I was really excited about this news until I made it to the second page. I quite liked Mr. Cawley's portrayal of Kirk and was looking forward to one more episode with him. People on this forum are so critical. :/
I too had a look at this thread because of the title and like others, I would like to see Mr. Cawley reprise the Kirk role. There is certainly more than enough room for more stories and having a little fun isn't a bad thing, either.
I hope no one takes this the wrong way, but this thread has turned into an episode of The Real Housewives Of Trek BBS. Geesh. I don't understand why Star Trek fans get so nasty with each other all the time.
I'd be happy to hear he was returning to the roll full time, but just a special would be great too! Nothing against the new guy, I just liked Cawley's way of playing the character.
The Real Housewives of Trek BBS? First laugh I had today. I have never watched any of those 'Real Housewives' programs (I couldn't stand Desperate Housewives although I tried to watch it for a while). So I have no idea how good the comparison was, but the comment was still funny.
I imagine there were similar outcries when people who had become used to whoever their favorite Sherlock Homes, Dr Who, Tarzan, or James Bond was found one day they had been replaced by "another". Eventually enough people will have played Kirk that Shatner and Cawley will be names on a list, hopefully with the effort and passion remembered without the vitriol.
I think I'll quote a Rush song that is apt here. Well, I know they've always told you Selfishness was wrong Yet it was for me, not you, I Came to write this song In an art form like this particularly when James and company aren't really allowed to make money off of it. There has to be passion about it to do something like this. These are fan productions. If James wants to play the role more in various ways, let him. Or if he wants to play another role in the fan series he more or less created, who are we to complain? I respect whatever decision James makes in this type of stuff. If he changed his mind, fine, but don't let idiots here dictate that.