William Shatner To Star In ‘Shit My Dad Says’ Pilot February 19, 2010
by TrekMovie.com Staff , Filed under: Celebrity,Shatner , trackback
William Shatner, Star Trek’s original Captain Kirk, may be headed back to series television. Shatner has been cast as titular lead in the comedy pilot "Shit My Dad Says", which is actually based on the popular Twitter account of the same name, more details below.
Shit Shatner Says
29 year-old Justin Halpern became an Internet star when he launched the Twitter account ShitMyDadSays last year. The account description was "I’m 29. I live with my 74-year-old dad. He is awesome. I just write down shit that he says." In less than a year he picked up over 1.1 million followers, who are entertained by the colorful things his dad has to say. Warner Bros. TV began developing "Shit My Dad Says" into a multi-camera comedy for CBS last year with a script commitment.
Today The Hollywood Reporter revealed that William Shatner will be starring as the dad and it has been greenlit for a pilot. The pilot is being executive produced by David Kohan and Max Mutchnick, the creators of Will & Grace. Halpern co-penned the script with Patrick Schumacker and the pair will also co-exec produce. Regarding the profane title, the THR story notes the "title is expected to change if it goes to series."
William Shatner is no stranger to comedy as he has appeared in a number of comedy films, including the two Miss Congeniality movies and Free Enterprise. However, this would be his first time starring in a sitcom. Shatner has starred in a number of TV series since Star Trek, with the latest being Boston Legal, where Shatner picked up five Emmy nominations (with one win). Shatner did have a recurring role on the sitcom Third Rock from the Sun, which also garnered him an Emmy nomination.
UPDATE: Bill Tweets about new show
Willliam Shatner also happens to be on Twitter, you can follow him at twitter.com/WilliamShatner. He has posted some tweets today about this
WilliamShatner: #FF @shitmydadsays These are exciting times! Thanks for all your support. My best, Bill
WilliamShatner: Boy, am I going to be busy. That’s an issue I have in my life right now: priorities. How to balance my time? My best, Bill.
Note FF is Twitter shorthand for ‘Follow Friday’ where many Twitters recommend people to follow
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Comments
Move it to HBO, and keep the title! At least it’s not on NBC ;)
Made my day
Shat my Bill says…
Has Shat watched Star Trek 09 yet?
Shouldn’t it be: “Shit My Grandad Says”? : D
Granddad.
Well, David Letterman was 56 or 57
when he had his son, and he talks
sh** every night.
“OLLEY OLLEY OLLEY – February 19, 2010
Has Shat watched Star Trek 09 yet?”
No. And I don’t blame him.
I think I’m going to have to check this out when it airs.
Sheesh!! Have we really sunk this low? A show about “tweets”?
I’m now thoroughly convinced that Shatner will do ANYTHING for a buck!
PASS!!
Conversely, I admire Shatner’s work ethic. How many almost-79 year olds are trying their luck during pilot season?
Oh, Shatner could be *great* in this.
#12: I agree… XD
#3: LOL!
They could make “Shit Bill Shatner Sings”
Popular culture is going right down the toilet.
It should be called “Shit My Shat Dad Says”. I get the feeling there might be two versions of this show. A family-friendly version for t.v and an “unrated” version for dvd. Assuming it doesn’t get cancelled. Hearing the Shat say shit and other explitives would be hilarious.
#16 “Pop culture is going right down the toilet.”
True, but you can’t blame it on this. The blame should be put on the likes of jackasses getting their own reality shows (**cough Jersey Shore**blegghhh), tabloids, and networks being too cheap to pay for actual talent( NBC, MTV etc.).
Lame…..
I can see the lousy-review headlines now:
“Shit” Shats the Bed
The Shat Hits the Fan
Shit + Shat = Still Shit
And so on!
#16: “Popular culture is going right down the toilet.”
It’s been there since at least 1592 though, hasn’t it? If not longer …
Fortunately, it remains selectively ignorable.
On the other hand, Shat is God.
This is… well, frankly, I just think William Shatner could do better than this. He was absolutely wonderful in Boston Legal! That was awesome! (Frankly, I think it’s one of his best performances EVER.)
It would be so neat if he could get another really good show, not this kind of.. well, junk.
Shatner has great comedic timing. If it sucks, it won’t be because of him!
Wow,…. a show with that title and I’m teaching school still.
Sybok’s Secret Brother – February 19, 2010
Shat my Bill says…
That’s funnier.
what an unpleasant title for a tv show. I must be getting old.
Shit, the Shat strikes again.
I wonder if this has anything to do with the “Shit My Dad Says” on Facebook that I check out from time to time…. funny stuff….
If that program is airing on CBS, then may I suggest changing the title to either ‘Shat, My Dad Says’ or ‘Shoot, My Dad Says’ or ‘Darn, My Dad Says’?
Great, if this show has a 7 year run, the Shat will be 85 when it wraps up!
(and still won’t have gotten around to watching Star Trek 09!)
#27 read the aricle again- lol!
*article! damn I wish you could edit on this Forum!
I don’t know the Twitter account, but if the pilot/series will have one or two moments remotedly coming up to Boston Legal, it’s worth it.
And why change the title – it’s perfect! :)
Shit Shat Says
What I’ve always wondered was why some people are offended by the word “shit”? Its considered a “swear” word. But poo, poop, feces and crap aren’t. Technically, those words are similar in definition to “shit”. Unless its a matter of context. But then again, crap and shit are interchangeble, i.e “holy shit” and “holy crap”. If you were to go on a stage in front of a general audience and you use the word “crap”, nobody blinks an eye. However, if you use the word “shit”, you get a lot of “gasps” and shocked looks from people. If CBS put a show with “crap” in the title, or if someone on the show says it, nobody cares. However, for some reason “shit” is off limits. And there is a gambling game called “Craps”. If you called it “Shits”, would you be wrong? Especially if you lose?
Go, Shat, go!
@34: Yeah, the whole concept of “bad words” is just one of those creepy things our culture keeps around for no clear reason. It’s bothered me since I was a kid that “crap” is okay and “shit” is bad and they’re more or less synonyms. But lots of cultures have taboos; it’s just part of the planetary nonsense.
Will Shat hit the fans? (come on, someone had to say it)
Will Shat hit the fans (come on, someone had to say it)
#20 Don’t worry about it. Critics are waaay over-rated anyway. Just enjoy the good shit shat will say.
Anthony:
I can’t seem to access the tip line. Please use if interesting:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35485900
Mr Levi
Chicago.
Awesome!!
This will hinge on the script of course, but I’ve no doubt that Bill could be hilarious in this.
I pray they keep the title as is.
The actual twitter thread is hilariously funny. Shatner is great casting. His comic timing is peerless.
I give Shatner a lot of credit. His age is not a factor in his life. He’s energetic, he’s sharp, he’s got a great sense of humor. All the power to him… He is not likely to wither away.
Miscellaneous opinions:
1. Shatner rocks.
2. A TV show based on Twitter?
3. You may also be interested in, “Crap My Relations Espouse: The Movie.”
:-)
Shit yeah!
Shat-tastic!
Bill could eat his lunch in front of a camera and it would be glorious.
People People! This is going to be a Sanford & Son remake, and I predict it will be a smashing success!
BTW Has Shat watched the original Sanford & Son?
Not sure if I’ll tune in to see “Shit My Shat Says.” But I do know there’s no way they are going to be able to keep that title. It’s one of the seven official words that are banned by the FCC.
The King!!!
Never mind about Han Solo, I’m tellin’ ya………….Bill Shat first!
Hey, I like that…….bullshit?? No, Bill Shat!!
@34, 36 for many people in the UK ‘Crap’ is considered an unacceptable word. In English, there are many words that at one time were a part of everyday usage (e.g. p**s, f**k, etc.) however they are considered offensive today. The change in attitude seems to have taken place in the Victorian era, and is likely based upon the harsh (lower-class) sound of such words. The Victorians preferred more modest and subtle terms (urinate, defecate, fornicate, pass water, et al).
@48 the original ‘Sanford & Son’ was called Steptoe & Son, and is a British comedy classic. Can’t see ‘Sir William’ in the Albert role, however.
Can definitely see Shatner in this ‘ShitMyDadSays’ role, on the other hand. Anyway, the Shat on TV again: what is there to complain about!
30 – No mention of Facebook in the article. Did you read it?
31 – Buzz, I do agree however that the posting on this site is way primitive, and I would think by now there is enough revenue built up to revamp things with a more sophisticated posting system.
In fact, I think there was mention of this possibility some…what… two years ago?
54, yes, but it comes at a price. Rumor is that the site will be renamed, “Shit That Trekkies Like.”
;-)
I’m so excited. Every time you think he’s done he comes back swinging.
Almost as though he’s cloned himself and the real Shatner is enjoying life on a sun-drenched desert island somewhere. ;-)
(Pretty neat SF premise. An idea for a Shatner novel!)
Dear Mr Pascale,
This is meant to be a family friendly site (being Star Trek and all…) any chance of keeping the cussing out of the title please?
Thanks.
I have to admit, some of the comments here make me laugh at the sheer hypocrisy of people. Discounting a show because it contains the word “Shit” or is based on Twitter/Facebook, then complaining that Trek got snubbed at the Oscars simply because it was both sci-fi and Star Trek.
Either ignoring content is good or it is bad. Make up your mind, folks.
56 – I don’t think he’ll ever be done until the sad day he passes away — and perhaps not even then.
i debated the s word in the title, but that is what the story is about, so it is unavoidable i felt. so just deal with it.
Also i noted how the story at The Hollywood Reporter uses the s word, as do most of the other stories about this, including TrekToday.
Basically once or twice a month this site will have a vulgar word on it, or possibly a sexy picture. If that is too much to deal with, I dont know what to say. compare that to sites like scifi wire, io9, aicn, etc and you will see that this site is still tame.
what a terrible title for a show. is this what tv has sunk too – making a show about twitter! happy for the shat but dont think ill bother
Greg
UK
#52: “The Victorians preferred more modest and subtle terms (urinate, defecate, fornicate, pass water, et al).”
That’s one way of putting it. :) More to the point, the Victorians preferred Latinate terms over words with German or Saxon (et al) roots, which is why even today, excessive use of latinates in dialogue is one standard way of making a character sound pretentious, snooty, or hopelessly inbred.
#52 I knew the original was “Steptoe & Son” because its in the closing credits for Sanford. I did not know it was a British comedy. Is there an actual show with reruns in the UK? Could I find it on utube? Still think it’ll be a modern incarnation of Steptoe….Sanford.
@64 Steptoe and Son ran for eight seasons (four black and white, four colour) in the UK and got audiences of over 20 million for some episodes (if you consider the size of our population, that’s an astonishing number, we’re talking a third of the entire population). It finished in 1974 but it is often rerun on cable. The whole show is available on DVD. It’s a lot coarser and angrier than ‘Sanford’ with a lot more social comment. The two leads are also a lot less sympathetic. Two interesting points, 1/The two lead actors are white (when it was adapted for the US the network honestly believed the US audiences of the time wouldn’t accept white actors in those roles) and 2/ it wasn’t a vehicle for a star like ‘Sanford’ was for Red Buttons, Albert (the father) and Harold (the son) were played by jobbing actors who were little known outside the theatre when it started. The lead actors (both of whom are now dead) didn’t get on and there was an award wining TV Movie about their relationship (‘The Curse of Steptoe’) on the BBC two years ago.
Jim
I can shed some light here too.
another interesting point is that although steptoe and son were two cockney rag and bone men in the east end of London – neither actors were in fact British. wilfred Brambel (steptoe) was from the Irish republic and Harry H Corbett was from Burma.
Another interesting fact is that according to the official steptoe and son website, the actors really DID get on well despite the mythical movie made about their relationship on BBC.
The actual remaining family members of them both lodged formal complaints against the BBC for what essentially was a made up plot line with little basis in the truth. According to the families of the two, they did have the occasional ‘spat’ and disagreement but nothing more than that. This is nothing unusual for two people who sepnt so much time together.
I have also learned that years after the series finished on TV, they both agreed to tour Australia and beyond with the show on stage. They got on very well and even went for meals etc on the nights the shows were playing.
Its true to say that Mr Corbett was frustrated at times with being typecast ealry on but later he came to accept that the British public could only see him as the one half of a wonderful duo. He later felt comforatbale with that.
It was very sad to see that the family had been forced to challenge this ficticious and damaging storyline which they felt had serious slandered the pair- especially when neither of them were able to defend themselves.
hope this helps
Greg
UK
Red Buttons? Do you mean Redd Foxx?
Regarding the “s” word:
My priest and I were discussing the pros and cons of the word *shit*, and he admitted, “Sometimes when you’re up to your eyeballs in it, you might as well call it what it really is.”
Thought that was amusing.
@67 Yeah, I did. I get confused when people have colours for first names.
@66 Corbett was British, he was born in India but he was a forces/BFPO baby. (Like John McCain being born in Panama). The actors relationship was complex. Certainly they fell out badly on that Aussie tour.
“Shat my dad says” imagine the hell & potential comedy of living with william shatner as ur father…?
I don’t see much point making the show if the swearing and other “profane” content is omitted. The whole reason Shit My Dad Says is so funny is because the guy shoots from the hip and says things others wouldn’t.
I, Mugsy-
“get a life”
- i hate people like you expecting the howl world to adhere to ur sensibilities- if u dont like it dont come to the site- go back to ur bubble & let the intelegent adults talk.
its people like u who keep taboos alive & repress free speach.
it should stay “SHIT My Dad Say’s” but they could capitalise on Shatners rep & call it “SHAT My Dad Says”
61 – Anthony, RE: “possibly a sexy picture.”
More of these, please! :D
It’s a sci-fi and Star Trek tradition! Dammit Jim!
I’ll definitely watch it. It could actually be pretty funny. I would love to see Shatner in some dramatic roles again, though…
I say, shit to all the bible thumpers and KEEP the title and put it on network prime time and burn the phone lines up with outragged parents who demand the FCC fine them and take it off…..then don’t! As long as Bill’s alive and doesn’t have to be propped up w/ a stick, let him act.
#76 CBS has to be concerned about what goes on air as do the other networks. Unfortuneately, while many of us don’t consider “shit” to be a bad word, many other people do. Including some of those “bible thumpers” and others called “parents”. And advertisers may pull out if they percieve viewer outrage that results in the FCC phonelines being jammed. That is why if this show does get at least a full season, then they should do a family friendly version for t.v and an unrated version for dvd, like I said earlier. T.v is a funny thing, a word like “shit” and nudity is unacceptable by many people, but graphic violence and jackass behavior is alright. But its just the way it is.
62
With Shatner in it I would like to watch it as I am a fan.
However, a show based on a twitter account, seems the next down from trashy reality TV shows.
This sounds great! Hope it makes it to air. The title, while…a bit must will surely change so…no worries.
It would be great if they can get other Trek figures to guess on the show. Would be cool to see their interaction in a comedy (beyond “The Voyage Home”)
Well, rogue_alice needs his coffee. “The title, while…a bit vulgar……….”
I too wish there was a spell/grammar checker on this site. grin
It’s a little hard to believe that the show will be as funny as the twitter thread:
Here is my favorite line… I cried laughing at this:
“We’re out of Grape Nuts … No, what’s left is for me. Sorry, I should have said ‘You’re out of Grape Nuts.’”
#70
here is a paragraph taken from wikipedia
The Curse of Steptoe, a BBC TV play about Brambell and his co-star Harry H. Corbett, was broadcast on 19 March 2008 on digital BBC channel BBC Four, featuring Phil Davis as Brambell. The first broadcast gained the channel its highest audience figures to date, based on overnight returns. However, shortly after, Harry H. Corbett’s daughter successfully made a complaint against the BBC citing that the majority of the ‘story’ was fictionalised (especially the strained relationship for which the BBC could offer no proof and it was discovered they had added it in because the true story of their friendship was boring, they in fact got on very well).
The BBC now show a warning at the beginning of the programme to alert the audience to the fact that an official ruling decided the evidence proved that Brambell and Corbett got on very well and that the episode was made up to attract viewers.[7]
cheers
Greg UK
THIS SHOW IS AWESOME!!!!!!!! IT’S SO FUNNY!!!!!!!
I HOPE ITS ON FOR YEARS!
IT’S AS GOOD AS WILL AND GRACE!!!!!!!