Shatner Praises TOS Kirk

TrekToday · June 5 2008, 06:35 PM

William Shatner's portrayal of James T. Kirk four decades ago was so good, that a few weeks ago, he made yet another person a fan of the Original Series: himself.

"I haven't seen myself playing Capt. Kirk in a long, long time," Shatner told the Denver Post, before telling how he recently was stuck in bed after hip surgery and happened to tune into the Original Series episode "A Piece of the Action." Shatner said, "And I watched it now, from my perspective of 40 years later, and I thought, 'You know, that's rather good.' It's a starship captain trying to do the accent, the Noo Yawk accent, trying to play tough, trying to be one of the guys. It's not quite right, but it's what a starship captain would have done — a decent imitation, enough to fool those guys but not the audience."

Watching his own performance from the sixties, Shatner said Kirk was a "good hero," and added, "He made decisions. He was forceful. He was compassionate. He was the instigator. He fought hard and long physically and emotionally. He carried the dilemma of whether to intrude or not to intrude. It was all the classic forms of good Greek playmaking: The hero has the dilemma and resolves the dilemma."

Shatner dismissed any criticisms of the way the show looked, with sets constructed on a small budget, and visual effects that now seem dated. "I think that's what happens in Star Trek," he said. "Your eye goes past all the faults because you're concentrated on the actors and the plot."

For the full article from the Denver Post, please follow this link.

Samuel T. Cogley · June 5 2008, 07:27 PM

TrekToday wrote:

.William Shatner's portrayal of James T. Kirk four decades ago was so good, that a few weeks ago, he made yet another person a fan of the Original Series: himself.

I love William Shatner!

ancient · June 5 2008, 07:32 PM

"And I watched it now, from my perspective of 40 years later, and I thought, 'You know, that's rather good.'"

Shatner confirms his own awesome talent.

He had always suspected that he was the best thing ever, and now, after watching himself, he has the proof.

Jack Bauer · June 5 2008, 07:32 PM

He's shameless.

Gep Malakai · June 5 2008, 07:34 PM

Wow. Just...wow.

DarkHelmet · June 5 2008, 08:04 PM

dougkeenan · June 5 2008, 08:32 PM

And of course he's right!

Temis the Vorta · June 5 2008, 08:37 PM

Gotta love someone so fully in touch with his own egomania.

TerriO · June 5 2008, 09:05 PM

You know, sometimes, the jokes just write themselves.

This is definitely one of those times.

Dar70 · June 6 2008, 12:17 AM

I'll tell you this though. After 40 years he made a good assessment of the episode. He hit the nail right on the head. Gotta love the guy.

J. Allen · June 6 2008, 01:15 AM

Awesomeness of this article aside, I do think he's right.

J.

tomalak301 · June 6 2008, 03:48 AM

News story of the year right here.

Of course he's right. He is critiquing himself after all.

Jack Bauer · June 6 2008, 04:16 AM

C'mon...is anyone really shocked by this?

Pioneer · June 6 2008, 05:21 AM

William Shatner delights in his condition. The Shat abides!

speed_cochrane · June 6 2008, 06:31 AM

ROFL.

Have to hand it to the guy, at least he's honest.

June 5 2008, 06:35 PM	#1
TrekToday Rear Admiral	Shatner Praises TOS Kirk William Shatner's portrayal of James T. Kirk four decades ago was so good, that a few weeks ago, he made yet another person a fan of the Original Series: himself. "I haven't seen myself playing Capt. Kirk in a long, long time," Shatner told the Denver Post, before telling how he recently was stuck in bed after hip surgery and happened to tune into the Original Series episode "A Piece of the Action." Shatner said, "And I watched it now, from my perspective of 40 years later, and I thought, 'You know, that's rather good.' It's a starship captain trying to do the accent, the Noo Yawk accent, trying to play tough, trying to be one of the guys. It's not quite right, but it's what a starship captain would have done — a decent imitation, enough to fool those guys but not the audience." Watching his own performance from the sixties, Shatner said Kirk was a "good hero," and added, "He made decisions. He was forceful. He was compassionate. He was the instigator. He fought hard and long physically and emotionally. He carried the dilemma of whether to intrude or not to intrude. It was all the classic forms of good Greek playmaking: The hero has the dilemma and resolves the dilemma." Shatner dismissed any criticisms of the way the show looked, with sets constructed on a small budget, and visual effects that now seem dated. "I think that's what happens in Star Trek," he said. "Your eye goes past all the faults because you're concentrated on the actors and the plot." For the full article from the Denver Post, please follow this link.

June 5 2008, 07:32 PM	#4
Jack Bauer Fleet Admiral Location: Jack Bauer	Re: Shatner Praises TOS Kirk He's shameless. __________________ *"See you in another life, brotha." - Desmond David Hume - Lost*

June 5 2008, 07:34 PM	#5
Gep Malakai Vice Admiral	Re: Shatner Praises TOS Kirk Wow. Just...wow. __________________ "From the darkness you must fall, failed and weak, to darkness all." -Kataris

June 5 2008, 08:04 PM	#6
DarkHelmet Admiral Location: Mirimar, CA	Re: Shatner Praises TOS Kirk __________________ Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.

June 5 2008, 08:32 PM	#7
dougkeenan Commander Location: Indianapolis	Re: Shatner Praises TOS Kirk And of course he's right!

STAR TREK

CSI

ABOUT US

June 5 2008, 08:37 PM	#8
Temis the Vorta Fleet Admiral Location: Tatoinne	Re: Shatner Praises TOS Kirk Gotta love someone so fully in touch with his own egomania.

June 5 2008, 09:05 PM	#9
TerriO Writer-type human Location: Doing a little bit of writing	Re: Shatner Praises TOS Kirk You know, sometimes, the jokes just write themselves. This is definitely one of those times. __________________ "Asking a working writer what he thinks about critics is like asking a lamppost what it feels about dogs."--John Osborne (no relation that I'm aware of)

June 6 2008, 12:17 AM	#10
Dar70 Rear Admiral Location: Dar70	Re: Shatner Praises TOS Kirk I'll tell you this though. After 40 years he made a good assessment of the episode. He hit the nail right on the head. Gotta love the guy.

June 6 2008, 01:15 AM	#11
J. Allen Trekkie™ Location: A Quantum State	Re: Shatner Praises TOS Kirk Awesomeness of this article aside, I do think he's right. J. __________________ -------------------- "Laser effects, mirrored balls; John Williams must be rolling around in his grave!" - Homer Simpson

June 6 2008, 03:48 AM	#12
tomalak301 Admiral Location: Bay Area, CA	Re: Shatner Praises TOS Kirk News story of the year right here. Of course he's right. He is critiquing himself after all.

June 6 2008, 04:16 AM	#13
Jack Bauer Fleet Admiral Location: Jack Bauer	Re: Shatner Praises TOS Kirk C'mon...is anyone really shocked by this? __________________ *"See you in another life, brotha." - Desmond David Hume - Lost*

June 6 2008, 05:21 AM	#14
Pioneer Captain	Re: Shatner Praises TOS Kirk William Shatner delights in his condition. The Shat abides! __________________ Looking to build Element #137 (Feynmanium)

June 6 2008, 06:31 AM	#15
speed_cochrane Lieutenant Junior Grade Location: Alberta, Canada	Re: Shatner Praises TOS Kirk ROFL. Have to hand it to the guy, at least he's honest.