What William Windom thought of working on "Star Trek"
- Thread starter Admiral Buzzkill
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Some people are just professional. It would reflect poorly on their career to do something half-assed because they weren't into it. Look at John Barriemore, who was to guest star on TOS. He kept blowing off his set call and showed up drunk. He got into big trouble with the SAG union, because TPTB wouldn't put up with his shit.
Very true with regard to the line counting, and I recall in a VERY recent interview where Norman Spinrad was talking about TOS-R; he mentioned that he was on set while Shatner was cutting Nimoy's lines in the episode; and it made one scene difficult to direct because cutting Spock's lines down in it made it hard to follow what needed to be gotten across for the story.
So, if William Windom was around to see that kind of thing, no wonder he thought it was an unhappy set (regular series actors doing line counts); and it's common knowledge that BOTH Nimoy and Shatner felt they were the 'star' of Star Trek (until the famous office meeting where Fred Frieberger asked GR point blank in Season 3 "Who's the star?"; to which GR replied "Bill.")
Given that there are various stories of line-counting, etc; and how Doohan and Co. have all but villianized William Shatner over the years; I'd say William Windom's assesment of the set was probably the more accurate version; despite all the regulars claiming, "We had a sense of 'family' (all except Bill...) on the set."
In some ways, it may be that the regular actors wanted us all to believe the 'Gene's vision' was infectious; and the cast all became 'bound' by it somehow.
Of course the reality was that GR was like every other TV producer (ie looking to make a good living); and that his 'vision' was on whatever cute up and coming starlet he could get on the 'casting couch' by offering a walk on role with a few lines on Star Trek.
Hey! Windom makes one of the best guest appearances in Season Two. Windom's life in the '60s and early '70s was known mainly for his one week stints on TV cult classics...
3 times on Mannix
2 times on Hawaii Five-O
4 times on Mission: Impossible
4 times on The F.B.I.
3 times on Gunsmoke
1 time on All in the Family
1 time on Bonanza
1 time on The Wild Wild West
2 times on 77 Sunset Strip
2 times on The Twilight Zone
Personally, I find his first appearance on Mission: Impossible and his only TOS appearance in The Doomsday Machine to be very strong successful "one-week" roles.
I don't see his comments (printed earlier in this thread) as being negative. I see them as truly honest...and slightly objective.
All of that line-slicing had to be more than just a little humiliating for Nimoy to have to deal with, particularly if it was happening with any regularity.
Even with Shatner's apparent inability to deal with his co-star (and other actors) with respect (and IMO line-cutting also equals unprofessionalism), Nimoy was still getting gobs of fanmail.
It's to his credit that you can't really tell any of this from his performance.
There are two aspects to his comments. The stuff about it being a shitty experience I have no problem with. I'm sure he feels that way and I have no doubt there is a strong factual basis for his feelings.
But his antipathy toward the material is really of a different nature. He's perfectly entitled to his opinion, but I've always found people who blithely dismiss all SF out of hand to be more than a little tiresome and actually kind of pathetic.
I'm sorry that they can't extend their minds to something a little off the beaten path. To me, it's not much different that not liking to do Shakespeare or period pieces. It says more about the actor than the material.
And before anyone suggests that his problem is just with Trek, keep in mind that Norman Spinrad wrote this particular episode. If it was Spectre of the Gun or some similar piece of floatsam, I could maybe buy that, but it wasn't, and I think his attitude would hold if he had played any role in any episode.
There are two aspects to his comments. The stuff about it being a shitty experience I have no problem with. I'm sure he feels that way and I have no doubt there is a strong factual basis for his feelings.
But his antipathy toward the material is really of a different nature. He's perfectly entitled to his opinion, but I've always found people who blithely dismiss all SF out of hand to be more than a little tiresome and actually kind of pathetic.
I'm sorry that they can't extend their minds to something a little off the beaten path. To me, it's not much different that not liking to do Shakespeare or period pieces. It says more about the actor than the material.
And before anyone suggests that his problem is just with Trek, keep in mind that Norman Spinrad wrote this particular episode. If it was Spectre of the Gun or some similar piece of floatsam, I could maybe buy that, but it wasn't, and I think his attitude would hold if he had played any role in any episode.
William Windom is one of my favorite actors. He was perhaps the best guest star Trek ever had.
I'm pleased to hear his thoughts about doing the show (does anyone know if this will be printed in the American magazine?), but a little disappointed that he didn't appreciate the material.
It goes to show what a true professional he is. His performance is truly inspired, even if he wasn't inspired personally. All I can say is I totally believe his character has been a Star Fleet captain for decades when he takes the chair and starts barking orders. His performance makes quite a roller coaster ride: From emotional wreck, to conniving bully, to noble sacrifice.
And for the record, I was a big fan of My World and Welcome To It. A TV series based on Thurber -- What could be better?
M.
I'm pleased to hear his thoughts about doing the show (does anyone know if this will be printed in the American magazine?), but a little disappointed that he didn't appreciate the material.
It goes to show what a true professional he is. His performance is truly inspired, even if he wasn't inspired personally. All I can say is I totally believe his character has been a Star Fleet captain for decades when he takes the chair and starts barking orders. His performance makes quite a roller coaster ride: From emotional wreck, to conniving bully, to noble sacrifice.
And for the record, I was a big fan of My World and Welcome To It. A TV series based on Thurber -- What could be better?
M.
I'll take "Robert Beltran" for $200, Alex.
Good Will Riker
Admiral
^^^ That's already happened to Garrett Wang. He is an unemployed actor, whose income comes only from his residuals and convention appearances.
Contrary to popular belief, it was Nichelle Nichols who actually received the most fanmail on the show while it was airing, which the people in the mailroom hid from her during the 1st season until someone down there finally admitted this to her (source: "Beyond Uhura" by Nichelle Nichols).
Can Nichelle Nichols really be called a source on trivia relating to Uhura and the original Star Trek?
Or, you know, is there an outside party that hasn't come up with 28 versions of the Martin Luther King Jr story that agrees with the assessment of her popularity?
Or, you know, is there an outside party that hasn't come up with 28 versions of the Martin Luther King Jr story that agrees with the assessment of her popularity?
Have the balls to write the word and stop hinting around about it.
Cute.
You essentially called Nichols a liar. I just suggest you have the honesty to write it straight out and stop winking.
You essentially called Nichols a liar. I just suggest you have the honesty to write it straight out and stop winking.
My opinion on that: "If the shoe fits..."
I didn't write the post you refer to, but given her gift at exaggeration (Her various MLK stories; and her relating of the depth of her relationship with GR, etc.); I take a lot her 30+ year after the fact recollections worth a grain of salt.
If you go by her statements:
1) GR loved her more than Majel (even after he married Majel).
2) William Shatner and a number of the production crew had it in for her personally; and Shatner was trying to sabotage her carrer.
3) MLK begged and pleaded with her to remain on the show.
The fact is, she was a bit player who was kept around because GR liked variety in his 'flings' with young starlets. If she was dissatisfied to consider just quitting after Season one; you can be certain the crew and production staff knew it; and considering how often she was NOT is Season two episodes for a time, had she quit, I honestly doubt anyone would have noticed - she'd have footnote in Star Trek 'lore' much like Garce Lee Whitney; who was in less then 12 episodes total.
And while it's possible someone told her that she got the most fan mail (sorry don't buy it that she recieved more fan mail than any other character, especially Spock); I don't see any reson the production offie would bother to hide/destroy such mail just addressed to her - which is what she also claims.
Fair enough. You just did what I suggested that Nebusj do, namely make a straight out case.
Feed him to Vaal!Proximity_Phaser said:
Perhaps Windom should be thrown in the maw of a giant planet killer for not worshiping at the altar of Trekdom.
...yet he spent more than TEN YEARS playing the local Cabot Cove doctor/physician on MURDER, SHE WROTE. Go figure.
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