lines of Anthony Perkins. Loved him as Lon Suder in Voyager (and Wormtongue in LOTR).
Oooh, Anthony - - another idea for a new poll:
Do you like Kirstie Alley’s Saavik or Robin Curtis’ Saavik?
kg
I’ve had a crush on WInona Ryder for years. She can steal my stuff anytime. She doesn’t realize that all she needs is me in her life, to care for and love her.
Isn’t Leonard Nimoy’s Birthday in March as well?? I think it’s the 26th. My birthday is on the 24th.. right between Bill Shatner’s and Leonard Nimoy’s. :)
2. intrepid
Be nice. They work very hard to bring us nice trek related articles to read when news is slow, this is the best trek news site out there bar none.
Wow , interesting stories , too bad to hear about the set construction foreman from Nemesis . My condolences go out to his family.
Trekmovie.com Staff:
How about a new feature -
Trek celeb birthdays:
Once a week - - no, once a month considering you are already swamped…
Or are you doing that and I missed it? (The birthday part in the above article gave me the idea.) Thanks for your article, Charles.
kg
Dear sweet lord, it looks like someone just killed John Billingsley using the Joker’s “smilex” poison :)
Billinglsy’s comments are interesting. I could see for sure that in seasons 3 and 4 the show itself was getting better. Unfortunately the viewership was declining because of poor syndication on UPN which I believe was not national.
What episode was that creepy smile from?
#9, “He’s been using Brand X”
4. Jabob Slatter: I’m with you Jacob. Of course with one very important change exchanging you for myself in that particular scenario. :)
5. Montreal Paul: Yes Leonard’s BDay is this month as well. As is mine, today in fact. The 20th that is. :)
birthdays are now a regular feature of Chuck’s ‘watch’ column…right above the ‘deaths’ of the week to balance it out. it will cover from sunday to saturday of the current week. Nimoy’s bday is therefore week
Maybe Ryder is simply stoned as she leaves stores…..gee, a Hollywood star who’s “on” something as she goes about her day-to-day business….what a shock!
Punchline: She’s harmless and just a little loopy!
To finish my thought.
But even if the stories were getting better, who wants to stay on a sinking ship?
Billingsly was right.
Happy belated birthday, Eymorg! (it’s past midnight on the east coast) Hope it was good!
Peace. Live long and prosper.
The Vulcanista }:-|
Great article, as usual. Thanks to TrekMovie.com for doing such a fantastic job.
77! Holy photon torpedos. He dosn’t look a day over 76.
Here’s the “e” in doesn’t. I found it, no need to post about it.
I’ve always thought it was a weird little piece of serindipity-doo-dah that BFFs Nimoy and Shat’s birthdays were only three days apart. What’s even weirder to me is that they’re BFFs at all. I can’t think of two more divergent personalities than those of Shat and Nimoy. I guess opposites *do* attract.
Peace. Live long and prosper.
The Vulcanista }:-|
‘Scuse me. Make those birthdays *four* days apart.
Peace. Live long and prosper.
The Vulcanista }:-|
Re: #13 Anthony
Thanks, Anthony. I’ll watch for it.
kg
Four days apart for age and Shatner’s facelifts are still holding in there, while Nimoy has enough wrinkles in his face to hold a three day rain! If Shatner gets one more nip/tuck there won’t be anything left in his shoes!
Quinto backing obama is a joke especially after what we have found out lately. Obama’s change is more racism. His comments ‘typical white person’. Quinto should steer clear of backing him or it will make it hard to watch him without knowing he backs a racist or at least a sympathizer of a racist. I don’t want to start some political discussion but I had to comment after recent events.
24 - Gene, watch the whole speech. You’re taking it completely out of context. But regardless of that, hooray for Neal McDonough, who was AWESOME in Tin Man, which came out on DVD last week.
Sigh. Quinto, shut up.
On the other hand, as #25 points out, it is a very nice speech, and what’s posted here is very non-partisan. Actors campaigning for candidates just… bugs me. Producers and directors and writers, fine. But actors for some reason drive me nuts when they try to be political.
Look on the bright side, we had 23 posts made in good cheer. We’ll always have those memories to fall back on, when this page was young and innocent. The halcyon days. The days with velour and awesome fight music and beehive hair –
Sorry, drifted there.
Re: 27:
http://echosphere.net/star_trek_insp/insp_fightmusic.png
Morg Not Eymorg -
Happy Birthday. At a mere 20 years, you’re too young for Winona. She’s 37 now and needs a more mature fellow like me. Sorry, nothing personal.
Just. Stay. Away. From Her!
I’ve always felt that anyone in the entertainment business (film, televison, sports) would do themselves well to keep their political opinions under wraps. No matter what you say you’re going to alienate 50% of your audience. Seems silly to take that risk.
#24 Gene -
No, actually, you didn’t have to comment. There are other web sites for your comment. Fox News, for instance, because that seems to be where you’re getting most of your information.
Sorry, Anthony. Ban me.
16. The Vulcanista: Thank you very much, Vulcanista! And I had a good one. Someone treated me to a catfish dinner and I found out I am getting one of the new communicators for a present. Woot! :)
29. Jabob Slatter: 20!? If only that were still true. I turned 45 today. But thanks! :)
And since I am the sort of mature presence Noni needs in her life it would be the right thing for you to step aside. ;)
and thanks for the birthday wishes, Jacob.
Hey, then, you lied, because it was you who said you were 20.
Winona’s still mine.
If you are alienated by an actor because of their politics you need to get a life. I can enjoy a Bruce Willis or Mel Gibson movie even though I think their politics are wack (as long as they make decent artistic choices, which is why I WON’T watch Sly Stallone or Chuck Norris). We should be happy that we live in a country where people still CAN express their political views (speaking as a person who lives in a country where people generally can’t).
Sorry to take the thread off course, but sometimes it is hard to resist. : )
Then again, what is on course?
That said, Quinto sure looks like a dweeb in that photo.
34. Jabob Slatter: Misscommunication. I was saying that the 20th is my birthday. And I am Noni’s. :)
I’m a huge Kurt Russell fan, turns out Kurt voted for G. W. Bush and is a member of the NRA. Do I love him less? Not even the slightest. If Goldie can live with it so can I. :)
Point is, let’s leave the politics at home and Star Trek in our hearts where they both belong, and away from eachother.
I feel I should commit on this though:
“McDonough will be playing the villainous General M. Bison, the role Raul Julia died for in 1994’s Street Fighter film. ”
I find this very offensive.
CVS should have called the cops & haulded Ryder off to jail.
39:
Glad someone else noticed that Raul Julia notation. I had to do a double take. It needs to be changed for sure.
Yeah, I guess I wasn’t sure the meaning of the “role he died for”, other than the fact I know he died and I presume this was his last role. Still given his distinguished career I think it does him a disservice to say this as it sounds like it was his penultimate role and it most definitely was not (seeing it is one of those lame lets-make-a-movie-out-of-a-video-game movies. As an aside, this might be generational, but, from the few I have seen–like the abyssmal Final Fantasy—I believe that there is a reason why screenwriters write movies and software engineers write code. Best that the twain never meet).
42: “Not his penultimate” That’s the truth. SF was HORRIBLE and a waste of his talents.
For me, my favorite RJ role will always be Gomez Adams.
George Takei (the original Sulu)
William Shatner (he who was Kirk)
C’mon Charles, I thought you were above such thing.
Otherwise the article was great work, as always.
W00T!
Happy Birthday, Bill.
Leonard, too, four days later ^__^
Where’s that Shat photo as King come from?? Not an Imperial margarine ad, I know that…
I prefer Kirstie Alley’s Saavik to Robin Curtis… not that I have anything against Robin. I just felt Kirstie’s Saavik had a little more “unspoken” depth, whereas Robin’s was a bit flat.
I always thought it would have been cool if Kirstie could have been brought aboard for TUC, which would have been a real shocker, indeed… and not that I have anything against Kim Cattral…
come on #44, “he who was kirk” is funny becuase of how shatner goes on about everything.
and i have to agree with all the people who don’t like actors getting poltical. I know it’s up to them and they can say what they want. But i too find it hard to seperate the performance from what i know their poltics to be. lucky for me, i like Obama so i’ll still be able to watch the new star trek without the nagging in my brain that i get when i see mel gibson on screen
#5 and #11, my b’day is the 23rd!! And no, I’m not 23… Happy birthday to everyone who’s b’day is in march!!
#48
Ok, if it’s supposed to be funny…I won’t be a drag :) But I’ll keep an eye on you, Trotter! ;-)
deleted
#2 Allan Miller is the actor who played the crazy-haired Alien with the ears in Star Trek III… he recently had his 79th birthday this past Feb 14… He was in “ER” as Bartholomew Lefkowitz in 2007…
Also, he had won an Oscar in 1973 for Best Short for “The Bolero”…
At the Star Trek wiki there is also an entry for him…
May we all be as active and healthy as Bill and Leonard when we get to their age!
The adventure continues…….
Quinto Groks Obama out of Vulcan guilt.
I won’t hold Quinto’s politics against him… as long as he plays Spock good, I don’t care. But it’s not logical.
And I’m glad Enterprise never did that ridiculous CGI-enhanced smile on Phlox again. It was stupid from the start.
24.
LOL - you gotta be kidding. Yes, and black is white. And 2+2=5. And some folks are really clueless.
26.
Are you advocating that actors forfeit their rights to free speech?
And Ryder should use some of her millions to get therapy for kleptomania.
Happy Birthday to Leonard and Bill and the rest!
Many Trekkie returns.
Q is 60? Holy Crap!
#39 focuspuller — As the story goes, Raul Julia delayed his cancer treatment to finish his role on Street Fighter. About a month after he finished filming, he died. No offense was meant by the comment… he literally died FOR the role.
#42 & #43 — thebiggfrog & Sean4000: see my post to focuspuller (post #60)
#55 - They did it in the series finale in Phlox’s last scene, I think.
#31 - Is that a subtle bash on Fox News? Sometimes I think FN haters are in constant denial, especially considering how well the it does in the ratings.
#55 Diabolik — Actually, the Denobulan smile was done at least four times: “Broken Bow,” “Stigma,” “A Night in Sickbay,” and “These Are the Voyages…” I thought it was kind of cool; it was the whole puffer-fish thing I had a small problem with (see “Home”).
Jabob- Winona is a compelling actress - your love and lust are understandable. I hope she can hold off the sticky fingers stuff until after the movie comes out - we don’t want any bad press for the movie!
Chuck- Love the birthdays (good to know about the deaths as well). Could you tell us what role Shat was portraying in the above “royal” photograph?
#40—The police there have better things to do, I’m sure. We don’t even know if that actually happened.
#62—I don’t think it was that subtle, and you’re right. It does extremely well in the ratings.
#26—I think it’s fine that actors voice their political views, just like anyone else. I just don’t take it seriously. Who cares what some Hollywood actor thinks about the upcoming elections? As if his opinion means any more to me than the guy in line in front of me at the bank!
#65 Denise de Arman — He was playing the William, the king of Shatner! :D Actually, I think it’s photoshop work from someone at Uncyclopedia. (http://uncyclopedia.org/wiki/Image:William_of_Shatner.JPG)
For the record, I didn’t choose the image, that was Anthony’s doing. And a great pic it is. :)
Chuck- William, King of Shatner - good one. Cool pic, Anthony.
66: Probably also true that an actors opinion ain’t worth more than the guy in the checkout line, celebrity culture has gone nuts. Admire George Clooney for realizing that if he stumps for particular candidates he is as likely to creat a backlash as some sort of surge. But if an actor is active and informed they should be able to express their opinion like anyone else and, if they are active and informed, their opinion might actually count for something (same goes for the guy in the checkout line). Otherwise it is all just hot air.
erm, “as likely to create a backlash as some sort of surge”–where is my copy editor?
Happy Birthday to Mr. Shatner, Mr. Nimoy et all!
#43,
I turned down a chance to see Raul Julia on stage as Don Quixote in “Man of La Mancha” because I couldn’t stand the production’s “let’s sell some tickets” choice of 80’s pop star Sheena Easton to play Dulcinea. It was a perfect role for Raul Julia that he played often and, I’m told, brilliantly and I figured I’d have another chance when the female lead was better cast. Julia passed away shortly afterwards and I had it to do over again I’d say ‘to heck with Sheena’ because I still regret not seeing his performance.
40. I Love My Moogie: Ah chill out Moogie. She didn’t mean any harm.
46. Jeffrey S. Nelson: From his castle. :)
47. MikeG: Simple. Alley is a better actress than Curtis. And yes it would have been a huge shot hurt around the galaxy if Saavik had been the traitor. Would have been very effective.
49. TK: Thank you. :)
53. CanuckLou: No doubt! And happy birthday Shat and Nimsy!
57. diabolik: It could be kleptomania but I am not sure it is. She also was found lost and wandering in a series of stores in NYC awhile back. I think she may have some issue of some kind that spaces her out. Hopefully she will solve the problem somehow before she gets into more trouble or gets hurt.
64. Denise de Arman: I adore her too, Denise. :) Jacob and I were fighting over her. And hopefully she can solve what is making her loopy and forgetful and keep from doing things like this. For the movies sake and her sake.
66. Mr. Poopey face(formerly known as Closettrekker): Exactly. Celeb news is so very exaggerated these days. South Park’s newest episode “Britney’s New Look” does a brilliant scathing indictment of that whole scenario. Regardless, I do not think Winona is doing this for thrills or out of a sense of entitlement. She has just been mixed up and confused a couple of times. Not trying to make excuses but hell I walked out with something before by accident and I don’t have near the pressure or issues Noni has. It happens.
All Hail William the King of Shatner!
Happy Birthday to the authentic James T. Kirk, The Shat—-you haven’t aged a day since GEN!!!
To my fellow Shataholics, lets toast a cup of coffee & chicken sandwich to Bill.
I voted for Prell to go back to the glass bottle. After that i became deeply cynical.
^Michael van Dyke:
Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem. May God have mercy on his soul.
^35
The problem with actors mouthing political views is this,
Actors are enjoyed precisely because they do not speak their own thoughts. We watch them because they speak the thoughts of others!
Put another way, I pay them to keep their opinions to themselves. And they are free to run for office - in which case I would be highly interested in their thoughts!
Yeah, I really just want actors to shut up and act.
77 years old and Risk is STILL his Business.
Go Shatner!
#3 - Definitely Kirstie Alley. I couldn’t stand Robin Curtis’s Saavik,
The whole actors talking about politics thing is really interesting. If everyone is so interested in actors being quiet about such things, then why don’t they tell friends, co-workers and fellow customers at the barber shop the same thing?
We are all citizens of this great nation and therefore every single one of us can talk all we like about it and its political system as we see fit.
78…
No free speech for actors eh? That doesn’t seem fair.
Quinto’s a nice fellow, it seems, but if he chooses to exercise his rights to speak freely on politics, then he should prepare hismelf for some free speech criticizing him in return.
I personally don’t care what an actor’s politics is, as they don’t shape my personal values one way or another. I would, however, porbably not put my own beliefs out there if I was in that position. But its a personal choice.
#31 Jabob - Typical to blame FOX news for reporting the story. I listen to many media outlets but I guess it doesn’t bother you that most of the media either burry the story or defend it. Have you seen the tapes and read the remarks? Also, I commented here because it is more relavent here because we have more interest in quinto than at the other sites.
I think it’s interesting, as well, when some people infer that an actor, or a musician, or other celebrity shouldn’t have anything to say about politics. As if, what?– politicians, themselves, are any brighter than celebrities? Don’t most politicians think of themselves as some kind of celebrity anyway? And what, specifically, does a politician know that any other person doesn’t? In fact, whatever the average person doesn’t know about political goings-on is simply because politicians tend to do everything behind closed doors in order to keep us all in the dark. At least until someone manages to open the door and catch them in the act….
Damn shame about Quinto. But hey, he has the right to support whoever he wants even though I think it’s a mistake.
#84 Gene — if all they did was “report the story,” then there wouldn’t be a problem with Fox News. ;)
Sure, it’s the highest-rated news program. I hear those tabloids sell pretty well, too. Doesn’t mean everything printed in them is true. :)
72: That would have been a treat to see him.
It is …. Illogical for Quinto to support Obama.
I wish more thieves were that pretty.
Seems like Winona Ryder has stolen other things, too: The hearts of her fans.
With a whole new segment of fans she’ll find in Trekdom, I wonder if she knows what she’s in for. Sitting at autograph tables, telling funny stories about Sarek, etc., etc. What a world she’ll be in for!
I thought the clip from Bill gates calling up Obama (a few weeks back) to get into politics was hilarious:
Bill Gates: Obama, it’s Bill.
Obama: Bill Shatner, from Star Trek? Captain Kirk? Hi!
Bill Gates: No, Bill Gates.
Obama: Oh.
And by things she has stolen I was referring to the fact, well-known, that she was found guilty some years ago of the five-fingered discount at an upscale department store.
In any event, that’s all behind her.
Greg Ellis (Ekoor, DS9: “What You Leave Behind”; Chief Engineer Olsen, Star Trek) will be 40 on the 31st
Greg Ellis was on Star Trek and he’s only 40?
What did he play? Kirk’s sperm??
#62
I think a big problem with our modern news outlets is the quest for ratings, so I don’t believe Fox News doing well in that structure speaks to its accuracy or integrity. But I don’t hold that standard only to FN - CNN, MSNBC & others are just as guitly. They all cherry-pick facts& distort information to pull in us in. Then again, we’re at fault too, because they wouldn’t do it if we didn’t watch. Lovely little Circle of Life we’ve got going on in this modern world.
On another note, I wonder how political lines are drawn amongst Star Trek fans? In my observation, a majority seem to be Conservative.
#87, Fox news is the highes rated because it is the fairest and I guess the video isn’t true. Some people don’t want to beleive the truth because it revails they may have been wrong. This even goes for many of our elected officials. To many the hardes thing to beleive is the simplest.
#94 — EnterprisingGuy — If it’s the original series, I woulda said TOS; if it’s the new movie, which is only called Star Trek, I will write “Star Trek” ;)
#94 I think they mean Ellis is in tha new Trek movie that tis whole site is all about
what about Rene Auberjonois? asides from “Star Trek: Benson” w/ Neelix, he was also with Katey on Mrs. Columbo, taught at Juliard (i tink) and did a damn fine Cask O’ Amontillado… and, wearing a mask as Odo, he can now easily escape tha sci-fi typecast and onto more things… Rene seems like a facsinatin’ and smart man… maybe that’s why he’s never in tha news and we dunna have anything on him here!
Guess ya can’t do a “Spotlight On” each week since many o’ the actors, as someone here put it, are folks whom we just want to say what is writ fur them, not their own bloody thoughts… well, except maybe Burton’s…
Better fur Winona to knick a few toiletries than ta be drivin’ her BMW high as a satelite runnin’ down defenseless kitty cats… Geez, even I knick some stuff now and then…
I dunna watch tha news anymore… not since tha tsanaimi (sic) hit years back and all i saw on telly news was tha model no one heard o’ before… no mention of Arthur C. Clarke then living in Sri Lanke… and he had invented the damn’d thing these tv channels use ta beam in thar chatter…
Oh, as fur not wanting ta hear what actors think, why would you even want ta hear what some daft poster like me thinks? I don’t even wanna know…
Tis a very good thing I can’t read.
arrrrrrr…
#98 Brilliant!
92: Denise,
I remember that too! That was really funny. I didn’t expect that at all. Good clip.
Sean
I actually worked on a piece for Faux News in 2001 covering an Al Gore appearance and the producers made no bones about casting Gore in the worst light possible, cutting statements together out of context in order to make him less seem less credible and more extremist. I was not a Gore fan, but I thought they were doing Gore and the public a HUGE disservice by passing the piece off as news when really it was a rather poisonous editorial. And I believe Sean is right, the other networks are guilty of sensationalism and misreprestation as well as Fox, although I have not worked for them all. Seems like everybody forgot opinion wasn’t news. FACTS are news, but we aren’t getting much of those anymore. Sorry for the off topic rant.
I just assumed the picture of Shatner was his way of saying, “I’M THE KING OF THE WORLD!!!”
Harry#102- LOL! He does look like he should have a balloon over his head with those words in it, doesn’t he.
#76
The phrase you used is usually put into play when speaking of a condemned/guilty party. I think its use with regard to someone who was obviously undergoing extreme emotional disstress is incredibly offensive. Most people that take their own life do so because they can see no way out of an untenable position.
I could be misunderstanding your post, and if so I’m sorry. I’ve had friends that have committed suicide, so I am likely more sensitive to it than someone else might be.
sean#104- Reading that post again, I must agree with you. Anyone in that much pain is no coward, only looking for a way to put an end to the unbearable.
Taxpayer#76- An overused and simplistic statement that unfortunately defines the views of most people that do not have a clue regarding psychological illnesses.
arrrr…
Just ta be clear, I may have alluded to somethin’ he said ’bout actors #77, but rest assured he be no alias o’ mine…
But… makes me wonder… surely our names are tied to our e-mails addresses, right? That would mean I couldn’t post as Denise or Harry? Right? tha name is a’used?
No worries- it’s just the blodddy interwebbie anyway. And by the by, I never pay me taxes. Sod off ta the governement! .. ..uhhh…. I shoulda used an alias fur this post…
Back to tha brig…
106
Oh shite! Lookie here! I can be posting as anyone I sure choose!
I promise not to, though! Sailor’s swear! an’ not a swear like “bollocks bongke wanking nerk” either…
arrrr….
BritDude#106 & #107- Do you take things apart just to see if you can put them back together? Somehow I can see you doing that. LOL
77. US Taxpayer Dude - Exactly…
91. Hat Rick: She certainly has. And yes it will be interesting to see her deal with a whole new set of fans. She sort of got a taste of it when she did Alien Resurrection. But as we all know Trek fans are a whole nother league. :)
This just in! Sum Shmoe, the actor who had a bit part in Star Trek IV as ensign Fred who was seen for approximately 0.32 seconds taking a crap on the crapers deck of the Enterprise has announced the turd he left is giving all his support for Barack Obama! Film at 11.
96. And others.
Fox News (propaganda) has zero credibility with everyone but Dick Cheney and other right wing nuts. Bravo to Quinto. Obama is the best person to clean up Bush’s mess!
I miss the days when trekkies were all liberal…
“I miss the days when trekkies were all liberal…”
Me too, guy. Though one’s political affiliation shouldn’t be a prerequisite to enjoying any entertainment franchise, given the show’s pedigree and its professed values, it only makes sense, dammit. :-)
(And speaking of logic, as reported on this site a couple of months ago, Nimoy has been outspoken in his support of Obama as well. Maybe he and Quinto should do a joint appearance.)
I’m not liberal, I’m a centrist, but I can certainly recognize that Fox News is simply a sounding board for Neoconservative hate talk, thinly disguised as “fair and balanced” news.
Happy Birthday Bill! May you have another 77 of them!
As for actors speaking out about politics, since they are public citizens and have the same rights as the rest of us, I have no problem with them speaking out, even when they disagree with me.
Frankly, I think McCain, Clinton AND Obama are all very poor candidates for President, and will continue pulling this country down into the blazing bowels of Hades.
But I have good news for you, Gene and many others - I’m leaving this site and shall not return. I suffer enough fools through the course of my day, and have grown tired of them on this web site.
Love and kisses, everybody! Hugs and prayers! Licks and kicks!
#112 - You’re so wise.
Suicide is nothing fun. I attempted it 5 years ago and the only thing that kept me from pushing the blade into my wrist was support from my family. With them I was able to work through my problems and become a better person.
My thoughts and prayers go out to the VanDyke Family. This is horrible.
116.
Ryan, you are also wise. Because you and many of your conservative friends above seem to equate high ratings with quality. If it’s high rated it must be good. That is wise. Problem is, so much trash on TV is high rated! And so much quality television ( such as Boston Legal, starring The Shat ) is low-rated.
TOS’s notoriously low ratings got it cancelled twice in it’s three seasons. So perhaps you and your dittoheads are not so wise after all. As H.L. Mencken wrote, “Nobody ever went broke underestimating the taste of the American public”. : )
Was too busy goobering over the birthdays to notice the Obit. Very, very saddening.
Speaking as someone who has considered suicide but didn’t have the nerve, he was in great pain. For some it’s not that you want to die, it’s that you cannot bear to live your life as it is. My heart goes out to the family as well as my prayers.
kg
#119
And, Katie, I for one thank the powers that be that you didn’t have the nerve!
Peace. Live long and prosper.
The Vulcanista }:-|
119: I am glad the powers exist in people to resist a quick way out.
113. “I miss the days when trekkies were all liberal…”
AMEN. Not surprisingly, the Berman-era is when all the mini-Limbaughs came in. Ugh and double-ugh. By the way, Leonard Nimoy has also supplied money to the Obama campaign. Great Vulcans think alike.
p.s. I do realize the term “mini-Limbaugh” is an oxymoron.
#122: I came in during second season TNG, but mainly raised on TOS. This conservative was drawn in entirely by the Roddenberry vision.
Everyone else: I’m not opposing actor’s rights to free speech. I’m exercising my right to free speech in expressing my desire that they exercise their right to -not- exercise their right to free speech. My general opinion on actors is that the less I know about their real-life selves, the more I can suspend my disbelief and enjoy their characters. Frankly, Barbara Streisand is a marvellous actress, but I can’t watch any of her movies without dealing with all the ways in which she has annoyed me. Ditto with Ben Stein. Producers and directors I expect to have thoughts, and for them to be intelligent ones… actors… they certainly have a lot of thoughts, but by and large they are ignorant ones, and I do wish they would stop expressing them.
119: A happy, inspiring person like you? I find it difficult to believe. Count me as agreeing wholeheartedly with Vulcanista.
113: I miss the days when Trekkies all believed in IDIC.
there are too many people in this thread to warn so i will just say the political attacks and jabs stop now…this is not the site for that. Celebs do what they do but to descend into lord of the flies and boring political arguments is not wanted here.
Mr. Quinto can say anything he wants, politically speaking, as can anyone of us. sure, we may not have the podium as he does, but we all can write letters to the newspapers and news magazine to voice our viewpoints.
I prefer someone who speaks his or her mind than someone who does nothing, says nothing, votes never and then complains about the way things are running… and worst of all believes everything they read, see and hear without doing the legwork to verify if their sources are factual.
As to Fox News (using the term ‘news’ loosely), just saying “fair and balanced’ doesn’t make it so. They certainly haven’t proven that to me– I personally find it appalling in the way they blatantly play the role of cheerleaders for the current presidential administration… but that is just me exercising my belief that we should all voice our opinions in a rational fashion (without resorting to calling the other side stupid, misguided, etc.).
# 124: I too, miss the days when Trekkies believed in IDIC.
Kill the pig! Drink his blood!
Oh, sorry Anthony! ;)
#113—And when was that?
#124—Yes. IDIC is not given the caveat of “as long as you are liberal”.
Many of us are very moderate in our political beliefs, but what difference does it make? Quinto has told us all what he thinks. Great. That is not a threat to anyone. It just needs to be taken with the right dose of perspective. He is no more qualified to endorse a candidate than anyone else.
#126—I personally do not find Fox News to be leaning more toward the right than I find CNN or The New York Times leaning in the other direction. Everyone should utilize the multitude of news sources out there to foster a well-informed opinion.
I get my news from trekmovie.com!
Re: #120. The Vulcanista and #124. James Heaney - Wowbagger
Wow. Thanks, you guys!! I’m glad I didn’t as well.
Seriously, it’s a terrible thing and it’s too bad he didn’t have anyone he felt he could go to for help. (That DOES NOT mean that no one was there for him, just that in his mind, he was alone and saw no way out.) It’s difficult to think straight when you’re in that headspace. I’m in no way an authority; just someone who’s been down in the depths.
As for being happy, I started out that way, but had it beaten out of me for a long while. Then, years later, I somehow I accepted God’s help when I heard the truth about myself and slowly began to heal. Had to TOTALLY change my pattern of thinking and not let others determine my self-worth. Tough thing to do but it has saved my life. Literally.
And re: #121. Sean4000
Actually I don’t believe for a second that the power to choose to live came from within me. Am glad that God installed a fear of death in us. If He didn’t, it would have been much easier to just end it. It seems that, unfortunately Mr. Van Dyke’s pain was so great it overcame the fear.
This is depressing - - change the subject Katie!! Getting way too serious.
I’ve been noticiing the name ‘Westmore’ in many of the old movies: Bud Westmore, Wally Westmore, Percy… can’t remember the other ones. I even saw the name ‘WESTMORELAND” under the make-up credits somewhere (forgot where I wrote all this down). Have been wondering what the relation to Michael is and if he dropped the last syllable to simplifiy his name. Curious.
Hope everyone is having a good weekend. (Saturday, 4:07 p.m. Toronto time).
kg
Guys:
Regarding the wording about Raul Julia (” the role Raul Julia died for”), I think Charles was just typing like a maniac to get the article posted and in a hurry he chose the wrong words. Regardless, I don’t believe for a moment it was deliberate slur
Check it again, everyone. He rephrased it. What a humble man you are, Charles. Thanks again, excellent article.
kg
# 95 — Interesting comment. I never had the impression that most Trek fans are conservative. Hollywood in general is pretty far left as it seems the majority of the Trek actors are/were, and I always thought that about the fans, too. (I just ignored it and enjoyed the show.) Maybe it’s a thread Anthony could create or at least a poll.
I am a Christian Libertarian and have watched Trek since the very first episode. I know there are a lot of Christian Trek fans, too. (Not that Christianity is political per se, but most Christians seem to be on the right end of the spectrum, and for what it’s worth, I hate Fox News. They are neither fair nor balanced.) Anyway, what do you think, Anthony? An unscientific, but just for fun poll to see where the Trekkers stand on the political spectrum?
#131: I doubt Anbthony would want to do that for all the tea in China. I I know wouldn’t do it.
Seeing a goo dnumber of folks jumping on Mr. Quinto for daring to be political would be a good reason NOT to post a poll lest we have a phaser fight of all proportions.
:-D
#131
I would be interested too, but as Doug mentioned, I doubt Anthony would want to invite the inevitable s*#tstorm that such a polling would create! :)
Personally, I’m an Independent at best, as I see too much corruption in both parties for my liking.