It was hard for me to accept that Shatner actually wore a hairpiece in the original series, but I’ve read and seen too much that confirms it. Among the clinchers, years ago I got a poster-sized photo enlargement from the negative of the 1967 TV Guide cover, and like it or not, the lace front of the hairpiece is visible in Shatner’s hairline, despite being covered by makeup. Then in ‘96 Solow and Justman explained in “Inside Star Trek” how Shatner was costing them money they hadn’t budgeted because he was keeping the good hairpieces for his personal use.

It‘s actually a paraphrase from the New York Daily News review of Shat‘s autobiography. The original wording is “It is now Bill Shatner’s universe—we just live in it.“ If you feel better considering it sarcasm – there ya go…:)

I love it…make me want to creat a new “signature” for my emails.

THAT’s sarcasm…

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I have not read the script. However, it seems obvious to me that the script writers, the producer, and the director did not feel it would benefit the story, otherwise they would have written it in. Perhaps I should have said that they do not feel it would, and that I have no reason to disbelieve them. You may disagree with them (although that it pretty difficult since they are the ones with the script), but it seems to me that none of us have any reason not to question their integrity, and certainly no sufficient reason to question their talent simply because they are not telling the story which some fans want told. The studio obviously did not feel Shatner was essential to the film, or they would have made hiring him a prerequisite to approving the script. Instead, they are regarding Star Trek with more confidence than they have in 30 years.
Still, it is not unreasonable to suggest that his presence would be unbeneficial, since we already know that the story takes place partly in the post-Nemesis period, and in the years prior to the TOS voyages.

“My main point is that posters should show some respect and not make blanket assumptions such as: “He demanded too much money” or “He demanded a bigger role” unless they can prove they were in the room with Mr. Shater and Mr. Abrams or have some sorte of recording to prove such.”

No one has to have been in the room with Shatner to hear him publicly state that he does not do cameos (in other words, inferring that he would have to have a substantial role). Whether he demanded more money or not, I don’t know, and I would never state that he did. Who knows if he was even offered anything. I don’t believe he was, simply because while JJ was talking about finding him a part, he was making statements to the press that read something like this, “I don’t do cameos.” I wouldn’t rewrite or handicap my story with explanations of his resurrection to give him a featured role, and I certainly wouldn’t offer him a cameo when he has already publicly made clear that he is opposed to that idea. Personally, I would not have minded seeing him in a flashback scene, but that would of course be a cameo appearance, and we all know that ship has sailed.

But…geeze, folks, aren’t you getting tired of the “Shatner is in it / is not in it” debate by now?

:( *hates wading through it for every single Shatner article*