Takei is right, Shatner is hated by the entire TOS series cast, and never included the helmsman in any fun. I am so glad that ET got this story so spot on.

Shatner not getting along with the cast again, as always

I would not be surprised if other motives were behind TV Guide’s (apparent) support of a person who has been on the attack for decades…..

Back to the central matter: all one needs to do is realize two important facts:

1. Takei’s public rants started before it was ever used as any form of a self-promotional tool–since he was already a “regular” invited to conventions as one of the “stars” of TOS, so it is not as though he had to create reasons for promoters to invite a former cast member of a then-increasingly popular TV series (the syndication boom) .

2. As mentioned several times before, Shatner does not need the publicity, so in eliminating that as a motive, the truth of the matter (unless Shatner later says otherwise) is that his comments about Takei must be serious.

Character assassination and obsession before the greed motives is the very reason Takei’s mental state richly deserve the questions and criticisms recieved.

http://www.georgetakei.com/03.asp

I do not, however, equate that with “psychotic”.

“To the general public–particularly those not fans of Trek, over the decades, the number 1 reason they were/are aware of Takei was/is due to him being “that guy who hates William Shatner”

That’s pure speculation.

Even my wife knows him simply as the Asian guy from Star Trek and Hiro’s father (since, unlike Trek, she actually watches that show). I’m quite sure she has no clue about any “feud” with William Shatner (who, to her, is the guy who used to be on Star Trek, and does commercials and stars in a country music video with George Constanza).

#294—”And sadly, this whole thing appears in the latest TV Guide — terribly distorted in Takei’s favor. Tabloid journalism!”

Which is exactly why I said (many, many posts ago) that Shatner had nothing to gain by responding in that fashion. The minute Bill responded like that, the only possible “winner” (as far as the general public is concerned) would be Takei.

Bill should never have made this a ‘real’ story. He should have left it at “Best wishes”…

CG: #291—”…there is nothing remotely psychologically healthy about obsession and hatred for decades about a person you hardly knew”

“Nor is there anything in that behavior which indicates “psychosis”.

Yet in not wholly rejecting my comment, you are actually reading as though you likely believe there IS something wrong with his behavior–not psychosis–but something nonetheless.

That speaks volumes about Takei.

“I think he was ‘possessed’ by a desire to make himself relevant and entertaining. Certainly, he has achieved that to some degree by telling these Shatner stories. I don’t think he ever believed he could destroy Shatner’s career. You’re really jumping off into the deep end there, my friend. People having been telling stories like this about actors in Hollywood far more popular than Bill long before Takei starting doing it.”

Take another look at Hollywood & popular music history. Careers have been hurt or destroyed by gossip from other entertainers or gossip rags, so Takei–certainly no stranger to entertainment history–used the one effective weapon a seemingly powerless person can use: character assassination.

CG: “His true legacy…is what he is BEST known for: hating William Shatner. His voyage of psychotic behavior has completely buried any thoughts any accomplishments or any detail fans would care to know about his lone claim to lower-level fame.”

CT: “That is what ‘you’ remember him for. I know plenty of people who are not Trek fans that recognize him as Sulu. Now people know him as the guy on ‘Heroes’ who used to be on Star Trek.”

To the general public–particularly those not fans of Trek, over the decades, the number 1 reason they were/are aware of Takei was/is due to him being “that guy who hates William Shatner,” or at best, “that SPACE Trek guy who hates William Shatner.” As you so frequently point out–his appearances on late night TV, and Stern’s radio show–only strengthen the argument about what he’s best known for, as he has used each show to–more than anything else in his life–rant on and on and on about his psychologically ill hatred of Shatner.

Any who thinks “Heroes” will be even a blip on Takei’s “fame-o-meter” (such as it is) in the decades to come are fooling themselves. Assassinating Shatner’s character has been Takei’ most visible public output for decades, and will reman so, long after “Heroes” has recieved the boot of cancellation.

“Only to someone who takes William Shatner that seriously to begin with. The truth is, this so-called “feud” (which was nothing of the sort until Bill’s retort) means very little to most people.”

As you and others said, Shatner does not need the publicity, so in eliminating that as a motive, the truth of the matter (unless Shatner later says otherwise) is that his comments must be serious.

Nor is there anything in that behavior which indicates “psychosis”.

“…he was seemingly possessed by a desire to destroy the career and public image of another man”

I think he was ‘possessed’ by a desire to make himself relevant and entertaining. Certainly, he has achieved that to some degree by telling these Shatner stories. I don’t think he ever believed he could destroy Shatner’s career. You’re really jumping off into the deep end there, my friend. People having been telling stories like this about actors in Hollywood far more popular than Bill long before Takei starting doing it. No one really cares that Shatner has a big ego. People just tend to find it amusing. It is less amusing to us because this is very old news to Trek fans.

Joe Namath tells the same story (SBIII) every time he is interviewed, and has since the day his football career ended. Why? Because that is the only thing he has to say that people still find relevant. It’s the sole reason he is ever interviewed. If he wants to get another message across, his only chance is to tell that story and slip something else in.

The only difference between that and what Takei does is taste.

“His true legacy…is what he is BEST known for: hating William Shatner. His voyage of psychotic behavior has completely buried any thoughts any accomplishments or any detail fans would care to know about his lone claim to lower-level fame.”

That is what ‘you’ remember him for. I know plenty of people who are not Trek fans that recognize him as Sulu. Now people know him as the guy on ‘Heroes’ who used to be on Star Trek.

“That… is forever the nonsense which defines George Takei’s life whether you want to accept that or not.”

Only to someone who takes William Shatner that seriously to begin with. The truth is, this so-called “feud” (which was nothing of the sort until Bill’s retort) means very little to most people.

“Shatner will be remembered for having a long and successful career, the highlight of which is his portrayal of James T. Kirk. George Takei, as an actor, is not even in the same class. That’s a given.

Takei and Shatner shared a set for 3 years on a television series and 6 feature films, over a period of 4 decades. You have a definition of the word “brief” that is, shall we say, ‘unique’?”

Details, Closettrekker, details: 3 seasons and 6 films includes days one is not even required for several day’s shoot, while the other is there the majority of the time. As the star, Shatner actually spent more working hours with Nimoy & Kelley, as they were the only other major players.

When Nimoy and Shatner speak of their relationship–a real one–it is only due to the original job affording each much time around the other,and from there a relationship was born. They really KNOW each other, while the supporting players could not possibly have shared as much time to develop a true connection, making (once again) Takei’s rants born of psychologically ill obsession, as he never really knew the man well enough to be so filled with his near-half century of hatred.

As member Captain Robert April said in post #286:
“Of the 79 episodes and two pilots, George was in 51, generally only in the bridge scenes, which means when he was there, it was only for a couple of days.

Hell, Eddie Paskey and Billy Blackburn were in more episodes (59) and you don’t see them bitching about Shatner…”

Deny it all you want, but there is nothing remotely psychologically healthy about obsession and hatred for decades about a person you hardly knew–again–all of this starting before he was making a fast buck from it.

“Not even close. He’s the only ‘winner’ in this mess. Shatner doesn’t need to draw attention to himself. Takei does. If anything, Bill’s response makes Takei even ‘more’ relevant than he was the day before.

Entertainment Tonight would never have approached him if not for Bill Shatner’s rant.”

Takei’s been on ET regarding his hatred long before Shatner’s statement, so Shatner did not create a link that already existed. ET is a televised version of a gossip rag, not a source of relevant news. If Britney relieved herself on stage, they would report on such a disgusting non-story–not because the world cares, or it is important, but due to the series being a gossip feed bowl, and many ex-Trek stars have been served up before.

C.G.: “No one thinking rationally (posessed with a healthy mind) would deliberately go down that path for so long.”

“You are confusing ‘rationality’ with ‘morality’.

Rational behavior has nothing at all to do with morality. He simply needs to have something to gain from his behavior to qualify it as such. You proceed from a false premise which is based upon the notion that he never had anything to gain prior to the recent interests of talk show hosts. ”

Incorrect. In a stable society, socially acceptable behavior often ties rational behavior to concepts of morality. Example: currently, despite its continued presence, using proven racism against another is is considered irrational for social and legal reasons, yet it is also considered immoral, hence the use in Takei’s case.

“Even when he was only doing it on the convention circuit, he was reaping the benefits albeit on a smaller scale), yet you continue to ignore that. ”

I never ignored it–I simply reiterate that in the period when this public character assassination started, he was not using to bait convention promoters, as he was a performer from the then-recently cancelled TOS (and TOS was growing hot in early 70’s syndication), so conventions would willingly invite just about ANY ex-sci-fi / fantasy performers. It had nothing to do with the specifics of your claim (a purely financial tool).

So, when Takei’s public rants started, he was venting for his weighty emotional reasons, not as a self-promotional tool–as he would be regularly invited to conventions in any case.

“What set him apart from the other minor support characters was his willingness to tell stories about the show’s biggest star.”

As krikzil posted, Takei was not alone, but unlike the others, he was seemingly possessed by a desire to destroy the career and public image of another man on an agressive level with no association with a healthy mental state.

“That’s a win, whether you like it or not. He’s not the first person to make a living in garbage, nor will he be the last.

As for his legacy, he continues to be one of the more endearing guests at conventions, and one of the fan favorites—as his generosity and warmth toward the fanbase is legendary in those circles. ”

His true legacy–the one you ignore–is what he is BEST known for: hating William Shatner. His voyage of psychotic behavior has completely buried any thoughts any accomplishments or any detail fans would care to know about his lone claim to lower-level “fame.” That (not Sulu, not WW2, or working to develop asian performers…or brief stab at politics or begging for a Capt. Sulu project–or even his coming out of the closet) is forever the nonsense which defines George Takei’s life whether you want to accept that or not.