Bad encounters with cast members
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Robert Picardo. I've heard other people say he's nice. But to me, very rude. Wouldn't engage with any attempts at conversation. Invited the next person up to receive their autograph as I was still there. I guess could be a bad day, but trouble is you only get that one experience.
Everyone else lovely.
Everyone else lovely.
All of my various Trek encounters have been lovely. The only celebrity I ever interacted with who was anything less than that was June Lockhart of Lost in Space fame. To be fair, she probably wasn't having a great day. It was a Trek con and her table wasn't getting much action and I suspect she felt like she was wasting her time. And she wasn't super rude to me or anything, she seemed like she wasn't at all into it.
--Alex
--Alex
Brent Spiner at San Diego Comic Con a few yrs ago (2010)..he was being a jerk to a lot of people esp folks who walked by the table and took photos from afar of TNG cast members there... I think someone on YouTube actually posted a video of it.
at the same Con-- Levar Burton was that way as well...also a friend a few yrs at SD Comic Con also had a bad experience with Marina Sirtis...
*shaking head*/sad
at the same Con-- Levar Burton was that way as well...also a friend a few yrs at SD Comic Con also had a bad experience with Marina Sirtis...
*shaking head*/sad
I know this is a Star Wars entry, but...
Phil Brown (Uncle Owen). At a Con in Rosemont, IL, years ago, he was at a table with Aunt Baru, Chewwie and someone else I cannot remember. He was dour and grumpy and unpleasant...and he was NOT in character. Shelag Fraser (Aunt Baru) was, by contrast, gracious and friendly.
Phil Brown (Uncle Owen). At a Con in Rosemont, IL, years ago, he was at a table with Aunt Baru, Chewwie and someone else I cannot remember. He was dour and grumpy and unpleasant...and he was NOT in character. Shelag Fraser (Aunt Baru) was, by contrast, gracious and friendly.
Ahh Marina. Not a bad experience per se but boy was she self important. I used to go to Page's Bar, a little London pub where sci fi actors came to talk and meet fans. She was the only one to ever bring a bodyguard like she was some huge celebrity.
I'm surprised by the Marina stories. When I met her she was really nice and engaging with me. It was at a con in 2010 (I think?), and I think she picked up on the fact that I was a little shy/nervous when I walked up to her table...she led the conversation, and actually chatted with me for a good while. The whole experience of meeting her was very pleasant.
Marina is definitely my favorite convention guest. We have had the chance to spend a fair amount of time with her at several cons over the years. She's hilarious. Loud, foul-mouthed, opinionated. And yes...a bit self-important too.
I had a minor negative experience with Suzie Plakson once. Nothing big. And then of course there's William Shatner...
I had a minor negative experience with Suzie Plakson once. Nothing big. And then of course there's William Shatner...
This is not good to share, my friend, you've made us all witnesses.
I've had mixed experiences with Brent Spiner. I ran into him a couple of times at Disneyland. Once, at the hotel, he seemed to be in a rush, but still took the time to talk to me for a moment. He let me take his photo, but asked me not to post it on line, which I haven't, since I agreed.
Another time I saw him at Disneyland, and I took a photo from some distance away. Honestly, I could have easily been one of a hundred of guests who take photos of the environment at Disneyland. He seemed really irritated about being recognized. The funny thing is, I never would have recognized him, except he was with a Disney escort who I noticed because she was very attractive. She caught my attention, which made me recognize him. He would have been more invisible without the escort.
Another time I saw him at Disneyland, and I took a photo from some distance away. Honestly, I could have easily been one of a hundred of guests who take photos of the environment at Disneyland. He seemed really irritated about being recognized. The funny thing is, I never would have recognized him, except he was with a Disney escort who I noticed because she was very attractive. She caught my attention, which made me recognize him. He would have been more invisible without the escort.
I've told this story to many people over the years, and I think at least once in a Shatner thread here, but I went to see Shatner at a car show of all places, before Trek V came out. I don't know why he decided to show up at a car show but this was during a time when he did few if any conventions. He was too dignified for that, you see. But he decides to do a car show, with the intention to sign autographs. Well, maybe because he hadn't been doing cons, the place was mobbed, and he freaked out over the numbers, so rather than agree to sign, he gave out headshots and briefly shook people's hands and said hello. Now, for a teenager like me who idolized the guy and watched him on TJ Hooker, I was hoping for that little sliver of eye contact and recognition. I didn't want to hold up the line at all, just to have some genuine exchange of pleasantries. So I rehearsed this line in my head. I was going to say "Looking forward to seeing you in Star Trek V." That was it. That's all I wanted to say, and I was expecting him to just smile and say thank you. Well, after an interminable wait, I finally got up to shake his hand, and right as I opened my mouth to start to speak, he cut just cut me off by asking me my name, so I followed along, and he said nice to meet you, and that was it. I remember how clammy and soft his hand felt to this day.
Anyway, I'm sure there will be people here who will skewer me for how I handled the situation, that I went in with the wrong expectations, that my reaction was all my own fault, yada yada yada. All I can say is, at that point in time, it was pretty soul-crushing. Basically what he was doing was mechanically going through the motions like a robot. Never once did he really engage anybody the way a real person did. He looked straight through me.
So I didn't get an autograph and I didn't get any sort of genuine momentary connection that fans want in a situation like that. And this was way before his reputation for being a dick became public knowledge, so when that eventually happened, it made sense to me. This is why, by and large, I belong to team Takei.
My experiences at cons getting things signed by others did satisfy my desire to have that genuine "moment" with them, which included James Doohan, George Takei, and Nichelle Nichols. George wound up mishearing my name and writing my name wrong, but that was just due to the crowd.
And out of all of them I think Majel Barrett was the most down to earth because rather than just doing a talk and doing the signing after, she hung out on the floor. I don't remember if she actually had anything to sell (ala Lincoln Enterprises) but it was right before TNG came out and she was trying to drum up interest. But she definitely seemed like someone who liked being accessible to fans and wasn't just there for the money.
Anyway, I'm sure there will be people here who will skewer me for how I handled the situation, that I went in with the wrong expectations, that my reaction was all my own fault, yada yada yada. All I can say is, at that point in time, it was pretty soul-crushing. Basically what he was doing was mechanically going through the motions like a robot. Never once did he really engage anybody the way a real person did. He looked straight through me.
So I didn't get an autograph and I didn't get any sort of genuine momentary connection that fans want in a situation like that. And this was way before his reputation for being a dick became public knowledge, so when that eventually happened, it made sense to me. This is why, by and large, I belong to team Takei.
My experiences at cons getting things signed by others did satisfy my desire to have that genuine "moment" with them, which included James Doohan, George Takei, and Nichelle Nichols. George wound up mishearing my name and writing my name wrong, but that was just due to the crowd.
And out of all of them I think Majel Barrett was the most down to earth because rather than just doing a talk and doing the signing after, she hung out on the floor. I don't remember if she actually had anything to sell (ala Lincoln Enterprises) but it was right before TNG came out and she was trying to drum up interest. But she definitely seemed like someone who liked being accessible to fans and wasn't just there for the money.
My advice is to see a urologist. They can help you with that. Seriously.
HA! The Voyage Home is a movie I rarely actually watch, though I'll have it on as background noise, when I'm clearing out my Man Cave. But I did notice that Catherine Hicks did not seem to like his touch. The most blatant example of this is when Spock tells Kirk he's going to have to make a "guess." I've never met any real STAR TREK celebrities, I'm not into that - although I would not mind running across certain people & having a chance to converse with them. Rick Berman and JJ Abrams being obvious choices ...
Yeah, meeting the Celebs has its appeal on some pretty strong levels, but if I had my druthers, I would love to meet and talk to the creators and directors and writers and such. I think they would have the info and stories I would be most interested in. And not just the titillation and drama stuff...details and changes and challenges and all of that...
I think what might be a cool idea for a part of the 50th Celebration is if CBS/Paramount organized a contest where some winners would get to sit down in a room (Ready Room?, Stellar Cartography?, Transporter Room?, hell, Bridge??!?!) with the Big Names of Directors/Producers, etc., and just talk and ask questions and learn.
Damn, what would that be worth?!
I think what might be a cool idea for a part of the 50th Celebration is if CBS/Paramount organized a contest where some winners would get to sit down in a room (Ready Room?, Stellar Cartography?, Transporter Room?, hell, Bridge??!?!) with the Big Names of Directors/Producers, etc., and just talk and ask questions and learn.
Damn, what would that be worth?!
I've met a few "minor" actors/performers over the years (not trek related) but I have to say it's a bit surreal in both directions (as I see it). To me, there's an odd "power" disparity in both directions. The actor has the "advantage" of celebrity, and they are the person that people are lining up to meet in public such as conventions and in their private lives such as in restaurants etc--for good or ill. Yet at the same time, the fan has the advantage of "knowing" the actor, if only though interviews and the actor's body of work. Yet the fan is a total stranger and complete unknown to the actor. Even if it's played down, talking to actors or other celebrities strikes me as a bit awkward for both parties.
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