Babble or Baybel?

[johnnybear]

I know that Shatner was not always in the studio at the same time as the other actors and that's why he says Kuklakhan instead of Ku-ku! But with Orion I would have thought he'd have known from his previous acting on the live action episode, the same with Bay-Bel instead of Babbel!
JB

 

[JonnyQuest037]

Although, Shatner and Nimoy did a joint commentary for TVH and another with his daughter for TFF.

Yeah, but both of those were a lot more recent and TFF was a film that he co-wrote and directed.

 

[Phaser Two]

It would just be a question of Shatner wanting to reach farther back into his past. Is there any TOS fan who would not buy a new edition featuring a Shatner commentary track?

 

[Commishsleer]

It would just be a question of Shatner wanting to reach farther back into his past. Is there any TOS fan who would not buy a new edition featuring a Shatner commentary track?

Offer Shatner enough money and he'll probably do it.
Actually just say they're going to get Takei to do it then Shatner might show some interest. Actually would love to hear a Team commentary from anybody still alive - writer, director, guest actor too,

 

[JonnyQuest037]

It would just be a question of Shatner wanting to reach farther back into his past. Is there any TOS fan who would not buy a new edition featuring a Shatner commentary track?

Oh, I definitely would. I just doubt how much he'd remember about any specific episodes 50+ years after the fact. Especially when he doesn't constantly rewatch them the way we fans do. I suspect we'd mostly get a lot of generic stories like about how he stole Leonard Nimoy's bicycle.

Shatner doing a commentary on "The Devil in the Dark" would be interesting, though. His father died during the filming of that episode and he shot certain scenes while waiting for his flight arrangements to Canada to come through. He's also talked about how Nimoy specifically stayed physically close to him in the hours after he found out, as a gesture of support. And I know that Shatner's reaction shots to Spock's mind-meld at the end were shot after he returned from his father's funeral. So he'd definitely have a lot to talk about there.

 

[Phaser Two]

Good thoughts. I would think, if Bill wanted to do it, he'd rewatch the eps first to prepare. I wouldn't expect detailed BTS technical stuff, but some of the anecdotes he could offer would be so interesting and probably hilarious.

Echo the thought of anyone involved with the production doing a commentary track.

 

[FormerLurker]

I'd listen, just to hear which take they used of Ted Cassidy all but pressing Shatner against the ceiling the first time Kirk meets Ruk. Did Shatner know his feet would leave the floor, that sort of thing.

 

[johnnybear]

Watching the extras on the TAS set I noticed that the lady narrator refers to the green skinned Orion women as Orry-On women as well! Is this a Shatnerism that she's picked up from watching the episode, Pirates of Orion or was she just misinformed?
JB

 

[ZapBrannigan]

I'd listen, just to hear which take they used of Ted Cassidy all but pressing Shatner against the ceiling the first time Kirk meets Ruk. Did Shatner know his feet would leave the floor, that sort of thing.

I would think the move was worked out in detail, and Cassidy was doing precisely what Shatner wanted. In his Starlog interview, Ian Wolfe (Mr. Atoz, "All Our Yesterdays") addressed this very topic. He said that Shatner took a lot of care to work out their stunts in a way that would not hurt Wolfe, who was 72 at the time. Shatner "had quite a bit of say." Wolfe also played Septimus in "Bread and Circuses."

 

[Phaser Two]

I would think the move was worked out in detail, and Cassidy was doing precisely what Shatner wanted. In his Starlog interview, Ian Wolfe (Mr. Atoz, "All Our Yesterdays") addressed this very topic. He said that Shatner took a lot of care to work out their stunts in a way that would not hurt Wolfe, who was 72 at the time. Shatner "had quite a bit of say." Wolfe also played Septimus in "Bread and Circuses."

Yes. I always loved that anecdote from Mr. Wolfe. A lot of guest stars had terrific praise for Shatner.

 

[FormerLurker]

I would think the move was worked out in detail, and Cassidy was doing precisely what Shatner wanted.

Other than Cassidy more likely doing exactly what the director wanted, this is the most likely. I still want to ask. As thin as he was, Ted Cassidy was a big, intimidating man, and it would be interesting to learn what Shatner really thought about being hoist like a small child. It's clear he wasn't wearing a flying rig, and it was all Cassidy putting him up against the wall.

 

[johnnybear]

Ted was also a candidate to play the Hulk in the weekly TV series from the late seventies but wasn't muscular enough! Sadly he died during or after the shows second season!
JB

 

[Phaser Two]

Other than Cassidy more likely doing exactly what the director wanted, this is the most likely. I still want to ask. As thin as he was, Ted Cassidy was a big, intimidating man, and it would be interesting to learn what Shatner really thought about being hoist like a small child. It's clear he wasn't wearing a flying rig, and it was all Cassidy putting him up against the wall.

I've been amazed by Cassidy's strength since the first time I saw WALGMO as a kid. Sure, he was huge, but the upper body strength required to lift Shatner that high like a toy is incredible. Shatner must have weighed, what, 175? 180? (He was pretty fit in this episode.)

 

[UnknownSample]

On pronouncing Babel... Elton John's "Tower of Babel" has it as "baybel".

Another Shatnerism: At least once, the well known, real star called Pollux, is pronounced "Poe-lox"...

 

[johnnybear]

Look at the outtakes during Bread And Circuses where Ted, dressed as Indian joe picks Shatner up and carries him off around the set while laughing! Obviously Cassidy liked Shatner too!
JB

 

[FormerLurker]

Ted was also a candidate to play the Hulk in the weekly TV series from the late seventies but wasn't muscular enough! Sadly he died during or after the shows second season!
JB

Ted Cassidy was the narrator for the opening credits of The Incredible Hulk, and the voice of the Hulk for the first two seasons (save the last two episodes, which were filmed after his death). And while he was 6'9", 250 (or so), Richard Kiel, another far more massive actor at 7'2", 350, had the role for about a day. Executive Producer Kenneth Johnson brought his 7 year old son on the set that day and introduced the boy to Richard Kiel in full makeup and costume, and the boy said "That's not the Hulk. He's too skinny." So Richard Kiel lost the role, and production was held up until Lou Ferrigno was cast. Ironically, Lou is the shortest of the three, and was somewhere in between the other two in weight.

Both Ted Cassidy and Richard Kiel had medical conditions that made them prodigiously strong, and both men used that strength many times in their careers.

And the voice of the Hulk was taken over by Charles Napier. The last time I pointed that out, Christopher responded "One would not think Ruk and Adam would be up for the same role."

 

[johnnybear]

I think Charles Napier played a role or two in the series as well if my memory is correct!
JB

 

[JonnyQuest037]

Shatner "had quite a bit of say."

That's either a nice compliment or a rather veiled insult.

 

[ZapBrannigan]

That's either a nice compliment or a rather veiled insult.

I think Wolfe was just being matter-of-fact. Unlike a film set, where actors work for the director, a TV series like Star Trek is a situation where the stars acquire power, and the directors end up working for the top-billed actors. If Shatner didn't like a director, that guy would not be invited back (as happened with the director of "Shore Leave," despite that show turning out so good).

And this is not even to mention the fact that Shatner owned (I think) five percent of Star Trek, contractually. Certainly by the third season, he was one of the bosses on that set. In today's terms, Shatner would have had an on-screen producer's credit, without question.

 

[JonnyQuest037]

Good points!