Shatner speaks....

[Warped9]

This was posted on the Roddenberry FB page:

SHATNER RESPONDS TO AUDIENCE QUESTION ABOUT "FEUD" ONSTAGE AT STAR TREK LAS VEGAS CONVENTION

Shatner: "The hatchet? In George's head?... Let me tell you about that, you know I've never expressed myself, I've always never answered George Takei's mean-spirited comments on me for a life time, and I'll take this opportunity to do that. I've never done it before.... I don't know him. I don't know him. Fifty years ago there was a young man named George Takei, who would come in... play his part, and left. I hardly knew him. 'Hello George,' I'd say, I was too busy reciting lines - I had a lot of work to do, so I was busy doing that and publicity... doing other things that I needed to do, whatever it was. I was an actor with ten pages of dialogue to do that day, and ten pages to learn for tomorrow, and the day after that and the day after that, and so on. I didn't know him. I literally didn't know him.

The six movies we made were a couple years apart, again he'd come in, 'Hello George.' I had no interaction with him whatsoever. In the last fifty years, the man has blackened my reputation. I am... I pride myself on being a professional actor, I'm there on time, I know my words, I'm amiable to almost anything because what's important is making the performance and nothing else. I don't have to be there for the spaceship being brought up uh.... one of the things he used against me was that I wasn't at the debut of the Enterprise someplace... I was working! So he has demeaned me, really badly, ugly. Every so often I get in touch with him and say, 'What are you doing? I don't know. What did I do to you? What happened?' I have no idea who he is or what he is, or what he wants.

I've never answered him, but he has continued to spoil my reputation in one way or another. I thought you know, 'That's enough,' why would one person in this large audience, have a bad opinion of me because of George Takei? It makes me - it upsets me. So I don't, I'm not burying any hatchet, I don't have any anger towards him. I do not know, I want you to hear me (to asker), I do not know who George Takei is! What drives him, what makes him, I do not know who he is. He invites me to his wedding, I don't know him! Why would you invite someone like me to your wedding when you don't know me? I haven't spoke to you in twenty years, thirty years, why would you invite me to the wedding? Have you got a thought on that?"

Asker: I don't know George...

Shatner: "Well, why would you, since you and I don't know, why would you invite me?"

Asker: Because you're Captain Kirk.

Shatner: "There you go. It has nothing to do with, 'I want you to celebrate with me, and be joyous with me at my wedding.' It has to do with, what you just said. So I don't have any hatchet to bury. I do not carry that hatchet. I carry a peace sign."

I gotta say that I don't recall Shatner being known to badmouth Takei. So if this is a "fued" it seems to be rather one sided.

 

[ZapBrannigan]

My take: long after the series was canceled, and the movies were getting started, Takei, Nichols, and Doohan decided retroactively that TOS should have been an egalitarian ensemble. And therefore Shatner was to blame for holding them down. They envied and resented the star precisely because they themselves were not star material.

At conventions, their egos were stoked up by fans who were really just happy to meet any original actor. Star Trek fans played up the "We love you!" thing because it was a feel-good interaction and it made for a better stage show. But it fed the myth that Takei, Nichols, and Doohan belonged on an equal footing with Shatner. And that fed the resentment.

I hope Shatner isn't too bothered by it, because the whole thing is stupid.

 

[urbandefault]

My take: long after the series was canceled, and the movies were getting started, Takei, Nichols, and Doohan decided retroactively that TOS should have been an egalitarian ensemble. And therefore Shatner was to blame for holding them down. They envied and resented the star precisely because they themselves were not star material.

At conventions, their egos were stoked up by fans who were really just happy to meet any original actor. Star Trek fans played up the "We love you!" thing because it was a feel-good interaction and it made for a better stage show. But it fed the myth that Takei, Nichols, and Doohan belonged on an equal footing with Shatner. And that fed the resentment.

I hope Shatner isn't too bothered by it, because the whole thing is stupid.

This. Thanks.

 

[Green Shirt]

That appeared to be a truthful and classy take on the subject by Shatner.

Now for the opposite.

George -- you're up!!


This should be good.

 

[BillJ]

This feud never made any sense to me. Shatner was the star, Takei was a bit player.

 

[Mudd]

I'm not a Shatner fan by a long stretch but Takei's behavior has never made any kind of sense to me.

 

[feek61]

Takei's behavior has been completely unprofessional regarding the entire one-sided feud with Shatner.

 

[suarezguy]

My take: long after the series was canceled, and the movies were getting started, Takei, Nichols, and Doohan decided retroactively that TOS should have been an egalitarian ensemble. And therefore Shatner was to blame for holding them down.

While they weren't intended to be equal stars, I thought it was established that Shatner indeed did suggest/push for moving some of their lines to Kirk so he did diminish what they could have had.

 

[Amaris]

Bill's right, and I agree with him completely.

I love George. I follow him on Facebook, I love reading his posts, he's a genuinely funny, warm, gracious human being, until it comes to William Shatner, and then he just becomes petty and vindictive. I loved To Be Takei, right up until he took time out of the show to bash on Bill Shatner.

Seriously, even if, during the original series run, Bill Shatner stole lines, hammed up the screen, poked fun at everyone, and was just a jerk, it was 50 years ago. George has notoriety, he has wealth, he has a partner who loves him, he has many fans, he has a show on Broadway, for the love of all that is good, George, let it go!

That said, George, you were a small time player on a show about Kirk, Spock, and McCoy, with a little Scotty thrown in to balance it out. Everyone else, no matter how much I liked them, or enjoyed their characters, were just glorified extras. They got names, and a few choice moments to make their own, but the show didn't belong to them. It never belonged to them, and even when Shatner has tried to make amends for the idea that he was a bit of a dick, he's been met with the coldest of shoulders.

There is just no reason or rationale that justifies this kind of grudge for this long. I have to agree with Zap's assessment.

 

[TREK_GOD_1]

My take: long after the series was canceled, and the movies were getting started, Takei, Nichols, and Doohan decided retroactively that TOS should have been an egalitarian ensemble. And therefore Shatner was to blame for holding them down. They envied and resented the star precisely because they themselves were not star material.

The petty bitching, lies and other kinds of unsavory behavior started long before the movie era. As you point out:

At conventions, their egos were stoked up by fans who were really just happy to meet any original actor. Star Trek fans played up the "We love you!" thing because it was a feel-good interaction and it made for a better stage show. But it fed the myth that Takei, Nichols, and Doohan belonged on an equal footing with Shatner. And that fed the resentment.

As TOS exploded in early 1970s syndication, along with the merchandising, that attention was mistaken for all of the so-called "Star Trek family" myth being some pack of equal talents with equally important characters, when the official promotion of the series (first run and syndication) never played that up. Takei, Doohan and others among the "add-ons" took the exposure conventions granted and turned it into a platform of vile bitch sessions. Instead of strictly sharing whatever experience they had on TOS (or whatever career existed outside of it), they used the popularity of Shatner to first gain attention, then use that attention to damn him.

As much as this little group loves to talk about the positive nature of ST--a message of brotherhood, they never practiced it. Shatner could not be blamed for the industry's lack of interest, bad career choices, or TOS' producers feeling they served their purpose, and were not going to be treated like Shatner or Nimoy...ever.

I hope Shatner isn't too bothered by it, because the whole thing is stupid.

It is despicable.

 

[Noname Given]

Even as someone who grew up watch the original TOS first run (was 6 in 1969 and saw part on the third season on NBC); and then for decades in syndication, I started with an impression of William Shatner that was colored by the comments of Mr. Takei, and Ms. Nichols, Mr. Doohan, et al. However as I looked into the production history and was better able to compare Star trek with other genre shows of the 1960ies:

1) Star Trek was NOT the only show to have recurring 'crew' or other lesser regulars as part of the cast; and in those other shows (much like Star Trek) the limelight and focus of those shows WAS centered around the 'Star'; so for the four of Star Treks recurring regulars to somehow feel 'second hand' or there to make Shatner (and Nimoy and Kelly) look good - welcome to the life of a lesser regular in 1960ies TV production.

2) Mr. Takei's comments about 'how visionary Gene Roddenberry was...' or how he knew from the start Star Trek was 'quality'; and he was always so proud to be a part of it and never got why Sulu didn't get more to do, etc. REMEMBER, he was the one regular who took time off from Star Trek and missed nine episodes Sulu had to be written out of due to the filming for 'The Green Berets' taking longer then expected (and this was for the second season) -- so yeah, I can see why the Star Trek production office might not be expanding Sulu's role after something like that.

Also, I'm sure at the time Mr. Takei saw the opportunity to appear in a John Wayne film as a great career opportunity; and I can completely understand why he jumped at doing it at the time - but sorry, for me, it shows that his 'adoration' of Star Trek is more of a commercial thing for him in the fact that he gets Convention appearance and I'm sure other speaking fess - and today is still the one thing he's best known for.

But yeah, the whole thing over the past few decades where he and Mr. Doohan when he was alive, and Ms. Nichols still character assassinate Mr. Shatner (be it to sell/spice up their auto-biographies, 'tell all' behind the scenes books on Star Trek, etc); without citing specifics, or even trying to communicate with Mr. Shatner openly as to any such incidents and how they perceived them at the time; is getting really old, and I have to think at this time, there's really nothing to it beyond the fact William Shatner was the star; OR they've all told the exaggerated versions of whatever they 'recall' so many times, they themselves believe their exaggerated versions.

In the end, I think William Shatner has proven to be more of a class act by generally NOT responding in kind; and again, given the amount of time Mr. Takei took off from Star Trek to do 'The Green Berets' does color his "I loved everything about Star Trek, yadda, yadda..." as more of a, "Hey, I can still make some money off this thing, might as well..."

 

[Amaris]

To Be Takei would have been a prime moment to lock that history away for good. Instead, he capitalized on it, which disappointed me.

 

[Ryan Thomas Riddle]

To Be Takei would have been a prime moment to lock that history away for good. Instead, he capitalized on it, which disappointed me.

Who capitalized on it? Shatner or Takei?

 

[TREK_GOD_1]

To Be Takei would have been a prime moment to lock that history away for good. Instead, he capitalized on it, which disappointed me.

Who capitalized on it? Shatner or Takei?

Who else? Takei. The one who has no claim to fame, other than spending decades trashing a man istead of building up his own life.

1) Star Trek was NOT the only show to have recurring 'crew' or other lesser regulars as part of the cast; and in those other shows (much like Star Trek) the limelight and focus of those shows WAS centered around the 'Star'; so for the four of Star Treks recurring regulars to somehow feel 'second hand' or there to make Shatner (and Nimoy and Kelly) look good - welcome to the life of a lesser regular in 1960ies TV production.

Well said. Take the 1966-68 Batman series; you did not have Neil Hamilton (Commissioner Gordon) or Stafford Repp (Chief O'Hara) moaning about their position on the show in relation to the two stars, or complained about West & Ward--and they were featured players listed in the main title. They understood that the show was about Batman & Robin, not their subordinates. If two players of greater importance to the production understood that, there's no excuse for the Star Trek "add ons" and their decades of hate.

2) REMEMBER, he was the one regular who took time off from Star Trek and missed nine episodes Sulu had to be written out of due to the filming for 'The Green Berets' taking longer then expected (and this was for the second season) -- so yeah, I can see why the Star Trek production office might not be expanding Sulu's role after something like that.

Also, I'm sure at the time Mr. Takei saw the opportunity to appear in a John Wayne film as a great career opportunity; and I can completely understand why he jumped at doing it at the time - but sorry, for me, it shows that his 'adoration' of Star Trek is more of a commercial thing for him in the fact that he gets Convention appearance and I'm sure other speaking fess - and today is still the one thing he's best known for.

Great point. It was his right to sign on to The Green Berets, so with an opportunity of that kind, and knowing what his true position was on ST, he has no reason to play the blame / pushed aside game, as there would not have been an expectation of greater participation if he remained on ST instead of taking the Wayne film.

It is his own fault.

I have to think at this time, there's really nothing to it beyond the fact William Shatner was the star; OR they've all told the exaggerated versions of whatever they 'recall' so many times, they themselves believe their exaggerated versions.

Exaggeration and a lack of evidence is correct, and in no stranger to that group. For example, just ask Nichelle about MLK, and see what new adventure/self-aggrandizing tale she will conjure up this week.

In the end, I think William Shatner has proven to be more of a class act by generally NOT responding in kind; and again, given the amount of time Mr. Takei took off from Star Trek to do 'The Green Berets' does color his "I loved everything about Star Trek, yadda, yadda..." as more of a, "Hey, I can still make some money off this thing, might as well..."

Quoted for truth.

 

[Mudd]

Take has "built up his own life" and public profile quite well, particularly given his limited resume. That simply makes his dogged nagging after Shatner the more puzzling.

 

[BillJ]

Take has "built up his own life" and public profile quite well, particularly given his limited resume. That simply makes his dogged nagging after Shatner the more puzzling.

I wonder if anyone would care if they weren't wondering what he'd complain about next in regards to Shatner?

 

[Green Shirt]

^ Right. I'm paying attention for the entertainment value of George's outbursts. No such thing as bad publicity, I guess.

 

[Warped9]

It's a shame that Doohan and Takei never got over their resentment regardless of what brought it on. Carrying something around like that for decades on end is pointless. It also makes you look bad when never missing on opprtunity to trash someone in public and even to appear to be revelling in it.

There are individuals I didn't care for when working with them in the past, but when you're not working with them anymore you let it go. I would have no interest to ever work with them again, but I don't spend any of my time stewing about it or looking for a chance to trash those individuals to anyone who will listen.

You've got to get over it.

 

[Campe]

Takei spoke yesterday in Vegas.

He used the talk of the show ("Allegiance", the Broadway show he's worked on) as a way to segue into discussing William Shatner. George told the audience that he has already invited Shatner to opening night, but doesn’t expect him to attend, since historically, “Bill never attends anything we do.” He went on to talk more about the controversy surrounding the invite he sent Shatner for his wedding to Brad Altman.

He says that Shatner invited him to appear on his now-defunct talk show Raw Nerve, but he declined because “I didn’t trust Bill to not be partisan”, and was afraid he’d edit it in a way that would only make him look good.

Same old stuff.

 

[BillJ]

Takei spoke yesterday in Vegas.

He used the talk of the show ("Allegiance", the Broadway show he's worked on) as a way to segue into discussing William Shatner. George told the audience that he has already invited Shatner to opening night, but doesn’t expect him to attend, since historically, “Bill never attends anything we do.” He went on to talk more about the controversy surrounding the invite he sent Shatner for his wedding to Brad Altman.

He says that Shatner invited him to appear on his now-defunct talk show Raw Nerve, but he declined because “I didn’t trust Bill to not be partisan”, and was afraid he’d edit it in a way that would only make him look good.

Same old stuff.

William Shatner is not Takei's father or relative. He was a co-worker many, many years ago.