To Be Takei

[TREK_GOD_1]

So what if Shatner did some TV series? I watched T.J. Hooker and Boston Legal. You seem to be saying that Shatner is entitled to be attention-seeking, but Takei isn't.

The point you miss in your reply:

With all the "Star Trek Memories" books, goofy commercials, talk-show appearances, videos, etc. that Shatner's done over the last several decades, it's Takei you're denigrating as an attention-seeker?

...is that you accuse Shatner of being the attention seeker Takei is, but Shatner's decades of high visibility did not come from being a screaming, bitter clown. He was in demand due to business and public interest. He could not force producers to hire him, or ad agencies and their clients to seek Shatner to represent their products. That is the difference. What you see as attention seeking was and remains external interests in a man who enjoys working.

...and he did not have to trash Takei to earn interest / success.

 

[Timewalker]

"Screaming, bitter clown."

What a repugnant way to speak of someone who you feel is not entitled to air his own point of view.

 

[mos6507]

The sad part is that he's the only guy buying into that fantasy.

There's no denying that he's the most popular celebrity on Facebook, if not the entire internet. So you can lump him in with the Kardashians if you want to shrug off his status as empty, but as far as "getting attention" goes, he's managed to accomplish his wildest dreams, and has bested the OTHER Trek actor who loves constant attention (Shatner).

 

[EnriqueH]

"Screaming, bitter clown."

What a repugnant way to speak of someone who you feel is not entitled to air his own point of view.

Yeah.

Actually, I need clarification: exactly WHO is the bitter clown here?

 

[mos6507]

That's what kills me about the so called rich and famous. They constantly have to remind us that they are still around by doing publicity attracting things like posting photos of them cleaning their toilets and thinking we all give a crap. Sadly, much of the world does give a crap.

I think the general gist of your argument is that Takei hasn't somehow paid his dues to justify him being famous. That may be true as far as his acting credentials compared to Shatner who has actually won awards for his acting despite his checkered history. But what you fail to realize is that Takei has one skill that is in high demand these days. He's funny. And he knows how to wield his funny bone where everyone seems to be hanging out--Facebook. Being funny is a talent, and too often an unappreciated one.

I think it's about time we appreciate the value of being funny, BTW, having just lost Robin Williams to suicide. While George's career may not have been as a comedian, his funny-bone is why he's popular today.

 

[Timewalker]

"Screaming, bitter clown."

What a repugnant way to speak of someone who you feel is not entitled to air his own point of view.

Yeah.

Actually, I need clarification: exactly WHO is the bitter clown here?

I take the post to mean Takei is supposedly a screaming, bitter clown, but aside from having expressed resentment, I can't see how that description fits Takei at all.

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

Takei makes me laugh most days. That's why I'm one of his 7 and a half MILLION facebook followers. People aren't idiots, they don't pay attention to someone being an attention whore if they aren't getting something out of it

Good on him, why shouldn't he build up a fanbase and use it to promote issues important to him.

 

[TREK_GOD_1]

"Screaming, bitter clown."

What a repugnant way to speak of someone who you feel is not entitled to air his own point of view.

"Repugnant?"

You are bit too defensive over someone who spent decades attacking another human being. Now that is repugnant.

 

[EnriqueH]

"Screaming, bitter clown."

What a repugnant way to speak of someone who you feel is not entitled to air his own point of view.

Yeah.

Actually, I need clarification: exactly WHO is the bitter clown here?

I take the post to mean Takei is supposedly a screaming, bitter clown, but aside from having expressed resentment, I can't see how that description fits Takei at all.

I needed clarification on who is bitter: Trek God 1 or Takei...get it?

 

[Timewalker]

Yeah.

Actually, I need clarification: exactly WHO is the bitter clown here?

I take the post to mean Takei is supposedly a screaming, bitter clown, but aside from having expressed resentment, I can't see how that description fits Takei at all.

I needed clarification on who is bitter: Trek God 1 or Takei...get it?

Oh, I got your meaning. I was attempting to be polite. Takei has been resentful over the years, but he is no clown and he's never screamed that I ever knew about.

The aforementioned poster, on the other hand, appears to prefer that George Takei should just shut up and hide himself away out of public view because... I don't know, but it's probably not a very logical reason.

 

[Cyke101]

I had the good fortune to watch the documentary a few months ago in Chicago for the Asian American Film festival. I was actually surprised by how little Trek was referenced in regards to the rest of his career, his social media persona, and his political opinions, but then we'd have to consider that there's more to a Trek alumni than just Trek. The latter half of the documentary was more about marriage equality and his upcoming musical about Japanese internment and the need to address its social impact -- say what you will about the guy, but not many Trek alumni can produce their own musical and bring it to Broadway.

Yes, Shatner's in it, but frankly, it only seemed to perpetuate the joke of their so-called "feud." If it was a true feud, I doubt Takei would have asked/Shatner would have accepted; if Shatner came out with his own documentary, I expect Takei to be in it to further the joke -- why pay someone that you hate? If you're both rich, why accept money from someone that you hate? Why give someone that you dislike on a personal level airtime in your own movie? Because it's an illusion. Documentaries are supposed to offer new insights and information, but everything Shatner and Takei said about each other is nothing we haven't heard before.

 

[Shanndee]

Thank you for the review Cyke101. What you describe is exactly what I hoped it would be. I will see it as soon as I possibly can.

Takei has lead an extremely interesting life before and after Trek. I'm pleased to hear that Trek is only a minor part of the documentary.

Takei's ability to use Facebook to its full potential to engage with the general public, his humour, and his ability and desire to take on social injustice is admirable. I also admire what he has done with "Allegiance".

I never used to think about the man very much at all, but I have definitely become a fan!

 

[Marsden]

^^

Wait, are you telling me you aren't 'keeping up with the Kardashians'?

Isn't that keeping up with the Cardassians?

 

[TREK_GOD_1]

The aforementioned poster, on the other hand, appears to prefer that George Takei should just shut up and hide himself away out of public view because... I don't know, but it's probably not a very logical reason.

So, in absence of providing a cogent point, you resort to flames.

Not helping your cause.

You seem to be motivated by things no one here is talking about--which is irrelevant to Takei spending decades attacking another person (you ignore that...which suggests a double standard, considering the decidedly hostile tone of your replies about Shatner or anyone supporting him).

 

[Cyke101]

...and he did not have to trash Takei to earn interest / success.

I seriously don't think that the millions of people that subscribe to Takei's facebook page are Shatner haters. And with that said, the vast majority of Takei's content on that page has absolutely nothing to do with Shatner-bashing whatsoever. But Takei's facebook exposure has indeed led to a new level of popularity for him, which, again, had nothing to do with the so-called "feud." He's in demand, and the average person doesn't give two shits about any sort of beef he may have with anyone, just as I'm sure that Shatner fans have little genuine interest in a Takei fight.

Speaking as a Takei fan, can't I be a Shatner fan as well? I'd like to think so very much.

 

[Timewalker]

The aforementioned poster, on the other hand, appears to prefer that George Takei should just shut up and hide himself away out of public view because... I don't know, but it's probably not a very logical reason.

So, in absence of providing a cogent point, you resort to flames.

Not helping your cause.

You seem to be motivated by things no one here is talking about--which is irrelevant to Takei spending decades attacking another person (you ignore that...which suggests a double standard, considering the decidedly hostile tone of your replies about Shatner or anyone supporting him).

What "cause"?

I don't give a damn if you support Shatner! Go for it! I enjoyed his performances as Kirk, I watched some of T.J. Hooker, Boston Legal, and some of the movies he was in. The only time I was ever displeased with him to the extent that it affected whether or not I bought his books was the "get a life" skit - something I felt was rather condescending and insulting toward the fans like me who had been supportive of his career for so many years.

You seem so full of venom and hate toward George Takei, who hasn't done anything any other celebrity hasn't done to promote him/herself, and at least his life is actually interesting. Plus, his performance in the Star Trek Phase II fan film was excellent - he had me in tears at the end of it, and it's not often that an actor's performance elicits that reaction from me.

I just can't fathom such an attitude toward an actor who is clearly enjoying what he's doing, with projects that are interesting and fun, and that aren't harming anyone.

If William Shatner can take it, why can't you?

 

[1001001]

Okay, I think this has gone far enough.

Please dial it back, and keep to the topic at hand (the movie). The personal stuff needs to stop. Please, and thanks.

 

[Green Shirt]

That's what kills me about the so called rich and famous. They constantly have to remind us that they are still around by doing publicity attracting things like posting photos of them cleaning their toilets and thinking we all give a crap. Sadly, much of the world does give a crap.

I think the general gist of your argument is that Takei hasn't somehow paid his dues to justify him being famous. That may be true as far as his acting credentials compared to Shatner who has actually won awards for his acting despite his checkered history. But what you fail to realize is that Takei has one skill that is in high demand these days. He's funny. And he knows how to wield his funny bone where everyone seems to be hanging out--Facebook. Being funny is a talent, and too often an unappreciated one.

I think it's about time we appreciate the value of being funny, BTW, having just lost Robin Williams to suicide. While George's career may not have been as a comedian, his funny-bone is why he's popular today.

Very true. He certainly has taken what he was given in life and has gotten a lot of mileage out of it. Much better than the mass of talentless boring ass drones that pass for celebrities today.

 

[EnriqueH]

Okay, I think this has gone far enough.

Please dial it back, and keep to the topic at hand (the movie). The personal stuff needs to stop. Please, and thanks.

You should've just said, "non sequitur."

 

[Haggis and tatties]

Just watched this film, very enjoyable, and it has left me wondering just how much this feud is actually real or for the audience, Shatner is in it and in one interview with Brad, there in the background is a Star Trek mug with Shatner's mug smiling out from it. lol

But overall a very good film.