Stewart vs. Shatner: Who is the most well-known?

[JustKate]

With reluctance, I must disagree - depending on what you mean by "to some extent." I'd like to think that's true - I prefer both Picard and Stewart to Kirk/Shatner - but I am sure there are lots of people out there who allowed the entire Next Generation thing to go right over their heads. Meanwhile, there's no way to avoid the influence of TOS. I know plenty of people who loathe scifi in all its forms and yet they've still heard of TOS and are familiar with the Big Three...whether they want to be or not.

 

[CaptainStoner]

I don't know if google results can be called reliable for anything, they seem to pop up different for everyone. I just got 266,000 on "william shatner" and 5 million+ on "patrick stewart" in google. In another thread I did the same searches and got radically different numbers.

I think, if we're talking U.S., by far it's the Shat. A lot of people know of the bald guy on the 80's Star Trek show, but they're not going to know him by name. Shatner has a far greater pop culture footprint, for whatever that's worth.

 

[sovereign]

Ever since the newest film was released people on this board have seem to have abandoned TNG and in my opinion severely underrate its influence on mainstream culture. Yes Kirk and Spock are synonymous with Star Trek. That being said, most people know who Captain Picard is too. I do not appreciate how TNG is now viewed by Trek fans as some kind of niche following comparable to "Star Trek: Enterprise".

 

[barnaclelapse]

I'd say it's about even, really, although for different reasons. Shatner is known in various circles for all the different TV shows he did, especially Kirk, while Stewart is known for TNG to some extent and his film work to a much greater extent.

 

[Anika Hanson]

I think Stewart is. He has stared in high prohile films and is very respected in theatre.

 

[JustKate]

Ever since the newest film was released people on this board have seem to have abandoned TNG and in my opinion severely underrate its influence on mainstream culture. Yes Kirk and Spock are synonymous with Star Trek. That being said, most people know who Captain Picard is too. I do not appreciate how TNG is now viewed by Trek fans as some kind of niche following comparable to "Star Trek: Enterprise".

I don't appreciate that, either. It was big. For that matter, it still is. The main reason why I think Kirk has a bigger place in the public consciousness (in the U.S., anyway) is allllllll those decades of reruns and references and jokes and so on.

 

[AxelFoley]

Shatner. 1 out of perhaps 10 of my friends would know Stewart by name, and most of my friends are nerds.

 

[JarodRussell]

even if it's just for nerds (who will show their non-nerd friends anyway)

Nerds have no non-nerd friends.

 

[number6]

Shatner all the way.

 

[GhostFaceSaint]

Shatner all the way.

What's TNG in the USA, chopped AHHHHH!!!!! THE MARK OF THE BEAST!!!!(puts two fingers together in a cross)

 

[Cyke101]

even if it's just for nerds (who will show their non-nerd friends anyway)

Nerds have no non-nerd friends.

Okay, fine: non-nerd family, co-workers, and girls they try to impress by reciting First Contact quotes

 

[barnaclelapse]

even if it's just for nerds (who will show their non-nerd friends anyway)

Nerds have no non-nerd friends.

I know I sure don't.