Takei was the final guest on Real Time With Bill Maher last night. Bill is sometimes hit-and-miss (often doesn't give guests a chance to speak) but this was a great one. They chatted about Star Trek (of course!) his rocky relationship with William Shatner and a bit about his family's Japanese internment camp experience as it applied to the recent immigration crisis of child refugees.
But the dirt about Shatner was entertaining and illuminating.
"...he is very self centered." - Takei, on Shatner
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/07/...-to-drive-the-enterprise-into-the-death-star/
He also mentioned that despite the tension, he and Shatner still got the work done because they were professionals.
Anyway, great interview, a lot of laughs and I highly recommend for any Takei + TOS fans.
But the dirt about Shatner was entertaining and illuminating.
"...he is very self centered." - Takei, on Shatner
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/07/...-to-drive-the-enterprise-into-the-death-star/
“Not like you’re gonna drive the ship into a Death Star to spite him,” Maher said to Takei, who played helmsman Hikaru Sulu in the franchise’s original series.
“The temptation [was] there at times,” Takei replied, jokingly.
Takei also said that Shatner was the only member of the original cast not to know he is gay, though the rest of his Enterprise “crewmates” never brought it up publicly out of fear the news would damage his career prospects at the time.
I find it incredibly interesting that the cast knew Takei was gay way back in the 60s and kept it a secret all those years! Incredible. Takei described how he always brought along male companions to TOS-related functions. Bill also did a brief and silent impression of Shatner as Kirk that was very amusing.“The temptation [was] there at times,” Takei replied, jokingly.
Takei also said that Shatner was the only member of the original cast not to know he is gay, though the rest of his Enterprise “crewmates” never brought it up publicly out of fear the news would damage his career prospects at the time.
He also mentioned that despite the tension, he and Shatner still got the work done because they were professionals.
Anyway, great interview, a lot of laughs and I highly recommend for any Takei + TOS fans.