I am just so fascinated by the pop-culture phenomenon that is Bill Shatner. For years he was ridiculed by mainstream parodist and comedians for his campy, staggered delivery of lines in his role as Capt. Kirk. Over the last few years his popularity has gone from infamous to legendary. His… More produced his own cd, and hosted numerous shows, most based on science and technology. Now, Comedy Central is "roasting" him. I can't figure out if he has become popular because he makes fun of himself or if people just respect him because he's hung around for so long. Anybody else have any ideas?
I was looking through Star Trek videos on Youtube and found this . It is a video of William Shatner at the 2005 AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to George Lucas. He starts out pretending to be talking about Star Trek instead of Star Wars and eventually ends up singing and dancing with… More Stormstroopers.
If he was already balding when ST started, when did it start? I'll need to see pre-ST OL, TZ, and AHP/H again to see if he was back then. I don't recall him being that in those, but I'll check next time I see them.
The staff have added the option to create forums for people guides. I'm certain that many people here have a lot to say about William Shatner, positive and negative, so let's hear it! As long as no one violates the Terms of Service, I think the discussion should be pretty interesting. William… More Shatner is one of the best known figures in entertainment, primarily due to his role as Captain James T. Kirk on the original Star Trek series and in the theatrical Star Trek movies. He starred in other TV series like "T.J. Hooker" and "Rescue 911". He released the infamous "The Transformed Man" album that introduced the world to his unique brand of theatrical talk-singing ("Tambourine Man" anyone?). He has appeared in many movies over the years, including numerous comedies like "Airplane 2" and "Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story" where he played the Dodgeball chancellor. In recent years, he has been starring on the ABC series "Boston Legal" where he plays the formerly great attorney Denny Crane. The character was introduced on the series "The Practice". That appearance won William an Emmy Award. His continuation of the role on "Boston Legal" won him another Emmy Award as Best Supporting Actor. He recently received his 3rd consecutive Emmy nomination for his portrayal of the sometimes buffoonish Denny Crane. He was introduced to a new generation of media consumers through the famous Priceline.com ads, which mimicked his "Transformed Man" songs. He continues to appear in ads for Priceline.com. He is involved with charities that try to help troubled kids through horseback riding. He has lent his name to the William Shatner DVD Club. He hosted the recent TV special "How William Shatner Changed the World." He's extremely active for a 75-year-old individual. This may be one of his biggest accomplishments: the example he is setting for other elderly people. He is showing that people in their 70s don't necessarily need to sit at home wheelchair-bound, leading dull, sedentary lives. Though he may have more opportunities than most because of his fame, most people can still get involved with hobbies, charities and community/religious activities as long as their mental faculties are there. Mental stimulation has been shown to help ward off problems like Alzheimer's and physical exercise can keep bones and muscles stronger so many elderly people can remain more independent. Love him or hate him but no one can ever call him boring.
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Tonight, Jeff and Shirley will be spending some quality time together.
Plus: William Shatner guest-stars on Psych and Justin Bieber helps light the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree.
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Aside from Star Trek, which is a gem on its own, I must admit that when I first thought of Shatner I thought that perhaps a pharmacologic intervention might be in order.
And then I watched him come forward on comedy venues like "Just For Laughs" and in a sincere and unselfconscious fashion, be utterly hilarious. Or watched him be everything I believe lawyers to TRULY be on Boston Legal (admittedly, not my favourite show!), and he was brilliantly deserving of his kudos.
And THEN, I heard Christopher Plummer interviewed and part of his response on an issue described how brilliantly Shatner was on the Stratford (Ontario, Canada) stage in understudy for Plummer, and that he knew then Shatner would be a star. And Christopher Plummer is arguably one of the best actors EVER! So he should know.
Bottom line: Shatner is a gem, and all the shinier because he can laugh at himself, is fearless in his artistic offerings, and more talented than he is given credit for.
James T. Kirk, T. J. Hooker, Denny Crane, these are stuffs that legend is made of. This is a man who is a true legend. An individual like no other! He has never been afraid to speak his mind and he has not shown the double standard that his mate Leonard Nimoy showed. Leonard time and again downplayed Star Trek and then always at the opportune moment made his comeback. Bill has always remained true to the legacy of James T. Kirk. He has contributed enough in Science Fiction alone to be called a legend.
His comic timing was on show on Star Trek but it really came to fore on the show "Boston Legal". It was no surprise that I was hooked onto the series and the way Bill lapped up each scene he was in and ate the scenery that you had to salute this gem of a man for his performance.
I adore William Shatner for the simple reason that he is not afraid to try anything and he can laugh at himself! I wish more of the"stars" in Lalaland were are real as Mr.Shatner. He will always be Captain Kirk, but is that such a bad way to be remembered? As a hero to a whole generation of children and young folk? If we ever do get the chance to travel to new worlds, I hope that they name a planet or some such heavenly body after Mr.Shatner. A fitting tribute to an actor that did as much for the space program in some ways as John Glenn.
Introducing the Shatner Award. On December 20th 1986, William Shatner was the guest host on SNL. In his opening monologue Mr. Shatner mentions that one of the most interesting aspects of the Star Trek phenomenon has to be the conventions. The monologue dissolves into a sketch set at the16th Annual Star Trek Convention being held in a convention room of a local Holiday Inn. The highlight of the sketch is when Mr. Shatner growing tired of the Trekker’s nerdish questions says, "You know, before I answer any more questions there's something I wanted to say. Having received all your letters over the years, and I've spoken to many of you, and some of you have traveled... y'know... hundreds of miles to be here, I'd just like to say... Get a life, will you people? I mean, for crying out loud, it's just a TV show! I mean, look at you, look at the way you're dressed! You've turned an enjoyable little job, that I did as a lark for a few years, into a colossal waste of time!"
I end my Child of Television column with a quote. There have been more than a few articles where I have quoted Mr. Shatner in this famous SNL sketch. I use Mr. Shatner's quote whenever I felt that someone needs to be told to, "Get a life!" because "It's just a TV show". This memorable moment and my quoting there of has inspired me to create The Shatner Award. The first meeting of the Shatner Award committee was held at the Don Knotts room of the Burbank Holiday Inn, February 1st 2006 at 7:43 P.M.: The Shatner Award committee was informed that in order to be compliant with Robert's Rules of Order they must use actual dates instead of Star Dates.
New Business:
The Shatner Award will be given to those individuals or groups who need to be told to, "Get a life!" because "It's just a TV show". The rules for winning a Shatner Award are as follows:
1) The winners need to have had made their SHATNER worthy comment in a public forum i.e. TV, Radio, Web site, Blog, Podcast etc. Since the Shatner worthy quote will be printed on the award itself, the Shatner Award committee needs to verify the actual quote with a Google Search. (Sorry we can't just give Shatner Award to your uptight Aunt Betty or self-righteous brother in-law Phil.)
2) Comments made prior to February 1st 2006 will not be considered. (It will otherwise be a fulltime job giving out retroactive Shatners. (My apologies to The Parents Television Council and The American Family Association, but we the committee are sure that there will be many Shatner Award worthy comments in your future). 3) There will be no nominees. Those who deserve a SHATNER will receive a Shatner Award.
4) To avoid any conflicts of interest, neither Mr. Shatner or any Shatner Award committee member shall be eligible for a Shatner Award, but it is an honor just being considered.
5) Shatner Award winners need not be present to win. (The Shatner Award Committee would actually prefer it that way)
6) The Shatner Award committee is currently entertaining nicknames for the Shatner Award. (So far we have rejected "The Willy", "The Shat" or "The Captain’s Log", but we are considering "The Kirk", "The Crane" or "The Hooker.") 7) The Shatner Award committee promises to give the Shatner Award the respect it deserves. Therefore we will not make comments like, "Last week we Shat on Pat Robertson". This is beneath us.
8) Unlike other awards, the Shatner Award committee encourages political statements with the understanding that your statement may make you eligible for another Shatner Award(Limit one (1) Shatner Award per statement).
9) Shatner Award winners who engage in conduct unbecoming a Shatner Award winner may win another Shatner Award.
10) Until further notice there will be no Shatner Award swag bags (Subject to change).
A motion was made to approve the Shatner Award eligibility rules.
The motion passed by a vote of 13 yes, 03 no and 01 GET A LIFE.
Respectfully submitted
Tony Figueroa,
Committee Chair
As an actor that been acting way longer then ive been living, I have to say I am a young fan and I grew up fan of William Shatner. This guy is like so cool. He is known for playing funny character on what hes doing these days. Bonston Legal, Shatner plays Denny Crane a funnny, and very crazy guy. When I was really young I watched William Shater when he was hosting a reality show called Rescue 911 which was a show that was based on real events that saved lives. William Shatner is also known for doing these funny Priceline commericals that is very funny to watch.
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