Captain Kirk Needs More Channels!

[Cryogenator]

I just came across this comment on the video "Brent Spiner Remembers the Time ‘William Shatner’ Flipped Out on Him" (on the YouTube channel Inside of You Clips):

I once talked to Mr. Shatner on the phone.

I was working at a call center for a satellite TV company, a very long time ago. I get a call coming in, and the screen shows his name. I was expecting an assistant to be calling on his behalf, so I was VERY surprised to hear his unmistakable voice on the other end. I kept things professional, partly because my job required it, though I did remark on hearing from him directly. He said he just needed to make some changes, it was easier to do it himself.

So I handled his requests, making changes to his account, without discussing anything outside of that. Until the point where he lampooned himself. As I was getting a change processed, he said in his classic Kirk voice, "I need... MORE... channels!" And I responded in what was possibly a horrible Scottish brogue, "I'm givin' it all I got, Cap'n!" That got a laugh out of him. We then concluded our business, I thanked him for his time before he disconnected.

I told my wife about this encounter, and she STILL envies me.

~ Christopher Mathieu

True story? Fanfiction? Either way, it gave me a chuckle.

 

[feek61]

Seems unlikely to me, caller ID came out in 1988, TNG started in 1987 so was he working at the cable company after TNG started?

 

[ZapBrannigan]

Seems unlikely to me, caller ID came out in 1988, TNG started in 1987 so was he working at the cable company after TNG started?

"I get a call coming in, and the screen shows his name..." could be long-story-short, or faulty memory, when what really happened was more like, "This guy calls and gives me his account number, and Shatner's name comes up."

That's assuming the story is true.

 

[Shawnster]

Seems unlikely to me, caller ID came out in 1988, TNG started in 1987 so was he working at the cable company after TNG started?

Didn't some call centers back in the day have the ability to display the callers name? The caller called in, talked to the initial operator or call screener, said operator takes the callers information, including name, then transfers the caller to the appropriate person to handle the call, where that person sees on the computer the name of the caller?

 

[Cryogenator]

Seems unlikely to me, caller ID came out in 1988, TNG started in 1987 so was he working at the cable company after TNG started?

He didn't say when, so it could easily have been in the nineties or early 2000s.

 

[feek61]

He didn't say when, so it could easily have been in the nineties or early 2000s.

So Brent Spiner (Data) was working at the cable company years after TNG started? Still seems unlikely, lol

 

[Michael]

So Brent Spiner (Data) was working at the cable company years after TNG started? Still seems unlikely, lol

I think you’ll have to read that first post again.

 

[ZapBrannigan]

I think you’ll have to read that first post again.

Exactly! The OP is misleading because the "phone rep" anecdote has absolutely nothing to do with Brent Spiner. I should mention, Mr. Spiner did come to my house last month to read the gas meter, but I don't imagine he ever worked for the cable company.

 

[Michael]

the "phone rep" anecdote has absolutely nothing to do with Brent Spiner

No, but the anecdote is under a video with Brent Spiner in it. Which is exactly what the OP says.

EDIT: As for the likelihood of the anecdote being true: I think it very much tracks with the generally jovial manner I’ve seen Shatner interact with people. He certainly strikes me as someone who doesn’t tend to take Trek too seriously and is able to crack a joke at his own expense once in a while.

 

[Cryogenator]

Yes, I did note that the story comes from a comment under the video rather than the video itself, but I see now that it could be confusing.

I also shared this on r/startrek and someone commented claiming that he is the Christopher Mathieu who wrote the YouTube comment and that the story is true.

Asking Shatner if he remembers would be interesting.

 

[wayoung]

I'm sure he will. I know I remember every interaction with my cable tv provider!

 

[feek61]

I think you’ll have to read that first post again.

Oh, ok, my bad, didn't see the guys name at the bottom, I mistakenly was assuming it was about B. Spiner since he was mentioned at the beginning of the original post.

 

[JonnyQuest037]

If you're going to make up an encounter with William Shatner, having him call into your call center seems like the weirdest possible one.

I worked a call center job for five years, and in that time I got calls from a couple of famous and famous-adjacent people.

 

[Rowdy Roddy McDowall]

I worked a call center job for five years, and in that time I got calls from a couple of famous and famous-adjacent people.

Would they resent it if you ''called them out'' by name?