Shatner On Abrams, Pine, STV and 1992 MTV Movie Awards May 28, 2008
by TrekMovie.com Staff , Filed under: Shatner, Star Trek (2009 film) , trackback
It appears that Shatner is still out and about and talking to the press. In a couple of new interviews with MTV the actor again talks about being disappointed about not being in the Star Trek movie, but also expressed confidence in director JJ Abrams. Shatner also gave details on his apparently very brief meeting with Chris Pine (the new Kirk) and talked extensively about a 1992 singing performance at the first MTV Movie Awards.
Shatner on the new Star Trek Movie:
I’m solidly behind being disappointed that I’m not in it. Passage of time, for sure; that was me a long time ago. It’ll be interesting to see whether [the new movie] is successful or not. If anyone can make ‘Star Trek’ live, [Abrams] can do it. The question is: Is it still alive, or is it time for all of us to move on?
Shatner on his meeting with Chris Pine (which apparently it wasn’t much of a meeting):
I met him and just said hello
Shatner also talked about the one Star Trek film he directed, Star Trek V: The Final Frontier. He puts the blame on the poor performance of that film to too many compromises. More on that and more at MTV.com
Shatner on 1992 MTV Movie Awards
One of William Shatner’s more interesting singing performances was from the 1992 MTV Movie Awards where he performed all the songs nominated for song of the year. Here are a couple of examples:
In a separate new video interview with MTV, Shatner now gives the inside story on these performances:
MTV
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Comments»
Sour Grapes
I realize I’m gonna get in trouble for being off-topic, but did anyone realize that Alexander Courage died on May 15??? They just posted it now over at TrekWeb. Surprised that it took this long for word to get out.
Anthony, et al: Please post an obit if you can. I’m sure we’d all appreciate it.
Man, Bill.
THIS IS A DISASTER!!!! SHATNER’S NOT IN THIS MOVIE??!!??!?
media wh0re….
Shatner also said if anyone’s going to be able to revive Trek, it’d be Abrams.
For the first time in a while, it sounds like he’s over the “sour grapes” thing, to me.
“I met him and just said hello”. Shat lovers (and George haters): Please compare that with the graciousness shown by the other original cast members to the new folks. There IS no comparison. I say: Good riddance to The Shat!
4 – LOL
is “THIS IS A DISASTER!” going to turn into a new catch phrase?!
-american/english slang used by star trek fans especially those who read trekmovie.com on a regular basis. -sarcasm – used as an in joke to poke kind fun at one another within a given internet community. used to show displeasure at the over reaction of other trek fans to a given story, report, or finding.
Shatna Shatna Shatna…
Bill’s only really said one or two things about STXI. It’s just that he’s quoted everywhere he goes. To his (further) credit, he composes a slight variation on his themes. Hence, we jump every time he says the same thing.
OK, he’s ’saying’ he’s sorry he’s not in the movie. Unless he really says something else, I don’t know how we can call it sour grapes.
Anyway — I won’t believe he’s not in the movie until the lights come up in the theatre next May. I’d be very very happy with a quick voice-over, or audio sampling of a famous Billism from TOS. (That’d be so cool. Bill would no doubt get paid and yet he’d be ’surprised’ like the rest of us.)
“Shatner also talked about the one Star Trek film he directed, Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (aka The Great Trek Turd). He puts the blame on the poor performance of that film to too many compromises.”
It was a hell of a compromise to allow him to direct that disaster…IMO.
“The question is: Is it still alive, or is it time for all of us to move on?”
That’s the difference between those who love Star Trek, and those who just got paid to do it.
Re Shatner – my feelings are like Randy Newman’s character in the song “Rednecks” thinking about Lester Maddox: He may be a fool, but he’s our fool.
#12—True enough.
Maybe the closing credits will have the Shatner, Joe Jackson, and Ben Folds version of “Common People” playing. That’d be cool.
#6. ety3
Actually I don’t think he’s over it yet. His very succinct answer to the question about Chris Pine makes me think that way. However, I could be wrong. Wouldn’t be the first time.
He’s making me very sad. I would have been so proud of him if he had embraced everyone (especially Chris Pine) but he doesn’t seem able to rise above his ‘disappointment’ (to put it graciously). I can understand feeling like that but it looks like his pride has taken a beating and he’s not ready to capitulate to the logic of the decision yet.
C’mon, Bill. Make us proud of you again.
kg
#12, 13 … Bull. Anyone who attains that level of success is NOBODY’s fool. Next.
#11. Closettrekker
“The question is: Is it still alive, or is it time for all of us to move on?”
That’s the difference between those who love Star Trek, and those who just got paid to do it.
Agreed.
More of the same ols stuff…
I can’t help but wonder – if he were in the movie, would he be asking “is it time to move on?”
Alexander Courage died??? That’s sad. Too many of my favourite composers are passing lately.
He was great at what he did, that’s for sure.
rest in peace
Shatner is so doing a cover-up PR show for his cameo in Trek XI…
I don’t know about the rest of you trekkers or trekkies, but I think it’s about time JJ releases some pictures and a trailer that clearly shows what changes have been made to the Enterprise. No mystery box philosophy. Somebody throw us a bone to chew on till next freaking year.
Pretty much the same answer to the same question again. Hardly sounds like sour grapes to me.
Based on the poor performance of the franchise in recent years, his question about moving on is relevant. Note that he’s asking, not stating, that it’s time to move on.
He certainly had compliments for Mr. Abrams.
Regarding his brief meeting with Mr. Pine: since no one here knows the circumstance of that meeting it’s unfair to judge. They may have simply crossed paths and exchanged greetings. I pass people all the time on the way to an appointment with no time to linger and simply say “Hi, how’s it going?” Doesn’t mean I’m being rude. I’m sure if it was an arranged meeting there would have been more to it.
Sour grapes?
I don’t think so. Read the whole thing.
To be bashing people may be sour grapes, but expressing disappointment is not in my opinion.
The best thing for Shatner is to not be connected to this thing anyway.
Note how he said, “I’m solidly behind being disappointed.”
Sounds like he’s backing the party line, not expressing his own opinion.
He’s giving you subtle clues if you’ll just read them.
I’ve been in government and business too long to be bullshitted. Something is up, and he cant tell you what it is. He signed a non-disclosure agreement and committed himself to a course of action.
I have been waiting for that clip of the Shat singing “Sex You Up” to get onto Youtube for years! most of my friends thought I was on drugs… well, I may have been, but now I can at last, prove that that was true!
not KHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAN! but
JJJJJJJJJJ.JJJJJJJJJJJJJJ
ABRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMS
and it is the second time some one with the name Abrams do some wrong to Shatner,remember in a episode of the simpsons,Abrams Simpsons(homer’s father)confest that he is the reason why they cancel Star Trek TOS.
“Shatner also talked about the one Star Trek film he directed, Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (aka The Great Trek Turd). ”
I think Star Trek 10:Nemesis has officially taken the crown of “The Great Trek Turd.” At least ST:V has some spirit and character defining moments, and it didn’t hit you over the head (no pun intended – referring to the Scotty incident), over and over again with its tired 90’s Trek cliches.
Those who diss Trek V will probably never recogize its inspired mystical elements. Turd? That questionable status is best relegated to the final NG movie, which was a bad sendoff if there ever was one.
Meant to say “.. recognize..”
Shatner has his own life and is doing very well for himself. He’s not been asked to participate in the new Star Trek, so he’s been gracious enough to say hello politely and stay out of the film altogether. What good would his visiting the set do? He’s clearly disappointed, so why would he want his nose rubbed in it?
Put yourself in his shoes. Suppose you were involved in something that was very important to you from the very early days that’s being relaunched and your best friend is right in there with the new team, but you haven’t been asked to join in. It’s awkward, whichever way you look at it.
I think he’s handled things the best way possible. And Anthony Thompson (7) what you wrote is borderline trolling! What are you doing on this site if you’re going to make dumb remarks like that? Did you ever stop to consider that Shatner’s taking the sensible approach and maybe the other former Trek actors are the ones desperately thrusting themselves into the limelight?
Appearing with their replacements works both ways: they can give their replacements the thumbs up to appease the more vocal Trek nerds, but also keep themselves in the public eye. Shatner doesn’t need to hang around with Chris Pine to generate awareness of who William Shatner is.
And I suspect that, Kirk being a very difficult recast, the filmmakers want to keep Chris Pine out of sight until nearer the film’s launch. Remember, it’s still a long time until this film is released. I’m not expecting much official publicity until nearer Christmas!
i want to see shatner’s performance from the ‘96 mtv movie awards when he did the parody of se7en and played captain kirk, tj hooker, and the host of rescue 911.
classic.
I’ve given up on arguing with people over Trek V. It’s a great movie, an extremely fun Trek movie. The effects and the sets stunk, because the budget was too low. Luckinbill belongs in actor’s hell with Tom Hardy. There are tons of scientific potholes. But if you push that aside and just watch the movie for what it is, it is very funny and the Kirk and crew dynamic and banter is as its all-time best.
PS: I can’t get enough of the old Shatner singing clips. Hilarious.
Are we arguing about Shatner again?
THIS IS A DISASTER!!
(Doing my best to wear the joke thinly)
why should he say anything more to Pine?
I agree with the poster above that says Bill is better off not being involved.I can’t honestly see how Nimoy can bring himself to be in it because it sounds like the film is going to be sufficiently different from his Trek to leave it looking odd that he is involved. I think Bill, in time, will be seen to have made the correct choice to not be in it.
I love Bill, but he’s still in denial over Trek V. The problem wasn’t compromises, it was a terrible story and the weakest acting of the series. It was dreadful in every way and when Bill and the rest of you can admit it, we’ll be able to finally move on.
#31. Dom
Good point…
#34. THX-1138
LOL!!! Good work!!
Gotta get to bed. It’s 1:53 a.m. here.
kg
SHOW US THE DAMN SHIP ALREADY!!!
He’ll be in the movie. This is just another huge misdirect. As long as he doesn’t play the bloody chef, we should be alright…
Those MTV clips are priceless. The man drips charisma and cool. Shat remains…THE man!
The more I “hear” he’s out, the more I think he’s in.
#32
Your wish is my command
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVMLivHTXac
#31 well said
#23, 31
Good points.
______________
I don’t think it’s sour grapes – I mean, with all those sour grapes you keep alleging, and considering his working method, he would be a successful grapevine owner by now, the tartish taste being instantly recognizable. Some people would bash on his wines as being unswallowable – nevertheless, that one-of-a-kind taste would become a universally famous and favored hallmark of his wines. :)
Shatner will never have anything to be sour about. IF XI is successful, Chris Pine will play Kirk for a total of 3 movies/6 hours, spread over 4-6 years. I hope the kid is good, but that amount of screen-time will still be nothing compared to Bill’s 30 legendary years in the role. He’ll always be THE Kirk.
I wouldn’t call this particular comment ’sour grapes’, though I do think the remark about ‘moving on’ probably could have been left out. Seems a bit backhanded. At least he didn’t repeat the ‘bad business decision’ line again.
Hey, I love Trek, Shatner’s awesome portrayal of Captain Kirk throughout the years, etc – - but geez – - how many times is the man going to say the same thing in the press? We KNOW you’re disappointed, we KNOW!
That’s it. Kirk’s in XI: “I’m solidly behind being disappointed that I’m not in it.”
Read the words, people! #25, you are spot on.
They could at least give him a flashforward or something.
its easy to get him in – without having to figure out how to bring old Jim Kirk back from the dead and all that would entail (referenceing one of the worst Trek films and the silly nexus….anyway even if they did bring him back somehow how the *beep* would he be alive in old spocks time? hed be about 200 years old!)
just have him cameo as James Kirks GRANDfather, dressed in shirt and jeans giving the young Jim (Pine or one of the younger Kirk actors) some advice on the farm in Iowa before he goes to the academy…(i’m thinking a scene similar to the Jonathon Kent/Clark Kent scene from Superman The Movie)
Itd be quite logical – showing the Kirk gene pool (shatner has previously played Jim Kirks dead brother Sam in ‘Operation Annihilate’), hes about the right age to portray George Kirks father (whos probably supposed to be about 30 in the film) and most of all the Shatner of today has changed noticably from the Shatner of 1994 and before..therefore you wouldnt have him looking like he did when he was James Kirk which would be confusing..
volia..fan pleasing Shatner cameo.
Even if this hasnt happened there would be loads of time to film it as it dosnt come out for another year..
Its happened before in franchaises where the original actor has played his own ancestor..the Maverick movie for one
It’d be interesting to look back at the older articles and see if Shatner says that he’s not in at all, or if he’s not in it as Captain Kirk….
#28, #29—While I agree that Nemesis was terrible, so were all of the TNG-era movies (IMO). It was just the worst of the bunch (FC being the most tolerable to me). They (the TNG-era films) simply do not rate high enough to even disappoint me. I never had any expectations to begin with.
As for STV, it is the lone pimple on the butt of an otherwise very entertaining feature film series. #36 is right—Shatner is still in denial about it. It’s not about compromises. The whole thing stunk like a rotting Sehlat carcass in the Vulcan Forge at mid day.
STV=The Geat Trek Turd…
#33 – It IS a funny movie – too funny. ST has always balanced comedy with drama, but I thought STV lost that balance and relied too much on jokes and comic situations.
i had a thought about Trek V after seeing the new Indy film..and it was clear that Shatner was aiming for the same kind of Lucas/Spielbergian mystical journey into a great unknown thing that they are masters of..where the build up to something extraordinary is intense and has you on the edge of your seat and the eventual pay off at the end dosnt disappoint (e.g Raiders, Crystal Skull, CE3K etc)…but unlike them Shatner wasnt able to deliever the big pay off (due to budget/script problems)…
the same could be said for TMP and to an extent Generations and Insurrection
but he didnt do that bad a job upuntil then…a great score..some nice set pieces and action..a few nice character moments here and there for the big 3 and also some nice locations (pretty much a first for Trek)
but it was all ruined with a bad ending (and bad FX throughout)…the approach to the planet in the shuttle and the eerie location was good..it was just when they encounter ‘God’ that it all went down the toilet..
I guess if Shatner and the writers had managed to come up with an absolute corker of a pay off and had gotten ILM to do the FX and gotten rid of some of the more bad moments here and there (buffoon scotty..nakid uhura..bad Romulan actress..apoligising klingons) then maybe it wouldve been considered a great Trek film
theyve never been able to pull off ‘a steven spielberg’ for a Trek movie..Trek movies always seems to work best as straight action adventure set in space (with travel travel occationally)
I like Trek V the most. It’s very funny, about friendship…and the “Yosemitte adventure” with rockclimbing and the campfire has lot of classic Trek humor and atmosphere. The visual effects are ….. , but for me it’s not so important. And a Trek with Kirk but without Shatner is, in my opinion, like a chocolate cake without chocolate. It still can be very good and tasty, but it won’t be a chocolate cake….
#52
I think I’d say that Kingdom of the Crystal Skull also failed in the payoff.
The problem with Trek V – for me – is that those aren’t the characters. Those are buffoonish, karaoke versions of the characters. I don’t recognize those people in TFF. I don’t care nearly as much that the FX suck and that the story is a mess (though they don’t help much). As long as the character
I feel they could have come up with something to have older Kirk (Shat) in the film with such a bunch of creative folks. It would have pleased most fans – and if it stretchd credulity, well who cares? l bet most old fans would forgive and as for the supposed non-fans they are trying to attract — well, they wouldn’t know or care about Kirk dying in Generations. They’d just see Kirk & Spock together again – with Shatner who is so high profile these days. It’s just such a missed opportunity. I’m so thrilled Nimoy will be Spock again but I would have loved to have seen them both!
At any rate, I read Shat’s book. Very funny and interesting I thought. I loved the clips above. Great stuff.
47. cagmar – May 29, 2008
“That’s it. Kirk’s in XI: “I’m solidly behind being disappointed that I’m not in it.””
The character of Kirk has “been in it” from the beginning.
Oh, you mean Shatner… unless he’s been lying to the press and in his latest book AND JJ fibbed…. well, don’t hold your breath.
Sad to say that William Shatner’s omission from the upcoming Movie is also now being picked up in the U.K. media here.
What a pity that the early good-will publicity that could have been generated by one more team-up of an ‘Elderly’ Captain Kirk and an ‘Elderly’ Spock, has instead focused on the fact that this Movie is probably ‘missing something’ in the minds of folks….
#55
William Shatner was the one who said ‘I don’t do cameos’. So I’d say he was the one that prevented such an appearance.
Oh, and for some reason part of my comment #54 was cut off. It should say ‘As long as the characters are right, I’m willing to swallow some fishy storylines.’
sean, I think you hit the nail on the head about ST:V… everything was just a little bit off kilter. The story, the acting, the fx, heck, even the Enterprise was out of wack!
So yeah, what any of that has to do with compromises, I dunno.
KHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANNNNNNNNNNNNNN!!!!!
Re:23. lostrod – May 28, 2008
“Pretty much the same answer to the same question again. Hardly sounds like sour grapes to me.”
Agreed. Of course, some will take anything about Shatner and turn it into a negative.
“Based on the poor performance of the franchise in recent years, his question about moving on is relevant. Note that he’s asking, not stating, that it’s time to move on.”
Shatner is correct. Berman’s era ended with the very public fan abandonment of Enterprise (not to mention a certain cast member’s comment on the finale) and the final TNG movie earning less than any previous Trek movie.
Clearly, the public arrived at Shatner’s guess, and turned it into reality by leaving Trek a cold, empty corpse pleasing to only a few die-hards.
“He certainly had compliments for Mr. Abrams.”
Ah, but the Shatner haters will ignore that.
“Regarding his brief meeting with Mr. Pine: since no one here knows the circumstance of that meeting it’s unfair to judge.”
Being fair? To Shatner? Let’s not ask for the impossible from some “fans.”.
compassionate god
final warning for trolling
I have warned repeatedly about throwing around labels like haters and your notion that only those who agree with you are real fans
everyone here is a star trek fan…you do not determine which one are real fans and which one are ‘fans’ in quotes.
IMO this movie will do well without Shatner.
There will always be fans that believe he should have been in it regardless of the salary, regardless of the storyline, regardless of the character’s death in “Generations”… and that is their right.
I want a good movie that suspends disbelief, holds my interest, intrigues me and ultimately is good Star Trek.
Shatner lost me twice. The first time was gradual… the last 2 or three TOS-based filmed… he wasn’t playing Kirk. He second time was when he agreed to kill Kirk for a fat check. I felt that was a sell out.
And now he’s disappointed he’s not in this one.
11-
“The question is: Is it still alive, or is it time for all of us to move on?”
[That’s the difference between those who love Star Trek, and those who just got paid to do it.]
No, that’s the difference between those who get rich and famous doing it, as opposed to those who watch it and talk about those who see it as a job, not an obsession.