A Matter of Shatner's Perspective

[ZapBrannigan]

As I'm sure others probably do on here, I've dabbled in bits of acting in the past. Some for money, others for fun. I know if I had to go into a hall in front of a large crowd to answer questions relating to something I did years ago, I would probably dread it a little. Some actors love or are happy to embrace the convention atmosphere, others are simply there for a bit of extra cash. I understand both positions.

I read somewhere that in the early to mid-1970s, when Shatner was far from rich and pretty much had to accept convention gigs, he went on stage with dramatic readings and planned stories.

The fans loved him, but what they really wanted was Q&A. And con organizers had to coax him into adding that section to his act, because he considered the unplanned stuff to be the most daunting. You never know what someone might ask, and you're on the spot for understanding nervously worded questions, having quick recall for meaningless past events, and while you're at it, trying to be witty and charming.

 

[Maurice]

Star Trek already had aliens a plenty by the time Star Trek 3 was in production; so I doubt Edward Olmos would have much of an issue with it.

Olmos was not well known when Trek III was in production. He'd starred in a critically acclaimed but not widely seen film (Zoot Suit), and been in a few high-profile films but not as the lead (e.g. Blade Runner) so it's possible he might've been less likely to say no to something with aliens in those pre-Miami Vice days. But who can say?

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[Commishsleer]

I read somewhere that in the early to mid-1970s, when Shatner was far from rich and pretty much had to accept convention gigs, he went on stage with dramatic readings and planned stories.

The fans loved him, but what they really wanted was Q&A. And con organizers had to coax him into adding that section to his act, because he considered the unplanned stuff to be the most daunting. You never know what someone might ask, and you're on the spot for understanding nervously worded questions, having quick recall for meaningless past events, and while you're at it, trying to be witty and charming.

At all the professionally run conventions I've been to in the last 10 years or so all the questions are vetted before they are allowed. I'm sure the performer can forbid certain types Probably not the same in the 70s.

I was in the audience when this nutter said to Karl Urban on stage "I love you Man, Can I give you a hug?". So I suppose that day the questions weren't vetted.

 

[NCC-73515]

At all the professionally run conventions I've been to in the last 10 years or so all the questions are vetted before they are allowed. I'm sure the performer can forbid certain types Probably not the same in the 70s.

At Fedcon and Destination, people can spontaneously ask whatever they want.

 

[Miku]

Does Shatner do anything else than sit on computer and tweet nowadays? He literally writes several dozens of tweets + retweets every day, for example today he has apparently tweeted 71 times (the last one was 37 seconds ago) + all the retweets. Furthermore, it seems that he gets in arguments pretty much every day with someone over some more or less insignificant things.

And yes, he can do whatever he wants with his life. I should mind my own business. I get it. Was just wondering.

 

[1001001]

There’s already a thread on this subject in the TOS forum. So I’m going to move and merge.

Hold tight.

 

[Jadeb]

Does Shatner do anything else than sit on computer and tweet nowadays? He literally writes several dozens of tweets + retweets every day, for example today he has apparently tweeted 71 times (the last one was 37 seconds ago) + all the retweets. Furthermore, it seems that he gets in arguments pretty much every day with someone over some more or less insignificant things.

And yes, he can do whatever he wants with his life. I should mind my own business. I get it. Was just wondering.

I can only hope I’ll be that engaged and sharp when I’m almost 90.

 

[Qonundrum]

At all the professionally run conventions I've been to in the last 10 years or so all the questions are vetted before they are allowed. I'm sure the performer can forbid certain types Probably not the same in the 70s.

I was in the audience when this nutter said to Karl Urban on stage "I love you Man, Can I give you a hug?". So I suppose that day the questions weren't vetted.

He wasn't a nutter.

Just really really lonely...

And cuz Oscar Isaac wasn't there?

 

[dupersuper]

True, but his work on TOS is obviously what led to T.J. Hooker and the Trek movies.

The movies sure, but it's not like you needed a ton of prior success to be on a cop show in the 80s.

When Shatner was on the show with Henry Winkler and Terry Bradshaw

Don't forget George Foreman.

 

[ZapBrannigan]

The movies sure, but it's not like you needed a ton of prior success to be on a cop show in the 80s.

Also, we should note that if Shatner hadn't gotten Star Trek, he would almost certainly have gotten something else. Whether it was the lead doctor on Medical Center or even the father on The Brady Bunch, with his looks and talent he was bound to get a job that made him famous.

 

[Miku]

I can only hope I’ll be that engaged and sharp when I’m almost 90.

Sure, but I also hope I have better things to do than tweet 24/7 when I'm 90.

 

[Henoch]

Also, we should note that if Shatner hadn't gotten Star Trek, he would almost certainly have gotten something else. Whether it was the lead doctor on Medical Center or even the father on The Brady Bunch, with his looks and talent he was bound to get a job that made him famous.

Let's not forget why was Shatner picked as Captain Kirk, because he was an up-and-coming star at the time. If not Star Trek, then another show.

 

[Harvey]

Sure, but I also hope I have better things to do than tweet 24/7 when I'm 90.

He’s 90 and there’s a dangerous pandemic. There’s only so much he can do.

Shatner isn’t only tweeting, though. The company I work for made a couple of deals for Shatner owned properties this year, and Shatner himself was involved with the negotiations.

 

[Khan 2.0]

Also, we should note that if Shatner hadn't gotten Star Trek, he would almost certainly have gotten something else. Whether it was the lead doctor on Medical Center or even the father on The Brady Bunch, with his looks and talent he was bound to get a job that made him famous.

Time Tunnel, Land of the Giants, The Invaders as David Vincent, maybe even Mission Impossible as Jim Phelps

 

[mb22]

Shatner had already been the star of the 1965 one season running show For the People.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/For_the_People_(1965_TV_series)

 

[Harvey]

Shatner had already been the star of the 1965 one season running show For the People.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/For_the_People_(1965_TV_series)

He had been involved with a few other unsold pilots before Star Trek, too, including one starring Shatner and Robert Brown.

 

[TREK_GOD_1]

Also, we should note that if Shatner hadn't gotten Star Trek, he would almost certainly have gotten something else. Whether it was the lead doctor on Medical Center or even the father on The Brady Bunch, with his looks and talent he was bound to get a job that made him famous.

Probably, as he was a very well-regarded actor pre-TOS. I would say that of all TOS cast members, he's the only one who would have had a similar level of recognition if TOS had not sold.

Time Tunnel, Land of the Giants, The Invaders as David Vincent, maybe even Mission Impossible as Jim Phelps

Something tells me his agents would have had him steer clear of Irwin Allen's productions after seeing what a series like Lost in Space did to Guy Williams, even during its first season.

 

[Maurice]

Also, we should note that if Shatner hadn't gotten Star Trek, he would almost certainly have gotten something else. Whether it was the lead doctor on Medical Center or even the father on The Brady Bunch, with his looks and talent he was bound to get a job that made him famous.

There're no guarantees in showbiz. We can't imagine Shatner not being well known now but had Star Trek not happened the odds that he'd have landed on some other show what would make him famous beyond the moment are slim. Most shows are quickly forgotten.

 

[Henoch]

You mean like The Barbary Coast.

 

[Khan 2.0]

There're no guarantees in showbiz. The can't imagine Shatner not being well known now but had Star Trek not happened the odds that he'd have landed on some other show what would make him famous beyond the moment are slim. Most shows are quickly forgotten.

instead of eternal international super stardom and 2.5m twitter followers.. maybe just cult status best known for the 2 TZ eps with a bunch of guest starring roles in various 60s/70s/80s shows(including TOS as another starship captain and TNG as a bumpy headed alien of the week - after losing the role of Picard to PStew lol) and the lead in the odd failed pilot/1 season series/tv movie. and 2.5t twitter followers