Slashdot Mirror
Ask William Shatner
At long last William Shatner has volunteered himself to be strapped into the Slashdot Interviewee Victim Chair. You know the gig: Post your questions for the man, the moderators do their thing, and in a week or so we post the answers. So here's your chance to ask questions to the star of Iron Chef USA, Miss Congeniality and TJ Hooker!
When you host the movies, what's that bartender really like? He seems pretty cool on TV, but I get the feeling he's a real jerk off camera. Am I right?
P.S. I loved Tek War!
Where did you go to school for acting?
WTF? Over?
Do you like the Star Wars movies?
Why...do...you...talk...so.........slowly?
LOL, I just saw Showtime on DVD last week. Not the best movie, but it was hilarious to see William Shatner try to give Robert Dinero advice on how to act like a cop.
Can't wait to see the funny comments in this thread.
Mr Shatner,
What is the scariest experience you have ever had with one of your adoring fans?
----- Documentation is worth it just to be able to answer all your mail with 'RTFM' - Alan Cox.
You appear to have a healthy level of distain for "Trekkies" who become obsessed with the series. Where does this stem from, and what would you recommend that these people do instead.
An Eye for an Eye will make the whole world blind - Gandhi
Do you think you take Patrick Stewart in a fight? =)
"Yeah, well, Dracula called and he's coming over tonight for you and I said okay."
Mr. Shatner, do you ever participate in sexual role playing with your wife, with you as James T. Kirk or T.J. Hooker? What roles does your wife play?
Wil Wheaton asks William Shatner questions on SLASHDOT?! It'd be like... Slashdot: Generations! My head might explode!
I'd love to hear William talk about the Transformed Man LP. How seriously did you take the project at the time, and how do you feel about the way it's metamorphosed into a camp classic?
...about being reponsible for the nickname 'captain' being given to all of us named Kirk in real life?
Who bagged more babes in the 60's, you or Roddenberry?
Table-ized A.I.
I (and my family) really thought you were good in "The Defenders." Any plans to revive it?
"How to Do Nothing," kids activities, back in print!
If Mr. Shatner had the choice, would he prefer to have his current acting status as a main character in a cult classic? Or would he rather have been a consistently good actor in "normal" tv-shows/movies/theatre?
Has he started using pricelie.com YET?
the Priceline.com server? Judging from all those lights and monitors it must be wicked powerful!
LETS DECOMPOSE & ENJOY ASSEMBLING
A) What was your personal favorite episode of the Original Star Trek series and why?
B) What did you honestly think of TNG, not as as a tv property but as a continuation of the philosophy of your original series?
"The pie shall be cut in half and each man shall receive.....death. I'll eat the pie."
Did you get to keep any tribbles? Or did they just burn them?
How many shares of Priceline.com do you own? Any comments on the whole dot-com thing?
there's no place like ~
It seems that much of your fame today continues to be good-humored self-mockery: the Star Trek Futurama episode, playing yourself in Showtime, singing for Priceline. I'm sure this brings in the bucks, but what are you doing today that challenges you creatively and for which you would rather be remembered? Of what are you most proud? What have you done that's just for the money?
----------
I am an expert in electricity. My father held the chair of applied electricity at the state prision.
Over the years, much parody has been made of your apparent "overacting" on the original Star Trek series. How do you feel about this, does it bother you?
"Shatner, I'd fight William Shatner." --Fight Club
People who have witty things here blow.
Does Starship Command run Open Source? How about the Klingons? I think we need to know who we should be rooting for.
Virtually serving coffee
or a bricklayer?
Will Wheaton has showed up on /. several times, and proved himself to be as geeky as any of the slashdot editorial staff.
How much of a geek are you, Mr. Shater? Do you build your own PC from scratch and put Linux on it, or do you not even pay attention if your PC is Windows or Mac?
How does it feel knowing that you, amongst others, have helped to inspire four decades of technically minded people to apply themselves to bring some portion of reality to the fiction you have portrayed?
slashdot: where everyone yells sarcastic metaphors to themselves to understand the issue
When you said on episode #18739 of Saturday Night Live: 'Get a life ... will ya, people? I mean, for cryin' out loud, it's just a TV show.', were you really reprising 'Evil Kirk' as Phil Hartman's (RIP) character suggested or did your motivation run deeper than that, say to 'Amok Time' when you had to battle Spock? ;)
I watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhauser gate.
Mr. Shatner: What made you finally decide to allow us to question you?
What work would you say you are most proud of? And then what do you wish you hadn't done or could redo?
Des
Since they've finally killed off Captain Kirk, how do feel about not really being able to be part of any new Star Trek movies?
when bare-chested?
Kirk
Pickard
Sisco
Janeway
Archer
We do not live in the 21st century. We live in the 20 second century.
Why, oh why, advertise priceline, of all companies? That cost you a lot of respect in my eyes, at least.
That and the, er, singing (for want of a better word).
Stuart.
Since Star Trek you've written a great deal of sci-fi novels. Did you have a leaning towards science fiction before your career as captain of the USS Enterprise? What are your most important sci-fi influences?
I'm a writer, a poet, a genius, I know it. I don't buy software, I grow it.
Seriously who's idea was it to come up with the new-guy-in-the-red-shirt dies every time you, Bones, and Spock went to the surface?
Was it one of you guys or was it a writer? If so, which writer/writers was it?
Are you planning on releasing any new songs soon?
(Anyone ever heard him sing Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds?)
2 Part question really, with a renewed popularity and, from what I gather, a content life, how has you affliction (I have forgotten the name) that causes the ringing in your ears been? I had heard that stress can cause it to act up. As of late has presence of the ailment been reduced or eliminated?
-=[ Who Is John Galt? ]=-
Did you really learn Esperanto for your role in "Incubus"? If so, do you still speak it?
Do you find the priceline commercials that you do just as annoying as we do? ;-)
This space intentionally left blank.
..how was the green chick?
Trolling is a art,
What's the most unusual (hopefully amusing and not dangerous) encounter you've had with a fan?
how do you think your career would have been different? (Not that the career that you have is bad in any way, just curious what you were gunning for originally.)
We all know you started out as a Shakesperian actor, and I wonder what you learned from those rolls that you later applied in your science fiction career? What do you think of Shakespeare's place in the acting canon? Do you still stage act?
Who are you, really?
Look a monkey!
Shatner sci-fi show with cops, cooking, and Sandra Bullock? I'd watch! ;)
I watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhauser gate.
Hi:
I'm interested in an early film you were in, called Incubus, in which all the dialogue was in Esperanto.
Did you have to learn any Esperanto for this? If so, how much did you learn and do you still remember any? If not, were any of the actors speakers of language, or was most of it receited by heart from the sounds?
I have to say that my one of my favorite characters you've been was the villian in "Loaded Weapon." Of your many rolls, which was or which were some of the most fun or most satisfying? Do you have a particular genre (sci-fi, comedy, drama) that you most prefer?
Moderation: Put your hand inside the puppet head!
Is it real, fake, transplanted?
What do you think of that T-Shirt on Wil Wheaton 's site, with the name tag, "Hello, my name is William Fucking Shatner".
I am !amused.
as a actor you portrayed the leader of a crew that got to do an AMAZING thing - explore the galaxy/universe for new forms of life. what are your views on intelligent life? do you think there is OTHER intelligent life in the galaxy/universe? do you think humanity will last long enough to ever be able to explore the galaxy/universe? if so, do you think the 'star trek' universe captures that process accurately?
smd4985
P.S. I enjoyed your portrayal of the talk show host on Columbo!
White Commanche, OTOH, I didn't finish seeing - sorry.
"Provided by the management for your protection."
Why on Earth do you talk like that?
-S
We Apprentice Developers and Designers
What were you thinking?
As a young actor, you showed great promise in such films as Judgment at Nuremberg. Ever since Star Trek, however, it seems you have never stepped out of the role of Captain Kirk. Do you ever regret the decision to take on that role?
You had me at "dicks fuck assholes".
Did you really mean those things you said in that famous SNL skit?
It took several years of therapy to get over those horrible comments.
MTV Movie Awards, singing Color Me Badd's "I Wanna Sex You Up." One of the funniest things I think I've ever seen in my life.
BTW, I used Priceline for groceries... sorry their stock didn't work out so well for you.
I'm guessing over 70 but less than 80, as it's so hard to tell with so many plastic surgeries stretching your face &eyes ;)
Please, please please! no more Tekwars!
Are you really a,a- a RocketMan?
Malike Bamiyi wanted my assistance.
How does it feel to be the most recognized Esperanto actor on the planet?
There is one! After looking through several masks to use for Michael Myers, John Carpenter settled on the William Shatner mask! Any comments?
How me horse do you have on your ranch????
Does that include the colt that was born this morning?
Dear Mr. Shatner,
I have been wanting to ask you this for years: can you reveal any reason for your uncanny resemblance to Patty Duke?
Carousel is a lie!
Mr. Shatner,
Do you ever look back on your show with regard to how your character treated women and find it offensive? Kirk boinked anything with 2 legs and a pretty face, often pursuing them in a cave man-like fashion.
And if you didn't find it offensive, do you think you're cursed to have been born way too early and not had your chance to lay the kirk-mack down on 7 of 9? Hell, cursed my ass, God singled you out for that heinous joke.
Finally, math books without any of that base 6 crap in them.
Mr.Shatner, may I call you Bill?
Which alien/enemy/foe made you laugh the hardest on set when you saw it?
My personal favourite was the 'Pizza' that ate people - I think Spock mind-melded with it to save the day.
Seriously it must have been a wheeze on set for Star Trek! Spock in dungarees!
Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds? Dear oh dear. Phasers to kill, isn't it?
Invoicing, Time Tracking, Reporting
Seriously, Kirk just got many more women than any other ST character in any series. Where did that mojo come from, and where can I buy it online?
BTW his official site is: www.williamshatner.com/ (predictably). It answeres many of the "what have you been up to" questions.
Mr. Shatner,
Star Trek has been parodied many times in many different formats; other television shows, movies, comics and so on. You yourself have probably been parodied as much or more in people's "Captain Kirk Impression" stand up skits and the like. My question is, do you recall a favourite parody for it's comedy or cleverness of either yourself or the series?
Thank you.
After all this Star Trek biz and such, what's up for you in the future? Do you see yourself continuing your relationship with PriceLine and other commercial opportunities, or do you envision (or have planned) a larger project? Do you have plans to lay back and relax or to push forward into something else?
Blog,Twitter
There must be an incredible sense of pride at having been associated with a series responsible for so many high quality spinoffs (Next Generation, Enterprise, etc). What did Trek have that other TV shows didn't to make it so ripe for evolution/adaptation into other series? Do you like/dislike any of the series in particular?
Thanks. We're big fans here.
-FC
Is there any hope of a reunion of the Golden Throats? Your rendition of "Mr. Tambourine Man" is outta sight!
Can you still speak Esperanto?
_______
2B1ASK1
After having James T. Kirk killed and buried in "Generations", why did you write a book in which the Borg resurrect him?
You either believe in rational thought or you don't
I imagine not many fans know your level of interest in horses. can you tell us how many horses you own and what competitions you've participated in recently?
thanks,
-calyxa
Decay! Decay! Decay! -Helium
..is it true you were found performing a "Richard Gere" with a tribble during the filming of Trouble with the Tribbles
Thank you.
Trolling is a art,
Is it true that once you've had Green, you never go back? OK, it doesn't rhyme, but you know what I'm talkin 'bout!
Uhhhh, yeah, thath dithgustin. [The lady's man]
If so how did you get over it? Was it years of personal "therapy"? Or did you have an epiphany one day that brought you through?
"Never trust a computer you can't throw." -- The Mac
Why?
Face it, people are stupid, and the internet is the place where they all meet.
I'd love to hear William talk about the Transformed Man LP. How seriously did you take the project at the time, and how do you feel about the way it's metamorphosed into a camp classic?
I read an interview with him where he discussed that album briefly. Basically, he said that he approached the project as audio-only theatre and that he didn't really intend for it to come off as a musical album. He says that he can understand why people think it's hilarious since they are looking at it as a (poorly-done) musical work but that they are missing what the album was supposed to be about.
GMD
watch this
This gets modded up to a 4, Interesting? This seems to me to have a simple answer. Where does this disdain (notice the spelling) "stem from?" Maybe because Trekkies are obsessed with Star Trek and William Shatner. Seems to me like you answered your question yourself. What should these people do instead? I dunno, maybe stop being obsessed about Star Trek? Once again, answered your own question. Troll I am, but this is ridiculous.
I think my principles are reachin' an all time low
In the near future (10 or 20 years or so) computer graphics are going to be nearly indistiguishable from live-action films. You know when that happens hundreds of Trekkers are going to start using your voice and image and create new episodes of the original Star Trek series. Many will probably do this anonymously just for the fun of it, despite legal issues. How do you feel about the possibility of your voice and image being used this way?
The Moore-Murphy Law: The number of things that will go wrong will double every 2 years.
why? rocketman? what was your reasoning behind "singing" this? why why why?
You can lead a horse to prune juice, but you can't make him drink it. Nor would you want to.
Mr. Shatner, I have questions about your break into the business. I think everyone knows you made it big with Star Trek but I know you did many things before hand. Like the movie Incubus (I watched it on Sci-FI a while back)it reminded me of the episode of the Twilight Zone you were in. Do you still speak Esperanto? Do you have any Sci-FI or fantasy type projects you are working on that you can tell us about? Thanks for all the shows you've done in the past and hopefully some more in the future.
Toupee or Wig?
Republican or a Democrat?
Why?
ATH0 Bitcoin: 1DnwFLXczVZV8kLJbMYoheUrpqHesjxrSi
As a movie star, even in the male-dominated Sci-Fi genre, is there a huge amount of pressure for you to be insanely good looking?
Has your manager, a producer or executive, or anyone ever tried to convince you to get botox injections, plastic surgery, or liposuction simply for the purpose of appearing on TV?
Have you ever rubbed Patrick Stewarts bald head for luck? How about while shouting 'Let slip the dogs of war!' How about a boxing match between you and Wil Wheaton? (We could dress him up like a Klingon)
Damn,you know its been a while since i saw you put out an album.I dearly treasure the old solo stuff you did and the duet with Leo Nimoy.Is there a techno,metal,industrial or rap album on the drawing board? I NEED Wild Bill Shatner to melt the voice coils in my speakers.Everytime i hear your "rocket man" i can feel it down in my spleen.PLEASE tell us theres more music in your soul and funk in your butt.
*Repent!Quit Your Job!Slack Off!The World Ends Tomorrow and You May Die!
I happened to have seen both of your Twilight Zone episodes (the famous "something on the wing of the airplane" one and the less-famous-but-no-less-interesting one where you are obsessed with a prophecy-dispensing toy in a diner) recently. I have to say that in both episodes I was taken aback at the unexpected quality of your portrayal. Even though everyone associates your face with Captain Kirk, the characters in the TZ episodes came through loud and clear, drowning out my preconceptions.
For this reason, I'd like to ask what you think of your humorous reputation for bad acting. Would you blame some of the egregious hamminess of some of ST on the perception that TV (or SF) wasn't "real" acting or was it directing? Or some other thing?
Karma: Good (despite my invention of the Karma: sig)
...of all these beeping lights and flashing buttons? That's all we have here are beeping lights and flashing buttons and no one knows what they're FOR and they're BEEPING and THEY'RE FLASHING AND BEEPING AND FLASHING AND BLINKING... I CAN'T STAND IT ANYMORE! Will there be an Airplane III?
How did it feel to go from being captain of your own Starship and crew to driving around in a police cruiser eating donuts?
Ascalante: Your bride is over 3,000 years old.
Kull: She told me she was 19!
How's it feel to control as powerfull a computer as priceline.com has?
09 F9 11 02 9D 74 E3 5B - D8 41 56 C5 63 56 88 C0 45 5F E1 04 22 CA 29 C4 93 3F 95 05 2B 79 2A B2
Mr. Shatner, it almost seems that you have become a parody of yourself. I mean this in being so identified with being "Captain Kirk" that its now an inescapable role for you. Please see you and they see Captain Kirk. You you feel that its that which now gets you roles, or is it you as an actor that gets you roles? Do you have a desire to escape being Captian kirk or are you OK with that being who and what you are as an actor?
PS.. I hope Paramount coughs up the bucks to fix ST:5 it had alot of potential in some ways, but wasn't quite there. I know you want to fix it...
Power Corrupts,Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely, leaving one person(group)in charge is absolutely corrupt.
In the late 70's I saw a picture of you flying a high performance hang glider (Seagull VII?). How long did you participate in the sport? Any highlights that you can give us?
That was the turning point of my life--I went from negative zero to positive zero.
Mr. Shatner- What is your perspective on the Student Union Building at McGill University (your alma mater), renamed in your honour as the 'Shatner Memorial Student Union Building'?
according to the Adam Sandler song. What was your religious upbringing? Do you consider yourself a religious or spiritual person? Has this had any affect on your creativity, particularly your SF writing?
...what are your thoughts on perhaps the most popular fanfiction slash pair around, Kirk x Spock? Is there any truth behind it, or are you going to spoil the dreams of thousands of fangirls the world over?
You drink too much coffee, I drink too much stout.
Mr. Shatner:
What is your single biggest regret over your entire professional career (actor, author, cult figure, etc.) and why?
GMD
watch this
The Enclycolpedia Shatnerica states the following tale:
" Ron Asheton, the gutarist for punk rocker Iggy Pop, claims that, in the summer of 1975, Shatner made a pass at him in an L.A. bar.
Shatner supposedly approached him in the Hyatt House pub. "He wanted me to sit down, then he got kind of grabby," Asheton claims.
Horrified that Captain Kirk might be anything less than straight, he fled the scene. "Probably if I'd been drinking I would have sat down just for the weirdness of seeing what would happen," Asheton says.
(From "The Encyclopedia Shatnerica" by Robert E. Schnakenberg)"
Now, we know that both you and your alter-egos are straight, including your bizarre turn as a muderous hooker in Impulse. You have had beautiful wives.
Asheton himself has been the guitarist for a bisexual rock n roller. Yet HE denies any homosexuality. I've never heard your comments on it.
Answer, if you will, the truth behind this bizarre and probably untrue story: it's possible origins, and such. It's such a weird urban legend. I'd love to hear where it got started if you know.
dave
Alright, I posted a not too serious one before but now I got a good one.
If I remember correctly one of your first roles ever was on the Twilight Zone. The episode that was actually added to the later movie in the 80's because it was considered a classic.
Now that UPN has brought back the show, do you think it possible that we'll be seeing you in any new episodes????
Thanks
Jerry
When you look back on your entire career, whether it be acting, writing, directing, etc, do you ever look back at some point in time and ask yourself "What was I thinking?" or "Why in hell did I do that?".
On the other hand, at what points do you look back and immediately wish you could be there again?
Blake
Have you ever tried to book a flight on priceline?
Harlan Ellison has always been bitter about the rewrites to City on the Edge of Forever and how his story was taken away from him. In the book about it he wrote that you had come over and counted the words in the script and had it torpedoed for due kirk having less lines than spock.
My question is what is your take on what happend with his script and your response to his accusations in the book? There is plenty out there about this that I'm sure has never come to light and I was wondering what your point of view on this issue is.
Star Trek Memories is a great audiobook, read by Shatner himself. It's more about his life than about Trek, which I liked. He talks about how he got along with Nimoy, Roddenberry, and others. It's my second favorite audio book of all time, right behind Torvald's.
Did you murder your last wife?
Do.... You.... Speak.... Like.... This.... Offstage.... As.... Well...?
Hate me!
Has he ever had such feelings?
Has he realised how easy it is to make the transition, particularly having acting as someone named "The Big Giant Head"?
Will Mr Shatner comment on the lusty look in his eyes in this picture?
---
When I grow up, I want to be a kid again.
What...was...your...first acting job? And, darnit, why did you have to choose acting?
Have you read my journal today?
I am a casual Star Trek fan, and a casual Conan O'brien fan. How did you come to know Conan? I ask because I always see you on his show. You two should work some permanent gig out cuz when you are on his show, its always a riot.
What was the locker combination in episode 25 after you left your quarters the last time and opened your safe?
Mr. Shatner: I heard you went horseback riding once in Soda Springs, ID in the early 70's. Is that true? Crap, and I just missed you.
If not why didn't you take the body out of the pool before the paramedics arrived ?
Inquiring slashdotters wish to know whether you are a killer or not.
Did Mr. Tambourine Man ever play a song for you?
Mr... TAMBOURINE MAN!!!
I'm sorry, I can't hear you over the sound of how awesome I am.
Ever hear The ballad of Bilbo Baggins?
I'm still trying to imagine Spock saying "Fuzzy little toes".
Almost as bad as Lucy in the Sky....
Sean D.
"Hmm. I am to metaphor cheese as metaphor cheese is to transitive verb crackers!"
the easiest way to get shot is to carry large amounts of cash in your hands through the alley behind a crackhouse shouting racial epithets.-flyneye
i am the NRA
*Repent!Quit Your Job!Slack Off!The World Ends Tomorrow and You May Die!
You're mixing up "Star Wars", which is imaginary, with "Star Trek", which everybody knows is real!
That's like saying Superman can beat up Jesus! It's a total non-sequiter.
If you could fight in hand-to-hand combat with anyone in the world, who would it be?
Do you think Star Trek has gotten better and better (and not only F/X-wise) since TOS?
Which Star Trek series is your favorite, not counting your own show?
Are you happy with your place in pop-culture history and if not, what would you sling-shot- around-the-sun-to-go-back-in-time to change?
Ohhh...and I just don't get that whole Iron-Chef thing. What's wrong with me?
Also...What's the next big project for you?
.
"A microprocessor... is a terrible thing to waste." --
GeneralEmergency
I heard that you strongly opposed the Sci-Fi channel re-release of the 1965 movie Incubus, which is entirely in Esperanto. If so, why?
Slashdot's first reaction to VMware
I know you have stated many times that ST:5 was not waht it could have been because of production problems? So my Question is how would you go about fixing it? What was wrong in your eyes with the film? Personally I thought the bad guy pretending to be God could have used more backstory. Perhaps you could somehow retroactively connect it with the Q continum books that came out in the ST:TNG series a couple years ago...the entity playing God reminds me alot of the antagonists in those books.
Power Corrupts,Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely, leaving one person(group)in charge is absolutely corrupt.
Do you like it or take offense that most people remember you or know you as Kirk? Would you rather be remembered as Kirk or as William Shatner? Etc.
.cig - what you do after winning a good flame war
Did it feel weird at all to use the transporter, or did you get used to it over time?
Also, Have you ever written the days date on a check in stardate? I hate doing that.
Where does the school board find them and why do they keep sending them to ME?
Dear Mr. Shatner,
... not to mention Star Trek became the stuff of legend. Not bad for a gig.
.. different actors have enjoyed varying amounts of popularity. George Takei, Walter Koenig, Leonard Nimoy, Patrick Stewart and yourself have enjoyed very robust post-trek careers. Others such as Wil Wheaton, James Doohan, seem to have tremendous problems making it work in a post-trek acting environment.
Over a generation ago, you landed an acting job on a show being produced by someone that wanted to make a cowboy show in space. The show was wierd, the pay was good, and the publicity was fantastic.
Since then, and after a long pause (mostly filled with shows like Dr. Who and Space 1999), viewing audiences have been treated to five perspectives on the Star Trek universe.
Other shows have come out with varying degrees of sucess. Babylon 5, V, Farscape, and Firefly have come out to rave reviews, while others like Space Rangers and the TekWorld series have met unfortunate ends.
What do you think is the formula for a successful science fiction show on television today? Why do you think the Star Trek series has enjoyed such a phenomenal and sucessful run?
Finally
What has enabled you to remain robustly and diversely employed as an actor post-star-trek?
Sincerely,
Martin Bogomolni
Science Fiction Fan
"Don't worry about the problems you have in mathematics, I assure you mine are much greater." - Einstein c.1919
What was it like to do the first on-screen interracial kiss? How much effort did it take to make the studio go along with it, and how much of an effect did it have on you and the show as a whole?
Were you completely hosed by Priceline? After your options crashed, did you make any money at all or did you sell in time?
After the tragic and untimely death of your wife Nerine, a recovering alcoholic, you took the courageous step of establishing a fund in her name to benefit Friendly House, an organization for recovering alcoholics. How is that work progressing, and has your involvement with this effort helped you work through this loss?
I know that this subject must be painful for you, but I'm sure there are many in the slashdot community who would benefit from your experience and insights here.
We're all familiar with the Saturday Night Live skit where you tell the "faithful" to get a life. Most of us think that is amusing as well, but how close to reality is your actual view of the die-hard fans? You've done other roles, would you wish the same fan response from those jobs too?
Religion and science are both 90% crap..but that doesn't negate the other 10%.
...in the captain's quarters on the Enterprise?
C'mon! You KNOW!
Have you ever played a nice game of Chess on the Priceline super computer? How about Global Thermonuclear War?
Have you ever imagined a beowulf cluster of those things?
I thought geeks who need to get a life were obsessed with Na ^H^H Wil Wheaton?
From playing a man who was afraid to fly (because of the gremlin on the wing) to being the self confident phaser and a smirk captain of the starship enterprise, you have had a large range of roles in your years of acting. Which was your favorite role, or roles, and why?
... was she green, y'know, down there?
there is no such thing as a no-win situation? (As spoken by Kirk, ST 2: The Wrath of Khan).
Years ago, when you hosted SNL, you participated in the now classis Trekkie sketch (actually, one of my all time favorite SNL sketches).
:)
Was that sketch a catharsis for you, a means of finally casting off some chains and letting the world know what you think and feel, or was it just a sketch? I am not dissing you, your work, or Trek fans, but, let's be honest here, some people do need to, in your words, "Get a life!". Do you/did you feel that way, or was it just an act? Come on, be honest.....
Hey idiots. You can answer most of these questions at his official site.
Ask something detailed or original.
Are all things are not always are not always are not always are not always are not always are not always are not always are not always are not always are not always are not always are not always are not always are not always are not always are not always are not always are not always are not always are not always you need to know you learned from Dr McCoy?
Am I the only one who heard Roxette to sing "I'm gonna get blitzed for some sex"?
... of the Genesis device?
==========
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Abort / Retry / Ignore ?
In the episode "Spock's Brain", when Captain Kirk stuns a caveman with his phaser, the phaser makes a high-pitched squealing noise. However, later in the episode, when Kirk uses the same phaser to stun a woman in a ridiculous costume, it makes an altogether different noise. Please do explain it.
-Stephen (with a little help from Frink: http://www.snpp.com/episodes/BABF01)
Everyone can agree that there is a certain amount of embarrassment with some of our decisions in previous decades. One that always gets me is your musical escapades (Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds, anyone?). Obviously you're not alone (notably Leonard Nimoy's Bilbo Baggins song and the like). I guess the question is:
Why? Would you do it again? Would it be different? Do you still get royalties?
I think Mauve has the most RAM. --PHB (Dilbert Comic)
I actually own a copy of your movie the Kingdom of the Spiders.
Now, my reason's for owning such a thing are my own but what I want to know is why you would have down such a horrible movie. Were you broke?
The Only Person Willing to be Me is ME!
I am really pleased to see you hosting the Full Moon stuff on Sci Fi. I remember Melanie appearing in two of the Subspecies films and I seem to recall your involvement in ventures tangentially related to Full Moon. My question: since Subspecies V seems like it is never going to be made at this rate, and since you obviously love this stuff, why not team up with Ted Nicolau and get the movie made? You'll get the undying appreciation of tens of people, and a vacation in Romania to boot...
Not to mention "Free Enterprise", an offbeat, not widely known film starring Shatner as, as best I can tell, himself!
I guess that's the main question on my mind: were you portraying a character very similar to yourself in "Free Enterprise"?
And I know we're only supposed to ask one question, but it's on the same subject: what are your thoughts and feelings on "Free Enterprise"? Was it fun to poke fun at yourself?
Nathan's blog
I've wondered for quite some time about the circumstances that led to the production of a film in Esperanto, Incubus , and beyond that, what led to your role in the film.
I assume that this film was quite apart from English works, but I'm curious as to what the more unique challenges of working in Esperanto were. Cult followers everywhere want to know!
Actually, I believe that Shatner's books are ghostwritten by one Ron Goulart; see, for example, this recent story on the use of ghostwriters by celebrities.
"Freedom is kind of a hobby with me, and I have disposable income that I'll spend to find out how to get people more."
Yeah! Okay, um, when you were gonna beam down to the planet, okay, for the last time in Episode 25? Well um, I was wondering if you could settle a bet for me and my friends, okay? Um, like, when you... um, left your quarters for the last time? And you opened up your safe? Um... what was the combination?
GMD
watch this
Still love the acting though. How Star Trek III didn't win you at least an Oscar nomination is beyond me.
jX [ Make everything as simple as possible, but no simpler. - Einstein ]
My Wife can't stand you - she says you're an "egomaniac". In Star Trek Memories you have a chapter about how you discovered how badly some of your crewmates hated you, which (IIRC) came as a bit of a shock - to the point of James Doohan even refusing to speak to you. How are things now? Do you think you're an egomaniac? What do you have to say to those who think that?
Schnapple
What prompted you to collaborate with Ben Folds on the quirky "In Love" from his Fear of Pop: Vol. 1 album?
mbbac
So here's your chance to ask questions to the star of Iron Chef USA, Miss Congeniality and TJ Hooker!
And oh yeah, that other show.
Come on guys, you're missing what was perhaps Shatner's greatest role ever: Cmdr. Buck Murdock in Airplane 2.
Murdock: What have you got here?
Soldier: Well sir, so far all we can say is that these lights are blinking out of sequence. Aside from that this machine appears to serve no purpose whatsoever.
Murdock: Well...make them blink in sequence then!
It hurts when I pee.
How did that Nigerian deal work out? Were they pleasant to work with?
Remember when you were elected weakest link by the rest of the Star Trek cast, and you put the moves on Anne Robinson? On the fineness scale of 1-10 where 1 is fine and 10 is supah-fine, where would you rate her?
It appears that many people, even here, fail to understand that the songs you sing are "songs that [you are] performing as an actor" (from the Onion AV Club interview). You seem to have a lot of fun with them, and I can personally say that your cameo on the Fear of Pop album with Ben Folds was the highlight of the record. Do you plan on popping up in more "underground" recordings and continuing to confuse people? I hope so.
levine
I will preface this by saying I am a mild trekkie and as such, I immensely enjoyed the 1999 film Galaxy Quest.
I think everyone who has seen Galaxy Quest will agree that the show that it is based upon is, in essence, "Star Trek". It follows that Tim Allen's Character was essentially meant to be you.
So my two part question is this:
Did you enjoy the show, and, how accurate was their portrayal of life after Trek?
was she green
It's a well known fact that all women are pink on the inside. I saw that on Nova a few weeks ago.. or maybe it was in Hustler magazine.. whatever..
Trolling is a art,
One of the few times I have seen Shatner sympathetically was in an anecdote he told in part of a video shown at the Smithsonian Museum of Air & Space's gratuitous Star Trek retrospective.
Shatner said he was picked up by a limo in the 70's to go to some function. The driver suddenly pulled over and said, "Mr. Shatner, I've been waiting a long time to talk to you." Shatner thinks uh-oh. "You see, I'm a Vietnam vet and was held as a prisoner of war." Shatner thinks, oh shit.
The vet goes on to explain that while he and his buddies were held under torturous conditions, they used Star Trek to stay sane. They could speak to each other in the darkness and would try to reconstruct the scripts from memory, one person playing Spock, another Kirk, and so on.
It was one of the oddest bits of Trek trivia I had ever heard, and related with sensitivity by a man infamous for being a dick in public and private. I still think he's an egomaniac, but not one incapable of turns of humanity.
Mr. Shatner, You're a cultural icon, known by all. What are your professional plans for the future? For the last few years, you have mainly appeared in shows as a celebrity, gently making fun of your own cult status. Would you ever consider acting again, in "regular" shows, or is the cult icon circuit too much fun to give up? Also, are we going to see more books or shows produced by you?
As one of the most famous spokesmen for a company that enjoyed tremendous success during the .com craze, why do you think the bubble burst and what is your outlook on the future for .coms that survived (Priceline, Amazon, etc.?)
What's the deal with Sulu?
Since we all know that IBM hated Capt. Kirk because of his habit of killing computers...
:-)
Do you ever get the urge to talk the Priceline supercomputer to death?
General Relativity: Space-time tells matter where to go; Matter tells space-time what shape to be.
mr. shatner,
i saw the movie incubus for the first time a couple weeks ago, and i was very impressed by your performance. your delivery of your lines in esperanto is incredibly fluid and believable. how did you prepare for this role?
the reviews for this movie are all over the place. some people love it, some absolutely hate it. what are your thoughts about it?
Who is William Shattner?
I know you are Jewish...I was wondering if you had celibrated any such holidays on the set of any of your shows?
"Some fight for law. Some fight for justice. What will you fight for? One day, you will see."
Why didn't you give Ron Goulart co-author status on the Tek books? It's obvious to anyone familiar with his work that he wrote every word. Wasn't it really pretty cheesy to just thank him for his "help?"
How does it feel being a Canadian-born world reknown celebrity? Are you happy with the Canadian image in movies today? Do you still live in Canada? Oh, and is Bones really gay? He hit on my uncle in a bar in Santa Barbara in the 70's.
Confucious says: Man who runs behind car gets exhausted.
// jeku.com
(1)How long did it actually take Priceline to grow a brain and realize that your ads were "Priceless" (2)The value of your Persona is Priceless. If you could be described as a likeable fun loving, Culthero, with tenencys toward silly and non-abrasive humor, would you take that as an attack on your acting or as the gift of your person. (3)-My favorite performance was your role in The Twilight Zone.
How does Shatner feel about Wheaton's success selling T-shirts emblazoned "I'm William Fucking Shatner"? see wilwheaton.net
:)
Tragically for Wil's semi-playful vendetta, he had a very pleasant encounter with Shatner at a television taping and, at least temporarily, suspended the jihad.
In your opinion, which comic does best impersonation of you?
"We're here...to ask...questions....questions that only know the answer....to."
-jc
You have spent so much time, Star Trek, Tek War, etc... inside of constructed views of the future, has that informed you personally on how you have met your own future as you have grown older?
What do you think of the influence of youth on experiamentation and change? Does the future always belong to our children to be explained to their parents?
Star Trek is a very progressive universe in terms of racial harmony and everyone seems to magically have enough of everything. What do you think of darker more violent future views? More realistic? Less Mythic?
Star trek software and computers seemed to be drawn from pure science without a profit motive or corporate presence, what are your thoughts on Software Patents and intellectual property?
ps.
Thanks for taking the time to answer the questions
Ask him. Go on. I dare you. I double dare you.
Mr. Shatner, were you as relieved as we were when your doppelganger Captain James Tiberius Kirk was killed in Star Trek: Generations?
Though I haven't read them, I notice a lot of novels you've written with Picard and Kirk working together, which obviously is another slap to canon. What's your take on Trek canon? Do you think its a big deal or not? What is your response to those who take it seriously?
Schnapple
Looking back on your career, what would you have done differently? Do you have regrets for things you said, things you wrote, or decisions that you made? Are there people that you believe you wronged and, if so, what would you say to them now?
Since most of the questions thus far posted here seem to have roughly taken the form:
"Gee Mr. Shatner sir, you really kinda suck as an actor and you make a fool out of yourself every chance you get for a buck. So, my question is: why do you do it? Are you a total moron or does your booze habit just really cost THAT much??"
I thought instead that I'd ask you something much more relevant and pleasent for you to answer:
In what horribly painful way (or ways) would you like to torture until dead the legions of nerds who infest this site, for much like Vyger they are but children, instinctively wanting, needing to find purpose in their dismal existences?
Perhaps if they merged with a hot babe like your former navigator, they too could evolve into a higher form (Yeah, I know, it was merging with Decker that did this, but the facts are inconvenient right now, so I'm changing them, much like a true Linux Zealot does!)
Then again, they are by and large geeks with technical fetishes, so joining with ANY babe is otherwise out of the question. But I digress...
Rather than simply telling them to get a life, which none of them would do unless the source for that life was freely available to them, how would you, the great Captin Kirk, deal with them?
Photon torpedo up the ass? Sick the PriceLine Super-Computer on them?
(I actually LOVED 'The Return' by the way, that's one!)
If a pion (n-) collides with a proton in the woods & noone is there to hear it, does lamdba decay into the source pa
As a normal everyday guy from Canada, it seems hard for "the public" to grasp the diparity between "Bill Shatner, age 61, three adult children, loves horses" and "Actor/Singer/Producer/Writer William Shatner blah blah blah fourth wife ... blah blah blah personal tragedy .... blah blah blah inside scoop" that Hollywood and the Tabloid press seem to turn everyone's life into.
At the end of the day, has the fame been worth the price? Is knowing that you've raised three daughters and entertained people for several decades worth the cost of your privacy? Do you feel that overall, you've gotten a fair shake, even after all the public airings of your alleged failings as a person? Are you going to continue to live in the limelight during your golden years, or settle in and call it good, letting the cards land where they may?
Do you feel you've finished your professional legacy and are ready to leave it for media history, or do you fret over whether or not that legacy is "good enough?" And the same regarding your personal legacy as a man, a husband, a father, a son? What advice can you give to others so that they don't have any regrets?
SlashSigTheorem: Humorous, Political, Critical, Constructive- If you have a
Hi,
It seems to me that there are just too many Star Trek (TM) books out there. They have even invented 'new' series to milk the franchise. They overrun the bookshelves of most major bookstores, forcing out other science fiction, in my opinion. I have not even picked one up in years because of the quality and plain greedy capitalism of the Paramount and Pocket Books.
As an author (and Captain Kirk (TM)), what is your opinion?
Eric Aitala
Eric Aitala
www.f1m.com
Do you get crank calls where someone yells "Kirk" and just hangs up?
"Smokey, this isn't Nam, there are rules." -Walter
What is the best deal, and where was it to, have you got from priceline.com?
g
Mr. Shatner, what are your thoughts on the Tim Allen movie GalaxyQuest? BTW, Are you a Leafs or a Habs fan?
I never got that episode with the fortune machine:
1 -- Where did you get so many pennies? Your slacks seemed awfully snug and I did not notice and penny roll bulges
2 -- Were the forunes real or were you making them real?
This
Hi Bill,
I'm curious to know what you think of the "modern day" Star Trek shows that come out every now and then. I feel the shows have degraded in quality, and have become less reminiscent of the original series with each new series that comes out. The Next Generation was generally good, but following shows seem to be progressively less interesting and engaging. Granted, it's a tall order to create a show that surpasses the original Star Trek, but I think they could have done a lot better.
At the risk of biting the hand that feeds (or fed) you, I'd like to hear the honest truth as you see it. What do you think of the four Star Trek spinoffs? Is the franchise still kicking after so many years, or is it time to put it out to pasture?
By the way, I have to tell you that you were my idol growing up. I learned everything I needed to know about women from Captain Kirk!
And if you could get Wil Wheaton to explain these
t on .1860922&zoom=yes#zoom
tshirts he sells.
http://www.cafeshops.com/cp/prod.aspx?p=wilwhea
What happened between he and the Shat?
I own one and everyone loves it.
TheFlatline
The Revolution Will Not Be Televised
Everyone has asked the question who would win a fight between you Picard and Kirk.. thats overplayed. What I want to know is have you planned a Wil Wheaton against William Shatner dual of some sort? After your /. interview do you plan on becoming an avid reader of slashdot and choosing an avatar to vie Karma away from CleverNickname?
Who makes you Sig?
Is it "Kaaaaaaaaaaaaaahn" or "Kahhhhhhhhhhhhhhn?"
Nothing to see here. Move along.
Concerning the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA). Do you consider them to be a boon or a bane to actors and actressess?
42 - So long and thanks for all the fish.
Did you ever get to help pick out the non-essential personal that would inevitably die on each episode?
I'm not drunk, I just have a speech impediment. And a stomach virus. And an inner ear infection.
Have we really seen you go over the top with your acting yet?
But seriously; did you bang Heather Locklear or what?
This
The Onion AV Club just had an interview with Shatner. Besides being rather interesting, it's a list of questions that you can avoid reasking.
GET YOUR WEAPONS READY! --DR.LIGHT
Thank you for all the wonderful acting and signning. It was most certainly unique, and greatly appreciated!
I had purchased the album: Spaced Out: The Best of Leonard Nimoy and William Shatner, and was looking forward to have you sign it at the August 2002 convention in Las Vegas. Unfortunately, a few of us who had the same idea in mind could not follow through after we had learned that you and Nimoy were both charging around $60-80 dollars per signature each!
My question is why do you charge for signatures from your fans? If I would have had you and Nimoy sign the CD it would have cost me over 160$USD + the price of the CD, for something I was not planning to resell (such as the pigs on eBay)... without adding value to the CD, other than being appreciated as a fan, with a precious keepsake.
I listen to the CD every once in a while, and think your singing is seriously something I enjoy. Thank you for everything, I enjoy watching you and listening to you (non-psychotically of course)!
blackwave@hush.com
-=BW=-
You've been involved in numerous high-profile animated series (from Star Trek:TAS to Futurama and Family Guy). How does work on shows like these compare to live-action acting for someone as well-known as yourself ?
I alternate between posting +5 and -1 Comments. Karma: +53 -47 = 6
Mr. Shatner,
What first 4 steps would you recommend to one who is looking to get his first novel published?
P.S. Your part in Showtime was a riot. It helped the movie out when it needed it.
If he is asked about the Nichols kiss -- I think Koenig commented in his book "Warped Factors" that there were actually six takes or so of the shot, and the execs were still unsure whether they were willing to go along with the kiss. Each take, Shatner kept kissing Nichols (I would have, too). In the last shot for the night (before the crew went on hyper-overtime pay), he assented and didn't kiss her -- but crossed his eyes in the close-up, which wasn't caught until it was too late to do over.
True story? His stroke for civil rights, or just general randiness?
Cxu vi sekvis vian lernadon de la internacia post "Incubus"?
Kontraux la stulteco la dioj mem batalas vane.
And new commercials are shown every day.
Is the TekWar series of novels over?
Do you prefer to take Sci-Fi roles as an actor?
Do you prefer to watch Sci-Fi shows/movies?
What's the most obscure show/movie that you think deserves more recognition?
What creative or acting persuits are currently on your horizon?
What question were you most hoping someone would ask, but they didn't?
Happiness is relative, Based upon the way we live.
When you decided to record Mr Tambourine Man ?
Nooooo, he was just kidding ... except about YOU.
It was a great film... did you learn Esperanto for the part, or did you make the cut because you already spoke it?
pronoblem
As directory of Start Trek V, what was your favorite shot?
vi or emacs?
Bad boys rape our young girls but Violet gives willingly.
Hey Bill,
Are we cool, or what? I mean, I always thought you didn't like me, but I had a good time with you at Weakest Link watching the World Series.
So are we cool, or was that just pre-game strategy?
Wil
If they were to do a movie about your life (almost a certainty at this point), who would you want to represent you onscreen (assuming you can't pick yourself, or clone yourself and make your clone do it)? Who do you think would actually end up performing this herculean task? And what pointers would you give them so they could do the job right.
Vivez sans temps mort
How many takes were there for that seminal scene? Were you so in character that you just nailed it spontaneously--it's clearly not unscripted, as the overhead camera shows. Did Meyer (or perhaps second unit directors Wise or Espinoza) have to coax the anguish out of you? Was there catharsis after knowing you'd perfected it and created a moment that endures 20 years later--even amongst the non-Trekker crowd?
blarg.
Mr Shatner,
1. Did you write any of the novels that bear your name, or were they ghosted? If you did "write" them, was your contribution 100%, or were there contributors?
2. I saw Disney's The Black Hole when I was a teen. I didn't see a worse film until Star Trek V: The Final Frontier, which shared similarly cheesey themes. Did you direct this movie as an unconscious homage, or were the parallels deliberate?
3. Are you bothered by the homoerotic fan-fiction which flourishes on the 'net (most of it involving you and Spock)?
Neopets - the best free game on the Int
Who's your father's son that's not your brother? (I hope you don't say Dan Quayle)
Your character often (if not mostly) found his way into the hearts of many women. How do you feel the portrayal of the female has changed? Is it better and more respectful now, or is it more subversive?
Mr. Shatner, for the record: Toronto Maple Leafs or Montreal Canadians - who is your team? - Klingons on ice
Alternatively, If you could be remembered for a single project or work, what would it be?
You were essentially a test-case for Dot Com compensation practices crossing over into Hollywood. From the news coverage of them since, it doesn't appear to have been a personal financial success to you. How did the rise and fall of Priceline.com affect your attitudes of the Internet? What impact do you think these events will have on novel compensation schemes for actors in the future?
Mr. Shatner:
Considering that Star Trek was supposed to be a serious show about the future, there were an awful lot of gorgeous women running around in skimpy outfits on the set and you had your shirt off half the time. How did you, the other actors, and Roddenberry feel about the sexual undertones in Star Trek? Was it something forced on you by the studio? Or did you feel it was a legitimate part of the show?
GMD
watch this
Who was fun to work with, both Star Trek related and on the variety of other projects you've been a part of?
Most of us simply see the performances. It would be interesting to know more about the people and the interactions.
Mr. Shatner,
The original Star Trek series was very low budget and many people were surprised that it survived those first few seasons. Did you know that the show was going to be like this before you signed on? And was it a difficult decision for you to take the role of Kirk?
I figured the real reason the M-5 went nuts in "The Ultimate Computer" wasn't because of Dr. Richard Deystrom's psycho engrams, but because Microsoft has a habit of engineering incompatibilities with competitor's products. Also, Spock must have known when he asked the computer to calculate the absolute value of PI in "Wolf in the Fold" that only a Microsoft OS could be crippled by a runaway process like that.
Mr Shatner,
If you went back in point to the moment you were offered the role of Captain Kirk, would you still take it? If so, why? If not, why and what would you have done differently?
Also, given that you agreed to a Q&A, I have to ask; are you a regular reader of Slashdot?
My
Limekiller
Has the possibility of Paramount asking you to redo Star Trek V gotten any better in recent months now that the special editions of the first 3 motion pictures have sold so well? I understand that a weak script and a small number of deleted scenes make it difficult.
"...today consumers have been conditioned to think of beer when they see a bullfrog..."
I saw Incubus a while back on Sci-Fi, and thought the idea of having dialog in esperanto was neat. I hope someone mods the parent to this up.
"Weapons should be hardy rather than decorative" - Miyamoto Musashi
I think that goes for OS's too
How do you feel about Samuli Torssonen's imitation of you? Here is an example. (The quality has improved much from the first ones. The very first ones were no good for non-finnish speakers, the later ones are much better)
It's fairly well known (at least here in Canada) that you attended McGill University for some time. They even went so far as to rename the Student Union building the Shatner Building.
I've heard that you were invited to the renaming ceremony, but refused to attend. I've also heard that you generally speak very poorly of your time at McGill. What was it about McGill that was so dreadful/horrible/annoying/etc that has made you so sour on the subject?
Karma: Excellent (Mainly due to Bill & Ted's Karma Adventure)
Your latest commercial for Priceline.com places you in front of the Priceline.com computer. The first time I saw this, I thought it was a spoof of Star Trek's episode of "Spock's Brain". As I haven't seen Leonard Nimoy lately, can you vouch it isn't Nimoy's Brain in there?
Mr. Shatner:
In the mid to late 1970's you did a guest spot on the classic TV detective show, Columbo, titled "Fade in to Murder." In it, you played a scheming, demanding, difficult Canadian-born TV star. I'm genuinely curious if the original script contained some of these details, or if the details were added as "in-jokes." You are, after all, well known as a Canadian-born TV star, and, deserved or not, I have certainly heard the other adjectives applied to you.
We have to know, we've been wondering forever.
If you search for "william shatner" "wil wheaton" in google, the first hit is ... indeed the WWDN T-shirt!
Can Wil send CmdrTaco a T-shirt so he can pass it on to Shatner during the interview?
Lets say Enterprise was running Windows NT as an operating system, how frequently do you think the starship would crash?
Does your family quip TJ Hooker or Star Trek jokes to you? Or do they love you for who you are?
Is that your real hair or have you glued a tribble to your cranium ?
If you don't understand anything I post, please accept that I ate paste as a small boy...
...who does the best Shatner (Kirk, Hooker, etc.) impersonation?
Mr. Shatner,
Do you watch Enterprise? Do you like it?
Why was Star Trek missing from the short ev in the original post? There are some very young readers of /. who may not remember the reruns from the eighties and may not have cable(hey I don't!) to view current reruns.
Hi,
I'm 39 years old and watched Star Trek as a kid.
I even watch it on the Sci-Fi channel now, with my
children.
My favorite episode is Menagerie.
What is your favorite episode from Star Trek?
It was all Nimoy... Spock just sweeps us off our feet...
You chicks dug the things he could do with his ears, no doubt.
Hey, does anybody know of any trek porno spoofs where spock does you know what with his ears? Or Volcan babes with pointy you know what? And Klingon babes with those teeth. Circumcision Vegas style.
Table-ized A.I.
Are there any plans for anymore TV adaptations of your TEKWAR books?
How did it come about that you did the movie Free Enterprise? How did the filmmakers approach you about doing the project? Were you enthusiastic about it? How much of your 'character' was you and how much of it was parody?
I'm not a smorgasbord.
When the series was over did you take the captain's chair home with you?
If so, do you sometimes find yourself in it barking orders into the dark abyss of your garage late at night drenched in sweat with red lights blinking and no idea how you got there?
With your endorsement of the Priceline.com supercomputer, you must have some knowledge of how powerful their supercomputer is.
How do you think the Priceline.com supercomputer compares to the envisioned power of the main computer aboard the starship Enterprise (any Enterprise you have set foot on)?
And did you ever imagine, during the filming of the original series, that computers would be as powerful as they are today?
How much of the Captain Kirk character was developed by you, and how much was developed by Roddenberry?
Go here for teh [sic] funny.
If you knew then what you know now, would you still
get involved with Star Trek?
To what do you attribute the disproportionate success Canadians have had as Comedians, Actors and Singers in the US?
As you've been all three, I assume you have a unique perspective on this.
Bill,
Are you out of your Vulcan mind!!!??
Trolling4Dollars
Un-news
I understand that your celebrity has allowed you to do more than just television since that famous show in the 60s; and I freely admit having read or watched quite a bit of it. My wife has even gotten me a lot of audio of "Star Trek Memories" and some other material including the Trek fiction for Christmas; though I know she doesn't want me to realize that quite yet. I like your version of the Iron Chef and while I don't make it a huge fanboy point to grab the latest Shatner imprint; your books and music are well received by me. Maybe I'm not a proper critic or something but I don't care.
In any case, I just want to know what you have liked doing best. Were the films - not just Trek and not just your parodies of yourself in films like "Free Enterprise" (the 'Caesar rap' at the end is a hit at my house) - more fun to do than the television series you have been in? Or has writing or music been better? I can imagine the ravaging crowds of fans (or detractors) at conventions or premiere events being a down side to your career; but I want to know what project you have most enjoyed doing - or even if they are all equally enjoyable from a personal and professional view. Thank you for some great (and some corny) entertainment over the years.
I think with the interesting people, their lives can't possibly be wrapped up into a nice little package.
Wow- this is great! There are so many knowledgable Trek fans who know most of the answers from personal anecdotes that Shatner has talked about or that they witnessed at conventions that I won't even bother to wait for his replies!
Despite the ads, they don't dare let him near the Priceline.com Supercomputer:
He might let slip one of his powerful logical paradox bombs and cause it to self destruct! (ie: "This statement is a lie", or "This is not my real hair".)
Hello Mr. Shatner,
/.
If you were to have grown up amongst the Generation-Xers (born 1966 to 1975), what do you think you'd be working at instead of acting? Have you ever thought about a career outside of acting or the public? Did you ever have a secret passion for something other than acting?
Thanks... I think a lot of us are wondering if you'd be a geek just like us here on
Some Film and TV roles seem to transend themselves and take on a life of their own. Michael Landon is Charles Ingalls from Little House on the Prarie, Yule Brenner is the King of Siam, George Scott is Patton, and you are, of course, Captain James T. Kirk. I know you lampooned the trekkies on SNL, telling them to "Get a Life", but how much does the Star Trek genre affect your life and career. Even now, is it difficult to land roles without someone imagining you as Captain Kirk? Can you remember a time before you heard the word "Romulan" or do you envision a future where you can forget it? Also, can you give a sense of how annoying it is to be given Star Trek references while trying to run your everyday errands?
"This isn't a study in computer science, its a study in human behavior"
since in the 60's you talked no fewer than 5 computers into self-destructing, could you claim prior art and patent malicious code? Afterward, you could sue every virus writer into oblivion. That's almost as good as saving the galaxy. thanks, Steve Story Raleigh, NC
You've had, to say the least, a very interesting life with many ups, downs, and detours. So I have a two part question.
1) Based on your life experience, what is one thing you'd advise no one EVER do, and why?
2) Based on your life experience, what is one thing you'd advise everyone to definitely do (at least once), and why?
"The Sage treasures Unity and measures all things by it" - Lao Tzu
Mr. Shatner, I would ask you what you thought of the captains that followed in your footsteps: Captain Picard, Captain Sisko, Captain Janeway and Captain Archer, of The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager and Enterprise respectively. What sort of input did you have, if any, in the four series? Are you planning to do any more scifi TV shows? I enjoyed your Tekwar series. Which do you like portraying more, a good guy, a bad guy, or an anti-hero? Thanks for allowing us to pester you with questions you've probably answered many times over. =)
Julie Moult is an idiot.
One of the best Saturday Night Live shows I can remember was when you appeared on it as a host. I thought the skit of you at the Star Trek convention was excellent, BTW. Especially when you tore into the Trekkies who seem like the Comic Book Guy from the Simpsons.
Though your diatribe ("Get a life people") was brushed aside as the talk of the "Evil Kirk", what's your real opinion of the die hard fans? Granted many are a bit excessive, but do you appreciate the attention or do you find it annoying at all?
Whether or not it is deserved, how does it feel to go through life knowing the first phrase people around the world think of after hearing your name is "bad acting"? Do you ever want to crawl back under the covers and never leave the house again?
On your horse farm... How many saddle-bred horses do you have (including the colt that was born earlier this week)?
As copyright owner of this comment, I authorize everyone to defeat any technological measure which limits access to it.
Mr. Shatner,
Are blue skinned chicks pink inside?
Mr Shatner, have you no shame?
Crow T. Robot - "Shatner, Shatner, Shatner, no, he's not in this one, we're safe" - MST3K the Movie.
"You know you want me baby!" - Crow T Robot
The 911 recording from your call reporting your wife's tragic pool accident, has been played, re-played, and played again on radio stations throughout the country. In fact, I heard it just the other day. In the weeks following the accident, the recording was played almost constantly.
Usually when I hear the recording, its associated with classless humor, usually radio talk show hosts trying to be funny, cracking "shatner jokes" and similiar.
I know personally that if my wife met a tragic and untimely death, I would despise all those making jokes about it!
How has this public attention (mockery) to the incident effected your life?
Skiers and Riders -- http://www.snowjournal.com
John Belushi spent hours studying you as Kirk in preparation for his famous Saturday Night Live skit. He reportedly was not only very proud of it, but somewhat in awe of you as well. Did you ever see that skit and what did you think of it?
The obligatory ICUSA question... ah...
My question is this: Before doing Iron Chef USA, how much (if any) Iron Chef (Featuring Kaga Takeshi, Fukui-san and Ohta) have you seen, and what are your opinions on it?
Bonus Questions: Who is your favorite "Japan" Iron Chef? Favorite USA Iron Chef?
You're the only actor I heard of who ever did an Esperanto movie (The Incubus). How was that experience? Don't you think that Esperanto has been greatly underutilized in film today?
First, Will there be any more Tek Wars movies? Second, What do you think of the fact that most SF is nowadasy very dark and hard compared to the early days of ST?
I'm wondering what made you decide to accept the various roles you have played in movies and television, particularly after you were established as an actor and money was less of an immediate issue.
Was it the type of role, the people involved in the production, the script, the chance to do something new?
What do you look for currently?
Jon Acheson
All opinions expressed herein are my own, and not those of my employers, who are appalled.
Shatner gets off an airplane and comments how he thought he saw something outside on the wing. Lithgow says Yeah, the same thing happened to him.
For that and much more, it was all around one of the best 3rd Rock episodes.
There is nothing so silly as other peoples traditions, and nothing so sacred as our own.
Do you use priceline.com to book all of your flights?
Or do you no longer fly due to the whole "There's something out on the wing!!" thing?
Mr Shatner,
when participating in several print-ads for the VIC-20 home computer in the early 80s, did you get to keep one for yourself and if so - did you use it ?
-- http://z80.org - all opinions, all the time --
I want to know if you ever forgave those Klingon bastards for what they did to your boy? It sure seemed like a big deal to you at the time.
This is America, damnit. Speak Spanish!
Dear Mr. Shatner As Kirk, you used gadgets and technologies as communicators, tricorders, teletransport, warp drive, etc. We're far(?) from teleportation and faster-than-light travel but today we *do* have stuff like the communicators and tricorders. At that time, do you feel you will really see something of that technology on real life?
Faith can move mountains. I prefer dynamite.
And, to follow up, I'd like to PO that, though IANAL, AFAIK, and IAASTF, IMHO (or IMNSHO), I have noticed a lot of ridiculous (R) acronyms being thrown around (TA) like they're PPBFWPJFF (Ping pong balls filled with paint just-for-fun).
My question is, then, do you agree? DYTTETYANALTPUTMATD? (Do you think that even though you are not a lawyer that people use too many acronyms these days?) SABTLT? (Should Acronyms be treated like Tribbles?)
I mean, it's just R.
Any sufficiently well-organized Government is indistinguishable from bullshit.
If a US stamp was going to bear your likeness, would you prefer the 'young' Shatner from the original series or the 'plump' Shatner from Star Trek:Generations?
Much has been made in the popular press over some shaky
relationships that you had with other members
of the Star Trek cast. Do you find those relationships
smoothing out as the years go by?
Though not a regular gig, you've appeared in what? Three? Twilight Zone episodes. Or is it two? There's the "There's something on the WING!" episode 'Nightmare at 20,000 feet', and then there's the coin-operated-Devil-knows-the-future episode,'Nick Of Time' . (By the way - I especially liked your first appearance on "Third Rock From The Sun" where your character and John Lithgow's character had that "moment" about there being something on the wing...)
You were also in an episode of The Outter Limits, The Man From U.N.C.L.E., Alfred Hitchcock Presents
and a whole mess of other sci-fi/quasi-sci-fi shows in the late 50s/early 60s. These shows (Twilight Zone and Outter Limits, most memorably) had a great impact for "serious" Science Fiction on TV - at least something other than just blasting the bug-eyed monsters with a ray gun for half an hour.
Did you search out roles in those kinds of shows for any particular reasons, or were they just the ones that hired you?
This is just too funny.
Sticking feathers up your butt does not make you a chicken - Tyler Durden
A while ago, I had heard that you were going to stop doing commercials for Priceline. Was that just a rumor, or what did they do to keep you around?
Blog Prophyts - Right On, Man
Funny I should see this article now, as I'm currently listening to Fear of Pop, a collection of spoken-word music mostly written by Ben Folds. And You're on it (speech/singing "In Love") and...it's really good. :)
So the question is: how'd you get involved in a late-90's rock frontman's side project?
Triv
if you could be frozen when you die only to be reawakened via cyrogenics in the future would you?
do you think the microsoft/borg thing has some real merrit?
when did you grow up?
(i havent)
do you wish you death to be random or predetermined?
in your own opinion is the human species setting our selves up for a global carnage situation with overpopulation and resource raping the earth?
one gift you could give anybody or any group(a non selfish wish)?
Here's a variant but perhaps related question:
Anyone familiar with the history of the theater knows the names of great actors like Richard Burbage (a member of Shakespeare's company) and Sarah Bernhardt. We know their work only by reputation, however; their performances are of course lost to history.
You are one of the very first group of actors in history whose performances are, barring some cataclysm, going to be preserved forever. When you showed up to perform at Studio One or Playhouse 90, on anthology series like "The Outer Limits" and "The Twilight Zone," or later on series television like "Star Trek," did it ever occur to you that work you may have done with little or no rehearsal would have that kind of persistence? If so, did it affect your work? If not, is there anything you would have done differently?
(What I'm trying to get at here is that while most everyone recognizes that some early television ranks with the classics, the fact of the matter is that television in the early days was very much a sausage factory: there was no backlog of syndicated material, and a lot of content had to be churned out. People generally didn't sit around saying, "Gee, we're creating a new genre of theatrical art, how should we think about that?" -- there was too much work to be done. Even years later people didn't appreciate the significance of the early years of television; a lot of film was thrown out or left to rot. So maybe the question I'm trying to get at here is really, "Now that we recognize that significance of the early years of television, do you think about your work as an actor differently now than you did then, and if so how?")
Only you can appreciate the monetary possibilities of a great cult show, and only you have the means and the clout to not let such an awesome show like Farscape wither away and die.
Love ya man.
What acting oppurtunities have you turned down that you now regret?
My question is, given Mr. Ellison's hotheaded nature, what's your take on the story? I find most of his account to be pretty immature, to tell the truth, and since he's talked about you in his accounts as having worked with him (something about a mark that's still in his driveway from your motorcycle?) I was wondering what really happened.
Stating on Slashdot that I like cheese since 1997.
How do you cope with this ?
I have mild Tinnitus myself, and have problems distinguishing folks in a crowd of people. [The guy across the room sounds lounder than the guy infront of me.]
At night I need to sleep with a white noise machine or all i hear is a soft ringing in my ears.
How does this affect your acting, does it / did it make it any harder on to keep on cue ?
Have you ever had to turn down work or a gig due to the hearing issues / threats ?
--Ne auderis delere orbem rigidum meum, non erravi pernicose!
In a steel cage death match, who wins?
Commander Peter Quincy Taggart
vs
Captain Jean-Luc Picard
How do you cope with this ?
I have mild Tinnitus myself, and have problems distinguishing folks in a crowd of people. [The guy across the room sounds lounder than the guy infront of me.]
At night I need to sleep with a white noise machine or all i hear is a soft ringing in my ears.
How does this affect your acting, does it / did it make it any harder on to keep on cue ?
Have you ever had to turn down work or a gig due to the hearing issues / threats ?
[sorry about the repost, I inadvertantly posted under another user's comment]
--Ne auderis delere orbem rigidum meum, non erravi pernicose!
If someone offered you a choice of the two roles in a new, "generic" portrayal of Christ's life (not specifically Superstar) and everything else were equal (same time on screen, same pay, etc), which would you take? Do think your decision differs from what you think most of your acting peers would have chosen and if so why?
"Prepare for the worst - hope for the best."
Do you think you could kick Ricardo Montalbahn's ass in a fair fight?
Hey freaks: now you're ju
Why can't you show a real supercomputer in the PRiiceline commercials instead of the heap of drain pipe and chrismas lights?
My question is: since writing the book, have you given much thought to what things, originally thought of in Star Trek, you would like to see in everyday society? What's your number-one 'to do/build'?
As a tinnitus sufferer (brought on by noise trauma, like you), I take comfort in knowing there are celebrities such as yourself who have overcome this intrusive malady to live a happy life and accomplish great things.
What techniques/treatments have been successful for you in dealing with this disease?
I've always wondered.
$5 / month hosted VPS on linux = awesome!
Is there any truth the story about your 'violent reaction' to the mention of this dish?
Any chance of you doing a cameo on Enterprise?
Will Captain Kirk re-appear again (oh no...not more "we script writers have a mental block, so let's roll out yet another time-travel plot")?
Chaeron Corporation
Is it true about the girdle?
Is that really the Priceline super-computer behind you in the commercial?
At the risk of being off topic, lets have some fun with these storylines.
How did the Klingons "acquire" their brow ridges?
How come the current series, ENTERPRISE, has more advanced medical technology than TOS?
In the Journey Home, how come a Klingon vessel (an iti biti destroyer at that) has info about extinct Terran whales?
TOS and TNG had Earth destroy itself in The Eugenics Wars, it hasn't happened yet, do you think it is still possible?
What happened to Muslims they are distinctly absent in TOS, TNG, DS9, VGR and E?
Were they the first to fall to Kahn in the Eugenics Wars?
And honestly, do you think the restless soul of a starship Captain would settle for reliving a day in the country or would really want to relive his victories (over his enemies not women) and celebrations over and over again?
Or spend time with his son?
Or correct some past wrong?
Although he did save the day again, did they not make Kirk's existence in the Nexus and in some ways his death too shallow?
Supra et Ultra
You know, I have to believe there is some truth to your position of "Get a life people?!" While it's kinda funny and I share the general perspective that it's kinda stupid to get sucked so deeply into the TV show, there is at least one socially acceptable precedent where "dressing like your favorite entertainment" happens on a regular basis.
:) I can't bring myself to actually pay for them...)
(That said, I'm still a fan of the show though I only have 3 of those DVDs of the original series... can you send me some free?
That precedent is the "Country/Western" phenomenon. Starting with the singing cowboy in the movies, people have been emulating and twisting beyond any sense of reality the image of the "wild" west and the "cowboy." This Hollywood culture has gone so far out of control that people think it's pretty normal.
I see this kind of thing happening today with "trekkie" culture as well. After recently observing the flight attendant's union pin, I have to wonder if it has roots in the Star Trek series.
While I still generally agree with your "get a life" view, I have to wonder at what point does it actually become a life?
Why am I asking rhetorical interview questions?
We all know, from Adam Sandler's famous song, that you and Leonard Nimoy are Jewish. Leonard Nimoy has been cited on many ocassions for his involvement with various Jewish projects (including receiving an honarary degree from the Spertus Institute for Jewish Studies), but I've heard very little about your involvement with religion. How do you feel about religion in general, and what is your relationship to Judaism? How observant are you, and how did your religion impact your life and your work?
* mild mannered physics grad student by day *
* daring code hacker by night *
http://www.silent-tristero.com
Why?
That movie pretty seemed to require you willing to play yourself in it. I was wondering how they pitched the movie to you and why you decided to participate in it.
sigs are a waste of space
Hello Mr. Shatner, I became a fan of Star Trek after my dad took me to see Star Trek II long ago. It's also the film that ignited my interest in film scoring. The downside to this, is that ever since the original crew left (as well as the lack of James Horner's music since II & III) Star Trek has just seems really "small" and rushed. I could go on and on, but I'd like to know what you *really* think of Star Trek as it stands today, or if you even follow it anymore. Thanks, and keep up the good work.
- Sam
The secret to enjoying Slashdot is to realize that it should not be taken too seriously.
Is that your real Hair?
Which emerging/new technologies most interest you for your science fiction writing? What other influences have had great impact on your writing? What can we expect to see in the coming years; more acting, production, writing?
Given your general willingness to have strong opinions and your role in the ever-expanding world of Tek War, not to mention your playing T.J. Hooker, how do you feel about the virtual disappearance of the so-called War on Drugs since September 11th?
Rustin
Data is the lever, rigor the fulcrum, brains the force that drives it all.
If you could get a do-over for any movie which would it be?
--
Billwashere
were you smoking when you signed on to do Incubus, and where can i get some. Oh, and I think the best acting you ever did was the stare down contest with John Henson on Talk Soup. That was some good shit.
Come on. A member of Iggy Pop's band not drinking? In 1975? Surely they could have made up something more plausible.
Mr. Shatner, What kind of pitch did the creators of Iron Chef USA use when they were trying to bring you on as the Chairman? Did you watch any of the Japanese episodes and use Chairman Kaga's actions/mannerisms as a point from which to create your own version of the Chairman, or was it predetermined by the show's creators? What are your takes on the Iron Chef phenomenon as it has become in the United States, and are there any plans on taping additional episodes? Thank you for your time.
When you were going to beam down to the planet for the last time in Episode 25 - that's where you and the crew of the Enterprise get attacked by these spores and started acting real weird, like hippies and stuff - well, I was wondering if you could settle a bet for me and my friends, okay? When you left your quarters for the last time - and you opened up your safe - what was the combination?
Education is the silver bullet.
In one of the latest Priceline ads, with the "Priceline computer" - was it intentional at the end to pose you in front of the large purple "brain" to make it look like you had a large "Swami" hat?
This question has my vote. Mod Parent Up.
Codifex Maximus ~ In search of... a shorter sig.
Mr. Shatner,
... meaning are you uncomfortable with your acting career since you are now and forever James T. Kirk?? Do you feel that this may have hindered or limited other opportunites in your life or do you feel this was a once in a life time opportunity?
If you had to do it all over again, would you still do Star Trek
Cheers!
HallmarkOrnaments.Com
Mr. Shatner. Can I call ya Will? In either case my question is relatively simple. You've been acting for many years in many different rolls. you've become something of a cultural icon for many people (alot of geeks). My question is what kind of a legacy would you like to leave? Many will argue and place on you different ones, but when you finally leave the public spotlight, in what way would you like to be remembered?
--Keeping the flame wars alive, one post at a time
After you told Koko you loved her several times, using that "simple actor's trick", she reached out and grabbed your balls. Did you feel rejected?
Would you pick a better wardrobe for the first star trek movie?
SecondPageMedia - Wha
Wow, there is someone who really liked it.
I agree there were some funny scenes in it (like the one you mentioned.)
Whether you thought the movie was good or not, I still think it would be interested to know what he was thinking.
What made him want to play a character like that, particularly one that is so unlike his public image.
Have you ever played the Star Trek Drinking Game?
Who do you think does the best impression of James Kirk? I'm rather impressed by Jim Carrey's version.
I've always admired your lovely toupee. Are you a member of the Hair Club for Men? If so, how would you rate their service and the durability of their product? Apparently one can fight Klingons without a hair falling out of place, but can you really swim with that thing on, as the commercials would imply?
Hmmm?
Mr. Shatner,
:)
When you first walked onto the set, did you have any appreciation for how much of a part of American Legend Star Trek was going to become?
Also, when did realize that it was going to have a profound effect on your career and life and how did that feel?
GJC
Gregory Casamento
## Chief Maintainer for GNUstep
Apparently he didn't like it much, since he wrote two books were Kirk gets reanimated/brought back to life, and kicks some serious Borg ass.
Je ne parle pas francais.
I've seen and read multiple comments from you about Star Trek. What's the most angry and/or surprising response you've gotten from anyone else associated with the various series?
Thanks for the fun and interesting shows. From the guy sitting at the table in front of the Devil Faces fortune teller machine to the Kirk you played in Generations.
Only question I can think of is:
What do you want to do next?
Codifex Maximus ~ In search of... a shorter sig.
Galaxy Quest obviously satired not only the characters of Star Trek as they behaved on camera, but also the characters of the on actors that portayed them. Did you like the movie? Do you think the weaknesses of the Star Trek franchise that the film hyperboles are fair? Did friction between you and your co-stars on the convention circuit ever approach the levels suggested in film?
"You can't dissect him, predict him, which of course means he's not a lunatic at all."
Mr. Shatner,
I recently went to a screening of your cult classic film, "Incubus". The most amazing thing about this movie was that all the dialog was spoken in Esperanto! Did you actually learn Esperanto for the role? Or were you simply reading off of cue cards?
Do you still consider yourself a Canadian? Do Canada and Canadian issues matter to you anymore? Do you hang out with the other Canadians in Hollywood and go fishing in Algonquin Park with Dan Ackroyd? And which CFL team do you support?
Do you have any immediate plans for any serious role in a movie not involving science fiction?
Just because my name's Jim doesn't give people to curse at me when I need medical attention.
God spoke to me
What was the most embarassing mispelling of your last name?
Table-ized A.I.
When are you going to release your next album of spoken word classic rock a la Priceline.com commercials? I found a recording of a science ficiton awards show where you did a rendition of Elton John's "Rocket Man" and can't wait to get the latest edition of Shatner rocking the Mic.
how many dem *alien* hos didja jam witcha prime directive?
I've always been a fan of your science fiction series TekWar and so on, but I would like to know where some of the ideas behind it came from? Were some of those ideas spawned from the legendary Gene Roddenbery, or were they all your own?
Wherever you go, there I am...
Just kidding. My question, do the new Star Trek movies/episodes meet your expectations?
Mr. Shatner,
Many of your roles have been praised and maligned. What role that you have played have you learned the most from, as an actor?
I saw a site for William Shatner's Spplat Attack, and it occurred to me that you have an amazing knack for selling out *well*, picking stuff where my first reaction is 'wow that's cool' rather than 'man what a pathetic sell-out'. Heck, even the priceline ads are entertaining, even if priceline isn't my favorite business ever. So, how do you pick so well?
is competition good, or is duplication of effort bad?
I know that you've referred to yourself in the third person as interviews and portrayed your public persona as "The Shatner" and somewhat distant from your true self.
To what extent is the day-to-day Bill Shatner the same as your larger-than-life persona?
...than you did on the Star Trek series?
One of the many things I hate. thingsihate.org
Who did you enjoy more in the sack: the blonde yeoman chick from Star Trek or Adrian Zmed?
Does the Super Computer lead a secret double life as a lowly mail server when it's super identity is not needed?
undoubtably the thing you are most famous for is Kirk , first which was your favorite film? and if you'd have known back then what star trek would have become and the shear number of piss takes on to name one the way you.....did....this...... would you st=ill have done it?
dybia felly dwi a hampster (i think therefore i am a hampster)
You've started in the only feature length film done entirely in esperanto, Incubus.
Could you tell us about how you found this role and what why you decided to take it. And more importantly what you thought about the people who would finance, produce, and direct a film that has as its centerpiece and invented language.
I would just like to add this one comment my friend made while watching Incubus: "My God! Shatner speaks that like it's a real language!"
Is that a wig, a weave, joined the hair club for men, used rogaine, had plugs, or have you sucessfully kept your hair throughout the years?
Karma Whoring for Fun and Profit.
Mr. Shatner, what prompted your brief stint with the WWF back in the early 1990's? Did you know Jerry Lawler personally or something?
I'm being serious. I remember seeing Shatner on a couple episodes of WWF Monday Night RAW when I was a teenager, and I always wondered how and why that came to be.
This has been discussed to death. Each of the original Star Trek cast members has a book of some sort about their life, or involvement in the series, and each one has a different version of what happened. Koenig's version is above. Nichols's version is similar, except she said that he just botched the acting. Think every Shatner spoof you've ever seen and multiply it by 10 ("no, I WILL, NOT kiss, her"). Shatner tells a different story in his "Star Trek Memories" book, so maybe the other cast members just thought he was intentionally botching the take, when he hadn't meant to at all...
"The question of whether a computer can think is no more interesting than that of whether a submarine can swim" -EWD
how does it make you feel knowing that Star Trek was the only show that Martin Luther King Jr. would allow his children to watch?
Mr Shatner, Of all the alien chicks you got to "put your boots on with"... which was your favorite? I'm betting on the green chick!
DDB
Life is like surrealism: if you have to have it explained to you, you can't afford it.
Oh lordy! I cried laughing at your comment. My new word of the day, "asshat". Freaking halarious. Good post you homophobic freak.
kill your wife? I mean if you were black you'd be in the courthouse.
The best education consists in immunizing people against systematic attempts at education. - Paul Feyerabend
I don't think a lot of people take an auteuristic view of Star Trek, but I used to follow which directors were which on TNG and follow their styles.
:)
My favorite directors have to be veteran Cliff Bole ("Best of Both Worlds", "Silicon Avatar", Voyager's "Dark Frontier") and Les Landau ("Chain of Command II", "Family", "Night Terrors").
Did you have any favorite directors, or did they all seem interchangeable like the old days of movies? Since "Best of Both Worlds" is better than some of the Trek movies, I'd really like to see Bole helm a feature. No such luck. Is there any particular reason? Can I get in touch with him?
There are a lot of rumors that NASA and the Russian space program have investigated this, but no one is talking on the record yet. For example, Newton's 3rd law- "for every action, a reaction" complicating movement in zero-G. You are the most famous libidous space-amn and must know the answer :-)
Autograph a tee-shirt for me?
"It's a puzzle, Miss Scully..."
I missed the game, but I wanted your thoughts on the paintball scenario game you participated in this last September. Heard you had some wild times. Tell us a lovely story of shooting people with paint!
Just recently you took part in a massive paintball charity match in Joliet, IL for your "Ahead with Horses" charity, in which you, as Captain Kirk, led the Federation against a team of Klingons and the Borg. It sounded like an amazing idea!
So, what I'm wondering is, how did it go? Did you enjoy paintball (and reprising your "Captain Kirk" role)? Also, I heard mention of the entire thing being was to be documented in a video. Is that still in the works, and if so, where can one purchase it?
If you want to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first create the universe. -- Carl Sagan
Are you and James Doohan on speaking terms yet?
I still laugh when i think of "the collector" episode of simpsons
Collector: [pulls out a phaser] Stop right there. I have here the only working phaser ever built. It was fired only once, to keep William Shatner from making another album.
Full transcript
/. AC "Concrete lifejackets could get certified under ISO2002"
I was at a Star Trek convention where Marina Sirtis was speaking and she said you were hitting on her during TNG production. Also, all the geeks there said they hated you because you never come to conventions.
Okay, does Priceline.com really have this "Priceline.com supercomputer", and if so, how many terraflops can it produce?
As I understand it, Jeffery Hunter was originally offered the part of Captain Captain of the Enterprise (he played Christopher Pike in the Pilot), but turned it down after the Pilot was filmed. First, is this accurate, and second:
Obviously, this was your big break into showbusiness, but did it feel like it at the time. How did this part come to you, and when did you realize this show would be this big, when did you realize you had been typecast and that you would be forever known as Captain Kirk, and did you go through any of the disgust with that typecast like Leonard Nemoy did?
What is next for William Shatner?
I mean, you've done just about everything an entertainer can do -- act, write, sing, rap to Shakespeare, TV, movies, commercials.
Do you see yourself retiring anytime soon (and naturally chopping wood in some Northwestern locale)?
thelocust[dot]org
Damnit Jim..... Honestly... What... Were.... You..... Thinking???
Proton torpedoes are Star Wars. Photon torpedoes are Star Trek. A proton torpedo doesn't even make sense - you can't do very many reactions with a proton. A photon torpedo is basically an antimatter charge. Antimatter + matter = lots of energy, in the form of photons!
Phase pistols. Made up - but only requires a particle that interferes with the strong nuclear force. Not too unreasonable.
Warp. It was actually Earth to Neptune in 6 minutes (as my roommate is remembering). First: Star Trek has never been consistent with the Warp scales, the original series was simply exponentially scaling while the later series were converging to Warp 10, and a lot of the "future" timelines seemed to switch back to the old scale. And Enterprise seems to use its own scale also. But: even traveling at warp, you have to add the time to drop in and out of warp, accelerate and deccelrate (within the limits of inertial damping - which doesn't exist!).
The maximum sustainable warp for Voyager is pretty low, as sustainable means engines running 24/7/365 AND no fuel concerns. Voyager has many problems with low fuel (how often do they look for antimatter?), and presumably takes the warp core offline periodically for maintenence (it would be a boring episode, so we don't see that. But there was a Next Generation episode that referenced maintenence).
But, Star Wars and Star Trek warp/hyperspace theories are difference (and neither are provable - though neither has been disproven!). Star Wars is alternate-universe-hyperspace, and you use energy to move into hyperspace and another chunk of energy to move out. Star Trek is a bubble of space where physics are different (i.e. the speed of light is much higher) and the bubble is maintained by a constant inflow of energy. And yes, Star Wars hyperdrive is faster than Star Trek warp drive - Star Wars hyperdrive would be closer to Star Trek Borg hyperdrive (which the Federation never could duplicate). But, Star Trek warp drive scales better - the theoretical top speed is much higher (you could get arbitrarily close to infinity).
And I don't know about that Wookie... I think the Klingon would give him a head-but the Wookie would never forget. And Klingon fighting is much more of a martial art - it might work fine against bigger adversaries. My opinion is whoever knocks the other guy down first would win...
Signed,
A Trekkie who rooms with a Star Wars fan / physicist
A witty [sig] proves nothing. --Voltaire
Why do you do those horrible tv commercials? Are the royalties from the many movies you've done that bad?
You seem like you must not take yourself too seriously to be able to satire yourself. Do you agree, and do you feel this is a quality more people should have?
Dear Mr. Shatner:
I have suffered through an acute attack of tinnitus - an experience I never wish on anyone. I was lucky that my attack stopped as mysteriously as it started. You suffer through chronic tinnitus. What have you done to keep you sanity/health while living with that problem? What techniques do you use?
"Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not. Nothing is more common than unsuccessful men w
How do you feel about your role as the stressed-out passenger in the famous Twilight Zone "Alien on the aircraft wing" episode? I've always felt that role best suited you...
"Freedom means freedom for everybody" -- Dick Cheney
If there was a real life transporter, would you travel on it?
I've seen many actors become typecast (such as yourself and most of the Star Trek crew), but I've seen many others who seem to defy typecasting even when put into popular roles (Tom Hanks in Bosom Buddies comes to mind). Do you think this tendency comes more from acting skill, facial features (recognizable face vs. rather generic face), the nature of the role itself, or some other factor?
Mr Shatner,
After many years of hard work, with various Star Trek actors, do you still keep contact with them? For example, do ever call up Mr. Leonard Nemoy and go on a trip or just have dinner?
Thank you for your time,
McFly69
P.S. How would I go about to receive your autograph?
NO! NO! Please don't mod me, I'm too young to die a troll. *click* Oh the pain, the pain...
Ok, this is an honest question, not meant to be a smart-ass comment or something I'm saying just to be a jerk.
Do you hate, or at least have a distaste, for Star Trek fans (in general)? Despite the fact that you continue to write books based on Captain Kirk, I always get the sense that you want to distance yourself from the franchise.
Knowing you wrote the tekwar series then had it come on television and if I remember correctly, you also had a few tekwar movies come out also. Did you think that the movie/shows conveyed what you wrote in the books and did you like acting out the books?
I havent seen any mention of the tekwar series since a lot of people hated it but I loved the series.
Since the majority of questions seem Trek related, here's one that's not:
If a major network came to you and offered you the chance to helm or take the lead in a new series of your choice, what would you want to do? Would you return to your stage roots? More Sci-Fi? TJ Hooker Returns? What would give you the most satisfaction?
and
What did you think of John Lithgow's reprisal of your TZ character in Twilight Zone: The Movie?
The original was one of the few episodes that stuck with me. Despite the goofy looking creature, it had that feeling of paranoia and claustrophobia that one would get when cornered by the unknown.
Along the same vein, did you enjoy the Staturday Night Live parody of Star Trek? Did you consider it an honor to be parodied by John Bolushi?
I remember religiously watching reruns of Star Trek in the late afternoons as a 6-7 year old. I would have to stake out the TV early in the afternoon because if I left my sister would switch the stations. There was a standing rule that whoever is was in the room first got to pick the show. I credit you with the large bladder size that I have today. Thanks!
Everything Wil Wheaton says gets modded up +5! Why you ask? Because he is famous. This then causes his karma to go up! Since when can fame bring you karma? This a true butchering of the concept of karma, and I will not stand for it! Kick Wil off slashdot! Who is with me?
Ps. The preceding mesage is just a joke.
What signature defines me as a person?
Dear Mr. Shatner, Thank you so much for going on Saturday Night Live, and telling the trekkies to "get a life...move out of your mother's basement...Have you ever kissed a girl?.. It's a TV Show!" These things needed to be said, and you said them. Do you have anything new to say to the loser fanboys? Sincerely, Everyone but the loser fanboys
How ya like dat?
What is your opinion on the choice of music used in Star Trek? During, the time that you worked on Star Trek, what did you listen to (i.e. your personal tastes)?
.. Dadadaaaaaaaaaaaaa (cheap sound effects ----- )
~ Lynn
Ps. I have often wonder if you awoke out of a nightmare with the standard Trek battle music playing your head.. You know Da Da Da
Truth like surgery, may hurt, but it cures. - Han Suyin, Chinese Physician and Writer
So what sort of things do you most enjoy in life? Acting? Singing? Or something else entirely? What level of interest have you got in computers?
While much has been made of it since the first airing, were you, or anyone else affiliated with the crew at the time, aware that "The Kiss" you exchanged with Nichelle Nichols was truly ground-breaking, or merely something controversial to make a few waves? You've written somewhat about this subject; however, I have yet to see any reference in my admittedly sketchy Star Trek reading to what the attitudes of the cast and crew were _before_ the airing of that episode.
Everybody says that they don't make 'em like they used to, and after watching Voyager, Andromeda and Enterprise I tend to agree. Will you be willing to star in a new series of Star Trek (set after TNG)?
A caveman dreams of being us, the incalculable power and riches. We dream of being Q, then what?
What's this, a real question on a /. Ask Foo? This should definitely be amongst the questions asked. I always like to "hear" people "talk" about things they feel strongly about.
"You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
Ex! ell! ent!
What did you think of Galaxy Quest?
When a Ball Dreams, It Dreams it's a Frisbee.
Where do you stand on the copyright debate? Do you support Lessig or Disney?
As many posters here have pointed out, you will forever be remembered as Captain James T. Kirk. But in the episode "Where No Man Has Gone Before", when your old school chum-turned-god-like-telepath created your grave, complete with gravestone, the engraving on the stone had you as James R. Kirk. At what point in the series did you acquire the middle initial T. and why didn't anyone remember that it was supposed to be R.?
Oh yeah, and BTW, Cu vi parolas Esperante?
__
The optimist proclaims we live in the best of all possible worlds. The pessimist fears this may be true.
Your earlier recordings, such as Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds, or Mr. Tamborine Man? Or better still, how about a jam session with Leonard "Bilbo Baggins" Nimoy?
Just because you can mod me down, doesn't mean you're right. Shoes for industry!
Just wanted to know...
Why do you wear a hairpiece?
goats.com: better than
I enjoyed your performance as the big giant head on 3rd Rock from the Sun. Will you be doing more comedy rolls?
Do you still visit Toronto Canada often, and what is happening with your 3D Effects Studio now that Tekwar is no longer being made here.
Star Trek made many wonder whether there was intelligent life in the universe. Did Rescue 911 ever make you wonder if there was intelligent life on this planet? A lot of the people on that show were rescued when they did some awfully dumb and dangerous things ...
Do you get tired of being treated like something other than an actor? You're not a scientist or a leader or a futurist anymore than, say, Tim Allen, another actor. Don't you wish people would just admire you for what you are trying to do - be a good actor - and not transfer the magnitute in their mind that Star Trek is real and that you are Star Trek?
If Kirk and Gandalf got into a fight, who would win?
Hello Sir,
Why the people at the hwood do not hire a scientific
consultant to avoid junk like: "15 light years? ok, put it on the viewscreen!". Does scientific accuracy
makes a scifi boring?
Not a question, but just a thanks for your work many years ago creating a wonderfully inspiring television series that defined science fiction in its time enjoyed by at least my family. The experience helped create a connection with the beautiful heavens above. Your part in history is a great one and it is my hope you recognize contributions.
Why, oh why did you feel the need to introduce fart jokes to Star Trek?
goats.com: better than
WIll you really be back in
"William Shatner v. the world crime league"?
I'd buy the DVD special edition!
"I'm a slave of Karma, Spin the Wheel and I'm a king reborn."
But how does work on those high profile shows compare to the low-budget 1965 horror movie called "Incubus" which you did...like how difficult was it memorizing the lines for your role considering it's the only film *ever* made in esperanto?
-sparky the wonder dog
Which is better, being type cast into a role you can't escape from (yet gaining mass popularity and recognition), or having an assortment of characters from which to draw, but not the degree of prestige? ...which path would you have a new actor avoid?
Were you never envious of Leonard Nimoy because he got to wear the really cool ears?
You have NEVER seen a vagina, have you? You poor, god-forsaken bastard.
Mr. Shatner,
Why did you decide to be the advertising face of Priceline.com. Aside from the compensation, what compelled you to work for them instead of any of the other advertising offers that you have received?
Also, would you ever do it (ar anything like it) again?
Thanks,
-Mark Radulovich
Have you heard the song "William Shatner" by The Wedding Present (or are you even aware of it)? In case you haven't heard it, The Wedding Present is a pop band from England, and the song is on their album "George Best," which came out in 1990 (or thereabouts). How do you feel about your name being used as the title for a song? Would you ever object to the use of your name by a group (not necessarily a rock band) or an individual that is completely unaffiliated with you? If that album had been incredibly popular and that song had been a hit single, would you feel differently about the use of your name?
Mr. Shatner, When looking back on your career thus far, is there anything you've done which you feel to have been an important contribution either to society or to humanity? Why do you feel that contribution is important?
"Aye, and if my grandmother had wheels, she'd be a wagon!" -- Montgomery Scott, ST:III
Do you think that John Lithgow did a good job reprising your character in the Twilight Zone episode, "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet"? Was this ever a brought up when you guys worked on the together on Third Rock from the Sun?
the tek war movies. did you intend for there to be more and were you happy with their reception? in free enterprise [imdb.com] - who's idea was the "han solo vs captain kirk" comment and how funny did you think it? (you looked like you were trying not to laugh :) ... and when will "no tears for caesar" reach the mtv audience? :)
mike(y)
What path would your career have taken had you not done Star Trek? Would you still be as internationally renown?
NT
You can't handle the truth.
1) Did you feel that your real life when filming Star Trek had any corelation to the relationships portrayed at the beginning of Galaxy Quest?
2) Do you believe there is any life beyond Earth? After portraying Cap't Kirk for so many years, so you think that's swayed your opinion?
3) My sister met you at the Space.Com office in New York once. All she could come up with was quick TJ Hooker question for you. You were polite, and she was happy. Now the question, is that the kind of questions you get all the time from strangers? Can you go out in public and have a good time without someone asking an old TV question of you?
Serious? Seriousness is well above my pay grade.
really now, this thadoesn't look like you at any age...
Is there any chances we will see anymore of the TEK universe? Perhaps a DVD release of the series?
( I think it's the first commercial since that "Can you hear me now?" guy to actually cause me to leap across my room for the remote )
Magius_AR
Mr. Shatner, how do you feel about the canceling of the USA Tek War series that was based on the novels you wrote?
Are you writing any more Tek War Novels?
(yeah I know its a bit old, but I kind of liked the series).
"If I were bound by all laws everywhere I'm sure I would have committed a capital crime somewhere."
to be imortalized as the face of Michael Myers in the Halloween series?
Setting his threshold to 5, Sparky eliminated most of the trolls on /.
Although many of your songs are great for ending stereo wars, I can't help but wonder why? I mean, it's one thing to sing off-key while all alone but another to inflict it on other people. What would possess you to think that anyone would want to hear this, or was it done for sheer badness' sake?
I do have to say that Nimoy's cover of "Proud Mary" was far worse than any of your covers-- though "Lucy in the Sky" is awfully close.
Golden Throats: the Great Celebrity Sing-Off
More pain and suffering from Google
Captain Kirk or Captain Archer? And what do you think of T'Pol?
in girum imus nocte et consumimur igni
This has bugged me ever since STII: Wrath of Kahn came out. When Chekhov and his CO are surveying that planet for suitability for the Genesis trial, and they come across the shuttle craft, Chekhov realizes who the thing belongs to and tries to hurry the hell out. Unfortunately, they end up running into the arms of Kahn and his merry crew of castaways. Kahn fails to recognize Chekhov's CO, but he recognizes Chekhov. How can this be? In the episode "Space Seed" in which the Enterprise encounters Kahn and his gang of genetically engineered supermen (and women), Chekhov had not yet joined the crew of the Enterprise. Why couldn't the producers and director of STII take this glaring bit of reality into account???
Oh, wait....(sheepish grin)
Yeah, maybe I should get a life, huh?
__
The optimist proclaims we live in the best of all possible worlds. The pessimist fears this may be true.
Etc, etc, etc...
Mr. Shatner, you have had diverse directing and writing over the years. I was wondering how YOU would have directed the new series "Enterprise" that is currently airing. Darker? More aliens? Just curious, considering your experience writing the Tek series and such.
You need a FREE iPod Nano
In the past, some of the other cast members of the original Star Trek series have lambasted you pretty badly. In your books, you come across as very self-effacing and have apologized for any hurt that you might have caused the others. In fact, you seem to go to pains in your non-fiction books to patch things up. Your plea to James Doohan is particularly poignant in light of DeForest Kelley's death. Has there been any progress in reducing the animosity that the other cast members appear to hold for you?
On another subject... Since you did two Columbo's ("Fade in to Murder" and "Butterfly in Shades of Grey"), what were your impressions of working on the show? Any noticeable difference since 20 years had passed from one Columbo to the next?
* As is generally the case, my opinions do not reflect those of my employer.
Was it really Mr. Shatner's house (well - swimming pool) that featured in the pool party scene in the Wizard of Speed and Time and did he have a screen cameo appearance that got left out because he only wanted to speak Esperanto?
Any chance of reviving that? Or that Rhino will re-release your album?
CUR ALLOC 20195.....5804M
Mr. Shatner,
Loved your take on 'Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds'...
I must say I didn't fully appreciate it until I left the CD player on repeat for a full day.
Have you considered covering any other pop songs? (I can imagine you doing a very fine version of Don McLean's 'The Day The Music Died' for example.)
jhw
Looking back on the show with a bit of a post-modernist eye there were some really interesting subversive themes laced into the ST plot. The occasional anti-capitalist themes, the concept of the Federation as a nearly perfect communist society, the promotion of secular humanism and multiple episodes where the plot was literally man against god. There were the racial harmony themes, anti-religious themes and the prime directive itself could have been taken as a statement against cultural imperialism. All of this on tv in a world where Joe McCarthy was still a very fresh memory.
Now I know that Rodenberry was responsible for most of it, but how did it feel to be caught up in something like that during the 60's? (This is such a set up for the response, "I was just a tv show.")
Even given De's current state, he probably sounds better than Bill ever did...
Polymorphism -- It's what you make of it.
Agreed. Tentacles are fuckin' hot.
--grendel drago
Laws do not persuade just because they threaten. --Seneca
I was curious what you think of the new series Enterprise. Since it is supposed to take place in an era before the original series it would seem to be faced with some pretty tight constraints on plots etc. Also one of the criticism's leveled at the show is that it is too politically correct. any comment?
Dude, the real sexual tension in TOS was between Kirk and Spock. Oh, yeah. Hot Vulcan man-love.
No, really. Kirk and Spock were gay.
(Yes, I know the difference between the show and reality. I'm talking about the characters.)
--grendel drago
Laws do not persuade just because they threaten. --Seneca
Did you have to be talked into doing that fantastic parody of the ending of Se7en for MTV, seeing it as a cluster of roles you preferred not to revisit? Or did you jump at the opportunity?
Do you think you were the right person to play James T. Kirk?
Do you like the Star Wars movies?
There have been numerous parodies of both you and of Star Trek. If you were given carte blanche to parody anyone or anything - star in a Galaxy Quest equivalent of some other series or movie, what would you parody? Why? Any ideas on how you'd approach it?
I am interested in your perspective on where you think the evolution of Star Trek should go? Also, have you been asked to contribute or consult on the direction of Star Trek's future?
17 years ago, I worked for a non-profit called "Ahead with Horses" which taught physically disabled children to ride horses, and in some cases to vault on them (think gymnastics on horseback). If I remember right, Mr. Shatner was a generous supporter of the program (with both his time and money).
My question is this Mr. Shatner: which are your favorite charities? What's you favorite story related to one of them?
Thanks!
Personally its not God I dislike, its his fan club I cant stand (bash.org)
Normally I could care less aobut these Q/A sessions. I mean, no need to ask RMS another question about Gnu, Linux, and Commercialization.
But William Shatner, well...
I have numerous questions for Mr. Shatner:
Question 1 (in a couple parts)
In reference to the new Star Trek TV show, "Enterprise" vis-a-vis the original Star Trek. Who do you believe is better looking, Science Officer T'Paul or Yeoman Rand.
Do you share my view that there is too much vacillation concerning race interferance in the new show and not enough good old fashioned fist fighting. And what's with the new captain? How come he gets beat up in every episode?
Question 2:
What are your views on intellectual property rights? How long do you think an artist should be able to retain a copyright on their works? Is it important for the works of artists to eventually move into the public domain?
he guest-starred on an album released with Ben Folds called "Fear of Pop" a few years ago - it's really friggin' good
Cool, that link has Real Player streaming samples. Shatner's contribution is audible in track 5: "In Love - David Davidson".
AH! Here is Shatner's "Transformed Man" album with a sample of "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" for those of you who haven't heard it. Unfortunately the sample is small and doesn't capture the whole performance, but you get the idea.
OMG Amazon says "Transformed Man" starts at US$75!!!
LOL, you have to listen to all the samples.
It's not off-topic to the parent. :)
This is an example of a "scary" experience with a fan he might not think to discuss, something more revealing than the typical stalker story. I'd love to see it brought up and have him say something more about it, and I can't find a reference to it online. It illustrates a positive aspect of Trek quite different from the you-inspired-me-to-be-an-engineer cliche.
The effects of Trek on "regular people" have been profound. One of my favorites I mentioned elsewhere here and which is recounted online, regards MLK encouraging Nichelle Nichols to stay with the show because of the role model she was to his own children. I think Shatner might me interesting in talking about these humanistic aspects of the show, as he is understandably tired of the "what was the combination of the safe in episode 26" questions. Also, he is himself decidedly not a geek.
Would you enjoy working at nasa? If you would would you want to be the engineer or the astronaught.
----
Go canucks, habs, and sens!
If I pay you to never sing again... wiether it be in a priceline ommercial, in public, or anywhere another living being can hear you, will you stop? I am willing to pay almost any amount. (within reason) seriously.
I'll make you a deal. You pray to God for help and I'll stop the moment he shows up.
I am assuming Iron Chef USA didn't do too well since it isn't still being produced/aired. What do you think was its downfall? Was it the more lighthearted approach? Or do you think it was the cultural differences? Finally, I always wondered if it would work better as a 1/2 hour show which was elimination contest between chefs to fight the Iron Chefs. The final fight being an hour show and the winner the new Iron Chef (and say a cash prize). 4 Iron Chefs each with 7 Challenger matches and 1 final match for his title. Was there any discussion on changing the format of the show?
..shot by rabid players on your OWN team during the SPLAAT game recently? ;)
Where path do you imagine your life would have taken? Are you more likely to have lead the life of an actor or of a star ship captain?
Hey Shatner. TJ hooker ruled. Are there plans for a movie or another run of the show? Is it playing in sindication anywhere? How many horses do you have? Do you really keep them in a castle in Kentucky? What is you favorite food?
Smeghead every day of the week.
Why.....Canadian?
--"The perfect example of the man of action is the suicide." - William Carlos Williams
Dear Mr. Shatner Recently I saw a documentary on director John Carpender's Halloween movies, they revealed that the mask that the "Micheal Myers" character wears is actually a modified Captain Kirk mask!, did you know this? is so, did you get compensated for that use of your image?
Go on, you purchased one of those Motorola startecs when it first came out, right?
When's the next record coming out? After all, it's been 34 years since you did that stirring rendition of Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds ,..
THE GOOD HUMOR MAN CAN ONLY BE PUSHED SO FAR
Bart Simpson on chalkboard in episode 2F18
I heard the theory that Spock is actually the central character on Star Trek. When viewed from this perspective, the show's meaning is enhanced. Any comments on this theory?
Hello Captain,
You have said previously, in the cold, dark, and coursing tones of an embittered Canadian Warrior, that if it were to come down to the US and Canada having an all out war, you would kill Americans and enjoy it.
What can you say to the accusations against the worlds foremost and powerful bargain hunting supercomputer only being used to bring us wonderfully inexpensive and competitively priced air transportation, hotel fortifications, vacation-like incursion plans, and ultimately cultural invasions on a daily basis!?
What is the good name-your-own-price of War?
--"The perfect example of the man of action is the suicide." - William Carlos Williams
I was in Vegas during a convention (unrelated to Star Trek) when I saw the oddest assortment of people coming out of an adjoining conference hall... Pointy ears, green faces, goofy face grooves (you know the sort), and I knew immediately who and what they were about. To my astonishment, I saw you signing autographs at the front while peering curiously through the door. You didn't look very happy as a gapped toothed fem-nerd asked you a bunch of questions in a staccato barrage.
Are you happy about the whole trekky thing, or is something you just endure?
Fast machines, powerfull AI, impulsive invention,... All I lack is a good espresso machine!
Why...must...Spock...die? Why...in eight days? Explain!
Mr. Shatner, Given that the mid '60s gave us any number of cult TV classics, could you see yourself playing some of these other roles? Perhaps as Batman or James West? (I've always had this idea that you, Adam West, and Robert Conrad were versatile enough as actors that any one of you could have handled any of these roles. I think it'd be a hoot to have seen Conrad or West as Capt. Kirk and you or Conrad as Batman.)
Do you get a kick when shows/movies make fun of you or your distinctive way of speaking? Shatner jokes seem to pop up in about every form of entertainment, from animated shows (Family Guy) to the dregs of the Internet. Does this sort of attention make you feel like you left your mark on entertainment (I know I would)
Jesus Saves! And takes half damage (shouldn't the Son of God have improved evasion?)
I saw you the other night with Ben Folds in Los Angeles, and...
I would like to know why you did Fear of Pop with Ben Folds, and how it came about, ie. who asked who to do it, and where the song ideas came from.
Mr. Shatner,
I'll never forget the disappointment I felt when I realized that the Commodore VIC-20 (which you had endorsed in their advertisements) was... well, I'll just say it bluntly: a piece of junk.
I lost a lot of respect for you after that, and it was years before I began thinking well of you again. Did you ever feel embarrassed with your decision to endorse that product?
In times of universal deceit, telling the truth gets you modded -1 Troll
First, I would like to congratulate you on a wonderful career. Incubus is one of my favorite movies. The concept was cool (Esperanto!), the acting was great, and the cinematography was stellar. I loved the feel of it. I'm a big fan of good cinematography.
Here's my question.
When searching for "god" on the IMDB, your name doesn't list. Not only that, none of your movies show up either. I have emailed the IMDB on several occasions to see if they can make it so your name comes up in searches when one searches for "god". I have not heard anything back. Have you tried to get this error fixed? I'm curious how you feel that your name doesn't show up when "god" is searched for, and how you plan on addressing this matter. Thanks.
Yeah, yeah, yeah. The story is a dupe, the topic is boring, the facts weren't checked. WE GET IT!!
I'm not a 'Trekkie' nor particularly a big fan of yours, but I do find you oddly attractive. It makes me wonder, do you enjoy giving foot massages and are you any good at it?
How do you stay so busy at your age (writing books, creating tv series, movies, etc.)? Do you ever plan on retiring and taking it easy?
Coder's Stone: The programming language quick ref for iPad
My friends and I have been bitterly disappointed with the way that Enterprise has been dumbed-down and commercialised. Most of the time it's just too hard to believe that it's really happening. We find it an embarassment to everything that Gene Roddenberry's legacy stands for.
;)
So do you think, Mr Shatner, that Gene would be tempted to clobber Rick Burman from beyond the grave? Wouldn't he be at least a little offended?
After considering your answer, are you tempted to do it for him?
Mr. Shatner, I am a huge fan of your spoken-word work. I have enjoyed everything from "The Transformed Man" and your "Double Live", to the Priceline.com commercials. However, I would have to say that my favorite piece is "In Love", recorded with Fear of Pop. Will you ever do another album? I would love to hear you collaborate with other musicians again.
My personal favourite was the 'Pizza' that ate people - I think Spock mind-melded with it to save the day.
I thought that was a rock, I don't remember pizza colors (maybe that was when we only owned a B&W TV). The campiest IMO is the flying omlettes that dropped from the ceiling. It is the one where Spock goes blind from a light beam used to kill the omlettes and they think the blindness is going to be permanent.
Table-ized A.I.
What was your happiest/most proud moment? Why?
(could be career-based or personal)
What are you the Least proud of? Why?
Dear Mr. Shatner, As you probably know, most of the world considers you somewhat of an egomaniac. You yourself have portrayed yourself as one in a (webtv?) advertisement, and in the movie "Free Enterprise." How do YOU see yourself? Looking back at your life do you think there is any basis for these beliefs?
learn from yesterday, plan for tomorrow, party tonight
or one out of three ain't bad
A few questions...
What is the first thing you think of in the morning when you wake up, and the last thing you think of as you are about to fall asleep at night?
I understand that at one point you were (or still are?) working for the American Tinnitus Association (constant ringing in the ears). Are you aware of any medical advances in this area? How is your tinnitus doing these days?
I recently purchased the Special Editions of Star Treks II and III and watched the interviews with you on both disks and thought they were absolutely hysterical (especially the part about Nimoy blessing the crowds on ST III). I know that you have had parts in Airplane 2 and other slapstick comedies, but I was wondering... have you ever considered really jumping into that genre full-force like Leslie Nielsen did a few years back?
Mr. Shatner, It seems as if every few years technology we saw only in Star Trek suddenly becomes reality. (Those square wooden disks Spock had, or the tablet for Captain's type stuff that made it throughout just about every incarnation of Trek.) What do you think will be next?
I'm a 2000 man.
American Psycho is one of my favorite films. The sequel is one of my least favorite films. I want to know why you consented to be involved in this tragedy of a movie.
Was there a single incident which made you realize that Trek was more than just another TV show (fan base, franchise, etc.), or was it a gradual realization?
Table-ized A.I.
Uh, when was the last time you saw a PC running Mac OS?
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"Karma can only be portioned out by the cosmos." - Homer Simpson [1F10]
Why offtopic? He was the Writer and Director of the film.
So, who do you think does a better spoken word rendition of rocketman, you or Stewie Griffin?
I have two questions:
* How.. did you decide... on... your enunciative style? Was it... like a flash of light, suddenly you knew... that Kirk... did not know... how to enunciate? Or were you... coached? Did it seem... innovative? Do you feel... trapped, unable to break through... to become free... from your type-casting.
* When are you going to finish that one-man production of Julius Caesar?
Well, let me clarify:
Directors do have creative some degree of creative control, and they are able to influence the tone and mood of their episodes. You wouldn't see an X-files director bringing the same style to, say, Hidden Hills...though it would make for an interesting story!
I know what you're talking about, in reference to shot composition and whatnot. That's usually all the director. Lighting, however, is all the Director of Photography. Usually the DP on a TV show that uses the same sets will have preset lighting (that's why the bridge and Ready Room always look the same, for instance) because it saves time. But! When a creative director tells the DP that he's going for something very dark and moody, or very bright and joyful, the DP will usually jump at the chance to do something creative...as long as it doesn't take too much time.
If I made it sound like TV directors are just point-and-shoot people, I really did them a grave disservice. They are afforded creative freedoms, and encouraged to make an episode their own, to be sure...just as long as it doesn't take too much time.
How did the inclusion of the word 'shat' in your surname affect your youth? Did the anger toward your ancestral name fuel your early acting career?
-- @rjamestaylor on Ello
quite possibly the best question posed here.
Ursula Andress, Catherine Deneuve, and Charo, twice...
Gee thats an easy one, Rodenberry is dead, therefore the plebes B & B are free to run amok.
Ursula Andress, Catherine Deneuve, and Charo, twice...
How do you feel about your audio CD The Transformed Man? Personally I thought that it was so entertaining that I went and brought a second copy, have you any idea how many copies are in circulation?
Bitter and twisted, DON'T ever FORGET the TWISTED
How do you feel about the direction they have taken the Star Trek franchise, with spin-off show after spin-off show? Do you feel the franchise has become stale after all this time, or do you enjoy the new series? What would you most like to see as a spin-off from the original show?
----------------------------------- My Other Sig Is Hilarious -----------------------------------
now, i do believe you were challenged to a rematch next year at challenge park extreme, after the 'shatnerball' scenario charity game this year, for another bout of charity paintball/scenario play, so assuming you are willing to show up again and play: (i did not have the cash to attend and support tom kaye and the borg team this year, but i fully intend on being there next year and utterly destroying those weak federation players and silly klingons. =p)
-will you be 'recruiting' any additional celebs to come along and help raise money (wil wheaton, i'm looking your direction...)?
-would there be a possibility of changing the distribution of the charity money (say, 50% of the money to the winning teams charity, and 25/25 to the 2 other charities, assuming a 3 way scenario again)?
-any fond/interesting memories from the weekend (like interesting run ins with the other 66% of the players who i'm sure were intending on shooting out 'captain kirk')?
-your opinion on whether play violence (be it paintball, video games, or other forms) does or does not influence peoples behavoir (positive or negative) in real life?
I was involved many moons ago in the campaign to have the Student building at McGill in Montréal change its name to the Shatner University Centre. Did we embarrass you, or did you like it?
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Death will come, and will have your eyes
-- Pavese
It was pretty obvious (to me anyway) that the orion chick on the prison planet episode didn't seem to be wearing any.
Ursula Andress, Catherine Deneuve, and Charo, twice...
My question is:
Rummors have it that you were a healthy prankster back at Desilu studios and I wondered if this was the case then what was your best/favorett prank.
I don't actually exist.
Being named after The Captain has given me an interesting childhood, and I'd just like to say thanks to W.S. for helping to create such a beloved and memorable character.
~Kirk
You seem to have accepted the fact that your name will always stick to the ST serie as long as you live (and behond).
Altough you have made some post-trek achievements where we forget about Kirk (one comes to mind: 3rd rock), you still are active in the Trek world. The books you publish are really good and I think most of them could be turned into good tv/movie production.
My question about those books is, are you doing them because you feel you still have something to say about the show or, in particular about the Kirk character (which you brough back from the dead) or are you simply riding the wave that puts bread and butter on the table at the end of the day? (it's okay if that's the case, because the end result for us is still the same, good books, well written, from someone who played a major role in building the St universe)
Cheers from Montreal! Thanks for the good time
--Well done...
:b
Dork.
.
== WolfriderV6 == I'm willing to admit that *I just might* be wrong... Are you??
Your books are excellant! How do you get that amazing inspiration you have whe you write your books? I've read a few of your Star Trek books and maybe one or two of your others they are fascinating Captain.
Who knew life could be this funny?
in one of your books, Kirk is resurrected by the Borg due to an aliance with a Romulan Commander bent on revenge.
any chance Kirk will be reborn, or pop out of the Nexxus to delite us again?
Evil is the money of all root....
are you an avid computer user? if so, what operating system do you favor?
Evil is the money of all root....
Can you ask him what the hell the deal with this was:e r2.htm l
http://homepage.mac.com/celkjer/iMovieTheat
"Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one " -Albert Einstein
How did you end up in Incubus? What do you recall about making the movie and speaking Esperanto?
Decide what you would be, then do what you have to do.
Any plans to team up with Leonard Nimoy to release a new music CD? You guys could remix various titles from the 90's +.. /. community like to hear them sing? /. community pay to have them never sing again?)
What songs would the
(and how much would the
You're known for your work in technology and science related genres. My question is this: How much technology do you use yourself? Computers, PVR's, PDA's ... etc. I recall that you were quite technophobic back in the day. Are you still?
Any more plans to collaborate with Ben Folds, either on tour (like at The Palace 11/13), or in album form? What was your reaction when he first asked to work with you on Fear of Pop?
Yes, as OmegaGeek also points out, Shatner was in fact part of the Stratford festival theatre, not any Toronto Shakespearean company that I'm aware of. I should know, I'm from Stratford originally. The quality of theatre presented there is excellent and I highly encourage people to check it out if they are ever presented with the opportunity. The upcoming season looks excellent.
Several of the fictional technologies in the original series, such as automatic doors and communications devices (cellular phones) have become commonplace. Which of the technologies that have become commercial do you like the most, and which technologies would you most like to see developed and commercialized?
You can read that interview at the Onion's AV ROOM.
No link provided, becuase if you don't know about the AV room, you are missing out on a great deal.
No joke- I buy albums and watch movies simply at their say-so. They have the best critics. Ever.
In the future, I would want to not be isolated from my friends in the Space Station.
OK...I hate to get into a troll-y, flamebait, off-topic post...but I'll bite...only because the modern, popular nomenclature is just plain wrong.
What do you think that the term "PC" means? Does a PC have to be running an Intel 80x86 processor, or just x86 compatible? Can it be any box using commodity x86 hardware? Does it have to run a Microsoft operating system, or can it be running Linux, Solaris, or a BSD? Whaddabout if its running NeXTstep or BeOS? Is a four-way Xeon running Linux and Apache a PC?
How is a Mac not a PC? It is, in every sense of the term, a Personal Computer. If a Macintosh does not fall into the category of a personal computer, what category does it fall into? A minicomputer? A workstation? An appliance? A microcomputer with expensive, propritary hardware?
That being said: To answer your question, the last time I saw MacOS running on a PC was the last time I saw a Mac. :)
-Turkey
Regarded as a historical TV moment, you have had stories related that you forced the 'kiss' between yourself and Nichelle Nichols to be put into the episode. What we're your reasons behind pushing for the inclusion of the kiss - was it purely on a moral basis or did others influence your decision? And, because of this action, we're you ever put into an uncomfortable position (threatened by certain groups, not permitted in a select club, etc.)?
In your two Memories books, you mention how you have tried to reconcile with your former TOS castmates. Have those attempts been successful, and how do you get along with them now?
Do you believe in God and have you ever experienced Him personally? What do you think about Captain Kirk - is it faith in God which sustains him?
Are you happy with the GENERATIONS movie? I liked it but it could have been better if Kirk had not died. The good thing is that Kirk lives on in millions of fanfics.
SCIREV.NET - fanfics,reviews & more
One fairly well regarded count of speakers of world languages came up with two million speakers of Esperanto.
You could say with the same clean conscience ten million or 100.000. Nobody knows exactly how many people speak Esperanto. You should read "Esperanto sen mitoj"
The 1997 World Congress had 45,000 visitors.
Where do you get your data from? UEA lists 1,224 in Adelaide '97. The record is Nuermberg '23 with 4,963. Montpellier '98 had 3,133. Maybe there were more in Zagreb '01.
want it to replace, well, everything.
That was never the goal for Esperanto. It's an auxilary language, not a primary one, meant to supplement native languages, not replace them.
It's a language. It may be used for everything: as an auxiliary, as a substitute (see Lanti), as a hobby, to get rich (well, not now), to get laid,...
It's true that the majority of the organized esperantists don't intend it as a unique world language, but such freaks do exist.
By the way, your dhis site is unreachable now.
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Men with no respect for life must never be allowed to control the ultimate instruments of death.
GW Bu
With the science fiction movies and television making references to gadgets would later become the basis of cell phones, PDAs, personnel computers, GPS, the international space station, the internet and hundreds of others machines not mentioned in the past twenty years, do you think that sci-fi films and television shows are more important today then when shows like Star Trek first came out? Thank you.
How do you feel about the fact that the famous "Michael Meyers" Mask is actually a painted Shatner mask?
Have you come to know Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior?
a) Do you believe that extra-terrestrial life exists? b) If they landed tomorrow and (officially) made 'first contact' - how do you think the world would react? Would we take a Roddenberrian stance, and welcome them, and explore the universe together? Would we shoot'em up? How would you like the world to react?
geeks are cats who dig a certain kind of cool
Didn't Bender say "I'm gonna drink till I reboot?"
I suffer from attention surplus disorder.
Not so much of a question, but i am a ManCow Fan as well as a fan of your work, I was unable to attend the event, i was hoping to get your take on how it went
Do you happen to like wearing pants? Idly curious, that's all.
Mr. Shatner,
Fans, and their sometimes obsessive love for fiction such as Star Trek, is possibly even more associated with the program than the actual shows, Gene Roddenberry, you, or the rest of the cast. Even to the point where documentaries and fiction are written in reaction to (or extension of) the original fiction. In that vein, did you see Galaxy Quest? What did you think?
Someone must have thought that Esperanto was a better idea for an international language than English. This was probably in the interest of equity, although as I understand Esperanto, it leaves out a lot (for example, Indian languages.) When you made Incubus, was there any kind of ideology behind making the movie in Esperanto, or did it just seem like a good idea at the time for the filmmakers?
Ravi
When the axe came to the forest, the trees said, "Look out - the handle was once one of us."
http://pub73.ezboard.com/fnzpaintballfrm5.showMess age?topicID=73.topic
If your fans contributed the 20 million it takes to send a tourist into space, would you go?
(of course you'd have to train in Russia and accept a ride on a Russian rocket!)
We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit.
Have you come to know and accept Cowboy Neal as your personal savior?
We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit.
Why Jim Why? eerrrr...Why captain Kirk Why? Fuck fuck all the questions have been asked...hmmm not really .... Kirk would you mind lending me 10 grand US$ - i gotta pay my debt.
:)
:P - i really might get the money *dreams about what he can do with the money* *bubble bursts* *debt..*
THanks a lot
Dont laugh you insensitive clods
Have. You. Ever. Considered. Possibly. Using. More. Than. One. Word.... Per...... Sentence?
--- Jump!! Fire!! Bullet time!! - Lego version of the Matrix
You and Peter Jennings are both Canadians. Why did you leave and is there anything we can do to encourage you to return?
First, let me say that I have always loved Trek, and always will. That being said, I am impressed with the fact that Mr. Shatner has such beautiful and talented horses. My question is this:
:)
What do you think of the recent changes the American Quarter Horse Association has made and are making concerning their excessive white rules, embryo transfer and now the vote that will be coming up in March regarding allowing cremellos and perlinos to be registered?
One other question - would you ever allow a Trek fan who also loves horses to come and see your ranch?
USNG: 14TPU4605
dont you think star wars is a million times better?
Dear Mr. Shatner, I have heard an amazing compilation of songs you sung with Leonard Nimoy. One of them is about Bilbo Baggins from Lord Of The Rings and a Benzedrine version of Mr. Tamborine Man. Can you tell me about any other wacky (I hope this is the right word) projects you have done like this? :-| envy :-| sarcasm :-| irony :-| farse :-| pathos
PS I think Trek has been a great vehicle for Shakespearean acting. It's a pity television acting is so naturalistic these days.
-aa
sig:deadpad emoticons
Why did Lt Uhuru smell bad?
Because William Shatner.