Shatner Calls Takei 'Sick'

[Brian]

I'm talking about why this is in the press now. The wedding was over a month ago and suddenly Shatner feels the need to make a video claiming that Takei is mentally ill? Please.

FWIW, I saw George and Nichelle this past summer, and there wasn't a word about Shatner. They seemed to be quite over it.

IMO, this is a case of the Abrams rant failing to garner enough attention any longer, so Shatner went back into his bag of conflicts and revived the Takei brouhaha for attention.

[ancient]

I would just call Shatner self-centered and egotistical about his acting work, which is hardly unusual. He also isn't really in love with the fans, which is also pretty normal.

The supporting cast whined about how he (the star) didn't treat them well during TOS for the last 40 years. How he (the star) stole screen-time from their supporting characters. Well, Shat is finally just now getting around to noticing, and he's getting into the ring.

The FUTURAMA people are such geeks:

TAKEI: "I find that offensive. Just because I'm of Japanese ancestry, you assume I know karate. Have I ever lead you to believe that I've studied karate?"

SHAT: "No, but you never talk about yourself."

TAKEI: "Well, maybe if you showed a little interest..."

[OmahaStar]

RobertScorpio wrote:

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Nope, I totally disagree.

Oh, of course you do. Somewhere, your bridge is calling.

[Samuel T. Cogley]

Shatner and Takei are like different sides of the same coin on this issue. They both sound exactly the same when they are talking about the other one. They both need to let it go.

[Balthier the Great]

ArthurKing wrote:

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Split personality on this one:

The a$$hole in me wants to write () that this all must have been the product of Big Daddy Shat spurning a rakish young Sulu back in the TOS 1960s ('Um, Bill, I think have some trouble with my own 'tribbles' -- can you take a look?'

The un-pc part of me wants to write that, quite frankly, it was a little lame for Takei to come out of the closet so late in the game. Seriously, grow a pair: I can see someone being quiet about it back when, but not in the last few decades. 'Coming out' in the early 21st century at 70+ years of age smacked of attention seeking behavior (something Shatner is also clearly prone to). It also speaks to the possibility of Takei having some larger issues, which might be manifesting here - seriously, although Shatner is going to get pummeled for these comments, staying in the closet for 70 years is going to screw you up.

The mature part of me wants to write that I completely agree with the poster above me: these are both old men who have had long and relatively successful careers and, like it or not, have a fair share of common memories and experiences, if only through the fact that they've worked together for years (despite Shatner's attempt to downplay 'a few movies'). It's ridiculous for them to be holding grudges - either of them - or for them to be airing this out in public, via videos, youtube, etc. I always thought that you became less petty (and more mature) when you entered your 'golden years' ... apparently not.

Dude, isn't "coming out" in 2008 like a million times easier than it would have been in 1966? What, was Tekei supposed to go without a career to "live authentically". I think back then, gayness meant pretty much your career ended -- and probably your family would hate you and kick you out.

It isn't a question of "grow a pair" so much as not being a fucking idiot.

[Admiral Buzzkill]

Shatner does remind us of one idiosyncracy of television production versus what we see on screen: Takei was only around on the TOS set for ten to twenty percent of the working time put in by Shatner or Nimoy. It's not remarkable that Shatner should have been a lot less aware of or interested in him than in his full-time coworkers.

[Brutal Strudel]

Stephen T. Colbert wrote:

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Shatner and Takei are like different sides of the same coin on this issue. They both sound exactly the same when they are talking about the other one. They both need to let it go.

That's how I see it. It seems really silly to take sides in a personal fight between people we don't know just because we like to watch them run around in space pajamas (with shiny highlights).

[Samuel T. Cogley]

Starship Polaris wrote:

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It's not remarkable that Shatner should have been a lot less aware of or interested in him than in his full-time coworkers.

Especially since we're talking about William Shatner.

[Samuel T. Cogley]

Brutal Strudel wrote:

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That's how I see it. It seems really silly to take sides in a personal fight between people we don't know just because we like to watch them run around in space pajamas (with shiny highlights).

Which is made worse by the fact that they both seem to want us to be included in that fight.

[Admiral Buzzkill]

Yeah, but I'm going to have to side with Shatner a bit on this one - Takei just goes after him and goes after him in public. The Old Man just had enough and let loose. I mean, fuck, he's something like 77 - he may as well speak his mind.

[anti-matter]

Well I pretty much think what the Shat thinks...it's so bogus for George to carry on like this. Actually kind of sad cause that's all he has left.

[Rabittooth]

I really like Mr. Takei, but truthfully... Enough. The guy is relentless in his Shat-bashery. And it's been going on for years. I'm not surprised the Shat felt the need to poke back at least once.
The problem is, that sound bites from some of the supporting cast members aren't quotable and won't make it into the press unless there's some dirt there about the real Star(s) of Star Trek, and that's good 'ol Bill, who is still enjoying a successful acting career.
So it's not surprising that this kinda mud-slinging is frequently included in the things Takei says.
The Shatman is right. Let it go dude. It makes him seem like he's still riding coattails if he feels the need to evoke Shatner's name all the time to get any attention. It seems that way whether it's true or not.
My 2 coppers.

-Rabittooth

[slappy]

I don't see how any objective observer could possibly believe that Shatner's in the wrong here. Not with all the information on it that's out there on the subject. Takei has been relentless and constant in his attacks on Shatner.

The only mistake Shatner's made in this entire ordeal is to finally fall into the trap Takei set for him. This is what Takei's wanted all these years, to get into a slinging match with him. Only Trek fans are aware of what Takei's been doing to provoke him for years, but now the general public, because of Shatner's post-Trek success, sees it as two-sided when it's really not.

This isn't about a wedding "snub" it's about sticking up for yourself.

[exodus]

brains! wrote:

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^ Because all gay men have secret feelings for the straight men they know, right? Even the assholes like Shatner.

You said it, I didn't. My comment was about one man vs. one man, you took it to extremes.

Thanks for stereotyping the gay male community BTW.

[Brian]

exodus wrote:

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You said it, I didn't. My comment was about one man vs. one man, you took it to extremes.

Thanks for stereotyping the gay male community BTW.

Since George's orientation became known to the general public, every time a discordance comes up, some cheerful waif with no originality will chime in with, "He must have had his advances spurned." Assuming that a gay man cannot have a legitimate grievance with another man without it being sexually driven, that's the stereotype.