WilliamShatner.com

Old William Shatner Main Discussion - What's Up... Sir Shat

TRexx - Aug 28, 2007 - 07:20 PM
Post subject: What's Up... Sir Shat

William Shatner: In The News...

William Shatner Lends Voice to Videogame for Charity

The Starlight Starbright Children's Foundation charity has announced a forthcoming casual charity PC game, The Tuttles Madcap Misadventures, to be developed with Legacy Interactive (Law & Order) and Dave Thomas' Animax Entertainment, and starring the voices of William Shatner and Jamie Lee Curtis.

Starlight Starbright itself is a charity dedicated to helping seriously ill children and their families cope through entertainment, education and family activities. According to the charity, The Tuttles: Madcap Misadventures is "...a hilarious arcade adventure game about a thoroughly modern family trying to bond on a road trip to see the Alamo."

In addition to 40 levels of side-scrolling action making up the gameplay, the animated cut-scenes will be voiced by notables such as Bob Saget (Barry Tuttle), Jamie Lee Curtis (Barbara Tuttle), Ashley Tisdale (Jess Tuttle), Dominic Scott Kay (Zach Tuttle), Dave Thomas (The Australian), Dave Coulier (The Native and several other characters), and William Shatner (Vance Shepherd, apparently "...a TV action star whose self-involved persona has been downloaded into the on-board computer of the family's souped-up mini-van.")

The game will be available to the public through PC game portals and potentially via retail distribution in the future. The standard price to play will be about $20, and on average, the Starlight charity will receive approximately $4.75 per unit.

"Starlight is taking a giant step forward, away from run-of-the-mill charity events into the rapidly growing realm of online entertainment and casual gameplay," said Patty Evans, Vice President, Development, Starlight Starbright Children's Foundation. "This inventive approach gives anyone with Internet access the chance to participate together in a fundraising "event" through online casual gaming. Traditional barriers to charity event participation such as geographic location, cost to participate and finding the time to partake become virtually obsolete."

http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_i ... tory=15271

TRexx - Aug 28, 2007 - 07:33 PM
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Excerpts from The Seattle Times...

Easing the torment of tinnitus

The statistics of tinnitus are as horrifying as the affliction itself. According to the Portland-based American Tinnitus Association (ATA), some 50 million Americans experience intermittent or permanent tinnitus. Between 10 million and 12 million have severe and chronic tinnitus and some 2 million are completely disabled by the condition. In most cases, such as Young's, the cause can be traced to loud noise that damages the fragile sound-detecting cells in the inner ear.

Disease, tumors, medications, or physical trauma to the head or neck can also be a trigger. But U.S. Navy veteran David Young had experienced none of these in the weeks and months leading up to the sudden increase in his tinnitus.

"Every doctor I went to couldn't explain it, and could do nothing to help me," said Young. The unrelenting noise in his head disrupted his concentration and kept him awake, sometimes for days.

With no relief in sight, Young began researching his options. Internet searches kept pointing to one promising treatment: sound therapy.

"I found information about actor William Shatner, who had success using tinnitus retraining therapy [TRT]," said Young. "The science looked good, and it had been around for a while."

William Shatner's situation

If there is a celebrity "poster boy" for tinnitus, it would have to be Shatner, whose career -- and life -- were threatened by the condition. The 76-year-old "Boston Legal" star says his problems began about 15 years ago, probably the result of advancing age compounded by exposure to many on-screen special-effects explosions throughout his 50-year movie and television career.

"I was in a terrible state," said Shatner from his home in California. "The more you worry about it, the worse it gets. I couldn't sleep or think, and I even thought about suicide."

In 1996, Shatner traveled to the University of Maryland and met with Dr. Pawel Jastreboff, who introduced him to TRT. Jastreboff, who now works at Emory University's School of Medicine, began clinical use of TRT six years earlier.

Shatner's treatment involved wearing a small electronic device that generated a low-level, broadband sound -- a white noise -- that helped his brain put the tinnitus in the background.

"When used in conjunction with counseling, 80 percent of the more than 1,000 patients I have personally treated have responded very well," said Jastreboff from his office in Atlanta. Jastreboff also credits Shatner's high profile and willingness to talk about his tinnitus for giving people like Young hope.

"I wore the device for 24 hours a day for several months," said Shatner. "Now, I don't hear the tinnitus 95 percent of the time. So it's important to let people know that in many cases, tinnitus can be managed. I'm living proof you can conquer it."

The full article at The Seattle Times...

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/l ... cation=rss

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TRexx - Aug 28, 2007 - 07:42 PM
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Excerpts from Pantagraph.com...

Joel Gretsch delights in complexities of 'The 4400'

By Janice Rhoshalle Littlejohn, Associated Press

LOS ANGELES -- Joel Gretsch rushes into Marmalade Cafe. He's 10 minutes late. "I am so sorry, but my kids...," he begins, revealing how they anchored him at the ankles to keep him from leaving.

"But we're going to the zoo later on," says Gretsch, 43, as the midmorning sun shapes a postcard spring Saturday in suburban Sherman Oaks, "so they're excited about that."

He's visibly geeked about the outing, too. Weekends are family time for "The 4400" star, who's shooting the USA series in Vancouver through the summer. He lives not too far from the restaurant with his daughters -- Kaya, 5, and Willow, 2 -- and wife Melanie, daughter of William Shatner.

Gretsch isn't one to complain about working — or the weekly hassles of airport customs. But why would he, having landed on one of the hottest series on basic cable.

Full article at Pantagraph.com...

http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2007 ... 190207.txt

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TRexx - Aug 28, 2007 - 07:53 PM
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From the Canadian Broadcasting Corp (CBC)...

Calgary gallery finds space for William Shatner

One of 76 pieces in the Calgary show celebrating William Shatner is this work by Andrea Lam titled Manning the Rocket Man. (CBC)

William Shatner has taken on a new role, as muse to artists who created 76 works based on the actor for Calgary's Uppercase Gallery.

The Canadian-born Shatner is best known for his role as Capt. James Kirk, commander of the U.S.S. Enterprise in the Star Trek series. But he's also played a tough sergeant in the T.J. Hooker crime show, sold cereal, and kept himself in focus through the process.

"Every artist has their muse," he said in a message posted on the gallery's website. "Who am I to stand in the way of all these fine artists and artisans who want to use my lumpy, aging face for inspiration?

"Some creators love a great sunset; some have in mind my bloodshot eyes. Nevertheless, out of awe, amusement or pity, you should come and see this unique show."

The gallery's self-proclaimed mastermind, Janine Vangool, came up with the idea of a Shatner show after listening to the actor's CD while driving across Canada.

William Shatner won an Emmy in 2005 for his work on Boston Legal.William Shatner won an Emmy in 2005 for his work on Boston Legal. (Kevork Djansezian/Associated Press)

New and established artists from across the continent contributed works.

The results include a bust of Shatner made from more than 9,000 Lego pieces, Shatner as Bonhomme, Shatner portraits, Shatner driving the last spike and Shatner as Kirk embraced by a Gorn, a reptilian humanoid space creature.

"It's kind of about him as the centre of the universe," said artist Katie Radke.

There are 76 works on view, one for each year of Shatner's age.

The show runs until the end of August.

http://www.cbc.ca/arts/story/2007/06/23 ... ml?ref=rss

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TRexx - Aug 28, 2007 - 09:30 PM
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From Spinner.com...

Interpol Gunning After William Shatner

Posted Jul 5th 2007 3:30PM by Steve Baltin
Filed under: News, Humor

When it comes to modeling a fruitful, long-lasting rock success story of one's own, there's a bevy of careers from which to choose -- Paul McCartney and U2, among them. Interpol, however, opt not for rock royalty but for royalty of another kind. Stellar, one might say.

"William Shatner," bassist Carlos Dengler told Spinner at the band's Sessions taping in L.A. "I'm not joking. He has been in the spotlight the entire time. First, 'Star Trek.' Then 'T.J. Hooker' and Priceline. And there's [his album 'Has Been'] -- which is fantastic -- where he covered 'Common People' by Pulp. I don't know if he's a good musician, but he has spirit and doesn't take himself too seriously. That's something I respect quite a bit."

http://www.spinner.com/2007/07/05/inter ... m-shatner/

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TRexx - Aug 28, 2007 - 09:58 PM
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From the Montreal Gazette...

The man, the myth, the Shat

BILL BROWNSTEIN, The Gazette
Published: Sunday, July 15

In this very galaxy not that long ago, William Shatner had to spend many a day and night trying to dodge overzealous Trekkies (Trekkers, if you will) sporting Spock ears and Vulcan masks (then again, maybe they weren't masks).

Not that N.D.G.'s gift to the worlds of acting, sci-fi and the surreal didn't appreciate the ardour of these fans, but there is far more to the man than his Captain Kirk alter ego from the iconic Star Trek series. On the other hand, if he had a buck for every Spock-eared goof who requested that Shatner "beam me up," he probably could have retired several light years ago.

But he didn't. Rather, Shatner, 76, re-invented himself and as a result, goes boldly where few actors, even those half his age, still go. To work. He sings, he dances, he shills, he acts.

Some 55 years in the biz, and there's still no stopping him. It may often be self-parody, but he is most certainly a bigger star today than he was when navigating through the stars and cruising the cosmos decades back on Star Trek. He has the silverware to prove it: two Emmy Awards, among others, for his work as the batty barrister on the hit series Boston Legal.

Plus, you know you've made a crater-sized impact when you are the subject of the doc How William Shatner Changed the World and when you are singled out for a little love and a lot of basting in The Uncensored Roast of William Shatner.

"Honestly, I attribute all my longevity and success to Canadian meat and vegetables -- organic vegetables, that is. Oh, and can't forget those fabulous Canadian blueberries, so rich in anti-oxidants, from Ste. Agathe," says Shatner, perhaps tongue-quite-a-bit-in-cheek, in a phone interview. He's in his trailer, waiting to return to the Boston Legal set in Hollywood, and he's in a particularly buoyant frame.

Shatner returns to his hometown Saturday to host two Just for Laughs galas at ThEtre St. Denis. Seven years ago, the first and last time he served as master of ceremonies for a gala, Shatner cracked up the house with his "I am Canadian" routine -- a wacky take on the Molson Canadian beer ad of yore. "I can't take all the credit. They wrote some kind of inspired material for me," he says. "It's all about the material and I'm hoping for more of same this time."

Some of the material written for the 2000 gala referred to the then-renaming of McGill's Student Union as the William Shatner Building. "I just hope the building is earthquake-proof and has sprinkler heads," he cracks. "I spent four great years at McGill, diligently trying to play football and act at the same time while pursuing women and studies -- about in that order, too."

But the Festival City that is Montreal today is not the one that Shatner recalls from his formative years. "Not at all. The city I remember was for me mostly in the west end. The city today seems like such a welcome place.

"It's not just the quality of the music and comedy at the festivals, but it's the way the city has laid itself out as such an endearing spot to spend time."

Despite the fact Late Late Show host and Just for Laughs alumnus Craig Ferguson selected him as his favourite Canadian humorist, Shatner doesn't think of himself as a comedian per se. But he does have interesting views on Canadian comedy. "What's funny is that Canadians aren't perceived as being funny, yet many of the best comics in America are Canadians. It's a bit of a dichotomy. It's interesting that many think that Canada is so dour, but it's Canadians like Mike Myers, David Steinberg and Jim Carrey who've helped foster comedy everywhere."

Perhaps Ferguson picked Shatner as his fave Canadian comic based on his Boston Legal work. "There's no question that what we do on Boston Legal is really amusing, but it's also quite meaningful, too," Shatner says. "James Spader (the show's co-star) and I looked at each other at the end of a scene the other day and he made the remark that, what other TV show writes scenes like this? We couldn't come up with another name."

Shatner is hoping to catch a break from his Boston Legal shooting schedule in order to stay in Montreal for more than a weekend. "Except for two sisters and a few relatives, I really don't know too many people in the city," he notes. "But the garlic spare-ribs are calling out for me and I have to heed the call."

As seasoned Montrealers are likely aware, he is referring to the garlic spare-ribs of the long- defunct Ruby Foo's which have been nearly replicated at Le ChrysanthEme downtown. "They must have the Ruby Foo's spare-ribs under spectrum analysis to determine just how much garlic goes into them."

Also calling out to Shatner are, natch, Montreal bagels, barbecued chicken and smoked meat. "I'll tell you just how good the smoked meat is. Over the last few years, I have sent out for loads of smoked meat, and of all the things I have done in four years on Boston Legal, the biggest contribution I have made to the show -- more than my dialogue or comedy scenes or meaningful moments -- is the smoked meat. All the other stuff pales before that pink mass of Schwartz's smoked meat.

"Of course, I might need a whole load of bran after eating all that smoked meat in town."

Fortunately, Shatner knows where to find it. He just happens to be the pitch-man for Kellogg's Bran Flakes. Ah, when it rains, it pours for the man.

http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/n ... mp;k=53245

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TRexx - Aug 29, 2007 - 12:47 AM
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From Geek.com...

Priceline Negotiator gets MySpace page

by Brian Osborne posted on June 14, 2007 8:31 am

If you're a William Shatner fan or fan of his Priceline commercials, then you'll be happy to hear that Shatner's persona, The Priceline Negotiator, now has his own MySpace page. Like many MySpace pages, The Negotiator lists his interests, including favorite music, movies, television shows, books, and heroes. Amusingly, the Priceline Negotiator's hero is Lee Mei–his "price-chopping kung fu samurai master."

Videos and photos are included on the website. My favorite one is where The Negotiator blasts the gnome mascot of a Priceline competitor. Other features of the website include wallpapers, icons, and ringtones, including the famous "You're so naughty" line from Shatner as The Negotiator. One of the images available will even allow you to copy and paste The Negotiator into photos.

Priceline was smart to hire Shatner as a spokesperson. He is a legend and a pop icon. The marketing team at Priceline has taken its Negotiator campaign to the next level, and I love it.

Priceline just keeps the fun ideas coming.

http://www.myspace.com/thenegotiator

http://www.geek.com/priceline-negotiato ... pace-page/

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TRexx - Aug 29, 2007 - 12:49 AM
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From Variety...

Shatner to interview celebrities

Biography Channel taps TV vet for 'Nerve'
By STEVEN ZEITCHIK

After a recent career path that's taken him from Web pitchman to primetime Emmy winner, William Shatner has been signed to host a celebrity-interview show on the Biography Channel.

Shatner, currently seen on ABC's "Boston Legal," will interview a range of guests on the half-hour, titled "Shatner's Raw Nerve." Both actors and politicians will be featured, and reps for the net said producers will make an effort to book guests separately from their movie and other junkets.

Biography said in a release that the thesp "will explore life's most intriguing questions and unearth his guests' strange and unknown stories."

Thirteen episodes have been ordered by the net, with the skein to air some time next year.

Move comes as part of a larger shift by the net to contemporize both subject and feel.

Exec veep-general manager Bob DeBitetto described the new mission of the Biography Channel as "true stories about fascinating people."

Reps said the new philosophy will still involve telling the nonfiction stories of people, but the net will move beyond the more traditional format of profiles of one individual; in fact, the subjects may not even be famous.

In addition to the Shatner pact, company has made pilot deals for "Small Medium at Large," a show about a four-foot-tall psychic medium who uses Chinese meditation to commune with the dead, and "I Survived," about people who have survived near-death experiences.

The expansion is the result of an original programming boom in cable that has allowed and encouraged networks to experiment with a broader range of programming, though it has also sometimes diluted a net's mission.

Biography has also added the tagline "True Story" and will revamp its on-air look to feel more current.

The tagline is similar to truTV, the rebranding of Court TV to net with a similar focus on scripted and nonscripted takes on real-life events.

Cabler will also refer to itself as "Bio" in much of its correspondence, though it will still officially be called the Biography Channel.

Biography has yet to land truly wide exposure, currently reaching 44 million homes, but says its ratings in adults 18-49 are up 38% so far this year.

http://www.variety.com/article/VR111796 ... 4&cs=1

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TRexx - Aug 29, 2007 - 12:54 AM
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From Hour.ca...

JFL: William Shatner

Pater familias, Jamie O'Meara
July 19th, 2007

William Shatner needs little introduction (and thank God for that, 'cause space is limited). A born and bred Montrealer, Shatner's folks were in the schmatte business, and he studied at McGill before going on to a classical, Shakespearean acting career that led him to outstanding roles like that of T.J. Hooker. And, if you insist, Star Trek's Captain Kirk.

In a life and career that's seen its big ups and occasionally crushing downs, Shatner, at age 76, is enjoying a kind of ubiquitous success with a multitude of projects in print, music and on screen, and of course on the hit television series Boston Legal, for which he recently bagged his second Emmy Award as well as a Golden Globe. Things are good, and this is reflected in his jovial and generous conversation over the phone from his home in L.A.

After some preliminary chitchat about, what else, Montreal smoked meat ("There's no smoked meat like Montreal smoked meat"), we get right into it...

Hour: Y'know, it's funny, I've always felt this kind of paternal vibe coming from you...

William Shatner: No, I don't know you and I certainly don't want any demands made on me.

Hour: Does that mean I can't call you "Dad"?

Shatner: Yes, exactly, and everything else that goes with it. I'm tired of supporting... you're on your own. I don't know how to explain your feeling towards me, but maybe since 'Dad' has been around for a long time, it refers to me.

Hour: But there is an undeniable warmth that you engender in people...

Shatner: They keep saying, "That poor fool," and that brings out all kinds of warm feelings.

Hour: Is this something you experience often?

Shatner [Laughing]: I've heard what you've said, yes, and I don't know how to deal with it.

Hour: Have I become too familiar in too little time?

Shatner: Well, no, no, I don't want you to withdraw -- it's not good for your psyche.

Hour: Let's forget for the moment the Golden Globes and the Emmys and these sorts of things... The All-Bran commercials: People love them.

Shatner: They do! I've signed for another couple of years with the Kellogg thing, and they're fun to do. They've caught a lovely hook, I guess, on how to project me on their brand and it becomes fun for everybody.

Hour: You've enjoyed a phenomenal amount of late-period success in your life - how satisfying is that for you? You went through a tough period right after Star Trek, and is it true that you were living in the back of a truck in the San Fernando Valley?

Shatner: Yes. You know, in terms of it really being tough - where tough was really tough - that wasn't tough. But in terms of, uh, I suppose being a leading actor [laughs] living in the back of a truck, that was tough.

Hour: What was tough?

Shatner: Well, it was the rising expectations and the dashed hopes, I suppose.

Hour: What kinds of things are exciting you now?

Shatner: There are a lot of things going on. I've got a new series of Star Trek books coming out by a young Captain Kirk -- a teenaged Kirk and Mr. Spock -- and the first one will be out in October. I've got a new album, which is an oratorical on Exodus, new classical music with 250 voices, coming out in October. And then there's the potential of a talk show next season, and then of course Boston Legal is starting in a couple of weeks, and there's also a DVD of a ballet that was done on six numbers that I co-wrote with Ben Folds and the Milwaukee Ballet... so there's lots of stuff.

Hour: Your last album [Has Been, 2004] got great reviews -- it did really well!

Shatner: You sound surprised, but I was hoping [it would]... It was very gratifying. It wasn't written for novelty, in fact the dictum was, Let's tell the truth.

Hour: Okay, I think that's just about it for me...

Shatner [Dryly]: I'm exhausted, so... Ah, I'm only joking. I'm looking forward, very deeply, to coming up to Montreal to do this, and so we're beginning to work already. The only slight cloud on the horizon is I need to get that weekend off from Boston Legal... but I have every reasonable expectation of being able to make it up there, but I wanted to just bring out that suggestion that it's in the realm of possibility...

Hour: That you might not be able to make it to your own gala?!

Shatner [Laughing]: That they might close me down due to scheduling. But I'm almost sure that that won't happen, and I'm really looking forward, not only to performing -- especially if the material is good - but to enjoying the festival itself because that's a hoot. That comedy festival is really fun to do, and I hope it attracts a lot of people to Montreal.

http://www.hour.ca/stage/stage.aspx?iIDArticle=12531

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TRexx - Aug 29, 2007 - 01:12 AM
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From the Canadian National Post...

Simply Shatner

How to explain the cultural phenomenon that is William Shatner? A Calgary art exhibit tries...

The Shatner Show is on now at UPPERCASE gallery. The exhibition in UPPERCASE gallery will be open for public viewing beginning June 16 and ending August 31, 2007.

Kevin Libin, National Post, Published: Saturday, June 30, 2007

CALGARY -- She calls him simply "Shatner." Not William Shatner, Mr. Shatner or even Bill Shatner, as his Hollywood pals do. Janine Vangool is no friend of Shatner. They have no personal connection. She has communicated to him only through his assistant. She is, she explains, merely an observer. And, as curator of what is surely the first art exhibit dedicated to exploring the man's mystique, she has become a documenter of the cultural phenomenon that is, to sum up in a single word, Shatner.

"Shatner is Shatner," explains Ms. Vangool, owner of Calgary's Uppercase Gallery. "It's a unique character he's created."

Seventy-six artists (one for each year of the man's life) have contributed as many works to The Shatner Show, which opened this month in the tiny downtown gallery and runs until Aug. 15 with a portion of the proceeds going to Mr. Shatner's favourite charity, horse therapy for handicapped children. Works cover the span of a roller-coaster career: One moody gouache portrait recreates a Shatner close-up still from 1962's Judgment at Nuremberg, another alludes to his role in 1965's bizarre horror picture, Incubus, filmed entirely in the constructed universal language of Esperanto.

There are too many Star Trek influences to count, of course. But others represent more contemporary incarnations. There is an enormous Lego bust of Denny Crane, the eccentric lawyer played by Mr. Shatner on Boston Legal (constructed with 9,000 pieces, and with more than 180 hours of work sunk into it by New York artist Sean Kenney, it's the most expensive piece at $16,000). And at least one artist, depicting Mr. Shatner riding a turd like a horse, says he had in mind "regularity" --a nod to the actor's current role as spokesman for All-Bran. That, suggests the artist in question, Clayton Hanmer, or "the big poop could also represent the bulls--t of celebrity and Hollywood-dom that he totally has control of."

Like Mr. Hanmer, most artists seem eager to get beyond the characters that Mr. Shatner plays and into the character of the man himself -- someone who seems uniquely able to simultaneously enjoy his celebrity and mock it. (When Ms. Vangool asked for his blessing, Mr. Shatner e-mailed: "Every artist has their muse. Leonardo was inspired by the ceiling in the great chapel. Who am I to stand in the way of all these fine artists and artisans who want to use my lumpy, ageing face for inspiration?")

The inspiration for the exhibit came last summer, Ms. Vangool says. She and her husband had never given much thought to Mr. Shatner, before. They are not Trekkies, nor avid fans of T.J. Hooker, Rescue 911 or Boston Legal. But on a road trip to Nova Scotia, they listened over and over to Mr. Shatner's 2004 spoken-word album Has Been. In it, the star known most for his pop cultural camp value, offers up sometimes painful reflections on his life. "It has a nice emotional range and [it] intrigued me that he had this other creative side," she says.

Several pieces in the exhibit play with the theme of Mr. Shatner as Lothario. In one imagined mash-up from the legendary Star Trek episode "Arena", Kirk's death-struggle with a Gorn lizard becomes a love scene. Several artists are absorbed by Mr. Shatner's Quebec roots, portraying him as the iconic Bonhomme and as a cat (a play on the French transliteration of his name, "Chat-ner").

But given that this is a man who has become a cultural icon, despite never having aspired to acting and who has succeeded in transforming typecast into self-parody, making millions doing so (his estimated $40-million net worth comes more from his work in the past decade than anything from his more serious past), it is remarkable that so many works portray a dark, tortured side.

In one linocut, he sits anxiously on a tree limb, in his pyjamas, gripping his knees to his chest. One disturbing painting shows the Montreal-born actor at a pool-side funeral -- in 1999, he discovered his third wife dead at the bottom of his pool-- while mourners in black swimsuits sip punch.

Amazingly, though, it's Mr. Shatner's mystifying performance of "Rocket Man" at the 1978 Science Fiction Film Awards that emerges as the dominant theme. At least 16 different works evoke the melodramatic scene, in which a tuxedoed Mr. Shatner, atop a stool lit by a single spotlight, contemplates a cigarette while speaking the lyrics to the Elton John song.

While Ms. Vangool says she asked the artists to treat the subject with "playful reverence," most apparently couldn't escape an image of Mr. Shatner as the enigmatic, rather absurd, Rocket Man: a human of dimensions at odds with each other.

They weren't alone. The most serious work of the exhibit is "Shatner Reflecting". In it, an older looking Shatner slumps in a dressing room, cigarette in hand, a scotch on the vanity. There is nothing "playful" about it. It is the one work Mr. Shatner asked to keep for himself.

http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/news ... 62&p=1

http://vangooldesign.com/shatnerweb/SHA ... me=contact

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kirkscutie11728 - Aug 29, 2007 - 02:11 PM
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I really enjoyed reading some of the articles (well now we know that Bill likes smoked meat) and we've got his 'beauty' secret (organic vegetables) and we've also got what his CD will be (oratorical on Exodus, classical music) but I didn't know that he has art gallery exhibits, which is in a way awesome! I was looking at the pictures in the article 'Simply Shatner' and I immediately picked out the last one because I liked it the best, only to read that Bill has chosen that one for himself (I've got taste like Bill, yay!) I'm going to check out the Negotiator's MySpace page, and then there was Interpol (if they're doing a new CD they should really try and get Bill's velvety voice on it) and then the tinnitus article. No, Bill, don't commit suicide! The world needs you and look at how well things are going for you, albeit, busy as hell. The Madcap Misadventures: Not that it is bad, but does anyone else see that Bill is acting and lending voices for cartoons, children's video-games, and movies? There was Over the Hedge...

DOC - Aug 29, 2007 - 06:41 PM
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Great finds (as always) TRexx.

~Doc Cool

TRexx - Aug 31, 2007 - 08:26 PM
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Some of these articles are a couple months old, playing catch-up on Shatnews.

From The Huntsville Times...

Shatner proud of helping spark imaginations

[Click to see larger picture]

Wednesday, June 13, 2007
By CHRIS WELCH, Times Entertainment Writer chris.welch@htimes.com

Space Camp speaker sees Mars as noble goal

William Shatner has never been an astronaut, space scientist or engineer, but he takes pride in helping influence a new Star Fleet generation as the legendary Capt. James T. Kirk from the "Star Trek" TV series.

"I don't think there's any question 'Star Trek' was a crystallizing factor in many lives," Shatner said during a phone interview Tuesday.

Tonight, Shatner will emcee the first Space Camp Hall of Fame induction at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center. The ceremony is part of Space Camp's 25th anniversary celebration this year.

"People, they made choices based on 'Star Trek,' which is phenomenal," he said. "People recognized 'Star Trek' as science fiction, but it still provoked their imagination and changed what they wanted to do."

Shatner, 76, will be forever remembered for his role as captain of the USS Enterprise in the "Star Trek" series from 1966 to 1969. He returned to the Enterprise bridge in "Star Trek: The Motion Picture" in 1979. Between 1979 and 1991, he was in the first six "Star Trek" films and directed the fifth.

Many younger fans, however, know Shatner for his wacky commercials for Priceline.com and DirecTV, in which he parodies himself on the Enterprise. He's also earned Emmys for his roles on "The Practice" and most recently as Denny Crane on "Boston Legal." He now stars in a reality show called "Fast Cars & Superstars - Gillette Young Guns Celebrity Race."

"I've been very lucky," Shatner said. "If you stay around long enough, people will find something for you to do.

"The only problem is when you stay around a long time, you don't look the same."

It's been reported that billionaire Richard Branson, head of the Virgin Group and the space tourism company Virgin Galactic, offered Shatner a free ride into space on the inaugural space launch of the VSS Enterprise scheduled for 2008. But Shatner said Branson offered him "an invitation to pay him" to go up, and "he should be paying me."

Does Shatner want to head into space like Capt. Kirk?

"I'm not sure I want to go up high in a loop and fall back down," he said. "That sounds like a job to me."

Although it was 40 years ago, many Trekkers can still recite the mission of the starship Enterprise that Shatner introduced before every episode: "Space, the final frontier. These are the voyages of the starship Enterprise. Its five-year mission: To explore strange new worlds. To seek out new life and new civilizations. To boldly go where no man has gone before."

What's Shatner's assessment of NASA's mission to head back to the moon and Mars?

"I think the country needs a noble objective, and among the notable objectives are peace, democracy and all the political things that abound," he said. "One of the other things we need is a goal, which becomes unattainable. As soon as we go to the moon, we want to go to Mars, and as soon as we go to Mars, then it's somewhere else.

"A constant need for a goal is a human condition, almost like a dream. It's almost unattainable, but you continue to strive, and a journey through the stars will be a means of identifying this great country."

http://www.al.com/news/huntsvilletimes/ ... amp;coll=1

----

From the Weatherford Democrat (June 14)...

'Space' and 'camp' good fit for William Shatner

By Kelly Kazek, THE NEWS COURIER (ATHENS, Ala.)

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. -- Some trivia about William Shatner, according to Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com):

• Has three daughters, Leslie, Lisabeth Shatner and Melanie Shatner. He and his wife Elizabeth live in Southern California. Also has a 360-acre horse farm in Kentucky.

• Is fluent in French.

• Born to Ann and Joseph Shatner on March 22, 1931 in Montreal, Canada.

• His clipped, dramatic narration, peppered with dramatic pauses, is often referred to as "Shatnerian."

• According to various reports, a Halloween mask in Shatner's likeness was painted white and used as the mask of Michael Myers in the film "Halloween" (1978).

• First performer to win Emmys for portraying the same character (Denny Crane) on two different shows "The Practice" and "Boston Legal."

• Sold his kidney stone to GoldenPalace.com for $25,000. The money goes to Habitat for Humanity, a charity that builds houses for the needy.

• Released an album titled "Has Been" in 2004.

STORY:

Space and camp -- a natural fit for television icon William Shatner. The words embody the two things he is most famous for.

Shatner, 76, was host Wednesday night of the first Space Camp Hall of Fame induction banquet. Best known for his role on the space sci-fi series "Star Trek" in the late 1960s, the 50-year acting veteran is now enjoying fame on television commercials for Priceline, as a recording artist, and an Emmy-winning actor on the show "Boston Legal."

He has also seemingly embraced his inner campiness, wearing it outwardly as a source of pride. He doesn't mind that his recordings, including one of the Beatles' "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds," are labeled "camp classics."

Being Shatner is like being Jack Nicholson: It doesn't matter what he does, it matters only that he is Shatner.

Shatner said he was proud to introduce the first eight inductees at the inaugural Space Camp Hall of Fame banquet.

"It's history," he said.

Story Musgrave, the only astronaut to fly on all five shuttles, was also a host of the event, along with Jim Halsell, veteran of numerous space missions.

Prior to the gala at the Von Braun Center, Shatner met with members of the media to answer questions, including one he is often asked: Why should space exploration be a priority for a country facing so many problems on the ground?

"The answer: The quest for space is the quest for knowledge," he said, the collar of his shirt open, awaiting the bow tie he would wear to the event.

Space Camp, a one-of-a-kind program allowing children and adults to learn about and simulate space travel, is an incredible concept, Shatter said, recalling how when his three adult daughters were children, camp meant "trees, horses and deer."

"Space Camp? Good Lord, what a great idea that is," he said. Combining fun with learning about science and engineering is "mystical," he said.

"Space is mystical -- the deep unknown. It's something we'll never know enough about," he said.

Shatter is linked, through his famous character Captain James T. Kirk, to space and said he is often surprised to hear people say he or "Star Trek" influenced their interest in space.

"I am awed by the fact that somebody is influenced by what I've done," he said. He does not want anyone to take his role too seriously, however. "I don't want to break this to you too suddenly, but it was just a television show."

He admits, though, that life and art can mingle and Star Trek did have an impact. "Appropriations to NASA went up when our ratings went up," he said. "And our ratings went up whenever there was a launch."

Ed Buckbee, the first director of the U.S. Space & Rocket Center and founder of Space Camp, was among the first eight inductees. He also saw an impact of art on life.

"What kicked it off nationally was the movie 'Space Camp,'" Buckbee said. "We had a few hundred campers then and it jumped to thousands."

The center opened as a "small, local attraction -- kind of a hometown museum," he said of what was initially called the Alabama Space & Rocket Center before it was renamed "U.S." "With Space Camp we became a true national attraction."

The camp was begun, he said, with an idea by Dr. Werhner von Braun who was touring the center with Buckbee in 1977 when he noticed children studying rockets and making notes.

"He said, 'We have band camp, football, cheerleading; why don't we have a science camp?'" Buckbee recalls.

When the camp opened in 1982, he never imagined the impact it would have.

He remembered one camper who told him, "This is the first place I've ever been where it was cool to be smart.

http://www.weatherforddemocrat.com/cnhi ... ndarystory

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TRexx - Aug 31, 2007 - 08:35 PM
Post subject:

From the4400guide.com...

Joel Gretsch & Melanie Shatner

by Arieanna on August 30th, 2007 @ the4400guide.com

A little known fact about Joel Gretsch is that he married the daughter of William Shatner, Melanie Shatner. The two were married in 1999 and have two daughters of their own, Kaya and Willow.

Melanie Shatner made two appearances herself on Star Trek. Once as a young girl, seen pictured here with her father, and once in Star Trek V: The Final Frontier as Enterprise yeoman.

Melanie and daddy Shatner in TOS "Miri" (1966)

Yeoman Melanie in Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (1989)

Melanie is now the owner of an upscale clothes shop in Sherman Oaks (LA), Dari, where the family lives. Here is a picture of Joel & Melanie from 2004:

Melanie and hubby Joel at the LA premiere of Collateral (2004)

http://www.the4400guide.com/2007/08/30/ ... e-shatner/

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TRexx - Sep 02, 2007 - 01:55 AM
Post subject:

Jason Alexander (leftside) and Brad Paisley

Seinfeld's Jason Alexander directed and features with William Shatner in country singer Brad Paisley's "Online" music video, which is a nominee for the 2007 CMA "Music Video of the Year" Award.

According to KZLA radio host and producer Peter Tilden, "Shatner said 'No' the first time, so I invited him on the radio show with Brad and pinned him down on the air -- which would make him look like a really bad guy if he said 'No'. So, we got him!"

Paisley has posted a video of outtakes, interviews, and behind-the-scenes antics (including Bill) from the production shoot...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCeNBmZzW6I

"Cooler Online" is a song about how some people pretend to be something better than their real self while online. In the music video, Alexander plays a pizza delivery nerd who pretends to be like Paisley. The nerd's dad is played by William Shatner and Alexander's Seinfeld mom, Estelle Harris, plays the nerd's mom. American Idol's Kellie Pickler, and Maureen McCormick [Brady Bunch Marcia] are also in this video...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7GcVnhNjWV0

Brad Paisley's new album, 5th Gear, is available in retail shops and online.

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TRexx - Sep 05, 2007 - 07:41 AM
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Jules Verne Adventures USA announces...

William Shatner will receive the Jules Verne Lifetime Achievement Award on Sunday, December 9, at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. A tribute to Bill will be hosted by Malcolm McDowell and special guest stars.

5pm : Red Carpet
6pm : Show Movie premiere
(9pm : end of the show)
Jules Verne's After-party

http://www.julesvernefestival.com/spip.php?sommaire

Jules Verne Adventures proudly celebrates 15 years of Exploration, Conservation and Education. Let's keep experiencing Extraordinary Voyages in the tradition of Jules Verne -- where Science meets Fiction, where Documentaries meet Movies. We dedicate these first 15 years to the explorers who fight for the Earth, to the artists who broaden our imagination and to the warm audiences of the Festival.

Jules Verne Adventure Film Festival

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TRexx - Sep 05, 2007 - 11:37 PM
Post subject:

A video clip at iFilm...

William Shatner finds out he can let fly with his favorite word at the most killer award show kickin' round. What an S.O.B!

"Son of a bitch. I like to say, 'Son of a bitch!'", Bill told the audience at Scream 2006, the first annual Horror, Sci-Fi, and Fantasy Awards show from Spike TV...

http://www.ifilm.com/video/2892351

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TRexx - Sep 10, 2007 - 09:58 AM
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From The National Ledger...

William Shatner to Join J.J. Abrams' Film Star Trek 11?

By Marilyn Beck and Stacy Jenel Smith
Sep 9, 2007

Is William Shatner joining the cast of the soon-to-shoot J.J. Abrams' film tentatively known as "Star Trek 11"? "I'm not. They haven't invited me to do it," says Shatner, who figures the movie forces have solved the problem of dealing with the aging version of his iconic spaceship captain character, James T. Kirk, by having a "dead Kirk." As for who'll play young, alive Kirk, "It seems they're looking for an unknown, so I have no idea. I don't have a finger on that pulse. I've barely got a finger on my own pulse," Shatner notes jauntily.

"I feel sort of like a wallflower. I'll watch the dance from the wings." Dash it all! But no tears for Shatner, who's incredibly busy with his own activities, including showing up at the Emmys Sept. 16 to see whether he'll win an Outstanding Supporting Actor statuette for playing "Boston Legal's" notorious Denny Crane -- again.

And that's also including "The Academy" -- Shatner's October-release book. "It's the story of young Kirk and Spock and the forces that molded them. I used the Darfur situation for what generates the excitement. A conflict in which there are child soldiers -- and Kirk and Spock are not much older than those child soldiers."

So Shatner's take on his and Leonard Nimoy's characters' early days will get out to the public way ahead of the film, which starts production in November. "It's a coincidence," he says. "In this book, the publisher is putting a fronticepiece saying that this is the artist's unique vision."

Shatner also has a recording, a newly created oratorio of "Exodus" with the Arkansas Symphony, coming out this fall. And he has a DVD coming out called "Gonzo Ballet" -- indeed. "It's kind of out there. The Milwaukee Ballet wanted to do a ballet based on five or six songs from my album 'Has Been.' They got well-known choreographer Margot Sappington to do about a half-dozen numbers. It was filmed with eight cameras, and with interviews showing how a ballet is born."

And then there's Denny Crane. What would Shatner like to see that randy ol' attorney do in the coming season? "I'd like to see him play Captain Kirk in the new 'Star Trek' movie."

http://www.nationalledger.com/artman/pu ... 5957.shtml

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TRexx - Sep 10, 2007 - 10:29 AM
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From the A&E Channel...

Biography®

"William Shatner"

Rated: TVPG
Running Time: 60 Minutes
Genre: Documentary
Closed Captions: Yes

Upcoming Airings: Saturday, Sept. 15 @ 8am/7C

He commanded the Starship Enterprise on Star Trek, he locked up bad guys in T.J. Hooker, and he even found us cheap hotel rooms as the priceline.com pitchman. What a guy! He's William Shatner, the actor who's found many ways to stay in the public eye for decades, even spoofing his overblown acting style in a way far more hip than desperate. This profile looks at Shatner's long and successful career, which now includes a starring role on the hit series Boston Legal.

Interviews include: Leonard Nimoy, James Spader, Candice Bergen, and Patrick Stewart; Shatner's favorite impersonator actor/comedian Kevin Pollak; TV Guide's Matt Roush; Robert Schnakenberg, author of the Encyclopedia Shatnerica; daughters Lisabeth and Leslie, his wife Elizabeth and Shatner himself.

http://www.aetv.com/listings/episode_de ... eid=147834

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TRexx - Sep 12, 2007 - 01:45 PM
Post subject:

Via PR Leap...

Starlight Unveils Site of a Million Stars, a First-of-Its-Kind Online Charity Fundraising Initiative

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA September 12, 2007

Starlight Starbright Children's Foundation is excited to announce the launch of Site of a Million Stars at www.millionstars.org, a first-of-its-kind online charity fundraising initiative which unites individuals from all over the globe in a common mission to support seriously ill children and families.

The website features an [audio] introduction from William Shatner who invites visitors to become "one in a million" by adding a star of their own design to the million stars universe and using their personal star power to shine a light into the lives of families who need it most.

In exchange for a donation of $5 to $30, donors are able to create stars featuring a variety of sizes, colors, and effects. In return, donors get more than a tax receipt, they also have the chance to communicate with a global audience. By attaching a 250-character message, a photo/logo, and a website link (any external website, including social networking pages) to their star, donors are able promote something (a business, school, new book, band, etc.) or pay tribute to a special person in their lives (parents, kids, pets, etc.) A donor's star and whatever he chooses to say or promote will be visible to everyone around the world who visits Site of a Million Stars.

Donors may choose to place their star in a galaxy that holds meaning for them. Current galaxies have been created by celebrities, bands and athletes (who contributed hand-drawn stars to the site); states/countries; schools; philanthropically-minded businesses; to celebrate occasions; and more. Individuals who agree to help spread the word may also create new galaxies to 1) invite friends and family to help celebrate a special event such as a birthday, wedding, bar mitzvah or graduation by making a donation; 2) provide a place for members of a community, place of business, school or other organization to collectively show their support; or 3) enable a group of friends and family members to recognize or remember a special seriously ill child.

Donors can direct their gifts to whichever Starlight office in the US, Canada, Australia, or Japan serves their local community.

"Starlight shines light into the darkness of childhood illness, and through Site of a Million Stars, anyone with Internet access and $5 can help us make a world of difference," said Paula Van Ness, Chief Executive Officer of Starlight Starbright Children's Foundation. "Million Stars sponsors engage their friends and families in making meaningful contributions, and they also tell the world a little bit about who they are and why they created their stars. Through the power of the Internet, this campaign introduces an entirely new, interactive and global way for people to support children and families at the time they need it most!"

https://www.millionstars.org/

http://www.starlight.org/

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TRexx - Sep 14, 2007 - 06:58 AM
Post subject:

From VideoSift...

Billy West Talks About Getting Shatner to Guest on Futurama

September 13, 2007

Billy West -- the voice of Fry, Prof. Farnsworth, Zapp Brannigan, Dr. Zoidberg, and others -- talks about getting William Shatner and other members of the original Star Trek to guest on an episode of the animated Futurama series.

"Somehow, we got him!"

http://www.videosift.com/video/Billy-We ... n-Futurama (video)

(It may take a while for the VideoSift streaming video to start)

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Installing Ubuntu on Windows with Wubi

TRexx - Sep 20, 2007 - 09:42 PM
Post subject:

From MoviesOnline.ca...

Roger Corman's INTRUDER on DVD Sept 25th

Roger Corman's The Intruder starring William Shatner is coming to Special Edition DVD, Sept 25th. The king of underground movies and exploitative cinema directed and produced The Intruder, which was released theatrically in 1962. Despite some of the best critical reviews of Corman's career, the film did not find success at the box office because of the theme, but even by today's standards The Intruder remains powerful.

William Shatner delivers a riveting performance as Adam Cramer, who travels from Washington to a small southern town under the guise of a social worker from the Patrick Henry Society. He seems like the perfect gentlemen, but Cramer came to stop the court-ordered desegregation in schools by preaching his hatred to the locals. He ignites an angry mob, but soon discovers their rage might be too much for him to control.

http://www.moviesonline.ca/movienews_12993.html

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TRexx - Sep 21, 2007 - 04:18 PM
Post subject:

Excerpts from Bspcn.Com...

A dying scholar is glad to have met Bill...

CMU professor gives his last lesson on life

...

When he was a boy, Dr. Pausch said, he had a concrete set of dreams: He wanted to experience the weightlessness of zero gravity; he wanted to play football in the NFL; he wanted to write an article for the World Book Encyclopedia ("You can tell the nerds early on," he joked); he wanted to be Captain Kirk from "Star Trek"; and he wanted to work for the Disney Co.

...

While he didn't get to be Captain Kirk, actor William Shatner, who played Kirk, did visit him at Carnegie Mellon in recent years.

"It's cool to meet your boyhood idol," Dr. Pausch said. "It's even cooler when he comes to you to see what you're doing in your lab."

...

In mid-summer, after tests initially showed he was clear of cancer, he added two rounds of treatment with an experimental cancer vaccine at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore.

And then, just as he was finally feeling healthy again late last month, Dr. Pausch sent out this message to his diary readers:

"A recent CT scan showed that there are 10 tumors in my liver, and my spleen is also peppered with small tumors. The doctors say that it is one of the most aggressive recurrences they have ever seen."

He and Jai moved their family to Chesapeake, Va., so she would be near her relatives. They made initial plans for hospice care, and Dr. Pausch began palliative chemotherapy to give him some extra time.

"I find that I am completely positive," he wrote. "The only times I cry are when I think about the kids -- and it's not so much the 'Gee, I'll miss seeing their first bicycle ride' type of stuff as it is a sense of unfulfilled duty -- that I will not be there to help raise them, and that I have left a very heavy burden for my wife."

See the complete article, and a video, at Bspcn.Com...

http://www.bspcn.com/2007/09/20/cmu-pro ... n-on-life/

Dr. Andy Pausch with a farewell lecture at Carnegie Mellon University.

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Claudia - Sep 21, 2007 - 10:38 PM
Post subject:

TRexx wrote:

----------------

Powerful drama. William Shatner plays a coniving Adam Cramer to perfection. The last scene when he looks totally rejected and pathetic says it all.

TRexx - Sep 21, 2007 - 10:55 PM
Post subject:

From Replay Factor at Blogspot...

Replay Factor Spotlight on William Shatner

Thursday, September 20, 2007

William Shatner is many things... actor, writer, director, producer, equestrian and... SINGER??? Not quite, but he has released some recordings you have to hear to believe. Sit back and take a quick listen through the last 40 years at the Shat Man's sometimes goofy but always entertaining musical career.

The 32-minute audio podcast can be downloaded as a 15-megabyte MP3 file.

http://replayfactor.blogspot.com/2007/0 ... lliam.html

http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/replayfa ... /index.php

http://media.libsyn.com/media/replayfac ... hatner.mp3

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TRexx - Sep 26, 2007 - 02:24 AM
Post subject:

From Discovery Channel Canada...

Mars Rising

Shot in HD in over 90 locations, the documentary series "Mars Rising" explores how the challenges being grappled with today will lead to a manned mission to Mars in the next 20 years. Film crews captured interviews, training sessions and experiments in the United States, Russia, Chile, China, Europe and across Canada, including the Canadian Arctic. Over 300 scientists from diverse backgrounds and nationalities were consulted for the series and more than 60 space experts, including former and current astronauts, appear on camera. Among the critical subjects explored through the series include spaceship design, possible trajectories, rocket fuel, finding new life forms, new thoughts on astronaut selection and training, space suit engineering, medical training for deep space, blasting through the Mars atmosphere, life support systems and robotics.

Among the distinguished experts appearing in the series, three experts with very different backgrounds stand out: James Garvin, lead scientist for Mars and Lunar Exploration at NASA; Paul Delaney, Professor of Physics and Astronomy at Toronto's York University; and Academy-Award winning filmmaker James Cameron ('Titanic') who is a member of NASA's special advisory committee. The astronauts interviewed on "Mars Rising" include Chris Hadfield, the first Canadian mission specialist and the first Canadian to operate the Canadarm in orbit; Canadian Dave Williams currently on board the Atlantis and expected to make three space walks on the Shuttle Endeavour in August 2007; retired NASA astronaut Jerry Linenger, who spent 132 days aboard the ISS Mir in 1997; and Jeffrey Hoffman who was inducted into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame earlier this year.

William Shatner narrates "Mars Rising" -- and it's not the first time that the multiple-award-winning actor has worked with Discovery Channel Canada! Commissioned by Discovery Channel, the hit 2005 special "How William Shatner Changed the World" was hosted and narrated by the "Star Trek" icon, and based on his book, "I'm Working On That". The cheeky and irreverent doc showcased the brightest minds of Silicon Valley and their Trek-inspired inventions that have changed the world.

"Earth to Mars: The Great Space Debate"
Sun., Nov. 11 at 7 p.m. ET/8 p.m. PT on Discovery Channel (Canada)
This one-hour special wraps up "Race to Mars" and "Mars Rising" and puts plans for a manned mission to Mars under the microscope with the ultimate litmus test. An esteemed panel of scientists and space experts dissect the risks, challenges and dangers of a mission that could last as long as three years. Moderated by "Daily Planet" co-host Jay Ingram, the "Earth To Mars: The Great Space Debate" panel features NASA Chief Scientist James Garvin; co-founder of The Mars Society Robert Zubrin; and Psychiatrist and former NASA flight surgeon Doctor Pat Santy. Featuring illustrative scenes from "Race to Mars" and "Mars Rising," the experts will tackle everything from the astronomical expense involved in mounting a human mission to the Red Planet, to crew selection and cabin fever, to the probability of life on Mars. In addition to the panel debate, this special will feature exclusive expert testimonials along with exclusive behind the scenes footage from the production of "Race to Mars."

http://www.discoverychannel.ca/shows/sh ... x?sid=2627

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TRexx - Sep 26, 2007 - 08:46 PM
Post subject:

From Celestron via Yahoo!...

Captain Kirk's Iconic Stature Enters the Final Frontier as William Shatner is the People's Choice to Have a Star Named in His Honor According to an Online Poll Conducted by Celestron

Wednesday September 26, 8:00 am ET

Award-Winning Actor Takes Home Title And A SkyScout Personal Planetarium As His Universal Appeal Outshines A Competitive Field Of Nobel Prize Winners, Former Presidents, Famous Explorers, Hollywood Celebrities And Professional Athletes

TORRANCE, Calif., Sept. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Celestron®, a leading manufacturer of high-quality optical products including computerized and non-computerized telescopes and related accessories, binoculars, spotting scopes and microscopes, announced today that William Shatner has been named "the person most deserving of a star named in their honor" according to the results of a recent people's choice online poll taken in conjunction with Celestron's Ultimate Backyard Adventure Sweepstakes promotion.

Best known for his role as Captain James T. Kirk in the popular Star Trek TV and film series, the Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winning actor, director, producer, screenwriter, recording artist and author claimed his rightful place in the night sky as he edged out Oprah Winfrey and Tiger Woods to take the people's choice title for "most deserving of their own star." Other notable nominees included Edward "Buzz" Aldrin, Carl Sagan, Bill Clinton, Angelina Jolie, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Bill Gates and The Simpsons.

"I'm honored to be the people's top choice to have a star named after me," commented Mr. Shatner. "I believe that you head toward the North Star and turn left, the one on the right is mine."

In addition to his celestial status, Mr. Shatner also received a Celestron SkyScout Personal Planetarium®, the revolutionary handheld device that uses advanced GPS technology with point and click convenience to identify thousands of stars, planets, constellations and more.

"Mr. Shatner and the entire Star Trek franchise has had a tremendous impact on the pace of scientific and technological advancements as they inspired a new generation of world-changing scientists and inventors that would go on to revolutionize space exploration and consumer technology, paving the way for advanced products like the SkyScout Personal Planetarium," said Joseph A. Lupica Jr., president and CEO of Celestron.

About the size of a camcorder and weighing less than 16 ounces, the SkyScout utilizes a consumer-friendly "point and shoot" GPS technology that enables stargazers to instantly identify and/or locate over 6,000 celestial objects in the sky with the press of a button and listen to commentary on the object and its history. The SkyScout also has a "locate" feature that allows users to select an object they wish to view (i.e. Mars) and the SkyScout, using illuminated arrows in the viewfinder, will point the user to the object.

Prior to naming Mr. Shatner as the online poll winner, Celestron announced that Robert Papuga from Morganton, North Carolina had been randomly selected from a pool of over 80,000 entries to win the Ultimate Backyard Adventure Sweepstakes adventure pack, complete with a Celestron SkyScout Personal Planetarium, NexStar® 6 SE computerized telescope, VistaPix® IS70 digital spotting scope, Traveler® 8 24X25 binoculars and all the camping gear needed to enjoy a family camping trip under the stars.

About Celestron

Celestron is a leading designer, manufacturer and importer of high-quality optical products including computerized and non-computerized telescopes and related accessories, binoculars, spotting scopes and microscopes. Since manufacturing its first telescope in 1960, Celestron has grown to become one of the world's leading telescope makers, and enjoys brand-name recognition among serious amateur astronomers for superior optics, outstanding design, and innovative technology. Celestron's innovative products continue to receive numerous industry and consumer media accolades, adding to an already impressive list that includes awards for product innovation from Reader's Digest, Popular Science, PC Magazine, Popular Mechanics, the Consumer Electronics Association and more. Celestron sells and markets its products worldwide through a variety of specialty retail outlets and international distributors. Celestron is a privately held company with corporate offices and manufacturing facilities, in Torrance, CA. For more information about Celestron and the SkyScout product please visit, http://www.celestron.com and http://www.myskyscout.com.

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/070926/law015.html?.v=101

CONTACT: Vicki Croucier, Marketing Manager of Celestron,
+1-310-328-9560, ext. 298, vcroucier@celestron.com; or William Ostedt,
wostedt@ppmgcorp.com, or Lisa Townsend, ltownsend@ppmgcorp.com, both of
The Pollack PR Marketing Group, +1-310-556-4443, for Celestron

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kirkscutie11728 - Sep 26, 2007 - 09:49 PM
Post subject:

[size=10]

Wow, if you look at the top of their heads with the lights shining down, they have the same reddish hair color !! She looks like him !!

TRexx - Sep 28, 2007 - 08:57 PM
Post subject:

From UnitNews.co.uk...

William Shatner Video Interview

First Published | 19:02, Thursday September 27 2007

Actor and author William Shatner discusses his nine Star Trek novels in this video dialogue:

http://www.unitnews.co.uk/story.php?article_id=1267

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DRM Trouble Drives Microsoft Security Expert to Linux

TRexx - Oct 01, 2007 - 03:52 AM
Post subject:

From MySpaceTV...

William Shatner is the voice for Lemon Jelly "'64 aka GO."

Promo video run-time is 6 minutes and 32 seconds...

http://myspacetv.com/index.cfm?fuseacti ... id=5374279

_________________

TRexx - Oct 02, 2007 - 12:45 AM
Post subject:

From Cookie Madness...

William Shatner's Cappuccino Muffins

Posted by Anna on 01 Oct 2007 at 09:32 am

I'm heading to New York pretty soon, and since I got such a good hotel deal from Priceline, I decided to post a recipe for William Shatner's Cappuccino Muffins. I didn't know much about this recipe, but the ingredients sounded good and the technique was pretty basic. Plus, I had just bought a jar of espresso powder not too long ago and was itching to use it. Since I didn't have any "mini" chocolate chips, I used a combination of bittersweet chocolate chips and a few mini cinnamon chips.

I followed the instructions as Shatner directed and put the muffins in the oven while I cleaned the house. After 18 minutes, I turned on the oven light and said "Beam me up Scotty! These muffins look fabulous!" Luckily, no one was there to hear me but the cat and he's use to it.

Anyway, if William Shatner puts out a cookbook, I'll buy it because these were terrific. I think I'm going to take them down to the school and put them in the Teachers' Lounge. They're going to think they're from a bakery though because I packed them into one of my fine plastic muffin containers from PaperMart.

Muffin Packaging

One final note. William Shatner got 12 muffins, but I filled the muffin tins up to the rim and made 8 big ones with nice crowns.

William Shatner's Cappuccino Chip Muffins

2 cups flour
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons instant espresso powder
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 large egg (room temp)
1 cup milk (room temp)
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, melted and cooled
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup mini chocolate chips or equivalent of other chips

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Spray a 12 cup muffin tin with flour-added cooking spray. For bigger muffins, spray 8 of the cups.

In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, espresso powder, cinnamon and salt.

In a medium bowl, whisk egg lightly. Whisk in milk, melted butter and vanilla extract. Make a well in center of dry ingredients and pour in milk mixture. Stir just until evenly blended. Stir in chocolate chips.

Divide batter among 12 or 8 greased muffin cups. Bake 15 to 18 minutes, or until a cake tester inserted in center of muffin comes out clean.

Makes 8-12 muffins

http://www.cookiemadness.net/?p=1054

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TRexx - Oct 08, 2007 - 12:02 AM
Post subject:

From AMC TV SciFi Scanner...

Clips: Quintessential Shatner Acting Moments

Few actors are so quintessentially themselves as William Shatner.

Comedy Central put together this priceless compilation of some of the Shat's greatest on-screen moments as part of the on-air roast they threw in honor of him in 2006. Check it out.

William Shater Acting Montage [YouTube]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XoOzAglkIRM

_________________

Why My Mom Can Use Ubuntu

TRexx - Oct 08, 2007 - 12:37 AM
Post subject:

Will we make it to Mars?

Oct 07, 2007 04:30 AM, Jim Bawden, TV Columnist

First words of advice about Mars Rising, the new six-part documentary series on the challenges involved in making a future mission to the Red Planet possible: you must try to forget the equally splendid dramatic miniseries Race to Mars that just concluded on Discovery.

Narrated by William Shatner, Mars Rising (Discovery Channel Canada, tonight at 8 and 9; continuing weekly through Nov. 4) stands on its own as a pretty tremendous piece of science.

Read the complete article at the Toronto Star newspaper website...

http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/Te ... cle/264329

---

The Science Channel Presents Mars Rising

On Tuesday, October 30, at 9 PM (ET/PT), The Science Channel and The Science Channel HD will air MARS RISING, a special six-part series that immerses viewers in the challenges and possibilities of what might be the most important human voyage in history. MARS RISING, narrated by Emmy Award winning actor William Shatner, will premiere every Tuesday at 9 PM (ET/PT) from Tuesday, October 30, through Tuesday, December 4, 2007.

http://fe13.news.re3.yahoo.com/s/prweb/ ... rweb558793

http://www.discoverychannel.ca/shows/sh ... x?sid=2627

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TRexx - Oct 10, 2007 - 04:14 AM
Post subject:

From NBC11.com...

William Shatner recently championed actors' rights on the Boston Legal set, according to the National Enquirer's Mike Walker. When a bossy assistant director wasn't so respectful to extras, the Priceline shill shouted, "YOU DON'T SPEAK TO ACTORS LIKE THAT! ... Your tone of voice and superior attitude won't be tolerated on this set. Apologize NOW!" And when the Shatner speaks, assistant directors obey.

http://www.nbc11.com/msnbcentertainment ... etail.html

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TRexx - Oct 11, 2007 - 09:39 AM
Post subject:

The CD Times interviewed UK singer-songwriter Stephen Fretwell, whose new Man on the Roof album has a song titled "William Shatner's Dog"...

CDtimes: What is the meaning of "William Shatner's Dog"? There seems to be no out-and-out reference to Shatner in the lyrics.

Fretwell: The idea is that the character who is singing the song, the relationship between that character and the woman who is the recipient of the song, there's some kind of private in-joke about William Shatner having a dog that's unknown to the listener. I don't know myself what the in-joke might be but it's the idea that it's never mentioned, and it provides such a weight on the song, this thing that only the guy and the woman know about.

CDtimes: Are you a William Shatner fan?

Fretwell: Yeah, I love William Shatner. He's a legend. I don't know if he's heard the song but I'm sure someone will mention it, what with his name in the title. That would be nice.

CDtimes: Any chance of a duet?

Fretwell: That would be my dream collaboration. The highlight of my career!

See the full interview at CD Times...

http://www.cdtimes.co.uk/content.php?contentid=4643

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TRexx - Oct 12, 2007 - 12:36 AM
Post subject:

From Stalking Santa @ MySpace...

Is Santa Real??? New Evidence from Expert Santologist!!! Huge Conspiracy

Stalking Santa, the new documentary about T.E.R.D (Tangible Evidence. Real Discoveries) research narrated by William Shatner has been leaked onto the internet!

Visit MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/stalkingsanta

Stalking Santa Trailer OFFICIAL...

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fusea ... 2062104917

_________________

littlestar - Oct 12, 2007 - 10:37 PM
Post subject: Star Trek Movie set on SNOOZE ?

"Star Trek" fans new and old have been trying to get excited about the newest movie incarnation of the venerable series, but director J.J. Abrams hasn't given them a lot to cheer about. Especially since the few plot details about the new movie that have leaked out seem scarily reminiscent of a long-feared "Starfleet Academy" project that executives at Paramount Pictures have been intrigued by for years. One bright spot has been the return of Leonard Nimoy as Spock, but the news this week that Eric Bana would play the movie's villain, Nero, was another example of a "yawn" coming from the Abrams camp -- especially if he's the "big star" fans have been clamoring for to help resurrect the franchise.

Bana broke onto the international scene after a gutsy performance in 2000's "Chopper" and was hailed as the next big thing, nabbing roles in "Troy," "Munich," "Hulk" and "Lucky You." And while many Australians insist Bana was a hilarious comedian before his Hollywood movie career began, the actor has shown about as much on-screen charisma as a piece of driftwood. So, it's hard to believe he'll somehow be compelling as an epic villain.

More distressing is that, with production scheduled to begin next month, "Trek" has gone down to the wire on casting major roles across the board. False rumors of Matt Damon's participation aside, the biggest role to be filled just happens to be the series' hero, Captain James T. Kirk. Mike Vogel, soon to be seen in the Abrams-produced "Cloverfield"/"1-18-08"/"We're Too Cool to Give You a Real Title," seemed to be the front-runner a few months ago, but now The Hollywood Reporter is reporting newcomer Chris Pike is the leading candidate. Yet even this relative unknown may turn down the iconic role to star opposite George Clooney in the thriller "White Jazz" instead. And while the young Spock (Zachary Quinto of "Heroes"), Chekov (Anton Yelchin of "Alpha Dog") and Uhura (Zoe Saldana of "Guess Who") have been found, there hasn't been a peep about who is playing Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy.

Abrams loves to be secretive about his projects, but this ain't "Lost" or "Alias." There are a lot of skeptics out there, and playing possum only makes the seeds of doubt grow. Give the fans and moviegoers in general something to get hyped up about, Mr. Abrams. Based on this cast, your movie is gonna need it.

Update: Breaking news! According to The Hollywood Reporter, Simon Pegg, of "Shaun of the Dead" and "Hot Fuzz" fame, has been cast as Scotty and "Harold and Kumar Go to Whitecastle's" John Cho is set to play Sulu. Is Pegg's presence enough to get excited about? Um ...

MSN-Movies

TRexx - Oct 19, 2007 - 03:11 AM
Post subject:

WENN is dishing this to the international news wires...

Shatner to Appear in New 'Star Trek' Movie

Thursday, October 18, 2007

HOLLYWOOD -- Original Captain Kirk actor William Shatner has been lined up for a cameo role in the new Star Trek film.

The 76-year-old star will play a small part in the forthcoming sci-fi prequel, which will follow the early adventures of the original Enterprise crew.

The 11th big screen installment of the legendary TV series will also feature a cameo appearance from Shatner's former costar Leonard Nimoy, who made famous the role of Mr. Spock.

Other actors already signed up for the project include Chris Pine as Kirk, Heroes star Zachary Quinto as Spock and Simon Pegg as Scotty.

http://www.hollywood.com/news/Shatner_t ... ie/4949771

----

STAR TREK XI TO GET SHAT ON?

10.18.07
By Devin Faraci
Contributing sources: Newswatch 50, Chris Miller

Ever since Leonard Nimoy was confirmed to appear in Star Trek XI as Old Spock, people have been wondering, 'What about The Shat?' Some rumors have had Shatner mad that he hasn't been asked back, while others say that the filmmakers are trying to figure out a way to squeeze him into the film, and no that's not a Shat Is Fat joke.

A completely unsourced story appearing on internet news aggregator WENN is saying that The Shat is in fact onboard Trek XI for a cameo. What could it be? Since Old Spock is living in the Next Generation time, after Kirk was killed by a bridge, he couldn't be in the opening. Maybe Old Spock does some stops along the way as he time travels back to the early days of the original series and he says hi to Kirk. Or something. Or maybe it's some bullshit that got run as a fact. Again, I can't find any other source for this, and WENN just says that Shatner's in the movie, not even that Paramount has announced it or that sources say or the rumor is.

Take all of this with a pinch of Alterian Table Salt.

http://www.chud.com/index.php?type=news&id=12230

_________________

TRexx - Oct 20, 2007 - 04:10 AM
Post subject:

From WENN via PR-Inside...

SHATNER: "I WON'T BE PART OF STAR TREK PREQUEL"

Movie & Entertainment News provided by World Entertainment News Network (www.wenn.com)
2007-10-20 03:23:46

Actor WILLIAM SHATNER has criticised director J.J. ABRAMS and the producers of the new STAR TREK prequel -- for not finding him a meaty role in the film.

Shatner, who played Captain James Kirk in the original Star Trek TV series and movies, has denied reports he's set for a cameo in the new film. He insists he wouldn't take such a role even if it was offered to him, stating, "I don't do cameos... I can't imagine what I would do as a cameo." But he is upset that he's not among the cast of the new project: "Here's a show with my identity in it and not to be part of it is disappointing... It is a strange construction."

Shatner's Star Trek sidekick and pal Leonard Nimoy will be the only original cast member on board for the prequel -- he'll reprise his role as Mr. Spock in the film.

http://www.pr-inside.com/shatner-i-won- ... 256883.htm

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TRexx - Oct 22, 2007 - 09:12 PM
Post subject:

From TMZ.com...

Spock and Kirk: Star Date

Posted Oct 22nd 2007 2:17PM by TMZ Staff

Christmas came early for Trekkies when Mr. Spock and Captain Kirk were snapped together at the Spike TV Scream Awards in L.A. on Friday. Beam us up, Scotty!

Both are 76-years-old, but Leonard Nimoy and William Shatner have not yet reached the final frontier!

Set phasers to stunned.

http://www.tmz.com/2007/10/22/spock-and-kirk-star-date/

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TRexx - Oct 24, 2007 - 04:12 PM
Post subject:

iFilm posted a video clip of The Original Series bridge cast -- William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, Nichelle Nichols, George Takei, and Walter Koenig -- accepting a special commemorative award for Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.

Bill leads the audience in a "KHAAAN!" shout-out to Ricardo Montalban...

http://www.ifilm.com/video/2905780/event/22474

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TRexx - Oct 28, 2007 - 10:51 PM
Post subject:

From the Associated Press via CNN...

Shatner: How come I'm not in new 'Star Trek'?

LOS ANGELES, California (AP) -- The original Capt. Kirk is disheartened he won't get to boldly go anywhere with his old pal Spock in the new "Star Trek" movie.

William Shatner is disappointed there's no place for him in the new "Star Trek" movie.

While Leonard Nimoy is reprising his role as the pointy-eared Vulcan in next year's science-fiction flick, William Shatner is not on board as Kirk.

"I couldn't believe it. I'm not in the movie at all. Leonard, God bless his heart, is in, but not me," Shatner, 76, told The Associated Press on Thursday. "I thought, what a decision to make, since it obviously is a decision not to make use of the popularity I have to ensure the movie has good box office. It didn't seem to be a wise business decision."

Director J.J. Abrams announced last summer that Nimoy would reprise the role he originated opposite Shatner in the 1960s television show and played again in six big-screen adventures.

Abrams said Shatner probably would have a part in the film, which is due in theaters in December 2008. But while Shatner said he had a couple of meetings with Abrams, nothing came of it.

Abrams' "Trek" film, whose plot is being kept under wraps by distributor Paramount, recounts an early adventure for the crew of the starship Enterprise, with Chris Pines as the young Kirk and Zachary Quinto as the young Spock.

The cast includes Karl Urban as Dr. McCoy, Simon Pegg as engineer Scott, John Cho as helmsman Sulu, Zoe Saldana as communications officer Uhura and Anton Yelchin as navigator Chekov, roles respectively originated by DeForest Kelley, James Doohan, George Takei, Nichelle Nichols and Walter Koenig.

Past "Trek" films presented an obstacle to the revival of Shatner's Kirk, who died at the end of 1994's "Star Trek: Generations."

But in science fiction, you can never truly say die. Spock was killed off in 1982's "Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan" then resurrected in 1984's "Star Trek: The Search for Spock," with Nimoy's Vulcan living on to co-star in three more films, two episodes of "Star Trek: The Next Generation" and now Abrams' new movie.

"I've got a lot to do," said Shatner, whose current work includes the TV show "Boston Legal," narration for the Christmas spoof "Stalking Santa" due on DVD on November 6, and the prequel "Star Trek: Academy -- Collision Course," a novel chronicling Kirk and Spock's first meeting.

Shatner says of "Star Trek": "Having been in on the creation of it, I was hoping to be in on the re-creation."

http://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/Movies/ ... index.html

__________________

TRexx - Nov 02, 2007 - 01:38 PM
Post subject:

From 411mania.com...

411 Movies Interview: William Shatner

Posted by Tony Farinella on 11.01.2007

411's Tony Farinella talks to William Shatner!

If you've read my interviews with Jeffrey Combs and Sid Haig, you know that I always take my interviews in a different direction. To sum it up, I don't like to rehash old news. I like my interviews to be reflective and thoughtful. I want to know what's important to the actor. If you want to read about stuff that they've done in the past and how they feel about it, all you have to do is google their name. With all that being said, I recently had the pleasure of participating in a conference call with William Shatner to talk about the DVD release of Stalking Santa, which hits DVD on November 6th. Mr. Shatner is the narrator of the film. After watching Stalking Santa, you'll once again be a believer! For now, I hope you enjoy my interview with William Shatner.

William Shatner: Tony?

Tony Farinella: Hi. Thanks for your time. I appreciate it. I'm from Chicago.

William Shatner: Oh, good, Tony.

Tony Farinella: And my first question for you is after so many different roles on television and film, what still gets you excited? What gets your creative juices flowing after all these years?

William Shatner: Well, Tony, so many things. I'm, I think what an actor needs, or an entertainer in any of the various media, is a sort of childlike attitude of awe and wonder. And so as I move through the days and the week and the year, I find myself doing a variety of things that when they are finished and they have some success, I'm almost surprised.

I was mentioning "Exodus" as an example. It took two years to put this project together and issue the recording. I've done it myself, found a release, and it will be out there in Wal-Mart sort of thing, and it's a really good performance of a, something that's totally different, and it's got a religious overtone, or a religious-historical overtone, and yet it's entertaining.

I've got a book out there, a new book that's coming out -- a Star Trek book. It's called "Collision" -- "Academy -The Collision." And it's out there in the bookstores right now. A new Star Trek book dealing with the adolescents Kirk and Spock, and I started writing about a 17-year-old Jim Kirk and a 19-year-old Spock and took the Soldiers of Darfur, the tragedy that's going there, the children soldiers, made them, updated them 300 years to a scourge that was happening then, and what the plans were going to be with Kirk and Spock adolescents.

Tony Farinella: Uh-huh.

William Shatner: That entertained me to tell that story. It entertained me to get this record going, and it's entertained me to do this voice-over, this narration for "Stalking Santa." So my year goes by, and you say, "Why pick that project?" and I sort of reverse the question and say, "Why not?" If I've got the time and energy, I like to do these variable things.

Tony Farinella: And you mentioned earlier how you try to somewhat keep a low profile. How do you feel about nowadays in Hollywood, where it seems like everything you do is online? There's news shows. Do you miss the privacy sometimes?

William Shatner: Yeah. That's a big deal. But, you know, the areas I tread on usually, like this morning I wasn't working on Boston Legal. I stopped work at nine o'clock yesterday night and fell into bed, and this morning was up at seven in order to compete in a horse show as a reiner. And so prior to talking to you, I've been on about three or four horses, and the people that I'm competing against -- which I've done over the years -- ignore the fact that I'm on television and a familiar face and treat me as a contestant, as a person who is trying to get a blue ribbon, and so are they, and that's the basis upon which they know me.

Tony Farinella: And one final question for you. Have you ever thought about directing again, or no?

William Shatner: I like directing, and I'm working on a project that I will direct. But directing is a lot of energy and a lot of time, and so I haven't even approached the producers on Boston Legal to direct because of the expenditure of time and energy.

Tony Farinella: It's me again, sir. How's it going?

William Shatner: Good. Now you tell me how it's going.

Tony Farinella: I'm doing fantastic. I mean, talking to you, I couldn't be happier, you know?

William Shatner: Good.

Tony Farinella: And my question for you is you've done so many different mediums. Is there one thing that you've done that you're really proud of but it didn't really catch on with an audience, and you wish that people would maybe now give it a chance?

William Shatner: That goes for most of the things I've done. No, I mean I'm sure that's so. There's all kinds of things lying around that didn't see a lot of air. I did a recording that got really great notices called "Has Been," and that was a couple of years ago, and I wish that had sold more copies. And, you know, getting back for the moment to "Stalking Santa," let's hope that sells a lot of copies so that everybody's happy to have done it.

Tony Farinella: And what aspect of the movie industry, and I guess the entertainment industry, has changed since you first started? What do you think is the major difference from when you first started to now as far as the entertainment industry?

William Shatner: The major difference, as far as I can see, is technical. You know, HD and cameras are smaller and lights need to be less hot and all that kind of thing. The essential story-telling doesn't change from times immemorial around a campfire. People are moved and thrilled and pleasured and disgusted by the very same things we did when we were knocking things on the head and cooking them over the campfire.

Tony Farinella: And my final question for you is as you look back now on your career, has it been what you expected?

illiam Shatner: I had no expectation. You know, age is a -- I don't know, the neutral word is interesting. You don't think you're going to get old, and then when you're old, you don't think you're old, and I don't know what old is. I don't know how I'm supposed to feel as old. And if I have a muscle aches, would it have ached if I was 25? It's just, there are no expectations. I mean, I don't know how you have expectations, because the moment you expect something, it changes about anyway.

Tony Farinella: All right. Thank you so much. I really appreciate your time.

William Shatner: My pleasure.

http://www.411mania.com/movies/columns/62478

----

From EyeCraveDVD.com...

Interview: William Shatner

Thursday, November 01 2007
Contributed by: Shane

Late last week I was offered the chance to speak to a modern icon. I was given the opportunity to speak to The Man... The Myth... The Legend that is... William Shatner!!!

I chatted with Mr. Shatner about Stalking Santa, Free Enterprise, the HD DVD release of the original Star Trek series, and religion.

Read on to find what 'The Shat' had to say.

Before we get to the interview here's a little background information on Stalking Santa.

Synopsis:

Children everywhere defend his existence, and one man will stop at nothing to discover the truth. This Christmas, Dr. Lloyd Darrow, with the emotional (and financial) support of his wife Barbara, and their children Keith (naughty) and Kiely (nice), will conduct an experiment so ambitious that it could very well capture THE visit from Santa Claus himself!

In preparation for the big night, Dr. Darrow and his intern Clarence (self-proclaimed ‘Santologists'), gather extraordinary evidence of the jolly gift-giver from the North). Their research takes you from the pyramids of Egypt, to the Town Center Shopping Plaza in Polka City, Ohio, and even to the UFO fields of Roswell, New Mexico.

The Darrows' adventure is full of laughs, tender moments, and a Christmas message for Santa skeptics and supporters everywhere: Prepare to Believe!

Mr. Shatner's role in Stalking Santa is as the Narrator of this 'mockumentary' style comedy. Here's what he had to say about the film and other things that happening in his life.

Round One

Shane MacDonald: Hi, Mr. Shatner.

William Shatner: Hi, Shane.

SM: Out of the thousands of scripts and projects that come across your desk, What appealed to you most about "Stalking Santa"?

WS: The fun of it. They approached me with a fun script that amused me. It was a voice-over, did not require the commitment of a lot of time, and it seemed like a project that would be exuberant and amusing and spoofing, and all those words that apply to somebody sitting down in front of their screen, and having an enjoyable couple of hours. That's really all it is -- for me -- is fun. And I think the audience for this piece will have fun looking at it. It's not going to change the world, but if it makes people feel better when looking at it, that's all we ask.

SM: And one last question here. Will you be joining Robert Meyer Burnett in the sequel to "Free Enterprise"?

WS: I haven't been approached. I had heard some stuff a while ago. That was an amusing idea, but I've heard nothing further. Have you?

SM: I spoke with him at Comic-Con this year, and he didn't really tell me much, either. I think everything's under wraps.

WS: I think it's more than under wraps. [Laughs.] It's under a mummified, it's under mummified wraps. The wraps have stiffened, I think.

SM: All right. Thank you for your time, Mr. Shatner.

Round Two

SM: All right. I've got another question for you, Mr. Shatner, about the original Star Trek series, having been redone with new special effects, remastered, and now it's coming to HD DVD with the phaser remote control. Is this something you're going to add to your collection?

WS: Yeah, I dimly recollect them saying they were going to do that. You know, I don't collect those things. I mean, I'm sure they're around somewhere, but I never look back at those things. I don't have any -- I don't even take pictures. I've got all kinds of cameras. I love cameras, but I find myself reluctantly taking pictures because what's past is past. You can't recapture it, and I hear these heartbreaking stories of people who lose everything in a fire and the thing they most care about are pictures, and I'm thinking, "Why?" You know, what, the pictures remind you of something that can never be recaptured. The time is gone.

The only thing you know is the present. That's all that's knowable, and even the present isn't knowable, because the present becomes the past and then it's a second into the future. So you really don't know anything, and least of all, seeing either a picture of you when you were younger, which is somewhat horrifying, or someone you love who was younger. And I'm trying to find out, discover the answer to the mystery of "Why pictures?"

SM: That's definitely a good question. Do you have any plans for any other Biblical CDs? You were mentioning Exodus earlier.

WS: Well, that's an interesting question. I was asked by Seattle to do another chapter. I'm trying to remember which one it was. And I thought, "I might do that, and maybe I could start recording with orchestra and chorals, every chapter of the Bible," edited down so that you get the sense of it, and do it within the time of a symphony, which is what this -- it's really an oratorio -- do that within the time limits of that. And yet I didn't have the physical time to go up to Seattle when they wanted me, so I'm not going to do it. But it did occur to me to do some other chapters. Maybe the opportunity will present itself again.

SM: Perhaps. I definitely hope so. Thank you for your time.

WS: Thank you.

http://www.eyecravedvd.com/article.php? ... 1213831483

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littlestar - Nov 03, 2007 - 02:44 AM
Post subject:

Hey Look...all 10 ST Movies...at Deep Discount DVD for $38.88 release date 11-26-07..and no shipping

DOC - Nov 06, 2007 - 01:12 PM
Post subject:

Vroom, vroom, get you motor running.

~Doc

TRexx - Nov 06, 2007 - 06:17 PM
Post subject:

From StarTrek.com...

Jules Verne Fest: Special Offer for STARTREK.COM Readers

When the Jules Verne Adventure Film Festival bestows its Lifetime Achievement Award upon William Shatner on December 9, in a "spectacular" presentation involving Patrick Stewart and Malcolm McDowell (related story), the organizers would like to share the experience at the Shrine Auditorium with as many Star Trek fans as possible. Thus, they are offering two-for-one tickets exclusively to the STARTREK.COM community.

The Jules Verne festival runs December 5-9 at the Shrine in Los Angeles (just north of the USC campus), with an additional date on Dec. 15 at the Los Angeles Theatre downtown. The Paris-based festival is conceived to "inspire and enlighten the human spirit about the mysteries and wonders of the universe," with a special emphasis on environmental themes.

Sunday, December 9, will be mostly devoted to Star Trek. Starting at 1:00 p.m., four Remastered episodes of the Original Series will be shown in HD on the big screen in the Shrine Expo Hall. The first will be "And the Children Shall Lead," and that showing will be followed by a special event where Craig Hundley ("Tommy Starnes") and other child guest stars from that episode — all grown up now, of course — will reunite after nearly 40 years. (The other three episodes to be screened have not been announced yet.)

The award ceremony will follow at 5:00 in the main auditorium at the Shrine, starting with the salute to Shatner by Stewart, McDowell and other "surprise guests." An award will also be presented to NASA, and the rest of the evening will devoted to "Blade Runner," with star Harrison Ford and director Ridley Scott presenting a 25th-anniversary screening of the film's "final director's cut."

A festival pass to the Remastered screenings is $15, but half off with the STARTREK promotion for two guests. Ticket prices to the award ceremony range from $10 to $200, depending on the seats you purchase, but again, you'll get two-for-one. (An online ticketing fee will apply.)

You can also get an all-access pass to the whole festival for $100, or an all-access VIP pass for $500, but at this time those tickets are not subject to the STARTREK offer. (Therefore, if you plan to purchase the most expensive seats at the Shatner ceremony, you may as well get the $100 all-access pass.)

To take advantage of the special offer, here is what you do:

1. On the festival website, JVAFF.org, when you visit the "Tickets & Passes" section, you need to click on the green "ClicknPrint" link. Here, we'll cut to the chase for you: ClicknPrint Tickets.

2. Click on "Promotion Sign In."

3. In the Promotion box, type: STARTREK (or "startrek," it's not case-sensitive). Click "Submit."

4. Now, back in the previous screen, you should see "Welcome, STARTREK (TREK)." Click on the "Purchase" button.

5. You will now see a list of the various events. Click on "Sunday, December 9, Jules Verne Adventure Film Festival." (This offer doesn't apply to the other dates or events, or to the all-access passes. To purchase these tickets, go through the procedure again without signing in with the promotional code.)

6. You will see all the various price levels for the "4:00 PM Awards Ceremony." All the ticket costs are already listed at 50 percent. Enter a quantity of "2" for the seats you select. (Under this offer, the system will only allow you to purchase exactly two tickets. To purchase two more of the same seats, you will have to sign in again.) To attend the Remastered screenings, enter "2" for "1-4 PM Star Trek HD, 4 Shows."

7. Click on "Proceed to Next Step" to review your order. An online ticketing fee will be added. Fill in your names under "Ticket Holder Name" for your festival badges. In this screen it is not necessary to enter the promotional code again. Click "Check Out" to proceed, and follow instructions from there.

The festival website is continually updating its schedule with new information, so check back to JVAFF.org regularly (or go directly to this page for the Shrine schedule, or this page for the L.A. Theatre schedule).

http://www.startrek.com/startrek/view/n ... 12013.html

__________________

TRexx - Nov 09, 2007 - 11:56 PM
Post subject:

From JustPressPlay.net...

William Shatner - Has Been

* Artist Bio * News * Reviews

Review

2007-11-08 by Lex M Walker

The man, the myth, has graced the musical stage with famous spoken word performances that have since become legendary. Offered the opportunity to record a full-length album by Ben Folds, the two collaborated to create an album worthy of the gods themselves - Has Been.

Should a William Shatner album be reviewed at the same level as an album recorded by a group who does so for their bread and butter? Or should the Has Been singer be counted in the "novelty" pile as just another celebrity trying to get their feet wet in the music biz? Stars do it all the time; these days every actor or singer thinks they have enough talent to cross over into the other industry. At some point singing and acting became interchangeable. But at least William Shatner has previous experience in singing - assuming you count his stellar renditions of songs such as "Rocket Man." I do. And so, I count his mostly spoken-word album Has Been as a contender for critical musical consideration.

I did originally approach Shatner's Has Been out of humorous curiosity. But after listening to the album in its entirety, I have to admit - Ben Folds and Shatner put together a fun album that's really fun to listen to.

The opening song, "Common People" hooked me; with William Shatner's traditional dry-humor, spoken word delivery, brilliant instrumentation and yes, even a full-blown choir. "Common People" William Shatner emphasizes with the common folk who find revulsion in the naiveté of the rich. Moving on, Shatner epitomizes the lounge singer façade with "It Hasn't Happened Yet". With eerie female vocals taking up the background and multiple vocal tracks competing for your attention, the song borders on cheesiness though walking the line well enough to keep the song out of the kitsch zone. "You'll Have Time" hears Shatner preaching his sermon about death's inevitability. The song's actually pretty damned funny - it sets the album up as a near perfect gift for the 40 - 50 year old going through their mid-life crisis. When Shatner begins listing off dead celebrities....I always crack up.

"That's Me Trying" is a hilarious song about William Shatner's reconciliation with his now grown children who lived only 10 miles away without him ever knowing. Ben Folds's vocals are featured prominently in this song and it works well.

"Let's keep things neutral / Stick to topics that won't bug us / How about this, let's choose a book and we'll read it before we meet / Then we can sit down at a restaurant, take a look at the menu and talk about it while we eat........./ You wanna try Cold Mountain? / Or is that too long?"

Shatner's lyrics and delivery match the awkward reunion setup so well.

The title track "Has Been" evokes just as many laughs. With a very rawhide sound - you'll find it hard to stop laughing. Positively amazing. I can't stress enough how funny it is. Shatner voices his crotchety old man dislike for modern fads in "I Can't Get Behind That". Shatner is hilarious.

Finally - the song "Real" addresses a very important issue that many people need to deal with: actors don't actually possess the same traits as the characters they portray onscreen.

"So the next time there's an asteroid or...a...natural disaster / I'm flattered that you thought of me / But I'm not the one to call."

If you want a good laugh and even some noteworthy tunes to enjoy William Shatner is an unlikely though perfectly good source for that which you crave. Has Been deserves to be heard by anyone who has ever heard the name William Shatner. Behold the hilarity.

http://www.justpressplay.net/music/will ... -been.html

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TRexx - Nov 14, 2007 - 12:01 PM
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From TVLand.com...

The 50 Greatest TV Icons

They are the champions, The trailblazers. The game changers. More than TV Stars, they are the legends. In partnership with Entertainment Weekly, TV Land has ranked the top 100 greatest TV icons. Don't agree? Speak up on our messages boards or create a list of your own 50.

50. Larry Hagman
49. Calista Flockhart
48. Jimmy Smits
47. Simon Cowell
46. Lassie
45. Sarah Michelle Gellar
44. Susan Lucci
43. Flip Wilson
42. James Gandolfini
41. Jon Stewart
40. Sally Field
39. Jennifer Aniston
38. Bea Arthur
37. George Clooney
36. Diahann Carroll
35. Michael J. Fox
34. Bob Barker
33. Ellen DeGeneres
32. Henry Winkler
31. Sarah Jessica Parker
30. Alan Alda
29. John Ritter
28. Howard Cosell
27. Regis Philbin
26. Farrah Fawcett
25. Heather Locklear
24. Michael Landon
23. Barbara Walters
22. Milton Berle
21. Kermit
20. Carroll O'Connor
19. Andy Griffith
18. William Shatner
17. Bob Newhart
16. David Letterman
15. "Not Ready for Primetime Players"
14. Ed Sullivan
13. Jackie Gleason
12. Dick Van Dyke
11. Roseanne
10. Dick Clark
9. Homer Simpson
8. Jerry Seinfeld
7. Mary Tyler Moore
6. Carol Burnett
5. Walter Cronkite
4. Bill Cosby
3. Oprah Winfrey
2. Lucille Ball
1. Johnny Carson

http://www.tvland.com/originals/50great ... to50.jhtml

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TRexx - Nov 15, 2007 - 02:52 PM
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From the New York Times...

Nimoy's Not Bothered by Spurning of Shatner

Leonard Nimoy said he was not sympathetic to William Shatner's complaints about being left out of the new Star Trek movie. "I know he's upset," Mr. Nimoy, 76, said after an appearance on Tuesday at the Elizabeth Foundation for the Arts in Manhattan, where he promoted his new book of photographs, The Full Body Project. "But his character died three movies ago, so it would have been very difficult to get him into this one." Mr. Shatner, 76, who originated the role of Capt. James T. Kirk on Star Trek, told The Associated Press last month that because of his popularity, he thought it was a bad business decision to leave him out of the new movie, the 11th in the series based on the television show. Mr. Nimoy appears briefly in the new Star Trek, set for a December 2008 release and featuring Kirk and Mr. Nimoy's Spock before the era chronicled in the original Star Trek.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/15/arts/ ... ref=slogin

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TRexx - Nov 21, 2007 - 02:46 PM
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From Massively.com...

Mr. T and William Shatner appear in WoW commercials

by Samuel Axon Nov 20th 2007 @ 2:57PM

William Shatner and Mr. T are appearing in two new World of Warcraft TV commercials. All Blizzard needs is the Hoff and it'll have the holy trinity of cheese!

This is without a doubt one of the most awesome things we've yet reported. Mr. T talks about his "Night Elf Mohawk." William Shatner players a Shaman and wears a goofy looking robe. It's exactly as funny as you'd expect, and it will be broadcast nationally soon. Blizzard announced that Verne Troyer -- aka "Minime" -- will be recording a commercial as well.

World of Warcraft players have already been littering guild chat with "I pity the fool who specs survival on his Hunter!" and taking screenshots of their characters screaming "KHAAAAAAN!" at the sky. So it goes without saying that these commercials will probably go over quite well.

We have the videos here for your viewing pleasure...

http://www.massively.com/2007/11/20/mr- ... mmercials/

http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/downloads/movies.html

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TRexx - Nov 21, 2007 - 02:47 PM
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From Celebritypuke.com...

William Shatner book-signing at Book Soup in West Hollywood...

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ChuckD - Nov 22, 2007 - 12:13 AM
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Bill: "SECURITYYYYY!!!!!!!!"

TRexx - Nov 22, 2007 - 01:35 AM
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From ExtraTV...

William Shatner on Being Left Out of 'Star Trek' Film: 'It Doesn't Make Sense'

Posted by ExtraTV Staff on November 21, 2007 9:06 AM

As the film-adaption of "Star Trek" continues to make headlines, William Shatner says he can't understand why he wasn't asked to make a cameo.

"How could you not put one of the founding figures into a movie that was being resurrected? That doesn't make good business sense to me!" Shatner said at a signing for his book, "Star Trek Academy: Collision Course" in Hollywood.

Director JJ Abrams has offered Leonard Nimoy and several past cast members the chance to make a cameo in the sci-fi spectacle.

Shatner told "Extra" that he would have been great for the film, insisting, "I've become even more popular than I was playing Captain Kirk. I'm good box office and I get publicity... But, they are going in a different direction and it'll be a wonderful film."

http://extratv.warnerbros.com/2007/11/w ... g_left.php

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TRexx - Nov 22, 2007 - 08:22 AM
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From StarTrek.com...

Shatner Signs New Book in LA (PHOTOS)

Following on from his Monday book signing in Las Vegas, William Shatner was in jovial form last night at Book Soup in West Hollywood, Calif. The actor graciously signed and chatted with fans who had purchased his newest novel from Pocket Books, "Starfleet Academy: Collision Course," which served as their ticket into the event. This is the latest book from the prolific actor/writer/director and the first in a series of two novels on young Kirk's Academy days. As with all Shatner's fictional writing endeavors, this was once again co-authored with his writing partners Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens.

You can see our photos of last night's event in the photo gallery on the left.

The new saga details the early years of a 17-year old James T. Kirk, one who is not quite ready for prime time as he is still coming to terms with his brash nature and trying to overcome some personal demons. This is also the time, at least in this story, that Kirk meets Spock for the first time.

http://www.startrek.com/startrek/view/n ... 13733.html

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TRexx - Nov 30, 2007 - 12:11 AM
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From LA Downtown News...

Sci-Fi Volunteers Needed

The Jules Verne Adventure Film Festival, which runs Dec. 5-9 at Downtown's Shrine Auditorium, is looking for a few good volunteers and interns to help with various tasks. There will also be screenings Dec. 14-15 at the Los Angeles Theatre on Broadway. Festival celebrity guests will include astronaut Buzz Aldrin, director James Cameron, and actors William Shatner and Malcolm McDowell. Film buffs are invited to contact volunteer team coordinators Vicki or Patti at (213) 748-0563, (213) 200-0563 or jvaoffice@gmail.com. More information at jvaff.org.

http://www.ladowntownnews.com/articles/ ... s/at05.txt

http://www.julesvernefestival.com/spip.php?article106

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TRexx - Dec 01, 2007 - 08:04 AM
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From Janet Charlton's Hollywood...

Boston Legal star William Shatner still goes to concerts. He took his wife Elizabeth to see James Taylor at the Troubadour in West Hollywood.

http://janetcharltonshollywood.com/goss ... 071129.php

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kirkscutie11728 - Dec 01, 2007 - 09:07 AM
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That's a really bad picture: it doesn't look like either of them is ready to have pictures taken, and they look fairly grumpy. Although, I've always wanted to see pictures of Elizabeth. She looks good, but what's with all of the GOLD, girl? Someone got the message wrong: this was a James TAYLOR concert, not a James BOND casting call. It looks like she's biting her nails and carrying a hideous golden pillow. And is Bill carrying a purse, or is it just me?

Golden-tone jacket, gold blouse, gold pillow-purse, gold pants, AND gold flats. Bill, you should've never let her out of the house dressed like that. LOL

She either desperately wants to be a Golden Girl or it's overkill

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[/quote]

TRexx - Dec 05, 2007 - 12:14 AM
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From E.T. Canada...

The greatest giver of the season - William Shatner

William Shatner (CREDIT: Getty Images)

By Martha Worboy, CanWest News Service, Tuesday, December 04, 2007

He was T.J. Hooker and Henry V and once had a recurring role in a sci-fi series. A Canadian celebrity, he's identifiable to international audiences both for his appearance and for his deep, resonating and hypnotic voice.

During a recent interview, William Shatner - once (and, for many, forever) captain of the Starship Enterprise - could easily sneak in a line or two from his role in one of the most revered franchises in television history - "We humans are full of unpredictable emotions that logic alone cannot solve" or "The odds are against us and the situation is grim" - and it wouldn't sound out of place. (Everything the man says sounds as if he's still at the helm of the famous ship he skippered on the original Star Trek series and subsequent feature films).

But not one to dwell on the past, the 76-year old icon is more eager to talk about the roles he has taken on this year.

Shatner is quite possibly this season's greatest giver, with a recently released album, a Christmas movie (out on DVD) and a new book exploring Kirk and Spock's adolescent adventures.

The Montreal-born actor is down-to-earth about this latest phase of his showbiz career. "It's an average amount of activity," Shatner says over the phone from Los Angeles.

Shatner says he doesn't make too many long-term plans when it comes to his career - he's a man of the moment - which is likely why he finds the time to be so damn busy.

"I don't understand career building," he says.

Rather, Shatner prefers to take on work simply because it interests him. "It depends if the script or the story appeals to me - if I like the character," he says. "If it (the role) has drama, humour, relevance to the story, something I might understand."

What drew him to the Christmas mockumentary Stalking Santa was the great sense of fun he got from reading the script. Shatner plays the voice-over narrator of the film featuring two "Santologists" determined to prove the great myth of a man actually exists. The straight-to-DVD movie was released mid-November.

"It was a fun script that amused me," Shatner says. "It's a spoof - a mockumentary about Christmas. I think the audience for this piece will have fun looking at it. That's really all it is for me - is fun," he says.

It becomes obvious the theme of fun has been a focal point in Shatner's career - which could explain his commitment to being the Kellogg's All-Bran spokesperson and his hammed-up Priceline.com appearances.

"I don't do things to show people I'm capable of something," he says. "The thought of taking on a role to show people something has never figured into any of my decisions."

Shatner's self-pleasing mentality seems to have worked in his favour. His showbiz smarts have landed him starring roles on four successful TV series: as Captain James T. Kirk on Star Trek (1966-1969), as police officer T.J. Hooker on the eponymous drama (1982-1986), as eccentric attorney Denny Crane for the final season of The Practice (2004) and now on its popular spin-off series Boston Legal - a performance for which he's won a Golden Globe and two Emmys.

Although Shatner is enjoying his mainstream success, it becomes obvious his smaller, more experimental projects are what get him most animated.

When Shatner speaks about his latest spoken-word album Exodus (released late-November), his voice quickens, finally rising out of its steady rhythm.

On the recording, Shatner narrates an abbreviated version of the biblical chapter of Exodus, backed by a 350-voice choir and the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra.

"When I was asked to perform it I realized we were doing something special," he says. "During the performance that I recorded, there was a connection between the audience and the actor and that became the narration. It's totally unique, and it's got a religious-historical overtone, and yet it's entertaining."

Shatner's album follows his two previous releases, 2004's pop-driven, self-deprecating surprise hit Has Been, and the less successful spoken-word album The Transformed Man (1968).

While Shatner is busy building a diverse body of professional work he will never be able to evade the cultural phenomenon that has made him a living legend.

To this day, even Shatner can't explain the cultish obsession with the science fiction series. "No one can explain the phenomena of 'Star Trek'," he says matter-of-factly.

But, although he can't explain it, he has shown himself to feel a sense of ownership over it.

Shatner recently lashed out at not being offered a cameo role in a new Star Trek movie - set for release in 2008, to be directed by J.J. Abrams (Lost) - focusing on the early days of James T. Kirk and Spock.

"How could you not put one of the founding figures into a movie that was being resurrected?," Shatner told the U.S. entertainment show Extra.

"That doesn't make good business sense to me," he added.

(The original Spock, Leonard Nimoy, has reportedly been asked to make an appearance in the film.)

When Shatner thinks about his work on the original TV series, to him it was simply "a job" in the tough world of acting. Shatner says it was his stage training at Canada's Stratford Shakespeare Festival that made all the difference in landing him the role.

"I spoke the King's English," Shatner says with dramatic flourish. "I was classically trained at Stratford. I can't think of anyone in my age group - except Chris Plummer - that had my training and background."

Shatner spent many years treading the boards on stages across Canada - starting out in student productions at McGill University - and later on Broadway in New York before he found his way to television.

Although the Star Trek role was bread-and-butter work for him at the time, Shatner has fully embraced his involvement with the series. Since the original show ended, Shatner has penned nine books about Captain Kirk's continuing adventures, and he now has a new book out, Star Trek: The Academy - Collision Course, about a 17-year old Kirk, who meets a 19-year old Spock.

"This was my concept," Shatner says. "My own artistic vision... I was able to sell the concept of an adolescent Kirk and Spock. The crystallizing idea for it was the children of Darfur - the children soldiers - and the tragedy that's happening there. It's an adventure story that's meaningful and insightful."

Winning Emmys, penning sci-fi novels, narrating the Old Testament: at this stage in his career, it's clear that Shatner is boldly going wherever he wants to go and having a lot of fun on the way.

Q&A WITH... WILLIAM SHATNER.

When are you happiest? In love.

What scares you the most? Love.

What do you look forward to? Can I say it again? Love.

What has been your favourite trip? Africa.

What quality do you most admire in a person? Honesty.

What person do you idolize? I am an iconoclast. I have no idols.

What are you known for by your closest friends? Devious behaviour.

What are you least known for? My acting.

What is your guilty pleasure? Snuggling with my dog.

How do you unwind? Take a key...

What is the best advice you ever received? Tell the truth.

If you weren't doing what you're doing now what would you be doing? Lying down.

List one accomplishment outside of your career of which you're really proud: Working with horses.

If you could get rid of one common annoyance in your life what would it be? Traffic.

What words do you live by? Live to the fullest.

http://www.canada.com/globaltv/globalsh ... d0ced11301

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TRexx - Dec 06, 2007 - 01:57 AM
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From the Louisville Courier-Journal...

One Shatner, two Bobs

(Click to view larger image)

By David Inman, Special to The Courier-Journal

Dear David Inman: I just read that William Shatner played Ranger Bob on "Howdy Doody." I kind of remember the show, but my boyfriend says Shatner was too young to play that role because Bob was an older man. Was it Shatner? If so, how old was he? -- Carolyn, Tulsa, Okla.

Dear Carolyn: Shatner played Ranger Bob. But before we go any further, let's back up the massive truck of misunderstanding by a few feet.

You're confusing Ranger Bob with Buffalo Bob. Buffalo Bob was the host of "Howdy Doody" from 1947 until 1960, and he was played by Bob Smith, not William Shatner.

Ranger Bob was a personality on the Canadian Broadcasting Corp.'s version of "Howdy Doody," and Shatner played that role in 1954. He was 23.

http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbc ... /712040330

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TRexx - Dec 06, 2007 - 02:52 AM
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From StarTrek.com...

Star Trek: The Tour Makes North American Debut

WILLIAM SHATNER is Celebrity Ambassador

Los Angeles, CA -- December 5, 2007 -- SEE Touring Productions and Metropolitan Talent present STAR TREK THE TOUR, the largest interactive Star Trek exhibit ever, which makes its North American debut on January 18th for a limited engagement at the Queen Mary Dome in Long Beach, Calif.

This unprecedented event will give the public the opportunity to step inside the Star Trek world and become active participants in the legacy that has captured the imagination of generations: From the chance to sit on a starship bridge from the Original TV series to traveling through space on motion simulators, STAR TREK THE TOUR offers the whole family the opportunity to be fully immersed in the action. Plus, the Tour features the world's largest collection of authentic Star Trek ships, sets, costumes and props from all 5 TV series and 10 films over the last 40+ years.

William Shatner, who portrayed Star Trek's most iconic character, Captain James T. Kirk, is the official Celebrity Ambassador for the tour and will be making appearances at various times throughout the tour's multi-city run. "STAR TREK THE TOUR promises to be the largest, most interactive and entertaining Star Trek event ever presented to the public," Mr. Shatner said. "This will truly be an impressive experience for the whole family and I am happy to be associated with it."

Tickets will go on sale Friday, December 7th for American Express Cardholders and will be available to the general public beginning on December 15th. The tour lifts off in Long Beach, CA for a limited engagement, and will run through February 17. Following the Long Beach / Los Angeles engagement, the next 4 cities STAR TREK THE TOUR will visit are San Francisco, Minneapolis / St. Paul, Chicago, and Detroit.

Full report at StarTrek.com ...
http://www.startrek.com/custom/include/ ... cle/1.html

[Click image for tour schedule]

A message from William Shatner:

Welcome to STAR TREK THE TOUR. I'm sure you have already discovered, as I have, that this event is truly a unique amalgamation of all the things that made Star Trek a phenomenon. My own small contribution to this legendary story has continued to be a source of great pride to me during my career, and although I have been fortunate enough to have many other projects to satisfy the artist in me, I have nevertheless always felt a deep and visceral connection to the show.

But there are reasons why this never-ending story has endured. I have always believed that this special connection to Star Trek we all enjoy comes from the positive picture the stories consistently envision. No matter what strange new worlds and new philosophies the crews of the enterprise face, the solutions they find are always the very best combination of human truth, personal honesty and faith.

I was honored to work with the creator of Star Trek, Gene Roddenberry, and I am pleased that his legacy continues to grow and evolve. STAR TREK THE TOUR brings us one step closer to the very roots of how this all came to pass. It's a rare chance for us, the fans, to get to know so much more about the process and the many talented men and women that made this all possible. Star Trek is now over forty years old, and to me that's still a kid. Just wait'll you see what happens next.

Enjoy!

William Shatner

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TRexx - Dec 10, 2007 - 02:17 AM
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From StarsForWishes.com...

One of a Kind Celebrity-Designed Stars

William Shatner One-of-a-Kind Swarovski Holiday Star

The stars will shine in full splendour as the Toronto Eaton Centre and Swarovski Canada launch the holiday season with a magical spectacle to benefit The Children's Wish Foundation of Canada, including a dazzling display of Swarovski stars decorated by some of Canada's top celebrities and the unveiling of the extraordinary Swarovski Crystal Wish Tree.

This year, twelve of Canada's top celebrities have decorated exclusive Swarovski stars as part of the festivities. These one-of-a-kind 20" (50.8 cm) x 24" (61 cm) giant stars along with the celebrities' autographed headshot and signature card, including a holiday message, will be on display until December 17th. After which the stars will go to the highest bidder with 100 percent of the proceeds going to benefit The Children's Wish Foundation of Canada.

Auctions start on December 7, 2007 and end on December 17, 2007. To participate in the auction, you must first register as a bidder. To register, simply visit the Swarovski Gallery Store in the Toronto Eaton Centre or the Toronto Eaton Centre Guest Services Kiosk and pick-up a registration card. Then come back to this website and click on the "Register to Bid" link and complete our online registration form.

Each celebrity received their giant 20 by 24 inch star and a variety of ribbons and crystals that they used to add their own personal style on the star. Each star was decorated by the celebrities themselves and sent along with their autographed headshot.

All of our wonderfully talented decorators really put their heart and soul into creating these one-of-a-kind Swarovski stars for The Children's Wish Foundation of Canada.

Everyday, The Children's Wish Foundation of Canada brings happiness, strength and hope to the lives of children coping with a high-risk, life-threatening illness. With more than two decades of wish granting, The Children's Wish Foundation of Canada is the authority on wish granting in our country.

So make sure to bid high and bid often and one of these dazzling one-of-a-kind Swarovski stars, decorated by your favourite Canadian celebrities could be yours!

Click here for more information on the making of the star.

Register to bid

BID NOW

http://starsforwishes.com/

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TRexx - Dec 11, 2007 - 11:25 AM
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From the LAist...

At "Star Trek Day" on the WGA picket line outside Paramount, the following signage was seen...

We Want Dollars for Downloads
and a Shatner cameo in Star Trek XI*

* not an official WGA demand

http://laist.com/2007/12/10/photo_essay ... ekkies.php

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TRexx - Dec 11, 2007 - 12:00 PM
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From Central City East Blogger...

William Shatner receives a Jules Verne Lifetime Achievement Award, and a gift from the Oneida Tribe.

Click on photos for larger images...

Patrick Stewart presenting William Shatner with lifetime achievement award at the Jules Verne Film Festival at the Shrine auditorium

William Shatner being presented his gift from the Oneida Tribe

http://centralcitye.blogspot.com/2007/1 ... rt_10.html

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TRexx - Dec 15, 2007 - 01:48 PM
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Here's a brief video in which Bill praises Blade Runner at the 2007 Jules Verne Festival...

http://www.livevideo.com/video/WarnerBr ... ersar.aspx

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TRexx - Dec 15, 2007 - 07:23 PM
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From The Washington Post ...

How Webby is Bill Shatner?

In which we evaluate the Web presence of celebrities.

Not very.

(WilliamShatner.com)

William Shatner's Web site is -- how shall we put this? -- dated. It's all primary colors and overdramatic fonts. Not only does it look as if it hasn't been redesigned since 1998, Bill's very own blog portion of the site ("Bill's Space") hasn't been updated since June. In fact, it seems Shatner has washed his hands of the site since posting this November video gripe about his lack of involvement in J.J. Abrams' new "Trek" movie. Seriously, his site is like parsecs behind that of other "Star Trek" alums like the tragically hip George Takei.

And, instead of cashing in on his kitschy 'net cred by highlighting gems like this quirky favorite, we're instead greeted with a call to congratulate Bill on his Golden Globe nomination. Says one adoring fan: "Bill you DEMON. You've done it again." Indeed.

For diehard Trekkers, there is a storefront portion of the site where you can pony up $80 for a signed Captain Kirk picture (Holiday hint: My choice would be this one of him in gangster garb from Episode #49.)

Shatner does get points for having a MySpace page (pals include Sid Caesar) and hosting this recent online Q&A. Still, we know Bill can take his official site to places no man has gone before.

Ranking: ** (See ratings guide below)

-----
Rankings
**** -- Rosie O'Donnell (always online -- blogging, video-ing, haiku-ing)
*** -- Will Farrell (I am funny online, too)
** -- Tom Hanks (has a minimally updated MySpace page)
* -- Britney Spears (hasn't updated her official site in over a year)

By Liz | December 14, 2007; 10:42 AM ET

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/celebrit ... atner.html

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TRexx - Dec 18, 2007 - 06:58 PM
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From SCI FI Wire...

Shatner Trek Cameo Possible?

Roberto Orci, co-writer of director J.J. Abrams' highly anticipated Star Trek movie, told SCI FI Wire that there's still a possibility that original star William Shatner may appear in the movie, though that's less of a possibility than before. The film is currently in production.

"There are two things," Orci said in an interview in November. "One, from our point of view, we are still hoping to find a way. Secondly, one of the difficulties that was brought up and discussed with Shatner when we all met him and pitched him ideas is that Trek fans are sticklers for their canon. [And,] unfortunately, Shatner's Capt. Kirk was killed in Star Trek VII [1994's Generations]."

There was no such problem bringing back Shatner's co-star, Leonard Nimoy, as an older Spock, joining a cast of new actors to inhabit the roles of the Star Trek crew. But Kirk's death complicates the matter of bringing Shatner back, said Orci, who wrote the screenplay for Star Trek with his Transformers partner Alex Kurtzman.

"The difficulty there is not just ignoring that or explaining it in an unsatisfactory way merely to get him back in," Orci said. "So that is the struggle: the rigors of canon and not phoning it in just to have a cameo." Still, it could happen, he said. "From my point of view, it's a very long shoot, and things change. It's just whether we can figure it out." Another possible problem: The ongoing writers' strike prohibits members of the Writers Guild of America -- which includes Orci, Kurtzman and Abrams -- from making any changes to the script until the strike is settled.

For his part, Shatner has not been shy in expressing his disappointment at not being cast in Star Trek. "How could you not put one of the founding figures into a movie that was being resurrected?" he told TV's Extra last month. "That doesn't make good business sense to me!"

In any case, Orci had nothing but praise for Chris Pine, the actor who will play the young version of Kirk.

"Chris Pine has two things which are very difficult to find simultaneously," Orci said. "He has the maverick nature of an extremely motivated, cocky guy who doesn't play by the rules, who is intelligent enough and can command sufficient respect to be an astronaut. Remember, these people are all astronauts!"

But Pine also conveys the intelligence of a starship captain, Orci added. "It's difficult to find a good-looking guy who you would believe can fill the old Kirk shoes of getting into a fist fight while also having a Ph.D. in astrophysics," he said. "That's a tough one, because you need that as he has to face the intelligence of Mr. Spock [played in his younger years by Zachary Quinto]. Chris has a great sense of humor but is also able to get serious on a dime to step in and out of leadership while being fun." Star Trek is slated for release on Christmas Day 2008. (Read more about Star Trek in the current issue of SCI FI Magazine.)

http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/index.ph ... p;id=46494

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ChuckD - Dec 19, 2007 - 12:26 AM
Post subject:

Stewart: "So this is the script for the new Star Trek movie? After reading this trash I see why you passed on it, and why I retired. What rubbish!!!

angel - Dec 19, 2007 - 01:24 AM
Post subject:

TRexx wrote:

From The Washington Post ...

How Webby is Bill Shatner?

In which we evaluate the Web presence of celebrities.

Not very.

Bite me!

TRexx - Dec 20, 2007 - 02:24 PM
Post subject:

From the Winston-Salem Journal ...

If anyone can find Santa Claus, it's Shatner -- but can ... anyone?!

Thursday, December 20, 2007
By Tim Clodfelter, relish staff writer, tclodfelter@wsjournal.com

Here Comes Shatner Claus, Here Comes Shatner Claus...

The one, the only William Shatner is the narrator of the new mockumentary Stalking Santa, about a scientist trying to prove the existence of St. Nick. It is out on DVD now from Excel Entertainment Group for $14.99.

In a TV and film career dating back to the early 1950s, Shatner has been in a few Christmasy productions before, including the role of a character named Dr. Bob in a Tori Spelling TV-movie A Carol Christmas, and a 1958 episode of Hallmark Television Playhouse called "The Christmas Tree" -- and, of course, a guest spot in Denis Leary's 2005 TV special Merry (Blank)in' Christmas.

But he never got a chance to do a holiday episode of Star Trek.

"That would have been a great Christmas show for Star Trek," Shatner said in a telephone interview promoting Stalking Santa. "That there's an alien out there with a beard and a pot belly, and he meets Captain Kirk with the same thing, you know."

Shatner is Jewish, but said that the spirit of Christmas can apply to anyone of any faith. "If done in the right tone, it's a time to give thanks, it's a time to share, and a time to give to people who are not doing as well as you are."

Shatner grew up in Montreal, Canada, and said that he wasn't heavily immersed in the Santa Claus aspect of Christmas celebrations.

"It's a very Catholic city, especially then," he said. "It was very rural, and it's called 'The City of Churches' for a reason. So Christmas was celebrated with much of its religious meaning.

"But in addition to that, there were a lot of lights and music and gifts and food and scents and snow. A lot of snow."

When he was first approached to perform in Stalking Santa, Shatner took a look at the script and found it amusing.

"It was a voiceover, did not require a commitment of a lot of time, and it seemed like a project that would be exuberant and amusing...

"That's really all it is for me, is fun. And I think the audience for this piece will have fun looking at it. It's not going to change the world, but if it makes people feel better when looking at it, that's all we ask."

He also appreciated the fact that the spoof isn't mean-spirited toward Santa.

"It's a myth organized over the years, and it's gained different mythological qualities as the years go by," he said. "So here's another one to add to the vast variety of things that Santa is."

But wait: Mr. Shatner, when you refer to "myth," you're not implying that there's no such thing as Santa, are you?

"No, Santa is real," he replied. "It's just ... where is he?"

http://www.journalnow.com/servlet/Satel ... 7645508976

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TRexx - Dec 21, 2007 - 06:13 PM
Post subject:

Hollywood.com has posted a Special 2008 Sneak Preview Inside The Star Trek Movie in which executive producer Damon Lindelof talks about a possible appearance by Bill...

At last summer's San Diego Comic-Con, Abrams told a crowd of fans that he held high hopes that the new film would also feature William Shatner reprising his role as Captain Kirk (despite the fact Kirk was killed off in the seventh feature film, 1994's Generations).

"There are still ongoing talks," reported Lindelof. "We're pretty much exactly where we were with Comic-Con ... Look, the reality is Trek was up and running and in existence and iconic before we came so we've been basically invited to the party that these guys have been throwing for the last 40 years, so obviously it would be HUGE if Mr. Shatner wanted to be any part of the franchise. It's a challenge for us, though, because they killed Kirk off ... But hey, it's Trek, anything's possible, right?

http://www.hollywood.com/feature/Specia ... ie/4995718

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TRexx - Dec 21, 2007 - 07:31 PM
Post subject:

From the Screen Actor's Guild...

William Shatner and the cast of Boston Legal has been nominated for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series for the 14th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards.

Actor awards ceremony will be Simulcast Live on Sunday, Jan. 27, on TNT and TBS at 8 PM ET/PT, 7 PM CT, 6 PM MT

http://www.sagawards.org/PR_071220

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TRexx - Jan 03, 2008 - 03:08 AM
Post subject:

From The LA Times...

It's proved to be quite a trek

William Shatner during the filming of a Priceline.com commercial in Los Angeles’ Koreatown district.

William Shatner and Priceline.com have both benefited from his stint as company spokesman.

By Alana Semuels, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer, January 2, 2008

The cameras zoomed in on William Shatner as he raced a baby carriage through a crowded outdoor restaurant in Koreatown.

Dressed in a black suit, his hair neatly grayed, Shatner focused on the task at hand: looking genuinely interested in saving people money on airfare. Famous for playing Denny Crane in "Boston Legal" and for having been Captain Kirk in "Star Trek" on TV and in the movies, he was reprising his longest-running role: spokesman for Priceline.com Inc., which operates a travel website.

Passers-by gawked and took photos with their cellphones. Two Korean women who didn't speak English petted his jacket, and one even tried to hug him.

The scene said it all. The 10-year relationship between Shatner and Priceline has buoyed the fortunes of both, and reminded advertisers that celebrities, however faded their popularity, can do wonders for a brand. Auto insurer Geico is one company that has taken the concept to town with the likes of Little Richard, Burt Bacharach and James Lipton.

"It's an instant infusion of a personality," said Mike Wolfsohn, creative director of Ignited, an El Segundo-based advertising agency.

In 1997, Priceline narrowed its list for a spokesman to two well-known television personalities: Bill Cosby and Shatner. Shatner got the nod because he was "futuristic" in his persona, said Chief Marketing Officer Brett Keller, and because "anyone holding a credit card aged 18 to 95 had heard of William Shatner and knew who he was."

The first TV spots in 1998-99 featured Shatner as a lounge singer. While belting out tunes such as "Bust a Move" and "Age of Aquarius," he spoke a few lyrics of his own, including, "I wanted to chill but making all of my travel arrangements was freaking me out." Musician Ben Folds played the guitar in one of the spots and the two later worked together to produce Shatner's spoken-word album "Has Been" in 2004.

The first spots were hits, parodied on Saturday Night Live. They "propelled Priceline from a second- or third-tier brand to a top-tier brand with extremely high brand awareness," Keller said, adding that company surveys found that people were as familiar with Priceline as with online shopping giant EBay, and more than 90% of people asked had heard of Priceline.

Shatner said the wacky campaign helped his own career too.

"It's possible that when I was being amusing in these commercials, David Kelly saw them and brought me to mind for a part in 'Boston Legal,' " Shatner said on the set in Koreatown.

In 2004, after a drought in which Priceline commercials were his main work, Shatner was cast as quirky attorney Crane on the ABC drama "The Practice," and since then has played the character on the spinoff "Boston Legal."

Comments posted on the YouTube page of Shatner's "Bust a Move" spot indicate the commercials might also have helped his reputation with fans. "Shatner is GOD," said one. Two others were compelled to write, individually: "The Shat rules!"

Shatner said he turned down commercials early in his career "because they lacked purity or art" -- and then realized commercials could be art too.

"When celebrities come in and they're not taking themselves too seriously, it works well," said Steve Bassett, creative director at the Martin Agency, which created the Geico spots featuring aging actors mocking themselves.

Shatner said he didn't make a whole lot of money in his early days as Priceline's spokesman, taking most of his early compensation in stock options. Company rules prevented him from selling when the stock soared in the 18 months after its initial public offering. The stock soared to $974 a share in April 1999 in the heady days of the dot-com boom, but skidded with most other tech stocks to $15 a year and a half later. Shares of Priceline.com rose $1.86 on Thursday to $116.23.

In the spots that premier this month, Shatner plays The Negotiator, created by Sausalito-based ad agency Butler, Shine, Stern and Partners, a batman-like figure who is summoned from his lair whenever a customer needs help. Shatner described the character as "terribly earnest, really dreadfully serious about getting a good deal."

For a 76-year-old actor who portrayed a police sergeant on "T.J. Hooker" and an alien on "Third Rock from the Sun," Priceline is a great employer, Shatner said (though he added that he doesn't often use the site himself because it doesn't sell first-class airline tickets).

"The ad campaign is great fun," he said. "The public has responded."

alana.semuels@latimes.com

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-p ... ome-center

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littlestar - Jan 03, 2008 - 03:11 AM
Post subject:

I wish I had been paying attention at the beginning of the month....

I missed out on the Stars...wonder how high they went? Embarassed

DOC - Jan 03, 2008 - 06:16 PM
Post subject:

Shatner Has Happy Decade With Priceline
Thursday, January 03, 2008 6:15:26 AM

They don't often compete for parts, but William Shatner beat out Bill Cosby for his longest-running role.

Ten years ago, online travel company Priceline.com Inc. narrowed its list of potential spokesmen to Shatner and Cosby. The former Captain Kirk won out because he was more "futuristic," and because "anyone holding a credit card aged 18 to 95 had heard of William Shatner and knew who he was," said Brett Keller, the company's chief marketing officer.

It has been a happy union.

Shatner lent his credibility and camp to the company's early TV spots, in which he performed contemporary hits like "Bust a Move" in a classic lounge-lizard style.

The ads, which became a cultural phenomenon and were sent up on NBC's "Saturday Night Live," "propelled Priceline from a second- or third-tier brand to a top-tier brand with extremely high brand awareness," Keller said.

Shatner, too, saw a bump in his fortunes.

After some lean years, he began finding work and was eventually cast as lawyer Denny Crane in ABC's "The Practice," then took the role to the spinoff, "Boston Legal." The part earned him an Emmy.

"It's possible that when I was being amusing in these commercials, (writer) David Kelly saw them and brought me to mind for a part in `Boston Legal,'" Shatner said on the set of a new Priceline commercial.

Shatner, 76, has played the role of Priceline spokesman for far longer than the four years he spent as Captain Kirk on the original "Star Trek" series, though he reprised that role over the next several decades.

In the new spots, Shatner plays "The Negotiator," a superhero summoned when a customer needs help.

TRexx - Jan 07, 2008 - 04:42 AM
Post subject:

Posted in the Los Angeles Times ...

SALES

By Erin Weinger, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer, January 6, 2008

Dari: The Valley has lots of hidden fashion gems, and Dari is one of them. The store, owned by Melanie Shatner, daughter of "Star Trek's" William Shatner, is offering splurge-worthy goods at steal prices. Feminine frocks by Jovovich-Hawk and Missoni, Sonia Rykiel separates and some of the season's best Phillip Lim party dresses are among the goodies on sale at up to 80% off. 12184 Ventura Blvd., Studio City. (818) 762-3274. 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.

http://www.latimes.com/features/printed ... s-pe-image

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TRexx - Jan 10, 2008 - 08:09 AM
Post subject:

Posted at the New York Times ...

NBC Will Show 'Dateline' Before 'Globes'

By Brian Stelter, January 9, 2008, 1:07 pm

NBC has confirmed that a two-hour edition of "Dateline NBC" will be shown before the Golden Globes press conference on Sunday.

The 7 to 9 p.m. special, entitled "Going For Gold" and hosted by Matt Lauer, will replace red carpet coverage and the first hour of the awards ceremony. "Dateline" was originally scheduled for Saturday but was moved to Sunday after the writers' strike forced the Hollywood Foreign Press Association to cancel its traditional awards show.

The "Dateline" special will include interviews with nominees and commentary by the comedian Kathy Griffin. NBC will add an air of sport to the event by including predictions by the network's "Football Night in America" analysts.

In a press release, the network said that NBC News correspondents have or will interview James McAvoy, Sally Field, Ellen Page, Amy Adams, Kyra Sedgwick, William Shatner, Nikki Blonsky and Patricia Arquette, among others.

As noted yesterday, NBC is considering showing its new reality competition "American Gladiators" after the press conference at 10 p.m.

http://tvdecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2008 ... re-globes/

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littlestar - Jan 10, 2008 - 09:45 AM
Post subject:

British actor Ben Cross (Chariots of Fire) has been cast in the upcoming Star Trek movie that J.J Abrams is directing for Paramount. Cross will play the Vulcan father of a young Spock, being played by Zachary Quinto, and the husband to the human Amanda, played by Winona Ryder. Original Spock Leonard Nimoy will also have a role in the movie. Filming began this week for a planned Christmas Day 2008 release. Plot details are scarce, but the story is expected to focus on the early days of the Starship Enterprise crew.

*********************

Ever since the surprise success of 2005's "Diary of a Mad Black Woman" and despite numerous tempting offers, popular playwright, actor and filmmaker Tyler Perry (best known for playing the feisty, no-nonsense Madea) has completely devoted himself to appearing only in his own films. According to the Hollywood Reporter, though, that's about to change. Confirming rampant Internet rumors, the trade reports that Perry will appear as the head of Starfleet Academy in J.J. Abrams' new "Star Trek" movie. Perry's character will deal with the ramifications of a young James T. Kirk (newcomer Chris Pine) becoming the first person to beat the famed Kobayashi Maru test. As any Trekkie or Trekker can tell you, the Kobayashi Maru is designed to evaluate an officer's skills in the ultimate no-win scenario.

Perry joins an already intriguing cast including Pine, Zachary Quinto (young Spock), Karl Urban (Dr. McCoy), Zoe Saldana (Uhura), Simon Pegg (Scotty), Anton Yelchin (Chekov), John Cho (Sulu), Bruce Greenwood (Captain Pike), Winona Ryder (Amanda Grayson), Eric Bana (the villainous Nero) and the original Spock himself, Leonard Nimoy. And, of course, despite numerous denials, many still believe that Abrams will find a way to reunite the original Kirk (William Shatner) and Nimoy's Spock on-screen one last time.

The inclusion of Perry probably won't entice his large fan base to see "Trek," but it shows he's now willing to appear in projects other than his own (or that he's just a really big "Star Trek" fan). Perry certainly doesn't have a lot of free time, though. This past fall he released the Madea-less "Why Did I Get Married?", which grossed an exceptional $55 million. And "Meet the Browns," which features the return of fan favorite Madea, is set to debut March 21. The triple-threat is also expected to begin shooting two new movies this spring: "The Family That Preys Together" and "Madea Goes to Jail."

On second thought, for Perry to fit even a small supporting role into his schedule, he's got to be a fan.

Currently still in production, "Star Trek" beams into theaters Dec. 25.

TRexx - Jan 12, 2008 - 08:19 AM
Post subject:

From the Legacy Games Blog ...

The Tuttles Madcap Misadventures
Behind The Scene

[Click to view larger picture]

...

By the way, it was interesting to see how the different actors approached their work. Bob Saget, for example, made a point to riff on almost every line. He dramatically improved his character's dialog and kept us giggling throughout every take. It is too bad that most of what he said can't be repeated in mixed company. William Shatner, on the other hand, walked into the room read each line exactly as it was written and killed it on the first or second take. He could read a Chinese menu and people would be rolling with laughter. There's just something funny about Shatner.

Read the complete article at Legacy Games Blog ...

http://legacygames.typepad.com/gamesfor ... s-mad.html

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TRexx - Jan 12, 2008 - 08:22 AM
Post subject:

From Access Hollywood ...

Access Hollywood talks to William Shatner about Star Trek and "The Tour" (for which Bill is Celebrity Ambassador).

See the online video interview ...

http://video.accesshollywood.com/player ... oid=204324

William Shatner breaks news on his new "Star Trek" adventure. No doubt -- hands down -- Shatner was the greatest captain ever on "Star Trek." Simple reason -- he was able to perform his duty while romancing every gorgeous Alien in the known universe.

AH: "Who was the best kisser?"

WS: "Nimoy."

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TRexx - Jan 16, 2008 - 01:25 AM
Post subject:

From Men.Style.com ...

Wiseguy: William Shatner

The sci-fi legend on blogging, living out of a car, and seeking enlightenment under a falling horse.

Q: Is it true that after Star Trek went off the air you lived out of a car?

A: A pickup truck, actually. It was the early 1970s and I was recently divorced. I had three kids and was totally broke. I managed to find work back east on the straw-hat circuit -- summer stock -- but couldn't afford hotels, so I lived out of the back of my truck, under a hard shell. It had a little stove, a toilet, and I'd drive from theater to theater. The only comfort came from my dog, who sat in the passenger seat and gave me perspective on everything. Otherwise, it would have just been me counting my losses.

Q: Speaking of loss, there's a spoken-word track on your 2004 album, Has Been, about discovering the body of your third wife, Nerine, after she'd drowned while mixing Valium with booze. Did you find recording it cathartic?

A: I don't understand closure, if that's what you mean. That word never resonated with me. The epiphany I had, making that, was that we grieve forever. It's as much a part of our life as eating, sleeping, and love. We live in grief for having left the womb, for having left the teat, then school, then home. In my case, it was leaving marriages, and the death of my wife. Making that recording was simply my way to express very deep feelings.... Death is an absolute marvel. I once had a great horse rear up and fall back on me, and in that moment I thought I might gain some clarity about the mystery -- you know, the meaning of the universe suddenly illuminated, like in an orgasm -- but it never came.

Q: If that horse had killed you, what would you have regretted never achieving?

A: Everything. I've done nothing. What have I done? I've blundered my way through life. So I have my picture on the wall. The minute I die, that picture will start to yellow and fade and eventually be gone. Blown in the wind and become part of the molecular structure of something else. These things we see as "success," they're non-accomplishments.

Q: So is that how you think of your Emmy for Boston Legal? And the millions of lives you touched as Captain James Tiberius Kirk?

A: Careers are here and they're gone. I enjoy performing, and I feel lately like I've reached the apex of what I can do as a performer. Even my memory for dialogue has never been sharper. But no matter how great we think we are, we're nothing but the temples of Ozymandias -- we're ruins in the making.

Q: And yet, at 76, you're still acting and writing and trying new things. What is it that motivates you?

A: Life motivates me. Ideas motivate me. I want to do a talk show. I have ideas for three animated films. I'm nearly finished with my autobiography. I continue to write Star Trek-themed novels. My daughter and I have extremely successful websites and a video blog, even though my computer's still in the box it arrived in. As long as my body holds up, my mind is as willing as it's ever been.

Q: You've shown more depth in these ten minutes than I've ever seen you express on television.

A: People don't care about depth on television. The lighter you can keep things the better. People don't care about real issues unless those issues are entertaining.

Q: So did you want to take another crack at Star Trek in the new JJ Abrams film version?

A: He talked to me a few times this past year, but they shot in November and Leonard [Nimoy] is in it and I'm not. I'm disappointed. I'm not outraged, but I think it's a stupid business decision, a stupid box-office decision. Here I am, still alive, still popular, on a hit show. It makes sense to put me in the thing. If they don't, that's fine. I just think it's a silly oversight.

Q: Is there an art to spoofing yourself?

A: There's a fine comedic line you need to walk. It's about indicating that you're aware of the exaggerated persona but you don't subscribe to it. If you show that you're too self-aware, you come off as callow. If you make it seem like you're oblivious, the audience is mystified. They start to wonder if you're the only one not in on the joke. I like to believe I hit that line just about right.

Q: You sold your kidney stone. Why?

A: I had a kidney stone. The Golden Palace offered me $25,000, and then we upped the amount to $75,000 and donated the entire thing to Habitat for Humanity. They built a house. There's now a family living inside my kidney stone. Only in America!

Q: Finally, once and for all, what is the trouble with Tribbles?

A: They multiply. But then, that's the trouble with humanity.

THE BEST SHATNER CLIPS ON YOUTUBE...
- Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds With William Shatner
- William Shatner's World of Warcraft Commercial
- William Shatner Performs "It Was a Very Good Year"
- William Shatner Stand-Up
- 1966 William Shatner Interview on the Set of Star Trek

http://men.style.com/details/features/f ... ;pageNum=1

__________________

TRexx - Jan 16, 2008 - 08:11 PM
Post subject:

From The Centre Daily Times ...

He's Back And Better Than Ever

William Shatner Returns To Fight For More Travel Deals As The Priceline Negotiator

Monday, Jan. 14, 2008

NORWALK, Conn. -- The Priceline Negotiator is back to continue his never-ending fight for choice, quality and the best travel deals in the universe. In his 10th year as celebrity spokesman for priceline.com(R) (Nasdaq: PCLN), William Shatner returns this week in the first installment of a new series of commercials based on the karate-chopping, hard-bargaining Priceline Negotiator character.

The spots promise to be bolder and better than ever, with more action, spectacular stunts and new sidekicks. The spots were created by Butler, Shine, Stern & Partners (BSSP), priceline.com's San Francisco-based advertising agency. No financial details of the campaign were released.

To see the first spots, visit: www.priceline.com/promo/shatner_pcln_negotiator.asp

As The Negotiator, Mr. Shatner plays a character -- part secret agent, part superhero -- who uses his extraordinary martial arts and unusual-but-effective persuasion skills to negotiate the best possible travel deals on behalf of priceline.com customers. In one spot, The Negotiator plucks deadly blow-darts out of mid-air and fights off a dojo full of martial arts students to convince the master that he can find them as many special-deal hotel rooms as they need for their upcoming team trip. In another spot, one of The Negotiator's new sidekicks, nicknamed NoFee, uses his incredible physical strength to demonstrate why a customer should not be paying airline ticket booking fees on another travel reservation service, when he can come to priceline.com and pay no booking fees on his published-price fares.

"Our first round of Negotiator spots in 2007 resonated very well with consumers," said priceline.com Chief Marketing Officer Brett Keller. "They quickly set us apart from our competition and further solidified priceline as the value leader in the online travel world. As the Priceline Negotiator, William Shatner moves well beyond the traditional role of a spokesman and literally embodies the priceline brand and the deal-making attributes we stand for. Given the success of our first round, we're excited to come back with a new series of commercials in which The Negotiator can entertain and further build the priceline.com brand."

"A successful advertisement is an artful mix of humor and message," said Mr. Shatner. "It entertains because it needs to grab attention, but it also informs. The Negotiator gives me a character, a vehicle if you will, where I can creatively blend those elements in a variety of different ways to get the desired result."

According to BSSP, the Shatner/priceline.com partnership, sometimes referred to as his longest-running role, has been a big benefit to company and spokesman. "From the moment he first stepped onto the set, William Shatner gave priceline.com a personality," said Mike Shine, BSSP's co-Creative Director. "It provided priceline.com with instant credibility and recall. Typically, the initial benefits of a business/celebrity relationship fade after a short period of time. However, as Mr. Shatner's career evolves and expands, he continues to bring fresh buzz and excitement to the priceline.com brand."

William Shatner first appeared in a priceline.com advertisement in 1998. "Priceline.com was looking for a celebrity spokesperson who was trustworthy, associated with futuristic things, and had appeal across multiple generations," said priceline.com's Director of Advertising and Branding Cort Cunningham. "Mr. Shatner had all of those attributes. His persona combined with his new role gives him greater relevance for the brand." Early priceline.com commercials featured a singing William Shatner twisting the words of '70s pop hits like "Age of Aquarius", "Convoy" and "Two Tickets to Paradise" into odes to priceline.com and its money saving prowess. The ads were spoofed by Jay Leno, parodied on Saturday Night Live, lampooned in MAD Magazine, and even featured as a question on Jeopardy and Who Wants To Be A Millionaire.

Later on, priceline.com paired Mr. Shatner with his former co-star and friend Leonard Nimoy. That campaign focused on promoting priceline.com's new product lineup that included published-price and Name Your Own Price travel products. In another series of spots, Mr. Shatner educated shoppers about the many travel choices they have when shopping at priceline.com.

Fans of Mr. Shatner and The Negotiator should check out his special MySpace page, www.myspace.com/thenegotiator. Visitors can download ringtones and screensavers, view Negotiator ads, edit family travel photos to include The Negotiator, play audio clips and read about The Negotiator's favorite books, movies and more.

About Priceline.com(R) Incorporated

Priceline.com Incorporated (Nasdaq: PCLN) operates priceline.com, a leading U.S. online travel service for value-conscious leisure travelers, and Booking.com, a leading international online hotel reservation service. Priceline.com also operates Agoda.com, an Asian online hotel reservation service. In the U.S., priceline.com gives customers more ways to save on their airline tickets, hotel rooms, rental cars, vacation packages and cruises than any other Internet travel service. In addition to getting great published prices, leisure travelers can narrow their searches using priceline.com's TripFilter advanced search technology, create packages to save even more money, and take advantage of priceline.com's famous Name Your Own Price(R) service, which can deliver the lowest prices available.

Priceline.com believes that Booking.com is Europe's largest and fastest growing hotel reservation service, with a network of affiliated Web sites. Booking.com operates in over 60 countries in 16 languages and offers its customers access to over 38,000 participating hotels worldwide.

Priceline.com also operates the following travel websites: Travelweb.com, Lowestfare.com, RentalCars.com and BreezeNet.com. Priceline.com also has a personal finance service that offers home mortgages, refinancing and home equity loans through an independent licensee. Priceline.com licenses its business model to independent licensees, including priceline mortgage and certain international licensees.

Priceline.com Incorporated Brian Ek, 203-299-8167 brian.ek@priceline.com

http://www.centredaily.com/business/story/330593.html

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TRexx - Jan 18, 2008 - 03:59 PM
Post subject:

From the Long Beach Press-Telegram ...

A Lavish Enterprise

William Shatner is greeted by Long Beach Mayor Bob Foster

Article Launched: 01/17/2008 10:15:00 PM PST

William Shatner was among the celebrities in attendance at Thursday night's red-carpet gala event celebrating the opening of "Star Trek The Tour" at the Queen Mary Dome in Long Beach.

Above, Shatner, who portrayed Captain Kirk in the original series, is greeted by Mayor Bob Foster, left. Below, a replica of Star Trek's USS Enterprise is viewed by Madison Russ, Jisey Ayon and Jose Ayon, from left. "Star Trek The Tour" officially opens today and will run through Feb. 17. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster and at the Queen Mary Dome Box Office.

Scott Smeltzer/Staff Photographer

http://www.presstelegram.com/news/ci_8004034

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TRexx - Jan 18, 2008 - 04:01 PM
Post subject:

From SCI FI Wire ...

Shatner Unveils Trek Tour

12:00 AM, 18-JANUARY-08

Original Star Trek star William Shatner waxed nostalgic about the franchise as he unveiled a multimedia touring exhibition of Trek memorabilia in Long Beach, Calif., on Jan. 17.

"I must tell you I walked in this morning and went to look at the bridge and felt this surge of nostalgia," Shatner told reporters in a news conference in the Queen Mary Dome, referring to a recreation of the original bridge of the starship Enterprise. "It was quite incredible. I hadn't been on the bridge set ... since I made the last movie."

Shatner is the official ambassador for the exhibition, called Star Trek the Tour, which has its North American debut in the California city through Feb. 17 before moving to San Francisco, Minneapolis, Chicago and Detroit.

It wasn't all a pleasurable trip down memory lane, Shatner joked. "I looked over at the uniform that I was supposed to have worn back 40 years ago, and I thought, 'That couldn't be me.' [It was] a little small," he said, evoking laughter from the crowd of journalists.

The tour, produced by SEE Touring Productions and presented by Metropolitan Talent, features recreations of several Trek sets, including the bridges of the original Enterprise and The Next Generation's Enterprise D. The 50,000-square-foot exhibition includes costumes, props, ships and other items from all five Trek TV shows and 10 movies. The tour also features a multimedia theater and several flight-simulator rides.

Shatner was eventually asked about the upcoming 11th movie, a reboot of the franchise by director J.J. Abrams. Will he appear in it? "I think they're about halfway through shooting, something like that, or coming toward the end," Shatner said. "They've got another three weeks to hire me [laughs]. I don't think you'll be seeing me, unfortunately. I would love to have been in it. For some reason, I'm not. I don't know the reason why. But I'm sure it'll be a wonderful film, and I wish them all the best. I only hope that Star Trek continues." Star Trek the Tour opens Jan. 18.

http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/index.ph ... p;id=47450

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TRexx - Jan 18, 2008 - 07:40 PM
Post subject:

From the Orange County Register ...

William Shatner beams aboard 'Star Trek: The Tour' in Long Beach

The actor who made his name as Captain Kirk is among the attractions at the event, which touches down for a month.

By PETER LARSEN, The Orange County Register, Friday, January 18, 2008

William Shatner's voice comes on the line and you don't hear Denny Crane, his Emmy Award-winning character from "Boston Legal" and "The Practice."

You don't hear T.J. Hooker from the '80s series of the same name, or any of the other characters that have kept him steadily employed in Hollywood for more than 50 years now.

Who you hear is Capt. James T. Kirk, commander of the Starship Enterprise and biggest star in "Star Trek" universe he helped launch more than 40 years ago now -- less dramatic or clipped in his deliver than you might remember from the show, more relaxed and thoughtful, but in your mind it's Kirk just the same.

"Star Trek: The Tour" opens in Long Beach on Jan. 18, displaying hundreds of original costumes and props, recreations of sets from the various TV series and movies and interactive elements like the opportunity to have you digitally inserted into a scene from the original series or photographed sitting in Kirk's chair on bridge of the Enterprise.

It stays in Long Beach inside the dome next the Queen Mary through Feb. 17 before embarking on a tour of 40 cities around the United States and Canada over the next five years.

Shatner signed on to help promote the tour, a role in which he'll appear periodically at stops along the tour. Shortly before the tour opened here, he called -- Captain Kirk on the line! -- to chat about Star Trek, the tour and how it's shaped his legacy.

Q: So you're the "celebrity ambassador" for the tour -- what'll you do?

A: My face will pop up all over the place in the tour. My being will pop up on the opening day and at other times, too. And I'll be talking to people like yourself about what a great piece of entertainment it is for all the family.

Q: You've won Emmys for "Boston Legal" and "The Practice," had a big hit with "TJ Hooker" too, and yet "Star Trek" is the role everyone mentions first -- what's it like to have that legacy? Are you comfortable with that? Ever resist it?

A: I don't find it uncomfortable, I'm not fighting it. As you point out, in the 40 odd years since I was in the series, I've done other things. Mostly I get Shatner (from people who approach him), but if people want to say Captain Kirk that's all right too -- all part of the working day.

Q: What do you think it is about "Star Trek" that continues to draw people to it after all these years?

A: I think that world that we do live in, the reality, it's fairly unsure as to how long the world will continue. There's some evidence that we're not all that permanent. And here's a show that says not only are we permanent 300 years from now, but we're excelling -- so there's a sense of hope for the future.

Then there's the good action-adventure stuff. And there are the good characters, who have good character things to do, and who are vulnerable. That's a key thing I think -- you're leading characters being vulnerable.

Q: What do you think people will most respond to in the tour?

A: The interactive stuff, of getting on the bridge and interacting with the characters, and going on a flight in the theater -- all of that joined by seeing the actual elements that went into making the show. A lot of people enjoy that they can see and touch the costumes and the props and the sets that were actually there.

Q: Any favorite props or costumes or memorabilia for you personally?

A: For the most part, the props on a TV series are usually pretty cheap, because everybody is trying to save money. The props on a movie become really expensive, and tens of thousands are spent on what would cost a lot less in real life. So it turned out that toward the end of the series we were using the ("Star Trek") toys that were in the stores.

Q: Do you have much memorabilia of your own from the series or the movies?

A: Nothing. It would be like saying, "Do you collect the old cigar butts you used on 'Boston Legal.'"

Q: Right, but you could probably sell those on eBay and make a fortune now.

A: (Laughs) I probably could.

Q: What's it like for fans when they meet you at events like this? What's it like for you?

A: The problem is the pictures that they'll be looking at (at the tour) were when I was in my late 20s (He was 35 when the series debuted.) I'm now a little bit older, so the difference between what I look like then and what I look like now is old age, and I'm a little bit self-conscious about that.

Mostly they're really kind. They say, "My, you really do look well for ..."

Q: Is it ever strange to have people come to you so worshipfully for having been Captain Kirk?

A: It used to be that way, and then you sort of get accustomed to it.

Q: Ever get tired of 'being' Captain Kirk at events like this?

A: No, I think of it as a good work day. It's part of my background and if people want me to help them with a "Star Trek" thing, or being in a "Star Trek" thing, I'm cool with that.

Contact the writer: 714-796-7787 or plarsen@ocregister.com

http://www.ocregister.com/entertainment ... rek-series

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TRexx - Jan 21, 2008 - 02:39 AM
Post subject:

From Agent Bedhead ...

No word on what had William Shatner so pissed off as he arrived at the opening gala of "Star Trek: The Tour." We venture a guess that Shat's still angry about not landing a role in the next Trekkie film. That guy attempting to do that "Star Trek" hand gesture is Bob Foster, the Mayor of Long Beach, California.

Shatner might also be expressing his displeasure towards Henry Rollins for his recent abuse of the, "I like being alone" excuse. Admittedly, we'd be upset too if Henry Rollins ditched our customary Monday Night Football dates.

http://agentbedhead.com/index.php/archi ... ice-versa/

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TRexx - Jan 21, 2008 - 05:20 PM
Post subject:

From USA Today ...

Celeb Watch: Shatner's gone there before, but new 'Trek' isn't on frontier

By Will Keck, USA TODAY

LONG BEACH, Calif. -- William Shatner is not over the moon about being excluded from director J.J. Abrams' Star Trek film, due this Christmas.

"I think they're coming toward the end (of shooting, so) they've got another three weeks to hire me," Shatner joked at the opening of the traveling exhibit Star Trek: The Tour. "No, I don't think you'll be seeing me, unfortunately. I don't know the reason why."

Turns out, it was nothing personal.

Abrams explains why the senior Captain Kirk wasn't beamed back to The Enterprise: "The only reason Mr. Shatner is not in the movie and Mr. (Leonard) Nimoy is, is that his character died on screen."

But Trekkies seem to want him back. A website called BringBackKirk.com condemns the "sloppy" death of the character in 1994's Star Trek: Generations, when the retired captain was smashed on a cliff.

Shatner hated the scene. "The mistake I made was thinking I could make it a spectacular death with what they had written," says the actor, who then dreamed up a story line to bring Kirk back: Spock snatched Kirk's DNA. His idea became the novel The Return, and he says it could work in the new film.

Abrams responds, "You and I could come up with dozens of ways, but every way that we came up with felt like it was transparently fan boys trying to get Shatner in the movie."

But Shatner says: "J.J. doesn't need to worry about being a geek. He's a fabulous moviemaker, and this is science fiction."

Every week, Hollywood reporter Will Keck webcasts an interview with a star. This week, it's William Shatner at the Star Trek: The Tour exhibit. Watch at CelebWatch.usatoday.com.

A video interview with Bill is posted at USA Today ...

http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/cel ... htm?csp=34

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TRexx - Jan 21, 2008 - 08:42 PM
Post subject:

From IESB.net ...

Star Trek Tour: Photo Gallery, Press Conference and Video Interview with William Shatner!

Written by Robert Sanchez, Sunday, 20 January 2008

Photo gallery, video interview and a press conference with William Shatner plus take a sneak peek at Wil Wheaton and Tim Russ aboard the bridge of U.S.S Titan!

Late last week the IESB was invited to go to Long Beach to take an early look at the Star Trek Tour and also attend the Opening Night Gala.

The "Media Sneak Peek" started with a press conference with Bill Shatner right before we were given a walk-through of the exhibit. You can watch the entire press conference by clicking on this link...

[VIDEO: Star Trek Tour: Bill Shatner Press Conference]

The Star Trek Tour is a must see for all Trek and Sci-Fi fans, it won't disappoint. All Trek incarnations are featured in the tour and it also has some really cool simulator rides. The folks behind the show were able to get Tim Russ and Wil Wheaton to once again put on the their Starfleet uniforms and come aboard the USS Titan for one of the featured simulator/exhibits.

The IESB was allowed to videotape the exhibit and you can take a look at Wil and Tim's performance aboard the Titan by clicking on this link...

[VIDEO: Star Trek Tour: Wil Wheaton and Tim Russ on USS Titan]

The biggest highlight of the day was being able to go aboard the bridge of the original Enterprise and having William Shatner sit in the Captain's chair. The Shat once again started talking to the press and posing for the photographers.

Our very own Silas Lesnick managed to talk to Bill for a few brief questions, *note* we did not ask him about the Abrams Trek movie since he addressed the issue of not being asked to be part of the film during the press conference earlier in the day. You can check out the IESB's brief interview by clicking on this link...

[VIDEO: Star Trek Tour: Interview with Bill Shatner]

Special thanks to Mike and Denise Okuda for keeping Trek alive and for their hard work on this exhibit.

http://www.iesb.net/index.php?option=co ... ;Itemid=99

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TRexx - Jan 22, 2008 - 07:52 PM
Post subject:

From Sun Media ...

Star Trek movie has new captain

Star Trek snub for Shatner but Chris Pine's career set to blast off as new Capt. Kirk

Chris Pine has ... big ... shoes ... to ... fill ... as Capt. James T. Kirk in the coming J.J. Abrams' big-screen take on Star Trek. Pine wrote to original Kirk William Shatner, who wished him luck.

By KEVIN WILLIAMSON -- Sun Media, January 22, 2008

PARK CITY, Utah -- Chris Pine is boldly going where one man has gone before.

And that has William Shatner fuming.

Not because Pine has been cast as a young Capt. Kirk in J.J. Abrams' Star Trek reboot, mind you, but because the indomitable Canadian ham -- a.k.a. The Shat -- hasn't been invited to beam aboard the $130-million production.

"I know he wants to be part of it, and I know they're still talking that he might be part of it," Pine tells Sun Media. "I don't know where it stands."

(Cloverfield maestro Abrams has explained Shatner's Kirk isn't in the film because he was killed off a decade ago and to resurrect him for a cameo would be, well, illogical.)

So what gives between the two Kirks? Are Pine and Shatner going to shoulder-flip each other to death? Understandably, that's a scenario Pine would rather avoid.

"I wrote him a letter at the beginning of the process just to explain my feelings about the character ... I just tried to explain my respect for what he'd done. I want him to be proud of what I do because the man has been involved with it for going on 40 years. He wrote me back and said he hopes the movie goes well and he'd like to meet sometime, which I would love. But you know, he's a busy man."

See the complete article at Sun Media...

http://jam.canoe.ca/Movies/Artists/P/Pi ... 4-sun.html

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TRexx - Jan 25, 2008 - 04:16 AM
Post subject:

From The Insider Online ...

William Shatner and Patricia Heaton Remember Heath Ledger

Posted January 24, 2008 12:04:00 AM

"I'm deeply saddened by it."

Stars continue to grieve for HEATH LEDGER. WILLIAM SHATNER and PATRICIA HEATON spoke out about the late actor tonight at the 13th annual L.A. Art Show in Santa Monica, CA. The show presents artwork from more than 125 exhibitors from around the world and kicks off with a star-studded dinner and gala to benefit the Art Museum Council and the Prints and Drawing Council of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA).

See the video of Bill at The Insider Online...

http://www.theinsideronline.com/news/2008/01/15434/

__________________

TRexx - Jan 25, 2008 - 08:54 AM
Post subject: Bill @ VideoJug.com

From VideoJug.com ...

VideoJug.com has posted a video in which Bill answers the following questions...

* How did you become the author of ten 'Star Trek' novels?

* What inspired you to write 'Star Trek Academy - Collision Course'?

* How difficult was it to get approval to write 'Star Trek Academy - Collision Course'?

* Were you a lot like young Captain Kirk when you were growing up?

* Is it difficult to develop new 'Star Trek' projects?

* At what point did William Shatner truly become Captain James Kirk?

http://www.videojug.com/interview/willi ... ek-books-2

++

In another video, Bill answers the following...

* How important was your education?

* Why did you study business instead of acting?

* What's wrong with American education?

http://www.videojug.com/interview/willi ... ducation-2

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TRexx - Jan 26, 2008 - 09:34 AM
Post subject:

From The Times Online UK...

Man of Enterprise

As a new series of Boston Legal begins, our critic salutes the many facets of its veteran star William Shatner

William Shatner in Star Trek

By Sophie Davies, January 26, 2008

Actor Shatner is Captain Kirk, Captain Kirk is Shatner. "We were basically one and the same, although Jim [Kirk] was just about perfect, and, of course, I am perfect," Shatner once quipped. Star Trek would not have been Star Trek without his infamous lengthy dramatic pauses. His acting style has even engendered an adjective: "shatnerian".

Provocateur Shatner and Nichelle Nichols shared the first interracial kiss in a US TV drama. Shown in 1968, the scene was cut in some states. Two scenes were shot -- one a cutaway that only implied a kiss. Shatner sabotaged this version by crossing his eyes. On Kirk's many liaisons, he said: "I've never had green alien sex, though I'm sure it would be quite an evening."

Charmer Shatner's sharp sense of humour is much admired. His self-mockery is a constant feature of Boston Legal, his ability to make light of blunt questions a wonder. Once asked whether he wore a hairpiece, he replied: "It's a question that I find like asking somebody, 'Did you have a breast implant?' or 'When did you get your lobotomy?' "

Singer At the height of Trek fever in 1968, he cut an album, The Transformed Man, in which he compared pop songs of the era with Shakespeare's works. Shatner kept us waiting until 2004 for the equally "ambitious" follow-up, Has Been, a starry collaboration with Ben Folds, which includes his version of Pulp's Common People with Joe Jackson.

Cabaret act Inspired, perhaps, by his triumphant version of Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds and the like, Bill took to appearing live. One supreme moment came at the 1978 Science Fiction Film Awards, when our hero performed a spoken-word, Method-masterclass version of Rocket Man to a stunned audience that included the song's co-writer Bernie Taupin.

Bon vivant Shatner has a taste for the good life. At his horse farm in Kentucky he breeds race horses and when in Hollywood he is known to hide his feelings brilliantly at the celebrity-circuit poker table. Shatner is a YouTube star; he features in more than 2,500 clips, among them his parody of the film Seven.

Boston Legal, Thur, Living TV 10pm

http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/ ... 233333.ece

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TRexx - Jan 27, 2008 - 08:02 PM
Post subject:

From WENN via Yahoo! News UK ...

Shatner upset at poorly written Kirk death scene

By WENN world entertainment news - Sunday, January 27 09:40 am

Veteran actor William Shatner is still angry about the less-than-spectacular way his legendary Star Trek character Captain Kirk was killed off.

Shatner, who played Kirk on both the big and small screen, on and off, from 1966 up until 1993's Star Trek: Generations, wishes he had insisted on a better death scene.

Even Star Trek fans were disappointed when the heroic sci-fi character fell to his death from a cliff.

The 76-year-old says, "The mistake I made was thinking I could make it a spectacular death with what they had written."

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/wenn/20080127/ ... 0bd6d.html

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TRexx - Jan 30, 2008 - 06:20 AM
Post subject:

From the Centre Daily Times ...

William Shatner "Boldly Goes" Online With VideoJug

The Legendary "Captain Kirk" Actor Explains Why Britney Spears and Lindsay Lohan Get into So Much Trouble, and Shares a Few Parenting Tips of His Own!

Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2008

LOS ANGELES — VideoJug announced today that William Shatner, acclaimed actor, prolific author and accomplished recording artist, and the one and only "Captain James T. Kirk," will be delivering his candid and personal views on life, Star Trek and the entertainment business in a series of high definition, phaser-sharp Ask the Expert films exclusively at www.VideoJug.com.

The internet is the latest medium for Shatner, and he has selected VideoJug, the online video encyclopedia of life which hosts over 35,000 professionally made, short "How To" and expert advice films on practically everything, to house his entertaining commentaries.

The legendary actor of Star Trek, TJ Hooker and Boston Legal fame, opens up on his opinions regarding everything from raising three daughters, why Britney Spears and Lindsay Lohan have such a hard time with their own fame, and how he got into hip-hop music.

The straight-shooting star also answers a series of questions as only he can -- pertaining to acting, writing his ten Star Trek novels, recording music, juggling family and career, parenting, education and life in general.

Websurfers can access all the short films for free by visiting VideoJug and typing "Shatner" into the site's search engine.

VideoJug hosts one of the world's largest, most all-encompassing libraries of factual content online. The site's professionally produced, high definition video content covers every conceivable topic and delivers the definitive online "encyclopedia of life." From the helpful to the hilarious, from the sensual to the scientific, VideoJug literally has something for anyone.

For more information on videojug.com, its mission and services, please visit www.videojug.com. Or to arrange interviews with VideoJug spokespeople, contact Paul Williams at 310/937-2009 or medialine2@aol.com.

For VideoJug Paul Williams, 310-937-2009

http://www.centredaily.com/business/tec ... 65470.html

http://www.videojug.com/tag/william-shatner

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TRexx - Jan 31, 2008 - 07:10 AM
Post subject:

From MSNBC ...

Joe Jackson still 'Steppin' Out' to his own beat

MSNBC: You did a cover of Pulp's "Common People" with William Shatner on one of his albums (2004's "Has Been"). Is Shatner underappreciated musically?

Joe Jackson: (Laughs). No. I can't say that. But I think that the song and the album are really good. It's fun and musical in a clever kind of way, and it's fun to listen to. It's very much tongue-in-cheek, but you know Shatner's in on the joke. On the same album, Shatner and Henry Rollins do a song ("I Can't Get Behind That") where they're both just ranting and raving. It's brilliant. You've gotta check it out. I mean, humor is such an important part of being a human being, so why shouldn't it be a part of being an artist? I'm frankly surprised by how little humor there is in rock 'n' roll these days. People take themselves very seriously. And even when they don't, the critics do.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22903337/

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MythTV ++ Ubuntu == Free Media Center on Your PC

TRexx - Jan 31, 2008 - 07:12 AM
Post subject:

Video from Mahalo Daily ...

LA Art Show with William Shatner

Last week we hit up the LA Art Show in Santa Monica Airport's Barker Hangar, to see what exactly this whole art scene thing was about. In our mission to find out how to start building an art collection, we happened upon a certain someone browsing the contemporary section: William Shatner, aka Captain Kirk.

"Excuse me? Not right now. I appreciate you asking me."

VIDEO: http://daily.mahalo.com/2008/01/30/md04 ... m-shatner/

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TRexx - Feb 05, 2008 - 08:19 AM
Post subject:

From National Enquirer ...

William Shatner Surgery Turns Into Life-Or-Death Drama

Published on: 02/04/2008

Routine hip replacement surgery turned into a life-threatening health crisis for "Star Trek" legend William Shatner, The NATIONAL ENQUIRER has learned exclusively.

The 77-year-old "Boston Legal" star developed heart complications on the operating table following his Jan. 25 procedure at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, a Hollywood source confided.

"The hip replacement surgery went fine," the source said. "But William's heart started beating erratically. For a few seconds, it looked like he might die on the table."

Shatner was quickly stabilized, but "he was pretty shook up when they told him about the heart complication," the source said.

"Until now he's had no real medical problems. But he's overweight and out of shape, so hearing he had a heart problem scared the hell out of him."

Now recuperating at home, "William feels fine and he's already walking," the source said. "William said he's going to drop some weight and start taking better care of himself."

The cardiac complication suffered by Shatner is potentially lethal, say experts.

Such heart rhythm disturbances can easily lead to severe heart attacks, long-term heart damage, and even sudden death if they aren't addressed quickly, according to doctors.

A Harvard University study found that about one million Americans undergo joint replacement every year -- and about 30,000 of them experience potentially dangerous heart complications like Shatner did.

As result of the medical nightmare, the actor is vowing to get in better shape. "The incident really shook him up," said the insider. "He's trying to process the whole ordeal as a wakeup call."

http://www.nationalenquirer.com/william ... rity/64522

William Shatner responds...

"I'm in absolute perfect health. I've never felt better in my life.
Somebody made up an absolutely foolish story."

My Best, Bill

Feb 05, 2008 - 09:18 AM

http://williamshatner.com/PNphpBB2-view ... ebbe.phtml

__________________

Ubuntu Studio Edition

TRexx - Feb 07, 2008 - 06:54 AM
Post subject:

From 131blog's Weblog...

William Shatner, The Heavy Weight Champion of Advertisement Today

February 6, 2008

William Shatner is the Heavy weight champion of advertisement today. Why do I say this? It has something to do with him being in commercials for almost everything and I see him at least once every commercial break. I cannot think of anyone today that is more advertisements. Yes there are some famous people that are in some great commercials, but none as often as Shatner.

Shatner has countless numbers of Priceline commercials and my personal favorite of his the World of Warcraft commercial. The Mr. T world of Warcraft commercial would give Shatner's one a run for its money but that is Mr. T's only commercial advertisement. Besides Mr. T the next challenger for Shatner's title is Chuck Norris. Chuck Norris is the butt end of a lot of jokes in current day American and has been for past few years. He however took too long to capitalize on making fun of himself. For example, the Mountain Dew commercial he is in where he chases down the two guys making fun of him and steals their Mountain Dew and is drinking it as he works on a YouTube video of him roundhouse kicking them. I might also consider Michael Jordan a contender to his title but I really can't do it; he needs other stars in his commercials with him such as Kevin Bacon, Larry Bird, and Cuba Gooding Jr.

Some people might think of superstars of sports as heavy weight fighters of advertisement that can contend with Shatner. The Manning Brothers, Eli and Peyton, have a string of advertisements. why shouldn't they? Back to back Super Bowl MVP is hard to fight off. Those commercials are mostly played on ESPN and other sports networks on TV and do not really get seen by everyone. Shatner's commercials appear on every TV channel except for those few channels that do not have commercials.

One of the most paid walking advertisements now is LeBron James. Something like a 90 million dollar contract with Nike doesn't make me want to go buy Nikes or even his multimillion-dollar contract with sprite make me want to drink sprite. Every time I see the William Shatner World of Warcraft commercial it makes me want to go play. The only one that I would rate higher than Shatner all time as the best ever would be the Taco Bell dog but he retired. I ate more tacos in the time he was in the commercials then I have in the years since he retired. All the Commercials I have mentioned can be found at www.youtube.com.

Thomas Wakerley

http://131blog.wordpress.com/2008/02/06 ... ent-today/

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Ubuntu Studio Edition

TRexx - Feb 07, 2008 - 07:30 PM
Post subject:

From ShowBiz Spy...

William Shatner never watched Star Trek

By Gavin Wilson, Feb 07 2008 © Copyright 2008 - Showbiz Spy

Star Trek legend William Shatner has admitted he's never watched the TV show that made him famous.

The 76-year-old star, who played Captain James Kirk in the cult sci-fi programme, also confessed that he's not seen any of the spin-off movies.

And he said he hadn't watched his performances as a lawyer in television's hit drama Boston Legal, either.

He said: "I never watched Star Trek.

"I have not even seen any of the Star Trek movies.

"I don't watch myself.

"When I direct and have to look at filmed scenes of myself, I suck."

In an interview with 46-year-old daughter Lisabeth for his Internet video blog, Shatner also admits he has one big regret about his days on the space age show -- not holding on to any memorabilia.

He added: "I've kept nothing.

"Given the choice at the time of having a Star Trek shirt or a designer suit, I'd have taken a suit.

"I should have known better."

The Canadian-born actor recently had a health scare when a routine hip replacement operation went wrong. He developed heart complications during the procedure. But he has since gone on to recover.

The original Star Trek television series ran from 1966 to 1969.

http://www.showbizspy.com/2008/02/07/wi ... star-trek/

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Ubuntu Studio Edition

TRexx - Feb 07, 2008 - 08:15 PM
Post subject:

From Digital Spy...

Shatner denies heart scare reports

NBCU Photobank / Rex Features

Thursday, February 7 2008, 13:20 GMT
By Beth Hilton, Entertainment Reporter

Shatner denies heart scare reports

William Shatner has denied reports that he almost died while undergoing a hip replacement operation.

It was claimed that the Star Trek actor suffered a heart complication under anesthetic during the operation at LA's Cedars-Sinai Medical Centre last month.

However, the 76-year-old dismissed the claims in a post on his website, writing: "I'm in absolute perfect health. I've never felt better in my life.

"Somebody made up an absolutely foolish story."

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/showbiz/a88 ... ports.html

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Ubuntu Studio Edition

TRexx - Feb 08, 2008 - 04:50 AM
Post subject:

From UPPERCASE Gallery...

The Shatner Show & Book

The Shatner Show art exhibition was hosted from June 16 to August 31, 2007, at the UPPERCASE Gallery in Alberta. All of the artwork is published in the commemorative book.

The Shatner Show book and exhibition is curated and designed by Janine Vangool and written by Glen Dresser. In addition to the over 76 images inspired by the life and career of Mr. Shatner, the book includes quotes from Shatner, as well as commentary by the artists on the pop culture icon and their working methods.

The book is 128 pages, hardcover, 8.5" x 10.5" with full colour throughout.

The Shatner Show art book can be ordered from UPPERCASE Gallery (Canada) or Amazon.com (USA)

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Ubuntu Studio Edition

TRexx - Feb 12, 2008 - 05:55 PM
Post subject:

From CBC.ca...

Just for Laughs on CBC

Episode 15: Feb. 12, 7:30pm on CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corp.)

The Gemini Award-winning Just for Laughs series showcases the best comedians from Canada and around the world. Tonight's show features Adam Hills, William Shatner and Jimmy Carr.

William Shatner has cultivated a career that has spanned over 50 years as a professional actor, director, producer, screenwriter, recording artist, author, and horseman. He is one of pop culture's most recognizable figures and has also established himself as a major Hollywood philanthropist. In 1966, Shatner originated the role of "Captain James T. Kirk" in television series Star Trek. The series spawned a feature film franchise and Shatner reprised the role of Captain Kirk in seven of the Stark Trek motion pictures. Shatner is a series regular on the hit ABC program Boston Legal; the portrayal garnered him his first Golden Globe in January 2005 as well as an Emmy in September 2005. Shatner continues to act, write, produce and direct while still managing to find time to work with charities and further his passion in the equestrian sports. He and his wife, Elizabeth, and his three married children live in Los Angeles.

http://www.cbc.ca/justforlaughs/episode15.html

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Ubuntu Linux -- Studio Edition (Free)

rubypearl - Feb 12, 2008 - 10:09 PM
Post subject:

BIll S & Melanie's 1989 or 1988 Oldsmobile commercial is up on you tube...for the time being:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-PqOBOVm-0I

TRexx - Feb 13, 2008 - 07:52 PM
Post subject:

From A&E TV...

A&E Biography: William Shatner

He's William Shatner, the actor who's found many ways to stay in the public eye for decades, even spoofing his overblown acting style in a way far more hip than desperate. This profile looks at Shatner's long and successful career, which now includes a starring role on the hit series Boston Legal. Interviews include: Leonard Nimoy, James Spader, Candice Bergen, and Patrick Stewart; Shatner's favorite impersonator actor/comedian Kevin Pollak; TV Guide's Matt Roush; Robert Schnakenberg, author of the Encyclopedia Shatnerica; daughters Lisabeth and Leslie, his wife Elizabeth and Shatner himself.

This DVD is one of the many titles in A&E's DVD Library and is created in the DVD+R format. This disc does not feature menu pages or special features like standard DVDs, simply the high quality programming you've come to expect from A&E.

Available exclusively at The A&E Store.

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TRexx - Feb 16, 2008 - 07:02 AM
Post subject:

From Forbes.com...

William Shatner must be doing something right. Shares of Priceline.com soared 14% on impressive quarterly results. The online travel company's earnings more than doubled on a huge jump in travel bookings.

Priceline.com (nasdaq: PCLN - news - people ) also gave investors an outlook that was in line with Wall Street's predictions.

http://www.forbes.com/2008/02/15/barnes ... emove.html

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TRexx - Feb 16, 2008 - 09:59 PM
Post subject:

From TV Guide...

What the Stars Did During the Strike

We found out from the celebs themselves!

William Shatner, Boston Legal -- Shatner is promoting a new book, Star Trek: Academy - Collision Course, an album called Exodus, and working on a new talk show, Shatner's Raw Nerve.

http://www.tvguide.com/PhotoGallery/Wha ... 91/16.aspx

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angel - Feb 16, 2008 - 10:44 PM
Post subject:

I just want to say thankyou for all your hard work in imparting the info on Bill. It really means alot that you would take the time to do so for us and for all the people who come to visit here. Many thanks.

TRexx - Feb 17, 2008 - 12:02 AM
Post subject:

Quote:

I just want to say thankyou for all your hard work in imparting the info on Bill.

Thank you, Angel.

Bill has helped create a lifetime of entertainment, some of it timeless.

Smile

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angel - Feb 17, 2008 - 12:15 AM
Post subject:

TRexx wrote:

Quote:

I just want to say thankyou for all your hard work in imparting the info on Bill.

Thank you, Angel.

Bill has helped create a lifetime of entertainment, some of it timeless.

Smile

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You're very welcome, TRexx Smile

To you and Bill! Both of you keep up the gratifyingly(is that a word?) great works! Very Happy

TRexx - Feb 20, 2008 - 06:27 AM
Post subject:

From TradingMarkets.com ...

Big Screen Entertainment Group in Production with William Shatner

Tuesday, February 19, 2008; Posted: 03:35 PM

HOLLYWOOD, Feb 19, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Big Screen Entertainment Group (OTC:BSEG) has signed with legendary actor, writer and director William Shatner on multiple projects, and has begun production on their first joint venture.

"We are beyond thrilled to be working with William Shatner, one of the most beloved and respected actors of our time," enthused BSEG's CEO, Kimberley Kates. "After achieving icon status playing Captain James T. Kirk on Star Trek, he continues to entertain audiences every week on ABC's Boston Legal, 40 years later: Truly an amazing career."

Shatner plays incorrigible lawyer Denny Crane on the hit series, a role for which he has won multiple Emmys. Boston Legal airs at 10pm, Tuesday night, on ABC.

BSEG's Kates, David Zappone, Michael Manasseri and Stephen Eckelberry, along with William and Elizabeth Shatner, spent last week before the cameras working on their first release, a documentary due out this spring.

"This documentary represents the first step in what we hope will be a long and successful partnership between Big Screen and William Shatner," stated BSEG President David Zappone. "His energy and creativity are boundless, and we feel that Big Screen is the perfect home for his future projects."

About BSEG:

Big Screen Entertainment Group (BSEG) is a full service entertainment company designed to develop, produce, purchase, exhibit and distribute products in all media formats, including motion pictures, television, music, publishing, video games and cell phone content.

BSEG has completed four films, two films in post-production and fourteen films in development, one completed casual game, five in development as well as two MMORPG's.

Forward-Looking Statements:

A number of statements contained in this press release are forward-looking statements that are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties, including timely development, and market acceptance of products and technologies, competitive market conditions, successful integration of acquisitions and the ability to secure additional sources of financing. When used in this press release, words such as "could," "plan," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "potential," "should," and similar expressions are forward looking statements.

SOURCE: Big Screen Entertainment Group

Big Screen Entertainment Group Kimberley Kates, CEO, 323-956-4321 KatesK@bigscreenent.com David Zappone, President, 323-956-4321 Zapponed@bigscreenent.com www.bigscreenent.com www.babysitterwantedfilm.com www.forgetaboutitthefilm.com

http://www.tradingmarkets.com/.site/new ... s/1111223/

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TRexx - Feb 21, 2008 - 05:34 AM
Post subject:

From TV Week...

Ion Stations Pick Up 'Boston Legal'

By Julieanne Smolinski, February 20, 2008 8:50 AM

"Boston Legal," the 4-year-old legal drama from producer David E. Kelley, will begin airing on ION Television this fall.

The show, starring James Spader, Candice Bergen and William Shatner, is distributed by News Corp.'s Twentieth Television. It premiered in 2004 on ABC, where it continues to run as one of the network's top 20 programs.

"We are excited that ION Television will be sharing with their viewers this Emmy Award-winning program," Twentieth Television president Bob Cook said in a statement Monday.

ION Media Networks owns and operates 60 stations and reaches more than 94 million households nationwide.

http://www.tvweek.com/news/2008/02/ion_ ... ton_le.php

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TRexx - Feb 21, 2008 - 08:33 PM
Post subject:

From Comic Mix...

NBC Universal Will Stream 'Classic' Shows Online

Wed Feb 20, 2008 — by Chris Ullrich

Oh Good, More Tek War!

Recently, NBC Universal announced it will offer full episodes of "classic, fan-favorite series" as streaming videos on four of its network websites beginning later this month. Some of the "classic" TV shows that you'll be able to get at the various sites include: Swamp Thing, The Crow, the '70s version of Battlestar Galactica, Buck Rogers, featuring Gil Gerard as Buck and Twiki the robot, Rod Serling's Night Gallery, William Shatner's Tek War, and Tremors.

According to NBC Universal, you can find the various shows at the following sites:

NBC.com: The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, A-Team, Battlestar Galactica, Buck Rogers, Emergency, Miami Vice and Night Gallery

SciFi.com: Battlestar Galactica, Buck Rogers, Night Gallery and Tek War

ChillerTV.com: The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, The Crow, Night Gallery, Swamp Thing and Tremors

SleuthChannel.com: A-Team, Kojak, Miami Vice, Night Gallery and Simon & Simon

What, no Man From U.N.C.L.E or original Star Trek? Where's the love, NBC?

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TRexx - Feb 22, 2008 - 05:09 AM
Post subject:

From PhotoShop Digest ...

William Shatner Pop Art

Posted on Thursday, February 21st, 2008 at 12:29 pm

We have all seen Andy Warhol's art. When thinking of a Warhol piece, two images come to mind for most people. One being the Campbell's Soup Can and the other being the Marilyn Monroe silkscreen image. Not having a computer, Warhol had to create this silk screens manually, using screens but it he had Photoshop, things would have been much easier for the eccentric artist. This being the modern era, I'm going to take you through the process of taking a photo and making it look like an Andy Warhol silk screen. My subject, William Shatner.

Read the step-by-step and fully illustrated exercise at PhotoShop Digest...

http://www.photoshopdigest.com/photo-ef ... r-pop-art/

Denny Crane. To Serve and Protect.

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TRexx - Feb 24, 2008 - 07:19 AM
Post subject:

From AdWeek.com ...

CBS Rolls Out Classic TV Online

By Mike Shields, Feb 21, 2008

NEW YORK -- CBS has begun syndicating several classic series, including Star Trek and Melrose Place, across the CBS Audience Network.

The distribution network, launched last year with big-name partners such as AOL, MSN, Comcast and CNET, now delivers full-length episodes of a growing library of CBS prime-time shows on over 300 sites, including hits like Survivor and CSI. Now, CBS is reaching into the past to expand this offering, adding full-length episodes of shows going as far back as the 1960s, including The Twilight Zone, Hawaii Five-O, and MacGyver.

CBS plans to add more shows to its network, which also features video upstarts like Joost and Veoh, in coming months, according to officials. "CBS's commitment and ability to move quickly and aggressively to monetize and distribute content online is awesome," said CBS Interactive president Quincy Smith.

The CBS Audience network, along with Hulu -- NBC Universal and News Corp.'s much-hyped joint venture -- is at the forefront on an industry-wide trend towards wide-open video distribution.

However, to date, it's been unclear how consumers are responding to the ability to stream their favorite TV shows in non-TV-centric environments. Neither CBS nor Hulu released much in the way of performance metrics on either venture, and third-party measurement firms such as Nielsen Online and comScore have yet to develop standard means of tracking video usage across multiple sites at once, said industry executives.

http://www.cbs.com/classics/star_trek/video/video.php

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TRexx - Feb 26, 2008 - 09:33 PM
Post subject:

From icWales...

Joe Jackson in Cardiff at last

Feb 26 2008 by Gavin Allen, South Wales Echo

...

While Joe Jackson is exceptionally dedicated to his music he isn't overly serious, and in 2004 he proved that by playing on William Shatner's album Has Been.

"It was one of the greatest studio experiences I have ever had," he says, laughing at the memory of those Nashville sessions with Captain Kirk.

"Shatner is a cool guy, he has tremendous energy and he comes across seeming 30 years younger than he is.

"You know that Bill is in on the joke, it's very funny but in a clever way.

"I remember we were improvising, me on piano and Ben Folds on organ, and Bill was just ranting over this gospel music.

"He was preaching about how everyone will die so we're all equal and I had no idea what I was doing but it actually turned out to be quite musical."

Joe Jackson plays at The Point, Cardiff Bay, tomorrow. Tickets cost £22.50 from 029 2023 0130. Jackson's new album Rain is out now on Rykodisc.

http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/whats-on ... -20522164/

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TRexx - Feb 27, 2008 - 03:00 AM
Post subject:

From Fruits to Remember...

Fruity Nutty Bar

Fruits to Remember of Beverly Hills was invited to be a part of the pre-Oscars gifting lounge organized by WOW creations. The two-day event on February 19th and 20th held on the penthouse floor of Hyatt on Sunset received scores of A-list celebrities including William Shatner. The event received such a warm reception that had to be extended on Wednesday for an extra hour.

Fruits to Remember displayed a few of the new arrangements designed using the largest collection of chocolate and nuts covered fruit collection in the gifting industry.

Fruits to Remember: Elizabeth & William Shatner

http://www.fruitstoremember.com/index.a ... &ID=21

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TRexx - Feb 27, 2008 - 11:22 PM
Post subject:

From Big Screen Entertainment Group...

William Shatner's Gonzo Ballet

Wednesday, 27 February 2008

Big Screen Entertainment Group (OTC:BSEG) is proud to announce that it has inked a deal to co-produce and distribute a new documentary from William Shatner. The documentary chronicles choreographer Margo Sappington and the Milwaukee Ballet Company's quest to create a new ballet based upon Mr. Shatner's critically acclaimed album, "Has Been." Mr. Shatner co-wrote the album with producer/singer/songwriter Ben Folds, and performed most of the songs on the album, with support from such diverse artists as Henry Rollins, Aimee Mann, Joe Jackson, Brad Paisley and Lemon Jelly.

"This documentary is very unique. I really don't think there's anything else quite like it," stated BSEG CEO Kimberley Kates. "Many of the lyrics from 'Has Been' are of a very personal and poignant nature, and to have those songs interpreted into dance, especially ballet, is quite remarkable to see."

Primarily shot in and around Milwaukee, Wisconsin by local production company Special Entertainment, Big Screen and Five Star recently filmed additional footage with Mr. Shatner and his wife Elizabeth at the Falcon Theater in Burbank, California.

"This piece will show a different side of William Shatner, and touches upon details about his life and career that have not been revealed before," said BSEG President David Zappone. "When you add in never before seen footage and information about this legendary television icon, you have the makings of a fascinating documentary."

Big Screen and Five Star will distribute the doc directly under their new, soon to be announced distribution banner.

While perhaps best known as "Star Trek's" "Captain James T. Kirk," Mr. Shatner currently plays "Denny Crane" on ABC's "Boston Legal," a role for which he has won several Emmys, and was recently nominated for a Golden Globe.

The project is scheduled for completion in May 2008.

[Click to Super Size Image]

http://www.bigscreenentertainmentgroup. ... Ballet%22/

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TRexx - Feb 29, 2008 - 03:36 AM
Post subject:

From Luis' Illustrated Blog

William Shatner Sighting. Doh!

February, 2008 (06:55) | By: Luis

THE SIMPSONS NEWS

...

On Wednesday something crazy happened that ruined my day. William Shatner came to the studio! Yeah, you read right, WILLIAM SHATNER, Captain Kirk himself came to the studio. How cool is that? That so rocks. Don't ask me why he was there, I don't know. All I know is, that he was there.

So why did this ruin my day? I DIDN'T GET TO SEE HIM. *SOB* What a bummer. A friend of mine told me that he got in an elevator with him to our floor. So we knew he was in the building but when I went around to look for him, I couldn't find him. WEAK!

http://www.luisescobarblog.com/?p=102

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TRexx - Mar 01, 2008 - 01:23 AM
Post subject:

From Wired...

Shatner's Space Hip Not for Sale

By John Scott Lewinski, February 28, 2008 @ 2:31:25

Taking advantage of the lull created by the recent writers strike, the legendary William Shatner underwent hip replacement surgery. While there were complications, the actor recovered and should be riding his beloved steeds well into his rapidly approaching 80s.

Years prior, after Shatner suffered a kidney stone, the captain sold it to an online casino for charity. With the hip operation behind him, there was talk of Hooker ("He's a good cop!") selling his old hip -- wrenched from its joint and bone-sawed into open space -- for another charitable haul.

But, Denny Crane thought better of it. As he put it, "How bad taste would it be to sell my hip bone?' I then decided it was bad taste, and, for me to decide something is bad taste ... it was really bad."

How can you argue with a man with these kinds of creative instincts?

http://blog.wired.com/underwire/2008/02 ... pac-1.html

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TRexx - Mar 02, 2008 - 10:07 AM
Post subject:

From The Breakfast Show @ Virgin Radio ...

Get Shatner! Launches!

The_Gaz on Monday, 18 February 2008

Right - we exclusively announced on the Breakfast Show today that March will be Get Shatner! Month. It's quite simple really -- in a Who's Calling Christian style, we'll have a month for one of you to get William Shatner on the show for a chat with Christian.

We also have an amazing prize up for grabs. Some of you may remember the marvellous Freddie Mercury Lego Head that made it's appearance on the show back in December.

Well thanks to Lego builder Craig, the person who "Gets Shatner" will be winning a life size bust of the legend himself made out of Lego.

After we "Get Shatner" each month we'll be taking your suggestions for the next celebrity and every month there will be

So make a note in your diary -- 3rd March Get Shatner begins.

http://www.virginradio.co.uk/djs_shows/ ... st&s=1

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TRexx - Mar 02, 2008 - 10:29 PM
Post subject:

From the Ottawa Citizen...

A Twisted Genius

Adrian Chamberlain, The Victoria Times Colonist. Published: Sunday, March 02, 2008

British Columbia music scholar Kevin Bazzana was chuffed to discover Star Trek's Captain Kirk likes his new book about a bizarre and obscure pianist.

Bazzana is the author of Lost Genius: The Story of a Forgotten Musical Maverick, a fascinating, scrupulously researched biography of Ervin Nyiregyházi (pronounced nyeer-edge-hah-zee).

Who, you ask? As the title indicates, Nyiregyházi is almost forgotten today. Yet in his prime, his pals included Rudolph Valentino, Harry Houdini, Theodore Dreiser, Bela Lugosi and Gloria Swanson. The classical pianist began as a renowned prodigy, performing at Buckingham Palace as an eight-year-old and later astounding Europe with performances pounded out in a do-or-die Romantic style.

...

One of the people who helped Bazzana with his 10 years of research for the Nyiregyházi book lives in Los Angeles. It turns out this guy's worked for years as a stand-in for William Shatner on shows like Boston Legal. He e-mailed Bazzana to say that he'd passed along Lost Genius to Shatner. And apparently Capt. Kirk loved the book. He even wants to visit Budapest, Hungary, where the late Nyiregyházi was born in 1903.

"For a Canadian writer, there is no greater review than 'William Shatner liked my book,' so I am very content right now," said Bazzana, an admitted Star Trek fan.

Read the full article in the Ottawa Citizen...

http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/new ... mp;k=71392

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TRexx - Mar 04, 2008 - 02:10 AM
Post subject:

From Wall Street Online...

William Shatner to Step Behind the Camera

HOLLYWOOD, Calif. -- (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Big Screen Entertainment Group and legendary actor/director William Shatner have signed a deal to produce a new feature film, slated to begin pre-production in the coming months. Big Screen's Florida production partner, Five Star Pictures, will be onboard as well.

Shatner (Star Trek, Boston Legal) will direct the comedy, which is based upon his original story. "We're pleased to be working with Mr. Shatner and proud he has chosen Big Screen and Five Star as his producing partners on this project, which promises to be a funny and compelling film," said BSEG CEO Kimberley Kates. "Discussions are underway with a number of big stars who are interested in participating, as well as a major studio. We will be announcing more details in the coming weeks."

BSEG also recently announced that they are in post production on a brand new documentary with Shatner, chronicling his music career, as well as the original ballet based upon his album, "Has Been." The doc will be distributed by BSEG and Five Star under their new distribution banner soon to be announced.

About BSEG:

Big Screen Entertainment Group (BSEG) is a full service entertainment company designed to develop, produce, purchase, exhibit and distribute products in all media formats, including motion pictures, television, music, publishing, video games and cell phone content.

http://www.wallstreet-online.de/nachric ... 89710.html

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TRexx - Mar 05, 2008 - 02:46 AM
Post subject:

From The Pimm Group ...

Sea Shepherd Defends 'Rotten Butter' Attack

March 4th, 2008

The environmental group Sea Shepherd says it doubts its attack on a Japanese whaling ship off Antarctica yesterday injured anyone. The group threw 24 litres of rotten butter onto the Nisshin Maru whaling ship. Obviously an act of terrorism on the high seas. Lucky Paul didn't ram them. "We live in a media culture and this means that actors and musicians have more credibility to speak on a wide range of issues than the experts in their respective fields. Our organization has the support of Pierce Brosnan, Martin Sheen, William Shatner, and Richard Dean Anderson. How can we fail when we have James Bond, Captain Kirk, the President of the United States and McGyver [on our side]?"

http://thepimmgroup.org/?p=180

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TRexx - Mar 06, 2008 - 09:20 PM
Post subject:

From Great American Country...

Stars React to ACM Nominations

43rd annual Academy of Country Music Awards

March 5, 2008

Brad Paisley (four nominations, including Video of the Year): "Any time you get William Shatner to do a makeout scene in your video with Jason Alexander's mother from ‘Seinfeld,' you should be up for Video of the Year!"

http://www.gactv.com/gac/nw_headlines/a ... 38,00.html

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TRexx - Mar 06, 2008 - 09:22 PM
Post subject:

From the Palm Beach Post...

A Real Trekkie'S Field Day: Capt. Kirk At The Ballet

By Post Staff | Wednesday, March 5, 2008, 06:01 PM

South Florida Trekkies, time to break out the ol' communicators!

Capt. James T. Kirk is coming straight at you -- in more ways than one.

A never-aging star of Star Trek to some, and Denny Crane on the ABC hit Boston Legal to others, actor William Shatner has inked several deals with an up-and-coming Boca Raton-based film company -- including a documentary on a ballet set to his music, then a spoof of The Wedding Crashers.

By late spring, Five Star Pictures should be set to release William Shatner's Gonzo Ballet, which highlights the making of the Milwaukee Ballet's performance to a 2004 Shatner CD that had critics howling and fans in a tizzy.

Strange, you say? You have no idea!

"Bill is really a frustrated ballet performer," says Brooks Parsons, Five Star spokesman.

Says David Zappone, L.A. actor/producer and a graduate of the Burt Reynolds Action Company in Jupiter: "I ran into Leonard Nimoy (Mr. Spock in Star Trek) on the lot the other day and told him about the project. He thought it was the funniest thing he's ever heard."

Yet to Shatner, who turns 77 March 22, Gonzo Ballet is anything but a joke. The 2004 CD that spawned the ballet is very personal -- he recites his own poetry against a background of jazzy riffs as he did on his old Priceline.com commercials. Shatner shlepped all the way to Wisconsin in the thick of last winter to see the dancing of choreographer Margo Sappington.

So happens the performance was taped by a production company. Five Star is using that footage and interspersed it with Shatner interviews.

"He's the first to admit he can't sing," says Parsons. "But he co-wrote most of the lyrics about his artistic journey from Capt. Kirk, which had him typecast for 20 years, to 'Boston Legal'."

I'm told the company wants to offer it up to ABC first, then go to the likes of HBO.

Want more Shatner?

How about a movie that will resonate in South County? Some scenes for The Shiva Crashers are expected to be shot in Florida, also starting in late spring. The flick, directed by Shatner, tells the story of two film business hopefuls who crash a famous producer's shiva in order to network with industry bigs.

"Bill is going to call in every favor from big names for the film," said Zappone. "He's been talking to Ben Stiller, Jay Leno, and Howard Stern."

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/blogs/cont ... _capt.html

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TRexx - Mar 07, 2008 - 05:43 AM
Post subject:

From USA Today ...

Stars break out in song to honor David E. Kelley's Alzheimer's portrayal

By Victoria Namkung, Special for USA TODAY

BEVERLY HILLS -- Award show season may be over in Hollywood, but stars gathered at the Beverly Hilton Hotel Wednesday night for the 16th annual Alzheimer's Association "A Night at Sardi's" benefit.

Jason Alexander directed a stage production of the Broadway musical Bye Bye Birdie, and the hotel's ballroom was transformed to look like the famed New York restaurant for which the event is named. Boston Legal creator David E. Kelley was honored for his portrayal of Alzheimer's disease on the show, and the award lured most of his cast including Candice Bergen and William Shatner.

"It's a personal cause because my wife's father died of Alzheimer's eight years ago," said Shatner, who attended with wife Elizabeth. "I'm so pleased that David Kelley is getting this award. It's a kick for the cast to present it."

The always busy Shatner talked up his latest projects. "My autobiography Up Till Now is coming out," he said. "And there's a DVD called Gonzo Ballet, which is the making of a ballet set to my music. And I'm going to be doing a talk show called Raw Nerve for Biography Channel.

Read the complete article in USA Today...

http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/200 ... rdis_N.htm

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TRexx - Mar 07, 2008 - 02:11 PM
Post subject:

From FemaleFirst.co.uk...

'Resilient' Patrick Swayze

March 7 @ 07:05

Patrick Swayze "will be resilient" in his battle against pancreatic cancer, says his former co-star Lea Thompson.

The actress -- who starred alongside Patrick in the 1984 action film Red Dawn -- thinks the 55-year-old will beat the disease despite it having a survival rate of less than five per cent.

Mary Poppins actor Dick Van Dyke said: "It's so unfortunate. It's unfortunately quite a short span of time -- in one way that's a blessing and in another way it isn't. But my ex-wife died of pancreatic cancer so I feel a little bit bad about that -- it's hard to treat, very hard."

However, Star Trek legend William Shatner was more optimistic, adding: "My deepest sympathies go out to him, of course. He'll be fine -- they'll get it."

See the complete article at FemaleFirst...

http://www.femalefirst.co.uk/celebrity/ ... 19972.html

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TRexx - Mar 12, 2008 - 12:43 AM
Post subject:

From Big Screen Entertainment ...

Big Screen Entertainment Group and William Shatner to "Sit Shiva"

Tuesday, Mar. 11, 2008

HOLLYWOOD -- Big Screen Entertainment Group CEO Kimberley Kates has announced that plans are in motion to begin pre-production on the new William Shatner helmed comedy, entitled "The Shiva Club" aka "Shiva Crashers." The story, based upon an original idea from Shatner, is a funny and touching look into the world of comedy, with a Shiva as the setting.

"Mr. Shatner has come up with a totally new and unique concept, and an extraordinarily strong script, written by Nat Maudlin," Kates said. "We are in talks with a virtual 'who's who' of American comedy, from legendary comedians to today's hottest comics."

Emmy and Golden Globe award winner Shatner, who stars as "Denny Crane" on the ABC hit "Boston Legal," will likely step in front of the camera as well.

Big Screen is co-producing with its Florida partner, Five Star Entertainment, whose Lifetime television series, "The Balancing Act," premieres later this month.

http://www.bigscreenentertainmentgroup. ... _Shiva%22/

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TRexx - Mar 16, 2008 - 02:06 AM
Post subject:

From PR Urgent...

VIP Fine Art Event Featuring Shatener, Tuscani and Gamut Control Scheduled for 3/29/08

VIP EVENT TO PREMIER THE NEXT GENERATION COLLECTORS LIMITED EDITIONS OF ELIZABETH SHATNER & GIORGIO TUSCANI, AS WELL AS GAMUT CONTROLS GEMINI PROCESS, IS SCHEDULED FOR MARCH 29, 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE / PRURGENT

(STUDIO CITY, CA -- 14 March, 2008) A VIP Event has been scheduled for March 29th, 2008 at Giorgio Tuscani's Palazzo Di Songi estate in Studio City, CA to premier the Next Generation, Collectors Limited Edition works of Elizabeth Shatner and Giorgio Tuscani. This event will also showcase Gamut Control's Gemini Process, previewing how these highly collectable limited edition works are created. By invitation only, the event will be attended by collectors, media and prominent artists.

Mrs. Shatner, wife of the world famous actor William Shatner, is a self taught photographer who's "Flowrosophy" showcases flora in it's most natural and vivid state. She refers to her work as "Visual Meditation" and relies only on her eye, the beauty of "nature's art" and timing to capture the stunningly real imagery within the natural world. "Every flower has a story to tell and through my art I hope to allow the world to see the pages of the tale unfold before their eyes. I think about the cycle of life, laws of attraction, beauty of perfection of those living things in their prime" states Mrs. Shatner.

Mr. Tuscani's striking work is helping to usher in a "New Renaissance" and showcases a talent honed over years of heartfelt painting. With reference to his Limited Editions, Mr. Tuscani states "I'm not only emotionally sensitive to the energy of a person, but also visually sensitive to the detail in my surroundings, especially where my art is concerned and to see a fine company like Gamut Control in possession of THE cutting edge technology needed to produce an identical twin of my original art makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up. It's exciting. Gamut Control has taken the DNA of my original art and cloned it!"

Their works are available for sale from Gamut Control and are as sure to appreciate in value as the originals.

ABOUT ELIZABETH SHATNER:

Coming from a background as a Professional Equine Trainer and Judge has given Elizabeth a keen eye and detailed vision. It has allowed her to see further, beyond the basic wonder of nature to the intricate details that only a true artist could bring to life. Elizabeth is "especially inspired to catch Nature's images that she perceives as spiritual and that move her." She has literally gone from "winning the roses to photographing them."

ABOUT GIORGIO TUSCANI:

Born in Verona, Italy and raised in the US, Giorgio has always had a love for drawing and painting. Doing murals, frescoes and private commissioned art for the past twelve years has created a prolific portfolio. Giorgio is also co-authoring a book about his journey in life. "We are all artists. We all create on a daily basis. Our thoughts are our paintbrushes and tomorrow is a blank canvas. So, let's start creating a beautiful painting today for all to see and enjoy tomorrow!"

ABOUT GAMUT CONTROL:

Gamut Control is the first to introduce the Next Generation of giclée technology for the fine art arena. Today's conventional methodologies of image capture, color management, profiling and canvas and watercolor paper printing has been totally overhauled, reinvented and redesigned by Gamut Control. What you see in the original, is what you get on the Limited Edition canvas. Pixel by pixel reproduction and color accuracy with astounding results, a fine art print which offers the quality of the original, something no other printer/publisher is offering today.

Website Link: http://www.gamutcontrol.com

Contact Info:
Brian Plotkin
222 Las Colinas Blvd., #1650 Irving, TX 75039
Phone: (214) 596-1029
Website: http://www.gamutcontrol.com

http://www.prurgent.com/2008-03-14/pressrelease8849.htm

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TRexx - Mar 16, 2008 - 04:05 PM
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From PersonalSpaceflight.Info...

Branson, in India, on Space Tourism

03.12.08

Indian television network NDTV posted a transcript of a recent interview with Richard Branson. (The transcript is very rough; perhaps it has gone through multiple translations, such as from English to Hindi back to English, given the odd language found in it.) In the interview, Branson appears to indicate that SpaceShipTwo will be rolled out at the end of the year, followed by ninth months of test flights before beginning customer flights. He also says, puzzlingly, "In July of this year, we will fly them over ship for the first time" -- a reference to the first flights of White Knight Two?

As for those occasional reports that William Shatner was offered (or had accepted) a flight on SS2, Branson said, "He definitely made it clear that he was quite frightened to go into the space and I got a feeling that he will never actually go into the space." Regarding the risks of human spaceflight, he added, "anybody going into the space will have to accept that there are more inherited risks in the space travel than the airline travel. But we hope that within three years or so, it will be no great a risk."

http://www.personalspaceflight.info/200 ... e-tourism/

NDTV: William Shartner, your good friend and Captain Kirk of Star Trek. You offered him a free ride to the space. But he was found saying that "I want a guarantee that I will be brought back too". So what is the kind of guarantee you are giving to people that they will be coming back safe?

Branson: He definitely made it clear that he was quite frightened to go into the space and I got a feeling that he will never actually go into the space. NASA lost about three per cent of all the people that they sent into the space. There technology is about 50 years old. And the biggest problem they had was on the re-entry back into the Earth's atmosphere. Our technology is brand new. And I think we have overcome some of the technical problems that NASA had, in particular the re-entry into the atmosphere. The whole spaceship turns into a shuttle cock. And instead of having to get the exact tanker right, you can literally come back in like a shuttle cock. And you don't get the heat built up that you get in NASA's space flights. We can't afford to lose our passengers because we are private enterprise business. So we have to make sure that everybody gets a return ticket. And I am not going to send my family up until am confident. I am not going to send other people until I am confident. And in Virgin Atlantic, we have been flying in the sky for the past 25 years. We have never had such incident. Having said that, obviously space travel is more risky at this stage then airline travel. And anybody going into the space will have to accept that there are more inherited risks in the space travel than the airline travel. But we hope that within three years or so, it will be no great a risk.

http://www.ndtvprofit.com/2008/03/07223 ... nt-Br.html

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TRexx - Mar 24, 2008 - 06:48 AM
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From BocaNews.com ...

Beaming into Boca

Published March 23rd, 2008 By Dale M. King CITY EDITOR

Actor William Shatner's TV and screen personae exude self-confidence.

From Capt. James T. Kirk, feckless captain of the Starship Enterprise, to police officer T.J. Hooker and now pompous attorney Denny Crane on "Boston Legal," Shatner is known for his acting -- and even overacting.

But away from the sound stage, Shatner has a more noble and selfless cause. The 77-year-old, Shakespearian-trained actor is an equestrian who devotes much of his free time to promoting therapeutic horseback riding.

He'll bring that message to Boca Raton April 10 when the veteran actor is scheduled to be guest speaker for the Jewish National Fund's South Palm Beach County Tree of Life Dinner. The event will honor Dr. Robert Colton and Jill Viner, and will be held at The Polo Club in Boca Raton at 6 p.m.

National Spokesperson

Jewish, and of Polish descent, Shatner is the spokesperson for the William and Elizabeth Shatner - Jewish National Fund Therapeutic Riding Consortium for Israel. He took on that role because "JNF and I have mutual ambitions in supporting Israel and her people," Shatner said. "It's my homeland."

"I also want to be able to make a difference internationally," he said. "I am particularly interested in what JNF is doing with this project as I see it as a way to foster peace between the nations. What better way to create a dialogue than by helping handicapped children from different countries feel good about themselves? Good will is in short supply and we have to build it. And that requires money."

JNF, which has an office in Boca Raton, says it hopes to raise $10 million to support therapeutic riding programs throughout Israel.

The benefits of riding for those with disabilities have been recognized for more than 3,000 years, Shatner noted. Therapeutic riding has been widely used since the early 1950s as a tool for improving the lives of individuals with physical disabilities.

"Through the JNF endowment, we raise funds for all of the riding centers in Israel, and provide scholarships for children from all walks of life. The endowment will be overseen by a board of trustees who will evaluate expenditures and provide hands-on guidance for the programs."

Because horseback riding gently and rhythmically moves the rider's body in a manner similar to a human gait, riders with physical disabilities often show improvement in verbalization, flexibility, balance, muscle tone, strength, posture, coordination, motor development and emotional well being, said JNF officials.

Increased Confidence

Also, for individuals with mental or emotional disabilities, the relationship formed with the horse can lead to increased confidence, patience and self-esteem.

The William and Elizabeth Shatner - Jewish National Fund Therapeutic Riding Consortium for Israel dovetails with other work the JNF is doing to help the disabled community in Israel as it makes its parks inclusive to all. About 10 percent of Israel's population of six million are people with disabilities, the JNF said.

"An ambassador for good causes can bring about good results," said Russell F. Robinson, JNF of America's chief executive officer. "William Shatner is just the person to achieve those results for this consortium. We are proud and honored to have this relationship with him on behalf of the people and the land of Israel."

In addition to his support of JNF, Shatner has founded the Nerine Shatner Friendly House, a residential home for women recovering from alcohol and substance abuse, and he supports the Hollywood Charity Horse Show.

The Polo Club is located at 5400 Champion Boulevard, Boca Raton, Florida. For reservations to the Tree of Life event, contact Robert Swire at 561-447-9733 or rswire@jnf.org.
Dale M. King can be reached at 561-549-0832 or at dking@bocanews.com.

http://www.bocaratonnews.com/news/local ... o-boca.php

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TRexx - Mar 24, 2008 - 07:30 PM
Post subject:

From the LA DailyNews.com...

Randy Travis saddles up for Shatner benefit

Article Last Updated: 03/23/2008 09:41:26 PM PDT

Country music legend Randy Travis and stunt troupe Rancho Indalo Riders will headline William Shatner's Wells Fargo Hollywood Charity Horse Show, set for April 26 in Burbank.

The event is at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center, 480 Riverside Drive, and begins at 4 p.m. with a silent auction. An arena show runs from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. with the trick riding, knife tossing, whip-cracking antics of Rancho Indalo Riders.

The event is capped from 7 to 10 p.m. by dinner, dancing, a concert by Travis, and an auction with Shatner as auctioneer.

Proceeds from the event will benefit special-needs children in Los Angeles through local charities Ahead With Horses and the Camp Max Straus Foundation.

"Over the last 18 years we have been able to help thousands of young Angelenos, thanks to the support we receive from our generous sponsors and attendees," said actor Shatner, best known at Capt. Kirk of "Star Trek" and now on "Boston Legal." "We are so fortunate to have Randy Travis for entertainment. He is really terrific and generous with his time and energy."

For tickets and information, call Chris Carley at 818-509-2292.

http://www.dailynews.com/news/ci_8673248

Bill's ShatnerVision comments about the Charity Horse Show...

http://www.livevideo.com/video/ShatnerV ... farg.aspxa

http://www.horseshow.org

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TRexx - Apr 02, 2008 - 04:28 AM
Post subject:

From the blog of John Gushue...

A thought on icon status

Tuesday, April 01, 2008

"Being an icon is overblown. Remember, an icon is moved by a mouse."
~ William Shatner

http://johngushue.typepad.com/blog/2008 ... on-ic.html

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TRexx - Apr 08, 2008 - 05:06 AM
Post subject:

From The TV Tattler ...

8 Questions With: William Shatner

April 3 -- How many actors get the chance to play two iconic characters on TV? William Shatner's done it, first with Star Trek's original captain, James T. Kirk, and again with his Emmy- and Golden Globe-winning turn as brilliant Boston Legal lawyer Denny Crane. He opens up to AOL TV's Kimberly Potts about the next Star Trek movie, his fall 2009 talk show and ... Denny's bid for the White House?!

1. How great is it to have this level of success at this point in your career?

This is a joyful working place. It's full of great material and wonderful people, wonderful actors, so this is one of those ideal moments in an actor's life. And working is good -- it means you're still there! You're still breathing. If I'm working, I can't die.

2. Is retirement out of the question?

I don't know what to retire to.

3. What will Denny Crane be up to in this season's six new Boston Legal episodes?

Running for president! And attempting to show his sensitive side, by crying. [The crying] is for Shirley's benefit. He rigs himself up to something to be able to cry.

4. What will we learn about you in your new autobiography, Up Till Now?

Well, it's a snapshot of my life, and there are episodes that I think indicate growth. Once that was laid out, and there was a rough draft, I was able to see the patterns in my life and comment on them. I think you'll be laughing out loud when you read it.

5. What's your involvement with J.J. Abrams' Star Trek movie?

Everybody knows more about it than I. I don't even know whether they finished shooting or not. I've actually had nothing to do with it. It's a shame, and I would have liked to have been a part of it, but the people doing it, for some reason or other, thought otherwise, and so I'm not.

6. Your most recent Star Trek novel, Collision Course, has a young James T. Kirk storyline. Will you be writing more Trek novels?

I don't think so. The publishing company was very negligent on this last novel. I think they may have given up on it, so I would think that would be the last novel from me. Whether J.J. Abrams is capable of reigniting the franchise remains to be seen, and if he does, then perchance it won't be the last.

7. There's an item in Details magazine about your wanting to host your own talk show. Is that true?

I have my own talk show. It'll be [a] weekly, half-hour [show] on the Biography network of A&E, and I'll be talking to people -- in the beginning, celebrities, so that people will tune in, but eventually it'll be somebody's raw nerve that I might be able to talk about. That's the title: Raw Nerve.

8. Fans still talk about your famous 'Get a life' Trekkie skit from Saturday Night Live. If you hosted the show again, would there be a sequel to that skit?

Oh, I think we can move on from there.

http://television.aol.com/tv-celebrity- ... am-shatner

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angel - Apr 08, 2008 - 05:42 AM
Post subject:

TRexx wrote:

From the blog of John Gushue...

A thought on icon status

Tuesday, April 01, 2008

"Being an icon is overblown. Remember, an icon is moved by a mouse."
~ William Shatner

http://johngushue.typepad.com/blog/2008 ... on-ic.html

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I like that quote very much! Laughing

TRexx - Apr 08, 2008 - 10:33 AM
Post subject:

From X17 Online ...

Beam Me Up, Coffee

X17 caught Star Trek legend William Shatner boldly going where millions of people go every day -- the coffee shop!

"Spock, I... need... some coffee!"

Think he was able to negotiate the price of that cup of java?

http://x17online.com/celebrities/willia ... 072008.php

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Mirizor - Apr 08, 2008 - 11:29 AM
Post subject:

And anonymous on this X17.com site posted that Bill's profile is on RichSoulMates.com. Gee...does Bill have the time to post there? Twisted Evil

TRexx - Apr 13, 2008 - 10:22 AM
Post subject:

A special message from William Shatner

Click the image to see a video message from William Shatner!

February 2008

Dear friends,

Nothing in life prepared me for the experience of tinnitus. One day, while filming the episode "Arena" for my television series Star Trek, I was standing too close to a special effects explosion. The blast robbed me of some hearing and left me with screeching tinnitus that I have endured ever since. You know what I mean when I say that tinnitus affects everything in one's life; you know how those first months of living with tinnitus are. No words adequately explain the agony.

It's been many years since that dreadful accident. With ATA's help and the right treatment I've learned to push my tinnitus into the background, at least on most days. I never realized how valuable silence was until that blast took it from me. ATA is working to give back silence to all of us! Its committed staff and volunteers need and deserve our help. Did you know that ATA is the only association of its kind in the world that makes it possible for individuals to band together to fund research for a cure? When I developed tinnitus, a cure seemed like a remote possibility. Today, the world's best researchers are very optimistic that a cure is on the horizon!

David Fagerlie, chief executive officer of ATA, recently visited me at my office in Los Angeles. He calls tinnitus the malady of the 21st century because it increasingly disturbs the lives of more and more people. He shared with me the brutal fact that tinnitus is the number one disability of soldiers injured in the global war on terror. These young men and women doing battle to protect our freedom often come home with sounds they can't escape and will probably have forever, unless we are successful in our fight to cure tinnitus. David told me that even young children develop tinnitus from exposure to loud sounds. He noted a recent study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control, which found that nearly 13 percent of all American children have hearing damage from noise exposure alone! Hundreds of thousands -- maybe a million or more -- may have tinnitus from those injuries.

David cares deeply about this growing epidemic and is determined to bring silence back into our lives. He readily admits that he and ATA can't do that without our help. Will you help me fight this important fight? My years on television and movie sets of Star Trek, were full of daring adventures that saved planets from evil empires. But even Captain Kirk couldn't do that without the loyalty and performance of his crew. Think of ATA as a real-life starship and we are the crew leading it toward accomplishing its vital mission.

The future is in our hands. Will we be satisfied with a few dollars going into research, making a cure possible in the next generation or two? I say NO! We have a way to speed the rate of discovery now. Let's take action together. Please join me in making a very generous donation to ATA so that we are doing what we can to bring back silence in our lifetime.

Please go to ATA's donation page and give enough so that you really feel you are making a special contribution to create a better life for yourself and for the millions upon millions of others who are counting on ATA to make a difference. Thank you so very much.

Sincerely,

William Shatner
Member, Honorary Board
American Tinnitus Association

http://www.ata.org/involved/donate_campaign.php

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7bL9BhESYA (ATA video @ YouTube)

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TRexx - Apr 16, 2008 - 11:41 PM
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From JTA.com...

Shatner explores Passover story in dramatic reading of Exodus

Courtesy of WilliamShatner.com

By Ami Eden, Published: 04/15/2008

NEW YORK (JTA) -- Less than a month after the death of Charlton Heston, another of Hollywood's great over-actors is taking center stage in the retelling of the Passover story.

This week the Jewish Music Group is releasing Exodus: An Oratorio In Three Parts, a dramatic biblical reading by William Shatner accompanied by the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra.

The album is taken from recordings of back-to-back evening performances in April 2005 at the Robinson Center Music Hall in Little Rock.

In an exclusive interview Monday with JTA, Shatner credited David Itkin, the orchestra's conductor, with writing the music and bringing together passages from the Bible and the Haggadah to produce the final text.

"It's his creation," Shatner said, adding that he thought so highly of the production that he made arrangements to have the two performances recorded.

"On the Saturday night that most of this record is taken from, my thrill was connecting with the audience the way we did," the star of Star Trek and Boston Legal recalled.

"The actor, along with 350 voices in the choral group and 75 people in the orchestra, all combined to reach out to this audience of several thousand people. The magic of the CD is that you can hear the connection, especially at the end, between the audience and the actor."

At first glance, the Exodus production sounds more like a project for Shatner's best-known Star Trek co-star, Leonard Nimoy. Nimoy has long been known for mining his Jewish heritage, from basing Spock's split-fingered Vulcan greeting on the ancient Israelite priestly blessing to drawing inspiration from Kabbalah for a book of semi-nude photographs.

But now, at the very end of the performance, it's Shatner reciting the priestly blessing -- to an enthusiastic ovation.

So does the Exodus reading, along with a film in the works titled The Shiva Club, point to some sort of later-in-life artistic engagement with his Jewish roots?

No, Shatner says, just a coincidence.

"My being Jewish does not inform the things I do, necessarily," Shatner explained, speaking by phone during a lunch break from shooting an episode of Boston Legal.

"Exodus is a wonderful piece, no matter what religion you are. The Shiva Club, which is a movie I am attempting to make sometime soon, is about crashing a shiva, if you will. A couple of comics crash a shiva. I could have, I suppose, made it an Irish wake, but the shiva I was more familiar with."

Just as Shatner says his religious background does not inform his art, he also insists that his turn as the narrator of Exodus has not led to any sort of personal transformation or alter his connection to the Passover holiday.

"I come from a Conservative Jewish home in Canada, which is pretty much like an Orthodox home here in the States. And we celebrated Passover every year and held a long seder," Shatner said, adding that he continues to mark the holiday.

"My daughter makes a seder, but it's a little more modern" -- plenty of English, he explained -- "and a little less time than the old-fashioned ones."

http://www.jta.org/cgi-bin/iowa/news/ar ... xodus.html

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TRexx - Apr 17, 2008 - 07:45 PM
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From NY Daily News Gatecrasher...

William Shatner relives 'Trek' in book

Thursday, April 17th 2008, 4:00 AM

William Shatner says he never realized until after Star Trek ended how disliked he was by the rest of the cast.

In Up Till Now, the actor's autobiography, he describes putting in years of hard work after the show to repair his relationship with the other actors.

He developed one of his closest bonds with Leonard Nimoy (the show's Mr. Spock), whose alcoholism during the series he discusses at length.

Nimoy himself writes in the book: "I loved going to the theater in London because they allowed you to drink before the show and during intermission."

Shatner says Nimoy helped him deal with the alcoholism of his third wife, Nerine Kidd, who tragically drowned in their pool with booze and Valium in her system.

Fans of the famous space-opera will enjoy Shatner's gossipy behind-the-scenes stories, including the fuss over TV's first interracial kiss with Nichelle (Uhura) Nichols -- who told him bluntly that she despised him. (As did Scotty, Sulu and Chekov, apparently.)

No wonder he's not in the next Star Trek movie!

http://www.nydailynews.com/gossip/2008/ ... _book.html

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TRexx - Apr 17, 2008 - 11:34 PM
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From AdSavvy.org...

William Shatner Plus Commodore Vic 20 = Killer Ad

What do you get when you combine William "Captain Kirk" Shatner and the Commodore Vic20?

Geektastic advertising is what you get Smile

Yes, the ad that most sums up my childhood.

[CLICK HERE To View TV Ad @ YouTube]

He wasn't lying -- I really did learn computing with this beast!

You have to give Commodore credit. Who else at that moment in time summed up "space age" more than the guy who boldy groped green alien hotties where no other starship captain had dared to before?

http://www.adsavvy.org/william-shatner-vic20/

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TRexx - Apr 18, 2008 - 04:57 AM
Post subject:

From JewishJournal.com...

Set a place for Shatner at the seder

By Tom Teicholz, 2008-04-18

William Shatner is God. And Pharaoh. And Moses, too.

Just in time for Passover, the Jewish Music Group (a division of Shout Factory) has released Exodus: An Oratorio in Three Parts, performed by the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra. It is conducted by David Itkin, who created and composed the Oratorio, sung by baritone Paul Rowe and includes dramatic readings from the Bible and from the haggadah, spoken by none other than Shatner.

"It's perfect seder entertainment," Shatner said recently, but more than that, "it speaks to people of all religions. It's something that should be in repertory."

Exodus: An Oratorio is divided into three parts: "Moses and Pharaoh," "The Ten Plagues" and "Redemption." The music mixes symphonic and sacred, modulating strings, choral voices and baritone solos to provide both uplift and ballast to the biblical material -- as well as gentle musical transitions between some of Shatner's narrative performances. While Shatner has been parodied for his ability to bring a level of bombast to almost any material, here he gives a varied and nuanced performance -- his voice varies from sounding like a pulpit rabbi to the muted and conversational tones of a line reading. And then there are the special effects that are his signature -- when he makes his words pop with emphasis: (i.e., I..... AM..... THE..... LORD!)

Exodus was recorded live on April 9 and 10, 2005, at the Robinson Center Music Hall in Little Rock, Ark., where the Arkansas Symphony was joined by a choir of 350.

Click here for a short excerpt of Shatner's performance. MP3. 700K.

"It was quite a happening," Shatner recalled in a recent telephone interview.

The work is just one of a number of new projects for the actor, who turned 76 on March 22. In the next few weeks, his autobiography, Up Till Now, will be released, as well as a DVD of William Shatner's Gonzo Ballet, which is a feature-length documentary about a ballet based on Shatner songs from his Ben Folds-produced album Has Been. And, on April 26, he will host his annual event, Hollywood Charity Horse Show to raise money for a therapeutic equestrian program for handicapped kids.

To listen to Shatner tell the story of Moses, Aaron and Pharaoh, to hear him read of the ten plagues and the story of the parting of the Red Sea, mixed in with choral and solo performances in English and Hebrew, is to realize how much of an icon he has become and what an amazingly diverse career he has had.

Shatner was born in Montreal, Canada, to Jewish parents and grew up in a kosher home. As a teenager, he was a counselor at a B'nai Brith camp in the Laurentian mountains in southern Quebec, according to various Web sites. He attended McGill University, earning a bachelor's in commerce. However, by the time he was 20 he had already landed a small role in a Canadian TV series. Over the next decade, Shatner would perform Shakespeare and appear on the Broadway stage in Christopher Marlowe's Tamburlaine The Great, as well as the Richard Mason play The World of Suzie Wong, and the Harold Clurman-directed A Shot in the Dark, alongside Julie Harris and Walter Matthau.

During the 1950s, Shatner appeared in several of the "golden age of television" dramas, such as Omnibus, Studio One and The Kraft Television Hour, including "A Town Has Turned to Dust" directed by John Frankenheimer and written by Rod Sterling. Shatner also had roles in such now-classic films as The Brothers Karamazov (with Yul Brynner and Claire Bloom) and Judgment at Nuremberg.

A list of Shatner's credits from the early '60s includes almost every famous series, including The Twilight Zone, 77 Sunset Strip, Route 66, The Outer Limits, The Defenders, Dr. Kildare, and Gunsmoke.

In 1966, he assumed command of the Starship Enterprise, as Captain James T. Kirk. Although only 79 original episodes ran between 1966 and 1969, the Star Trek series cemented Shatner in the popular consciousness.

Nonetheless, after the series was cancelled, and following a divorce, Shatner was forced to live out of his truck, performing summer stock. During this period, concerned that he had been typecast as Kirk, Shatner wandered in the wilderness, taking whatever roles he could.

He returned to the helm of the Enterprise for the six Star Trek movies (directing the fifth). And he also returned to TV as the star of the police drama T.J. Hooker, and then to host the reality series Rescue 911.

At the same time, Shatner began to display a sense of humor about his long tenure as Captain Kirk, and the legions of obsessed Trekkie fans, in such films as Airplane II and National Lampoon's Loaded Weapon and in skits on Saturday Night Live. He gained further notoriety as a pitchman for Priceline.com.

More recently, Shatner hit gold again, portraying attorney Denny Crane on Boston Legal, a role he originated on the series The Practice. He is one of the few actors to receive consecutive Emmy awards for playing the same character on two different series.

Shatner's life has also had its share of tragedy: his third wife, Nerine, drowned after mixing valium and alcohol. Shatner recently told Details magazine that he didn't "understand closure ... we grieve forever."

As for his recording career, it began with his much-derided 1968 album, Transformed Man and with his over-the-top spoken word interpretations of songs such as Bob Dylan's "Mr. Tambourine Man." In 2004, Ben Folds produced Has Been, a collection of songs, many of which he co-wrote with Shatner, including featured guest performances by Joe Jackson and Aimee Mann. It was well received and became a commercial success.

Which brings us back to Exodus and its composer David Itkin.

Itkin grew up in a conservative Jewish home, began writing music at 14 and conducting at 16. A graduate of the University of The Pacific Conservatory, he has been music director of the Arkansas Symphony since 1993, while also conducting and serving as music director for the Abilene Philharmonic Orchestra. It has just been announced that he will leave The Arkansas Symphony after the 2008-2009 season to become director of orchestral studies at the University of North Texas at Denton.

At a seder in 2003, Itkin said he was stuck by the dramatic possibilities of the Passover story. He developed the composition while on sabbatical in Florence, Italy, the following summer and fall.

When Itkin secured a 2005 date for the Exodus Oratorio he still needed a narrator. "We kicked around lots of names," he said, and always considered but was not wedded to using famous Jewish actors. "We kept winnowing and winnowing the list" he said, "and Shatner's name kept coming up. And it wouldn't go away."

Itkin contacted Shatner, and it turned out that not only was he interested, he was available on the needed dates.

"It was intriguing," Shatner recalled.

So with little preparation, other than years of reading the haggadah at seders, Shatner arrived in Little Rock the night before the first performance.

"He was great fun to be around," Itkin recalled.

There were two rehearsals and two performances -- one on Friday and one on Saturday night. Itkin was impressed by how Shatner was able to deliver his narrative within the very proscribed places and vary each character, much like different "takes," affording choices for editing the eventual produced work.

"On Saturday," Shatner said, "everything fell into place." He reveled in the experience of being on stage with 350 choral members and a 72-piece orchestra, he said.

"There's no magic like a live audience," Shatner says in the recording's liner notes. "The performer sends out the words, the music, the love, and he gets back the energy of the audience in waves."

In the final section, "Redemption," he intones the words of the priestly blessing: "May the Lord Bless you and keep you; may he be gracious to you; may the Lord make the light of his countenance to shine upon you; and may he grant you peace."

"The words were like a benediction over the whole audience." Shatner recalled.

At the seders I attend, I am not above some moments of audio-visual enhancement. I recall one spectacular seder where, at the strategic moment, the late Charlton Heston burst onto a screen to part the Red Sea. In recent years, the immediate post-seder entertainment has been funny Passovers songs (like "There's No Seder Like Our Seder" to tune of "There's No Business Like Show Business"). This year may well find our seder going forth with Shatner and the Exodus Oratorio.

And let us all together say: Amen.

http://www.jewishjournal.com/home/preview.php?id=19257

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tdeniset - Apr 18, 2008 - 10:59 AM
Post subject:

Where can you purchase or download this? Says entertainment for your seder, well that is this weekend!

tdeniset - Apr 18, 2008 - 11:05 AM
Post subject:

Found it on cdbaby.com in case anyone else is interested.

TRexx - Apr 18, 2008 - 05:29 PM
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tdeniset wrote:

Where can you purchase or download this?

In Canada the CD will be released April 22, available via Amazon.ca [link].

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angel - Apr 22, 2008 - 01:00 AM
Post subject:

TRexx does such a good service to the gang here with his news! And all in accordance to the prophecy! Appreciate it, TRexx! Very Happy

TRexx - Apr 22, 2008 - 09:28 AM
Post subject:

From ExtraTV...

A Day in the Life of Jerry Penacoli

Posted by WebExtra on April 21, 2008 5:43 AM

...

7:30 AM: The day started by battling an hour and a half of LA traffic to get to the set of "Boston Legal" -- now, the show rarely shoots on-location, and this day their location was north of Los Angeles in horse country: the beautiful Ventura Farms -- a gorgeous location where (and the more mature will remember this show) "The Big Valley" was shot... the newbies will be interested in knowing it's where "Heroes" shoots alot. But, I digress...

9:00 AM Shooting on the set... There's an upcoming storyline between William Shatner's character and a horse farmer (played by Broadway star Christine Ebersol), and it was a cool opportunity to capture Shatner on horseback, and interview him -- and, trust me, he's always in rare form.

10:00 AM: Got a great interview with Shatner, where he reveals alot about this particular episode (second to the last one for this season - airing in May), but also talks about life at 77 -- he can't believe he's that old -- and his recent hip replacement surgery, which he really hasn't talked about... The writer's strike enabled him to make the time to get it done. He's become 'hip' again, but it was his HIP that had been a recurring problem. Happy to report, he's all better...

11:00 AM We learn that "Boston Legal" -- (by the way, I'm biased, it's one of my favorite shows) has not learned if it's being picked up yet by ABC for another season... c'mon!!! It's one of the best-written shows... with one of the best, most prestigious group of actors... It never disappoints, in my estimation. (Again, I digress...)

...

http://extratv.warnerbros.com/2008/04/a ... ry_pen.php

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Mirizor - Apr 22, 2008 - 12:02 PM
Post subject:

TRexx wrote:

I remember when Jerry Penacoli used to be in my old hometown of Philadelphia at KYW-3 (NBC) from 1982-1991 before he moved onto the west coast in '92.

TRexx - Apr 23, 2008 - 04:37 AM
Post subject:

From TheAge.com...

The other face of George

Karl Quinn, April 23, 2008

A decade after Seinfeld ended, Jason Alexander and George Costanza remain inseparable.

...

For all that Seinfeld was a mould-breaking show, Alexander is very much a performer of the old school. He tirelessly mugs for the camera, turns the charm on in an instant, then moves on to the next obligation the second his allocated time is up. Never does he give in to the temptation to resent the fact that he and George Costanza are forever entwined.

And for that, he owes a considerable debt to William Shatner.

As a child, Alexander says, "I was a total Star Trek geek." Watching Shatner as Captain James T. Kirk, he realised acting (albeit rather hammily) was what he wanted to do with his life.

When he was 18, he auditioned for colleges where he might study drama. "I'd never had an acting class in my life, so I was doing Bill Shatner," he recalls. "I eventually ended up at Boston University because I auditioned for a man who had done Shakespeare with Shatner in Canada when they were both young men. And he said to me, 'I don't know if you can act, but it's the finest Bill Shatner impersonation I've ever seen.' "

About a year ago, Alexander hosted a celebrity roast of Shatner, but their personal connection goes much further back. "He was given to me for my 35th birthday by my friends," he says. "They knew I was a diehard fan. They called him up and said, 'We don't know if you watch this Seinfeld show, but there's this guy on it who just thinks the world of you, and you're the reason he became an actor; could we surprise him by giving you to him for lunch?' "

The two dined, and eventually became friends. "He talked to me about his experience of coming to resent the early success in his life," Alexander says. "He cautioned me against it. I don't know if I would have gone that path anyway, but he said, 'You've created something that is so meaningful to so many people; how often does anybody in any walk of life get to say that? You have to assume this is the biggest thing you will do in your career. And you should be grateful that you've had it once, because not everybody gets to taste that.' "

...

Read the complete Jason Alexander article at TheAge.com...

http://www.theage.com.au/news/arts/bcom ... 41615.html

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TRexx - Apr 25, 2008 - 10:22 AM
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From IBM.com...

RU Ready to Boldly Go?

The IBM Rational Software Development Conference 2008 features an exciting line-up of keynote speakers including actor, author, philanthropist, one of pop culture's most recognizable figures and our guest speaker: William Shatner. You also won't want to miss the rest of the scheduled keynote speakers for this year's event!

William Shatner: Actor, Author, Philanthropist, and Pop Culture Hero.

RU Ready to hear a guest speaker of truly heroic proportions? Sure, many may claim the mantle "legend in his own time," but unlike our special speaker, few have earned it. Exemplifying the best of both individual and team achievement, our special guest will boldly take you where no developer has gone before! Get ready to set your agenda to "stun."

Wednesday, June 4

Reservations: 888-828-8850 OR 800-227-1500 OR 407-934-4000
Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotel
1500 Epcot Resorts Boulevard
Lake Buena Vista, Florida 32830
PH: 407-934-4000
Main Fax: 407-934-4099
Reservations Fax: 407-934-4710

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TRexx - Apr 25, 2008 - 09:28 PM
Post subject:

From GoUpstate.com...

Jan-Michael Gambill ousted from Invitational

Friday, April 25, 2008

...

[Pro tennis player] Gambill also collects Jaguar automobiles, lives in Hawaii, and is a self-proclaimed Star Trek addict, or "Trekkie." He's a close friend of William Shatner and plans to pursue an acting career.

"I'm going out to Los Angeles next month to try to pursue (acting) more seriously," Gambill said. "I've studied it a bit and been on the set of a few different things. But I've never given it 100 percent."

He hopes to sit in on a taping of his favorite show Boston Legal -- Shatner is one of the main stars.

...

Read the complete article at GoUpstate.com...

http://www.goupstate.com/article/200804 ... 018/SPORTS

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TRexx - Apr 25, 2008 - 10:00 PM
Post subject:

From the New York Post...

Michael Starr Report, April 25, 2008

William Shatner (Boston Legal) will discuss his new memoir, Up Till Now, May 12 (8 p.m.) at the 92nd Street Y (92y.org has info). Several of Shatner's Star Trek cast mates already wrote books blasting their former co-star for his perceived selfishness and runaway ego; does he agree? Find out.

http://www.nypost.com/seven/04252008/tv/starr_report_107939.htm

Date & Time: Mon, May 12, 2008, 7:30pm
Location: Lexington Avenue at 92nd Street (Directions)
Venue: Kaufmann Concert Hall
Code: T-LC5AE08-01
Price: $30.00 All Sections

Following the event, books will be available for sale and for signing by Mr. Shatner.

http://www.92y.org/shop/event_detail.as ... ge_shatner

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TRexx - Apr 27, 2008 - 08:31 AM
Post subject:

From the WashingtonPost.com...

Brewster Rockit By Tim Rickard

Washington Post - Comics, April 26, 2008.

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TRexx - Apr 29, 2008 - 10:04 PM
Post subject:

Via PR-Inside.com...

Shatner'S Death Denial

2008-04-29 09:02:35

Star Trek star William Shatner is determined never to die -- as life is "too much fun."

The actor -- who turned 77 last month (Mar08) -- insists he never thinks about passing away and is determined to carry on ignoring his own mortality. He says, "I don't plan to die. I'm having too much fun.

"As far as I'm concerned it's not going to happen."

http://www.pr-inside.com/shatner-s-deat ... 562130.htm

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TRexx - May 01, 2008 - 09:14 AM
Post subject:

Via ZWire.com...

Riverside Museum Seeking Volunteers

By Mary Zielinski, 04/30/2008

Just a week before the Riverside History Center takes its Voyage Home to the public, organizers of the long-sought museum were signing up volunteers to staff it.

The informal meeting in the Community Room of the Riverside Senior Village drew more than a dozen people, virtually all of whom were willing to donate hours to staff the museum. Official opening of what the Riverside Area community Club (RACC) and the city has wanted almost since the start of Trek Fest in 1984, is Saturday, May 3. Housed in the former Kwik 'N' EZ convenience store on Highway 22, the museum will be 100 percent volunteer operated.

For Paul LaPorte, who arrived in Riverside about four months ago, the museum is simply a continuation of a longtime interest for the history student. And he will be helping in as many ways as he can, he said, including with exhibits. In fact, the Illinois native did internships in Des Plaines and Chicago museums. Saturday, he told those at the meeting that the History Center will be a repository for Riverside's treasures, both as a permanent gift or on loan for a specified period.

The museum will have a permanent exhibit about Invasion Iowa, the reality show produced by actor William Shatner (of Captain Kirk fame) for Spike TV, including photos and props from the show; a permanent Star Trek exhibit including all the ships shown on the television series, cast photos and all the T-shirts RACC has produced for 24 years of Trek Fest.

http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?news ... &rfi=6

Trek Fest XXIV: June 28 & 29, 2008

Bill with Riverside local Don Rath, who bestowed blessings on Bill with his ever-present coon penis.

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TRexx - May 01, 2008 - 05:45 PM
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From USAToday.com...

Fans Send a Big 'Save Our Shows' SOS for Boston Legal

By Gary Levin, USA TODAY

Fans want their Denny Crane fix. Boston Legal, featuring the lawyer played by William Shatner, topped the list of endangered series viewers most want back in USA TODAY's 11th annual Save Our Shows poll.

...

Legal producer David E. Kelley says his show's fate may rest with a renegotiation of its price tag before ABC's May 13 schedule announcement. "I don't think it's a show that can last forever like Law & Order," he says. "We have stories in the bank that are good for another year or two. After that, we'd have to sit down and see if it's time to stop."

But Kelley, whose remake of BBC's Life on Mars is also in contention for a fall slot, is familiar with his precarious position: "It's like a dance with a girl hanging out by the punch bowl, hoping we get asked by the time midnight chimes."

Boston Legal (ABC)

Viewers (all are season to date): 9.9 million.

Prognosis: The show's ratings are modest (though dependably stable), and its viewers are older than ABC would like. Renewal may hinge on whether producer David E. Kelley agrees to cut ABC's price tag.

SOS fact: Boston boosters were most often ages 40 to 60.

Fan: The show's "great blend of witty dialogue, interesting ensemble and smartly written episodes are gold," raves Delana Vickers of Winston-Salem, N.C.

http://www.usatoday.com/life/television ... htm?csp=34

Prisoners of price tag?: Legal's William Shatner, James Spader.

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TRexx - May 02, 2008 - 05:31 AM
Post subject:

From TheBiographyChannel.co.uk...

Win Up Till Now by William Shatner

William Shatner gets the joke about William Shatner. In fact, most of the time he's the one telling it. His self-effacing attitude, so perfectly parodied in the bombastic character he now plays on Boston Legal, Denny Crane, is one of the reasons for his huge popularity.

While best known for his creation of Captain James T. Kirk, commander of the starship Enterprise on Star Trek, William Shatner has been a working actor for more than half a century. He has experienced all the ups (the awards and acclaim) and the downs (having to live for a time in the truck bed of his camper when he couldn't get work) that are a part of the actor's world.

In Up Till Now he tells us about his remarkable life, from training as a Shakespearan actor under Sir Tyrone Guthrie, to his time on Broadway, his movie career and, of course, his successful TV series. He has worked with an extraordinary range of actors, among them Spencer Tracy, Burt Lancaster, Marlene Dietrich, Judy Garland, Walter Matthau, Sandra Bullock, Ben Stiller and Robert DeNiro. He also writes, with glee, about some of his less successful ventures, including Incubus, the only feature ever made entirely in Esperanto. As funny, charming and self-deprecating as the man himself, this book will delight his many fans of all ages.

To read the William Shatner biography click here.

We have five copies of the book to give away, courtesy of Pan Macmillan publishers. Simply answer the question below for your chance to win:

In which year was William Shatner born?

* 1921
* 1931
* 1941

To enter this competition you must be a registered member, please use the login box to the left if you are an existing member or click here to register.

http://www.thebiographychannel.co.uk/co ... hatner.htm

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angel - May 02, 2008 - 07:54 AM
Post subject:

TRexx wrote:

Bill with Riverside local Don Rath, who bestowed blessings on Bill with his ever-present coon penis.

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Oookaay....that's something you don't see everyday! A coon whatzit....hmmm..Bill sure has got a lot of tolerance. Personally a good old fashioned "Gesundheit" would do it for me. Wink

TRexx - May 03, 2008 - 04:54 AM
Post subject:

From AutographStore.com...

William Shatner Captain Kirk from Star Trek Upcoming Autograph Signing

William Shatner AKA "Captain Kirk" from the original Star Trek will be doing some upcoming celebrity autograph signings for his new book "Up Till Now."

From Amazon: It was the original Star Trek series, and later its films, that made Shatner instantly recognizable, called by name -- or at least by Captain Kirk's name -- across the globe. But Shatner neither began nor has ended his career with that role. From the very start, he took his skills as an actor and put them to use wherever he could. He straddled the classic world of the theater and the new world of television, whether stepping in for Christopher Plummer in Shakespeare's Henry V or staring at "something on the wing" in a classic episode of The Twilight Zone. And since then, he's gone on to star in numerous successful shows, such as T.J. Hooker, Rescue 911, and most recently Boston Legal. In this touching and very funny autobiography, William Shatner reveals the man behind these unforgettable moments, and how he's become the worldwide star and experienced actor he is today.

Below is William Shatner's upcoming celebrity autograph book signing tour...

* 5/12/08 7:30 PM at the 92nd Street Y - Lexington Ave @ 92nd St. New York, NY.
* 5/14/08 7:00 PM at Barnes & Noble Union Square. New York, NY.
* 5/17/08 2:00 PM at Book Soup - Sunset Blvd. West Hollywood, CA.

If anyone can not attend any of these autograph signings please contact us today to reserve your signed copy as Autograph Store will be covering some of these events.

http://blog.autographstore.com/?p=56

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TRexx - May 04, 2008 - 03:20 AM
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From MultiChannel.com...

Lowdown On The Upfront: Shatner Shakes Up ION's Upfront

Brandon Burgess, Chairman and CEO, ION Media Networks, and William Shatner of Boston Legal.

Network Rolls Out Primetime Lineup, New Branding In NYC

By Linda Moss -- Multichannel News, 5/2/2008 1:34:00 PM

Unveiling its new primetime lineup and new branding, ION Television brought out some talent -- Boston Legal's William Shatner, The Dead Zone's Anthony Michael Hall and veteran game show host Chuck Woolery -- for its upfront presentation Thursday.

ION's upfront gala, documented in this online photo gallery, was held at the New York Public Library in Manhattan, where the network told Madison Avenue about the bevy of off-network acquisitions it has made. The list includes not only Boston Legal and The Dead Zone, but also ER, The Ghost Whisperer and Criminal Minds, among other shows.

Emmy-winner Shatner kicked off ION's upfront by coming onstage in character as crazy-like-a-fox lawyer Denny Crane. ION Media Networks CEO Brandon Burgess and Stephen Appel, president of sales and marketing, then took over.

RHI Entertainment, ION's exclusive partner in weekend primetime programming, will deliver 12 original movies, including three Westerns, during the 2008-2009 season. Actor Dougray Scott, who will appear in one of the telepics, Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde, was also on hand for the upfront.

At the event, Australian singer Delta Goodrem sang to introduce ION's new branding as "positively entertaining." Goodrem's music will be featured in the launch of the network's fall season.

http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6 ... ryid=47200

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TRexx - May 05, 2008 - 08:33 AM
Post subject:

At Left of the Dial Blog...

William Shatner = Greatest Cover Artist Evah?

Thursday, May 01, 2008

I have been looking for these clips for years. Watch 'em whilst you can, 'cuz I'm sure they'll be gone within weeks.

http://scottpeterson.typepad.com/leftof ... atner.html

Bill sings at the 1992 MTV Movie Awards

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPcDm2i6VaY (Bill does I Wanna Sex You Up)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=maUEvN5sQDs (Bill does I Do It For You)

"You know, balls-wise, Shatner has gone where no man has gone before."
~ Dennis Miller, 1992 MTV Movie Awards.

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TRexx - May 07, 2008 - 06:05 AM
Post subject:

At WallpapersDump.com...

Caption Contest Win $25 - William Shatner

"Spock, it doesn't appear to be a 'cling-on' [Klingon]."

May 6, 2008

Put your creative caps on kiddies. You could win $25 for having the funniest caption for the above photo of William Shatner. You can enter as many times as you like. Please post your captions in the comment area. The winner will be notified and announced on Friday. Good Luck!

http://www.wallpapersdump.com/celebrity ... am-shatner

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TRexx - May 08, 2008 - 06:36 AM
Post subject:

From The Urban Shop Blog...

Shat Hits the Canvas

An illustrated retrospective of bill shatners 76 years of gracing our planet, words by Nic Wilson.

2007 won't be remembered for many things. The Iraq War still sucking. Iranians behaving badly. Setting the Doomsday Clock back to five minutes of midnight. But there is one thing this mediocre year has given us that I believe future generations will actually give two fignuts about: the Shatner Show.

That's right. William Shatner has an art exhibition dedicated to his larger-than-life self, thanks to a husband and wife pair of his fellow Canadians -- Janine Vangool and Glen Dresser. They concocted the show while driving through the Canadian countryside, listening to Shatner's most recent spoken-word album, Has Been -- which was applauded for the same gentle self-mockery that has become the calling card of the modern, gnome-insulting Shatner.

Now I grew up on reruns of the original Star Trek. I learned the lurid lapdance of love from the way Kirk's gaze seduced countless alien women. I'm certain this warped me -- no pun intended -- beyond the reach of modern psychology; I am still inexplicably attracted to green women (partially explaining why I have a complete run of She-Hulk, but head trauma has to figure in there at some point, too).

Vangool (quite possibly the best sci-fi villain name ever), a graphic designer and owner/curator of the UPPERCASE gallery in Calgary, planned the exhibit to feature 76 artists, one to commemorate each year Shatner has graced this undeserving planet of ours with his quality. One artist missed the deadline, so there are in fact only 75 -- but there were enough artists contributing multiple pieces to take care of Shatner well into the next decade.

Vangool describes herself as a casual fan of Shatner's when they started, but that her admiration for the actor only increased, in part because of the fearlessness with which he attacks new projects. She explains, "Canadians are proud of other Canadians," but that he is humorous, iconic, and loved by many. However, she was reluctant to quantify his value -- I am not. He is easily the equal of ten Bryan Adamses. By comparison, Ryan Reynolds is a 5, and Alannis Morrisette is a 6 (Rylannis Reynolsette -- their combined tabloid persona, was a 7.5).

The exhibit is terrifically varied in its styles and tone, an homage in itself perhaps to Shatner's many roles. When asked which piece she'd display in her home, Vangool quickly jumped at Karen Klassen's depiction of "the classic ladies' man Captain Kirk, but he also seems vulnerable and innocent." Dewar's golden nightmare proclaims Shatner the Intergalactic Love God (although it could be argued birth pronounced him thus, and the painting merely echoes that reality). Mark Dulmadge's addition practically screams at you, and is equally disturbing for appearing to be the deranged Trekkie lovechild of Shatner and Gilbert Gottfried (I think I can speak for our magazine when I say that we would pay big bucks, for verified photographic evidence of their coupling).

Zina Saunders delivers up a thoughtful and contemplative Bill, backstage, lit with a low red light -- the actor himself liked it so much he chose it as his gift from the exhibit. Fraser's amorous embrace brings a smile to anyone who remembers the classic fight that inspired it, and, well, a smile of a different color to the herpetophiles among us.

Particularly imaginative is professional LEGO sculptor Sean Kenney's impressive 9,000 piece bust of Shatner's Boston Legal character, Denny Crane.

When I spoke with Vangool about the exhibit, I suggested Nimoy as a follow-up -- he's also 76, beloved, Trek-bonified. The Bad Spock blog has given potential artists a head start, and Nimoy could be enticed by offering to fill half the exhibit with his nude photographic portrayals of plump ladies. But Vangool insists that the gallery isn't about Star Trek, nor even celebrities, and while this dashed my dreams of someday cutting the ribbon at the opening of the Bad Spock BBW exhibit, I realized she was right. Part of the glory of Shatner lies in his uniqueness, and a part of the majesty of the Shatner Show is its limitation.

When asked, Vangool admitted she was tempted to take the Show on the road, but the complexity and time it would have involved made it impossible. Many of the pieces have since been purchased by private collectors (and indeed, some of the other pieces are still up for sale), and sadly, the exhibit closed at the end of August. But it lives on (and prospers) in the book, which can be purchased from the site and in the virtual version of the Show. Vangool promises on a stack of babies (I didn't ask where she got them) that it would stay online until the end of the year, viewable by anyone with access to a Commodore 64 (or higher) at: theshatnershow.com

My writing teachers admonished me about ending with a quote, giving someone else the final say, so this is a rare opportunity to give education the bird, while giving Shatner his due for saying: "out of awe, amusement, or pity, you should come and see this unique show." The Shatner Show book is now available from theshatnershow.com.

Article supplied by Dangerous Ink an eclectic but carefully tailored mix of articles and features, in-depth interviews with upcoming and established artists, high-quality gallery profiles, sequential art, and 1 and 2 page comics from U.K, American, and European artists.

http://the-urban-shop.blogspot.com/2008 ... anvas.html

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TRexx - May 09, 2008 - 03:24 PM
Post subject:

From The Official Adam Carolla Show Blog...

May 8, 2008 -- William Shatner Phones In

CALL ADAM CAROLLA NOW!! (866)901-ADAM

...

8:13 AM - WILLIAM SHATNER CALLS INTO THE STUDIO

William Shatner calls into the studio. William says he is "addicted to Dancing With the Stars", he absolutely loves that show!! Bill cannot stop talking about Adams ex-dance partner Julianne Hough. Bill says, "What a dancer, and what a family!" Bill sounds a little obsessed with the show and especially 19 year-old cutie, Julianne!

Adam asks Bill if he has any life advice for us numnuts, Bill says "learn your ABC's, literally as well as figuratively!"

Bill just wrote an autobiography, Up Till Now available for sale now! Shatner also has a CD available for sale, Exodus which he says will take you to another level. HUH?

Don't miss Bill on his hit television show, Boston Legal which airs on ABC.

...

http://adamradio.wordpress.com/2008/05/ ... -phone-in/

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TRexx - May 09, 2008 - 05:49 PM
Post subject:

From Orange County Register...

William Shatner Goes Where He Has Never Gone Before

In a new book, the 77-year-old actor reminisces about triumphant and sad moments from his live, some of which involved O.C.

By PETER LARSEN, The Orange County Register, Thursday, May 8, 2008

Maybe you were there: Anaheim Stadium, late '70s, William Shatner on stage?

"It was enormous," Shatner says, expanding on one of the many stories he shares in Up Till Now (Thomas Dunne Books, $25.95), his new autobiography.

"I had a huge screen behind me, and some 30,000 people in the stands," the actor says of his performance there, dramatic readings of science fiction classics while an orchestra played behind him.

"And I had such a good sound system that I could whisper and they could hear it. Not only that, but there was an electrical storm glowering in the background, so there was this background of thunder all the time.

"And all somebody had to do, in those 30,000 people, was yell, 'Beam me up, Scotty!' or something to destroy the illusion, and I'd have been dead," Shatner says. "But nobody did."

If it feels like Shatner has always been there, well, as the book makes clear, that's because it's partly true.

After a childhood in Montreal, by the early '50s Shatner was acting in New York City, on stage and in early television, where he stayed into the '60s, starring in Broadway plays, films such as Judgment at Nuremberg, and television series such as The Twilight Zone.

The mid-'60s landed the role that would define the rest of his life: Capt. James T. Kirk, commander of the Starship Enterprise, though as the book reminds us, it was not a huge success in its initial three-year run, and by the end of its flight through space and television, Shatner wasn't any better off financially than he had been when it started.

The '70s brought constant guest spots on dozens of hit TV series. The '80s were defined by his second hit series, TJ Hooker, and the revival of Star Trek as a series of blockbuster movies.

Most recently, his work on The Practice and Boston Legal -- playing eccentric lawyer Denny Crane -- brought him roles worth of Emmy nominations and wins.

And we've not even mentioned his singing.

So there would seem to be plenty of good reasons for the 77-year-old Shatner to want to share the stories of his life, but when you ask him, the one he gives you is unexpected.

"I wrote it because I had the opportunity to," he says, speaking in his deliberate way by phone after a day on the set of Boston Legal. "And I chose to do it because I felt it was a way of explaining to my children and grandchildren who I was … in some minuscule form, like a book.

"So the last while I've been trying to do things that may explain who this creature was that they were looking at, and what was going on inside."

In a way, he explains, one of the most recognizable faces in show business needed to write a book to help his own family recognize who he was and what his life had meant for all those years he'd spent in the spotlight. It was an experience, that Shatner says showed him things about himself he'd never before recognized.

Shatner told his stories into a recorder and sent them to co-author David Fisher, who worked them into rough drafts of chapters, which mapped the actor's life in ways he'd never considered it before, he says.

"I saw my life laid out in a pattern, laid out in a sequential way that I'd never thought of it before, and then I went through the process of puzzling out what was the meaning of all this, where were the repetitions, the habits -- why did I do the things that I did?

"And it was alarming! First of all, the time, the interval between the first story and the last story in my head is about seven weeks," Shatner says. "But it turns out to be considerably longer than that. And it all happened so quickly and I had no idea that it was happening."

Seeing the passage of time in his life's story, Shatner says, encouraged him not just to complete the book, but also to consider everything else that he wanted to accomplish in his life.

"It reinforces a feeling of anxiety of getting thing done, of doing the things you meant to do, or you have in mind to do," he says. "There's an urgency involved that wasn't there before."

And so he talked and talked, and Fisher sculpted the stories into chapters and a book that is filled with stories.

Many are funny -- his encounter with Koko the famous gorilla, who decided to grab him by a most sensitive part of the anatomy, helps open the book.

Others poignant -- after Star Trek ended, freshly divorced and completely broke, he was practically homeless, working in summer stock around the country, sleeping behind the theaters in his pickup truck to save money.

Much of it is told with the self-deprecating tone you've seen him use on TV over the years -- talking about how he launched his singing career with uber-dramatic readings of songs such as Elton John's Rocket Man (which if you haven't seen, both he and I urge you to look up on YouTube.com.)

The tragedy of his life -- the drowning death of his third wife Nerine -- is heartbreakingly told, Shatner finding her body in their swimming pool after returning from a visit to his daughter and grandkids in Orange County.

But other than those few very sad moments, Up Till Now is a fun read, an entertaining book, with off-beat devices used throughout to keep readers on their toes. Periodically, Shatner breaks the flow of his story to suggest readers take a moment to visit WilliamShatner.com and maybe pick up a DVD of Incubus, the '60s cult movie film in Esperanto in which he starred, or a 25th anniversary Wrath of Kahn Kirk action figure.

"The idea is that there's an offhand way of telling a story, that I think insinuates itself better than sometimes just telling the story straight," Shatner says of the casual voice he adopts for the book and the tongue-in-cheek asides for his Web site, his charities and other random thoughts.

"There's more fun, and the idea here was to entertain you both in a comical way and a serious way," he says. "To try to give you rhythms of that and alter you, the reader's, feelings."

What comes through in the end -- what his kids and grandkids hopefully will see -- is the love of his work and of working that have ruled his life since he was a boy. Always Shatner was ready to work -- whether as star of a TV series or a paid contestant on a game show or as a commercial pitchman for companies such as Priceline.com (a gig that worked out well, given the stock options with which he was paid.)

So while he thinks Boston Legal will be renewed for another season, even if it's not, there's no reason he can think of why he wouldn't just look for the next job after that.

"Retirement? I keep saying, 'To where?' TGIF -- you know, I don't understand that phrase. If you're thanking God it's Friday, then you don't like what you're doing Monday through Friday, and that's a terrible way to spend your life."

And it's a life he says he's truly relished living, so much so that other than the writing of this book, he's seldom stopped to contemplate whether the past was better or the future might be brighter.

"You know, I feel like a woodworker, who is totally involved in the grain of the wood, and the fineness of the texture of the material, and carving out a little detail here or there," he says. "I'm so close to it that I don't see the table, I'm only looking at this one particular moment, and looking back and looking forward is not something I like to do.

"It's living in the present and trying to bring the sum of my experience to whatever I'm doing," Shatner says. "Whether it's talking to you, or saying hello to a grandchild."

[Click to view PHOTO GALLERY]

Contact the writer: 714-796-7787 or plarsen@ocregister.com

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/shat ... 9-book-way

AT LAST A STAR: William Shatner's first leading role on TV was in a 1956 Goodyear Televison Playhouse production of Robert Anderson's "All Summer Long," co-starring Sandra Church and Raymond Massey.

Photo Slideshow

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TRexx - May 10, 2008 - 09:58 AM
Post subject:

From TheInsiderOnline.com...

Tom Hanks Launches eBay Auction!

Posted May 09, 2008 4:10:00 PM

TOM HANKS and wife RITA WILSON are sponsoring a charity auction on eBay Giving Works to benefit Shakespeare Festival L.A. -- and some serious, A-list prizes are up for grabs!

The successful bidder wins the chance to perform with Rita and an all-star cast -- including ANNETTE BENING, WILLIAM SHATNER, "Scrubs"' ZACK BRAFF, TIM ALLEN, CHRISTINA APPLEGATE and DAVID SCHWIMMER -- in a performance of Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew at the festival on May 19.

Other items on the auction block include Tom Hanks' personal recording on the winner's answering machine or voicemail message; and two tickets to the NYC world premiere of Mamma Mia!, plus VIP access to cast after-party at the Boat House.

The auction went live on Thursday and runs through May 14, so head on over to eBay while there's still time to bid!

http://www.theinsideronline.com/news/2008/05/18064/

http://www.ebay.com/shakespeare

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TRexx - May 10, 2008 - 06:39 PM
Post subject:

From RecordOnline.com...

No... pause in William Shatner's career

By Germain Lussier, May 09, 2008

Everything that William Shatner does becomes iconic in some way.

Captain Kirk? Of course. A spot on the Twilight Zone? Classic. Albums of spoken word music? Far from common. Even his hyperactive spokesman for Priceline.com has become instantly recognizable.

And that's not even mentioning his Emmy-nominated and Emmy-winning performances on Boston Legal, The Practice and various other television shows.

Basically, the former leader of the Starship Enterprise hasn't been out of the public eye in decades. And though Shatner has a trademark vocal style and classic good looks, really, it's his ability to make fun of himself that's kept him so relevant for so long.

All of those projects and more are sure to be discussed in Up Till Now: An Autobiography, a book he's written that will be released this week. Shatner will discuss the book and more as he speaks at the 92nd Street Y, Lexington Avenue at 92nd Street, NYC, at 7:30 p.m. Monday.

Tickets are $30. Call 212-415-5500 or visit www.92y.org

http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.d ... NTERTAIN08

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TRexx - May 11, 2008 - 12:24 PM
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From DailyMail.co.uk

In bed with Captain Kirk ... William Shatner tells of his 40-year Star Trek

By WILLIAM SHATNER
Last update at 22:13pm on 10th May 2008

One morning, shooting a Star Trek movie in the desert, I had a very early call.

So I told the wardrobe girl: "Give me my uniform and I'll put it on at the house so I don't have to come in any earlier for wardrobe. I'll just wear it to the set."

So at 4am I was racing across the desert to our location. I was way over the speed limit, figuring there wasn't another car on the road in the entire state.

It turned out there was one other car -- and it had lights and a siren.

Scroll down for more...

Turn phasers to stun: The handsome captain stands in front of his ship in his TV heyday

I got out of my car, dressed in my uniform. The police officer looked me up and down, frowned and asked: "So where are you going so fast at this time in the morning?"

I told him the truth: "To my spaceship."

He sighed. "OK, go ahead," he said, before adding the Vulcan blessing: "Live long and prosper."

I was born in Canada in 1931. My father Joseph was in the clothing business. It was my mother Ann, an elocution teacher, who encouraged me to act.

I acted throughout my teenage years and then travelled to America with a successful theatre production company and started working in television and movies.

By the mid-Sixties, I was the veteran of many shows. My then wife, Gloria, and I were living in Los Angeles with our three daughters and I wasn't earning enough to support my family.

In 1965, I did a series pilot at Paramount for a show called Star Trek and a TV network picked it up.

Before our first show was broadcast, the cast met the media.

Leonard Nimoy played a Vulcan called Mr Spock. When he was asked about his character, he responded that we were doing something very different to the typical science-fiction story. "This is an intelligent character, a scientist, a being with great dignity."

Scroll down for more...

Rivals: Shatner and Leonard Nimoy have lunch on the Star Trek set

As the same reporters watched the next day, we filmed a scene in which Spock was lying in a bed in the sick bay, green blood dripping from his head.

I rushed in and asked urgently, "What happened, Spock?" to which the "being with great dignity" replied: "Captain, the monster attacked me!"

On September 8, 1966, for the first time we entered "Space: The Final Frontier". The reviews were not great. Show business magazine Variety said: "William Shatner . . . appears wooden."

Wooden? Me, wooden? Not that I took it personally, of course.

I barely even remember reading that review, sitting at the kitchen table on a rainy morning, eating three eggs while Gloria, dressed in a pale green cotton top, got our daughters ready for school.

As a professional actor, those things don't bother me. And that review has continued to not bother me for more than four decades.

Over the next few weeks Leonard's character began receiving most of the attention.

Spock fan clubs were formed and the network sent Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry a memo wondering why Spock wasn't in every story.

I've often heard it said that acting is not a competitive sport -- but never by actors. The truth is, every good actor has an ego.

I was supposed to be the star but Leonard was getting more attention than I was. It bothered me.

Leonard and I argued early on.

Scroll down for more...

Lust in space: In 1966, Shatner and Nichelle Nichols (Lieutenant Uhura) shared the first inter-racial screen kiss on American TV

The process of getting Spock's ears just right had been difficult and expensive, and Leonard was grateful to the head of make-up, Freddy Phillips, for doing a good job.

When a magazine wanted to do a photo story about his make-up process, featuring Freddy, he agreed.

One morning I found the photographer in the make-up room snapping away.

I didn't like that at all; I was concerned all my little makeup secrets were going to be revealed. I asked someone: "What's this photographer doing in the make-up room?"

The photographer quietly left. Leonard and Freddy waited for him to return but he didn't.

Leonard came to my trailer to confront me. "Did you order the photographer out?" he demanded. "Yes," I admitted. "I didn't want him there."

"It was approved by Roddenberry. It was approved by the head of the studio. It was approved by publicity," said Leonard.

"Well, it was not approved by me!" I retorted.

Leonard and I didn't get along. On the set he remained aloof. He claimed this was partly to maintain the character's integrity. Spock was an outsider and Leonard worried if he got too friendly with the cast he might close that distance.

But perhaps the other reason that Leonard remained aloof is that he was an alcoholic.

As he admits: "I was in bad shape. I would go home every day and drink.

"On weekends I would tell myself I'll have a beer at ten o'clock. By two o'clock I was drinking hard liquor and by five o'clock I'd passed out."

Early one afternoon in 1967, as we were filming an episode called "Devil In The Dark," I received a call telling me my father had died.

While I was at the funeral, Leonard filmed a scene in which Spock had to perform a mind-meld with a wounded alien, during which he felt the creature's intense pain.

When I returned, the set was sombre. I wanted to relieve the tension and let people know I was OK.

I had to figure out how to react to Leonard's mind-meld. I told him: "Show me what you did."

He explained: "Well, I went over here and I put my hands on her and I said, 'Pain, pain, pain.'"

I shook my head. "It was bigger than that. Can you show me exactly what you did?"

As a favour, Leonard did the scene. He didn't just go through the motions, he felt the emotion. He screamed out: "Pain. Pain. Pain."

And I said glibly: "Can somebody get this guy an aspirin?"

I thought everybody would have a good laugh, but Leonard was furious. He thought I'd betrayed him for the amusement of others -- that I had toyed with his commitment to his character.

He told me later that he thought I was a real son of a bitch.

However, the show was successful, as we realised when key phrases we used became more and more popular.

I'd walk through an airport and people would say, "Beam me up, Scotty" or "Live long and prosper".

On other shows comedians were promising to "boldly go where no man has gone before" and travelling at "warp speed."

Nevertheless, the show was cancelled after three seasons. In January 1969 we filmed the final episode.

I assumed the day we finished shooting Star Trek was the end of my association with Captain Kirk.

During the three years I'd worked on the show, Gloria, who was an actress, and I had separated.

The fact that each week new and beautiful women showed up on the Star Trek set didn't help.

(My second wife Marcy was also an actress. That marriage lasted 17 years, but the reality of some marriages is that a husband and a wife can grow apart.)

I now had three children and an ex-wife to support and I was just about broke. I even lived out of a pick-up truck for a while.

I needed to earn money, fast ...

After Star Trek I made some awful movies. There has been considerable discussion among the true Shatner aficionados about precisely which one was the worst I ever made.

The Horror At 37,000 Feet, in which I get sucked out of a plane while carrying a lit torch into the baggage compartment to confront a druid ghost, has its supporters.

Meanwhile, Paramount sold Star Trek cheaply to local American stations.

Old fans didn't want to miss an episode and they introduced new fans. The ratings were terrific. And then other countries began buying it.

We did a wonderful episode entitled "The Trouble With Tribbles." Tribbles are adorable balls of fur that rapidly reproduce, reproduce, reproduce.

That's what happened to Star Trek. It just kept tribbling.

For reasons that many wise men have tried for many years to explain, Star Trek eventually became arguably the best-known, most enduring and influential television series ever produced.

At the core of it there was one simple truth: it was fun.

Star Trek became a sun with great gravitational pull that drew people to it, where they could meet other people just like themselves. Wearing costumes.

The first unofficial Star Trek convention was held in the Newark, New Jersey, public library in March 1969. A small group of fans sang folk songs inspired by the show, showed slides of the Enterprise set and enjoyed a brief lecture about the connection between Star Trek and science.

By the early Eighties as many as 400 Star Trek conventions were held annually.

I didn't want anything to do with them. I didn't want anything to do with a group of obsessives who paid to get together to talk incessantly about a TV show that had been cancelled. It wasn't logical ...

I attended my first Star Trek convention in New York, in November 1975. The money they offered me was ... do I dare? Yes, I do! Out of this world!

The organisers told me, just be yourself -- Captain Kirk.

I walked on stage to thunderous applause. They responded to my slightest smile. It was an actor's dream.

After that I attended conventions, often with Leonard -- and we eventually became best friends.

We were treated like rock stars. I was told there were female Trekkies who kept lists of all the cast members with whom they'd slept. I was told this!

During much of this time I was single and I had opportunities to be with many women -- and I grasped a great many of them. Never at warp speed.

Admittedly, there were times when the woman I was with said: "So this is what it's like to be in bed with Captain Kirk."

That was definitely a downer, in every sense of the word.

Paramount finally got around to making a Star Trek movie in the late Seventies.

Almost half the budget for Star Trek: The Motion Picture was spent on special effects.

The problem was the plot. Nothing happened.

Roddenberry wanted the Enterprise to be the star of the movie so the film was replete with tedious shots of the Enterprise flying through space.

There goes the Enterprise. Here comes the Enterprise. Whoops, there it goes again.

Nevertheless, it was a commercial success and Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Khan opened in 1982 with the largest weekend gross in movie history.

Several films later, when I had been James Tiberius Kirk for almost 30 years, Paramount asked if I was willing to play his death scene.

The executives believed they might make more money with Patrick Stewart's Captain Jean-Luc Picard and his Next Generation crew.

As I prepared for Kirk's final scene, I had to remind myself that this was just another performance. And I was able to do that right up until the morning of the shoot.

Kill Kirk? What are they, out of their minds? Why did I agree to this?

Gradually, I calmed down.

I die saving the universe. For my final scene I had to leap from one side of a collapsed bridge to the other. The bridge collapses and Kirk falls to his death.

My last line, was: "Oh... my..." but I had written some other lines.

When I leapt on to the bridge I said: "Captain on the bridge," which was the way I had always announced my presence on the bridge of the Enterprise.

And when the bridge collapsed on me I said: "Bridge on the captain." Those lines were cut.

I went home that night with a great sense of satisfaction. I didn't feel it was the end of an era, just the end of a character.

And then I sat down and wrote a 40-page treatment for a story in which Kirk comes back from the dead.

Scroll down for more...

Tragic couple: Shatner and Nerine in 1996

My wife was dead -- and I was the only suspect

I met Nerine Kidd, the model who became my third wife, when I was in Toronto directing an episode of Kung Fu.

Ironically, as it would turn out, we met in a hotel bar.

I was struck instantly by her beauty and I fell in love with her. We were together six years before we talked about getting married.

For much of that time she was able to hide her alcoholism. Unless she had been drinking very heavily, she didn't show it on the surface.

When she drank she would get a little meaner. I didn't like it, but because I loved her I accepted it.

Leonard Nimoy's personal experience of alcoholism now came to play a central role in my life and it helped us bond together in a way I never could have imagined in the early days of Star Trek.

After Nerine and I had been to dinner with Leonard and Susan Nimoy one evening, Leonard called and said: "Bill, you know she's an alcoholic?" I said I did.

I married Nerine in 1997, against the advice of many and my own good sense. But I thought she would give up alcohol for me.

We had a celebration in Pasadena, and Leonard was my best man. I woke up about eight o'clock the next morning and Nerine was drunk.

She was in rehab for 30 days three different times. Twice she almost drank herself to death.

Leonard took Nerine to Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, but she did not want to quit.

One Monday -- August 9, 1999 -- I left the house to visit my grandchildren.

Nerine had been drunk the night before. As I was backing out of the driveway, she stopped me and asked me to let her come along.

"I can't," I said. "Nerine, you've been drunk so many times in front of the kids that they're fearful and I don't want to go through that scene. I'll be back in the evening."

Then I added, more from habit than anything else: "Please don't drink."

As I put the car back into reverse she said softly: "Please don't leave me, Bill."

I kept going. I spoke to her several times during the day.

By 8:30pm I was driving home. My daughter Melanie called and said she was unable to contact Nerine by mobile and asked me to call the landline. There was no reply.

The pool where Nerine died in 1999

When I got home about 9:30pm the house was quiet. I called her name several times. I began to get a strange feeling.

The phone rang -- it was a female friend of Nerine's from AA.

"I don't know where she is," I told her. "I can't find her." The friend asked if I had checked the pool -- I put her on hold and went to look.

The pool area was dark, although part of it was dimly illuminated by lights higher up.

I looked into the pool, and in the gloom I saw a dark shape in the deep end.

I took several steps backwards to try to avoid the horror in front of me.

I turned my back on the pool as I picked up the phone to speak to Nerine's friend. She told me to call 911.

The operator asked if I had pulled Nerine out of the pool. I said I hadn't.

"I want you to take her out of the pool right now," said the operator.

I had enough breath for one deep dive. I remember screaming as I pulled her towards the shallow end: "What have you done?"

I remember every second at the pool side. I put my finger in her throat to try to breathe life into her. I couldn't believe this was really happening.

The emergency services arrived within minutes. My daughters came quickly. Reporters and news crews gathered outside the front gate.

What appeared to have happened is that Nerine had been drinking outside by the pool -- a broken bottle had been found -- slipped and hit her head, and blacked out.

The post-mortem examination found her blood-alcohol level was more than three times the amount considered legally intoxicating -- and there were traces of Valium in her system.

The police officer in charge had said: "I have to tell you, if there was any hint of foul play, you're the first suspect."

Maybe he didn't actually use the word "suspect", but that certainly was his inference.

"What are you talking about?" I said. "This is the woman I loved more than my life. I wouldn't hurt her."

That night, the shock and the grief were overwhelming, and along with that came the knowledge and the fear that I was alone again.

Very early the next morning I walked down the driveway to make a statement to the mob of reporters.

I told them: "My beautiful wife is dead. Her laughter, her tears and her joy will remain with me the rest of my life."

It was so clear what had happened that night; but that didn't stop people from asking those terrible questions. Did Shatner kill his wife? It was insane.

Within a few days of Nerine's death I learned the National Enquirer was going to run a story asking, basically: "Did he or didn't he kill her?"

I wanted to get the true story out as quickly as possible.

We called the Enquirer and offered them a deal: "Don't run that story. Instead, we'll give you the exclusive story of what happened that night."

In exchange, they contributed $250,000 (£123,000) to what would become the Nerine Shatner Foundation, which helps addicted women.

I guess the question asked most often was why did I call 911 before diving into the pool to try to save her?

It took me years to fully understand, and even then it was only because of my fourth wife, Elizabeth.

Every year on August 9, Elizabeth and I would go up to the pool in the evening. The moon is in the same position, the lights are the same.

On one of those nights I suddenly knew. The water in the pool had been still.

And somehow I had known that whether I dived in and rescued the body and then called 911, or called 911 and then did so, it would have made no difference.

I don't think you ever get over an event like that. You deal with the grief, you then absorb the substance and it becomes part of you.

I had believed the force of my love for her was enough to effect a cure, but, to my sorrow, I learned sometimes love is not enough.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/f ... ge_id=1879

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TRexx - May 11, 2008 - 08:11 PM
Post subject:

From PittsburghLive.com...

Boston Legal Heads for War Between Friends

By Mike Hughes, GANNETT NEWS SERVICE, Sunday, May 11, 2008

As this wobbly TV season began, Boston Legal was in a state of hyper-readiness.

It started writing early, started filming early. Strike or not, it would have a season.

The result? Legal made 20 episodes, just two short of a full season. And it plans to wrap up with two key ones:

• Denny Crane (William Shatner) is a possible Republican presidential nominee. "He gets vetted by a panel," producer Bill D'Elia says. "He goes for his physical in a unique way."

• The two friends -- Alan Shore (James Spader) and Denny -- are on opposite sides of a court case involving a proposed secession from the Union.

Barring a late change, the show has its Denny-for-president episode Wednesday, and the Alan-vs.-Denny episode on May 21.

"If we're cancelled, it's a great place to end the series," Shatner says, while working on the latter episode. "And if we're picked up, it's a great way to end the season."

It is, at least, a jolt. "The subject matter, which is patriotism, has such meaning to both characters that it pulls them apart," Shatner says.

That splits a friendship that has sparked the show. In the first three seasons, Spader won two Emmys (best actor); Shatner (supporting actor) won once and was nominated twice.

"The friendship between Denny and Alan is unique," D'Elia says. "We sort of captured light in a bottle with Bill and James."

That started in the final season of The Practice, when creator David Kelley tried a drastic makeover. He dropped most characters and inserted Alan -- unethical, disgraced, but a courtroom winner.

As that season was ending, Alan was fired and moved to a firm with an offbeat boss.

"I thought it was the most wonderful, outlandish character I had ever seen," Shatner says. "(Kelley) was trying to either inject new blood or make a spin-off."

Shatner, now 77, agreed to do the transition episodes, but nothing more. "I'd done several series before, and I certainly didn't want to do another."

Then he relented. The Practice folded and Boston Legal zoomed, with Alan and Denny as a celebration of opposites.

"One is an arch-conservative, one is a liberal," D'Elia says. "(And) the characters are so physically different."

Alan is button-down and precise; Denny is full of gusto, unaware of his flaws. "We knew it would be funny," D'Elia says.

And the role was given to a guy known for dead-serious characters in Star Trek and T.J. Hooker.

D'Elia says he was confident Shatner could do it. He had been funny in commercials and had drawn an Emmy nomination in 3rd Rock From the Sun, for playing the Big Giant Head. "He says, 'I want to play a character who is just full of himself.'"

Shatner also says he was confident. "I was a light comedian in Canada for five or six years, before I came here."

Well, semi-light, anyway.

Back in 1954, Shatner -- a Montreal native, fresh from McGill University -- joined the Stratford Festival for its second season of Shakespearean plays. He was soon a young lover in "Taming of the Shrew," a plotter in "Julius Caesar" and more.

Separately, the festival and Shatner would find fame.

"What I learned from my early theater days was a sense of discipline," he says. "You do what needs to be done; you learn the lines."

In the early days, he studied those lines in the bathroom of a Stratford home where he had rented a room. These days, his world is plusher, but his lines are still written by a master -- Shakespeare then, Kelley now.

"It's dazzling," D'Elia -- who also produced Kelley's Chicago Hope and Ally McBeal -- says of the Kelley touch.

"The ability he has to take an issue and examine it from both sides is amazing. And to make it be about the characters -- that's what's impressive."

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsbu ... 66701.html

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TRexx - May 11, 2008 - 08:14 PM
Post subject:

From the New York Post...

IN MY LIBRARY

May 11, 2008

Memoirs -- the final frontier? Perhaps, but then it's hard to imagine the enterprising William Shatner ever slowing down. Even at 77, the former Captain Kirk is in perpetual motion -- breeding horses, hawking airfare tickets and starring in TV's Boston Legal.

Somehow, he's managed to sit still long enough to turn out Up Till Now, which, with characteristic modesty, he calls "one of the funniest, most moving autobiographies I've ever read."

"My life has been pretty much an open book," he tells The Post's Barbara Hoffman "This is the closed book version." He'll read snippets from it tomorrow at the 92nd Street Y.

Oddly, for someone who's written sci-fi novels, Shatner's more of a spy guy. "I read mostly on airplanes," he says, and he's likely to have a John Le Carre book along for the ride, calling his novels "some of the best writing for intrigue and excitement."

Here are a few other books that have turned him on, if not beamed him up altogether.

Ragtime
by E.L. Doctorow
"Handles the passage of time better than any novel I've ever read. Doctorow was able to push us forward backward and stay in the present and keep it clear. He's one of my favorite writers."

Citizen Hughes: The Power, The Money and The Madness
by Michael Drosnin
Fascinating story about a man who started bad -- and went worse.

Riding Into Your Mythic Life: Transformation Adventures with the Horse
by Patricia Broersma and Jean Houston
An interesting treatise about horses and mythology. Strangely enough, my daughter saw it and thought I might want to read it just based on the title. It's a nonimpressive book except for the subject matter -- having myth be part of your life, giving it a broader meeting.

The Five People You Meet in Heaven
by Mitch Albom
Recommended to me by Jon Voight during his interview on my new talk show, Shatner's Raw Nerve. I finished reading it in one sitting. It's very spiritually stimulating.

http://www.nypost.com/seven/05112008/po ... 110300.htm

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TRexx - May 12, 2008 - 01:00 PM
Post subject:

From Flickr.com...

What a doll...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sammmmmmmmm/2482946165/

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TRexx - May 12, 2008 - 07:58 PM
Post subject:

From Macleans Magazine...

Interview with William Shatner

'Tombstone? Well, I'm not going to have a tombstone. I'm going to be tossed in the air. Ashes, tossed like a salad.'

KATE FILLION, 7 May 2008

Q: Up Till Now, your new autobiography, is very funny.

A: I'm sure it's my co-writer, he's very funny. I'm somewhat dour.

Q: Well, you did have that reputation, but you've remade it, through self-deprecation and even self-parody. Did you change, or was it just your public image that changed?

A: We all evolve. I think what's happened the last several years is that I've become "Shatner," a sort of synthesis of these various characters I've played.

Q: Did you actively set out to rebrand yourself?

A: No, the audience synthesized it themselves. I'm not doing things with the thought, "This will change people's minds." When an actor says, "And then I showed them this side of me," I don't understand that, nor do I behave in that manner. I see an interesting project and put myself into it and don't think of the consequences. Since I don't know what you like, I can't please you, I can only please myself and hope that you will like what I've done and go with me.

Q: You started acting classes in Montreal when you were really young. Did you learn anything useful?

A: To avoid rapacious women. I learned that at the age of 6.

Q: Did you always feel you were going to be famous some day?

A: I was already famous in my family. I was the only son, and that gave me a great taste for fame. But no, I never felt destined for anything.

Q: You did a lot of light comedies when you first starting acting full-time, in Ottawa and Toronto, before going on to serious dramatic roles. Is it harder to make people laugh or cry?

A: If you know what you're doing, and the writing is good, neither is hard at all. But laughter is not only good for the person laughing, it's good for the person who's making you laugh.

Q: You say the first time you really felt like an actor was the night you stood in for Christopher Plummer as Henry the Fifth, at Stratford. Did --

A: Wait a minute. That's the first time I felt like an actor?

Q: Chapter one. "That was the night I knew I was an actor."

A: I think I've got to rewrite that chapter.

Q: Did you ever feel anything was beneath you as an actor?

A: Only the earth.

Q: But you poke fun at some of the projects you've done, like making a film entirely in Esperanto. Did you ever feel you were condescending while you were doing something?

A: No, I was just grateful for the job.

Q: You had a reputation among some of your Star Trek co-stars for being a stage hog. Do you think it was true?

A: No, it's not true, and in its perspective of 40 years ago, even bringing it up is amazing.

Q: But you bring it up in your book.

A: I know I do. I refer to it. But it's astonishing to me that the whole thing is still being talked about.

Q: How did you overcome your envy, when Spock became such a popular character though your character, Captain Kirk, was initially supposed to be the lead?

A: You grow out of it and see the logic.

Q: The logic of why people liked Spock?

A: That, and the illogic of fate. As you become more knowledgeable about the way things work, you can lose the negative emotions.

Q: You and Leonard Nimoy weren't close while you were doing Star Trek, but you are now. How did that happen?

A: I weaseled up to him and tried to be an amusing fellow. And he kept rebuffing me. I kept buying him meals. Then he relented and took me into his embrace.

Q: You've worked with a lot of famous actors, from Montgomery Clift and George C. Scott to Heather Locklear and Sandra Bullock. Who was the most fun to work with?

A: Leonard Nimoy and James Spader.

Q: Who was the biggest pain in the ass?

A: Leonard Nimoy. He's so intelligent, he corrects everything I say. But then, his ass has slipped, and it's not as big a pain now.

Q: At what point did you embrace the fact that you'll always be identified as Captain Kirk, rather than fighting it?

A: I don't know that that's true.

Q: So many actors identified with a particular role complain about not wanting to be remembered that way on their tombstones, but you --

A: Well, I'm not going to have a tombstone. I'm going to be tossed in the air. Ashes, tossed like a salad.

Q: At the moment, you're going full tilt though. You have a CD and a documentary about to come out.

A: The CD is already out. It's a recording of an edited version of Exodus. The magnificence of it is 350 voices in a chorale group and a 72-piece orchestra and new symphonic music and myself as narrator, and all told it's a glorious production. The documentary, Gonzo Ballet, is about the making of a ballet based on six songs from Has Been.

http://www.macleans.ca/homepage/magazin ... _9982_9982

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TRexx - May 13, 2008 - 04:02 AM
Post subject:

From Variety.com...

Boston Legal set for fifth season

ABC, Kelley still in talks on Mars

By MICHAEL SCHNEIDER, Posted: Sun., May 11, 2008, 12:52pm PT

The verdict is in, and Boston Legal will indeed be back on ABC next fall.

Show had been at the center of a tug-of-war between ABC and David E. Kelley Prods.

At issue: ABC wants to greenlight the pilot Life on Mars, but Kelley owns the rights to the show (an adaptation of the BBC drama of the same name).

Kelley has expressed his intention to leave Mars (Daily Variety, May 7) -- but in order for the show to continue without him, first needed to negotiate his departure.

That's where Kelley's beloved Legal comes in. Show has a loyal, but small audience -- and wasn't a lock to return for another season.

But insiders now say that a deal has been reached between ABC, Kelley and 20th Century Fox TV, and Legal indeed will be back for a fifth season.

Mars, meanwhile, hasn't been officially ordered to series yet -- but a deal appears to be imminent. ABC did not confirm the pickup.

Critically acclaimed Legal stars Emmy winners James Spader and William Shatner as litigators Alan Shore and Denny Crane. Cast also includes Candice Bergen and John Larroquette. Bill D'Elia exec produces with Kelley.

Once Kelley's departure is finalized, ABC Studios is expected to join 20th Century Fox TV as a co-producer on the drama. Also, October Road exec producers Josh Appelbaum, Andre Nemec and Scott Rosenberg are in line to take over as showrunners.

Kelley first began developing the U.S. adaptation of Mars in 2006, when he obtained the rights.

At the time, ABC gave the show a put pilot commitment, with Kelley set to write the script and exec produce.

Life on Mars, which was in contention for last year, but rolled to this development season after Kelley couldn't find a proper lead for the show.

Jason O'Mara was eventually tapped last summer to play the lead, a 21st century detective who somehow finds himself transported to the 1970s -- where he encounters a serial killer who may have something to do with the present-day abduction of his girlfriend.

Kudos Film and TV, which was behind the original, is also a producer on the U.S. version.

http://www.variety.com/article/VR111798 ... 4&cs=1

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TRexx - May 13, 2008 - 09:10 PM
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From the New York Post...

STARSHIP SEX WITH CAPT. KIRK

May 13, 2008 -- WOMEN who slept with William Shatner sometimes had an out-of-this-world fantasy -- they'd pretend they were being beamed up to ecstasy by the commander of the Starship Enterprise. The Star Trek legend tells Page Six his partners would dramatically gasp, "So, this is what it's like to be in bed with Captain Kirk!" Shatner -- whose autobiography, Up Till Now, hits stores today -- laughed, "You can't imagine how much of a downer that is in every sense of the word." The Canada native also recalled his bizarre first day in 1950s New York, where he'd arrived to try to make it as an actor. "I was wandering around Times Square and this guy says, 'I'm going to Radio City Music Hall, would you like to come?' And I said, 'Oh, yes' -- [I thought] wow, New York is everything I heard it was going to be! We're in the audience, I'm a young hot-blooded Canadian and out come the dancing girls, a plethora of women -- and I feel his hand brush my knee. I thought, well, it's an accident, then I felt it again. What the [bleep]? I got up and ran out."

http://www.nypost.com/seven/05132008/go ... 110588.htm

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TRexx - May 14, 2008 - 12:49 AM
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Via RedLasso.com...

William Shatner "Late Night With Conan O'Brien" Video

May 12th, 2008

Acting vet William Shatner promoted his new memoir, Up Till Now: The Autobiography, on the Late Show with Conan O'Brien on Monday, May 12.

http://www.redlasso.com/ClipPlayer.aspx ... fb33d61bf3 (video 1)

http://www.redlasso.com/ClipPlayer.aspx ... 55a18500ab (video 2)

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TRexx - May 14, 2008 - 01:24 AM
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From the Toddspell Blog...

William Shatner, Superstar

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

My sister spent the weekend in Paris and is now in Cannes for the film festival. I might have been envious yesterday, maybe even today. But not now. For now, I have just returned from an interview and book-signing by William Shatner. Cannes, I pine for you no more.

I am not a trekkie*. As I write this, I actually own no Star Trek movies (though I do want movies I through 4) nor do I own any seasons of any of the TV series (though I want the original series). I'm apathetic towards the Next Generation (though I do like Patrick Stewart) and did not care for the series that came after. All this aside, I have always been a fan of Shatner, whether on Trek, the Twilight Zone, T.J. Hooker, or whatever he happens to be in. In short (too late!), I'm a fan of the man, not of a particular role.

Actually, that's not quite true. The particular role I am an unequivocal fan of is Shatner as himself, a role he has honed over the years Whether this persona is real or public face, he does it so well that it hardly matters. I will never know the man himself. This is enough. Tonight, Shatner put on a virtuoso performance of himself.

Shatner has a wonderful sense of humor. Clearly, the man appreciates himself but he never lets it get in the way of his self-effacing comedy. He's a great story-teller. I was, as the entire audience seemed to be, drawn into his narrative. He really seems to be talking to us not at us. It sounds easy but it isn't. Many of these interviews come off as lectures. This one did not.

The interview was a solid 90 minutes and I was enthralled by all of it. I could have listened for another 90 minutes easily. I like his easy speaking style so much I might buy the audio version of his book just to hear him tell it rather than read it. I liked listening to him that much.

After the interview, there was a book signing. I bought two copies of the book (one for me, one for a friend) and he signed both. I told him I enjoyed his talk and appreciated his work. He thanked me. I left the auditorium a happy, happy man.

I only found out about this thing at the last minute. Being a work night, I had a tough internal debate over going. What finally swung me round was this: Shatner is 77 years old. While he has been an amazing workhorse in recent years, you never know when he'll call it a day. If I didn't go to this signing, would I get another chance? If I didn't go and no other chance came, would I always be kicking myself for not going? It was a no-brainer: I had to go.

The interview took place at the 92nd Street YMCA. In the auditorium, they did not allow photographs and, at the signing, it was tough to get an open look at the man. I did manage one shot and a snap of my signed book. For your viewing pleasure:

http://toddspell.blogspot.com/2008/05/w ... rstar.html

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TRexx - May 14, 2008 - 10:28 AM
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Via Yahoo Video & YouTube ...

William Shatner on Good Morning America (May 13)...

http://video.yahoo.com/watch/2661466/7797068

[Click image to view video]

Bill's "Sins of Omission" on The View (May 13)...

http://youtube.com/watch?v=m0GtOhxEdR8

[Click image to view video]

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TRexx - May 14, 2008 - 10:20 PM
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From WashingtonPost.com...

Horrors! Enough to Wake the Living Dead

Filmfax Covers the Ghoulish in a Retro, Cheesy Kind of Way

By Peter Carlson, Washington Post Staff Writer, Tuesday, May 13, 2008; Page C08

"Monsters Crash the Pajama Party"?

Yes!

"Werewolves on Wheels"?

Absolutely!

How about "Teenagers From Outer Space" and "Evil Brain From Outer Space" and "I Married a Monster From Outer Space"?

Yes, yes and yes! You can buy all of these timeless classics of the modern cinema on DVD from those wonderful folks at Filmfax magazine, each for only 15 or 20 bucks! But wait, there's much, much more! You can also buy "Fiend Without a Face" and "Devil Girl From Mars" and "Santa Claus Conquers the Martians" and...

Oh, sorry about that. I guess I got a little carried away there.

I'm supposed to be writing my usual high-tone scholarly textual analysis of the articles in Filmfax magazine and here I am getting all excited about the ads. Filmfax has page after page of ads for DVDs of the kinds of films you just don't see on Turner Classic Movies -- movies like "Monster A-Go-Go" and "Saturn Avenger vs. the Terror Robot" and "They Saved Hitler's Brain."

But the thing is: In Filmfax, the articles and the ads are, as they say in the quality lit-crit biz, all part of an organic whole, a veritable Weltanschauung. Filmfax, which bills itself as "The Magazine of Unusual Film, Television & Retro Pop Culture," is the bible of B-movies, Kama Sutra of kitsch, the Bhagavad-Gita of so-bad-it's-good cheesiness. For 23 years, Filmfax has been covering the auteurs who created movies such as "Invasion of the Bee Girls" with the same reverence that Cahiers du Cinema reserves for Jean-Luc Godard.

In the current issue, which is the 117th issue of this influential cinematic quarterly, the cover story is an interview with actor William Shatner about his role in the 1962 Roger Corman film "The Intruder." It's an unusual piece for Filmfax because Shatner is actually, you know, famous. Most Filmfax interviewees are utterly obscure, except to the kind of fans who know everything there is to know about the cast and crew of "The Torture Chamber of Dr. Sadism."

See the complete article at WashingtonPost.com ...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/co ... 02931.html

http://www.filmfax.com/

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TRexx - May 15, 2008 - 04:30 PM
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From ABC News...

Read an Excerpt: 'Up Till Now'

Actor William Shatner Opens Up About His Star-Studded Career in New Autobiography

May 15, 2008

You might know him from "Star Trek." Or, perhaps you remember him from his award-winning role in "Boston Legal." Or maybe he just looks familiar from those Princeline.com commercials.

Whichever it is, you surely recognize his face, as he has one of the best-known mugs in show business.

Now actor and TV icon William Shatner is telling all in his new autobiography: "Up Till Now."

You can read an excerpt from "Up Till Now" below:

I was going to begin my autobiography this way:

Call me ... Captain James T. Kirk, or Sergeant T.J. Hooker, or Denny Crane or Twilight Zone plane passenger Bob Wilson or the Big Giant Head or Henry V or the Priceline Negotiator or ...

Well, that's the problem, isn't it? I've been a working actor for more than half a century and I've played so many different roles on the stage, on television, and in the movies that it would be impossible to focus on just one of them. Besides, my career as an actor is only part of my story, so I realized I couldn't begin this book that way.

Then I decided I was going to start this book by telling the story of my memorable meeting with Koko the gorilla:

In 1988 to help the Gorilla Foundation encourage Californians to contribute to its Endangered Species Campaign I was permitted to visit Koko the gorilla in her quarters. Koko was an extraordinary animal who had learned to communicate with human beings. She was able to sign more than six hundred words, but more impressively, as her handlers told me, she understood the meaning of those words. She knew the signs for water and for bird and the first time she saw a duck landing on a lake she signed water bird. That displayed a synthesis of knowledge. So you see, she was obviously very intelligent. I was allowed to go into her compound, to enter a room with her all alone. As I walked into that room I was reminded that she was an imposing, powerful animal; smaller gorillas have been known to tear off men's arms in anger. I am not often afraid, but truthfully I was frightened.

There is a form of acting that teaches: feel it and say it, and that feeling will be revealed through your words. The English form is quite different: say it and then you feel it. To deal with my fear of this magnificent animal as I got closer and closer to her I found myself saying, "I love you, Koko. I love you." I said it earnestly and honestly and I looked directly in her eyes as I spoke. I crouched over a little to show submission, moving forward rather than backward to show I was not afraid. Over and over I repeated, "I love you, Koko, I love you." And as I said it, I began to feel that love. Finally I stopped directly in front of her and looked into her deep brown eyes and saw her furrowed brow and her enormous hands. I love you, Koko. And with that she reached out and grabbed me by my balls. And looked me right in the eyes. After a slight pause -- in a substantially higher voice -- I tried to repeat, "I love you, Koko." Obviously these words had more significance than a few seconds earlier.

Her handler at the far end of the room said, "Stand very still. She wants you to go to her bedroom." So I stood very still because I did not want to go to her bedroom. I think it is fair to say that few people in history have ever stood as still as I did at that moment. Meanwhile, in the adjoining compound a young gorilla who they hoped would mate with Koko was pounding on the door like a jealous husband. There I was, caught in the eternal triangle, with a gorilla holding onto my rapidly shrinking scrotum. Eventually she got bored ...

Starting this book with that story would enable me to inform the reader that it's not going to be limited to my professional career, that it will also include stories about all the extraordinary opportunities I've been given to explore the world. I'd discuss all the amazing experiences I've had, from that dark night in Africa when I pursued a wild elephant to the afternoon a helicopter left me more alone than I'd ever been in my life on top of a twenty-thousand-foot-high glacier, and even to that memorable moment when I saw aliens in the desert. And it would also demonstrate that there are going to be a lot of laughs in this book, most of them at my expense. But then I realized that people know me primarily from the work I've done as an actor, so that wouldn't be effective as a beginning either. So I decided not to begin that way either.

Then I had a great idea. I was going to start the book by quoting the lyrics to a song I'd written about the truly tragic death by drowning of my beautiful wife, Nerine Shatner:

My love was supposed to protect her
It didn't
My love was supposed to heal her
It didn't
You had said don't leave me
And I begged you not to leave me
We did

Opening the book that way would be so meaningful to me, beginning with the great tragedy of my life. And it would immediately let readers know that this is to be a truthful book. But it would also be such a sad beginning, when my life has been filled with so much joy. And of course, I'm not known for my singing, in fact there are those who believe my performance of "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" may be the worst version of a Beatles song ever recorded. Not me -- of course. And this is such a personal story that it needs to be told in its entirety, so certainly I couldn't begin my book that way.

There is one extremely well-known phrase that I definitely decided I would not use to begin this book:

"Beam me up, Scotty."

In fact, I am determined that this phrase will not appear anywhere in this book.

The beginning, I knew, needed to catch the interest of the reader within a few words, to engage their curiosity, to make them wonder, perhaps, what the hell is he talking about? Which led to:

I arrived in New York City for the first time in my life in an Indian outrigger canoe, having paddled all the way from Montreal ...

I liked that, but it didn't seem to convey the essence of my life. Somehow it seemed too gimmicky, too clever, so I knew I couldn't use that. Maybe later in the first chapter, I decided.

It occurred to me that perhaps I should open this book with a description of the day I took my beautiful horse, Sultan's Great Day, for his final walk in the pasture. Oh my, you should have seen him in his world-championship days. I'm telling you, this was the most magnificent stallion you've ever seen. I'm not kidding about that. Really, people were in awe of his presence. They would look at him and ...

I would use that beginning to tell you about my passions, the passions that have made all the difference in my life. The passions that I've spent my life pursuing: the love of a beautiful woman, the love for my family, the love for my craft, my art, the need to experience every aspect of life. Sometimes I'm amazed to realize that I live today with the vestiges of my priorities as a young man, the desire to act, the need to be loved, the pleasures of a great meal, a great laugh, and enduring companionship.

But simply telling you about my passions -- even my passion for horses and dogs -- seemed far too somber an opening.

Perhaps, I thought, I should start this book by being glib, by exposing my quirky sense of humor to the readers. Make them laugh at the very beginning by quoting a newspaper story about one of the more unusual things I've ever done:

(AP) 1/17/2006 Actor William Shatner agreed on Monday to sell his kidney stone for $75,000 to an online casino. The money will go to Habitat for Humanity. "This takes organ donors to a new height, or perhaps a new low," said Shatner. The auction price includes the surgical stint and string used to permit passage of the stone. According to Shatner, the kidney stone was so big, "[Y]ou'd want to wear it on your finger. If you subjected it to extreme heat, it might turn out to be a diamond..."

While that beginning certainly would be humorous, it just seemed too frivolous to start that way. Instead, it occurred to me that the opening of this book should be thoughtful, it should be about my life. How much more sincere could I be about the life I've had than using words written by David E. Kelly for the character I play on Boston Legal, Denny Crane. Then it occurred to me, let Denny Crane write his own book! Finally, inspiration struck! I had what I believed would be a unique and perfect opening:

Are you tired of paying full price for this book? Well, you don't have to. You can buy as many copies of it as you like -- and you name the price! That's right, you name the price you want to pay. At Priceline.com it's as simple as that. Here's the way...

Opening this book like that would be funny, yet accurate, as many people know me from my work representing various companies, such as Priceline.com. And if we also could sell a few more copies of this book, well, I didn't think St. Martin's would object. And if Priceline was approached properly by my agent, perhaps they might even be willing to purchase the rights to the opening paragraph. For less than full price, of course.

But perhaps that was too crass for the opening of my autobiography, I decided. Is that really what I wanted to emphasize about my life and my career? And would Priceline meet my price? So that opening too, was rejected. And then it occurred to me: I don't need an opening. By the time you've reached this paragraph my autobiography has already started. Of course that was very similar to my career; I was already in the middle of it before I realized it had begun.

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Books/Story?i ... amp;page=1

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TRexx - May 15, 2008 - 05:36 PM
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From Playbill.com...

Hanks, Bening, Wilson, Applegate, Shatner and Astin to Read Taming of the Shrew May 19

By Adam Hetrick, 14 May 2008

Academy Award winner Tom Hanks and stage and screen star Annette Bening will face off in a staged reading of Taming of the Shrew for the Shakespeare Festival/LA May 19.

Co-chaired by Hanks and his wife, actress Rita Wilson, the annual staged readings feature a cast of celebrities who donate their time to raise funds for the theatre company's programming and productions.

Shakespeare's comedic battle of the sexes features Hanks as Petruchio, Bening as Kate, as well as Christina Applegate (Sweet Charity, "Samantha Who?") as Bianca, William Shatner ("Boston Legal") as Baptista, Sean Astin ("Lord of the Rings") as Biondello, Zach Braff ("Scrubs") as Lucentio, David Schwimmer ("Friends") as Tranio, Arte Johnson (Candide) as Gremio, Steve Root ("No Country for Old Men") as Drumio, Tim Allen ("Home Improvement") as Hortensio, Peter Bonerz ("Murphy Brown") as Vincentio, Tommy Chong ("Up in Smoke") as The Pedant and Rita Wilson ("Sleepless in Seattle") as The Widow.

Grammy Award winner Lyle Lovett will perform live music during the evening.

Shakespeare Festival/LA is currently auctioning off various packages and a speaking role in the May 19 presentation of as part of its fundraising efforts.

The 7:30 PM staging of Taming of the Shrew will take place at UCLA's Freud Playhouse. Tickets and sponsorship packages are available by phoning (310) 201-5033 or by visiting www.shakespearefestivalla.org.

http://www.playbill.com/news/article/117732.html

http://www.shakespearefestivalla.org/ca ... speare.php

http://cgi3.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?V ... y-auctions

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TRexx - May 15, 2008 - 08:24 PM
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From SternRate.com...

Howard Stern Show Highlights from May 14

William Shatner came in to promote his autobiography Up Till Now. Howard played the clip of Shatner going off on the director who was telling him how to do a voiceover. Shatner had no recollection of it, but he regretted going so far. Shatner admitted that most everyone on Star Trek hated him. Shatner talked about his great deal with Priceline.com and his success on Boston Legal. He spoke about his wife's death in a pool. He wrote about it in his book. He said that he was in shock and called 911 before going after her. He said that he has a good sex life with his new wife.

http://www.sternrate.com/highlights/how ... day-may-14

Warning: Interview contains coarse language of a sexual nature...

http://media.putfile.com/Shat--Stern-May-14-2008

Audio play time = 53 minutes

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TRexx - May 16, 2008 - 08:32 AM
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From People.com...

William Shatner Opens Up About His Own Mortality

By Bryan Alexander, Originally posted Thursday May 15, 2008 12:35 PM EDT

He may have shot into legend 42 years ago, when he first played Captain Kirk on Star Trek, and even have taken home two Emmys for his current role as Denny Crane on Boston Legal, but come time to breathe his last, William Shatner contends he won't be considered special.

"I'm not going to be remembered any more than anyone else," the actor -- and Priceline.com pitchman -- tells PEOPLE while promoting his new autobiography, Up Till Now.

Adds Shatner: "Maybe on the day there will be a little more fuss than, say, some guy in Poughkeepsie. Fame and remembrance are so fleeting. None of us is remembered."

To Shatner's mind, even the biggest heroes seem to slip away. "Some of the great names I grew up with, five years after they were dead, no one remembered them," he says, speaking on the set of Legal. "The Pharaohs have the pyramids. But we don't remember the Pharaohs, we remember the pyramids."

At 77, he considers himself "physically strong, healthy and vigorous," Shatner says, given some of the Legal storylines on mortality and in light of his putting his life down on paper, "No matter what age you are, you are liable to die. But the older you get, the odds go up that it's going to be very soon."

"It's not going to be very long. But I'm having such a good time with the world that I live in, I don't want to go anywhere."

Not Retiring

In Up Till Now, Shatner details his significant input into the screen death of Captain Kirk. When it comes to his own eventual passing, he says, "Death frightens me very much. The unknown and the nothingness of it. I'd rather not know I was going to go."

One thing Shatner does know: he has no intention of retiring. "I'm not going anywhere," he says, before joining costar James Spader for a scene. "They'll have to carry me out ... and film it."

For more on Shatner, including an excerpt from Up Till Now, pick up this week's PEOPLE, on sale Friday.

http://www.people.com/people/article/0, ... pheadlines

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TRexx - May 16, 2008 - 08:34 AM
Post subject:

From Tommy Lane's Web Log...

William Shatner - Book Signing

14 May 2008 08:37 pm

William Shatner made an appearance at the Barnes and Noble on Union Square to do a signing for his new autobiographical book, Up Till Now. Quite a crowd turned out to see this legendary artist whose career in entertainment spans over 50 years. I'm looking forward to reading his book.

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TRexx - May 16, 2008 - 08:36 AM
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From Wings900.com

If you're a fan of actor William Shatner, "Star Trek" or "Boston Legal" and had the chance to meet Shatner, what would you ask him?

I'm actually interviewing him tomorrow, and notes, bios and the internet aside, I'm at a loss for some questions a true fan would ask.

Your help is much appreciated!

...

Thanks so much for all the input. Some of it came a little too late to be considered for the radio interview. However, I certainly apprecite it!

I'll try to post the interview on YouTube in the next few days with a hotlink on this thread.

Take care!

todd

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TRexx - May 16, 2008 - 09:23 AM
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From [url=]NYMag.com[/url]...

William Shatner on UFOs, Leonard Nimoy, and T.J. Hooker's Politics

--Jesse Ellison, Vulture Chat Room, 5/15/08, 10:30 AM

William Shatner -- where to begin? Sure, he gave life to such iconic TV characters as Captain Kirk and T.J. Hooker, but he's also spent as much of his life doing Shakespeare on the legitimate stage as he has shilling for Priceline and appearing on game shows -- not to mention his side career as an idiosyncratic crooner of American classics. This week he publishes his endearing autobiography, Up Till Now. Shatner spoke with Vulture about the book, his UFO sighting, and being propositioned by a gorilla.

Hi, Mr. Shatner.

Jesse, how old are you?

I'm 29. Um, why?

The voice! It's a great voice.

Well, thanks! And thank you for talking to us.

Thank you for having your voice.

In the intro to your book you talk about being propositioned by a gorilla. Did that really happen?

Yes, it really happened. Everything I said really happened. I was doing publicity for an environmental cause, and they thought it would get some press if I visited with Koko, the well-known gorilla. If you've ever seen a mountain gorilla in a cage in a zoo, you see how absolutely disconcerting they can be. I was thoroughly intimidated by the size, the beetle brow, and the look in her eyes. But I'm a hero, you see, so I couldn't afford to show the fear. I chose what some people refer to as the English method, by showing courage and then hoping that I would feel it. The way I was able to show it was to keep repeating 'I love you.'

And it worked?

And it worked. I came closer to her, and she looked very benign. And then she reached for me and did a thorough examination.

Later you confess to having lied about seeing UFOs when you crashed your motorcycle in the desert.

Well, that's true, but I tell the truth in the book. I tell the truth that I lied. I wonder what the philosophical implications are of that. I think that I do lie sometimes, but only to save feelings or my own skin.

Or to tell a good story?

Or to tell a good story. Maybe.

You also talk at length about your troubled relationship with Leonard Nimoy and the rest of the Star Trek cast. How would you characterize that dynamic?

Well, I'm not sure what the rest of the cast were fussing about, and I didn't know about it until long after the show. But as for Leonard and I, I probably was a little too full of myself and thought maybe I should be getting some of his good publicity. I may have been jealous, or envious, or both. But then time took care of all that. Now Leonard and I are like brothers.

What was it like when you found out they were all so mad at you?

I was astonished. I was like, 'You've been carrying this around all these years?' It was sad, because it's like finding out your friend really doesn't like you. You think, 'Why don't you like me?' It was an 'Oh!' moment. Actually it was more like "Ah." Like, 'Aahhhhhh, that hurts.'

But you and Leonard are like brothers now?

Oh yeah, Leonard is my best buddy. We have so much in common. For example, this interview, and any other interview, is part entertainment, part experience, part bullshit. Leonard and I both know the role that we're playing whenever there's something going on that we need to attend or that we're doing. It works on several different levels. But when you're aware of those levels, it becomes amusing.

A colleague referred to you as the master of self-irony.

Is that like pressing your own shirt? No, I get the idea. But I think if you say "I'm the master of self-irony," you're no longer it.

J.J. Abrams has a Star Trek prequel in the works. Any thoughts?

Well, I know nothing about the movie. I was not invited to participate in any fashion. It's been very secretive, and I'm not privy to any material whatsoever. I probably know less than you do.

But do you feel any attachment to it?

Well, I do, but it's like when the girl says, 'I no longer love you and I'm gone,' for the spurned lover to hang on and say, 'Well, I'll call you tomorrow.' Leonard is in it, and he taunts me about it.

Was he conflicted?

Yes, he was conflicted about whether to taunt me or not. And then the conflict resolved itself pro-taunting. I feel like taunt-o now.

So what candidates would your big characters be supporting in the upcoming election?

T.J. Hooker would support McCain, and so would Denny Crane, but he would think McCain was a left-winger. Captain Kirk wouldn't recognize any of the three.

What about you?

Me? Probably Barack Obama.

You think he's going to pull it off?

Well, the papers are full of the potential of [Hillary] backing down. You can see the sadness in Bill Clinton's face. In one photograph, with him standing behind her, I looked at his face and thought, She's going to get out, and he knows it. That was my reading.

In the book you also talk a lot about "Shatnerian delivery". Can you explain?

I don't really understand what it means, except when someone's doing an impersonation and I turn to the person beside me and say, 'Does that sound like me?' And they guiltily nod 'yes.' Apparently it's rhythmic. If somebody does me, I'm now aware they think they're doing me. I'm aware of the tip-offs.

Your voice is really soothing in real life.

Are you going to sleep? Maybe it's the subject matter.

http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/20 ... nimoy.html

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TRexx - May 16, 2008 - 09:27 AM
Post subject:

From FoundryMusic.com...

William Shatner Returns to the Opie and Anthony Show

Date Uploaded: 5/15/2008

The one and only William Shatner calls in to the Opie and Anthony Show to promote his new autobiography, and in record time... less than a minute... manages to get a plug for his book out on the air. Mick Foley from the WWE is also tossed unceremoniously under the bus after admitting that he knows zilch about Star Trek.

http://www.foundrymusic.com/audio.cfm?id=18162

Audio play time = 22 minutes

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TRexx - May 16, 2008 - 10:12 AM
Post subject:

From FoxNews.com

Trekkie Trouble?

May 14, 2008

William Shatner on The O'Reilly Factor (Fox News) talks autobiography and Star Trek feud.

[Click image to view video]

http://www.foxnews.com/video/index.html ... =undefined

Video playback time: 4 minutes

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TRexx - May 17, 2008 - 09:55 AM
Post subject:

From The Sunday Times...

Up Till Now: The Autobiography
by William Shatner with David Fisher

The Sunday Times review by Tom Shone, May 18, 2008

Expert opinion is divided as to the lowest point of William Shatner's career. Was it his 1976 film, The Devil's Rain, in which he was sacrificed by a bunch of Satanists led by Ernest Borgnine? Or what about White Comanche, where he played twin half-breed brothers who must fight to the death, and which can today be bought on Amazon for one cent? "Literally, they are selling it for one cent," writes Shatner in his new autobiography, amazed and appalled. The prize must surely go to Incubus, a "metaphysical witchcraft picture" about a beautiful succubus who destroys men's souls; it has the distinction of being the only film to be shot in Esperanto. Sadly, a mistake in the lab destroyed all negatives of the film, although it is available, Shatner informs us, "on DVD at Shatner.com. for $9.95 -- That's $2 less than Amazon!"

Never trust a man who uses exclamation marks -- they're the prose equivalent of canned laughter, signalling looming comic intent together with a fierce distrust that we will not get the joke. Shatner gets the joke. Shatner is the joke. "I now have 53,038 friends on my MySpace page!" he boasts, like a one-man Trekkie convention, a walking encyclopedia of all things Shatner. He may even be the first celebrity to be found guilty of stalking himself. Up Till Now follows him from his childhood in Jewish Montreal, through the ranks of Canadian repertory theatre, to Stratford for a bit of Shakespeare, then back to New York for the "Golden Age of Television", where he first learnt to deploy halting cod-Shakespearian diction, putting emphasis. In the. Strangest. Places. In order. To steal scenes. Without anyone. Noticing.

It was only when transplanted to the outer reaches of pulp that this manner really found its raison d'être: if you're going to chew the scenery, the scenery might as well be fake platinum. Shatner was third choice to play Captain Kirk in Star Trek, and he seems to have spent most of that show's three seasons seething with jealousy for his co-stars -- "I was supposed to be the star but Leonard Nimoy was getting more attention than I was." Years later, Nichelle Nichols (Uhura) told Shatner how "self-absorbed" he had been during the series, and how resented he was by the rest of the cast. Officer Sulu hated his guts. Scotty refused to speak to him. It's strangely gratifying to know that a series founded on the idea of inter-galactic friendship was such a bear pit of bruised egos and pointy-ear lashings.

Shatner doesn't let the charge of self-absorption delay him long; there's his appearance on the World Wide Wrestling channel to be getting on with, or the time he sold his kidney stone on eBay... The reader is left to decide whether this is all a sign of incipient postmodernism (the first actor to display knowledge of his own cheesiness) or just an ego so hungry that no crumb is too small to be worth chasing under the table. He did do all this stuff, after all. "I've been an answer on Jeopardy but I've never appeared on the Home Shopping Network," he writes. It's also debatable whether we ever get to know the man behind the desperado shtick. It comes as a shock when, at one point, Shatner describes himself as "a divorced father of three in the back of a truck". Hang on: a divorce! And three children! Where did they come from? Either he has found a way to self-reproduce, like Tribbles, or he is not the fondest of family chroniclers.

He has already written a much better autobiography: the album Has Been, on which, with the help of the musician Ben Folds and the writer Nick Hornby, he perfected the sorry-lounge-singer routine he's been working on since the 1970s; the lyrics, largely autobiographical, have all the sadness and honesty and self-reflection that are missing here.

One night, driving home after promoting the album, Shatner turned on the local radio station and was overjoyed to find it being played. "We've got William Shatner's new record here," said the DJ. "Yeah what an asshole," said a co-host. "You're right, he probably is an asshole." Shatner immediately dialled the station. "This is William Shatner here and I am not an asshole," he protested. "Would an asshole call a radio station to complain that he is not an asshole?" Five minutes of wooing and wrangling later, he hung up and turned the radio back on. "Was that really William Shatner?" "Yeah it was. And he's still an asshole."

Has Been made number two in Billboard's Top Heatseekers chart. No exclamation mark.

Up Till Now by William Shatner with David Fisher
Macmillan £18.99 pp358

http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/ ... 938402.ece

More William Shatner -- we can't help it -- he's just released his genius, bonkers autobiography, Up Till Now.

In 1988 Shatner met Koko, the famously communicative chimpanzee. He went into her compound alone, treading rather gingerly. Koko looked him in the eyes and grabbed him between the legs. "Her handler at the far end of the room said, 'Stand very still. She wants you to go to her bedroom'," says Shatner. "So I stood very still because I did not want to go to her bedroom." Fair point.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/u ... 941376.ece

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TRexx - May 17, 2008 - 04:49 PM
Post subject:

From BookReporter.com...

UP TILL NOW: The Autobiography
William Shatner, with David Fisher
Thomas Dunne Books
Autobiography
ISBN: 9780312372651

"There are going to be a lot of laughs in this book, mostly at my expense." Here we have William Shatner -- the actor, the father, the husband, the horseman, the pilot, the dog lover. The whole man is pictured in the pages of UP TILL NOW. Story after story, fans of the beloved entertainer will find another reason to keep reading.

For me, Denny Crane of Boston Legal is William Shatner. But there are so many aspects to this performer that we haven't known until now. From 2006: "Actor William Shatner agreed on Monday to sell his kidney stone for $75,000 to an online casino. The money will go to Habitat for Humanity." Said Shatner, "This takes organ donors to a new height or perhaps a new low." According to him, the kidney stone was so big "you'd want to wear it on your finger. If you subjected it to extreme heat, it might turn out to be a diamond..." Shatner humor at its best!

In addition to his legendary role of Captain James T. Kirk on Star Trek, Shatner has appeared in countless films, including The Intruder and Judgment at Nuremberg, and such television programs as T.J. Hooker and The Twilight Zone (in a classic episode entitled "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet.") He also developed a series of science fiction novels, which led to a Marvel Comics series and inspired the computer game TekWar, and can even boast a musical career. The biggest surprise in this autobiography, though, is the fact that he made his American television debut as Ranger Bob (the precursor to Buffalo Bob) on The Howdy Doody Show.

Shatner is never boring, and never bored. Involved with a number of projects simultaneously, he also has his own website, where he sells Star Trek merchandise and includes links to the Hollywood Charity Horse Show and the Nerine Shatner Friendly House, a non-profit residential facility for women. Also, there are plenty of videos in ShatnerVision, fan clubs, etc. The list of Star Trek merchandise is amazing!

Shatner dishes on some of the backstage Star Trek gossip. Especially interesting for non-Trekkies like me is the information on all the actors who turned down the role of Captain Kirk before it was offered to Shatner. Of course, he also relives his Star Trek convention blowup, known for all time as "get a life."

I must admit I was hooked on page one. Of the hundreds of biographies and autobiographies I've read, UP TILL NOW is truly the most engaging. It's pretty obvious that when you hear the voice of Denny Crane or Captain Kirk, or come across those Priceline.com commercials, you are hearing William Shatner. He is as real as they come.

--- Reviewed by Marge Fletcher

http://www.bookreporter.com/reviews2/9780312372651.asp

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TRexx - May 17, 2008 - 05:36 PM
Post subject:

From CNN Transcripts...

Honest Questions with William Shatner

Glenn Beck

Aired May 16, 2008 - 19:00:00 ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

GLENN BECK, HOST (voice-over): William Shatner. He beamed into America's lives and TVs as Captain James T. Kirk of the Starship Enterprise.

WILLIAM SHATNER, ACTOR: Kirk to bridge, do you read me? Come in.

BECK: In a career spanning 50 years, this pop culture icon has done it all, but today he may just best be known for being himself.

SHATNER: I think we need to go make a film, guys.

BECK: With a new biography "Up Till Now." It chronicles his life, his career.

SHATNER: She's wicked. I love it.

BECK: But this is no ordinary hour. He's got some things to say to me, and his phaser is not set on stun.

SHATNER: Let's go!

BECK: Fun, frank, he watches this program, so he's going to be very outspoken. You're not going to see him like this anywhere else. William Shatner joins me now for a full hour.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BECK: Joining me now, actor, director, producer, recording artist, author, artist. What kind of art do you do? William Shatner, by the way. What kind of art do you do?

SHATNER: Life.

BECK: Life? And he's now author. His autobiography is out, "Up Until Now." It's out in the book stores. And I want to start here. I found this fantastic.

I have always had a love affair with America. I have believed completely in the American myth. You -- you are Canadian. Growing up, what was the American myth? What was it that you saw from afar?

SHATNER: The thing: total freedom, everybody has the -- to as much as -- as hard as you wanted to work, that's how high you could rise.

BECK: You didn't think you had that in Canada, because I mean, Canada is just kind of like a crappy state. I mean, no offense...

SHATNER: Canada is a crappy state? No, never was.

BECK: Kind of like Massachusetts.

SHATNER: No, no, never was. Canada is reticent, laid back. People come down here to sell a movie, and they'd ask the secretary what -- they'd knock on the door of the producer...

BECK: Yes.

SHATNER: ... to whom they should speak and be speaking to the secretary for the longest time. That was always a joke. "He was pitching me. I don't know why. I was going to lead him into the office."

BECK: Right.

SHATNER: That's Canada. It was sort of polite and taking a step back. But, you know, the fighting machine of Canada has always been illustrious.

BECK: It just doesn't seem like it's that different. But as a kid, you saw America across the border and thought there's more opportunity?

SHATNER: See, one of the first things I did when I was 19 was -- or 18. I was going into -- going to university, about to enter into university in Montreal, to McGill. And a friend of mine and myself took two signs, "Two menial (ph) students." It was like those old Burma shave ads, "Two menial (ph) students" and I would carry the second sign, "seeing the U.S."

And we thumbed across U.S. for three months, lived on a dollar a day, lived in cars. Went from Montreal to Washington, D.C., across to San Francisco, down to San Diego, up to Vancouver, crossed through Chicago and back to -- all in three months. We saw the United States.

BECK: And you -- and you write in the book -- and I think you're serious -- that you took a canoe...

SHATNER: Another trip.

BECK: Yes.

SHATNER: So I'm at a camp, a welfare camp, being a counselor, young counselor. And the head of the camp says, "I'm going to take a war canoe and paddle up the Saint Lawrence to the Richelieu, down the Richelieu to Lake Champlain, down Lake Champlain to the headwaters of the river, of the...

BECK: The Hudson.

SHATNER: The Hudson, and make it all the way down to the Hudson to the 72nd Street Marina, which we did. We were on television when I was 16 or 17.

BECK: And then -- and then how did you get here to -- because then you started...

SHATNER: Then I was at a company, a classical company at Stratford, Ontario. And they decided to take a play down by Marlo (ph) called "Tambourlane (ph)." And I was a member of the company and we played the Winter Gardens for several weeks.

BECK: But you were -- you were really good on stage. You were an accomplished actor.

SHATNER: I was a -- I had been at it all my life.

BECK: Right. And then how did you get from there to -- cause you hooked up with Alfred Hitchcock.

SHATNER: I used my thumb. I drove. I just -- one thing led to another professionally.

BECK: Do you like the -- do you like the stage, TV, movies? Which is better?

SHATNER: It's all grand. It's all grand. You know, I don't know what people mean by, "I must have the stage" or "I only do television."

BECK: Right.

SHATNER: You're an actor, and you bring certain truths to the performance. And you have to extend it a little beyond the footlights to reach somebody in the first or the last row. And on television, your focus is about down here, you know. So it's all...

BECK: You know, you're known for -- in "Star Trek," you're known for overacting.

SHATNER: What does that mean?

BECK: I don't know, but...

SHATNER: No, no, no. See, what do you mean you don't know? You're Glenn Beck. You know everything.

BECK: Oh, sure, I know. You watch the show.

SHATNER: Right. Or have pretended -- what -- what do you mean by that? What does that mean to you?

BECK: When you're fighting a giant lava rock (ph)...

SHATNER: The lizard.

BECK: That says "er, er."

SHATNER: Yes. So, what are you going to do? "Well, there's a lizard." No, "there's a lizard for God's sakes." Right. You get it?

BECK: No, no. I know. I know.

SHATNER: I mean, you've got to -- so, what does that mean?

BECK: I mean, OK. I mean, if you want to go here...

SHATNER: Don't back down now.

BECK: No, no. If you want to go here, I'm a "Star Trek" fan.

SHATNER: Right.

BECK: But it's hokey. You know it and I know it. It's a lizard man.

SHATNER: It was a lizard.

BECK: Got it.

SHATNER: But everything's hokey.

BECK: No, no.

SHATNER: Your show is hokey. You get mad about this -- it's true. Right?

BECK: Right.

SHATNER: Your cameramen are laughing. They're laughing out of knowledge. What happened? There's a hokey thing. It's a lizard. There's a lizard. There's a rock coming my way.

BECK: But that's not a rock. It's not a rock.

SHATNER: It's called suspension of disbelief.

BECK: And I've had to suspend a lot of it.

SHATNER: That's what I mean.

BECK: Look at this. I remember watching this show with my father! I loved it. I'm a fan of yours.

SHATNER: You and your father loved it. What does that mean, overacting?

BECK: OK. Now, I'm watching you on "Boston Legal," first time I...

SHATNER: Yes.

BECK: I didn't know anything about "Boston Legal."

SHATNER: No.

BECK: And I'm sitting there and I'm watching it. And my wife comes in. And you're on the screen. And she said, "What the hell are you watching?" I said -- no offense.

SHATNER: No, no, I'm not taking any offense.

BECK: I said, "It's William Shatner, and he's brilliant." I mean --

SHATNER: Now I'm taking offense. Now that you've completed the sentence.

BECK: No, but, I mean, you are really, really good. And...

SHATNER: Thank you.

BECK: And I know Alfred Hitchcock said this to you, you know, back in the '60s. But, hey, "You've got a career."

SHATNER: My book -- my book is all about the people who said that.

BECK: Right.

SHATNER: You know. It's -- the book is the story of -- somebody said the other day and I loved it, saying yes to life. Rather than the knocks and finally getting beaten down by experiences and life. Life takes the life out of you sooner or later. The people who can journey to the end, still with the volatility that they had as a kid, I think, have -- have the best life.

BECK: I don't think you learn that in this book. I think you learn that it's not the volatility that you had as a kid or the vitality that you had as a kid. I think you're growing in speed. Don't you think?

SHATNER: I hope so. I hope so.

BECK: That's not -- that's unusual.

SHATNER: To grow?

BECK: No. To pick up steam as you're going. Most people, like you said, life takes life out of you. I mean, you're -- do you feel like you're growing in steam?

SHATNER: Always. In steam, yes. In passion. In the engine going. The piston's pushing, absolutely.

BECK: See, that was a little overacting.

SHATNER: No, no, no. This was a cylinder head. Listen to this. Here's the cylinder. Here's the piston head.

BECK: I see.

SHATNER: And if I went -- and it's going and it's not gaining, but if it's going, then you're like, "I see what he's talking about."

BECK: I'm just helping you. I'm just helping you.

SHATNER: I'm just explaining that you push it to the limit.

BECK: Right.

SHATNER: Now, yes, you don't know where the limit is, both in the little small box or in your sensibility. Where is that limit?

BECK: Right.

SHATNER: So this might have been enough for you to get the idea. But if you do this truthfully, it even suggests more. Now, you may say that's overacting, but I get it. Well, if you get it, then maybe the next guy gets it.

BECK: This is going to be a fun hour. Back with William Shatner in just a second.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SHATNER: All right, Spock, it stopped.

LEONARD NIMOY, ACTOR: No, it hasn't stopped. It's gone beyond...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (singing): Stepping in to Eden. Yay, brother.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BECK: Back with actor William Shatner for a full hour. And you know what -- I have a feeling this is one of those interviews where I've got all kinds of notes and questions, but I have a feeling it's going to fall apart here, because I've got a problem with his show, and he apparently has a problem with my show. We were talking in the break.

SHATNER: It's not a problem.

BECK: No.

SHATNER: It's life changing, actually. It's life altering.

BECK: Yes.

SHATNER: Well, you know, I watch you fairly consistently.

BECK: Yes.

SHATNER: Sort of like watching a fireplace, I suppose, or an 8.7 trembler of a building coming down. You think, "Wow, look at that."

BECK: You never know.

SHATNER: Right.

BECK: Yes.

SHATNER: But I suppose you're known for "the sky is falling, the sky is falling."

BECK: You're saying Chicken Little.

SHATNER: Yes. Chicken Little. But -- but I thought KFC might have a problem with that.

BECK: Sure. Bucket of chicken would be good.

SHATNER: Right. I'm somewhat -- I'm somewhat buying into this -- not buying into this. I'm very much aware. I read Rachel Carlson 40 years ago.

BECK: Sure. OK.

SHATNER: And subscribed to Rachel Carlson's "The Silent Spring." It was happening then.

BECK: OK.

SHATNER: People became aware of the disintegration of the world a decade ago. Like everybody is smoking and then one day smoking is bad for you. Suddenly nobody was smoking.

BECK: Right.

SHATNER: But it was a decade, as well, ago, before everybody started to realize that even second-hand smoke -- now outdoor second-hand smoke, and everything is falling part on the smoke thing.

BECK: Yes.

SHATNER: I buy that the world is falling apart.

BECK: Mm-hmm.

SHATNER: In every -- in every way. The main cause of it is overpopulation. Not the main. The cause of the world's destruction is there are too many people.

BECK: No, I think there are too many stupid people.

SHATNER: No. There are too many stupid and intelligent people. They're so close together you can't tell them apart.

BECK: Right.

SHATNER: All right? They're pressed together, defecating into the ocean, and it's all -- it's just too much. The planet can't take it.

BECK: I've never -- defecate -- I don't know anybody that's defecated in the ocean.

SHATNER: Everybody defecates into the ocean. You defecate here, it goes into the ocean.

BECK: Oh, well, that's New York. Anyway, go ahead.

SHATNER: Also -- every -- everything ends up in the ocean, OK.

BECK: OK. Right. Remind me not to go have seafood now.

SHATNER: No. Exactly.

BECK: Yes.

SHATNER: You're -- you're trembling on the edge of toxic food and toxic air and toxic water all the time.

BECK: Sure. Got it.

SHATNER: We're trying to find ways to avoid that all the time.

BECK: See, now you're scaring me. You're calling me Chicken Little?

SHATNER: No. I'm saying I subscribe to that.

BECK: Yes.

SHATNER: And I'm -- I'm in the area of losing faith that there's anything we can do about it, because people continue to propagate.

BECK: Yes.

SHATNER: And so where 6 billion becomes -- you know, we're going to reach 7 billion.

BECK: Yes.

SHATNER: And the more there are, even though you lessen the number, the more they get.

BECK: It's like a Harvard endowment.

SHATNER: Yes, compound interest.

BECK: Sure.

SHATNER: And so here we are. But -- but where you should be rational.

BECK: Yes.

SHATNER: Because you're talking to people all over the United States...

BECK: I want you to know, America, I have never made you the promise I was going to be rational. Not once. Not to you. Not to him.

SHATNER: But you've got a responsibility. Now, you were saying, things are going to happen in this country, the financial thing is going to make your hair curl. You're going to -- you don't know! I know, but I can't tell you how bad -- this is what you were saying -- how bad it's going to be.

BECK: Oh, yes, I still believe it.

SHATNER: Well, we seem to be coming out of it.

BECK: Yes, yes. First of all, I said, if you -- because I can point you to the transcripts. If you want to know what I actually said, I said, if there's significant downward pressure that the -- that everything is so precarious right now, that if there was sudden significant downward pressure, that it would collapse.

Now, have we gotten through it? I think we have. I think our Bear Stearns moment was the moment.

SHATNER: Right.

BECK: Now you've got the added pressure of gas going up and what's going to happen there? How does it not cycle through? But I don't know. I think our moment was the Bear Stearns.

SHATNER: But -- OK, I agree with you.

BECK: Right.

SHATNER: But where you should be, it seems to me...

BECK: Yes.

SHATNER: ... pointing us, with the millions of people who watch you, is, the government just said that it's going to be 35 miles a gallon in 2020.

BECK: Right.

SHATNER: That's 12 years from now.

BECK: Right.

SHATNER: What? It's not going to happen. No, of course it's going to happen.

BECK: It's not going to happen.

SHATNER: Not only is it going to happen, it will be 50 miles a gallon in five years. I mean, how dare they say in 12 years we're going to gain seven or eight miles per gallon when oil is reaching $125 a barrel?

BECK: Oh, no, wait a minute, wait a minute, hang on just a second. Are you talking about capitalists making it happen or the government making it happen? Because I believe people, I believe America -- I still -- I still...

SHATNER: Who cares who makes it up? The Israelis recently have said they've got a new car that's going to transform transportation.

BECK: We're following a guy right now who's got a car -- he says it's coming out next year -- that runs on air, compressed air.

SHATNER: I don't know about that. I saw -- a guy showed me an engine, he poured Coca-Cola into it, and it ran on Coca-Cola. I don't know about that. All I do know is that it is well within the technology of today to get 75 miles a gallon. Why is the government legislating 35 miles a gallon 12 years from now when we're in a crisis now?

BECK: You tell me.

SHATNER: No, no. No, no, you're the one who's telling us. I'm asking, you why aren't you saying, "Are you crazy? Twelve years and seven gallons -- seven miles per gallon?"

BECK: Because I'm on the air every day saying government is selling you down the river every step of the way, every step of the way! This government is selling us -- both the Democrats and the Republicans have no frickin' clue what's going on.

SHATNER: That's why I watch you. That's exactly why.

BECK: Yes, but I'm saying that every day. And you think I'm crazy.

SHATNER: No. You're like a crazy prophet. The world is ending, the world is ending and then the world ends. Golly! If I don't...

BECK: I mean, I'm just saying you should bury your guns, your gold and your food in your backyard. That's all I'm saying.

SHATNER: And your car.

One of the answers is awareness of the -- how little resources we have left, including life forms that are dying off so rapidly.

BECK: We've talked about it all week, about, you know -- because people are hammering me, because I'm saying drill for oil. But I'm also saying put -- put nuclear energy on to the table.

SHATNER: Don't go to -- don't go to Alaska and ruin another place.

BECK: You don't have to ruin it, Bill. You know that.

SHATNER: But it's always ruined. We're human beings. A drunken cat that drives it into Iraq.

BECK: But, see, that's the problem. We don't have to drive -- by the way, that's oil that's coming from a foreign country. We don't have to be drunk, and we don't have to be irresponsible. We can go...

SHATNER: We're human beings. We're prone to those mistakes. We're prone -- you have to allow for stupidity in every business.

BECK: Yes. But you also -- if you say we're prone to mistakes, you also have to say, we also can learn from our mistakes.

SHATNER: We know that you need a double-hulled boat, if that's the -- we're talking about this particular problem.

BECK: Right.

SHATNER: You know you knew -- up there, with the currents and the winds.

BECK: Sure.

SHATNER: You know that a double-hulled boat is necessary. And being drunk on duty can't be when you're going, "Whoa, look at this, you know. There's a wave! And I'm drunk!" You can't do that.

BECK: He's the best. Back with William Shatner in just a second.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SHATNER: Not passive at all. Very aggressive.

BECK: We're back with William Shatner. I'm sorry, I just said to him, I said, "You're very passive/aggressive."

And he said, "No, no, just aggressive. Just aggressive."

Welcome back. You know what? We were talking in the commercial break here for a second, and I said, "You know what? Everybody can ask you the 'Star Trek' questions. I'm fascinated by what we've been talking about here recently. You know, just in the last break, about where we're headed as a people and as a planet and as a country and everything else."

SHATNER: Glenn, this country, because we started early on about my admiring and I was watching cross the border at the -- at the -- what's his name? "I've got a communist in my pocket"...

BECK: I was going to say Charlie McCarthy. But McCarthy.

SHATNER: McCarthy, yes. I remember watching the McCarthy hearings and thinking, wow, gosh, the government is riddled with communists, going to eat us up. And then it turned out to be, it's a terrible man.

But the country reared up. Good men reared up and said, no, and took control finally. Of course! It's America! That's what America does.

BECK: We, the people.

SHATNER: We, the people. Need a crisis, democracy needs a crisis. Otherwise you're maybe we should, maybe we shouldn't, let's argue about it until there's no way out! And, boom, the American people and the -- and what we've -- and I say we because Canada is so much a part of the United States. It's such a mutual culture, really.

BECK: Sure.

SHATNER: That we've engendered this takeover, find a solution and do it, and do it well and do it kindly. But we now need an individual to sweep away all the things that America has been doing for all these years without a crisis.

We need election reform. We need -- we need true elections. We need people not influencing the government with special needs. We need an environmental policy. We need an immigration policy. We need the war policy. We need people who can make decisions...

BECK: You know, Bill, there's -- there's -- I think -- I don't know what your politics are. I don't want to know your politics because -- I mean, you tell me if you want to. But I think that the left and the right and the liberals and the conservatives and the Republicans -- I think all that's bull crap.

SHATNER: I agree.

BECK: I think people watch -- sitting at home, and they watch television they go, "What the hell? It's not that hard. It's not that hard to figure this out."

SHATNER: No, it's not hard for the guys elected either. But what those guys elected are trying to do is, how do I keep my job and make a reform?

BECK: Yes.

SHATNER: Well, I'd rather keep my job than make a reform.

BECK: Right.

SHATNER: I'll let the next guy, 20 years from now, do the reform.

BECK: Right.

SHATNER: And everybody does that.

BECK: Right.

SHATNER: We need -- we need the population to say we need a Democratic revolution, and let's get back to the basics of the Constitution.

BECK: I think it's going to happen.

SHATNER: I think so, too. I think that if you realize -- you've got children?

BECK: Yes, I've got four.

SHATNER: OK. Your four children, not you...

BECK: Part of the overpopulation.

SHATNER: No, yes. But your four children are going to be in dire straits in 25 years.

BECK: Yes, I know that.

SHATNER: I mean, really bad.

BECK: Who's the scare...

SHATNER: Apocalyptic.

BECK: Who's the scare-monger? Who's the chicken -- hang on, zip. We're taking a break. We'll be back. We'll find out which one is the scare-monger, the fear monger right here. Right here.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BECK: Let me -- let me -- let me -- let me switch gears here., Mr. Fear- Monger.

SHATNER: Fearful father.

BECK: No. You know what? We were just talking in the break.

SHATNER: Fearful citizen.

BECK: We were talking in the break. I think you and I, we may disagree on issues, but we both see the same outcome.

SHATNER: Well, here's the -- here's the problem.

BECK: Yes.

SHATNER: Here's the thing, as far as I see it. And I discuss a little bit about it...

BECK: In the new book.

SHATNER: ... in the new book.

BECK: What's the name of that book?

SHATNER: "Up Till Now."

BECK: Get out of here. Available everywhere?

SHATNER: No. I wouldn't lie to you. On sale starting...

BECK: Yes.

SHATNER: The premise -- my premise is this: nobody knows anything. We don't know anything.

Oh, sure, two and two is four. But not necessarily. And when it gets to theoretical things like, what's the best policy about X, nobody really knows.

BECK: Right.

SHATNER: We're all guessing. But we know that what you're doing now isn't working. So let's try something else. Your solution may be just as good as mine, as long as it's not following exactly what we're doing now, because what we're doing now is not working.

BECK: Sure.

SHATNER: In any phase of anything, it's not working. Go to something else.

I don't know -- I don't think anybody has a lock on what to do. I mean, nobody really knows. But at least reformation and clean air and reasonable thinking -- here's how I see an issue. Oh, well, here's how I see an issue. Let's put it to a vote and make it clean.

BECK: But you can't -- you can't have -- you know what I'm surprised by, Bill? Is a lot of people come on my show and they will say you're really reasonable. I talked to you and I thought for sure you were X, Y or Z and, wow.

And I say the same thing about them. Wow, you're not like I -- we spend so much time dividing each other. There's only been one person that has been on this show that I couldn't -- I couldn't find a common point in, because he just had such a strong agenda.

SHATNER: Who was that?

BECK: Who is it?

SHATNER: Who was that?

BECK: Bill Shatner. No. RFK. RFK Jr.

He's -- I'm a corporate toady. I said, are you out of your mind? Look, I agree on this, this and this.

SHATNER: Well, he is really impassioned about the right things, by the way, but he's -- and sometimes you need those leaders, those...

BECK: Not leaders -- look, if you want to talk about global warming here, I don't want to get -- get bogged down on this but, look, I think there is a way to reach out with people.

I think that the ideas of where we go next are not settled. So let's talk -- you talk to me about getting off of foreign oil. Great, man. I want a moon shot. Get us off oil. Let's do it.

But let's make sure that we're working together on it. But one side can't talk. The other side is either racist or stupid or a corporate toady or whatever it is.

SHATNER: We've got to get rid of -- we've got to get rid of that. But, you know, it doesn't matter what you and I say. It matters what the politicians, people who we elect say. So it's the people we elect.

BECK: So when do you think America finally says -- because I've got to tell you, I think -- I think -- what did we have, 700 people running for president? And we're down to three people that I think everybody in the nation goes, how is this...

SHATNER: What are we spending, a billion...

BECK: A billion. It's grotesque.

SHATNER: Yes. But it's not over. We haven't had the elections yet.

BECK: Yes.

SHATNER: We're just trying to get who the candidates are.

BECK: So what is the thing that's going to happen where you say...

SHATNER: So you can think that the election costs $2 billion. It's possible. $2 billion to elect somebody. That's absurd when people are starving.

Why don't we make an election for a period of time, six months, debate the issues, never mind the people. I don't care what their sex lives are. What has that got to do with anything?

Tell me how you're going to solve something. You tell me how you're going to solve something, and I as a citizen will say, hmm, that sounds better, I'm voting for him. And that's a fair election. But don't give me he said and she said. That's crazy!

BECK: How do we get there? That's what I want. That's what I think everybody in America wants.

SHATNER: The citizens of the United States have to take hold of it. That's what elections are about. And you've got to elect the people you think are sensible. That's what you've got to do.

BECK: OK. Let me flip this around on you.

SHATNER: Yes.

BECK: I watch your show.

SHATNER: "Boston Legal."

BECK: I love "Boston Legal." I think you're brilliant. Really think you're brilliant.

But how come you have to be crazy to be a conservative? Why is the only damn conservative on the show nuts?

SHATNER: See, now you've just walked into your own trap. Why -- so what if there's a conservative. What is conservative? Conservative used to be something else, right? I mean, conservative used to be lower taxes.

BECK: Come on, man. You're nuts...

SHATNER: Wait a minute. Conservative used to be no debt. I mean, what -- the two lines of conservatism and liberal have be mixed up.

BECK: But you're shooting people in the -- come on, I mean...

SHATNER: But that's crazy, crafty. At times, the guy's not crazy.

BECK: Oh, no, I know. He's -- look, there are times -- here's the thing...

SHATNER: So he may be pretending to be crazy. That's kind of what I'm playing.

BECK: Because I have to tell you, I was at a hotel. I was traveling and I was doing some shows on the road. And I'm at the hotel and I turn on "Boston Legal." And I swear to you this is true.

I turn it on and I'm like, I'll watch it when I get home. I don't want to be lectured tonight because I always feel like, OK, I'm getting the lecture.

Turn it off. The phone rings. I turn off the light, I go to sleep. The phone rings.

A friend calls me and says, "Are you watching 'Boston Legal?'" I said, "No." He said, "You are a closing argument."

They used me. I wasn't being lectured to. I was actually being lectured to on "Boston Legal."

SHATNER: It's great.

BECK: I mean, it was great. It was -- no, it was cool. It was cool. It's like, I can't believe this. I mean, this is ridiculous.

SHATNER: But what's beautiful is that you stand for something. And you can rail against it or throw darts against it or agree with it.

I mean, at least you stand for something. And somebody over here stands for something. This is what they want. This is what you want. So we'll elect it.

So the majority of people -- but they've got to educate them. You can't be wandering around saying, well, it's global warming -- or whatever it is.

Election changing -- changing the issues around election -- election funding, these are basic. Now, you can't say, well, that's beyond my -- I can't. It isn't. You give $100,000 in a donation to an elected official, you've got to expect that they've got to pay back.

BECK: Yes.

SHATNER: That shouldn't be allowed. You can't pay back. This is a democracy.

Now, that's theoretical and sophomoric, but in a way, it isn't. It's the way I saw from Canada this country running.

And every so often -- every time that we came to a crisis, I'd feel in the bottom of my heart like I know it's going to happen now, America will come out of it. America -- but you have to have the education to do that.

Our educational system is bizarre! In the 30s or '40s of countries in the world? How is that possible? We've got billions of dollars we're throwing at it. Why isn't it better?

BECK: Because that's the problem. We're throwing billions of dollars at it. We have -- you know what? You know I'm a religious man. I believe we are violating the commandment of worshipping other gods. We are...

SHATNER: That's...

BECK: We are worshipping fame and we are worshipping...

SHATNER: Glenn, God is not punishing us for...

BECK: No, I'm not saying that. Listen to me. I'm not saying that.

SHATNER: Well, it's what you seem to be saying. You seem to be saying, we're worshipping bad gods, so we have bad education.

BECK: No! We are worshipping fame. We are worshipping money.

We are -- we are dedicating our life to the pursuit of money, the pursuit of fame, instead of looking at others and trying to help others and trying to get an education. Parents are not following through on their basic -- on their basic responsibility of rearing their children.

SHATNER: I'll play devil's advocate. I'll play devil's advocate.

BECK: All right.

SHATNER: You can't be -- it's difficult to be kind to the neighbor if you're starving.

BECK: Nobody's starving in America.

SHATNER: Wait a minute. Yes. What do you mean nobody is starving in America?

BECK: Nobody's starving.

SHATNER: Are you serious?

BECK: Are you crazy?

SHATNER: Millions of kids go to bed hungry.

BECK: Millions of kids?

SHATNER: There is starvation...

BECK: I want the staff to give me the stat.

SHATNER: There is starvation going on in this country. There are have- nots in this country.

BECK: There are have-nots, but it's not Ethiopia, for the love of Pete!

SHATNER: Well, no, but in context. In Ethiopia they don't get a commercial saying drive this car.

(CROSSTALK)

BECK: In contrast, this is what they tried to do in the 1980s with Gorbachev. He tried to show the plight from "60 Minutes" in America. And you know what happened? It worked the opposite. People in Russia stood up and said, I want to be poor in America. Our poor here in America have it great in comparison to the rest of the world.

SHATNER: And still they can't get health care. Still they can't get taken care of. They have to go without medication.

BECK: But we have -- we have built a society that is all about taking care of someone else. Damn it, stand up and take care of yourself! Have a spine and take up...

SHATNER: But they have to do that with education. They have to be saying, well, I've got a skill, I can do that.

BECK: Do you know that in New York we're now considering paying children to go to school? We're giving you an education. Appreciate...

SHATNER: You know what that is? You know what that is? That's desperation.

What is the solution to having -- being the richest country in the world and one of the worst educational systems? What is the answer to that? Is it more money for the teachers? They tried that. What -- and nobody's got an answer.

BECK: It is the parents. It is the parents.

SHATNER: Right. And the parents are two jobs...

BECK: It is...

SHATNER: ... the parents are doing two jobs because they've got to survive and pay the rent.

BECK: Because we're living in houses that we shouldn't have. We have these enormous houses and these expensive lifestyles that we shouldn't have because we're worshipping the almighty dollar, fame and stuff.

Back with William Shatner.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CONTINUED IN NEXT POST...

TRexx - May 17, 2008 - 06:27 PM
Post subject:

CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS POST...

BECK: We're back with William Shatner. Autobiography "Up Till Now" is on bookshelves -- in bookstores everywhere.

Great book.

SHATNER: On bookshelves for a brief moment, and then off of bookshelves.

BECK: And then off of the bookshelves. And hopefully you'll be reading it on your pillow at bedtime.

SHATNER: It's a very funny and touching book. And it's getting great reviews. And I hope your audience will take a look at it.

BECK: Can you -- I want to go here -- in any direction you're willing to go. I don't even know how to phrase this.

Your third wife passed away. And I remember the press just tried to turn this into something horrific, just horrific. I can't even imagine what that was like for you, to have to deal with both sides of that.

SHATNER: Well, exactly, both at the same time. The irony was that Nerine and I loved each other. It was -- it was -- there were elements of fantasy there, that she was this most beautiful, wonderful, humorous, loving, passionate lady that I loved desperately.

And she had a drinking problem. And as a result, when nobody was at home, and there was help all around, for a two-hour period -- I was 50 miles away having dinner with my daughter. And we surmised that she fell.

She had a high alcoholic content in her blood. And fell, hit her head, and drowned in the pool.

I wasn't anywhere there. And the irony that for a brief while because -- and understandably -- the closest relative of something -- when somebody dies accidentally, the closest relative, you know...

BECK: Right.

SHATNER: ... if there's any suspicion. The police immediately said it was an accident, and it was always an accident, it was thought of as an accident. But the press for a brief while tried to do something sensational.

In fact, "The National Enquirer" was going to run a story in that direction. And I thought what -- you know, I was in shock from the -- from the death. And I thought, maybe if I talk to them and tell them what had transpired.

So I got a price from them, got money from them to tell the story, to stop their story and to tell -- so that the story that -- of what transpired. So I got money from them which went into the fund -- started the fund, the Nerine Shatner Foundation for addicted women, which continues on.

BECK: Right.

SHATNER: There's a home that takes care of 20 to 22 women who stay there at one time. Several graduates of that rehabilitation program have come to me from time to time and said that I saved their life. But it wasn't me. It was Nerine's memory. So Nerine's life continues in this foundation, the Nerine Shatner Foundation, which, by the way, on www.shatner.com or shatnervision.com, you can get more information about that.

So that quelled all the supposing, and then people began to understand that a horrible accident had taken place.

BECK: Did you -- for a long time, you didn't know that she had an alcohol problem.

SHATNER: When I first met her -- and ironically, I met her in a bar in Toronto. I was up there doing something professional -- I think I was directing a film. And there was a local bar in the hotel where everybody stays in Toronto.

And I was there with some friends and I saw this beautiful girl. And I was single and she looked at me and I looked at her.

It took about a week, and we sort of -- basically, to make a long story short, stayed in each other's companies for seven years and then got married. And during that time I knew that she drank, and it offended me that she sometimes would drink to excess, but I never saw it as alcoholism.

BECK: Right.

SHATNER: My dear friend, Leonard Nimoy, who is himself a recovering alcoholic, began to educate me about what it was. And as I became aware that Nerine was having a problem, he took her under his wing, as he had so many other people, in terms of trying to get her help.

So we went to rehabilitation homes. We went to AA. We went -- all those things. I joined Al-Anon, you know, and I realized I don't want to learn how to live with alcohol. I want my wife to become whole.

BECK: Right.

SHATNER: And I was thinking that by loving, by loving enough -- I'd seen it work in animals, dogs and horses and kids, you put your arms around them and you love them, magical things happen.

BECK: It doesn't work.

SHATNER: You know better than I, but I know a little that addiction isn't that. Addiction is also physical. It's also DNA. It's psychological. There's -- the mix of what addiction is so profound that people who are not addicted really have no idea.

And one more comment to further that along. The pain that I felt in Nerine's passing gave me an insight into the pain that she must have felt everyday living. That the only cercese (ph) from that pain was her -- and she termed it that way as I heard so often before in sins (ph) -- her best friend, the bottle, gave her cercese (ph).

And I thought, my God, if I could drink, I would get drunk now just to relieve myself of the months that went by as I felt that grief.

BECK: Final moments with William Shatner in just a minute.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BECK: Back with final moments with William Shatner.

The book is "Up Till Now," and it is in book stores everywhere. And it is a fantastic read.

You know, I just said in the break how we could fit your life in 42 minutes, and we didn't really get...

SHATNER: Well, something important that we also did say was that you, Leonard Nimoy, and a few other people that you and I know separately, made it through to become a recovering alcoholic.

BECK: Yes.

SHATNER: But we both agreed that it never goes away and alertness to that snake on your shoulder is the key.

BECK: You are a blessed man. Do you know that?

SHATNER: I am. And I know that. I know it.

I know that I've had my share of problems with the world and people and all. But in the end, my spirit is such and my good fortune is such that I give thanks every day to whatever, to whomever.

BECK: What is the -- because, I mean, you really -- I'd love to do another five hours with you. You've had so many different experiences, good and bad, up and down.

What's the secret? What is -- here up until now, you get here and you say, you know what? I think this is it.

SHATNER: I tell you what I -- I don't know. Nobody knows anything. I don't know.

For me, when I laid this book out talking to David Fisher (ph) for weeks on end, and he then laid it out, and I read what he had laid out, that's the story of my life. But what's the meaning.

And then on the second draft I began to see the meaning of what I was doing. And I realized that decisions that you make all the time, from minute decisions, to pick this book up and putting it here, to changing where you're going to live or whether you're going to get married or not, or stop drinking or not, major decisions and minute decision, all work as a piece. And you should try and be as aware as possible of every decision you make, so you make it consciously, good, bad or indifferent.

I decided to do that. After you've done it, you may decide, I should do something else, but at least you've made a conscious decision.

BECK: I hope, sir; that you have -- I hope, sir, that you walk out of the studio saying, I'm glad I made this decision.

SHATNER: I have.

BECK: Thank you.

SHATNER: Thank you.

BECK: William Shatner.

America, from New York, goodnight.

http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/ ... gb.01.html

__________________

The Free & Open Productivity Software Suite...

TRexx - May 17, 2008 - 06:32 PM
Post subject:

From GlennBeck.com...

Shatner v. Glenn

Glenn Beck

May 15, 2008 - 13:11 ET

GLENN: Hello, William, how are you, sir?

SHATNER: Really great. What about yourself, Glenn?

GLENN: Very good.

SHATNER: I didn't vent. I was just talking and things got out of hand.

GLENN: Here's the thing. There's -- because we walked off the set and there is a betting pool going on right now. Everybody is pretty clear that you walked on the set really not being the most comfortable with me.

SHATNER: No. Whoever -- I was fine.

GLENN: No, no, no, we know that you're fine and we know that you weren't intimidated. I'm not referring to that. It's just like you're not really a fan.

SHATNER: No, that's not true, Glenn. I am a fan in a way, the way you'd be a fan of a fire.

GLENN: Right.

SHATNER: You look at the fire, admire the fire, the blazing fire. You might even put your hand in the general direction of the fire.

GLENN: Sure.

SHATNER: For warmth.

GLENN: Uh-huh, uh-huh.

SHATNER: But beware.

GLENN: So -- that's exactly what we all believe you thought. So now when -- you, I believe, are the first guest that I've ever had that did not walk off the set after an hour, that kind of went, you know what, he's not really a fire; I kind of like the guy.

SHATNER: I did. I did walk off the set -- are you fishing for compliments?

GLENN: No, no, no, I'm fishing for the truth, William Shatner. I'm fishing for the truth.

SHATNER: The truth is you are a nice guy. You just, you hold an occasional odd position. That's all.

GLENN: Okay. Now, I would like to go over some of the -- I want you to know that the episode hasn't even aired. You know that.

SHATNER: Yeah.

GLENN: And I'm already getting complaint mail from Trekkies.

SHATNER: You're kidding.

GLENN: No.

SHATNER: Should I leash them?

GLENN: Well, just, I'm afraid of them.

SHATNER: No. They're like a small ember compared to you.

GLENN: Let me ask you. You're telling me with a straight face that you've never been afraid of people who buy and wear plastic pointy ears?

SHATNER: Well, if the ears, if they were wearing just the ears, there's nothing to fear.

GLENN: Sure.

SHATNER: It's the self-protrusions coming out of their costumes.

GLENN: I just, three random e-mails that I pulled out, out of the many, many that are pissed that I didn't ask you.

SHATNER: Really?

GLENN: Oh, yes. Here we go: "I can't believe that you didn't ask him why each episode was referred to as Stardate. What does that even mean? I guess we'll never know. Thanks a lot, jerk." Let's see. What is the actual color of the original command tunics is another one.

SHATNER: Well --

GLENN: And I like this one, too. "What is it like to be beamed up? How come you guys had that technology so long ago on your show and we still don't have it today, plus what was your favorite planet that you visited while you were doing your space travel on TV and which one would you like to go back to."

SHATNER: Wait a minute. That sounds like a question for me, not for you.

GLENN: They are all -- no, no, they are all questions for you.

SHATNER: Oh, I see.

GLENN: Yeah.

SHATNER: I have no answer for any of them.

GLENN: Good.

SHATNER: I mean, it was a fantasy, wasn't it? It was just a television show.

GLENN: Do you ever, do you ever -- have you ever actually said that to somebody? "It's a television show. Get a life."

SHATNER: I do say it a lot, and they at times unequivocally deny that and accuse me of trying to obfuscate because it really was a window into reality. No, 99.9% are just having fun.

GLENN: Right.

SHATNER: That one tenth, as I'm sure you well know.

GLENN: Yeah. Did you see Galaxy Quest?

SHATNER: I did. It was very funny.

GLENN: Obviously a parody of --

SHATNER: Yeah.

GLENN: That's kind of -- in your book "Up Till Now," you talk about you didn't know that the rest of the crew hated you.

SHATNER: Well, wait a minute. That's overstated a little.

GLENN: Well, that's what I do, William.

SHATNER: A couple of people didn't like me and I never understood why and I still don't to this day.

GLENN: Who didn't like you?

SHATNER: Nichelle Nichols and George Takei.

GLENN: Nichelle Nichols, that's Uhura, right?

SHATNER: Yes.

GLENN: You made out with her.

SHATNER: Not I, not I.

GLENN: You had the first interracial kiss with her, did you not?

SHATNER: Yes, again the fantasy of Star Trek. And, you know, Barbara Walters has written an autobiography and admitted to certain sexual activities, and I don't -- I haven't read her book but I've got to figure that the book contains a lot of stuff other than what she wrote about in her affair with a politician.

GLENN: May I ask --

SHATNER: So my point is this: The media pounces on some issue that in this case, for example, on my book, "Up Till Now," is a minute thing in which the breath it takes to say, "For 40 years somebody's got a feud with me, or a feud on that part, a dislike of me", is not worth more than the breath I've just stated because --

GLENN: So what was the -- why did you put it in the book then?

SHATNER: Because it was one of those things that people say, you've got to write about that. And so I refer to it. But because it's something you can attack, you can use and it's succinct. You know, somebody didn't like you; oh, yes; no, they didn't, as opposed to other things I write about. So put in its proper place, a couple of people didn't like me on the set and I didn't know it. That's the funny part or the part that I find astonishing about myself. I mean, are you aware of your staff and their likes and dislikes in the hurly-burly of doing three hours a day and then your night show? I mean, your --

GLENN: I do. I fire anybody who doesn't like me. What? I have people that listen and eavesdrop and then we fire them if they say anything bad about me.

SHATNER: Yeah, you don't know that. You don't know what they're thinking. You don't know what they're saying to each other unless it were to come out. My point is, you can't be -- you should be, but you can't be aware of everything going on around you. So in doing ten pages a day, year after year on that show, I guess I must have been ignorant about this.

GLENN: So if that's not the -- you are saying the media pounces on that part. So then what is the part that you say, "I wish somebody would pay attention to this; this is the most important part of the book"?

SHATNER: Well, no, there's no more one important part than the other. The book is a snapshot of the beginning to now, up until now, and there are many subjects brought up. And I can understand people's interest in this, but it irks me that it's so minuscule, somebody not liking me for 40 years and my not knowing why, nor being able to get out of them yet why.

GLENN: Well, George Takei. I've talked to him a couple of times.

SHATNER: Have you?

GLENN: He's an odd duck. So there you go. Because I'm riddled with ADD, I've got to go back to Barbara Walters, more information than you ever wanted to know about her?

SHATNER: Yes. You've got to ask the question, why would somebody do that?

GLENN: I have no -- she was so classy, she was -- I mean, she was really, you know, the first woman of news. She went on to The View and so she did that and so she's kind of tainted her image on that a little bit and now she's going to go out being known as somebody who was like a sex kitten breaking up this marriage. It's disturbing.

SHATNER: But more profoundly is why would she choose to do that? And I saw an interview in which she said, you know, I really don't know why I did that, why I wrote that.

GLENN: But she continues to do it.

SHATNER: Exactly. And so what is it? Is it publicity for her book or is it breaking out of her age, trying to free? I mean, that's the mystery. Not so much that she had this affair and wrote about it. Why is she continuing --

GLENN: I have no idea.

SHATNER: Yeah.

GLENN: There was a conservative media watchdog group I've never heard of and they said, "Barbara has sunk to the very level of other attention-starved celebrities such as Paris Hilton or Steve-O from Jackass." Walters' people came back and said this conservative watchdog group seems to have lived a sheltered life in a doghouse. Again I go back to your point, it's not information anybody wanted.

SHATNER: No.

GLENN: It's not information that's important.

SHATNER: Exactly. It's not information that's important. And not only that, it's an autobiography. She's writing about herself. She doesn't have the authority to out somebody else. I mean, you do all the harm you want --

GLENN: To yourself.

SHATNER: -- to yourself but don't harm somebody else in the process.

GLENN: All right. In the middle of the interview you said something and I just wanted to come to you for a solution.

SHATNER: All right.

GLENN: I don't agree with you on the problem but I'd like to hear your solution.

SHATNER: Good.

GLENN: You said almost every problem we have right now is due to overpopulation.

SHATNER: Yes.

GLENN: And I said there are just too many stupid people on Earth. You said there's too many smart and stupid people. So what is the solution to overpopulation?

SHATNER: Well, nature, nature eventually will take care of that problem like they did, like nature does with animals. We're overgrazing. So when deer multiply, when the natural order of things is disturbed and predators are taken away, for example, the deer, they overpopulate, they eat too much of the food and they starve. And we're going to -- if we don't curb -- how do we stop the overpopulation? I guess it's by education and saying you've got to have less children, you can't have all the children you want anymore. There's a difference in the world now. Or nature will take care of it.

GLENN: How many -- well, I just want -- I mean, in 1968 they said by 1980 the world would starve to death. Food production --

SHATNER: But there's no question that technology has increased the yield per acre. But in increasing the yield per acre, we have defiled the planet even more. By putting more fertilizer on the ground, we have the runoff and we have the seas dying as a result of all the fertilizer.

GLENN: Do you believe that the Earth takes care of -- and I mean this as a sincere question. Do you believe that the Earth takes care of problems in the way that this cyclone hit or this earthquake in China? Is that the Earth saying, enough?

SHATNER: Well, no. The cyclone itself is a natural order, but the number of people killed, which would have been three in another age, is now tens of thousands. And that's the result of overpopulation. The population of the world is taking over niches for living space and agriculture that they wouldn't have done before. So they are on low-lying islands that are inches above water level or cutting back mangroves like we did in Florida in order to get land and ultimate, whereas nature would have softened the blows of some of these disastrous storms, now that isn't taking place. Eventually and when that will happen, it's hard to predict. But we know it's not going to be that far away. Nature will be killing more and more people because there are more and more people to be killed. They're in the way of these natural forces.

GLENN: William Shatner is with us. Can you hang on for just a second? We're going to take a break and then we'll come back.

SHATNER: Absolutely. I'm enjoying it.

GLENN: See, now he can say that, but I don't necessarily know if I believe him.

SHATNER: It's true.

GLENN: William Shatner from Boston Legal, Star Trek, yada, yada, yada and the new book "Up Till Now" is in bookstores. We'll continue our conversation in just a second.

(Allen Brothers)

GLENN: Back with William Shatner. He's got a new book out called "Up Till Now." What is your favorite book that you've made?

SHATNER: Gee, I don't know. Early on I did some really fine films, Judgment at Nuremburg probably could be part of that.

GLENN: That was good.

SHATNER: That was a great film. You know I was -- you read that commercial on meat so well, it was --

GLENN: Oh, boy, here we go.

SHATNER: No, no. You really think -- you know where I'm going?

GLENN: I think so.

SHATNER: It's a great commercial. I mean, you did it so well. Yes?

GLENN: Yes, go ahead. Go ahead.

SHATNER: I didn't know -- I thought I would surprise you with the amount of energy, about the amount of energy it takes to make a steak, and I love steak, too. It's just I'm getting guiltier and guiltier about eating it.

GLENN: Not me. You know what? You give it up, I'll eat your share. I'll eat your share.

Listen, I want to play some -- this is from Boston Legal.

SHATNER: Okay.

GLENN: You don't have it? Oh, you don't have it. I'm sorry. I thought we had the clip. We'll save that. You know, what do you think of Patrick Stewart?

SHATNER: I love him. He's great and he's apparently wonderful in -- what am I saying apparently? I saw him. He's wonderful in Macbeth.

GLENN: When did you see that?

SHATNER: I saw it in Los Angeles.

GLENN: Really?

SHATNER: He played in Los Angeles.

GLENN: I just saw it last night.

SHATNER: What did you think?

GLENN: Unbelievable.

SHATNER: Great.

GLENN: The best -- I've never seen anything on stage as good. I hate Shakespeare but I like Patrick Stewart and I heard this was really, really good. This was absolutely unbelievable.

SHATNER: You can't say you hate Shake --

GLENN: Yes, I can.

SHATNER: No, Glenn, the science --

GLENN: I hate Shakespeare. It's, I hate somebody who I was forced to read when I was in high school.

SHATNER: There you go.

GLENN: And it's ancient dated language. The guy was a writer for, you know, Three's Company in his day.

SHATNER: Well, but here you have -- you loved Macbeth.

GLENN: I did love Macbeth.

SHATNER: So you can't say you hate Shakespeare. You hate Shakespeare badly done. You hate Shakespeare that's force-fed.

GLENN: Have you ever, have you ever done Shakespeare?

SHATNER: I was a member of the Stratford Ontario Company for three years.

GLENN: Can I tell you something? I think your dramatic readings are brilliant. Why don't you do more?

SHATNER: I do a lot.

GLENN: Currently?

SHATNER: Yeah.

GLENN: Really? Give me one. Do you have anything off the top of your head?

SHATNER: Well, there's a CD out right now called Exodus, it's an oratorio in which 350 voices, a choral group, a 72 piece orchestra and me doing an abbreviated version of Exodus which has gotten great reviews.

GLENN: Wow. If I only knew what an oratorio was. I wasn't listening when they taught me Shakespeare.

SHATNER: Well, you would enjoy this. You would enjoy this, I'm sure. But Glenn, your education is lacking in certain areas.

GLENN: Well, and I'm going to let you have the last word. William Shatner, "Up Till Now," he will be on television tomorrow night, CNN Headline Prime, 7:00. Thanks.

http://www.glennbeck.com/content/articl ... 196/10062/

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TRexx - May 17, 2008 - 08:51 PM
Post subject:

From The Globe and Mail...

Shatner Beams Himself Up

UP TILL NOW: The Autobiography
William Shatner with David Fisher
St. Martin's, 358 pages, C$28.95

By JOE QUEENAN for The Globe and Mail. May 17, 2008

William Shatner has been a joke for so long that it is easy to forget he was once taken half-seriously as an actor. With big-screen credits ranging from Judgment at Nuremberg to The Brothers Karamazov, and meaty roles in such iconic series as The Twilight Zone, Alfred Hitchcock Presents and The Man From U.N.C.L.E., the good-natured Montreal native for a number of years seemed poised on the precipice of big-screen stardom.

Stardom never arrived; although he found scads of work during the early days of television, and surfaced in several high-profile motion pictures, Shatner never registered in the public's consciousness in the way Steve McQueen and James Garner and other more radiant TV stars of his era did. He was good looking, but not that good looking; he was charismatic, but not that charismatic; he lacked that mysterious element that would induce the movie-going public to invite an actor into their lives and stay there for the next 50 years. He was the fifth name down on the marquee. McQueen and Garner, those guys ought to be in pictures. Shatner belonged on TV.

Shatner's detour from conventional Tinseltown stardom into cult status -- a fate he shares with fellow Canadian Leslie Nielsen, a serious actor turned clown -- is the subject of the breezy new autobiography Up Till Now. The book tells of a middle-class Jewish boy from one of the few North American cities with a bona fide cultural life who was determined to succeed as a "serious" actor, but who, for a variety of reasons, could never get the public to sign off on the agreement.

Intense, solid, perfectly credible in both dramatic and comic roles, with an idiosyncratic cadence he may have learned from his mother, an elocution teacher, Shatner was hampered by that aura of dapper inconsequentiality that afflicts so many young actors. Yes, he starred in plays opposite Walter Matthau and in movies headlined by Spencer Tracy and Burt Lancaster, but none of these coups propelled him into the big time. Sharing the stage or screen with these fire-breathing dragons probably did not help. Who's going to pay attention to the butler, the henchman, the groom or the befuddled policeman when Yul Brynner is in the same shot?

Whatever lofty aspirations the McGill alumnus may have had at the dawn of his career, Shatner now seems quite content to be who he is: a well-preserved amalgam of Captain Kirk, Denny Crane, T. J. Hooker, the pushy guy from the Priceline.com commercials. A fixture in the global consciousness since Star Trek began its weird posthumous cult life after going off the air in 1969, the 77-year-old Shatner seems genuinely grateful for the success he has achieved and the prodigious amounts of money he has earned. Engagingly venal, he punctuates the text of his autobiography with pitches for merchandise, and ceaselessly interrupts the narrative to trumpet his latest commercial venture.

An example is this pitch that appears out of nowhere during a discussion of his work in the Broadway hit The World of Suzie Wong, which starred France Nuyen: "Before we continue with this narrative of my life, just let me pause here for a few seconds to check out the latest new additions to ShatnerVision.com, the Web Site run by my daughter Lisbeth, who has not yet been born. In this book, I mean. ShatnerVision is a compilation of short videos. Oh, look at that; that's clever."

He adds: "But please don't mistake ShatnerVision for WilliamShatner.com, which is my official web site. That's an easy mistake to make, but they're very different. For example, the wonderful store from which you can order anything from a DVD of a movie in which I starred named Incubus -- the only feature film ever made in the artificial language of Esperanto -- to the exclusive Wrath of Khan 25th anniversary bloodied Kirk action figure, is at WilliamShatner.com, but the video of me explaining why I don't like to take off my pants on Boston Legal can be found on ShatnerVision." Cute, gimmicky passages like this make it clear that Shatner is not the least bit embarrassed to shill, to hawk his wares, to move the merchandise. He knows who he is, and it's not Spencer Tracy.

Book reviewers generally dread ghostwritten autobiographies, as they all sound exactly the same, as if they were written by a moderately intelligent white-collar criminal performing perfunctory community-service literary chores in lieu of hard time. But in Up Till Now, David Fisher has done a nice job in capturing Shatner's mischievous, self-parodying voice, so reading the book is by no means a grind.

True, Shatner and his ghost do resort to certain stock elements of the genre -- local-boy-makes-good, rags-to-riches, the feigned shock at being asked for an autograph by an illegal immigrant in the dead of night while patrolling the Mexican border -- but for the most part, Up Till Now is an amusing, informative romp.

With the exception of the toupee issue, Shatner covers all the bases, ranging from his memorably awkward appearance in shock-jock Howard Stern's "Homo Room," to his real feelings about Star Trek groupies, to his struggles with tinnitus, to his legendary recording of "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds" on the 1968 LP The Transformed Man.

The mood is jocular, teasing, sometimes catty. (Does he really need to go into that much detail about Leonard Nimoy's drinking problem?) The only time the tone changes is when he talks about his wife Nerise's drowning and the cruel rumours of his involvement in her death that ensued. Then he gets back to the wisecracks.

Ironically, for a man who seems determined to turn any experience into a revenue stream, Shatner has an intense dislike of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry. The reason? Roddenberry apparently viewed the show as one vast licensing opportunity, converting any prop, costume or still into instant cash.

Sorry, Captain Kirk. Sounds logical to me.

New York writer Joe Queenan's books on movies and popular culture include "Confessions of a Cineplex Heckler" and "If You're Talking to Me, Your Career Must Be in Trouble."

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/ ... ertainment

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TRexx - May 18, 2008 - 08:56 AM
Post subject:

From The Sunday Times...

Hitlist: Life after Star Trek

May 18, 2008

William Shatner, 77, has just released his autobiography Up Till Now, and that's a good excuse to dust down the Star Trek Where Are They Now? files.

Jeffrey Hunter -- the original Captain Kirk. This former radio star was hired for Star Trek's 1966 pilot to play Captain Christopher Pike. The show was rejected by NBC as "too cerebral", and sadly Hunter was unavailable when it was eventually commissioned. He died of a stroke in 1969.

Leonard Nimoy -- Spock. The same age as Shatner, he's about to reprise his original half-Vulcan role in the forthcoming Star Trek movie. In 1977 he released his autobiography, I Am Not Spock, which confused fans, so in 1995 he wrote another called I Am Spock.

Nichelle Nichols -- Uhura. Before Star Trek, Kirk's foxy black lieutenant sang with Duke Ellington. Afterwards, she was a NASA volunteer, helping to recruit women and ethnic minorities. Achieving fame of a different sort, her brother was one of the Heaven's Gate cult and died as part of a mass suicide in 1997.

Walter Koenig -- Chekov. In his 1998 autobiography Warped Factors, Koenig paints himself as a neurotic chancer, but this New Yorker with a dodgy Russian accent has doggedness.

He is still working today: his new movie, Inaliable, has just been given a release on the internet.

James Doohan -- Scotty. The Starship's "Scottish" chief engineer was a Canadian who lost a finger fighting for his country in the D-Day landings. He was a chirpy ambassador for Star Trek at fan conventions until he was "beamed up" for the last time in 2005, suffering from Parkinson's and Alzheimer's.

http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/ ... 944740.ece

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TRexx - May 18, 2008 - 10:29 AM
Post subject:

Via YouTube.com...

Star Trek's William Shatner on Fox

YouTube video May 14, 2008

William Shatner talks about his new book, and speaks candidly about his relationship with Leonard Nimoy, Spock.

Mancow crashes the party.

Click image to view video @ YouTube.com

http://youtube.com/watch?v=ORDaNDxLFVo

Video playback time: 10 minutes

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TRexx - May 18, 2008 - 10:46 AM
Post subject:

Via YouTube.cmo

Howard interviews William Shatner

Five minutes from Bill's interview (May 14) with Howard Stern.

Warning: Coarse language of a sexual nature...

[Click image to view video @ YouTube.com]

http://youtube.com/watch?v=j7TkQDnm4QQ

Video playback time: 5 minutes

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TRexx - May 18, 2008 - 10:58 AM
Post subject:

Via RedLasso.com...

Video snippets from Bill's chat (May 16) with Glenn Beck on CNN...

http://www.redlasso.com/ClipPlayer.aspx ... e314575157

http://www.redlasso.com/ClipPlayer.aspx ... 8996f184a2

Video playback times: 4 + 2 minutes

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angel - May 18, 2008 - 07:10 PM
Post subject:

Thankyou for putting the links in. The transcripts are great but when I read them it seemed that Bill and Beck were angry with eachother. The videos helped alot to see that they weren't. Cool

TRexx - May 18, 2008 - 09:18 PM
Post subject:

From MondoShatner.com...

When Shatner Met Koko

Published by MondoAdmin on 13 May 2008

So today in the mail I received William Shatner's new autobiography. Very prominently on the back cover, and page 2 of the introduction, he starts to relate an anecdote about his encounter with Koko, the infamous sign language speaking and (allegedly) sexually harassing gorilla...

William Shatner wrote:

In 1988 to help the Gorilla Foundation encourage Californians to contribute to its Endangered Species Campaign, I was permitted to visit Koko the gorilla in her quarters. Koko was an extraordinary animal who had learned to communicate with human beings... I was allowed to go into her compound, to enter a room with her all alone. As I walked into that room I was reminded that she was an imposing, powerful animal; smaller gorillas have been known to tear off men's arms in anger. I am not often afraid, but truthfully I was frightened.

There is a form of acting that teaches: feel it and say it, and that feeling will be revealed through your words. The English form is quite different: say it and then you feel it. To deal with my fear of this magnificent animal as I got closer and closer to her I found myself saying, "I love you, Koko. I love you." I said it earnestly and honestly and I looked directly in her eyes as I spoke. I crouched over a little to show submission, moving forward rather than backward to show I was not afraid. Over and over I repeated, "I love you, Koko, I love you." And as I said it, I began to feel that love. Finally I stopped directly in front of her and looked into her deep brown eyes and saw her furrowed brow and her enormous hands. I love you, Koko. And with that she reached out and grabbed me by my balls. And looked me right in the eyes. After a slight pause -- in a substantially higher voice -- I tried to repeat, "I love you, Koko." Obviously these words had more significance than a few seconds earlier.

Well, you know what they say, if it's not on YouTube, it didn't happen. Reading the account gave me the inspiration to dig around in my archives for this little gem:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=q8Fsl2xFkCM

http://mondoshatner.com/when-shatner-met-koko/

Gino Vannelli wrote:

When I think about those nights in Montreal
I get the sweetest thoughts of you and me
Memories of love above the city lights
Ooh, I tried so hard to take it
But oh Lord my heart won't make it

I just wanna stop
And tell you what I feel about you babe
I just wanna stop
I never wanna live without you babe
I just gotta stop
For your love

Lyrics from "I Just Wanna Stop", by Gino Vannelli

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TRexx - May 18, 2008 - 09:55 PM
Post subject:

Via YouTube.com...

William Shatner Learns about Sex from Dr. Sari Locker

YouTube video added May 14, 2008

William Shatner really wants to learn about sex from Dr. Sari Locker, author of The Complete Idiot's Guide to Amazing Sex, when he yanks the book away from the host on the Leeza talk show.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=RzdszWq1gtA

Bill cops "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Amazing Sex" on Leeza (1996)

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TRexx - May 19, 2008 - 01:32 AM
Post subject:

From Look At His Butt...

'Bill Reads' on MP3

17 May 2008

Special edition of Look At His Butt: "Here's a sexy little excerpt from Bill's new book. Enjoy!"

http://lookathisbutt.blogspot.com/2008/ ... reads.html

Another audio sample at Audible.com ...

http://www.audible.com/adbl/site/produc ... Cookie=Yes

Bill at Barnes & Noble Union Square on 14 May 2008 in New York City
(Photo by Scott Wintrow/Getty Images North America)

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TRexx - May 19, 2008 - 11:04 PM
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From Spectator.co.uk...

Shatner's kidney

Article by Stephen Pollard, Monday, 19th May 2008

Snide remarks about William Shatner in a review of his autobiography hardly seem the most important issue of our time. But I want to explain why it matters, and why unless Captain Kirk's books are given fair treatment, the battle to save western civilisation will be lost.

Yes, William Shatner he has always come across as -- to be polite -- somewhat eccentric and as an actor he has never really challenged Lord Olivier's legacy. But he is, to use an over used word, a legend. As Captain Kirk, he was the lead in possibly the most memorable TV series ever, and is certainly one of the great cultural icons of our time. We are surely entitled to a review of his book which is not wilfully slanted and which is based on accuracy rather than distortion.

So one would have hoped for something more insightful and less determined to put the boot in than this hatchet job from Tom Shone in the Sunday Times. Take this example:

Tom Shone wrote:

Shatner doesn't let the charge of self-absorption delay him long; there's his appearance on the World Wide Wrestling channel to be getting on with, or the time he sold his kidney stone on eBay... The reader is left to decide whether this is all a sign of incipient postmodernism (the first actor to display knowledge of his own cheesiness) or just an ego so hungry that no crumb is too small to be worth chasing under the table.

Sounds horrific. But Shone doesn't give even a smidgen of the full story:

William Shatner wrote:

As some of you might have heard by now, GoldenPalace.com has bought a kidney stone of mine for $75,000. I was delighted to be able to raise that kind of money for Habitat for Humanity along with contributions from the cast of Boston Legal who gave a gift on behalf of the whole Boston Legal company to Habitat.

So rather than self-absorption, it was an act of charity. I wonder when Tom Shone last raised such a sum for charity. Instead of using it a further tool with which to sneer at Shatner, if Shone was doing a proper job he would use it to heap praise on the man.

As I say, it's hardly the most pressing issue of our time that a reviewer has done a hatchet job on William Shatner. But it's this sort of wilfully misleading journalism which, on a bigger scale, leads to warped reporting of the Middle East and warps perceptions of what is going in the war on terror. If Israel, for instance, is attacked for its security cordons without any mention of the threats from which it is tryting to protect its citizens, if any attack on Islamism is treated as an attack on Muslims, and if the liberation of a country from a brutal dictator is described as a war crime, then we are all finished.

http://www.spectator.co.uk/stephenpolla ... dney.thtml

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TRexx - May 20, 2008 - 06:34 AM
Post subject:

At ReelTalkTV.com...

Shatner Rags on Poor Business Decisions

Posted by reeltalk on 05/19/08 at 12:41 PM

Ladies and gentlemen, here's a sad and unfortunate fact: William Shatner a.k.a. CAPTAIN KIRK will not be in the new Star Trek movie, scheduled for release May 2009! And we agree with Shatner in the disappointment. Regardless, we still have our fingers crossed for a cameo. Here is Captain Kirk himself talking to Jeffrey about it!

http://www.reeltalktv.com/2008/05/shatn ... siness.php

[Click image to view video clip @ ReelTalkTV.com]

Video playback time: 58 seconds

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TRexx - May 21, 2008 - 01:27 AM
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From The Mac Daddy blog...

First impressions of William Shatner's Up Till Now

I'm about half way through William Shatner's autobiography "Up Till Now" so I thought I'd write a part way through review. I decided to pick it up because my wife's a bit of a Trekkie (I just like the shows, she's obsessive) and he'll be the guest speaker at this years RSDC 2008 which I'm going to.

So far, I resisted writing [about] "Up Till Now", it's a really enjoyable book. It's literally made me laugh out loud and frequently made me stifle some chortling (while on the train during my arduous journey home). The writing style is very warm and engaging and the book is chock full of great stories and anecdotes. There's a certain rambling style that makes reading it more like following and endlessly forking lightning strike rather than following a straight line and for me that just makes it a more interesting and enjoyable book.

Bill Shatner's self-deprecating sense of humour is prevalent throughout with some really funny stories and jokes, but he also comes across as a very caring and human person. The ghost/co-writing about the death of his wife is very serious emotional and yet the book reads very positively. I've not finished it yet but so far it's everything I wanted and expected, I don't normally read autobiographies but I thoroughly recommend this one. I never realised he was in so much stuff!

I look forward to hearing him declaim in the famous Shatnerian fashion in a few weeks time.

http://mikemacd.wordpress.com/2008/05/2 ... -till-now/

RSDC 2008 wrote:

Wednesday, June 4 - RU Ready to Boldly Go?

William Shatner
Actor, Author, Philanthropist and Pop Culture Hero

RU Ready to hear a guest speaker of truly heroic proportions? Sure, many may claim the mantle "legend in his own time," but unlike our special speaker, few have earned it. Exemplifying the best of both individual and team achievement, our special guest will boldly take you where no developer has gone before! Get ready to set your agenda to "stun."

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TRexx - May 21, 2008 - 01:28 AM
Post subject:

Via CelebrityBlend.com...

William Shatner and his wife, Elizabeth Anderson Martin, are shown at the Annual Alzheimer's Benefit "A Night At Sardi's" on 3/5/08 (WENN Photo via CelebrityBlend.com)

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TRexx - May 22, 2008 - 08:17 AM
Post subject:

From Comic Book Resources...

William Shatner to make appearance at LA Comic Book and Sci Fi con

by CBR News Team, Editor, Wed, May 21st, 2008 at 9:05AM PST

Official Press Release

WILLIAM SHATNER, the Emmy award winning actor from Boston Legal, Star Trek, and T.J. Hooker appears to sign UP TILL NOW: THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF WILLIAM SHATNER at 2:00 P.M. at the LOS ANGELES COMIC BOOK AND SCIENCE FICTION CONVENTION on JUNE 8, 2008. UP TILL NOW covers WILLIAM SHATNER's entire career and personal life with many rare photos. WILLIAM SHATNER will sign all copies of UP TILL NOW purchased at the Convention, and all proceeds from the UP TILL NOW signing will be donated to WILLIAM SHATNER'S HOLLYWOOD CHARITY HORSE SHOW.

The LOS ANGELES COMIC BOOK AND SCIENCE FICTION CONVENTION takes place at the Shrine Auditorium Expo Center, located at 700 West 32nd Street, right across from USC College. Admission is only $8.00, five years and under are free. Premium Admission is $20.00 and includes FULL SIZE MOVIE POSTERS from THE DARK KNIGHT (burning bat), X-FILES: I WANT TO BELIEVE, and HANCOCK. A large Dealers Room full of Comic Books, Anime Merchandise, Toys, and other Collectables is also featured. Call (818) 954-8432 or check www.comicbookscifi.com for more information.

The LOS ANGELES COMIC BOOK AND SCIENCE FICTION CONVENTION celebrates 31 years of operation during 2008, with over 350 shows having been held.

http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page ... p;id=16501

WILLIAM SHATNER will sign all copies of UP TILL NOW purchased at the Convention. UP TILL NOW is a hardcover book that retails for $26.00. WILLIAM SHATNER will ONLY SIGN the book, and no other items. Photos of WILLIAM SHATNER signing books are allowed, but he will not be able to pose for pictures. The CONVENTION has ordered a large quantity of UP TILL NOW so everyone will get a copy of the book signed. ONLY COPIES OF UP TILL NOW PURCHASED AT THE CONVENTION WILL BE SIGNED. WILLIAM SHATNER APPEARS AT 2:00 P.M. for the signing, and he's a very fast signer so the line should move very quickly.

If you've ever wanted to meet WILLIAM SHATNER, this is a great opportunity. All sales from this special signing of UP TILL NOW will be donated to WILLIAM SHATNER'S HOLLYWOOD CHARITY HORSE SHOW. So besides getting a great collector's item you are also helping a good cause.

http://www.comicbookscifi.com

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TRexx - May 22, 2008 - 08:21 AM
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From SciFiNow.co.uk Blog...

Shatner: The Final Frontier... (Up Till Now)

This entry was posted on Wednesday, 21 May 2008 at 2:46 pm and filed under Competitions.

After nearly sixty years as an actor, William Shatner has become one of the most beloved and recognizable entertainers in the world, finally he reveals the man behind some of those unforgettable moments in one of the most entertaining autobiographies this year.

To celebrate the UK release of the autobiography, Up Till Now, we have five limited edition 'Shat Happens' mugs and five copies of the William Shatner's autobiography to give away -- all you have to do is answer the following question to be in with a chance:

Where was William Shatner born?

1. Britain
2. America
3. Canada

Answers to scifinow@imagine-publishing.co.uk.

You can also read an exclusive extract and buy the book at www.panmacmillan.com

http://blog.scifinow.co.uk/?p=54

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TRexx - May 22, 2008 - 08:42 AM
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From PopCandy @ USAToday.com...

Star sigs go up for sale

Posted at 04:35 PM/ET, 05/21/2008

I'm surprised it has taken this long for someone to create LiveAutographs.com. The site allows fans to order items they want autographed and receive personalized video messages.

Go there now, and you can order autographed items from William Shatner, Battlestar Galactica's Tricia Helfer, Carmen Electra, Hulk Hogan and others. The merchandise includes things like a photo of Captain Kirk and Electra's Aerobic Striptease DVDs. Each order comes with a video of the celebrity signing the item and delivering a unique message, whether it's "Happy birthday, Whitney!" or the answer to a burning question.

"The only problem is the 'celebrity' pool is pretty thin," says Pop reader Amy R. "They have Raven Symone listed under the categories of TV, Kids, Music and Movies. Weak!"

The site promises more stars will be added soon, including Slash, Dave Navarro, and Serena Williams. In some cases, it might be easier to track them down in person and get the signatures for free.

http://blogs.usatoday.com/popcandy/2008 ... tml?csp=34

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TRexx - May 22, 2008 - 09:05 PM
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From The Globe and Mail....

William Shatner! Don Cherry! Together! Onstage! Not!

James Adams, From Thursday's Globe and Mail, May 22, 2008 at 3:49 AM EDT

In his newly published autobiography, William Shatner proclaims: "As long as I live, I will never forget Don Cherry."

Most Canadians probably share Shatner's sentiment. Cherry's growl, his rough-and-ready opinions, as well as his signature thumb-up and unique way with suit, tie, and shirt collar have made him one of the country's most recognizable TV performers.

But did you know that one fateful August night in 1956, Don Cherry also performed onstage in Henry V at Ontario's world-famous Stratford Shakespeare Festival opposite the Montreal-born Shatner? You will if you read Page 28 of the 358-page Shatner memoir, Up Till Now.

Unfortunately, what could have been the excavation of a staggering footnote in the annals of Canadian theatre (Shatner! Cherry! Together! Live!) turns out to be a fact only in the 77-year-old memory of William Alan Shatner. Yes, there was a Don onstage on Aug. 10, 1956, at Stratford. But the festival's official playbill shows his name to have been Donald Davis, not Cherry.

The Don (Grapes) Cherry whom Canadians know, and some even love, was at that time a 22-year-old defenceman with the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League -- more focused, one imagines, on line changes at training camp than line readings of the Bard.

Still, Shatner's yarn remains a pretty good one (and to be fair to the actor, he simply remembers a Don Cherry, not the Don Cherry being onstage). In any case, yesterday his New York editor said his author was sticking to it as fact. In Up Till Now, Shatner describes how, after being brought in as a last-minute one-off substitute for an ailing Christopher Plummer -- a switcheroo that earned front-page headlines in The Globe and Mail, by the way -- he abruptly forgot his lines as King Henry as the play headed into its home stretch.

Everything had been going famously, Shatner reports. Then, sudden humiliation loomed before 2,500 Stratford patrons. Shatner was only 25 at the time. His breakthrough turn as Star Trek's Captain James T. Kirk lay 10 years in the future. "I looked across the stage, hopelessly," he writes. "I have met so many thousands of people in my lifetime that sometimes it's difficult to recall the names of people I've known for years. Yet as long as I live, I will never forget Don Cherry. Don Cherry, with blondish hair and the longest blond eyelashes I've ever seen. There stood salvation. Don Cherry had a photographic memory. He knew the entire play! Every line."

In the memoir, Shatner hustles over to "Cherry" for the prompt! Alas, in a rare lapse, "Cherry" has "not the slightest idea!" But at that very instant, Shatner recovers his memory -- or at least the portion disciplined by line memorization -- and "continues on successfully to the end of the play." A standing ovation follows. It was, Shatner observes, "one of the greatest moments of my life."

Last week, Stratford media manager Ann Swerdfager insisted that "of course, there was no Don Cherry" onstage with Shatner that evening. "Bill just got a little confused," she said kindly. Ironically, Swerdfager's own father, Bruce, was treading the boards that very same night, playing the Earl of Cambridge. One of the original members of the Stratford acting company, he probably would have been able to confirm the official record. Unfortunately, he died at the age of 79 last September. The same goes for ostensibly the only Donald onstage then, Don Davis, the Earl of Westmoreland: dead at 69 in 1998.

But was Shatner's Don Cherry really Don Davis? Last week, Shatner's editor, Peter Joseph, passed on to Shatner's assistant in Los Angeles all the evidence that indicates it was not. Shatner, however, is sticking to his phasers: "Bill is certain ... that the name of the person is Don Cherry" -- but, Joseph added, "a Don Cherry who is not the other Don Cherry."

The Oxford Companion to Canadian Theatre offered no help. There is no entry for a Don Cherry, nor a citation of same in the index. Moreover, its mini-biography of Donald Davis describes the actor as "tall, dark" -- not exactly a match with Shatner's memory.

Meanwhile, let it be said that William Shatner's and Don Cherry's professional paths have crossed; except, that wasn't until 2006, when both men provided voices for characters in a Disney animated film called The Wild. Shatner was a wildebeest, Cherry a penguin -- but not of the Pittsburgh variety. (In Up Till Now, Shatner recounts how an engineer told him his initial attempt at voicing the "power-crazed wildebeest" was a failure. The actor says he was tempted "to tell him that [he] was playing it as a Canadian wildebeest, which has a much different accent than your normal wildebeest.")

Of course, Shakespeare, who had a line for every subject, would have understood the "poor validity" of memory. Shatner may even be familiar with this utterance by Prince Fortinbras in Hamlet: "I have some rights of memory in this kingdom/ Which now, to claim my vantage, doth invite me."

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/ ... wshatner22

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TRexx - May 22, 2008 - 10:14 PM
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From The London Free Press...

Pop Music is Powerful Music

By Dan Brown, Online Editor, The London Free Press (Ontario), 22 May 2008

One song can change your life.

One song changed my life recently. It's not the best song I've ever heard, it's not my favourite song, but it helped me to understand how I live.

The song is William Shatner's "That's Me Trying". It's from his 2005 release Has Been and it's a plea from a father to an estranged daughter done in the style of a letter, much like Leonard Cohen's "Famous Blue Raincoat" (perhaps epistolary ballads are a uniquely Canadian genre).

I've been listening to the album on my daily walks. Then, one morning as I was treading through the Coldstream Conservation Area's nature trail, something clicked.

I got it.

I understood the tune's connection to my own life.

I grokked it, if you will.

Throughout the song, the parent tries to re-establish contact with his adult child.

"You must be, what, in your early forties now?" Shatner sings/speaks. "If I remember, you were born in June -- or was it May? Eisenhower was the president, although it may have been JFK."

The listener recognizes Shatner's heart is in the right place, even though he comes across as inept.

With a musical helping hand from Ben Folds and Aimee Mann, the song returns to the chorus:

"Years of silence, not enough. Who could blame us giving up?/Above the quiet, there's a buzz. That's me trying."

In a flash, it came to me: The quiet he refers to is the space between loved ones that grows when they have a falling out, turning into strangers. The buzz, as he says, is an effort to rekindle the warmth and comfort of that lapsed relationship.

I had always understood, in a vague way, this was the bittersweet track's message. I've listened to the song many, many times, but what I finally grasped on this particular morning is how it applies to own my life. It came fully alive for me.

I realized I'm like Shatner. I've tried many times over the years to repair friendships that have gone sour, usually owing to my own carelessness.

I didn't feel so alone anymore. I saw this is a universal problem. I'm not the only one who's screwed up and tried to make amends. It's a human failing to throw away a relationship and then realize later how important it was. In short, I've felt the same feelings as the versatile entertainer.

Like I said, "That's Me Trying" is not the best song I've ever heard. It's not even the song that has changed my life the most.

What it is is an example of the power of pop culture.

It changed my life in a small, yet significant, way. The tune is less than four minutes long, which makes me wonder: How many songs will a music fan listen to in his or her life? Hundreds? Thousands?

Add up all those tiny changes and what you have is a powerful force for shedding light on our behaviour.

One song can change your life. One minute piece of pop culture can alter your perceptions. One song can make you feel -- more human and less lonely. So don't tell me pop culture is a waste of time.

Email: dbrown (at) lfpress (dot) com

http://lfpress.ca/newsstand/Today/Colum ... 37641.html

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TRexx - May 23, 2008 - 11:25 AM
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From Newsweek.com...

Boldly Going There

In a new memoir, William Shatner traces his path from humble Canadian origins to TV icon.

Shatner Shrugged: The actor inhabits his own special orbit
Photo courtesy Damian Dovarganes / AP

Interview by Brian Braiker | Newsweek Web Exclusive
May 22, 2008 | Updated: 9:33 p.m. ET May 22, 2008

William Shatner would like you to know that he is so much more than Star Trek's Capt. James Tiberius Kirk. He is also, in no particular order: Shakespearean actor, B-movie star, Emmy- and Golden Globe-winner for his role as Denny Crane on Boston Legal, musician, celebrity pitchman. And serial memoirist. His latest tome, the first to extend beyond his experiences with Star Trek, is called Up Till Now and chronicles his life from a modest Canadian childhood up to his latest gig, a self-spoofing Priceline.com spokesman. NEWSWEEK's Brian Braiker recently caught up with the unrepentant cheeseball and tireless huckster. Excerpts:

NEWSWEEK: You've had this incredibly varied career. Is it by design?

William Shatner: It's ad hoc. Fate gives you the finger and you accept.

You seem to have this healthy sense of humor about yourself. Did you intentionally set out to self-parodize?

No. It's not something I'm doing consciously. Things people say strike me as amusing, and I am prone to saying out loud what everybody's thinking.

Do you get recognized on the street as the Priceline guy?

Haven't heard that one.

Who does the best impression of you?

I don't recognize what. They're doing. When they're doing. Me.

I was disappointed not to read about any affairs with senators in your book. Did you read the Barbara Walters memoir?

I have. I've been a bit appalled at what purportedly would be a smart lady making some odd mistakes.

You mean the affair?

Talking about the senator and not thinking everybody would pounce on it.

You do put yourself into these crazy stunts -- bear hunting, race-car driving, parachuting. Why?

I keep thinking that I'm not going to get hurt. That somebody else is going to get hurt, not me. The stuntman can get hurt.

What's the latest on the upcoming Star Trek movie remake that J.J. Abrams is doing? Have you been hearing from him at all?

I know nothing. I had a meeting a couple times with J.J. Abrams, who actually came down one time to where we shoot Boston Legal to visit with me -- and I don't know what it was about. He never called back, and I'm not in the movie. I'm disappointed.

Were you offended?

I would have liked to have been in the revival of Star Trek. More than that I'm fascinated by the business decision of not including that popular character and the actor who has a lot of popularity still, as opposed to anybody else in the cast who's either unknown or not in the public eye particularly.

Why do you think you were left out?

They, in all likelihood, couldn't solve the storytelling problem and decided to ignore it.

You're developing a talk show for Biography called Shatner's Raw Nerve. Are you going to be the next Larry King?

My hope is to have a conversation with interesting people and try and delve underneath, just like you do every day. I'm really enjoying the process. I've done four already: John Voight, Judge Judy, Valerie Bertinelli and Kelsey Grammer. Very interesting guy. I look forward to talking to people I've always wanted to talk to. I'm sure you know what I mean.

I'm talking to William Shatner right now!

That's how I feel. I live near where Marlon Brando lived. All that it required was a 10-minute drive on my part to get to his house and talk to him. I never availed myself of the possibility. I regret not having done it. Suddenly I have the opportunity to ask people to come have a conversation with me and find out about them what I want to find out.

Who's on your short list?

I want to get a hold of all the people you want to get a hold of.

I didn't realize you weren't even the first pick to play Kirk for the original Star Trek.

I didn't realize it myself for a long time. It's not the first thing they told you. The story came out there were a couple other guys in front of me.

That show, at least in syndication, has been such a phenomenon, it boggles the mind that when it wrapped, you were broke and living in your truck.

I had money to make, obligations that I needed to fulfill. So I went on summer theater tours with a shell on the back of a pickup truck and lived in that shell. Very dark days.

Richard Branson invited you to take a trip to space.

It wasn't free. They wanted me to pay the regular fee, the $250,000. I said, "No, you got it wrong, you pay me $250,000." I never heard back from them. I guess they and J.J. Abrams got together.

You starred in the only Esperanto movie ever made, Incubus. Any parting words for us in that language?

Bok choy!

http://www.newsweek.com/id/138311/page/1

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TRexx - May 23, 2008 - 10:43 PM
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From ETonline.com...

William Shatner Tells All!

The Boston Legal star is the co-author of a new book, which tells his life story.

Copyright 2008 Andrew Macpherson / ABC

Posted May 23, 2008 12:01:00 AM

Star Trek made WILLIAM SHATNER a star, and T.J. Hooker and, most recently, Boston Legal, which returns in the fall for its final season, proved that he was much more than a one-hit wonder, rather he's a talent to remember.

Now, the actor and Priceline.com pitchman has written all about his adventures in front of and behind the camera in a recently released book and audio book: Up Till Now: The Autobiography, which was co-written by DAVID FISHER.

"I don't think the people close to me, my children, friends and wife, know some of my inner thoughts," Shatner tells ET of his decision to write his memoirs. "It's a form of a legacy. A sort of memoir: Here's what your father/husband was thinking or doing on such and such a date."

Shatner says he made the tome as "truthful, earnest and honest" as possible, but at the same time, he wanted it to be entertaining, so there are laughs. And to make sure that the audio book version got just the right treatment, he read it himself.

"I don't think you're going to find too many people better at reading a book, let alone my own book, than I can," he says.

But the book isn't all laughs. Shatner also deals with the tragic death of his wife, who drowned in a swimming pool at the couple's home.

"One of the charities that I maintain is the NERINE SHATNER Friendly House," he continues. "It's a rehabilitation house for women who are addicted, and it's in memoriam to my wife. It's helped many, many women to overcome their addiction."

Shatner tells ET that he learned a lot from Nerine's death: "How ephemeral life is. How quickly life is over. How fragile we are ... and how precious life is and how much you must cherish it."

http://www.etonline.com/news/2008/05/61996/index.html

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TRexx - May 23, 2008 - 10:53 PM
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From The Oregonian...

books THE SHAT!

pop talk, Friday, May 23, 2008

Kristi Turnquist offers a handful of reasons to obsess about pop culture this week

He may be hammy, he may be egotistical, but I can't help loving William Shatner. Has there ever been an actor who has moved from young-and-promising to over-the-hill-punchline to elder-statesman-in-on-the-joke with more finesse? And darned if his new book, Up Till Now: An Autobiography (Thomas Dunne Books, $25.95, 368 pages), isn't more enjoyable than it has any right to be. With co-author David Fisher, Shatner makes you feel like he's sitting out on the balcony with you, sharing a cigar and waxing nostalgic. He's amusing company, whether recalling Incubus (the only movie ever made in Esperanto), realizing that his Star Trek castmates disliked him, or choosing to keep some things a mystery ("For example, do I wear a toupee?").

Kristi Turnquist: 503-221-8227; kristiturnquist@news.oregonian.com

http://www.oregonlive.com/entertainment ... amp;coll=7

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littlestar - May 24, 2008 - 12:36 AM
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From MSN.....

ARTICLE

TRexx - May 24, 2008 - 04:29 AM
Post subject:

From WGMK.com...

Shatner Interview at Radio 102.9 WMGK

With John DeBella on Friday, 23 May 2008.

William Shatner called in for yet another quirky but interesting chat!

http://www.wmgk.com/Audio/tabid/209/art ... rview.aspx

Audio playback time = 9 minutes

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TRexx - May 25, 2008 - 07:26 PM
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From The Ottawa Citizen...

Shatner's trek to stardom

Kirk role a small part of an amazingly varied career, humorous autobiography reveals

Tom Spears, The Ottawa Citizen, Published: Sunday, May 25, 2008

Up Till Now: The Autobiography
By William Shatner with David Fisher
Thomas Dunne Books/St Martin's Press, $28.95

By Tom Spears

You're waiting for him to jump to Star Trek as you open Shatner's book. Anyone would. Yet it takes more than 100 pages to reach the famous series that defines him in most people's minds.

Doesn't take him long to get through those three years and 79 episodes, either, which means that anyone looking for the Great Trek Truth is going to be disappointed.

And is that the sound of Shatner laughing a little at a public that only wants to see one side of him?

Shatner's secret is that, in fairness, serving as captain of the Federation starship Enterprise was a fairly small part of an amazingly varied career.

The salesman's kid from Montreal started in small Canadian stage parts, starving in Ottawa, then starving a little more successfully at Stratford, and moving on to play goofy but good-hearted young men on Broadway (much greater success there) and eventually Hollywood, always considering himself a stage actor who also did TV and film.

The series that actually made him a star didn't seem so promising at first, or even for years afterwards. Three years of science fiction were just one more step in a long series of roles from Henry V to a Klansman to cowboys and lawyers and Alexander the Great and more goofy young men, one of them in bed with Angie Dickinson, but only on camera.

And then, a spaceship guy. Someone else, who had just played Jesus in a previous role, got fired. The bosses wanted a replacement who would not be too cerebral.

"I guess he (Gene Roddenberry) felt I was the perfect choice for the lead role in a show that wasn't too intelligent for its audience and whom he didn't have to pay a lot of money, and for me, all I had to do was replace Jesus Christ," the actor writes.

Which makes you wonder what became of the poor guy who was fired and missed the Star Trek phenomenon for making too many artistic demands.

Here's just one Star Trek anecdote: DeForest Kelley (Dr. McCoy in the series) was all upset one day. His chihuahua died. Shatner was all ready to be sympathetic until he learned the dog had run into a lawn sprinkler and been killed. He laughed. Kelley got pretty upset.

They made the series, and then he was divorced (first time) and pretty much broke, an irony for a 24th-century guy whose society has abolished money.

That's when his career went into a downspin, and the agents stopped pretending that his next role was going to make him a star. Trek-fever developed later, and he got rich finally, and bred horses.

Horses -- and I've seen his photo in the Kentucky Horse Museum outside Lexington, so I know -- may be as great a passion for Shatner as acting. Sometimes even greater.

Anyway, perhaps the point of all this is that he really has had a fascinating career outside the world of what Trekkies call TOS (for The Original Series of Star Trek.) It's breathtaking, really, to imagine how many roles he has played in front of how many audiences -- from all that Shakespeare to melodrama (in Shatner's version, he and colleagues rescued a dying The World of Suzie Wong by camping it up and making it work as comic parody) to Roger Corman stuff, and finally commercials. The list of his roles might fill this page, and he recounts them in self-deprecating, funny fashion. So they weren't all great theatre. They paid the bills. What's wrong with that?

Now, there's a dreariness that infects a lot of actors' memoirs. (So I met Great Director X, and his aura was great, and he inspired me ... ). With brief slips, Shatner sidesteps the fame and glory stuff with irreverence and humour.

To his credit, he doesn't entirely duck criticism. He acknowledges, fairly briefly, that many of the Star Trek cast despised him during and after the series. The actors who played Uhura, Sulu, Chekhov and Scotty -- the most important supporting parts to the Big Three stars -- all resented him for hogging the storylines and relegating them to a few lines here and there. Shatner says he didn't know that at the time.

Women play a secondary part in this life story. A man with four wives and assorted lovers (the latter all unnamed) has to deal with women in his autobiography. Two wives split with him. One got very drunk and drowned in the family's pool. One is his wife today. But none of them occupy a huge amount of the book. In the end it's an actor's book, revealing if you want humorous tales of quirky Broadway actors and big-budget Hollywood madness, less so if you want the guy's soul. He paints himself as a comedian who also does drama, and this attitude carries over into his narrative. Which is fine; the book is meant to be fun and to reveal behind-the-scenes stories from the life of a busy actor.

But if you just want to read about Captain Kirk, skip to page 114.

http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/new ... 54077082af

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angel - May 25, 2008 - 10:44 PM
Post subject:

TRexx wrote:

Here's just one Star Trek anecdote: DeForest Kelley (Dr. McCoy in the series) was all upset one day. His chihuahua died. Shatner was all ready to be sympathetic until he learned the dog had run into a lawn sprinkler and been killed. He laughed. Kelley got pretty upset.

I'm sorry, but I find this funny, also! Laughing

How does a dog die by lawn sprinkler? Shocked

I can't imagine how! Laughing

TRexx - May 26, 2008 - 07:10 AM
Post subject:

angel wrote:

I'm sorry, but I find this funny, also! Laughing

How does a dog die by lawn sprinkler? Shocked

I can't imagine how! Laughing

Here's a transcript from Bill's interview with Conan O'Brien, on 19 November 2004, in which he describes the Chihuahua incident...

Conan: I read in an interview, a long time ago, that Dr. McCoy -- uh, DeForest Kelley, the actor -- he gave you the silent treatment for two years, during your time together making Star Trek. Two years, he wouldn't talk to you on the set because he was furious with you. What was going on? Is that true, first of all?

Shatner: It is.

Conan: Yes. Yeah.

Shatner: I mean, I didn't... I didn't... I was a friend. I wanted to be his friend.

Conan: Yeah, and he was mad at you. Why was he so mad at you?

Shatner: He... he... he got angry easily.

Conan: Mm-hmm.

Shatner: And... and... it was over his dog.

Conan: His dog. What happened?

Shatner: He walked his dog, every morning.

Conan: Mm-hmm.

Shatner: And he came in one morning, to the makeup room, and he was crying.

Conan: Mm-hmm.

Shatner: I said, "What happened?" He said, "My dog is dead."

Conan: What -- aw.

Shatner: Exactly. That was my reaction. "What -- what happened?" He said, "I was walking my little..." -- uh, what do you call them? A little, uh, Chihuahua.

Conan: Mm-hmm.

Shatner: "I was walking my little Chihuahua, and she got off the leash; and she started running around in the grass, and hit a sprinkler head and dropped dead."

( Audience laughter )

Conan: Hit a -- I've never heard of that! Hit a sprinkler head and dropped dead?

Shatner: You see what their (the audience) reaction was?

( Laughter )

Conan: People laughed.

Shatner: That's what I did.

Conan: You laughed!

( Laughter )

Shatner: He didn't talk to me for two years.

Conan: He was... Oh, my god! He must've been furious. Did he act like McCoy in that moment, and look up from the dog and go, "Jim, he's dead!"

( Laughter )

Conan: Did he do that?

Shatner: He tried to give the dog mouth-to-mouth, yeah.

Conan: Oh, god. So you laughed?

Shatner: I laughed.

Conan: When someone comes in, and they're crying, and they tell you their dog died, you have to try not to laugh.

Shatner: When their dog... their dog... their DOG...

Shatner: I think Dobermans are a dog.

Conan: Right.

Shatner: A Chihuahua is a rat.

( Laughter )

Conan (to audience): Please, if you're angry -- a lot of dog people get very... there are a lot of Chihuahua lovers --

Shatner: Yeah, but those people --

Conan (to audience): If you're angry about that comment, write to Will Shatner, care of "The View," and we'll, uh --

( Laughter )

Shatner: Those people's bark are worse than their bite!

( Conan laughs )

Conan: Ah, you! You're insane.

( Laughter )

Shatner: Yes.

Conan: You're insane. Now --

Shatner: But not enough.

Conan: Well, I got that out of the way.

Shatner: Okay, good, I'm glad.

http://www.vrrrm.com/tv/LateNight/04/11/ws041119.php

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TRexx - May 26, 2008 - 08:26 AM
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From WSYR-TV...

Shatner once suspected in wife's death

Star Trek actor William Shatner was once investigated by police as a murder suspect after his alcoholic wife drowned in a pool.

In his new autobiography, Up Till Now, Shatner explains how he tried desperately to save wife Nerine Kidd after finding her floating face down in their home pool -- only to discover she was dead.

And the grief-stricken star, who shot to fame as Captain Kirk in the original 1960s TV show, was further devastated when a detective at the scene told him: "If there is any hint of foul play, you are the first suspect."

Shatner writes that he replied: "What are you talking about? This is the woman I loved more than my life. I wouldn't hurt her."

Kidd's death marked the end of a marriage the 77-year-old insists was made tumultuous by his wife's cocaine abuse.

He adds: "I was so frustrated, so angry. We were so close to a wonderful life together but we just couldn't get there..."

"And then to see her drunk... to see our life together being shattered. I would sit in our house and cry. I remember sitting in a chair one morning, my hands over my eyes, sobbing."

A coroner eventually ruled that actress Kidd, 40, died accidentally after she had been drinking by the pool and slipped, hitting her head and falling unconscious into the pool.

http://www.9wsyr.com/entertainment/stor ... mp;rss=118

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TRexx - May 27, 2008 - 04:45 AM
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From The Telegraph UK...

William Shatner: The man who fell to Earth

Last Updated: 12:01am BST 27/05/2008, Page 1 of 3

Since he abandoned intergalactic exploration at the helm of the starship enterprise, William Shatner has had his feet planted firmly on the ground. He's had to -- years of living with an alcoholic wife saw to that.

By Olga Craig

William Shatner leans back in his leather chair, cups his chin in his palms and studies the floor. He is in reflective mood. Then, suddenly, his head jerks up. 'You know, Leonard Nimoy telephoned me just before I married Nerine. He said just one sentence, "Bill, you do know that Nerine is an alcoholic." I'm not sure what Leonard expected me to say. "I know she is," I told him. "But I love her." Leonard didn't speak for a minute and then he said, sadly, "Well, Bill, then you are in for a rough ride."'

William Shatner: 'It's been strange not being the lead character. But it's probably made me easier to work with'

In the silence of his dressing-room, on the set of the award-winning television series, Boston Legal, Shatner crosses his legs uncomfortably in his chair. He studies the floor again. He has rarely spoken of just how rough a ride that was to be.

It is almost nine years since Shatner found his beautiful 40-year-old wife dead at the bottom of the blue mosaic swimming pool at the couple's California home. Together seven years, they had been married only two when, on the evening of 9 August 1999, Nerine drowned while alone at the house. Though an autopsy revealed huge levels of alcohol and Valium in her system and the Los Angeles Police Department eventually ruled out foul play, Shatner had to endure days of speculation as the American tabloid press spewed out story after lurid story, insinuating that he was somehow involved.

'Can you imagine what that was like?' he asks, his face twisted in anguish. 'After the O.J. Simpson debacle, I suppose I should have known what was going to happen. The media was asking, "Did Shatner kill his wife?"' He is silent again, lost among his memories.

'I remember diving into the pool,' he says. 'I had enough breath for one deep dive. One of her arms was floating above her and I grabbed her by that arm and lifted her, pulling her towards the shallow end. I laid her by the pool. Her skin was blue. I remember every second... Then, for someone to suspect I killed her? I gave my life to my wife because I loved her. I devoted myself to her until the day she died. And believe me, alcoholism had Nerine by the throat.'

Rarely, he says, does a day pass without thoughts of his late wife. 'Sometimes I berate her for not having stopped drinking. Sometimes I tell her it's OK, that I am thinking about her, that she is alive in my mind. But you never get over it.'

The conversation has been a painful revelation for Shatner, the man who will forever be remembered for a low-budget Sixties science-fiction series that ran for 79 episodes over three years. No one could have foreseen that it would become a cult television show that has spawned a multi-million pound merchandising industry, several follow-up series, seven spin-off films, one of the world's largest fan clubs, 1.3 million sites on the internet and more than 12,000 items of memorabilia for sale at any one time on eBay.

Shatner's creation was, of course, the legendary inter-galactic hero, Captain James Tiberius Kirk, commander of the starship USS Enterprise, compiler of the 'Captain's Log' and the man who boldly went where no man has gone before. Although, in these politically correct days, under the captainship of Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart), Kirk's successor, 'no man' has been replaced by 'no one'.

Trained as a Shakespearean actor, Shatner has worked under Sir Tyrone Guthrie and performed alongside Spencer Tracy, Burt Lancaster, Judy Garland, Walter Matthau and Robert De Niro. In more recent years, he has been better known as the tough, kick-ass cop, T.J. Hooker and, currently, the bombastic, witty Denny Crane in Boston Legal -- for which he recently won an Emmy and Golden Globe. Somewhere along the way he has found time to work as an author, producer, director -- and even singer -- in between breeding horses on his Kentucky ranch and almost killing himself half-a-dozen times on the motor-racing track, where, he confesses, he is a 'total petrol-head'.

As we talk, between takes on the Boston Legal set, whose fifth and final series goes out in America in the autumn, Shatner, now 77, is back in his dressing-room, eyeing an enormous keep-fit contraption that takes up a third of the room. 'I should really be on that,' he says, grimacing. 'But I had a hip-replacement operation three months ago and I'm taking it slowly.'

True, Captain Kirk is, let's say, a little tubbier than when he commanded the bridge of the Enterprise. His girth is, well, great. If he had been, as was suggested at the time, wearing a corset during one of the Star Trek movies, he certainly isn't today. 'Actually, I wasn't wearing a corset,' he corrects. 'I had fallen off a horse and broken some ribs. I had to be strapped up and some kind soul told the tabloids I'd got so beefy that I needed a corset to get into Kirk's costume.' Shatner smiles broadly, his earlier introspective mood erased. 'And no, it isn't a toupée,' he says, tugging his hair.

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TRexx - May 27, 2008 - 04:47 AM
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It has, he says, been cathartic to speak of Nerine. 'Looking back, I know Leonard, who was a recovered alcoholic himself, was warning me not to marry her,' he explains. 'But I did try everything to help her.' And he did. He joined Al Anon, the support group for families, in the hope of learning how to wean Nerine off. 'Then I realised I was going there to learn how to live with an alcoholic. And I didn't want her to be an alcoholic. But I couldn't compete with the drink.'

For many of their earlier years together Nerine, a former model, successfully hid the extent of her addiction. Slowly, however, she became worse. She would go to bed sober, then rise to drink. In the morning, when Shatner woke up, she would be drunk. She tried rehab three times but she couldn't resist the lure of the bottle. At one stage Shatner had to fit an immobiliser to her car so that she couldn't drive while inebriated.

Nerine Kidd in 1996, late wife of William Shatner

'That was after she almost killed my daughter,' he says wearily. 'She had picked her up from a spa in Palm Springs and, apparently, as she drove home, she would stop at gas stations, go into the ladies' room and down a small bottle of whatever she was drinking. She was exiting the freeway and for no reason slammed on the brakes. If there had been a car behind her it would have slammed into her at freeway speed. What kind of insanity is that? To drive drunk with a young person in the car.

'I married Nerine against the advice of my family and friends. Against my own good sense. But I absolutely worshipped her and I thought, stupidly, that I could heal her.' Nerine had stopped drinking and the couple married in Pasadena with Nimoy as best man. 'Our wedding day was wonderful. Nerine was sober and we went to bed that night ecstatic. I woke up the next morning at eight and she was drunk. Later, I found she had hidden bottles of vodka all over the house.'

The tragedy of life with a drunk, he says, is that the storming, alcohol-fuelled rows wreak havoc on the family, not the alcoholic. 'Nerine would ask after a drunken, rowing evening, "What's wrong, Bill? Why are you crying?" She would have forgotten the whole episode. Leonard tried desperately hard to help her. He had battled his own demons with the bottle when we were making Star Trek. He kept it hidden so well that none of us knew at the time. He didn't get dry until the late Eighties, so when I introduced Nerine to him, he knew what an uphill struggle it would be if I married her. And he knew, too, the awful toll it takes on the person who loves an alcoholic. He taught me that it can be genetic. That there's a gene that can make one have the potential to become addicted. But it's about environmental things, too.'

After Nerine's death Shatner became reclusive. But, a lifelong workaholic, he threw himself into a variety of acting and directing projects. Work, he says, is his ethic.

Born into a Polish/Austrian/Hungarian family and brought up in Montreal, he first trod the boards at summer camp. There, the young Shatner discovered a passion that has never diminished. His father was a tailor who went on to run a clothing company. He always hoped his son would join the family business and, for a few years, Shatner worked on the factory floor packing suits. 'To this day, one of my skills is good packing,' he says. 'Had I not become an actor, I could have had a fine career in folding.'

His mother, however, something of a pushy parent, encouraged the young Shatner to attend acting school. With each success, Mrs Shatner's pride swelled. 'She was forever telling anyone who would listen: "I'm William Shatner's mother" -- and that was when no one knew who the hell I was,' he laughs.

But for all that, Shatner junior was a shy youth. 'I would send myself Valentine cards. They were the only ones I received. One year, I sent myself six.' His isolation strengthened his resolve and he wasn't one to back down from a schoolyard scrap. So much so that his boyhood nickname was Toughie.

His big break was, of course, Star Trek. Its futuristic tales of space travel -- albeit through a galaxy created from a black cloth that was full of holes and backlit, and a wobbly set that called on the cast of unknowns to throw themselves around the room to simulate the effects of attacks -- captured the late-Sixties obsession with aliens and other worlds.

The pilot starred Jeffrey Hunter who was panned by critics for his wooden portrayal of the starship captain. Shatner was hired and the rapport between him and Nimoy, who played the pointy-eared, half-human, half-Vulcan Mr Spock, was instant. 'It was all luck,' says Shatner. 'I look back upon it as the miracle that changed my life.'

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TRexx - May 27, 2008 - 04:52 AM
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He does, however, admit that the adulation of more than a million Trekkers (true fans shudder at being dubbed Trekkies) can be trying. Not long ago, riding his monster motorcycle on a California highway, he skidded across two lanes. Undeterred, the irrepressible Shatner clambered back on his bike. ('I had a doll to deliver to my granddaughter,' he says, by way of explanation.) He was bleeding profusely -- and attracting a lot of attention. 'People were driving up and college kids were yelling at me. Finally, one uttered the ultimate insult. He yelled, "Beam me up, Scotty." So I gave him the finger and drove off.'

There have been times, though, when his Kirk persona has paid off. Once, scheduled to film an early morning desert scene, Shatner dressed in his Kirk costume at home and drove at break-neck speed to make the set for his 4am deadline. 'I didn't think there would be any other traffic,' he says. 'There was. A police car with flashing lights pulled me over.' When asked where he was going, Shatner replied, 'To my spaceship.' The officer sighed and sent him on his way. 'Not without telling me to "live long and prosper".' (The traditional Vulcan salute.)

When the series was pulled three years after NBC first aired it in 1969, Shatner's career -- and his first marriage to Gloria Rand -- crashed with it. 'I was divorced, had three kids to support and was totally broke,' he recalls. 'I managed to find some summer work but couldn't afford hotels, so I was living in the back of a pick-up truck in the San Fernando valley. I rigged up a shower, raised up on stilts.

'It looked just like a lunar module. A young kid of about six came across me one day, took one look and said, "Wow, Captain Kirk." I couldn't resist playing along. I invited him on board and gave him a tour of my ship. There is a middle-aged man out there somewhere who is laughed at in his local bar every time he insists Captain Kirk of the starship Enterprise really did exist.'

When Shatner eventually reprised the role of Kirk in the film Star Trek Generations, in which he teamed up with Jean-Luc Picard, he admits to a moment of nostalgia during the scenes in which he entrusted his starship to its new commander. 'It was a really strange sensation, like giving away my most prized possession. It was nothing to filming Kirk's death scene, though.

New lease of life: Shatner in Boston Legal

'In the original script, Kirk died when he was shot in the back. But trial audiences hated it, so I ended up getting crushed to death seconds after I'd saved a galaxy. One of my enduring lines in the original series was, "Captain on the bridge." I did a little improvisation and, as everything collapsed upon me, I yelled, "Bridge on the captain." Sadly, they cut it.'

Filming the scene concentrated Shatner's mind on his own mortality. 'I lay awake thinking about it the night before,' he admits. 'And I've thought about it a lot recently. I recognise I am getting older. A while back a horse fell on me -- that's why I needed the hip replacement. I could easily have been killed. Afterwards, I realised that, in that split second, inches from death, there was no big realisation, no moment of clarity.

'I had always thought in that split second... Well, I suppose I thought there would be some dawning. There wasn't. But I've been thinking about death a lot. A good friend lost her mother to cancer recently. She only had a few weeks between diagnosis and death. Just before she died, she turned to her daughter and said, with great surprise: "I'm dying. Just like that. I'm dying." It was as though she were saying, how could this be happening? To realise, in an instant, that life with all its vagaries, is about to end...'

In the past few weeks, one of Shatner's elderly relatives was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. 'She is bed-bound, has bed-sores. She just lies there in a foetal position. She is aware, she is in pain, but she's been deprived of all dignity. I turned to Liz, my wife (Shatner married his fourth wife, Elizabeth Martin, in 2001. Nerine had been his third wife -- after Gloria Rand, Shatner was married for more than 20 years to Marcy Lafferty), and said: "If that happens to me you just have to shoot me."'

Throughout the late-Seventies Shatner's career stuttered somewhat: though he appeared regularly on American television shows such as Hawaii Five-O, Marcus Welby MD and Ironside, he had few starring roles. Then, in the Eighties, he was cast as tough LA cop, T.J. Hooker.

'Ah, Hooker,' Shatner says, with obvious satisfaction. 'My chance to be an old-fashioned cop.' But while Hooker was popular with the public, the series, like Star Trek, ran for only three years. A new generation of fans know Shatner as the eccentric, bombastic and highly comic lawyer Denny Crane in Boston Legal. 'It has been strange not being the lead character,' he admits. 'But it's probably made me an easier actor to work with.' Shatner is referring to the caustic criticism heaped on him by members of the original Star Trek cast when he interviewed them for his book, Star Trek Memories, in the early Nineties. Shatner, it was widely reported at the time, was devastated to discover that they disliked him intensely.

Nichelle Nichols, who played the black crew member Uhura and with whom Shatner had shared a then highly controversial interracial screen kiss, told him bluntly: 'I have to tell you why I despise you.' He had been utterly self-absorbed throughout the series, she told him. 'Nichelle said I'd hogged the best lines and gave no support to my fellow cast members. It turned out most of them felt the same way.'

Shatner shifts uncomfortably. 'I was hurt,' he admits. 'But, come on,' he says, breaking into a broad grin. 'Come on, 30 years on, to feel that strongly? I mean it's petty. It's not just petty, it's psychotic. But, heck, several of them were writing their own books. Maybe they needed some controversy. Who knows. At the time I was just focused on my work. And, yeah, maybe I could be difficult. If I didn't get the best lines. I remember moaning to Gene (Roddenberry, the series creator) and he just looked at me and said, "Bill, never be afraid of having other popular and talented people around you." It was good advice. I took it.'

Over the past months, Shatner has been working on his autobiography, Up Till Now. 'It's the usual, life and times of,' he says. 'But I've really written it for my kids and grandkids. I've always been reluctant to talk too much about my career to the kids. I don't want to create any distance between me and them. For them I just want to be Dad and Papa. They're the ones who matter.'

On set, the cast are gathering for the final scene of the day. Denny Crane, as ever, will be centre stage. 'We're waiting to hear if they are going to commission another series,' Shatner says, as he gazes out of the window. 'I hope they do. But, then again, I have a film I want to make. And some animal programmes I want to narrate.'

'Come over here,' he says, excited suddenly. 'See that, down in the parking lot? That's my latest car. It's a hand-made convertible Aston Martin. Now that baby can go. Shame we don't have time for a spin.'

William Shatner says he is slowing down. 'I've been running as fast as I can up until now,' he says. 'I intend to pace things down. Career wise. Not behind the steering wheel, though. Never there.'

'Up Till Now: The Autobiography', by William Shatner (Sidgwick & Jackson, £18.99), is available from Telegraph Books for £16.99 plus £1.25 p&p. To order, call 0870 428 4115 or go to books.telegraph.co.uk

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jh ... rv07053100

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daisydownunder - May 27, 2008 - 07:31 AM
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Thanks Trexx very good read

daisy Smile

TRexx - May 27, 2008 - 05:56 PM
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From The Globe and Mail...

Don Cherry at Stratford: mystery solved

JAMES ADAMS, From Tuesday's Globe and Mail, May 27, 2008 at 3:51 AM EDT

The Great Stratford Shakespeare Festival/William Shatner Mystery has been solved. Or at least the largest part of it, thanks to 76-year-old Peter Wylde of Toronto, a member of one of Stratford's earliest acting companies.

Though he cracked the case, Wylde doesn't seem all that happy about having done so.

The mystery arose last week when The Globe and Mail recounted an anecdote from Shatner's just-published memoir, Up Till Now, in which a young, pre-Star Trek Shatner, coming in as a last-minute replacement for an ill Christopher Plummer the evening of Aug. 10, 1956, forgets his lines as Henry V and looks to a fellow cast member for help.

"There stood salvation," Shatner writes. "Don Cherry [our italics] had a photographic memory. He knew the entire play! Every line."

Not surprisingly, this prompted a decidedly dramatic "Huh?" from drama buffs and hockey fans. Don Cherry? Grapes and Willy the Shake? Sure, Mr. Coach's Corner is an actor -- but at Stratford?

Alas, no. While there was a Donald onstage that evening, the playbill shows it to have been one Donald Davis. No other Donald is mentioned, nor do Stratford archives indicate there ever was another Don Cherry among its troupe of players.

Still, when the Montreal-born Shatner, 77, was presented last week with information that his memory, in this regard at least, was faulty, he dug in. After you've written, "As long as I live I will never forget Don Cherry," it's a tad difficult to plead mea culpa, one supposes.

To be entirely fair, Shatner did work professionally with Cherry -- the real Don Cherry -- albeit in 2006 when both were doing voices for The Wild, a Disney animation feature.

But the man to whom Shatner looked for salvation more than a half-century ago was Peter Wylde, whose name -- or names (more on this anon, as the Bard might say) -- was recalled late last week by another member of that Henry V cast, David Gardner, also from Toronto. (Wylde was onstage that evening substituting for Shatner as the Duke of Gloucester; Plummer was recovering from -- accounts vary -- passing a kidney stone or fracturing a rib.) Wylde, head of the acting department at Toronto's George Brown College from 1986 to 1999 and an instructor at Ryerson University since 2000, told The Globe and Mail that he was unaware that Shatner had even written a memoir. And after the Henry V anecdote was related to him, well, let's just say the Toronto thespian wasn't all that keen on hustling to his nearest bookstore to buy a copy.

"I'm very sorry about all this because I would like to be immortalized in Bill Shatner's memoirs," he remarked at one point. "Preferably by the proper name, of course. What a pity he got it wrong!"

Interestingly, Wylde's own version of the events of that fateful August night before of an audience of 2,500 meshes almost identically with Shatner's -- but with one crucial exception (besides the failure to remember Wylde's name).

Yes, Wylde averred, "I did have that reputation of knowing all the lines." Yes, the future Captain Kirk, T.J. Hooker and Denny Crane, "standing dead centre up-stage, did blank completely," whereupon he "slowly and deliberately marched down to me, placed his hand on my shoulder ... and whispered in my ear, 'What's my next line?' " That line -- which Shatner does not recount -- was: "What is this castle called that stands hard by?" In Shatner's telling, however, it is Cherry -- er, Wylde -- whose heretofore infallible memory falters at this potentially embarrassing moment and Shatner's which is instantly restored.

Not so, a dismayed Wylde said when told this. "He had blanked completely. He was coming towards me and by the length of time it was taking, I knew what had happened. And when he said, 'What's my next line?' it was right there in my mouth. I knew exactly what the next line was."

Wylde exclaimed: "You mean, he's taking that away from me too?"

Until this moment, Wylde had been "absolutely flabbergasted" that Shatner had been remembering the episode "all so vividly" in his memoir. "I really scarcely thought that he'd taken any notice of me at all."

Now, with Shatner asserting the primacy of his own memory, "I wouldn't bother to change the name [from Cherry to Wylde] for the second edition. Leave it," Wylde snorted.

But how is it that Shatner came up with Don Cherry? Wylde presented both an answer and, in so doing, a new mystery. Turns out his birth surname is Cherrie, pronounced Cherry. But professionally "my name is, was and always will be Peter Wylde."

Shatner, in fact, "would never have known any name for me except Peter Wylde."

Somehow, though, Shatner ended up with Wylde's real last name, Cherrie, then boldly went and conflated it with Don Cherry, with whom he worked on The Wild. Clearly, there are more things in heaven and earth. ...

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/ ... nment/home

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angel - May 27, 2008 - 08:26 PM
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Thanks for the chihuahua transcript! Hilarious! And so tragically sad on the rest Crying or Very sad

It's like a shock to the system reading something really funny and then reading something so upsetting.

TRexx - May 27, 2008 - 08:52 PM
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From SPACECAST.com...

The Canadian SPACE channel chatted with Bill about James T. Kirk and being a Canuck "American Icon."

Bill's segment starts at about 15 minutes into this sci-fi podcast.

Total audio (MP3) playback time = 25 minutes.

http://podcast.chumcity.net/specialty/s ... _May23.mp3

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SMB - May 28, 2008 - 06:36 AM
Post subject:

Quote:

"There stood salvation," Shatner writes. "Don Cherry [our italics] had a photographic memory. He knew the entire play! Every line."

Not surprisingly, this prompted a decidedly dramatic "Huh?" from drama buffs and hockey fans. Don Cherry? Grapes and Willy the Shake? Sure, Mr. Coach's Corner is an actor -- but at Stratford?

Alas, no. While there was a Donald onstage that evening, the playbill shows it to have been one Donald Davis. No other Donald is mentioned, nor do Stratford archives indicate there ever was another Don Cherry among its troupe of players.

Sometimes a memory can get hazy, but none-the-less, it is impolite to correct an elder.

TRexx - May 29, 2008 - 04:08 AM
Post subject:

From MTV.com...

William Shatner Explains 1992 MTV Movie Awards Spoken-Word Performance: 'I Was Concussed'

Horseback-riding fall didn't stop actor from recording renditions of Best Song nominees for first-ever Movie Awards.

By Shawn Adler, with reporting by Josh Horowitz, May 28 2008 8:00 AM EDT

In the 16-year history of the MTV Movie Awards, there have been fights, laughs and more than a few surprises. But there has only been one William Shatner, the 77-year-old star of Boston Legal -- best known as Captain Kirk on Star Trek -- who brought the celebrity crowd to its knees with spoken-word renditions of the Best Song nominees at the first-ever Movie Awards broadcast.

Even after nearly two decades of showmanship, it remains one of the program's most memorable moments. Now if only Shatner could remember it.

"I was concussed," the veteran actor recalled of the day he filmed those parody videos. "I don't remember doing the songs!"

According to Shatner, he was contacted to perform the songs -- which included Color Me Badd's "I Wanna Sex You Up" from "New Jack City," Guns N' Roses' "You Could Be Mine" from "Terminator 2" and the winner, Bryan Adams' "Everything I Do" from "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves" -- only "a week before [filming]. "I thought, 'Wow, that would be interesting. What fun!' " Shatner confessed. "So I said, 'Great!' "

Scheduled to perform midweek (in those days the awards show was taped, not broadcast live like it will be this Sunday), Shatner chose to go horseback riding the day of his shoot.

"So that morning of the afternoon I was going to be there, I went to ride some of my horses, and I got on a 3-year-old horse. Boom! The horse went up in the air, and I was knocked unconscious. I was out, apparently for a half an hour," Shatner said. " 'What happened?' They told me what happened. 'What happened?' They told me again. This went on for a couple of hours, and I went to the doctor's.

"So I'm now driving back to Los Angeles and dimly I remember there's something I have to do, and suddenly it occurs to me that I have to sing five songs for MTV!" Shatner continued. "I make a U-turn, go to the studio, and I'm in a dressing room with manure still in my ears!"

But a concussion was far from the only complication with Shatner's shoot, he said.

"I said, 'You know, I don't sing, I do lyrics, so I need an instrument that carries the tune and I need rhythm instruments -- anything," he revealed. "And I'm trotted out to the stage, and they have bongo drums and a xylophone to carry the tune. And I've got to sing a song like 'I Want to Sex You Up,' which has six words. That's the song!"

Watch video of Shatner's performances now, particularly "I 'Want to' Sex You Up," and you'll notice a loopy, almost stoned quality to his renditions -- no doubt the result of his severe concussion. In fact, the whole thing played like an Andy Kaufman joke, Shatner now laughs, with an audience unsure of what to make of his crazed renditions.

"The idea of failure and being laughed at never sort of occurs to me because it happens all the time. I'm inured to failure," Shatner told MTV News. "So when they played it in front of the audience, and I was at home watching it, I heard the audience mutter. By the second song, they were starting to laugh, [but] by the third song? We had them!"

Check out the MTV Movies Blog for Shatner's picks for Best Fight.

http://www.mtv.com/movies/news/articles ... tory.jhtml

Video of Bill's 1992 MTV Award performances...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPcDm2i6VaY (Bill "I Wanna Sex You Up")

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=maUEvN5sQDs (Bill "I Do It For You")

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TRexx - May 29, 2008 - 04:34 AM
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From The Electric Morning Show...

Wednesday, May 28th, 2008 at 7:48 am

Today on Classic Hits 92.9 radio "The Electric Morning Show", Jack Hammer and Andre Kane spoke to William Shatner on The Celebrity Hotline.

Total audio (MP3) playback time = 5 minutes.

http://www.fileden.com/files/2007/9/25/ ... hatner.mp3

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TRexx - May 29, 2008 - 04:47 AM
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From MTV.com...

Shatner 'Solidly Behind' Disappointment Over Star Trek Exclusion

Published by Larry Carroll on Wednesday, May 28, 2008 at 2:08 pm.

When it comes to the legendary William Shatner, there are a million reasons to love the guy, from T.J. Hooker to those goofy Priceline commercials, to the Saturday Night Live episode when he told us all to get a life. But when all is said and done, he'll always be Captain Kirk -- and no "Just My Luck" heartthrob can take that away from him.

"I'm solidly behind being disappointed that I'm not in it," Shatner told us recently about J.J. Abrams' big-budget Trek re-imagining, which will hit theaters next May without the presence of the world's greatest over-actor (who was also on the first MTV Movie Awards... read his thoughts on that experience here).

"Passage of time, for sure; that was me a long time ago," Shatner said of James T. Kirk. "It'll be interesting to see whether [the new movie] is successful or not. If anyone can make Star Trek live, [Abrams] can do it. The question is: Is it still alive, or is it time for all of us to move on?"

As for the new Kirk, "I met him and just said hello," he said of Chris Pine, son of Shatner's co-star from the 1973 TV movie Incident on a Dark Street, Robert Pine. "I worked with his father."

One of Shatner's most interesting comments, however, was his take on one of the key moments that began the downslide of the Trek franchise. "What does God need with a starship? To get around?" Shatner grinned while discussing Star Trek V: The Final Frontier, which he co-wrote and directed. "He's immobile!"

"The extraordinary disappointment was that before the special effects went in, I asked the producer: Is this as good as I think it is? I thought it was pretty good, and the heads of the studio were saying 'good job'," Shatner shrugged, thinking back to the flick many Trekkies consider to be the worst of the franchise. "The problem of that movie [was too many] compromises. The original compromise was: Let's make it an alien who thinks he's God. Soon, I realized I had compromised the whole movie."

Is Final Frontier the franchise's worst flick? Will you miss Shat when he isn't in Trek next May? Give us your thoughts -- and then go get a life!

http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2008/05/28/sh ... exclusion/

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TRexx - May 29, 2008 - 05:22 AM
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From The Jewish Week...

Captain Of Industry

Still busy at 77, William Shatner is not just an actor but a brand name; a promise to his Jewish immigrant father may explain why.

by Adam Dickter, Assistant Managing Editor, 05/28/2008

He'll never shake the association with a certain science fiction TV icon, nor does he want to. But the older he gets, the more William Shatner seems determined to eclipse that role with an astonishingly diverse litany of credits.

Star of a hit ABC legal drama; recording artist and master of the spoken word with his ... penchant ... for ... dramatic pauses; author of memoirs and science fiction novels; horse breeder and champion of an equestrian charity, as well as celebrity spokesman and fundraiser for the American Tinnitus Foundation; huckster for Priceline.com; and the man who, as host of one of the first reality shows, helped millions of Americans remember the number for 911. Add to that list host of a game show (albeit a canceled one) and, coming soon to the cable channel A&E, host of the talk show Raw Nerve. His eponymous Web site offers the latest details, as well as a host of merchandising, and live ShatnerVision allows the star to personally keep fans up to date.

Is he a workaholic? "I've never thought of myself that way," he told The Jewish Week in an interview to promote his just-released memoir, Up Till Now, published by Thomas Dunne Books. "But I suppose there are some lazy people who would look at it like that."

Among the memoir's stories of growing up in a Montreal family of Jewish immigrants from Poland and Hungary is one about how, after graduating from McGill University with a degree in commerce, Shatner was expected by his father, Joseph, to follow him into his moderately successful clothing business. But after several years of theater work in summer camp and college, the younger Shatner had other plans. He was going to go to New York to pursue a full-time acting career. Perplexed and disappointed by his only son's decision, Joseph encouraged him to do what he wanted, with one provision: Don't be a "hanger-on," someone who can't earn his own keep, depending on the generosity of others.

"That was definitely the skywriting in my personal universe," Shatner recalled last week.

While he kept the promise to his father, the years before stardom were lean and tough. Even after his breakthrough role as Capt. James T. Kirk on Star Trek from 1966 to 1969 (his father passed away during season two), there was a period in which Shatner slept in the back of a truck behind the theater where he was appearing and worried incessantly about supporting his three daughters. He accepted roles in films so bad they were never fully released, or not released at all, and worked so hard on them that he occasionally risked his life performing dangerous stunts, all the while dreaming of having more than $1,800 in the bank. He jokes that when the phone rang with acting jobs, he often said yes before picking it up.

It was only after Star Trek, canceled after three struggling seasons, gained a much larger life in syndication that major doors started opening for Shatner. He became the industry's most sought-after host and narrator of science and technology documentaries, and later starred in seven Trek features and the four-season cop drama TJ Hooker.

Up Till Now contains more than everything you ever wanted to know about Shatner's life journey and didn't think to ask, from his early days at a Canadian Jewish Federation summer camp, where his innocent reading of a scary story to a child Holocaust survivor so disturbed the boy that he had to be sent home, to his battles with anti-Semitic bullies on the way to Hebrew school (sadly, no phasers were available to fend them off). "They were kids that didn't know any better," Shatner recalls. "I just thought of it as normal." He notes that he later got into McGill because of a Jewish quota, which no longer exists.

Shatner also writes of his long, sometimes rocky friendship with Star Trek costar Leonard Nimoy, another child of Jewish immigrants who became the family black sheep by heading to Hollywood. While Nimoy famously tweaked his character with Jewish characteristics, notably the Kohanic hand gesture that would become Mr. Spock's salute, Shatner said he gave no such nuance to his character. "Leonard was much richer in that regard than I was," he said.

Raised in an observant home, Shatner is still in touch with his Jewish roots, celebrating holidays with his daughters, who are from his first marriage to Gloria Rand (nee Rabinowitz). "The mystique of being Jewish is something you wear as part of you, as though it were clothing," says Shatner. "You don't think about it, but when you do you feel like it's nice to be a member of the club."

He's visited Israel three times in the past 10 years, most recently to launch a therapeutic horseback riding charity with the Jewish National Fund to aid Jewish and Arab victims of violence by lifting their spirits. "Israel is a magical place," says Shatner. "I've followed the history of Israel and their exploits very closely and the imagination and passion Israelis have is enormous and very touching to Jews in and out of Israel." But Shatner laments about the country's political situation. "I wish the Israelis would continue to use the imagination and perception and political savvy they had when the state was in its formative years. There's less of that now, but I don't know whether the political situation has changed or whether the individuals don't have the stature of the founding fathers of Israel."

In his youth, he said, "I had only the most romantic notions about Israel -- nothing grounded in the sweat and blood it took to defend the state and continue the state -- and so the romance of the Jewish state was what I was brought up on. Having been there, I see now in a more practical sense how tough it is to be a Jew in Israel. They have nothing but my admiration."

Wikipedia lists a Mordechai Shatner, a signer of Israel's declaration of independence, as a relative, but William Shatner says he's never heard of the man.

Just before Passover, Shatner and The Jewish Music Group released Exodus: An Oratorio in Three Parts, in which he reads selections from the biblical chapter accompanied by the Arkansas Symphony. "The audience just grabbed it and were mesmerized by it," he says in typical promotion mode. "The feeling between actor and audience was palpable." Despite the Judaic theme, Shatner says the CD didn't spring from any newly discovered connection with the Torah. He was invited to do the show by conductor David Itkin. "Maybe they called 10 other people and they said no," he jokes. Asked if reviewing the biblical text reminded him of his early Hebrew school days, Shatner said "that was before the continents had formed and the planets had not yet aligned."

Another project with a Jewish sensibility is The Shiva Club, a comedy he hopes to produce that is inspired by his mourning for his third wife, Nerine Kidd. Looking for a diversion during the shiva after her death, he envisioned a film in which a group of comics crash a similar sepulchral gathering at a Jewish Hollywood mogul's home in order to win auditions and make contacts.

In his memoir, he addresses Kidd's accidental drowning, which, given the circumstances, made him the subject of tabloid speculation, though Shatner was never accused of wrongdoing. Detailing her long battle with alcoholism that plagued their marriage, Shatner writes that he dialed 911 for help, rather than immediately pulled Kidd out of his swimming pool, because deep inside he knew it was too late to rescue her. He's now remarried, to the former Elizabeth Anderson Martin, a professional horse trainer.

When Shatner was given the chance to direct the fifth Star Trek movie, The Final Frontier, he wanted the film to reflect a spiritual quest, the search for God, but it proved too controversial for the studio and the series' creator, Gene Roddenberry. Shatner wanted Kirk and Spock literally to go to hell to save a trapped Dr. McCoy, building up to encounters with God and the devil. But the film that was produced had the crew face a deluded Vulcan who believed he knew the path to the creator, and culminated in another clichéd science-fiction face-off with a god-complex alien. The film made money, but was the most poorly received in the series.

"I learned a lot about the art of compromise making that film," says Shatner, who says he believes in "the mystery of God" but adds "whose God, which God?"

Some have interpreted the Star Trek universe as Roddenberry's utopia in which science and galactic curiosity have replaced religion as the driving force behind mankind. But Shatner views it more simpler terms: "I think it's the dream that mankind has all the time: that people have learned to celebrate their differences."

With the death of Kirk in the seventh film in 1994, Shatner may have found closure with the role. But he has continued to pen Star Trek novels that take place in a non-apocryphal universe, and he knows that in sci-fi, no character is truly dead. Spock died in the third movie and returned in the fourth. Kirk may yet have a similar resurrection, but it's on no one's immediate radar. "I've lost some influence in that area because of the change in management," says Shatner, referring to the recent handoff of the franchise from Rick Berman to J.J. Abrams, who produced the forthcoming Star Trek prequel. That film, for the first time, features another actor as Kirk. Although he'd reprise the role if the right script came along, his preference, of course, would be to see one of his Trek novels made into a film.

Meanwhile, Shatner is content to continue as Denny Crane on Boston Legal, now renewed for another season, and to promote eclectic projects like Gonzo Ballet, a documentary about a dance production based on a song from the album he recorded with Ben Folds, Has Been. One project continues to pave the way for the next, and he shows no sign of slowing down.

"I will, someday," he says. "But not yet."

http://www.thejewishweek.com/viewArticl ... Books.html

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TRexx - May 29, 2008 - 05:33 AM
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From Access Atlanta...

Belew hits wide-ranging notes

By JONATHAN WILLIAMS, For AccessAtlanta, Published on: 05/29/2008

AS ONE OF THE MOST accomplished guitarists of the past few decades, Adrian Belew has performed and recorded with the likes of Frank Zappa, David Bowie, the Talking Heads, Nine Inch Nails and Tori Amos, not to mention William Shatner and Henry Rollins -- at the same time!

...

Q: Tell me if this doesn't sound like the beginning of a bad joke. William Shatner, Henry Rollins, Ben Folds and Adrian Belew are in the studio one day ...

A: That does sound like a bad joke. That was actually another night of hilarious fun. I'm friends with Ben Folds and John Painter, the two people who were producing that record [William Shatner's 2004 album Has Been], and they called me and said, "Hey, we've got William Shatner and Henry Rollins here and they really want you to come over and play." We just did some improvisational work until about 5 in the morning and it was a lot of fun. I really enjoyed William Shatner. He's a ball of energy, unbelievable. Henry's a character, too. Having him and William Shatner in the same room together, there was almost no air left.

• THE 411: Adrian Belew Power Trio with Elliot Holden. $25. 8 p.m. May 29. Smith's Olde Bar, 1578 Piedmont Ave., Midtown. 404-875-1522, www.adrianbelew.net, www.smithsoldebar.com.

Read the complete Q&A at Access Atlanta...

http://www.accessatlanta.com/services/c ... p;cxcat=13

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TRexx - May 29, 2008 - 09:07 AM
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From Rocketry Blog...

Model Rocket Video from Mid-70s with William Shatner

Posted in Rocket Video, 05.27.08 tagged video at 10:50 am by rocketry

Oh the 70s... what a decade. Here William Shatner visits model rocketry. This is a thorough introduction to rocketry with lots of cool 70s synthesizers and views of classic Estes kits. You don't want to miss this one.

Model Rocketry: The Last Frontier

Video Part 1 @ YouTube [CLICK HERE]
Video Part 2 @ YouTube [CLICK HERE]

http://rocketry.wordpress.com/2008/05/2 ... m-shatner/

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TRexx - May 30, 2008 - 06:04 AM
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From CompSciGail.blogspot.com...

Randy Pausch: Dare I Call Him a Hero?

Thursday, May 29, 2008

I picked up Randy Pausch's The Last Lecture on a whim this past weekend. I started reading it last night and got halfway through. I would have read the whole thing if it weren't for the fact that my keratoconic eyes can only take so much. I want to call Randy my new hero, but he admits in his book that he has suffered from being too self-praising in the past, so dare I say it? Smile

The idea behind this book is centered on the fact that Randy, a computer science professor at Carnegie Mellon, is dying of pancreatic cancer.

...

One of my favorite stories was about how much he admired Captain Kirk, and how he always dreamed of actually being Kirk. That didn't exactly come true, but something better happened. William Shatner visited Randy's virtual reality lab in the 90's when he (Shatner) was co-authoring a book about the now-realized technologies first imagined on Star Trek. Shatner was thrilled to find a virtual recreation of the bridge of the Enterprise, turbolift doors and all. Randy was so impressed that Shatner asked so many questions about it, completely willing to admit exactly what he didn't know, and not willing to leave until he understood it. I can only imagine how much it meant to Randy to receive a signed photo of Shatner as Kirk that read "I don't believe in the no-win scenario." Shatner had sent it when he learned of Randy's cancer.

...

Visit Gail's blog: The Female Perspective of Computer Science...

http://compscigail.blogspot.com/2008/05 ... -hero.html

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TRexx - May 30, 2008 - 06:23 AM
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From The Sudbury Star...

George to everyone else

Jason Alexander has enjoyed success on stage and film. And some TV show

Thursday, May 29, 2008

...

Back in high school, the guy Alexander drew on the most for inspiration on stage was William Shatner as Capt. Kirk.

"If you watched the dramatic performances I did in high school, you'd see basically a William Shatner clone," he said.

At one point, Alexander was asked to host a Star Trek special and was given the part of Kirk in a skit.

The producer later told him "you're doing stuff that is so subtle, it's frightening."

Alexander answered: "You know what's scary. I don't know I'm doing it."

...

LOL Sudbury Opening Gala: May 29, 9 p.m., Fraser Auditorium. Featuring: Jason Alexander, Sabrina Jalees, Winston Spear, John Moloney. Tickets $89.50 (sold out).

See the complete article in The Sudbury Star...

http://www.thesudburystar.com/ArticleDi ... ra+Bradley

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TRexx - May 31, 2008 - 04:18 AM
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From Parade.com...

In Step With...William Shatner

By James Brady, Published: June 1, 2008

Maybe you remember him as Capt. James T. Kirk on Star Trek or currently watch him as the outrageous lawyer Denny Crane on Boston Legal. But until you read his recently published memoir, Up Till Now, you've really just scratched the surface of William Shatner.

It's all in there, including the fights with Star Trek cast members, the four marriages, his third wife's drowning and the subsequent painful inquiry by police, the professional triumphs, and the personal tragedies.

I wondered aloud if the book would offend Leonard Nimoy (Spock), his former Trek co-star, whom Shatner describes as an alcoholic -- sober on the set but stewed when off.

"No," said Shatner. "He and I discuss it often, and Leonard's become a motivational speaker about the problem." Of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry, William said flatly, "He was a chiseler who wanted a cut of outside money his cast earned, demanded to be called 'master,' and prohibited poor Nimoy from using a company pencil."

Shatner and I spoke during his lunch break from shooting one of Boston Legal's final episodes of the season. The successful series is currently in its fourth year, with no signs of stopping, and Shatner's Crane remains quirky.

In real life, William has an edge. He admitted that when he and Legal lead actor James Spader first met, it was chilly. Spader called him Bill, and Shatner said, "Is it James, or can I call you Jimmy?" "No," Spader coldly responded. "It's James."

Today, Shatner adds, "Him, I don't love. But certainly I like him and respect him." Shatner himself is respected by his fans and peers, even if they were slow to reward the actor for his many contributions. When William won an Emmy in 2005 for his Boston Legal work, he demanded of the applauding audience, "What took you so long?"

The poor kid from Montreal had made it, or as Shatner more gracefully put it to me, "Fate has dealt with me so kindly."

Brady's Bits

Shatner is quick, funny, and irreverent. He is the grandfather of five, the kids ranging in age from young to "one little boy of 6 foot 2." Born in 1931, Shatner lives in Tinseltown and is a wealthy man who struggled early on -- even now he is a workaholic. He and his fourth wife, Elizabeth, met in the world of Saddlebred horses. Just what is a Saddlebred? "It was a horse bred for the ease of the rider," Shatner told me. "When you see pictures of Gen. Robert E. Lee's horse, that was a Saddlebred." Meanwhile, one of the best quotes from William's new book is from a past lover: "So this is what it's like to be in bed with Captain Kirk."

Personal

Born March 22, 1931, in Montreal, Canada. Married to Gloria Rand (1956-69), with three children; to Marcy Lafferty (1973-94); to Nerine Kidd (1997-99); and to Elizabeth Anderson Martin (2001--).

Why You Know Him
He led space missions on the TV series Star Trek and its subsequent spin-off films. Now he wows on Boston Legal.

What You Don't Know
He's fluent in French and studied Esperanto.

http://www.parade.com/articles/editions ... am_Shatner

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TRexx - Jun 01, 2008 - 05:13 AM
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From The Aberdeen Press and Journal...

Enterprising times for Shatner

William Shatner has long been a cult figure for thousands of Star Trek fans across the globe, but the actor's life is still full of drama, as Hannah Stephenson discovers

AS CAPTAIN James T Kirk, William Shatner has long been a cult figure across the globe, attracting legions of Trekkies who chart his every move.

Of course he has moved on to do other successful shows including T.J. Hooker in the 1980s and more recently Boston Legal, as oddball attorney Denny Crane. But to most of us he will always be Captain Kirk.

So cultish has he become that a new word has emerged to describe his acting style -- 'Shatnerian'. In Star Trek he was famed for his infamous lengthy dramatic pauses, of which he was never aware.

To some, he may seem slightly eccentric. He sold his kidney stone to an online casino for $75,000 in 2006 to raise money for charity, and if you see some of his weird musical performances on YouTube you might wonder if he's left part of his brain on another planet.

Indeed, George Clooney picked Shatner's rendition of Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds as one of the few things he would take with him if he were marooned on a desert island.

"If you listen to this song, you will hollow out your own leg and make a canoe out of it to get off the island," Clooney explained.

We met to discuss Shatner's autobiography, Up Till Now, a humorous, self-deprecating look at his career, featuring some hilarious anecdotes, from his early days as a classical Shakespearean actor, touring in Canadian rep and gaining attention on Broadway, but not necessarily for the right reasons.

He turned The World Of Suzie Wong, which was supposed to be a serious love story, into a comedy when he speeded up his lines.

"Just by speaking faster and putting emphasis on different words I shortened the play by 15 minutes -- and people began to laugh. I love you, had become, I love you?"

His memoir is peppered with such humorous anecdotes, yet speaking to him, there isn't the spark of off-the-wall humour which is ever-present in the book.

Inevitably we turn to the subject of Star Trek and the fact that he hasn't been asked to appear in the forthcoming movie, Star Trek, out next year. His long-time friend, Leonard Nimoy, who plays Mr Spock, is the only original cast member in the new film.

"I find it peculiar that I wasn't asked," he says. "It was a great role that was written for me and as I aged, they aged the captain. I know that the director and producer JJ Abrams is a nice guy. I wasn't hurt, but I was puzzled. I didn't need the movie as a crutch professionally because I have so much to do but I'm amazed they didn't solve the storytelling problems to incorporate me."

While only three series of Star Trek were made between 1966-69, it wasn't until years later, when Paramount sold the series to many local TV stations, that the fans started coming out of the woodwork to amass, like an army of Klingons, at Star Trek conventions in order to catch a glimpse of their heroes from the starship Enterprise.

No one realised what a success the show would become, he says.

"It was workaday, nobody had the slightest idea that this would last longer than the moment they said 'Cut'. It only happened six or seven years later when the show was syndicated. I was flabbergasted."

He went on to star in seven of the Star Trek movies and appear at sci-fi conventions, but only latterly discovered how disliked he was by some cast members.

"Leonard Nimoy to this day remains my dearest friend, but there were two or three people who were dissatisfied for reasons I've never really discovered to this day. There must be something really deep-seated."

One of those people was Nichelle Nichols, who played Uhura, who accused him of being completely self-absorbed and taking lines away from the rest of the cast.

"I felt badly because you don't want anybody not liking you but also I had no awareness of it," he says now.

Shatner, whose ancestors were a mix of Polish, Austrian and Hungarian Jews, grew up in Montreal, Canada. His father, who had emigrated from eastern Europe when he was 14, made cheap suits for French-Canadian clothing stores. His mother was an elocution teacher. The hard work ethic inevitably rubbed off on the budding actor, who is still reluctant to turn jobs down.

He has done stage and TV dramas, hosted documentaries and game shows, appeared in commercials, done voice-overs, charity appearances, conventions, horse and dog shows, made weird albums such as The Transformed Man and Has Been (which have also achieved cult status) and is now a regularly visited subject on YouTube and MySpace. He also remains the face of Priceline.com, the online auctioning site.

For much of his career he has taken on jobs which, he knows, may not have been the best choices, but they paid the bills.

"I needed to work," he explains. "When I wasn't acting I was doing everything I could to put money in the bank. I wish I hadn't done bad movies but then I was glad to get paid for it."

Shatner, 77, has been married four times and has three daughters from his first marriage. His first two marriages were to struggling actresses who were less successful than him.

"There was envy and resentment, tempered by love and affection, but as the years went by chinks in the armour appeared."

His third marriage, to model Nerine Kidd, ended in tragedy when Shatner found her drowned in their swimming pool in August, 1999. He had already filed for divorce, unable to cope with her alcoholism.

"I went into shock. It took me months to come out of it. There's a pattern to grieving. It starts with denial, then rage, then acceptance. I went through it all."

He sought counselling immediately after her death but doesn't know if it helped.

"The pain is so extreme for such a long time. I don't know if counselling assuaged it or whether it was just the passage of time.

"Of course I felt guilty. Was there something I could have done? Did I do something wrong? One feels that there was something more that could have been done, but you have to forgive yourself at some point."

There were many letters of condolence, one from a horse trainer he knew vaguely, who wrote that she had lost her husband to cancer and offering to help.

"By that time I was fearfully lonely and reaching out. Elizabeth was the perfect person for me to reach towards. She was my great fortune."

Elizabeth later became his wife, with whom he is still blissfully happy. They live in Los Angeles.

Looking forward to the future, Shatner is hoping that Boston Legal will be commissioned for another series.

"Denny Crane is a whole different set of problems that I'm equipped to solve as an actor. I can relax in it. From that point of view I'm enjoying Denny Crane more than I did Captain Kirk."

Away from TV, he has a 360-acre horse farm in Kentucky and a horse-breeding business, but there are lots of other things going on, he enthuses, including his new DVD called Gonzo Ballet, (danced to six of his songs), a talk show on US television and a movie script he's commissioned.

The fear he had of never working again seems to have subsided, for now.

"But I'm having such a good time it's difficult to say no to anything," he says with a smile.

Up Till Now, by William Shatner, is published by Sidgwick & Jackson. Priced £17.99. Available now.

http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Articl ... ?UserKey=0

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TRexx - Jun 01, 2008 - 12:50 PM
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From The Nova Scotian Chronicle-Herald...

Celebrity memoirs charm, enlighten

William Shatner, as James T. Kirk from Star Trek

MARY JO ANDERSON | MOJO'S MISCELLANY, Sun. Jun 1 - 6:57 AM

To my surprise, I was charmed by William Shatner's new memoir, Up Till Now (St. Martin's Press, $28.95). The book opens with perhaps the funniest, most self-deprecating story I have ever read.

This hilarious tale of meeting Koko, the gorilla, sets the tone for the entire memoir. This comic anecdote is followed by a reference to the "tragic death by drowning of (Shatner's) beautiful wife, Nerine."

Shatner reveals his foibles and failures with aplomb, exposes his exterior life in all its wild escapades. He is more taciturn, though honest, about his emotional life and a reader can't help but feel Shatner is a man who is uncomfortable discussing "feelings."

It is very telling that he admits "physical fear has never bothered me as much as emotional fear. . . . I have spent many a sleepless night terrified of failure. Terrified I would never get another acting job . . ."

It may come as a surprise to many people who know Shatner only as Capt. James T. Kirk of the Starship Enterprise or, more recently, as Denny Crane, the eccentric lawyer on Boston Legal, to learn that this actor has had an amazing, long, and full career.

Shatner worked with Tyrone Guthrie at the inception of the Stratford Festival, he appeared on Broadway, made scores of films and television series, and worked with many legendary actors, including Spencer Tracy, Burt Lancaster, Montgomery Clift and Judy Garland.

And he has worked and worked and worked. This is the point Shatner makes over and over again.

"When the phone rang I said yes even before I answered it," he explains. When once asked if he worried about overexposure Shatner replied, "Not as much as I worry about paying the mortgage."

William Shatner grew up in Montreal, his family roots were Polish, Austrian and Hungarian and his father was in the "schmatta" business. Joseph Shatner manufactured inexpensive men's suits, writes his son.

Shatner credits his father with the work ethic he inherited. He proudly claims he has always shown up on time, known his lines, and worked hard, a consummate professional.

The fact that this journeyman actor appears in everything from commercials about a bran cereal to wacky TV shows about UFOs doesn't mean he isn't a fine actor.

A visit to actor Edward G. Robinson's house was instrumental in shaping Shatner's willingness to appear in commercials. Robinson showed Shatner his private art collection, "arguably the finest private collection of French impressionist works in the world," and explained the collection was the reason he did commercials.

"If Edward G. Robinson, who'd made classic films like Little Caesar, Key Largo, and The Cincinnati Kid, could do television commercials, so could the person who made Incubus."

It is Shatner's self-mocking humour, as well as the many fascinating stories from his long career, that makes this memoir such an enjoyable read.

http://thechronicleherald.ca/NovaScotian/1059544.html

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TRexx - Jun 01, 2008 - 01:00 PM
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From the Herald-Tribune...

New York Times Bestsellers List

Published Sunday, June 1, 2008 at 4:30 a.m.

The numeral at the end of each listing indicates the number of weeks a title has been on The New York Times best-sellers list.

NONFICTION

1. AUDITION, by Barbara Walters. (2)
2. THE POST-AMERICAN WORLD, by Fareed Zakaria. (3)
3. ARE YOU THERE, VODKA? IT'S ME, CHELSEA, by Chelsea Handler. (4)
4. A WOLF AT THE TABLE, by Augusten Burroughs. (3)
5. THE REVOLUTION, by Ron Paul. (4)
6. STOLEN INNOCENCE, by Elissa Wall with Lisa Pulitzer. (1)
7. THE DOWNHILL LIE, by Carl Hiaasen. (2)
8. HOME, by Julie Andrews. (7)
9. ESCAPE, by Carolyn Jessop with Laura Palmer. (8 )

10. UP TILL NOW. By William Shatner with David Fisher. (1)

http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20 ... 10688/1376

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TRexx - Jun 02, 2008 - 01:03 AM
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From the Los Angeles Times...

BEA scoops up Shatner books

Photo credit: Carolyn Kellogg

June 01, 2008 in BEA

William Shatner is a multifaceted cultural icon. He's not just Star Trek's Captain Kirk, or the Priceline spokesman, or a recording artist (whose 2004 CD was titled Has Been), or that guy on Boston Legal, or the guy who in a 1963 episode of The Twilight Zone spotted a monster on the wing of a plane. He's also an author -- credited on more than 20 books -- with a new autobiography, Up Till Now.

Shatner was at the BookExpo America convention in Los Angeles on Saturday to sign the hardcover editions; fans queued up early on the convention floor. The publisher had brought along 260 copies, which were handed out to those waiting in line. It took the company's publicists 26 minutes to pass them all out, but there weren't enough books to go around.

That's quite a rate: 10 books per minute, or one Shatner autobiography every six seconds.

-- Carolyn Kellogg

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/jacketc ... -up-s.html

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TRexx - Jun 02, 2008 - 11:46 AM
Post subject:

From New Jersey On-Line...

A trek through Shatner's universe

Monday, June 02, 2008

"Imagine there's no Shatner/It's easy if you try...."

(With apologies to John Lennon. And William Shatner)

Then again, it isn't easy at all to imagine a world without Star Trek, an expanding universe unto itself over the years, or without Shatner, who waxes expansive in his recent Up Till Now: The Autobiography, written with David Fisher.

As one reviewer put, "It is now Bill Shatner's universe -- we just live in it."

Surrender, Dorothys, he has you surrounded: books, Boston Legal, films, WilliamShatner.com, TV commercials, reruns, whatever else.

Unfortunately, J.J. Abrams seems to have flunked cosmology. Abrams is the director of an upcoming Star Trek film that chronicles the early years of the Enterprise. Even if the cast is understandably a younger one, Shatner was miffed that he was not offered a cameo of some kind.

Still, Shatner, now 77, has lived long and prospered, yada yada, and good on him. He was reduced to living out of a pickup truck while doing summer theater after "Star Trek: The Original Recipe" was canceled in 1969, so he pretty much had to start over again.

He had begun humbly, as well.

"It was during (the '50s) that I'd made my American television debut," he writes in his book. "I suspect because of my considerable experience as a featured player at the prestigious Stratford Festival I was offered a role that utilized all of my many talents. I was given the opportunity to create the role of Ranger Bob on the Howdy Doody Show."

(Shatner's fellow Canadian, the late James Doohan, of "Beam me up, Scotty" fame, is credited with having appeared on the Canadian version of Howdy Doody.)

Let's stop for a question.

Who replaced Martin Landau in Mission: Impossible in 1969, as can be seen on the recent DVD release Mission: Impossible: The Fourth TV Season?

Yes, Leonard Nimoy, who, like Shatner, needed a job after Star Trek was axed. That Nimoy's Paris replaced Landau's Rollin Hand is interesting, since Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry had strongly considered Landau for the role of Spock on the original series.

Like Shatner, Nimoy has a bunch of professional credits outside of the Star Trek franchise, even if his eventual obit isn't likely to lead off with his stint as host of "In Search Of ..." Those Spock ears seem spackled on.

Back to Up Till Now.

For one, it's very funny. Shatner can tell a story, often with himself as both setup and punchline. For two, he's candid about himself. There were times when he was a real-life Big Giant Head, the character he played on 3rd Rock From the Sun.

And he wasn't always the most politic of men. The late DeForest Kelley, who played Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy on Star Trek, once came to Shatner stricken that his beloved dog had been killed when it ran right into the head of a lawn sprinkler. Shatner couldn't stifle a giggle.

Another question: What two-time Oscar winner stopped talking to Shatner after Shatner insulted him unwittingly on the set of the 1961 film Judgment at Nuremberg?

Have your answer by No. 10.

Meanwhile, answer these other posers on Shatner, Nimoy, Kelley, Doohan, George Takei, Nichelle Nichols, Walter Koenig and Majel Barrett regarding their credits before and/or beyond the Star Trek franchise.

Get everything right and you could win the CD I Build This City: William Shatner Recites the Songs of Starship. The CD doesn't exist yet, but will, knowing Shatner.

1. Shatner claims one of his films, 1966's Incubus, is the only feature whose dialog is in what artificial language?

2. "Our California dream is reality. Brad Altman and I can now marry." Who wrote those words on his website last month?

3. William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, and James Doohan all guested on this spy series that ran from 1964 to 1968.

4. Nichelle Nichols had a bit role in this 1959 film starring Sidney Poitier, Dorothy Dandridge and Sammy Davis Jr.

5. In a 2003 music poll, William Shatner's version of what "Sgt. Pepper's" song was voted the worst-ever cover of a Beatles song?

6. DeForest Kelley played Morgan Earp in what 1957 western starring Burt Lancaster and Kirk Douglas?

7. Walter Koenig played a Swedish businessman visiting Southern California in a 1965 episode of this Sally Field series.

8. Majel Barrett, widow of Gene Roddenberry, played Gwen Rutherford on one episode of this classic sitcom.

9. Leonard Nimoy directed and appeared in the mid-'80s music video Going Down to Liverpool by this popular girl band.

10. See Judgment at Nuremberg question above.

The answers
1. Esperanto.
2. George Takei.
3. "The Man From U.N.C.L.E."
4. "Porgy and Bess."
5. "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds."
6. "Gunfight at the O.K. Corral."
7. "Gidget."
8. "Leave It to Beaver."
9. The Bangles.
10. Spencer Tracy.

Bonus T-shirt stuff

1. What did the "T.J." in T.J. Hooker stand for?

2. Fittingly, William Shatner performed this 1972 Elton John hit at the 1978 Science Fiction Film Awards.

3. In 1983's Twilight Zone: The Movie, who played the unhinged plane passenger in the segment "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet" that William Shatner had played on the original TV series?

Answer ALL THREE BONUS QUESTIONS correctly and you'll qualify to win a cool Ricky Retro T-shirt. Send answers by mail (Ricky Retro, The Star-Ledger, 1 Star-Ledger Plaza, Newark, N.J. 07102-1200), e-mail (RickyRetro@starledger.com) or fax (973-392-5845) by Thursday of each week. Winners will be determined by a random drawing of correct entries. One entry per person. No phone calls, please.

http://www.nj.com/living/ledger/index.s ... amp;coll=1

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TRexx - Jun 03, 2008 - 01:50 AM
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From Broadcasting & Cable...

Animal Planet Looking at Extraordinary Animals

Series to Be Narrated by Star Trek, Boston Legal Star William Shatner

By Alex Weprin -- Broadcasting & Cable, 6/2/2008 2:26:00 PM

Animal Planet announced a new series following the lives of animals with unusual abilities and talents.

Extraordinary Animals, set to debut June 13 and be narrated by Star Trek and Boston Legal star William Shatner, will look for animals that have abilities more in line with humans than their counterparts in the animal kingdom.

On tap are an elephant that also paints with her trunk; a sea lion capable of logic, a skill once thought to be reserved for humans; a dog that can do mathematics; and a cat that can play the piano, among others.

Animal Planet gave the green light to 17 half-hour episodes of the series, which will air Fridays at 9:30 p.m.

http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6566176.html

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TRexx - Jun 03, 2008 - 06:43 PM
Post subject:

From the Centre Daily Times...

Big Screen Entertainment Group Completes New William Shatner Documentary

Tuesday, Jun. 03, 2008

HOLLYWOOD, Calif. -- Big Screen Entertainment Group CEO Kimberley Kates has announced that post production is complete on William Shatner's Gonzo Ballet, a documentary chronicling the production of a new ballet based on Shatner's album, Has Been. The critically acclaimed album, produced by Ben Folds, provided renowned choreographer Margo Sappington, of the Milwaukee Ballet, with the inspiration to create the new work "Common People." Gonzo Ballet is the story of that ballet, as well as the story of Shatner's musical career.

Gonzo Ballet is a co-production between BSEG and their Florida production partner, Five Star Productions. "Five Star's brilliant post production team, led by Kevin Layne, did a phenomenal job in creating an eminently compelling documentary," stated CEO Kimberley Kates.

Gonzo Ballet is already generating interest from networks and distributors, and will be available to the public very soon. The company's new distribution company "The Independent Film Company," will be selling the Doc under their new banner.

http://www.centredaily.com/business/story/632884.html

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TRexx - Jun 03, 2008 - 06:51 PM
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From CBS 46 News...

Shatner Not Invited To Takei's Wedding

Nimoy, Koenig, Nichols To Attend Actor's Wedding To Partner

POSTED: 9:52 am EDT June 3, 2008, UPDATED: 10:32 am EDT June 3, 2008

George "Sulu" Takei has revealed his plans to wed his longtime companion -- but his former Star Trek co-star, William Shatner, will not be a part of it.

Takei told AP Radio that when he weds Brad Altman on Sept. 14, Walter Koenig, who played Chekhov in Star Trek, will be the best man and Nichelle Nichols, who played Uhura, will be the matron of honor. Leonard "Spock" Nimoy is also invited, but Shatner, who played Captain Kirk, is not.

http://www.cbs46.com/entertainment/1647 ... p;psp=news

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Debb - Jun 03, 2008 - 07:14 PM
Post subject:

too bad - weddings are a great occasion to bury the hatchet... or the phaser ... or whatever..

make peace not war

TRexx wrote:

From CBS 46 News...

Shatner Not Invited To Takei's Wedding

Nimoy, Koenig, Nichols To Attend Actor's Wedding To Partner

TRexx - Jun 04, 2008 - 01:02 PM
Post subject:

From Zap2It.com...

2008 Television Critics Association Awards

Nominees for the TCA "Career Achievement" award this year include James Garner, Bill Moyers, Mike Wallace, and Canadians Lorne Michaels and William Shatner.

The TCA Awards will be handed out July 19 in Los Angeles. The awards are decided by the 250 voting members of the TV Critics Association, which represents print and online reviewers and journalists in the U.S. and Canada.

http://www.zap2it.com/tv/news/zap-2008t ... 6345.story

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TRexx - Jun 04, 2008 - 02:29 PM
Post subject:

From New York Post...

CAPT. KIRK OUT

'SULU' TO BOLDLY GO INTO GAY MARRIAGE WITHOUT FOE SHATNER

STAR WRECK: While three of his Star Trek castmates will be there, William "Capt. Kirk" Shatner was not invited to the gay wedding of George Takei.

By DAVID K. LI

June 4, 2008 -- George "Sulu" Takei is speeding to the final frontier of gay marriage - and several Star Trek comrades will be by his side.

But conspicuously NOT on the guest list is William Shatner, a.k.a Capt. Kirk.

When Takei, 71, weds longtime boyfriend Brad Altman in September, his best man will be Walter Koenig, who played Chekhov on Star Trek, and the matron of honor will be Nichelle Nichols, best known as Uhura.

Leonard "Spock" Nimoy is also an invited guest to the Sept. 14 ceremony in LA.

As for Shatner?

"We have only 200 seats," Altman told AP radio this week.

"Our contact list has, like, 3,500 names, so we have to whittle it down and I don't know if William Shatner is going to make the cut."

The couple diplomatically recounted "Sulu's" longtime beefs with Shatner.

"He's a wonderful actor. No one could have created the character Capt. Kirk the way he brought his singular metabolism to the character," said Takei.

Then he added, "Kirk and Shatner both have this grand ego of sense of self. He sits there in the center of the set and he revels [in] it."

Takei said he was continually miffed with Shatner for pressuring directors to do close-ups of Capt. Kirk, even when the dialogue focused on other characters.

"One or two times, you know, is fine," said Takei. "But when it happens almost regularly, it gets to be a little irritating."

Shatner and his manager did not return messages seeking comment yesterday.

Altman and Takei have been living together for 21 years in LA.

When the California Supreme Court last month ruled that gay marriage was legal, Altman said he dropped to one knee in the couple's kitchen and proposed.

In his blog announcing the wedding, Takei said he couldn't envision life without his partner.

"We've shared the good times as well as struggled through the bad," he said.

"He helped me care for my ailing mother, who lived with us for the last years of her life. He is my love and I can't imagine life without him."

http://www.nypost.com/seven/06042008/ne ... 113861.htm

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TRexx - Jun 04, 2008 - 03:12 PM
Post subject:

Via TopSocialite.com

William Shatner on the NBC Tonight Show with Jay Leno, June 2, 2008...

http://www.topsocialite.com/william-shatner-leno-video/ (two clips)

http://www.redlasso.com/ClipPlayer.aspx ... a0cfaa9c0f (clip 1)
http://www.redlasso.com/ClipPlayer.aspx ... 9fb2923864 (clip 2)

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TRexx - Jun 05, 2008 - 01:04 AM
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From New York Post TV Blog...

'Sulu' Disses Capt. Kirk

Captain Kirk

By DAVID K LI, June 04; Posted by Jackie Strause on June 4, 2008 04:34 PM

William Shatner isn't on George Takei's wedding guest list, but Capt. Kirk still sends his best.

"No, we have not been in touch [with George Takei and his soon-to-be husband] but I wish the happy couple all the best. George deserves a moment of happiness," Shatner said in prepared statement yesterday, hours after The Post published a story about Takei's matrimonial snub.

Takei and long-time boyfriend Brad Altman are tying the knot in L.A. in September. Lt. Uhura [actress Nichelle Nichols] is slated to be the matron of honor, Ensign Chekhov [Walter Koenig] will be the best man and Mr. Spock [Leonard Nimony] is on the guest list -- a Star Trek heavy roll call that conspicuously left off Shatner.

http://blogs.nypost.com/tv/archives/200 ... s_cap.html

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TRexx - Jun 05, 2008 - 01:12 AM
Post subject:

From JohnSimonds.com...

I'm So Much Cooler Online, William Shatner -- Liveblogging Day 3 of RSDC

By jsimonds | June 4, 2008 - 8:04 am - Posted in ibm, ibmrsdc08

I sit in the audience, this time in the front row instead of the escape seats as I, like the rest of the geeks at the show are here early for William Shatner.

Of course there's Boston Legal and TJ Hooker and even Priceline.com, but no one will argue that it's Captain Kirk who saved the universe more often or better. He always got the girl, even if she was green. Heck, he even had the first interracial kiss on screen, a ground breaker socially.

Of course he's less known, except by country music fans as the Dad in "I'm so much cooler Online" with superstar Brad Paisley.

So Scott Hebner, my buddy, you are the [RSDC] host, but it looks like the audience is here for Captain James T. Kirk.

Special guest William Shatner speaks at the RSDC...

The worst software failure? Star Trek V, and he directed it, besides Paris Hilton's hacked cell phone.

He makes comparisons to software and making movies, geeks who haven't seen the sun vs. movie writers who have been in the sun too long. The guy was humorous.

Gene Roddenberry said God stories don't work, and he was right. It was his learning point of his Star Trek experience, when to compromise and when to make a decision.

He talked about peculiarities of actors, and some who face issues without compromise. His point was peoples' opinions count, but you need to stand for your principles.

Coders = Directors

Time is the enemy when a deadline is near. He spoke of anything that can fail will, when directing; Murphy's Law. He was trying to relate to software writing, but mainly talked about movies.... thanks Bill, I enjoyed the stories. At least he called programmers geeks, another good call.

He went through Star Trek, Groom Lake, Tech War, the movie business and luck in the movie business.

Sci Fi films have to do with Computers and Software, and new problems. Star Trek used ILM, except for Star Trek V where the choice of software firms caused it to be a less than stellar iteration of the Star Trek series. I agree, The Wrath of Khan was the best Star Trek movie made.

You never know when someone will fart a good idea at you... how some good movies are made, that was the line of the presentation for his portion of how to make a movie.

The importance of the feeling of generosity is important to the productivity of a group. Making movies is a group effort.

Communication in groups is solved by mathematics for software development, but not in movies. In show business, anything might work.

Live to try again, that is the lesson of learning, even if you are Al Gore, losing candidate in 2000.

Biggest clap was for IBM inviting Shatner to speak at the RSDC.

It was a good speech which I listened instead of blogging well, but who cares, I was there with Captain Kirk.

http://www.johnsimonds.com/2008/06/im-s ... 3-of-rsdc/

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TRexx - Jun 05, 2008 - 01:25 AM
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From Press-Citizen.com...

Riverside displays history, Star Trek memorabilia

By Rachel Gallegos - Iowa City Press-Citizen - June 4, 2008

History buffs and Star Trek fans now all have one place they can go for their interests in Riverside.

Members of the Riverside Area Community Club opened the "Riverside History Center: The Voyage Home" May 3.

The two-room museum includes displays about Riverside history, plus an entire room dedicated to Star Trek memorabilia.

Riverside is home to the annual Trek Fest, celebrating the future birthplace of Star Trek character Capt. James T. Kirk, commander of the starship USS Enterprise, NCC 1701.

The town took on that distinction in 1985, after Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry noted in his book that Kirk's birthplace would be a small town in Iowa. The Riverside City Council voted unanimously to declare a spot behind what used to be the town's barber shop as the March 22, 2228 birthplace of Capt. Kirk.

Riverside History Center vice president Carolyn Hudson said plans for a history center have circulated among Riverside Area Community Club members for years and years.

Now, however, "everything all seemed to come together," she said, because space became available and both the city and RAC club provided funding until the history center can pay for its own rent.

The first room is dedicated to Capt. Kirk actor William Shatner and Star Trek, including a large Invasion Iowa display from when Shatner visited Riverside for a Spike TV reality series, originally convincing the town's residents into thinking he was making a sci-fi movie.

Items on display, including the big "Billville" sign that was used to cover up the Riverside town sign, were collected from people in town and members of the Riverside Area Community Club, Hudson said.

The room also includes autographed photographs of the original cast and a collection of Trek Fest T-shirts, she said.

The second room is dedicated to the history of Riverside.

Right now, one exhibit spotlights Riverside century houses and their history, including the Swift Gould House, also known as the mayor's house because it was home to two former Riverside mayors, Hudson said.

There's also a case filled with "made in Riverside" items, including a vacuum cleaner and lightening rods made by the same company and bricks from the Swift family brick and tile factory.

"We don't have much, but we're collecting," Hudson said.

Hudson said club members hope to rotate exhibits monthly and plan to work with residents on new projects.

"We're really excited about it," she said. "It's something Riverside needs."

In the first month, turnout has already been good, including visitors from England, Germany, Nebraska and Los Angeles, especially among Star Trek fans, she said.

"People are beginning to know we're there and make special trips to see it," Hudson said.

http://www.press-citizen.com/apps/pbcs. ... 04013/1079

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TRexx - Jun 05, 2008 - 09:03 AM
Post subject:

From DenverPost.com...

Watching an old episode of Star Trek, Shatner likes the hero

William Shatner is fond of the old series but isn't going to appear in the next Star Trek movie.

By Ted Anthony, The Associated Press, Article Last Updated: 06/04/2008 07:12:43 PM MDT

One recent week, William Shatner did something he hadn't done for many years -- watched the original Star Trek. It was kind of an accident.

Now, you might think that a bit odd. But Shatner rarely watches himself work. When it comes to acting, he says, he lives in the moment and moves on. Same thing these days with his work as Denny Crane on ABC's Boston Legal.

This particular night, though, he was recovering from hip surgery and couldn't sleep, so he was watching TV. An old episode came on -- the one where the crew of the USS Enterprise visited a society that had modeled itself after Chicago gangsters of the 1920s ["A Piece of The Action"]. Kirk and Spock dressed up in pinstripe suits and held court as tough guys.

Watching, Shatner was more pleased than he expected.

"I haven't seen myself playing Capt. Kirk in a long, long time," he says. "And I watched it now, from my perspective of 40 years later, and I thought, 'You know, that's rather good.' It's a starship captain trying to do the accent, the Noo Yawk accent, trying to play tough, trying to be one of the guys. It's not quite right, but it's what a starship captain would have done -- a decent imitation, enough to fool those guys but not the audience."

Shatner won't be playing Kirk in the upcoming reboot of Star Trek directed by J.J. Abrams.

Leonard Nimoy plays an aging Spock, but the Jim Kirk character -- a young version -- is portrayed by actor Chris Pine.

Shatner has said he's sad but not angry at the decision, which springs from the killing off of Kirk in the 1994 film Star Trek Generations. The recent late-night TV watching got Shatner thinking, though, about the character of Kirk and how it has endured.

"That was a good hero," Shatner says.

"He made decisions. He was forceful. He was compassionate. He was the instigator. He fought hard and long physically and emotionally. He carried the dilemma of whether to intrude or not to intrude. It was all the classic forms of good Greek playmaking: The hero has the dilemma and resolves the dilemma."

Even the series' renowned cheesy production design, done on an increasingly tight budget through the show's 1966-69 run, didn't put him off.

"The actors were wonderful. And I didn't care about the sets or anything like that or the cheesy spaceship," Shatner says. "I think that's what happens in Star Trek. Your eye goes past all the faults because you're concentrated on the actors and the plot."

http://www.denverpost.com/headlines/ci_9481556

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TRexx - Jun 05, 2008 - 09:37 AM
Post subject:

Via YouTube...

WIlliam Shatner Keynote 2008 RSDC Orlando (Tech-Ed)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GaG_cgEkPtg

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angel - Jun 05, 2008 - 02:37 PM
Post subject:

"That was a good hero," Shatner says.

"He made decisions. He was forceful. He was compassionate. He was the instigator. He fought hard and long physically and emotionally. He carried the dilemma of whether to intrude or not to intrude. It was all the classic forms of good Greek playmaking: The hero has the dilemma and resolves the dilemma

And that's why we love the Kirk personna so much. He was a good hero. Wish there were more of him out there in the world right now. Cool

TRexx - Jun 06, 2008 - 05:14 AM
Post subject:

From Pushing Rope Blog

When Henry Rollins Meets William Shatner

posted by Michael Hussey, Thursday, June 05, 2008 @ 8:52 PM

Henry Rollins tells an audience about his recording session with William Shatner. Rollins' Shatner impression is priceless.

Warning: Rollins uses the "F" word.

http://pushingrope.blogspot.com/2008/06 ... lliam.html

Audio playback time = 35 minutes

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TRexx - Jun 06, 2008 - 05:35 AM
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From the Houston Chronicle...

The burden of being Shatner

Breezy memoir by TV's Capt. Kirk has enough new info to interest even the most jaded Trekkie

By AMY BIANCOLLI, June 5, 2008, 6:35PM, Copyright 2008 Houston Chronicle

How weird it must feel to be William Shatner. Aside from being rich, famous and a globally recognized TV star, he has to bear the additional (albeit fabulous) burden of being "Him." Of seeing "Himself" everywhere he turns. Of not taking a step in public without being confronted by those who recognize Him.

In Up Till Now, his breezy and thoroughly meta memoir, Shatner describes a game his three daughters like to play: How long can they go without stumbling across a mention of Dad? Not long. Between his work on Boston Legal and those ubiquitous Priceline ads, Shatner seems to have developed a late-life gift for omnipresence. He's everywhere simultaneously.

And he is, by now, as much a pop-cultural construct as a human being: There is the man William Shatner, and then there is the summation of all we think we know about William Shatner. How can one person be Capt. Kirk, T.J. Hooker, Denny Crane and the guy who turned Rocket Man into a hallucinogenic spoken-word fantasia?

He's the staccato-talking, show-horse-breeding, sci-fi-novel-writing, phaser-wielding, alien-lady-smooching, car-hood-riding, cigar-puffing, Bernie Taupin-mangling, multimedia icon of the late 20th century and beyond. And he's ours.

Here is the point in the review where I confess to being a dork. For 31 years, I have followed every twitch in Shatner's career. More casual observers might know of his previous memoirs (Star Trek Memories and Star Trek Movie Memories), but only the few and the shameless pored through his 1979 authorized hagiography, Shatner: Where No Man... . I read that thing until the spine dissolved.

Three years earlier I had first spied his Kirkness on reruns of Star Trek, and I was instantly, pubescently, obsessively smitten; I even bought a captain's uniform with that gold-lamé braid on the arm. And, yes, I attended conventions. Like I said, dork.

So when I sat down with a copy of Up Till Now, I brought a huge pile of baggage and way too much expertise.

Much of the book's Shat-arcana I was already familiar with, even his tale of busting a finger to save Harold Sakata's neck on the set of Impulse, and I was bored by the run-throughs of standard Trek lore.

Gene Roddenberry was imperious, Leonard Nimoy was aloof (at least at first) and the rest of the cast hated his Shatnerific guts. No new info there. I also could have done without the exhaustive postmortem of his failed game show, Show Me the Money, but I suspect that's true of most readers.

Plenty else is plenty entertaining, from his stories of growing up Jewish and scrappy in Montreal (where he learned to fold like a pro at his father's suit-making factory) to his comical and self-deprecating descriptions of the struggle to succeed on stage, tube and film.

Several names get dropped, some more gently than others. We learn that he insulted Spencer Tracy, that he blew his life savings on a bad tip from Lorne Greene, and that Yul Brynner kicked him in the pants on the set of The Brothers Karamazov.

We also learn that Koko the gorilla once grabbed him in his business with lascivious intent, but for such anecdotes the term "T.M.I." was coined.

Shatner and his co-author, David Fisher (who co-wrote Johnnie Cochran's memoir), have assembled yarns from his life into a loose chronology that's gabby and baggy and funny and sometimes genuinely heartbreaking: His account of his third wife's drowning should stop cynics in their tracks. (He has since married No. 4 and seems besotted.)

If a single theme weaves through the book, it's the role of chance in the actor's life -- in anyone's life -- and the ripples of consequence that follow every decision.

Yet something more is going on here. The guy isn't just telling us about himself; he's toying with us. Shatner wants us to know that he knows that we know he's a star. He is equal parts self-promotion and self-mockery, and he is amused by the suggestion that after all these years he finally "got it." Because he always got the joke. He invented the joke. We are but the audience. He is The Shat.

The book is crammed with self-referential asides. "Think about that while I go put on my make-up for the next chapter," he writes after addressing Has Been, his remarkably fine CD produced by Ben Folds.

In a further nod to irony, he (and/or Fisher) often interrupts the narrative with brazen pitches for Shatner-related Web sites and merchandise.

Witness an entire two-page sentence -- what is this, Faulkner? -- devoted to Star Trek memorabilia available on the Internet, a list that includes fuzzy commemorative tribbles and "I Slept with Kirk" coffee mugs.

Dork update: I once made a tribble for a book report. Truly.

Or, as Shatner would say, "Truthfully." Lots of "truthfullys" in Up Till Now. Such as: "Truthfully, I have always enjoyed the company of women." And: "Truthfully, I probably wouldn't have even considered following that elephant into the bush if I wasn't under the impression that, for the most part, I can communicate with animals."

The only hitch to this oft-stated love of the truth is his confession elsewhere that he doesn't always tell it. A widely published story about encountering extraterrestrials in the desert, for instance -- it never happened. He made it up. Truthfully.

Well, it's his party. He says what he likes, knowing we'll listen.

Here is a man, after all, who once called into a radio talk show to say, "This is William Shatner, and I am not an (expletive)." He has used his Star Trek alter-ego to stop fights ("Captain Kirk!") and duck speeding tickets.

He has gone trick-or-treating in a William Shatner mask. He is both the defender of his image and its winking creator, and judging from Up Till Now, he hasn't finished yet. With any of us.

Amy Biancolli reviews films for the Chronicle. She may be reached at amy.biancolli@ chron.com.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/hea ... 21316.html

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TRexx - Jun 06, 2008 - 07:51 AM
Post subject:

From the International Herald-Tribute...

Shatner: Conquering New Frontiers

The Associated Press, Published: June 6, 2008. (Page 1 of 2)

STUDIO CITY, California: The SUV pulls to an abrupt stop on Ventura Boulevard. In the middle of the westbound lane is a man in a loud shirt, his body coiled with energy, darting across traffic toward a strip mall.

It's lunchtime. Good sushi is across the street. And a guy like William Shatner is not about to be stopped by something as mundane as traffic.

Why did William Shatner cross the road? Why has he ever? To get to the other side. To see what's out there. To find out stuff and inhale the universe in his singular Shatnerian way. It's the story of his life -- and the lives of the characters he has breathed, spoken and shouted into existence over a 50-year performing career.

It's the story of Boston Legal bombast Denny Crane, racing to experience all life's pleasures before Alzheimer's drags him toward darkness. It's the story of the Priceline Negotiator, that discount-travel maniac who barnstorms across the planet to get us better deals. It's the story of James T. Kirk, the wise and womanizing starship captain who led a crew of 23rd-century explorers across interstellar backroads.

And it's the story of Shatner himself -- a man governed by his passions and interests, a man who crosses new roads every day, gleefully ignoring those who dismiss him and conquering frontiers he never dreamed possible. A cultural phenomenon who, despite tales of his galactic ego, seems strikingly down to Earth as he shapes and basks in the third golden age of his career.

"I'm trying to fill the cracks in the bricks that have been written. I'm the mortar," he says. "That's what an actor should be doing."

Yes, he's been pilloried over the years -- perhaps justifiably here and there -- for his roundhouse method-actor style, for his apparent obliviousness of his own over-the-topitude, for his primal, all-encompassing Shatnerness.

But being snide about William Shatner is so 1997. He is 77 now, post-post ironic, doing precisely what he wants to -- and, finally, no longer terrified about making a living. "Live life like you're gonna die, because you're gonna," he sang a few years ago.

After the brutally honest 2004 album Has Been with Ben Folds, after the Emmy in 2004 and the second Emmy in 2005 and the new autobiography this spring, if you're still stuck parodying Shatner's staccato delivery and making T.J. Hooker toupee cracks, the joke, friend, is on you.

___

"Lemurs," William Shatner is explaining through mouthfuls of sushi, "are primitive animals of many varieties."

You name the subject, he's fascinated. Global warming. Asian soap operas. The sentience of fish. Afghan politics. The turkeys he deep-fries in a "multimedia show" every Thanksgiving. And his timeless loves -- his wife Elizabeth, his three daughters and his racehorses.

To sit and talk with Shatner over a meal is its own multimedia show. You start by marveling about the familiar voice you're hearing. By and by, you begin paying attention to what he's saying, which is a theme park of topics. This is a guy who, in his new autobiography Up Till Now, rhapsodizes about a gas station where he found "the finest tire air I've ever encountered."

He has a conversational style -- a cognitive style, even -- of starting slowly, navigating his way into a topic and, in the course of a single sentence, transforming from cool introspection to full-on oratory.

This much-scorned, steam-gaining delivery is the product of a man thinking something through and finding conviction along the way. With Captain Kirk, it went like this: "Risk -- RISK is our business. THAT'S what this starship is all about. That's why we're a-BOARD her!"

With Shatner, it goes like this: "We can't wait for something dire to happen before this democracy decides to gird up and FIGHT global warming. We're on ... a collision course ... with HIStory!" (This is followed quickly by, "Shall we order something else?")

Joining us for lunch is Brett Keller, chief marketing officer at Priceline.com, where Shatner has been frontman for a decade, urging people to name their own price. Both sides have benefited: Priceline got an iconic figure, and Shatner got a forum upon which to surf back into the collective consciousness.

In the latest Priceline ads, Shatner bursts forth as the Priceline Negotiator, a mashup of James Bond and Ron Popeil who will do anything to help people broker better deals.

"You're a celebrity (and) you're asked to do a 30-second television spot. It's not the most glamorous thing in the world. But he dives in," Keller says. "You either love him or you hate him, and I think most people love him."

CONTINUED IN NEXT POST >>>

TRexx - Jun 06, 2008 - 07:56 AM
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>>> CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS POST ... (Page 2 of 2)

___

He has always favored unusual paths. You don't make an entire horror movie in Esperanto (Incubus, 1964) otherwise. You don't open an equestrian camp to help disabled Israeli and Arab children get along. And you certainly don't serenade George Lucas by dancing with stormtroopers while singing a personalized version of "My Way."

Let's even put this on the table: William Shatner is vulnerable.

Stop smirking. Do you have the guts to get out there and whisper gently to the public about the night you found your wife dead in your swimming pool? Do you possess the chops to portray a lawyer who's slowly losing his mind? Would you record a dramatic reading of Exodus backed by the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra while knowing you'll be heckled by guys who, 40 years later, are still maligning your version of "Mr. Tambourine Man"?

With these choices, Shatner has carved himself a unique place in the culture. Hate him or love him, rarely has an entertainer straddled giggles and glory so adeptly. And rarely does a performer have three distinct careers, each building on the last:

_Shatner No. 1: I'm a Very Serious Actor. This one played tortured men in two Twilight Zone installments, portrayed a slick racist in 1962's The Intruder and created the role of the iconic Captain Kirk in the original Star Trek.

_Shatner No. 2: I Laugh At Myself And You Can Too. There were hints of this Shatner earlier, but he really jumped into self-parody in a 1997 film called Free Enterprise, in which he played a heightened version of himself. Then came his appearance as the alien leader on Third Rock From The Sun and his first Priceline ads, which cast him as a zeitgeisty, lounge-lizard joker.

_Shatner No. 3: We Laughed Until We Cried, the most sophisticated Shatner of all.

For years, it was assumed that Shatner equaled Kirk. Then came Denny Crane, a Boston law firm's fading rainmaker. Denny is loudmouthed, sexist, self-obsessed and terrified at what age is stealing. Only his much younger colleague, Alan Shore, understands the panic behind the bluster.

This Shatner combined the serious and the comic in the most unusual way. "I've obviously had those instruments at my call," he says, "but the opportunity to use them wasn't there."

As he was winning Emmys, Shatner ventured back into the admittedly narrow niche of spoken-word singing -- a pantheon in which he had been roundly denounced -- and paired up with Folds for the audaciously named Has Been. He joined musical stalwarts like Henry Rollins and Joe Jackson to sing -- and sometimes write -- a concept album about age and regret. People, skeptical people, called it honest and moving.

Something's going on with Shatner, some odd alchemy. He's mined a vein of cultural coal that transcends ubiquity. He's been pitchman, legend, action figure, in-joke, cover boy, game-show host, cultural signpost, embodiment of a bright future.

"Shatner is THE epitome of the post-ironic, 21st-century American cultural attitude," says Robert Thompson, a Syracuse University television and pop-culture historian.

Or put it another way. One of Shatner's daughters and her husband like to play a game: Get through an entire day without seeing an image of Dad somewhere in public and you win.

Usually, no one does.

___

Midmorning on the Boston Legal set, where Denny Crane is proposing marriage to a sexy Montana cattle rancher.

With each take, more dimensions emerge in Shatner's performance. He lends personality to Denny's nose, eyes, lips as he tries to release the ache of a fading giant trying to get the girl. By the final take, the scene is heart-wrenching.

The mutual devotion between Denny and James Spader's Alan Shore is extraordinary. Rare is the honest male TV friendship; most buddy scenes are dispatched with testosterone and awkwardness. But Denny and Alan are like lovers without the attraction; they work to understand each other -- not unlike another deep friendship, that of Kirk and Spock.

"It's a friendship based entirely on communication and empathy," Shatner says.

Why does Denny Crane work so well? Some of it is David E. Kelley's writing, but some is sheer Shatnerness.

"He brings to the moment everything you know about him," says David Fisher, who collaborated with Shatner on the new autobiography. "We know what he's been through. We know the ridicule he's received, we know the plaudits he's received. He's been part of our lives for so long."

Shatner as Kirk may be a memory. The character died in 1994's Star Trek Generations and will be played in next year's J.J. Abrams reboot by the young actor Chris Pine. Other than that, all things seem possible.

"I have all of the hungers and passions and desires of when I was 20," Shatner says. "There's nothing I can't do."

After all this time, he lives life like he's gonna die, because he's gonna. But when the time finally comes to take that trip, don't be surprised if William Shatner tries to name his own price.

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/06/ ... itable.php

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TRexx - Jun 08, 2008 - 09:52 AM
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From AP via Yahoo News...

Shatner the Quotable

By The Associated Press Sun Jun 8, 12:00 AM ET

Some of the interesting stuff William Shatner had to say during his interview with The Associated Press:

On a recent Boston Legal scene that focused on Denny Crane's friendship with Alan Shore:

"An actor can do one of two things. You can face out front, listen and be listening and in your own thoughts. ... Or you can be fixated on the person -- listening, watching. That throws the ball on the person talking. If you're focused on them, then the audience is focused on them. I chose to listen locked on what he was saying, and when he said to me, 'Can I tell you what I love about you?' I chose to be very emotional and said, 'Tell me' as though I were in love with him. And as I was doing this, I recognized the possibility of people mistaking that for homosexual love, as against somebody interested in the generic word love and not carrying an idea of sexuality."

___

On Shatner's relationship with Priceline.com:

"The evolution of the marketing campaign to this moment now -- this character, the Negotiator, now no longer is Shatner playing a guitar and singing a song and therefore you say, 'Isn't he funny' or 'Isn't that terrible.' You say, 'That's this figure from Priceline who's our ombudsman. He's trying to get us a better price.' And I'm losing the identity of Shatner and becoming the frontispiece for the company."

___

On the original "Star Trek" series:

"The actors were wonderful. And I didn't care about the sets or anything like that or the cheesy spaceship. ... I think that's what happens in Star Trek. Your eye goes past all the faults because you're concentrated on the actors and the plot."

___

On acting:

"I'm trying to fill the cracks in the bricks that have been written. I'm the mortar. We're all alive, the four of us at this table, if you were to film us, you would see our faces just in conversation are filled. They are shifting and changing with our inner emotions, and we're not even talking about emotional things. That's what the actor should be doing."

___

On the William and Elizabeth Shatner Therapeutic Riding Program, which puts Israeli and Arab children together in an equestrian setting:

"One of the conditions for them to get our money is that the riding center must be open to kids from all nations. And in some small way, half a dozen kids will see that the other people don't have horns, that they are not demons."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080608/ap_ ... r_quotes_1

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TRexx - Jun 09, 2008 - 10:32 AM
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From the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review...

Emmy award-winning Andersonville Trial is on DVD

By David Inman, THE COURIER-JOURNAL, Monday, June 9, 2008

Q: In the late 1960s, I remember a TV production that was a dramatization of the trial of a prison camp commander during the Civil War. I haven't seen it since. Can you tell me the title and if it's on DVD?

A: Sounds like The Andersonville Trial, a PBS production that won a bunch of Emmy Awards in 1970. The cast includes William Shatner, Richard Basehart, Martin Sheen, Cameron Mitchell, Jack Cassidy and Buddy Ebsen. It's on DVD.

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsbu ... amp;feed=6

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TRexx - Jun 09, 2008 - 10:47 AM
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From the Boston Globe...

New releases: TekWar

By Stephanie Schorow, Globe Correspondent - June 9, 2008

TekWar, Complete TV series

In the years between Captain Kirk's histrionics and Denny Crane's buffoonery, William Shatner lent his name to a series of science-fiction novels centered on Tek, an addictive, mind-altering drug. The TekWar novels were turned into several films and into the 1994-1996 TV series starring Greg Evigan and, of course, the Big Head himself. The TV shows (although not the movies) have been collected into this three-DVD set.

http://www.boston.com/ae/movies/article ... _releases/

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DOC - Jun 10, 2008 - 06:25 PM
Post subject:

TRexx:

Keep up the awesome work, you have gone far beyond than what I started with (ref. The Shatner Files). Very Happy

Godspeed,

~Doc Cool

PS - If you ever wanted to use 'The Shatner Files' be my guess Wink

TRexx - Jun 11, 2008 - 06:22 AM
Post subject:

DOC wrote:

PS - If you ever wanted to use 'The Shatner Files' be my guess Wink

Hopefully there won't be another BBS crash and burn!

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TRexx - Jun 11, 2008 - 06:24 AM
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From PublishersWeekly.com...

BookExpo 2008: William Shatner

Added: June 09, 2008

Bethanne Patrick, the Book Maven of Publishers Weekly, interviews William Shatner regarding his new autobiography Up Till Now, at BEA 2008.

Video playback time = 10 minutes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9QL13d-Olw

http://publishersweekly.com/BookMaven

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TRexx - Jun 11, 2008 - 06:22 PM
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From The Cape Breton Post...

Why William Shatner Can Save Gaelic

William Shatner in The Third Walker (1978)

By Ken Chisholm, The Cape Breton Post, Last updated at 8:17 AM on 11/06/08

William Shatner stands alone in cinematic history as having acted in two films that featured two different artificial languages: Incubus, which used Esperanto, and Star Trek: The Search for Spock, that introduced Klingon (And let us pause for a second and consider how un-endangered Gaelic would be if Kiingons spoke Gaelic). So, Shatner is used to promoting non-mainstream languages. He has cool appeal and recognition that cuts across generations and he has already made a movie in Cape Breton (The Third Walker). A Gaelic language film set in Cape Breton with William Shatner on its own might put Gaelic in the mouths of Terrans everywhere.

And I would bet real money that somebody somewhere has already rendered into Gaelic the phrase, "Beam me up, Scotty."

http://www.capebretonpost.com/index.cfm ... amp;sc=217

Video clip of William Shatner in The Third Walker (1978) ...
http://www.videodetective.com/titledeta ... hedid=2033

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TRexx - Jun 11, 2008 - 07:34 PM
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From ZDNet.co.uk...

Boldly going to IBM Rational 2008

Adrian Bridgwater, ZDNet.co.uk, Published: 11 Jun 2008 15:40 BST

During his presentations at the IBM Rational Software Development Conference 2008 in Orlando, Florida in June, prominent coding guru and IBM fellow Grady Booch said this year's event had drawn a more interesting and diverse mix of attendees than ever before. This could be described as a bit of an understatement, given that one attendee and guest speaker was a former star-ship captain.

Intergalactic adventurers aside, IBM would normally expect to attract more system-level engineers to this kind of show, according to Booch. But the attendee list showed that a variety of software engineers had shown up, from hard-core programmers to database administrators, and even web developers, he said. The event attracted around 3,500 developers trying to keep up with around 300 sessions and tutorials across technology 14 tracks, according to IBM.

On hand to add some light relief to the proceedings was William Shatner (pictured) whose alter-ego, Star Trek's Captain James T Kirk, knew a thing or two about tech work under pressure, or at least how to delegate it to ship's engineer Scotty. Obviously reading from a script, Shatner told an amused (and bemused) audience: "IBM Rational software is important, a huge number of software projects fail and the role of collaboration has never been more important."

IBM has announced a group of new products at the show for its Eclipse-based team collaboration platform Jazz, which it said will aid integration among geographically distributed software development teams. Principal among the new releases is Rational Team Concert, which IBM said has been built to incorporate social networking and Web 2.0 technologies to help monitor version control and project health.

ZDNet.co.uk caught up with some of the attendees at the show to get their thoughts on the conference and IBM's wider software development strategy. (Some attendees chose not to have their picture taken.)

http://news.zdnet.co.uk/software/0,1000 ... 963,00.htm

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TRexx - Jun 12, 2008 - 02:37 PM
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Via DailyMotion.com...

William Shatner's Latest Work

Click picture to view VIDEO @ DailyMotion.com

Recorded: 12 June 2008, Location: Los Angeles, United States

William Shatner releases his new book Up Till Now, new talk show Raw Nerve, and Gonzo Ballet for Milwalkee Ballet Company. When does he sleep?!

VIDEO playback time = 01:44

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x5r2sq ... shortfilms

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TRexx - Jun 13, 2008 - 03:26 PM
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From St. Louis Today...

'Extraordinary Animals'

An Elephant that paints. (Animal Planet / BBC )

By Gail Pennington, The St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 06/13/2008

SPOTLIGHT

'Extraordinary Animals'

8:30 p.m. on Animal Planet

William Shatner narrates a new series showcasing animals that, if you can believe it, do extraordinary things.

First up: "Pachyderm Picasso," featuring Hong, a 6-year-old elephant in Thailand with a talent for painting.

Later episodes will spotlight Rio, supposedly smarter than the average sea lion, and Azy, an orangutan who speaks via symbols.

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/entert ... enDocument

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TRexx - Jun 14, 2008 - 12:44 AM
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From 92Y Blog...

92Y Podcast: William Shatner

[AUDIO playback time = 8 minutes]

Friday, June 13, 2008

On the eve of the publication of his memoir, Up Till Now: The Autobiography, William Shatner (Star Trek and Boston Legal) appeared at the Y to share stories with Budd Mishkin about his career and life, on stage and off. In the clip above, he talks about an early role in Henry V, rehearsing in the bathroom and kidney stones.

You can also download the MP3. [4 MB]
[Right-click link and select "Save Target As:" or equivalent to download.]

The full program will be broadcast on the weekly From New York's 92nd Street Y program this Saturday at 7, 8 and 9AM ET on the SIRIUS STARS Channel. If you're not a subscriber, go to www.sirius.com/freetrial for a 3 day free trial.

http://blog.92y.org/index.php/weblog/it ... m_shatner/

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TRexx - Jun 14, 2008 - 12:27 PM
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From the Dallas News...

William Shatner's new autobiography, Up Till Now, is a Fun Read

RIC FRANCIS/The Associated Press: William Shatner takes a break in his Los Angeles office. He's an actor, a pitchman, a recording artist and an author, but he'd rather be riding horses.

By MICHAEL MERSCHEL / The Dallas Morning News / 12:00 AM CDT on Saturday, June 14, 2008

LOS ANGELES -- William Shatner is a man in a hurry.

He has just signed an astounding 260 books in 25 minutes, leaving the assembled publicists slack-jawed with awe. Having agreed to an interview about his new autobiography, he is planted inside Jackie Collins' cavernous tour bus, the quietest available spot on the busy floor of the recent Book Expo America.

"Let's get this done," he says, to kick things off.

If he's rushed, it's understandable. For one thing, promoting Up Till Now today has interrupted a day on horseback with his wife.

For another, Up Till Now (Thomas Dunne Books, $25.95) is that rare celebrity autobiography that's as entertaining as it is reflective, a genuinely fun read. He bristles at the suggestion that anyone should have expected less.

"Well, I wrote my book because I was asked to, and I'm busy," he says. "And I thought, 'I have to very carefully delineate my time.' " But he decided, "This is a good opportunity to write something that was in effect a legacy for my children and grandchildren and give them a taste of what my life was about."

And what a life the 77-year-old has had. He grew up Jewish in a Catholic section of Montreal, where he earned the nickname "Toughie." He rose from the Canadian National Repertory Theater to Broadway to Hollywood and some of the most memorable roles in TV history. Along the way he has paddled a canoe from Montreal to New York, been fondled by Koko the gorilla, killed a bear with an arrow, and arranged to sell his kidney stone for $75,000 for charity.

Mr. Shatner says he dictated stories "that I saw as tiny mirrors of incidences in my life" to co-writer David Fisher, who did the book's first draft. On the second draft the actor "tried to find some meaning behind the series of incidences."

What kind of meaning? He says he became aware of the ripple effect of small choices one makes. He writes in the book, for example, how his decision to record the 1968 album The Transformed Man, with its unearthly version of "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds," became the favorite of an advertising copywriter decades later. That led to his commercials for Priceline.com and his 2004 album Has Been, "which I look at with great pride." It was staged by the Milwaukee Ballet, which he shot as a documentary, Gonzo Ballet.

His life, or at least his book, is like that.

Lesson learned

"I became aware of these unconscious decisions you make all your life, which lead to very conscious results," he says. "The lesson I've tried to learn from looking at my life was trying to be more conscious of spending the time with you instead of my wife on horseback."

Really, Mr. Shatner, we're sorry.

"Not at all," he says, smiling. "You'd think if there's anybody, Dallas would understand."

The need to be working constantly is also a thread in the book. For much of his career, he had a simple definition for success: having $1,800 in the bank. Is that what drives him to take on so many projects?

"Well, I think that's gone. This isn't my bus," he says, looking around Ms. Collins' studio apartment on wheels. "But I could buy it, I suppose."

But if his track record indicates he'll rarely say no to a project, he doesn't see himself as a hustler.

"The way I see it, from my point of view, it isn't hustling. It's, the opportunity is there. And why not avail oneself of it? Like a guy says, 'Would you like to write a book?' And I say, 'OK, I'll write the book.' A guy says, 'I'd like to give you a lot of money if you'll stand with me and have a picture taken.' Click, it's over. A lot of money goes to some kids who could use it. Well, I'm not hustling for that." (Although in this case, Mr. Shatner was researching the offer to make sure it wouldn't damage his reputation.)

"But if I'm passing a kidney stone, and the guy's going to throw it out, and someone wants to buy it, I'll bargain with him for how much it's worth, and give the money to charity. I'm not hustling."

Although his book is poignant at times -- he writes openly about his failings as a husband with his first two wives and extensively about the alcoholism and drowning death of his third -- the book is punctuated with great storytelling. And certainly, as many have written, he has an ability to laugh at himself. And have fun. And that's the point, he says.

"I don't have much time left," he says. "So if I'm hustling at all it's because ... It's the football hustle. 'Let's move at a double pace because the yards are giving out. Double time now because there isn't that much time.' You may interpret it as a hustle. I'm thinking, 'Let's get some stuff -- let's get it all done.' "

One thing he does not have time for: elaborating on the ill will expressed toward him by other Star Trek cast members, for example

In Up Till Now, Mr. Shatner acknowledges having been self-absorbed as he was playing Captain Kirk. But without mentioning anyone by name, he says that part of the book is "getting more attention than it deserves," and any problem anyone has with his behavior in that long-ago era is theirs, not his.

Cherished friend

"I don't know what's the matter with somebody who holds a grudge for 40 years," he says. "I don't even know what the grudge is about. It certainly hasn't occupied my time. My reverence is the fact that I have a great friend in Leonard Nimoy that started there. And I cherish that more than most things."

And with that, it's time to head back to his wife, Elizabeth, and his horses, whom they are preparing for an arena competition the next day.

"So I was on two horses this morning, came down here, and I'm gonna go back there right now and get on some more," he says.

Sounds like time well spent.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent ... 57e5a.html

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TRexx - Jun 14, 2008 - 12:39 PM
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From the Toledo Blade...

Faith Notes

By David Yonke, Blade Religion Editor / Article published Saturday, June 14, 2008

He's starred in Star Trek and Boston Legal, now William Shatner stands on the bridge between the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra and an audience of 3,000 as he quotes the Bible in Exodus: An Oratorio in Three Parts, newly released by the Jewish Music Group.

The Shakespearean-trained actor and pop culture star read the Old Testament text with typical dramatic flair in this live recording made in Little Rock in April, 2005.

"I was the fulcrum between the 350 voices of the singers, the 75-odd instruments in the orchestra, and the several thousand people out front. I was the conduit. I was the meeting place. It was a glorious evening for all," Shatner said in the liner notes.

http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/ar ... /806140341

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TRexx - Jun 15, 2008 - 11:23 AM
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From The National Enquirer...

Shatner Dead Wife's Bro Rips Bill Book

Published on: 06/14/2008

For the first time since the tragic drowning of William Shatner's third wife, Nerine, her family is asking tough questions aloud if the Star Trek actor's negligence led to her death.

William Kidd, Nerine's brother, says his family had remained silent but now he's ready to speak out because they're fed up that Shatner's exploiting her death to sell his recently released memoirs.

Kidd claims that Shatner's autobio Up Till Now is riddled with discrepancies about the fateful night of August 9, 1999 when the thesp found Nerine's lifeless body in the pool at their Studio City home.

"We'll probably never know the truth," Kidd told The ENQUIRER in an exclusive interview.

Shatner claims to have called 911 before diving in and trying to save her.

"The natural reaction of a loving husband would be to start CPR," Kidd said.

"But Shatner didn't do that -- and he hosted Rescue 911 for years!"

For the full story and exclusive interview - pick up THE ENQUIRER - on sale now!

http://www.nationalenquirer.com/bill_sh ... rity/65008

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TRexx - Jun 15, 2008 - 04:26 PM
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From Books Blog at GuideLive.comp...

William Shatner: The rest of the story...

By Michael Merschel / 6:22 AM Sun, Jun 15, 2008

It's a small blog world after all.

While I was waiting to board Jackie Collins' massive tour bus for my interview with William Shatner ...

(pausing for a moment while I reflect on how many times in one's life one gets to type a sentence like that.)

... where was I? Oh, yeah. I was waiting because, I was told, "someone from AOL" was interviewing him ahead of me. I did not pay her much attention because, frankly, I was focused on doing my own interview.

Apparently, the person ahead of me was actually Book Maven Bethanne Patrick. And she brought her video camera, so you can see William Shatner answer some of the same questions I asked. (In the spirit of provoking the kind of friendly debate that makes the blogosphere what it is, you may also ask: Is she answering accurately when he asks, "Is this for broadcast?")

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9QL13d-Olw

Having watched that interview, and then reflecting on my own time with him, I have to say, in all seriousness, it must be a lot of work to be the Shat. And I appreciate that he made time for me -- and, by extension, the rest of Dallas. It's been entertaining.

http://booksblog.guidelive.com/archives ... of-th.html

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Burkhardfan - Jun 16, 2008 - 11:25 AM
Post subject:

TRexx wrote:

From The National Enquirer...

Shatner Dead Wife's Bro Rips Bill Book

What`s wrong with Nerine's brother? Shocked

angel - Jun 16, 2008 - 02:28 PM
Post subject:

Burkhardfan wrote:

What`s wrong with Nerine's brother? Shocked

My guess would be that he's devastated by his sister's death, bitter because he wants to pin her death on Bill a solid viable excuse and is not willing to take away those rose-colored glasses he wears for his sister, extremely in denial that she wasn't all there, that he's wanting a bit of attention thrown at him because of the book being available now.
I asked my husband what would his instinct be if he saw someone like that in a pool. Call 911 or jump in. He said people's reactions vary and that he probably would reach for his phone. Phones are on everyone these days and people are taught at an early age to phone 911 in case of emergencies. People panic and do certain things, make certain judgement calls. She was already gone. Whether Bill had jumped in and tried to revive her or phone first wouldn't have mattered. She was already gone. Second guessing at this point is useless. Sad

TRexx - Jun 16, 2008 - 04:47 PM
Post subject:

From BBC News...

Put your questions to William Shatner

William Shatner has been working as an actor for more than half a century

Page last updated at 09:58 GMT, Monday, 16 June 2008 10:58 UK

Actor William Shatner has become one of the world's most well-known entertainers after almost 60 years in showbusiness.

Most famous for his role as Captain James T Kirk in the Star Trek TV series and seven spin-off films, he also starred in police drama TJ Hooker and has released several albums.

Throughout his career, he has worked with an extraordinary range of actors, including Spencer Tracy, Burt Lancaster, Marlene Dietrich, Judy Garland, Sandra Bullock, Ben Stiller and Robert DeNiro.

He currently plays bombastic lawyer Denny Crane in Boston Legal -- a role which recently won him an Emmy and Golden Globe.

Shatner will answer some of your questions as he promotes his autobiography Up Till Now, which is out now.

If you would like to ask William Shatner a question please use the form [link] below. We will pick a selection of the best to put to him later this week.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7456401.stm

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TRexx - Jun 17, 2008 - 01:42 PM
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From Coast to Coast...

The William Shatner Interview

Original bradcast June 12, 2008

Actor William Shatner shares stories from his remarkable career including his roles in Twilight Zone, Star Trek, and Boston Legal. He got his start doing radio plays in his native Canada, before moving on to acting for the stage in New York.

Later, as he was in a failing TV series opposite Bonanza, he got a call from Gene Roddenberry to take a look at a pilot for Star Trek. The series in which he played Capt. James Kirk, ran for three years on NBC, but it was not a huge ratings success -- it was only in subsequent years during syndication that the show took off, he recounted. Leonard Nimoy, who played Mr. Spock, has remained a close friend throughout his life, helping him get through the loss of his wife Nerine, said Shatner. He recalled the classic Trouble with Tribbles episode: "I certainly remember being buried in these little furry balls," as the stage crew through the balls at him, while silently laughing.

His serio-comic style as the Priceline pitchman may have inspired David Kelley to create the character of Denny Crane for him in The Practice/Boston Legal, said Shatner. He also discussed his singing endeavors -- using his classical training, he acts out the song.

http://www.coasttocoastam.com/shows/2008/06/12.html

AUDIO playback time = 10 minutes per clip

Clip 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_EjoI9vuBE
Clip 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R59A91GghSw
Clip 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cB4Aqli88hA
Clip 4: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CuqOduvGoBo
Clip 5: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JkG1LAZ_FBA
Clip 6: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZcC4eIC1dzg
Clip 7: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjYLYqc4RQs

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TRexx - Jun 18, 2008 - 04:11 PM
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From Savannah Lee - A Writer's Blog...

And I will brook no argument

Posted on June 17, 2008 8:34 AM

It would appear that people are beginning, slowly, haltingly, to realize that William Shatner won his Emmys for a reason.

The standard line used to be that Shatner 'couldn't act.' If you thought otherwise, you were wise to keep it to yourself.

My dad taught acting. Sometimes did it himself.

So I grew up with it all. "Play against the dominant emotion." "Interiorize." "You're never talking to the other character, you're always talking to the audience." A thousand other teachings that wouldn't even make sense for me to repeat because they were in the moment. ("Turn just a little bit. There. Yes.") I know what those teachings are aiming at, the liberation, the moment when an actor is most in control and most in abandon. And I know that moment when I see it. I grew up watching actors work, from amateurs to students to professionals.

I know my shit here.

And I never for one minute questioned William Shatner's chops when I first started watching Star Trek in reruns as a child.

The article above says "This is not a man known for subtlety, but he should be." I about had an aneurysm. That one gets the "no shit" of the ages. Does anyone remember that bit of business in Wrath of Khan where he realizes his glasses are cracked, and tosses them aside? Hel...LOOOOO. He underplayed that thing to the point of throwing it away, and it's only the central defining moment of the entire film. (One of the great crimes of Americans towards their own movies is they think only Frenchmen make the kind of film where its whole meaning is that the glasses are cracked. Yeah, no, we do that too. It's just we do it in science fiction movies with explosions.)

And one of the great crimes of Americans towards their own actors (and yes, I know Shatner is Canadian, eh) is to squelch and suppress our operatic talents, seeking to deny them their full range, their size, their scope...the room they need to move, the scale they need to do their full work. Which, thank you, includes subtlety. Much more so than the tinny little talents who merely condense.

#

The people who thought Shatner couldn't act either weren't paying attention, didn't understand what they were looking at -- or were embarrassed and ashamed that a guy in a space uniform could make them feel.

Now that he's put on a suit and started playing a lawyer, it's somehow more okay to see what we see when we watch him.

Well, that's fine. My hat is off to the king of the American third act. Lord knows we need one now.

http://savannahspage.com/2008/06/and_i_ ... ent_1.html

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TRexx - Jun 19, 2008 - 04:20 PM
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From Macleans Magazine Blog...

an open letter to william shatner about poo

William Shatner in Canadian and UK TV ads for All-Bran cereal

By Scott Feschuk, June 19th, 2008 at 5:33 am

Dear William Shatner:

You can stop now. I get it. You can stop appearing on my television and in my newspapers to remind me that All-Bran makes people go poop.

Perhaps I am alone in this. Maybe I'm the only one. But I have grown slightly weary of your cheeky, enthusiastic odes to the excretory process.

I admit it: it was kind of cute at first -- your passionate, semi-witty extolling of the cereal's mighty poop-releasing power. "Kellogg's All-Bran," you'd say to the camera. "It makes you crap." Or something like that. Point is: you portrayed the toilet as Eden, utopia, a porcelain nirvana. And you said to poop-challenged people in their fifties and in their sixties and in their abdominal discomfort -- I can get you there. All-Bran can get you there!

Don't get me wrong, Bill. Pooping is great. It beats exploding, hands down.

And I grasp the scope of the challenge facing Kellogg's. The company is attempting to market and sell the first cereal to answer the question: "Hey, I wonder what hamster food pellets taste like?" (Spoiler alert: Not that great.)

So what do they do? They take a look at the nutritional information on the box and realize there's enough fibre in there to loosen up an elephant or a DeLuise. And they call you, Bill. They call you with the irresistible offer to become a spokesman for human feces.

Hi, I'm Bill Shatner. Poo = good.

But it's been years now. Years. First there were the TV ads touting the All-Bran Two Week Challenge to "promote regularity." Then I opened the paper to find you smiling smugly above the words "Hooray for Number Two!" Now it's more TV ads, these ones touting All-Bran snack bars -- which are apparently great for snacking, if you can remember to forget to remember why you're snacking on them. WHICH YOU NEVER CAN!

What's next? All-Bran gum? Mmmmm, you can really taste the psyllium seed husk!

Enough already, William Shatner: We're trying to eat here. But not that. We're not going to eat that.

P.S. I'm not saying you're obsessed, Bill, but when Sulu got married this week what did you send him? A colon?

P.P.S. Wait... Shat-ner. I get it!

http://blog.macleans.ca/2008/06/19/an-o ... about-poo/

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Debb - Jun 19, 2008 - 06:14 PM
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I read, recently, about Shatner's call to 911.

Asked why he didn't try to dive in... he remembered the water being still... not a ripple or wave. He knew instinctively by the stillness of the water, that it was too late.

Water, when disturbed, will have waves that last a long time before it becomes calm again.

Certainly, more than 7 minutes - the cutoff before the brain is starved of oxygen.

TRexx - Jun 19, 2008 - 11:54 PM
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From WPRI Eyewitness News...

Celebrities to design Hasbro's "My Little Ponies"

Updated: June 19, 2008 03:52 PM

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) -- The stars of the TV drama Boston Legal are taking a break from the lives of their oversexed, ego-driven characters to channel sunshine and rainbows.

William Shatner, James Spader, and Candace Bergen are among the celebrities and artists who've agreed to design "My Little Ponies," the plastic toy that has captivated girly girls since the 1980s.

Pawtucket-based Hasbro Inc. will auction the special ponies for the Give Kids The World Village charity as part of a celebration of the toy's 25th anniversary. The pastel-colored ponies -- with names like "Rainbow Dash" and "Daybreak" -- usually sport decorations on their hind quarters, often of hearts, balloons or stars.

The celebrities and artists were given blank, 18-inch versions of the usual 4-inch-tall ponies to decorate, Hasbro spokesman Dan Benkwitt said. Other designers include Grammy-winning singer LeAnn Rimes, 1980s teen idol Deborah Gibson and actor Danny Aiello, known for his roles in Moonstruck and Do the Right Thing.

Artists designing ponies include illustrator Catalina Estrada from Spain, New York graffiti artist-turned-designer Claw Money, and Japanese manga artist Junko Mizuno. A pony designed by Estrada was expected to be unveiled at a collectors' "My Little Pony Fair" this weekend in Providence, Benkwitt said.

The others will be unveiled during a gallery event in Manhattan in September, when they also will be auctioned. Benkwitt said Bergen and Aiello agreed to design ponies because of their support of Give Kids The World, a charity that provides vacations at central Florida theme parks for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families. Bergen then got the cast members of Boston Legal involved.

http://www.wpri.com/global/story.asp?s=8525430

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TRexx - Jun 20, 2008 - 05:15 AM
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From the Associated Press...

WITHHOLD: My Little Pony story

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Withhold BC-People-My Little Pony. A key element of the story has been questioned. Stacey Luchs, a spokeswoman for David E. Kelley Productions and the show Boston Legal, says neither William Shatner nor James Spader have knowledge of an agreement to design toys for Hasbro Inc.

The AP

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iZ4E ... AD91DF0S00

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TRexx - Jun 20, 2008 - 04:57 PM
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From Washington Blade...

In logical step, Takei to marry in California

Star Trek colleagues -- except Shatner -- will play key roles in Sept. ceremony

Chris Johnson, Friday, June 20, 2008

Diversity is going to be the theme when George Takei, famed for his role as Hikaru Sulu on Star Trek, marries longtime partner Brad Altman this fall.

But one former Star Trek cast member who is not on the short list of invitees is William Shatner.

Brad Altman said the Democracy Forum has only enough seats for about 200 people, and so the couple is busy going through a list of more than 3,000 people to determine who will ultimately be invited to the wedding.

"The people that are going to be invited to our wedding ceremony are relatives and truly close personal friends," Altman said. "We’re not trying to create a story with the William Shatner invitation. It’s just going to be too many people at our wedding."

Shatner was quoted in the Associated Press as saying that he wishes "the happy couple all the best" and that Takei "deserves a moment of happiness."

http://www.washingtonblade.com/2008/6-2 ... /12809.cfm

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TRexx - Jun 20, 2008 - 05:14 PM
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From the Huddersfield Daily Examiner...

Captain Charm

Elizabeth & Bill

Jun 20 2008 by Andrew Baldwin, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

AS Captain James T Kirk, William Shatner has long been a cult figure attracting legions of Trekkies who chart his every move.

Of course he has moved on to do other successful shows including TJ Hooker in the 1980s and more recently Boston Legal, as oddball attorney Denny Crane.

Shatner's autobiography, Up Till Now, is a humorous, self-deprecating look at his career, featuring some hilarious anecdotes from his early days as a classical Shakespearean actor.

Shatner, now aged 77 and still not slowing down, tells his life story in a charming and sometimes touching way.

http://www.examiner.co.uk/leisure-and-e ... -21109147/

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TRexx - Jun 21, 2008 - 10:42 PM
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From the Press Republican...

Star Trek Luna returns

Former character appears in Port Henry production 'Enemy Starfleet"

Barbara Luna appeared as Marlena on the original Star Trek series episode "Mirror, Mirror."

By Lohr McKinstry, Staff Writer, Published June 20, 2008 11:45 pm

PORT HENRY -- Barbara Luna's character fell into the arms of starship Capt. James T. Kirk in the original Star Trek television series.

This week, Luna gets to fall into Kirk's arms again, only this time he's played not by William Shatner but by Ticonderoga resident James Cawley.

A Los Angeles resident, Luna is in Port Henry this week appearing in the most recent Star Trek Phase II fan production, "Enemy Starfleet."

"The starship bridge that James built here is like stepping into a time warp," she said. "I've been on the original bridge. You can't tell the difference. I love this."

CLASSIC EPISODE

Luna has long been revered by Star Trek fans for her role as Marlena Moreau, Kirk's girlfriend in the acclaimed 1967 episode "Mirror, Mirror."

She said she enjoyed working with Shatner on the original series and has remained friends with him.

"Shatner was in his day then. He'd say 'hello,' and you laughed. He's a sweet guy."

...

Luna said when she shot "Mirror, Mirror" she came down with strep throat just before her big love scene with Shatner.

"I came in, and they said I was very contagious. Gene [Roddenberry] came and said they were shutting down production. We hadn't shot the kissing scenes."

When she recovered, she went back and finished her work with Shatner.

"By the way, he is a good kisser. For some reason, we had to do a lot of takes of that scene."

http://www.pressrepublican.com/0100_new ... 34522.html

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TRexx - Jun 21, 2008 - 11:54 PM
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From Iotum via SaundersBlog.com...

Iotum boldly goes: Join William Shatner this Thursday

This entry was posted on Saturday, June 21st, 2008 at 1:00 pm

I'm pretty excited about this one. Next week we've got a pretty special event happening to promote the use of iotum's conference calling system. William Shatner is going to make a 90 minute appearance, 45 minutes of which will be an interview conducted by Alan Hunkin and 45 minutes of which will be audience participation.

The focus of the first part interview is Shatner's new book -- his autobiography titled Up Till Now. It ought to be fascinating. William Shatner is perhaps best known for his role as Star Trek's Captain James T. Kirk, but he has literally played thousands of roles from Shakespeare, to film appearances in classics like Judgment at Nuremberg, and of course television. Fans of Boston Legal will know him as Denny Crane, but who can forget T.J. Hooker, or his appearance on The Twilight Zone?

Join us on the evening of Thursday June 26 at 6:30 PDT or 9:30 EDT. This promises to be a fun event! Click [here] to register. Space is limited!

http://saunderslog.com/2008/06/21/iotum ... -thursday/

http://apps.iotum.com/conf/show/33134

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TRexx - Jun 26, 2008 - 11:05 PM
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From the Sierra Club...

Video PSAs

The world's scientists agree: Global warming is real, here, and happening faster than anyone predicted. But scientists also say we can curb global warming and its consequences -- if we take bold, comprehensive action now that adds up to an 80 percent cut in carbon emissions by 2050, or 2 percent a year.

William Shatner shares how past environmental victories show us that we can stop global warming.

http://www.sierraclub.org/twopercent/

VIDEO playback = 59 seconds

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TRexx - Jun 28, 2008 - 01:01 AM
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From Ian's Messy Desk Blog...

Top 20 Ways to Tell if You're Canadian

June 27, 2008

Tuesday, July 1 is Canada Day. Here are the principle ways to determine if you are a Canadian.

1: You understand the phrase "Could you pass me a serviette, I just dropped my poutine on the chesterfield."

2: You eat chocolate bars, not candy bars.

3: You drink Pop, not Soda.

4: You know that a Mickey and 2-4's mean, "party at the camp, eh!"

5: You don't care about the fuss with Cuba. It's a cheap place to go for your holidays, with good cigars and no Americans.

6: You know that a pike is a type of fish, not part of a highway.

7: You have Canadian Tire money in your kitchen drawers.

8: You know that Casey and Finnegan were not part of a Celtic musical group.

9: You brag to Americans that: Shania Twain, Jim Carrey, Celine Dion, Michael J. Fox, John Candy, William Shatner, Tom Green, Matthew Perry, Mike Myers, Neve Campbell and Pamela Anderson are all Canadians.

10: You design your Halloween costume to fit over a snowsuit.

11: You know that the last letter of the English alphabet is pronounced "Zed".

12: Your local newspaper covers national news on 2 pages, but requires 6 pages for hockey.

13: You know that when it's 25 degrees outside, it's a warm day.

14: You know how to pronounce and spell "Saskatchewan".

15: You perk up when you hear the theme song from 'Hockey Night in Canada'.

16: "Eh?" is a very important part of your vocabulary, and is more polite than, "Huh?"

17: Your Beer Case handles Are Big Enough To Fit Your Mitts

18: You know that we don't all live in igloos and ride polar bears to work.

19: Every murder is reported (in the news).

20: You froze your tongue to something metal and survived to tell about it.

http://www.ismckenzie.com/06/27/top-20- ... -canadian/

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TRexx - Jun 28, 2008 - 01:51 AM
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Via the Honolulu Food Blog...

Reader's Corner: The Companies We Keep 2

June 27, 2008

"Jack Lord was seriously considered for the role of Captain Kirk in Star Trek. Lord wanted to co-produce the series and own a percentage of it. The show's creator, Gene Roddenberry, wasn't willing to meet his demands and cast William Shatner instead."

http://tastyisland.wordpress.com/2008/0 ... we-keep-2/

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TRexx - Jun 28, 2008 - 04:12 AM
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From the Rocky Mount Telegram...

Books: Determined star's voyage

Shatner didn't take easy way up ladder

By Mae Woods Bell, Book Reviewer / Sunday, June 29, 2008

Up Till Now by William Shatner with David Fisher; St. Martin's Press; 358 pages; U$25.95.

This scintillating autobiography is full of anecdotes that will have the reader chortling over madcap scenes and self-deprecating asides. But this also is a double-level book in which an introspective side of William Shatner is evident as well, as he reveals his passions for acting, horses and dogs, his myriad adventures and his one deep tragedy.

Shatner recalls the first time he stood on a stage. He was 6, and he made the audience cry. It was at a summer camp for Jewish children, run by his aunt in the mountains near Montreal. She cast him in the play "Winterset" as a boy who has to leave his home and his dog. The play was performed on parents' weekend, and since the audience consisted primarily of people who had escaped the Nazis and had left everything behind, they were one with the little actor.

"Just imagine the impact that had on a six-year-old child. I had the ability to move people to tears. And I could get approval," Shatner writes, remembering the warm feeling as his father held him after the show.

He wonders where the need to please people came from. His family history gave no clues. The Shatners came from Eastern Europe, where several of his forbears were rabbis and teachers -- but not actors. His father, was in the clothing business, manufacturing men's suits for French-Canadian stores. His father's hope that William, who earned a business degree from McGill University, would expand the clothing line came to naught. The younger Shatner had acted throughout his childhood in the Montreal's Children's Theatre, and while still in high school he got his first real job in the theater as a stage manager. At McGill, he'd spent more time in the drama department than going to class; he understood the value of money -- but acting was more important.

Shatner's work ethic comes from his father, from whom he also learned the value of education, respect for others and to be on time and prepared to work. Shatner's friend Leonard Nemoy jokes about the fact that Shatner never stops working. That goes back to the very beginning of his career; he had to take anything that he was offered and the habit stuck. Now in his late 70s, he still is going strong. His credits include stage performances, movies, television, voice-overs, radio programs, Webcasts, videos, Star Trek conventions, game shows, writing books and songs, directing and producing, performing at concerts and appearing on talk shows and award programs, not to mention riding in horse shows.

During those hectic years, he had two failed marriages. As he looks back at these marriages to fellow actors Marcy Lafferty and Gloria Rand, he writes he thought that it was simple: He earned the money, his wife ran the house. At first, these marriages were successful, but he realizes he was not flexible enough to fulfill his spouses' needs for recognition on their own. His marriage to Narine Kidd ended tragically with her drowning, and he hadn't been able to get a foothold on life for ages. His health deteriorated, and his doctors were concerned that the stress was slowly killing him.

However, he is emotionally whole now. Eventually with much soul-searching and some trepidation, Shatner and a fellow horse lover and trainer, Elizabeth Martin, were married. Martin's husband had had cancer, and she'd nursed him for several years until his death. Shatner and Martin had gone through all the stages of grief before they met.

Shatner has a successful riding horse breeding business with a farm in Lexington, Ky. Among his various charities is showing and performing at celebrity shows. He is an excellent rider and loves his animals -- all animals. Whether one thinks of William Shatner as Capt. Kirk in Star Trek, police Sgt. T.J. Hooker in the show of the same name, Denny Crane in Boston Legal or the ubiquitous price negotiator in TV commercials, he uses his celebrity to help charities. In an extreme case, he sold a kidney stone suffered after an attack during Boston Legal, for $75,000 to benefit Habitat for Humanity -- a true but funny story, like so many that he recounts.

The book includes an index and a large number of black-and-white and color photos.

In addition to playing Capt. Kirk, William Shatner directed seven Star Trek movies and won two Emmys and a Golden Globe as attorney Denny Crane on Boston Legal. He has three adult daughters. He lives in New York with his wife.

Co-author David Fisher is author of 15 New York Times best-sellers. He lives in New York with his wife, two teenagers, one dog and one cat.

An Excerpt

The heroic characteristics exemplified by Captain James Kirk -- among them honesty, integrity, compassion, and courage -- were easily transferable, making me a desirable commercial spokesperson. At the beginning of my career it was well known that real actors simply did not do television commercials. Actors acted, spokesmen spoke, period. It was considered an act of prostitution. Many stage actors would choose to starve rather than sell out, and a lot of them got the opportunity to do just that. I felt very much the same way, I was not for sale! Not that anyone was interested in buying, of course, but even if I had been offered a commercial I would have refused.

But in 1963 I co-starred with Paul Newman, Edward G. Robinson, Laurence Harvey, my friend Howard Da Silver, and Claire Bloom in The Outrage, Martin Ritt's westernized remake of Kurosawa's Rashomon. I played a disillusioned preacher who is told three different versions of a rape committed by a Mexican bandit played by Paul Newman. For me, the joy in making this film was the opportunity to work with Edward G. Robinson, whom I had long idolized as one of America's finest actors. One night he invited me to his home for dinner, and afterward took me out back where he had built a small round building that vaguely resembled New York Guggenheim Museum. This was his art museum and inside was arguably the finest private collection of French impressionist works in the world. He was passionate about it. As he showed these paintings to me he referred to them as his "children."

Coincidentally, a couple of days earlier I'd happened to see a coffee commercial he'd done. It had been jarring for me to see an actor of his stature doing a commercial, so I asked him about it. He looked at me, then pointed at a superlative painting by one of the masters. "That's why," he said.

http://www.rockymounttelegram.com/featr ... 9/Mae.html

AUDIO (MP3) playback time = 7 minutes

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TRexx - Jun 29, 2008 - 06:42 AM
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Via the Farpoint Convention Weblog

Farpoint 2009 Guest Update

June 29, 2008 by svanblarcom

In response to the large number of members who have requested more "behind the scenes" professionals, actor Phil Weyland will be joining us. Phil is a longtime member of the Star Trek family, although one whose name may not be the most familiar. He was DeForest Kelley's double on Star Trek: The Motion Picture and ST II: The Wrath of Khan. Phil then began working as a double and dialogue coach for William Shatner on the remaining Trek movies and is still filling this role today for Mr. Shatner on Boston Legal.

Phil will be joining our old friend Harve Bennett at Farpoint's new home, the Crowne Plaza Baltimore North in Timonium, MD.

http://farpoint.wordpress.com/2008/06/2 ... st-update/

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TRexx - Jun 29, 2008 - 02:28 PM
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From CTV Canada...

Shatner looks back at his 'most illogical' career

Josh Visser, CTV.ca News Staff / Updated Sun. Jun. 29 2008 7:09 AM ET

It's hard to believe that William Shatner -- Captain James T. Kirk, T.J. Hooker, the guy from Rescue 911 -- is an old man now. But at 77, Shatner says his life has never been better.

And it's not just because of all the free All-Bran.

In an interview with CTV.ca from his home in California, Shatner discussed growing old and the great existential questions, the art of humour, the streets of Toronto and that upcoming movie called Star Trek.

Shatner recently released his autobiography Up till Now upon the world. He chronicles growing up in middle-class Montreal to doing live television in New York, and his rise to fame in Star Trek, and then his eventual fall from grace. And then his rise again as Trek hit the big screen in the 70s and starring in another hit show, T.J. Hooker, in the 80s. And then his falling off the radar in the early 90s only to . . . oh, you get the idea.

"I made a decision to write the book because I think of it like a legacy to my kids and grandchildren," Shatner told CTV.ca. "Life is fragile enough but as you get older it becomes even more fragile, so I thought I better do it now."

It's hard not to compare Shatner's thoughts on growing old with the character he is currently playing on television -- Denny Crane from Boston Legal. For those unfamiliar with the show, Shatner's performance has been nothing less than shockingly good -- he's won two Emmy's for it already.

His character, a brilliant but eccentric lawyer, has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's and has been trying to experience all of life's pleasures before losing the ability to enjoy them.

Shatner on being Shatner

But Shatner says he is completely satisfied with his lot in life. In fact, he can't think of anything he'd change.

"I'm in such a contented arena of my life at this moment, I keep waiting for the bubble to burst. I'm happily married, my children are healthy and are a couple of miles away, plus my grandchildren are here," he said.

"I'm physically active, I ride a lot of horses . . . and my dogs are beside me and I got a really comfortable home. I'd rather stay home than go someplace. And I've got a great job. I've been so blessed by everything in these last few years that I can't imagine wanting anything else.

"There isn't a part I want to play. I've got the best part of someone my age going and I've got all kinds of interesting things coming up."

I pause at this moment to let the reader know that Shatner does sort of. Talk a bit. Like this, but it's not as exaggerated as it is on . . . television.

"I'm going to be able to leave my wife and my children comfortable when I die, so that's good," he continues.

And finally, "I'm older than I ever expected to be," he finishes.

How old did Shatner expect to make it? Oh, "about 42," he says.

That would have been before the great Shatner transformation. At 42, Shatner would have been best known for Trek -- but also for his um, 'inspired' career choices -- including the only movie filmed entirely in the made-up language of Esperanto and his 1968 album The Transformed Man.

That's the concept album that mixes spoken word covers of the Beatles and Bob Dylan with dramatic readings of Shakespeare, set to bombastic music. Only Shatner could have recovered from its response -- let alone make another album in 2004 called Has Been -- which was critically revered.

How does he find himself in such a wide variety of projects? He provides a refreshing answer -- whatever is "fun" and pays him.

"You get an inordinate amount of money for very little amount of work and that has an appeal," he says. "You try to balance one with the other -- things of great interest and things that you find difficult to turn down because the money is so good."

The post-post ironic Shatner

Since 1997, Shatner has carved a self-mocking public personality that transcends both art and business, into something completely his. From his Priceline.com and All-Bran commercials, to his role as an off-kilter Bill Shatner in the 1997 film Free Enterprise and the numerous reality shows, Shatner, a senior citizen, has somehow managed to become the spokesperson for 'Generation Irony'.

The Stratford-trained actor best known for his over-acting, all of a sudden turned out to a self-aware comedian, which makes one wonder if Shatner was always in on the joke.

"There's a fine line between reality and amusement and what people would take seriously and what they would take as amusing and if you can refine that line to a hair's breadth, then it becomes interesting for me the performer and you the viewer," Shatner says.

"I think I worked on that a bit," he deadpans.

So, is that goofy Shatner we see playing himself and showing up for a comedy special called The Roast of William Shatner, close to the actual man himself?

"This sense of comedy, which is the opposite of saying I'm funny -- it's almost metaphysical -- you can't quite put your finger on it, but when you see it you know it," he says. "I can't be anything else but me but you can exaggerate aspects of your personality and it is in that area of exaggeration that I think there's comedy."

"You're ultra real as compared to trying to be funny."

At 77, Shatner has never been more busy and in demand. He credits his longevity to his health and luck.

"I think luck -- and I believe its luck and not divine purpose but some people might ascribe it to that -- is a huge competent into anyone's life, yes, you have to be ready when you get lucky and you have to make your own luck...but at the same time there is the fateful fall of the stars and when they align that's good and when they are in chaos it's bad and you can do nothing about it."

Up till Now boldly goes

Shatner's autobiography, written along with David Fisher, is a rarity among celebrity tomes -- it's very funny, although the self-referential humour can come off like self-absorbance if you don't "get" the Shat. Mid-sentence Shatner will jump off-topic, telling the reader about something for sale on his website, or mentioning that he made a new "friend" on MySpace. Plus, the last line of his book is so outrageously funny you are warned not to read it in public.

But Up till Now is also refreshingly honest and packs an emotional punch. Early on Shatner touches on his loneliness and despair living on Toronto's Jarvis Street as a young man while doing work for CBC radio.

In the book, he said for years after he left Toronto, his biggest worry was he would fail and end up back on Jarvis Street.

"I don't know if that ever goes away. That may not stay with you on a daily basis but I think once you've been traumatized by any of these things -- poverty, loneliness, grief, even food poisoning -- your body reacts to thing that poisons you and you are traumatized by it for a long time," he says.

"You never lose the sense of jeopardy and the lack of feeling of security. That's a constant balancing act, even as you get older and get to accumulate some money."

Shatner on the new Star Trek

At the very end of the interview, Shatner talks about Star Trek, specifically the new movie that he's not in.

The film -- the 11th in the series -- is a prequel or reboot (depending on what source you read) that will feature Captain Kirk, Mr. Spock, Dr. McCoy and all the beloved characters from the original series -- but played by different actors.

Only Leonard Nimoy, who played Spock, is returning from the original cast.

The film is being directed by Lost mastermind J.J. Abrams. Last year, Shatner expressed some dismay that he wouldn't be in the movie, even telling The Associated Press that it didn't seem like a "wise business decision."

The (lame) death of Kirk in the seventh Trek film in 1994 was certainly no obstacle to Shatner, who has revived his own career from the thralls of death too many times to count.

But Shatner hardly seems angry at the supposed snub now, if anything he seems disappointed.

He said that he caught Abrams' feature film directorial debut, Mission Impossible III, the other day on television and that made him feel a tinge of sadness about not being in the new Trek film.

"I was amazed at what a wonderful director J.J. Abrams is and he's going to make a wonderful movie," Shatner says. "I was just disappointed I'm not in the movie he is going to make because it is going to great."

'It was fun'

While Shatner says that while he's certainly not going to turn down any interesting projects, he can't think of anything he wants to do.

"If there's something I really wanted to do, I just get up and do it. There's nothing preventing me," he says.

That sums up his career pretty nicely -- Shatner has just gone and done it. Critics may have laughed at his choices but deep into the third golden age of his career -- Shatner has laughed loudest and last.

"A varied career that seems somewhat unlikely," is what Shatner would put on his career's epitaph. I believe Spock would call that a "highly logical" conclusion.

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/s ... TopStories

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TRexx - Jul 01, 2008 - 12:49 AM
Post subject:

From the National Post...

William Shatner: 'Everything's linked inextricably'

It was only at the behest of his publisher -- and with a good old fashioned dose of ego -- that William Shatner decided to write his memoirs. reconsidered.

Mark Medley, National Post, Published: Monday, June 30, 2008

William Shatner never intended to write his memoirs. He really didn't have much to say. Anything anyone ever wanted to know was already there, in the open; all you had to do was look at his onscreen roles, his five previous non-fiction books and his unconventional yet acclaimed music career. It was only at the behest of his publisher -- and with a good old fashioned dose of ego -- that the 77-year-old actor reconsidered.

"The thing that tipped me in the direction of doing it was [the fact that] I've got children and grandchildren," he says, adding they consider him "old hat." "They don't know too much of what happened, and I thought this would be an interesting legacy for them to read at some point, especially the grandkids. They might pick up the book, someday in the future and think, 'Oh my God. Why didn't I talk to him?' " Shatner laughs.

The autobiography, Up Till Now, is what you'd expect from a man who has cultivated a slightly off-kilter persona; this is someone, after all, whose acting method on Star Trek has been endlessly skewered; who seems equally comfortable in B-grade fare like American Psycho 2 as in big budget movies. Not only are the characters he's played pop culture icons, but so is Shatner himself. One moment you may spot him on TV's Boston Legal, his current Emmywinning gig, the next you'll hear his cover of Pulp's Common People on the radio. You never know what to expect. And Shatner says he didn't know what kind of reaction to expect from the book, either.

"I was filled with dread that nobody would buy it," he says. "The same way, when I go to a book signing or some place that an audience is supposed to turn up, I'm wondering whether anybody will turn up."

A month after its release, the book still sits at or near the top of several categories on Amazon, and Shatner's the first to admit his amazement that anyone still cares: "It's flattering, but it's also scary," he says.

Up Till Now chronicles Shatner's long career, from his childhood in Montreal, working for the CBC in Toronto, his time at the Stratford Festival, his three years on Star Trek, his four marriages, plus his work on dozens and dozens of films and TV shows like T.J. Hooker and Rescue 911, and the strange 1965 horror film Incubus, which was shot entirely in Esperanto. Shatner called the process of combing through his life, with writer David Fisher, "chaotic," though he himself never went back to watch any of his early work while researching the book: "I can't stand to look at myself," he says. He also says the writing process, which forced him to contemplate his career, hasn't left him with any regrets.

"Life is cyclical. You're up and then you're down. And when you're down, you think, 'I should have done something else.' But you can't. You've done what you could do in the circumstances," he says. "Everything's linked inextricably. Therefore regret doesn't work. You can learn. But regret doesn't work."

There is a moment from his life he probably wishes he could change, though. In August, 1999 Shatner came home to find his third wife, Nerine Kidd-Shatner, dead at the bottom of their backyard swimming pool. She was an alcoholic; she was drinking out back, had slipped, hit her head and fallen into the pool. He shares the story in detail, though initially he was unsure how -- or even whether -- to approach the subject.

"I went around it quite a bit in my mind. It was a part of my history. I spoke about it in a way that I hadn't spoken about it before," he says. "I was in a grief-stricken period of a year. But then as the grief changes -- it doesn't go away, but it changes --I was able to get some objectivity of it. And I wanted to put down some of the more salient facts that I saw."

Though Up Till Now sometimes reads like a curtain call, Shatner insists this is not his swan song. He's in no rush to leave the camera behind.

"I'm so fascinated by what I do, and in love with what I do," he says. "Since I'm being offered the opportunity to do it, why would I say no?"

He still plays Denny Crane on Boston Legal, a role which has won him two Emmys. He's still making movies. He gets offers to return to the stage. He'll probably write another book. But he knows that, at some point, everyone has to leave their career behind. He already has his retirement mapped out for when that day comes.

"I'm going to drop dead. That's when I'll retire."

http://www.nationalpost.com/todays_pape ... ?id=622802

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TRexx - Jul 01, 2008 - 01:03 AM
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From the National Post Ampersand...

From the cutting room floor: William Shatner

Posted: June 30, 2008, 1:00 PM by Mark Medley

In Monday's National Post, Mark Medley talks to William Shatner about his new autobiography, Up Till Now. Here's some more of what "The Shatman" had to say:

On what he'd have done if acting hadn't worked out:

"Of late I might have chosen to be a horse trainer or a scuba diving instructor. I've got a mixture of a sense of adventure and a sense of whatever the word would be for staying at home. I'm both a liberal and a conservative. Both action and residing in lethargy. The mixture is such that I don't know what I would do. I enjoy the 18 hour days shooting a series. I'm glad that in a way that its being limited, so that will get me out of there and into real life and seeing more of my wife and kids and doing other projects.... What at I would have done? I don't know. I might have been a writer.... I enjoy telling a story. Even a complex one. I might have turned to that. For the longest time, when I was in Toronto, and doing CBC work, I wrote several dramas for television. I think they were half hours, they might have been hours. And sold a few. And in fact met my first wife on one of them I was acting in as well as having written. And had I not acted I might have continued on in that vein. In fact, it's probably highly likely I would have. But I wasn't good enough. When I see these complex novels and real fine screenplays that have a multitude of levels and are so interesting, the ideas and imagination behind them are so good, I feel that I might not have done well."

On his love of horses:

"There's everything about horses. There's the beauty of them. And there is the stillness of them. And there is the nobility of them. And there is the doggedness of them. And there is the wildness. And there is the communication between species, man and horse. There is the physicality of riding. And there's the joy of competition.... it's a whole complex love affair that goes on. it isn't getting on a horse and riding around the park."

On the worst script he's ever received:

"Once the refusal is made the script goes out of my mind."

On Incubus, the 1965 horror film shot entirely in the made-up language of Esperanto:

"I was given a script by a producer/writer who was well known at the time. I don't know if he died ...Leslie Stevens I think was his name. I'd worked with him on some television shows. And he handed me this script, an independent production, and it was good vs evil, and I thought it was good fun. He was a good director. And I said yes. And then he handed me another script a couple of days later, in Esperanto, and said this is how were going to shoot it. His rationale was there's 7 million people speaking it, they'd probably all come and see the movie. It made some sense to me, and so off we went. I learned Esperanto phonetically. And it was just a bad luck movie: people got divorced, people died, people committed suicide, either before during or afterwards. All kinds of terrible things happened."

Has Leonard Nimoy read the book?

"You know, I don't know. I interviewed him recently.... I didn't want to ask if he's read the book or not, because I didn't want to be embarrassed (if he said) 'No I haven't, or I'm about to.'"

On music:

"I loved doing Has Been. Going to Nashville, having that whole experience with a genius like [Ben Folds]. It was overwhelming in that I was in good hands. I got great guidance. So I would love to repeat it, and although I've asked him if if he would do another, he's gone on to other things. We're great buddies. But I don't think he'd do it again and I'd be afraid of somebody else.... [On the album] I did a rock and roll number. and I understood for the first time what rock and roll is. I wrote some songs from my heart and they turned out well because of [Ben] and I just don't know if I could do anything else. But that rock and roll thing really gave me tremendous insight."

On the possibility of returning to the stage:

"I don't know. I've certainly been asked to go. Eight times a week, and if were going to do it I'd do it in New York. It's quite a routine. I don't know. I don't know. I certainly, in the past, have gotten my jollies from being in front of thousands of people."

On regrets:

"I regret I never talked to Marlon Brando, or Laurence Olivier. We had many mutual friends. I'm just too shy or didn't want to impose. I would have loved to talk to Brando. He lived about a couple of miles away from here. I could have taken him to dinner. I never did."

On acting:

"After you acquire the tools it becomes problem solving more than anything else. If you're able to play the notes, it's just what notes are you going to select. So it becomes, how would this character act here, what would his action or reaction be here? And where does that lead us to? Can I play more than one level... and that becomes a creative, interesting job."

On who he'd cast as himself in a movie of his life:

"Oh, I couldn't see the job going to anybody else."

http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blog ... atner.aspx

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TRexx - Jul 01, 2008 - 04:21 AM
Post subject:

Via the Fozzolog Blog...

Shatner vs Beck

By Doran "Fozz" Barton on June 30, 2008 2:58 AM

Wow!

About a month ago, my hero Glenn Beck had actor, writer, artist, etc. William Shatner on his television program for an hour-long interview. I missed it and didn't record it so I was very pleased to find out it was re-run this last Friday and got snagged on my DVR.

That interview was just amazing and, surprisingly, contained almost no Star Trek content whatsoever. There were some clips from Star Trek shown when they were talking about Shatner's reputation for "overacting" but that's about it.

What did they talk about for an hour if not Star Trek? Some politics, some philosophy, some Shatner history, and alcoholism (Shatner's third wife suffered from alcoholism and it ended up claiming her life.)

Maybe I enjoyed it so much because it was just an almost-informal hour of discussion between two of my favorite people.

It looks like some dude on YouTube has done the honors of capturing the entire hour in six parts. At least he did a real job of capturing the video and didn't just smack a Flip video camera in front of the TV like I've seen some people do!

Here are the obligatory links:

Part 1) http://youtube.com/watch?v=dJayjQZP5Rw
Part 2) http://youtube.com/watch?v=PA2xn35NpdA
Part 3) http://youtube.com/watch?v=KdQwnRavnIE
Part 4) http://youtube.com/watch?v=nuhq-QQZoHc
Part 5) http://youtube.com/watch?v=QoFRJ4faUMg
Part 6) http://youtube.com/watch?v=xpgEbEp_gRY

http://www.fozzilinymoo.org/Fozzolog/20 ... -beck.html

The interview transcript is posted here...

http://williamshatner.com/index.php?nam ... 972#464972

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TRexx - Jul 01, 2008 - 11:14 PM
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At the BBC...

William Shatner answers your questions

William Shatner has been working as an actor for more than half a century

Page last updated at 09:50 GMT, Tuesday, 1 July 2008 10:50 UK

Actor William Shatner has become one of the world's most well-known entertainers after almost 60 years in showbusiness.

Most famous for his role as Captain James T Kirk in the Star Trek TV series and seven spin-off films, he also starred in police drama TJ Hooker and has released several albums.

Throughout his career he has worked with an extraordinary range of actors, including Spencer Tracy, Burt Lancaster, Marlene Dietrich, Judy Garland, Sandra Bullock, Ben Stiller and Robert DeNiro.

He currently plays bombastic lawyer Denny Crane in Boston Legal -- a role which won him an Emmy Award and Golden Globe in 2005.

From his office in Los Angeles, California, he answered some of your questions about his life and career.

When working on Star Trek you had lots of toys to make your life easier (being based in the future). What, if you could, would you like to actually have real today?
James McKee, Horley, Surrey

I think having a transporter would beat the heavy traffic here in Los Angeles. I wonder whether it would work in downtown London...

Why was Captain Kirk such an intergalactic stud? What was his secret with women and how can I replicate his success?
Tim Needham, Bath, UK

Unfortunately, you can't replicate his success. You need to have all my equipment.

Cast of Star Trek

Star Trek was first broadcast in 1966

You're credited as one half of the first inter-racial screen kiss on US TV. Do you think that moment and indeed Star Trek as a series, helped to break taboos and bring down boundaries?
Paul Rickards, London

Yes, I do think Star Trek had influence in that area. It also apparently influenced a lot of people in making serious decisions about their lives.

Womanising, whisky drinking, and cigar smoking, how much of William Shatner is Denny Crane?
Matthew Cherrill, Chatham

All of William Shatner is there -- plus there's much more untapped.

The screen chemistry with James Spader in Boston Legal seems very genuine. Are you close friends in real life because you seem to have the natural effortless on-screen presence of some of the all time great double acts?
Simon Weitzman, Luton

James and I are very close. I admire and feel very close to him

Your role in Boston Legal is both humorous and poignant regarding the Alzheimer's storyline. How did you research the character's reaction to the illness and what were your thoughts when the illness was written into the script?
Kevin Holmes, Chelmsford, UK.

Alzheimer's has got to be one of the worst diseases to which man is subject.

You gradually lose yourself and at some point you're alive… and no longer you. It's terrifying to play and terrifying to think about.

William Shatner

Shatner won an Emmy for his role in Boston Legal in 2005

Is that really malt whisky in the glasses at the end of every episode of Boston Legal, and if so how many takes do those scenes usually take?
Mark Powell, Warrington

The malt whiskey isn't real -- but the cigars are.

How do you manage to so successfully combine your passion for horses with your intensive work and charity schedule?
Adam McElroy, Chard

I focus on each activity and live in the moment.

Have you ever been offered a role which you regret not accepting?
Sally Mitchell, Skegness Lincolnshire

I can't think of any that I did not accept. There are a few that I accepted that I wish I hadn't.

What is the strangest gift you have been given by a fan?
M.M.Wilmot, Sheffield

I was given a dried head once. Unfortunately, the drying process had been interrupted.

How do you feel life in the public eye and life as a celebrity has changed over the past 60 years?
Liam McKay, Cambridge

I think the paparazzi have become a blight which wasn't so years ago.

You have experienced tremendous loss in your life and have come back (Boston Legal is fantastic). What motivates you to keep going when others might retire and fade away?
James Hanson, Wilmslow, Cheshire

Our lives are a journey and, like any journey, one step at a time.

William Shatner

Shatner breeds and shows American Saddlebred and Quarter Horses

Your appearance at the 1978 sci-fi awards singing Rocket Man is still pretty infamous and legendary. Are you surprised at its legacy in pop culture and its continued reference today by such people as Glenn Beck and in shows such as Family Guy?
Joe H, Donegal, Ireland

I'm flabbergasted at its continuity. The sci-fi award show was just a little show -- no broadcasting and very few people.

I was kidding around and yet here we are with continued reference every day

Given your roots on the stage, would you consider treading the boards in London's West End? A lot of your British fans would love the chance to see you perform in person -- me included!!
Neil Carpenter, Reading, Berkshire

Anything's possible.

Do you have plans to get back in the recording studio for a follow-up to the seminal Has Been LP of 2004?
Steven Knell, London, England by way of Waterloo, Ontario

I would love to do another record. It's a matter of scheduling.

William Shatner's autobiography, Up Till Now, is out now.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7482823.stm

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TRexx - Jul 02, 2008 - 12:51 AM
Post subject:

From DVD Times UK...

Boston Legal Season 4 (R1) in September

Posted by Dave Foster on 01-07-2008 18:16

Fox Home Entertainment have announced the Region 1 DVD release of Boston Legal Season 4 on 23rd September 2008 priced at $59.98 SRP. James Spader, William Shatner and Candice Bergen are joined by John Laroquette in the fourth season of David E. Kelley's law comedy drama series.

The 20-episode fourth season is spread across five discs, presented in anamorphic widescreen with English DD5.1 Surround audio and English, French, Portuguese, and Spanish subtitles. The only extra is The New Kids on the Courtroom Floor featurette.

http://www.dvdtimes.co.uk/content.php?contentid=68168

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TRexx - Jul 02, 2008 - 02:15 AM
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Via WGAW Talk Radio 1340 AM...

William Shatner talks to Lars about global warming and Sulu's wedding

Posted Jul 1st, 2008 / Category: Lars Larson on 24 June 2008

Listen here to hear Shatner discuss with Lars about his career, global warming and his surprise that Spock is invited to Sulu's wedding but not him here.

http://www.wgaw1340.com/lars/william-sh ... s-wedding/

Audio MP3 playback time = 25 minutes

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TRexx - Jul 02, 2008 - 10:43 AM
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Via TV.com...

2008 "Emmy" Finalists...

'Best Supporting Drama Actor' Finalists

Naveen Andrews, Lost ("The Economist")
Bruce Dern, Big Love ("Good Guys and Bad Guys")
Christian Clemenson, Boston Legal ("Roe vs. Wade, The Musical")
Ted Danson, Damages ("Jesus, Mary and Joe Cocker")
Michael Emerson, Lost ("The Shape of Things to Come")
Zeljko Ivanek, Damages ("I Hate These People")
T.R. Knight, Grey's Anatomy ("Freedom, Parts 1 & 2")
William Shatner, Boston Legal ("Mad About You")
John Slattery, Mad Men ( "Long Weekend")
Blair Underwood, In Treatment ("Alex: Week 6")
Jake Weber, Medium ("Wicked Game, Part 1")

http://www.tv.com/william-shatner/perso ... 11444.html

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TRexx - Jul 05, 2008 - 12:34 PM
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Via MacUpdate.com...

Shatner Facts 1.0

Widget tells you all there is to know about William Shatner

July 4, 2008

DESCRIPTION

Shatner Facts is your ideal widget for every Captain Kirk, Denny Crane, or TJ Hooker fan providing you with 101 facts about William Shatner including his career, personal life, social life, likes and dislikes.

Everything you want to know about William Shatner can be found in this small but simple widget!

These facts are not complete and will be updated in the near future, but are a good start for any Shatner fan!

Download Now (926 K)

REQUIREMENTS

Mac OS X 10.4.3 or later.

http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/27 ... tner-facts

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TRexx - Jul 05, 2008 - 01:12 PM
Post subject:

From the Ireland Indepedent...

It's work, Jim, but not as we know it

By James Walton, Saturday July 05 2008

The ambivalent feeling many actors have towards their most famous roles is perhaps best summed up by the titles of Leonard Nimoy's two autobiographies: I Am Not Spock (1977) and the rather more resigned I Am Spock (1995)

In Up Till Now, Nimoy's old interstellar comrade seems far more relaxed about the whole business. "Star Trek," writes William Shatner, "was the most wonderful thing that happened to me... the miracle that changed my life." He also throws in proud anecdotes about being recognised as Captain Kirk by Mexican peasants and Turkoman tribesmen. Yet, in the end, what gives the book much wider appeal than you might expect is how little Kirk it contains.

The man's long and often eccentric non-Kirk career makes for a winningly comprehensive guide to post-war showbusiness. After all, as Shatner explains, his career strategy has essentially been two-fold: answering the telephone and saying yes to whatever he's offered.

Such cheerful self-deprecation proves to be the book's default tone -- and even in the odd moments when Shatner turns embittered, boastful or petulant, he generally manages to be amused by his own bitterness, boasting or petulance.

In some books, the death of an alcoholic wife in the family swimming pool might undermine the overall geniality. Here, Shatner simply writes about the incident with candid regret -- before moving on efficiently.

Shatner was born in 1931, to a Jewish family in Montreal. His first break came when he joined Tyrone Power's Stratford Shakespeare Festival in Ontario. After that, he headed to New York, where he kept being offered parts that were guaranteed to make his name -- but never quite did.

During his first lead role on Broadway, he heard one audience member whisper to another: "Will you still love me after this?"

Shatner then tried his luck in Hollywood where, again, he got several supposedly breakthrough parts, but no breakthrough. In 1966 he was thinking of giving up when, as the producer's third choice, he bagged the part of the captain in a new TV science-fiction series ...

But what's sometimes forgotten is that Star Trek was a flop. After it was cancelled, Shatner embarked on another round of C-movies, many of which featured him dying in unusual ways: "In The Horror at 37,000 Feet, I got sucked out of an airplane while carrying a lit torch into the baggage compartment to confront a druid ghost."

Only gradually did it become clear that the Star Trek re-runs on local channels had led to the cult following that finally made him a star.

Not that stardom changed his career strategy much. Instead, he apparently continued to accept every quiz show, presenting job and advert put before him -- all of which he lists with a characteristic combination of self-satire and something that looks touchingly like pride.

They also add to the book's ultimately charming atmosphere of an affable old cove reminiscing in a rambling sort of way about his extraordinary life.

http://www.independent.ie/entertainment ... 27996.html

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TRexx - Jul 08, 2008 - 04:54 PM
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From JimboTalk.net...

It's the Jim Bohannon Show!

America's Premier Late Night Radio Talk Show

Guest: William Shatner - Original AITM Airdate: 7/7/08

He's been everything from a starship captain to a lawyer to a novelist to a goofy pitchman for a travel website. We're talking, of course, about the one-of-a-kind Mr. William Shatner, who joined us to talk about his just published memoir Up Till Now: The Autobiography

http://www.jimbotalk.net/Podcast-Page.php

Audio playback time = 8 minutes

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TRexx - Jul 08, 2008 - 05:26 PM
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From the Washington Times...

Star Trek Star Delivers Morsels

Reviewed By Christian Toto, Sunday, July 6, 2008

At first blush, William Shatner's life seems such an open book even the casual Star Trek fan could scribble a decent biography of him. Who can't recite his rise to fame as the captain of the fictional Enterprise all the way to his career redemption in the form of Boston Legal's Denny Crane?

But readers of Mr. Shatner's Up Till Now will discover there's plenty we still don't know about the ubiquitous actor.

From his Jewish-Canadian roots to his early struggles to pay the rent, Up Till Now offers a fresh peek at the man who would be Capt. James T. Kirk -- for a while.

The prolific actor may still work nonstop, but he can't keep up the confessional pace needed for an autobiography. By the time he recalls how Star Trek affected his life, and our culture, it's clear he's become uninterested in continuous self-reflection.

Instead, he keeps up the breezy prose, throwing in the occasional anecdote and corny aside to keep our attention. And then there's the steady stream of plugs. The book's conversational tone allows Mr. Shatner, the author, to mention his own Web site and various projects he's completed in recent years.

It might have sounded comical in the planning stages, but it only reinforces what critics once considered the actor's Achilles' heel -- the shallowness of all things Shatner.

The book's earliest chapters are the best, if simply because the stories feel heartfelt, the attention to detail is impressive and anyone can relate to the actor's struggles.

Mr. Shatner begins with a hokey but homespun story of why he wanted to act in the first place. He found himself on stage as a young boy and his simplistic performance brought the house down. That's all it took, even though his hardworking pappy preferred he take over the family's clothing business.

He learned his craft on the stage, but quickly found himself smack dab in the middle of television's Golden Age. He was just right for that era. He worked cheap and was always available, he says.

The early chapters teem with riotous anecdotes, like the time a drunken Lon Chaney Jr. read through his stage directions during a live telecast rather than actually perform them.

Mr. Shatner describes his work ethic in one tight paragraph. It helps explain how he managed to evolve from science fiction icon to afterthought to Emmy winner:

"I've subscribed to the notion that work makes more work -- the more producers and directors see you work the more chance there is they will offer you more work."

Having talent helps, too, and the public belatedly acknowledged that Mr. Shatner did, indeed, have a heaping helping of it.

His acting career began with a more earnest approach.

"I couldn't imagine the audience accepting an actor in a dramatic role after they'd seen him selling cigarettes or laundry detergent," he writes.

Economics drove his change of heart. He worked constantly, something his father helped instill in him, but Mr. Shatner couldn't build enough of a nest egg for his own comfort level. It took a science fiction series to alleviate his money woes.

Up until that point in the mid-'60s, every other project seemed likely to make him a star. But the next television project or film would either collapse or under-perform, leaving him wanting for more work.

Even Star Trek kept him employed for only three years, although its afterlife would sustain him for decades.

Trekkers may be surprised at how little time Up Till Now devotes to Star Trek, and much of it rehashes the show's obvious impact on popular culture. We could glean that from 100 other books, but what was it like shooting the series? How did it feel emoting with a rubber mask or fake rock?

Mr. Shatner mostly focuses on his co-star Leonard Nimoy's contractual battles and intermittent alcoholism. The author also shares his disdain for show creator Gene Roddenberry's niggardly ways. And Mr. Shatner's terse apology for alienating the Star Trek cast members without pointy ears sounds like it was ripped from a publicist's out box.

Up Till Now does deliver a few catty morsels, like when the author calls out Lorne Greene's acting chops, but he spends too much time and ink on T.J. Hooker, the negligible cop series that kept the actor in the public eye.

Mr. Shatner drops his guard, and his folksy humor, to recall the pain surrounding the death of his third wife, Nerine, who drowned in their swimming pool. He prefaces the tragedy with intimate details about her drinking problem and his inability to help her conquer it. It's a somber chapter, and a rather good one, too. Since much of the book involves product plugs and self-deprecating stabs, the respite and emotional release of these pages yields powerful returns.

With refreshing frankness, the book also addresses his failed attempt to direct a Star Trek sequel. Hearing Mr. Shatner recall his original vision for Star Trek V: The Final Frontier and how it got sabotaged by studio input and budgetary restraints is a cautionary tale for any wannabe filmmaker.

Mr. Shatner has spent his 70s with a new wife and newfound respect from his peers. Boston Legal's Denny Crane gives him the richest television character since he first pointed a phaser at actors wearing rubber suits. The part even earned him an Emmy award.

A 77-year-old man writing an autobiography with a title that hints his career has plenty more life in it is a gutsy move. But never count out Mr. Shatner, the greatest pop reinventor since Madonna hit the scene. It's his memoirist skills that could use a little work.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/200 ... ake-rocks/

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TRexx - Jul 08, 2008 - 05:59 PM
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From Priceline.com...

Negotiator + Lemur

[Click image to view VIDEO]

http://www.priceline.com/promo/shatner_ ... tiator.asp

Video playback = 30 seconds

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angel - Jul 08, 2008 - 06:11 PM
Post subject:

Those were really great Negotiator commercials! I've never seen those before. I don't know why! I was torn between Naughty and Zap. I voted for Zap. Many times I've felt like stunning someone when I was being impeded. Laughing

Good thing I don't have a stun gun! Shocked

TRexx - Jul 09, 2008 - 10:08 AM
Post subject:

From the Macleans Canada Blog...

I Go Flying So High, When I'm Stoned

By Jaime Weinman | July 8th, 2008 at 3:10 pm

I love William Shatner's "musical" performances. I was happy to see him devote some pages in his autobiography to his famous "Rocket Man" rendition. He's very coy about whether or not he seriously thought this was a good performance, but he accurately sums up the audience's reaction: they were stunned, wondering if he'd lost his mind. Shatner is a complete ham, and the good side of being a ham is that he gives his all, no matter what he's doing. That's why his insane talk-singing is so mesmerizing: like the audience for "Rocket Man," we're constantly wondering if he's serious, if he will at any point betray any knowledge that this is ridiculous. He never does. Not for a second.

All this is prelude to a great time-filler clip, Shatner in his '70s prime -- his prime as a has-been, I mean, when Star Trek hadn't been revived for the movies yet and he was doing some very strange projects -- "singing" the song "Taxi" by Harry Chapin. It's a long song and you keep thinking he's going to crack at some point, show some hint of ironic self-knowledge, but he. Never. Does. I'd like to think that he really, really believes he's a great singer, but the point is, even if he doesn't believe that, he never lets on.

http://blog.macleans.ca/2008/07/08/i-go ... im-stoned/

"Another man might've been angry. Another man might've been hurt. But another man would never have let her go..."

[Click image to view YouTube VIDEO]

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TRexx - Jul 10, 2008 - 04:26 AM
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From the Futon Critic...

Bio Channel Premieres New Original Talk Show Shatner's Raw Nerve Hosted by William Shatner

Legendary actor will dig up some celebrity dirt with Leonard Nimoy among one of the first guests

Released by Bio 07.09.08 - 06:48 AM
[NOTE: The following article is a press release issued by the aforementioned network and/or company. Any errors, typos, etc. are attributed to the original author. The release is reproduced solely for the dissemination of the enclosed information.]

Debuting Tuesday, August 19 At 10Pm Et/Pt

Los Angeles, CA July 9, 2008 - From Star Trek to TJ Hooker to Boston Legal, Emmy-Award winner William Shatner is one of America's most beloved and versatile stars and is well known as a sharp intellect and a witty raconteur. In the original Bio Channel series, Shatner's Raw Nerve, premiering Tuesday, August 19 at 10PM ET/PT, Shatner continues to evolve his career as he headlines his own edgy and off-beat celebrity interview series, showcasing his unique sensibility, from the satirical to the serious to the sublime. The show will capture America's most intriguing people at their most unexpected.

In each episode of Shatner's Raw Nerve, Shatner will attempt to probe his guest's most fascinating and sensitive subjects and touch upon a "Raw Nerve." Part of the fun will be waiting for the "Raw Nerve" moments that you know will be coming. Shatner will explore life's most intriguing questions, and unearth stories that are most surprising, revealing, funny, touching or bizarre. The show will be unpredictable, allowing Shatner to work his magic on each guest in his own unique way.

Guests will include an array of fascinating figures from the pop culture universe such as John Voight, Jimmy Kimmel, Judge Judy, Jenna Jameson, Leonard Nimoy, Kelsey Grammer, Valerie Bertinelli and much, much more.

Shatner's Raw Nerve is produced by Scott Sternberg Productions with Scott Sternberg as executive producer. Executive producers for Bio Channel are Robert Sharenow and Michael Morrison.

About Bio Channel

At Bio, we prove that the truth about people is always more entertaining than fiction. Bio is about real people and their real lives: up close and personal, gritty and provocative, always unfiltered. Bio original series uncover the real drama in people stories: everyday situations with a twist; celebrities going off-script; people-centric crime stories and paranormal events. In addition to being the exclusive home to the Emmy-Award winning Biography series, the dynamic blend of original and acquired series on Bio includes Final 24, Psychic Investigators and the upcoming William Shatner hosted talk show, Shatner's Raw Nerve. The 24-hour network is now available in more than 47 million households. The Bio web site is located at www.bio.com.

http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx ... 80709bio02

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TRexx - Jul 15, 2008 - 03:28 PM
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From the New York Post...

Back On Trek

Shatner Spent More Time Deciding On New Car Than On Taking Kirk Role

By Linda Stasi, TV Critic.
Last updated: 7:28 am July 15, 2008; Posted: 4:10 am, July 15, 2008

THE question stopped him cold for a moment.

I was talking on the phone with William Shatner, actor, author and professional wiseass about his new autobiography, Up Till Now, when the elephant in the living room moment had arrived -- time to address the death of his late wife, Nerine.

The death that forced him to broker a deal with The National Enquirer to keep them from basically accusing him of murder.

"If the book only had one chapter, which one would it be?" I asked, hoping to ease him into it.

It was, in fairness, a trick question, because the breezy, sometimes hilarious book takes such a giant detour in Chapter 9 and turns so deadly serious, harrowing and tragic, the answer was unavoidable.

"The chapter on my wife, Nerine," he said, dropping his funny, wiseass actor patois suddenly.

It's all there: the details of what happened in their magical life together before it was killed off by the horrors of substance abuse, which ended when Shatner found her floating dead in the backyard pool. It was a day when she'd asked him not to leave her.

"It was the most difficult chapter," he added softly. "I didn't want to demean her, and yet I wanted to tell the truth as best as I was able." His account of living with a woman he loved desperately but who couldn't stop destroying herself is heartbreaking.

Why write it at all?

"For my children. My three daughters and five grandkids," he said. "They didn't know the real story."

In other parts of the book, which Shatner wrote with David Fisher, the actor flits around in ways both hilarious and serious, detailing life and career highs, lows and in-betweens. In addition to stories from his real life, they are plenty of stories from his surreal life on Star Trek.

I asked why he often seemed ambivalent about the show, or at least the Captain Kirk role that launched his career like a starship.

"No! Nothing much to be ambivalent about," he swears. "It was a kick to do. A joy. Really."

Yes, but back in the day when Scotty was beaming him up, he must have had mixed emotions, no?

"You know, we think very little about the decisions we make in our life," he said. "We spend more time deciding on a car!

"But the celebrity, the opportunities it brought me. . ." he said, without really finishing the sentence.

Had he thought about it, maybe we wouldn't all have had Jim Kirk, and Shatner wouldn't have been able to admit that, yes, he was jealous of -- are you ready? -- Leonard Nimoy! He went so far as to stop a photo shoot for a magazine story that was to only feature Nimoy.

But time has softened Shatner -- and hardened him up at the same time. He still can't turn down a job.

Next up for him is a talk show on the Biography Channel called Shatner's Raw Nerve, which premieres next month.

http://www.nypost.com/seven/07152008/tv ... 120016.htm

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TRexx - Jul 15, 2008 - 03:36 PM
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From ROK Comics...

Shatner on Your Mobile...

Tuesday, 15 July 2008

Thanks to a deal between ROK Media (publishers of ROK Comics) and top Hollywood photographer Sue Schneider, you can now buy wallpapers featuring some top SF TV and film stars -- along with other celebrities -- for your mobile.

Mobile service Fonepark is offering a number of 'wallpapers' for mobile featuring the likes of William Shatner, Jeri Ryan, Robert Picardo and many others, along with TV theme ring tones and more.

More SF celebrities will be added to the service in coming months.

Fonepark is also set to add wallpapers by top comics artists already creating comics for mobile, complementing existing comics and magazine-sourced imagery from titles such as Look and Learn and The Bible Story.

http://rokcomics.blogspot.com/2008/07/s ... obile.html

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TRexx - Jul 16, 2008 - 02:14 PM
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Via the Silent Running blog...

Q: The Podcast

Live From Montreal! (Thursday June 26, 2008)

Q podcast host Jian Ghomeshi

Via Silent Running blog - July 16th, 2008

Seventy-seven years old. Our old mate Captain William Shatner has written his autobiography, only the first actually which is a minor surprise. After this Q interview I would be interested in actually reading it.

I like the Q podcast. Tuned into this radio show while I was living in Canada, so now I download the shows of interest. The Shatner interview has been sitting on my mp3 player for about a week now waiting to be played. Shatner is himself, by the way, a Canadian.

Highly interesting, a very candid and personal interview about the man's life which includes, of course a bit about Star Trek. Jian Ghomeshi (our Indian Canadian radio host) is at his best here. I've heard him interview lots of people but he's never been so insightful and gentle.

Listen if it interests you. I didn't expect to get reflections on pain and loss and loneliness. Death. But there it is.

And, finally I found out what that "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds" cover was all about!

Download Podcast [mp3] - Skip to 20 minutes into the podcast.

http://silentrunning.tv/?p=3055

(Bill's interview is about 20 minutes in duration)

Audio playback time = 60 minutes

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TRexx - Jul 17, 2008 - 04:05 AM
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From iF Magazine...

Breaking News: THE TRUTH ABOUT 'BOSTON LEGAL'S' 13-EPISODE FINAL SEASON

ABC's Entertainment President gives the scoop on David E. Kelley's wrap-up of the James Spader/William Shatner legal drama

By CARL CORTEZ, Contributing Editor / Published 7/16/2008

LOCATION: Boston

THE SKINNY: While BOSTON LEGAL continues to be creatively one of ABC's most interesting series, the writing on the wall that its time was over was certainly clear and due to the writer's strike, the series never got the chance to end properly.

Hence, creator David E. Kelley was given a last-minute reprieve and will complete 13 final episodes for its fifth and final season according to ABC Entertainment President Stephen McPherson.

"We really felt like it didn't get its due on its way out this year," says McPherson. "And the opportunity to give it really a final 13, he was really excited about it. He committed to really writing those, which, for us, was really important because he's kind of transitioned his life a little bit. So it's great to have the show back."

As for 13 episodes, versus a full season pick-up, McPherson says it all came down to David Kelley.

"David felt he had 13 episodes left in him," says McPherson. "He really wanted to end it. he really wanted to do some things with our two core characters [played by James Spader and William Shatner]. It was really his decision."

That said, much like last year's announcement of a LOST end game, McPherson enjoys knowing when one of the network's signature shows are ending.

"I really like being able to know when shows are going out," says McPherson. "As big a decision as LOST was a couple years out, it's really good to know, as opposed to, you know, with SCRUBS, 'is it on again? Is it going to not be on?' Let's let these creators, who have created unbelievably compelling characters and iconic pieces of television end it with dignity and integrity. We can market it as such. For us, it's an advantage. We really appreciate David signing up and getting excited about these final 13. We're talking about how to really sell them as this kind of final crescendo for what we believe has been a terrific series."

http://www.ifmagazine.com/new.asp?article=6535

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TRexx - Jul 17, 2008 - 11:37 PM
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From Hello Magazine Canada...

Howie, Sandra, and William lead Canadian hopes for Emmy glory

17 July 2008

Deal Or No Deal's Howie Mandel is celebrating after receiving his first-ever Emmy nomination on Thursday morning. The energetic A-lister was nominated in the inaugural category of outstanding reality host for his hit game show.

Also making Canada proud at the 2008 award nominations was Ottawa-born Sandra Oh, who is in the running for supporting actress in a drama series for Grey's Anatomy. Meanwhile, Montreal-born William Shatner will be vying for supporting actor in a drama series for his role on quirky law show Boston Legal.

Other Canadian hopefuls this year include funnyman Will Arnett, who received a nod for guest actor in a comedy series for his appearance on 30 Rock.

Paul Giamatti's HBO historical miniseries John Adams grabbed the most nominations this year with 23 in all. And nabbing the most nods of any drama series was Mad Men, with 16 in total, including best drama series.

The show, set in the world of 1960s advertising, will compete against brunette beauty Evangeline Lilly's much-loved Lost and William Shatner's Boston Legal in the best drama series category.

The results of the 60th annual Emmy Awards will be announced from LA's Nokia Theatre on September 21.[/size]

http://www.hellomagazine.ca/news/200807 ... william/1/

Click HERE to view a complete list of Emmy nominees.

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TRexx - Jul 18, 2008 - 12:10 AM
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From StarPulse.com...

William Shatner: A Man Of Many Talents

Story by Kris King, Starpulse contributing writer : 2008-07-17 12:25:32

William Alan Shatner is a man of many talents. With over fifty years of acting experience, he is a critically acclaimed musician and author, and at seventy-seven he revels in his status as a titan of popular culture. Just one glimpse of the man's face brings on a deluge of images and names: Captain James Tiberius Kirk; long... dramatic... pauses; Priceline.com -- the list could go on for pages. Below you will find the career of William Shatner broken down into a few categories, starting from his humble beginnings in the 1950s all the way through to the man we have today.

Early career
Despite Shatner's somewhat scattershot career, the man has a legitimate theatrical background. His acting career began on the Shakespearean stage of all places, and Shatner worked a number of plays like The Merchant of Venice, and Henry V. He even went on to have starring rolls on Broadway. However, one role in Shatner's early career signified the types of jobs he would get for the next fifty years of his life: Ranger Bob on Canada's version of The Howdy Doody Show. Oh to see William Shatner dressed in 50s cowboy gear. Shatner's early work saw him on practically every show on television. He did episodes of Alfred Hitchcock Presents, The Twilight Zone, The Outer Limits, and even The Man From U.N.C.L.E. Still, throughout the 50s and 60s Shatner never really landed any significant or lasting roles until a rather large opportunity arose.

Star Trek
Yes! The voyages of James T. Goddamn Kirk and the Starship Enterprise coming at your face! Unless you've somehow been living in a hole or been in a coma for forty years, Captain Kirk needs little introduction. It's unimaginable that anyone could take the helm of the Enterprise in the original series other than William Shatner. It feels almost unreal that show creator Gene Roddenberry originally considered giving the captain's chair to actor Jeffery Hunter as Captain Christopher Pike. Judging by the single episode with Pike as the captain, Shatner single-handedly saves the show from relentless dullness at the hands of Captain Pike. It's unimaginable to see another man fighting large men in lizard costumes with large pointed sticks. Kirk is the type of man born to lead, and he proves it every episode by contorting his words, screaming at the heavens, and making it with every lady in the galaxy. Shatner's Kirk is everything that Star Trek fans want to be: brash, successful, and, best of all, acne free. It was through the massive success of Star Trek, that Shatner rocketed into fame, and even at this early stage in his career Shatner earned his place canonized in the annals of TV history.

The History-Changing Captain James T. Kirk [YouTube VIDEO]

The Transformed Man
The Transformed Man might be the single greatest album released in 1968. Screw you "Beggar's Banquet." Hot off the success of Star Trek, Shatner decided to establish himself as a genuine Renaissance Man by releasing an album. The Transformed Man mixes dramatic Shakespearian readings with his now iconic spoken word renditions of pop songs. To this day, the album leaves critics baffled. Nobody seems able to tell whether Shatner takes himself seriously reading both Hamlet and Frank Sinatra in the same song of if he's simply f*cking with us. The album is either iconic in its corniness, or ingenious in its self-parody. The Transformed Man leaves an indelible mark on popular culture and defines William Shatner's career. Shatner's performance feels weird, cheeky, pompous and dumb all at the same time. It's honestly hard to tell just what the hell is going through this man's mind as he screams the words to "Mr. Tambourine Man." Figuring it out may be impossible. The album feels a bit like the Birch and Swinnerton-Dyer conjecture of music; you get a million dollar reward if you solve it. Regardless of how you feel the album, it certainly shows Shatner's tendency for overstatement. MR. TAMBOURINE MAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANNNNNNNNNN.

The Transformed Man [YouTube VIDEO]

The 1970s
The 70s were definitely unkind to Shatner, especially considering his greatest contribution to the decade was his performance of "Rocket Man" during the 1978 Science Fiction Film Awards. After NBC cancelled Star Trek in its third season, Shatner had a rough time getting through the next decade. In order to pay for his camper in the San Fernando Valley, Shatner turned to bit parts in other people's successful shows like Columbo or Kung Fu, and also made frequent appearances on shows like Celebrity Bowling. Bill managed to tread water fairly well until he had a slight incident on The $20,000 Pyramid that kind of got him banned:

The $20,000 Pyramid [YouTube VIDEO]

Way to keep your cool there, Mr. Shatner. For those of you that can't decipher what happened in that grainy, poorly transferred YouTube video, Shatner basically cost the contestant 20 thousand dollars by telling her the clue by accident. He then chucked his chair over the balcony and screamed a few times. I'm sure you could figure that last part out.

Star Trek Movies
Once again, Star Trek saved Shatner's career in the late 70s and sealed his fate as being forever being worshiped by people with severe social problems. Throughout the 80s and into the 90s, Star Trek dominated Shatner's movie career to both great and horrible ends. Here's a helpful tip from Star Trek fans: Stick to the even numbered movies. According to this theory, exactly half of the Star Trek motion pictures are relentless piles of crap. For every sci-fi classic like Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, or Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, you have one where the Voyager satellite becomes an omnipotent super-being to cancel it out. Shatner even tried his hand at directing for Star Trek V, which even the most dedicated of Trekkies call "The really shitty one where Kirk meets a God-alien or something stupid like that." Regardless of the dubious quality of some of the Star Trek films, Shatner dominates the screen with his bumptious swagger, and his acting makes screaming people's names in rage fun again.

T. J. Hooker
Fresh off of his rejuvenated career, Shatner stayed alive on television via T.J. Hooker, a cop show whose credit sequence speaks for itself:

T.J. Hooker [YouTube VIDEO]

Basically T.J. Hooker is Kirk except not in space. Whatever works.

Commercials
Shatner's confident charm makes him an astounding spokesperson. His work in commercials just goes to show that ol' Bill here will pitch for just about anything, even before most people knew the internet existed, much less Priceline.com. Here are just a few examples of some of the products Shatner has pushed over the years:

Commodore Vic-20 Computer: [YouTube VIDEO]

World of Warcraft: [YouTube VIDEO]

Boston Legal
Aside from being a phenomenal spokesperson for PriceLine, host of Rescue 911, kind of author of the kind of popular Sci-fi series Tek War, and co-star of American Psycho 2, Shatner never reached many remarkable heights in recent years. That is until The Practice and Boston Legal came around. Boston Legal may very well be the best thing that has ever happened to William Shatner. Aside from making Shatner a legitimate, respectable actor, the show also earned the man two Emmys and a Golden Globe. What planet is this? Considering Shatner plays an egotistical, pompous blowhard on the show, it's not surprising that the role comes naturally to the man we've all come to love.

http://www.starpulse.com/news/index.php ... ny_talents

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TRexx - Jul 25, 2008 - 07:48 PM
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Via TVtechnology.com...

Library of American Broadcasting to Honor Giants

7.25.2008

William Shatner, Cokie Roberts, and longtime NBC boss Robert C. Wright are among 10 Giants of Broadcasting to be honored by the Library of American Broadcasting in New York Sept. 25.

Tim Russert, Jim McKay, and longtime CBS CEO Roger M. King will be posthumously honored.

Robert C. Wright was the longest-service head of NBC since David Sarnoff. He led the network's move into cable with CNBC and MSNBC. "He is credited with transforming NBC and maneuvering it through a key intersection of the technological, economic, political, social and cultural forces that helped shape U.S. television at the end of the 20th century," Library of American Broadcasting's resident scholar Douglas Gomery said. Wright and his wife founded Autism Speaks.

Born in Montreal, William Shatner has boldly gone where few have gone before, from the Canadian version of Howdy Doody to his present Emmy-winning performance as Denny Crane in ABC Television's Boston Legal. Most noted for his role as Captain Kirk in Star Trek, he's appeared in more than 50 films and 80 television efforts.

Jerry Lee's WBEB Philadelphia is an object of awe for its ability to compete as an independent FM station (soft rock/adult contemporary) in a major market, and remains one of the most successful in the country. He's been called a "lifetime optimist and longtime Philadelphian" and conceived the Jerry Lee Center of Criminology (located at the University of Pennsylvania), whose mission is "to produce major discoveries about the causes and prevention of crime, showing how to make a safer and more democratic world."

Cokie Roberts is senior news analyst for National Public Radio, for which she was congressional correspondent for more than 10 years. She was co-anchor of the ABC News Sunday morning broadcast, "This Week with Sam Donaldson and Cokie Roberts" from 1996 to 2002, while also serving that network as chief congressional analyst. Her books include two bestsellers.

James H. Quello served as an FCC commissioner for more than 23 years and continues, at age 94, as a consultant to the government relations practice of Washington law firm Wiley Rein.

Bill Baker is president emeritus of New York's Thirteen/WNET and was a key launcher of the Discovery Channel and the Disney Channel, among others.

Lucy Jarvis broke the political barriers in Russia while producing the Emmy-award winning The Kremlin for NBC News, filmed in 1963 during the Cuban missile crisis. (President Kennedy is said to have joked: "I told Khrushchev if he got the missiles out of Cuba, I would get Lucy Jarvis out of the Kremlin.") She later produced China and The Forbidden City. She received six Emmys, a Peabody, a Radio-TV Critics Award and the French government's Chevaliere de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres.

Newsman Charles Osgood will host the sixth annual awards ceremony at luncheon at the Grand Hyatt Hotel.

http://www.tvtechnology.com/pages/s.0093/t.14728.html

http://www.libraryofamericanbroadcasting.com/

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TRexx - Jul 25, 2008 - 11:54 PM
Post subject:

Via the Chicago Tribune...

CMU prof Randy Pausch, whose 'last lecture' on grappling with cancer became best-seller, dies

By Ramit Plushnick-Masti, Associated Press Writer, 2:50 PM CDT, July 25, 2008

PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Randy Pausch, the Carnegie Mellon University computer scientist whose "last lecture" about facing terminal cancer became an Internet sensation and a best-selling book, died Friday. He was 47.

Pausch died at his home in Chesapeake, Va., said Jeffrey Zaslow, a Wall Street Journal writer who co-wrote Pausch's book. Pausch and his family had moved there last fall to be closer to his wife's relatives.

Pausch was diagnosed with incurable pancreatic cancer in September 2006. His popular last lecture at Carnegie Mellon in September 2007 garnered international attention and was viewed by millions on the Internet.

In it, Pausch celebrated living the life he had always dreamed of instead of concentrating on impending death.

"The lecture was for my kids, but if others are finding value in it, that is wonderful," Pausch wrote on his Web site. "But rest assured; I'm hardly unique."

The book The Last Lecture leaped to the top of the nonfiction best-seller lists after its publication in April and remains there this week.

...

Pausch was invited to appear as an extra in the upcoming Star Trek movie.

He had one line of dialogue, got to keep his costume, and donated his $217.06 paycheck to charity.

...

Read the complete article at ChicagoTribune.com
http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertain ... 0730.story

========

From The Female Perspective of Computer Science (29 May 2008)...

Randy Pausch: Dare I Call Him a Hero?

May 29, 2008
...

One of my favorite stories was about how much [Pausch] admired Captain Kirk, and how he always dreamed of actually being Kirk. That didn't exactly come true, but something better happened. William Shatner visited Randy's virtual reality lab in the 90's when he (Shatner) was co-authoring a book about the now-realized technologies first imagined on Star Trek. Shatner was thrilled to find a virtual recreation of the bridge of the Enterprise, turbolift doors and all. Randy was so impressed that Shatner asked so many questions about it, completely willing to admit exactly what he didn't know, and not willing to leave until he understood it. I can only imagine how much it meant to Randy to receive a signed photo of Shatner as Kirk that read "I don't believe in the no-win scenario." Shatner had sent it when he learned of Randy's cancer.

...

http://compscigail.blogspot.com/2008/05 ... -hero.html

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DOC - Jul 28, 2008 - 09:14 PM
Post subject:

Vegetarian World (1982) - just click play

TRexx - Jul 30, 2008 - 03:39 AM
Post subject:

Via Prism Webcast News...

William Shatner, Sierra Club Fight Global Warming

Wednesday, July 30, 2008 , Tagged Global Warming

LOS ANGELES - Fresh from his latest EMMY Award nomination, television and film actor William Shatner teams up with Sierra Club to raise awareness of global warming. Shatner is joining with the nation's oldest, largest, and most influential grassroots environmental organization and speaking out for Sierra Club's 2% Solution Campaign to demonstrate the need to cut carbon emissions 80% by 2050. "We need to take action now," says Shatner. "We don't need to change everything in one day, but there are changes we can make today that will add up to big differences tomorrow. That is what the 2% Solution is about -- getting started."

The 2% Solution Campaign is an initiative that gives people the tools they need to accomplish the goal scientists have set for stabilizing the climate, and that means cutting our carbon emissions the major cause of global warming 80 percent by 2050, or 2 percent a year.

"We are grateful to have William Shatner join with us in this fight." said Carl Pope, Sierra Club's Executive Director. "A star with his high profile and longtime popularity can help us reach many and motivate many more Americans. He will be a powerful ally."

Shatner has created a series of three Public Service Announcements (PSA's) for the campaign each focusing on a positive message of how together we have historically achieved remarkable results for the environment -- and how that can-do spirit and focus can be used to fix climate change too.

Each segment looks at a past environmental success a milestone victory that at the time seemed impossible to imagine and uses it as an example for how we can once again achieve great things if we dedicate ourselves. The PSA's focus on the successful rehabilitation of the once-endangered bald eagle, the restoration of Ohio's once-burning Cuyahoga River and the successful protection of the blue whale, which scientists once believed to be extinct.

The campaign and the Sierra Club's web site www.sierraclub.org/TwoPercent aim to provide people the information they need to get started. The site offers encouragement and some simple practical steps that can significantly reduce an individual's carbon footprint an average of 2% each year starting now.

http://prismwebcastnews.com/2008/07/30/ ... l-warming/

http://www.sierraclub.org/TwoPercent

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TRexx - Jul 30, 2008 - 04:08 AM
Post subject:

From Chris-Pine.org...

Comic-Con '08: Chris Pine Talks Quantum Quest and More

William Shatner (as Kirk) and Chris Pine

July 28, 2008 at 2:41 pm

Quantum Quest, a new animated 3D film that blends science and science and science fiction, sports an voice cast including a number of Trek stars such as Bob Picardo, Brent Spiner, and both Kirks, Chris Pine and William Shatner. At a panel at Comic-Con '08 on Thursday, Pine 'appeared' in a taped video to talk about the film, and he also talked about the new Star Trek movie... and Shatner!

Quantum Quest, written and co-directed by Harry Kloor (who also wrote some Star Trek: Voyager episodes), is part educational tool and part entertainment and was initiated by JPL and NASA. It tells the story of Dave (voiced by Chris Pine), a photon who leaves the Sun on a quest to save his fellow photons from being annihilated by The Voice (voiced by Mark Hamill) and his anti-matter forces lead by Admiral Fear (Samuel L. Jackson). The Core (voiced by Shatner), and his team including characters voiced by Bob Picardo, Brent Spiner and others, lives in the Sun and leads the fight against The Void.

Pine stated that making the film "was a blast" and that he has always wanted to do voice work. He also noted how in making the film he has learned a lot about science, and photons and neutrinos, something that the film tries to impart to the audience.

During his taped comments, Pine discussed the new Star Trek movie and his predecessor:

Pine on Star Trek wrote:

I will be playing James T. Kirk in the new Star Trek that comes out in May of next year. I really hope it is received well and will do well. All I can say is that we did our best and we had a lot of fun and will give people a good two hours in an air-conditioned dark room.

Pine on phasers wrote:

Phasers are pretty rad. The phaser -- we had big discussions about this on the movie -- the phaser is really not modern warfare technology. Modern guns are supposed to have a heft to it. Phasers are great because they are light and they are very mobile, but they don't have the grit, like you wouldn't see John Wayne carrying around a phaser.

NOTE: It isn't clear if he was speaking about phasers in general, or specifically about the ones in the new Star Trek movie.

Pine on Shatner wrote:

The interesting trivia is that William Shatner, the O.G. original James T. Kirk, is playing The Core in movie and I have a small scene in the beginning where The Core kind of surprises me, and The Core is essentially God. So Bill, Mr. Shatner, hello.

So there will be a space-based sci-fi movie with Chris Pine and William Shatner next year. The voices of the two Kirks, with the help of The Doctor and Data, will face off against Luke Skywalker and Mace Windu in September 2009.

Much more information on the film is available at QQTheMovie.com.

http://chris-pine.org/2008/07/28/comic- ... e/#more-92

Dave the Photon (left, voiced by Pine), and The Core (right, voiced by Shatner)

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TRexx - Jul 30, 2008 - 04:25 AM
Post subject:

Via the Vancouver Sun...

Shatner's wonderful role

Shelly Fralic (sfralic@vancouversun.com) Vancouver Sun, July 29, 2008

In television, as in life, the memorable characters stay with us forever, their delightful idiosyncrasies ingrained in the part of our brain that stores the quirky stuff.

The truly great characters of the small screen, for instance, include ribald Karen Walker of Will & Grace, neurotic George Costanza on Seinfeld, brazen Patsy Stone from Absolutely Fabulous, and the frenetic Dust Bunnies that live under The Big Comfy Couch.

But there is one character that stands above the rest, by far the best work of fiction created by a scriptwriter since television became a universal North American household appliance in the 1950s and forever changed the cultural landscape.

That would be Denny Crane, the skirt-chasing, politically incorrect, stogie-puffing tough but tender lawyer on Boston Legal.

It's Friday last, early in the afternoon, and William Shatner has just left the Los Angeles set of Boston Legal and is heading home, chatting on his Blutooth headset as he navigates through traffic.

At 77, and in custody of a movie, theatre and television acting resumé that lays claim to more than a few memorable characters, including iconic Capt. James T. Kirk of Star Trek, Shakespeare's Henry V and crime-buster Sgt. T.J. Hooker, the Canadian-born Shatner couldn't agree more about the thespian treat that has been his four-year run as the mercurial Denny Crane.

"It's a wonderful role, and it was written just for me," says Shatner, explaining that when series creator and writer David Kelley first introduced Denny Crane in his other legal drama, The Practice, he tailored the part specifically for Shatner.

"It's unusual that the writer and creator can do that, but he had no one else he needed to check with. So, together, we invented the character."

Denny Crane is a senior founding partner of Boston law firm Crane, Poole and Schmidt, an endearing blowhard who spends more time making mischief than practising law.

He's a physical fireplug with a fondness for fine spirits and frisky women, among them his law partner Shirley Schmidt, and the dwarf daughter of a former girlfriend.

He also harbours a proud affection for firearms and fishing, red meat, the republic of America, and the men and women who protect it.

And while he's somewhat past his jurisprudence prime, he thrives on his reputation as the firm's rainmaker, having never lost a case.

As Crane, Shatner literally busts out of his tailored suits, stealing every scene.

Boston Legal first aired in the autumn of 2004, and is now shooting its final season for a fall kickoff, with three one-hour episodes completed and 10 more to go.

It will, says Shatner, be a bittersweet farewell when the set shuts down.

"We've had a great time. It's a great cast, you know. James Spader, Candice Bergen, John Larroquette ... they're not only great actors, but they are themselves wonderful human beings and I'm going to miss them terribly."

He will also miss the show's famed balcony scene, which takes up the last few minutes of every episode and finds Crane and James Spader's character, the urbane, bombastic Alan Shore, candidly discussing love, life and the law on the grand balcony outside of Crane's office.

Crane and Shore are the perfect love match, sparring and reconciling, laughing and pouting, silly and philosophical, honest and true, to each other, and themselves.

Those few pages of script are among the best written scenes on television, and the conversations Kelley creates between the two best friends and confidants is at times so intimate and powerful that one feels like an eavesdropper.

The Boston Legal balcony scene has become a television classic, and Shatner knows he has been part of something special.

"Learning them is a chore," he laughs, "but they're a pleasure to play. The words are just so wonderful."

As is Kelley's skilful treatment of Crane's increasing dementia, which the character refers to as "the mad cow," and which is written with realism and not a little humour.

In his just-released autobiography Up Till Now, Shatner devotes a good chunk to the Boston Legal role, and how it invigorated his rather eclectic, and sometimes ridiculed, career.

The book itself is an engaging self-effacing memoir that tracks Shatner's career from his early childhood in Montreal, his studies at McGill, his work at the CBC in Toronto, a stint at the Stratford Festival and a long list of career credits that includes more than 50 movies, nearly 100 television shows, two record albums, dozens of fiction and non-fiction books, and work as a spokesman for, among other products, Priceline and Bran Flakes.

But it's his portrayal of Denny Crane that has earned Shatner two Emmys and a Golden Globe, and a whole new respect as an actor.

Shatner, still managing the new Blutooth ("I'm absolutely illiterate about technology"), says he's nowhere near ready to retire, and is looking forward to what comes next, including an upcoming talk show called Shatner's Raw Nerve on A&E, perhaps another book, more time on his Kentucky horse ranch, financing a new movie, an animated film, and maybe even exploring his spiritual side.

He's married to fourth wife Elizabeth, has three grown daughters and grandchildren, so there is much to do.

"There's everything in front of me. I feel as though I've barely scratched the surface of life."

But he says there will always be a place in his heart for Denny Crane.

"I'm beginning already to have a sense of nostalgia," he says. "And not doing a balcony scene every now and then will be bittersweet."

In Up Till Now, Shatner defines the Denny Crane character as "an actor's amusement park."

What a treat to have been along for the ride.

http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news ... 966d055d00

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TRexx - Jul 30, 2008 - 08:16 AM
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From SCI FI Wire...

Trek's Pine Talks Kirk

By Patrick Lee and Staci Layne Wilson, 12:00 AM, 30-JULY-08

Chris Pine, who takes on the iconic role of James T. Kirk in J.J. Abrams' upcoming Star Trek reboot movie, revealed to SCI FI Wire a bit of his character's arc -- and added that he has a bit of a familial connection to the original Kirk, William Shatner.

"I think people will be surprised" with Abrams' film, Pine said in an interview on July 29 in Beverly Hills, Calif., while promoting the film Bottle Shock. "I think what J.J. has created -- and what we've been a part of -- is really the birth of these characters. ... Not only their individual journeys and how they all meet, [but also] the forging of those relationships and how it carries on to the five-year mission."

Pine added that Abrams and writers Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci "infuse these characters with as much humanity as possible, so not only are you getting the big effects you would expect from a blockbuster, but also something of a character movie, which I think is difficult to do, and I think we've done extremely well."

Pine also praised co-star Zachary Quinto, who plays Spock. "People will be blown away," Pine said. "Zach is great. Between him and Karl Urban and the rest of the cast, ... they've really captured who these characters are."

Pine added that he got Shatner's blessing before taking the role. "I wrote him a letter in the beginning of the process and introduced myself, and said hello, just to make a connection, because I didn't know him at all," Pine said. "And he was very nice, and he was very gracious and sent me a letter back, and that's the only contact we've had. ... Except my father [Robert Pine] -- in the first week I got the Star Trek project -- did a Priceline commercial with William Shatner, so there was multi-generational contact with Mr. Shatner."

Star Trek is slated to open May 8, 2009.

http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/index.ph ... p;id=58172

Trivia: William Shatner co-starred with Chris' father, Robert Pine, in Incident on a Dark Street (1973).

Robert Pine had Star Trek guest appearances as Vulcan captain Tavin in ENT "Fusion" and as Akritirian ambassador Liria in VOY "The Chute."

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TRexx - Jul 31, 2008 - 07:39 AM
Post subject:

Via Movies Online (Canada)...

Chris Pine Interview, Star Trek

MoviesOnline: "Did you try in any way to emulate William Shatner?"

Chris Pine: "I think what J.J. [Abrams] set forth in the beginning of the whole thing was to pay tribute to what was done before and to respect what these men had already given us in terms of creating their characters and then to bring our own unique take on it, and I think that opened up just a myriad possibilities. I never felt particularly -- I don't know about Zack [Quinto] but I'm sure he would say the same thing -- I never felt encumbered.

"I only felt thank god we were given such a great foundation for these characters because I don't really have to do that much different from what they've given us, and then J.J. being the kind of wonderful, positive creative force that he is kind of let us do whatever we wanted. What Mr. Shatner did was very specific and very unique to him, and all I did was try to do justice to what he did and what was done before, but to try to do [emulate] Shatner would not have been smart."

See the complete interview at MoviesOnline.ca...

http://www.moviesonline.ca/movienews_15253.html

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TRexx - Aug 02, 2008 - 12:31 PM
Post subject:

From EntertainmentToday.net...

Familiar Faces On TV This Fall

Celebrities Popping Up In New Shows

William and Elizabeth Shatner

Written by Frank Barron, Saturday, August 02, 2008

There are a lot of familiar faces popping up on the TV channels.

Star Trek's iconic Captain Kirk, William Shatner is venturing into another frontier -- taking on hosting duties for a new talk show called Shatner's Raw Nerve.

The show on cable's Bio Channel (premiering August 19) will have Shatner interviewing an assorted bunch of Hollywood notables. Among his first crop of guests will be his former Star Trek castmate and good friend Leonard Nimoy, plus Valerie Bertinelli, Kelsey Grammer, Jon Voight, the very outspoken Judge Judy, and late-night host Jimmy Kimmel.

The gimmick for Shatner's Raw Nerve is that in each episode, Shatner will attempt to probe his guest's most sensitive subjects. Part of the fun will be waiting for the "raw nerve" to emerge and reveal another side of the celebrities. It will be interesting to see how some of the stars handle it.

Shatner calls it "edgy, off-beat and fun," and says he'll go from satirical to the serious to the sublime as he interviews his guests. He hopes to create unexpected moments with the most intriguing people.

Fans of Boston Legal don't have to worry, Shatner will also be back this season on the ABC series to further explore his Denny Crane character's battle with "mad cow."

http://www.entertainmenttoday.net/content/view/665/29/

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TRexx - Aug 03, 2008 - 11:37 AM
Post subject:

From the Winnipeg Free Press...

To bravely go where Shatner has gone

Updated: August 3 at 12:25 AM CDT

Up Till Now: The Autobiography
By William Shatner, with David Fisher
Thomas Dunne Books/St. Martin's Press, 358 pages, $29
Reviewed by Bill Rambo

He's been. Everywhere.

On television since 1951, he's been a star, and a bit player. He's played a big head and a big lawyer.

He's advertised products and services from the Commodore VIC-20 computer to Priceline and All Bran. He has promoted himself.

He's acted in films as diverse as The Brothers Karamazov and Miss Congeniality. He starred on Broadway and in the only movie ever written in Esperanto.

He's had a musical career, too, in some people's opinion. His, for instance.

He also took that slight detour into outerspace storytelling -- and merchandising -- set in the future.

William Shatner has gone where no man has gone before. In his mostly light-hearted, enjoyable autobiography, he boldly chronicles a lot of how it happened, up till now.

Shatner grew up in Montreal, son of a successful, hard-working garment-maker. His father's main reaction to his desire to be an actor was that there would always be a job waiting for his son in the garment trade.

"The only thing he asked of me was that I not become a 'hanger-on'... a man who couldn't earn his own keep."

Shatner always wanted to entertain people. Often that meant something out of the ordinary. There was the kid who went home from summer camp traumatized by his dramatic rendition of The Tell-tale Heart.

Or the crowd who watched Shatner fill in for Christopher Plummer as Henry V at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival.

There are audiences who applaud his TV characters on Boston Legal and Third Rock from the Sun. Far out in space are those who appreciate spoken-word versions pop classics like Rocket Man. Also, generations of Trekkies.

Early on, Shatner says, he "lived every day with the feeling that this job might be the last job I'd ever get; that after this job my career might be over. Fortunately, that feeling has lasted only 60 years."

As such, he steers clear of getting too precise about his age. (He's 67, according to most credible sources.)

Up Till Now is generally sketchy about dates, and it skips around in time a lot, with little reference to years.

That's a drawback for a scholarly biography, perhaps, but it contributes to the informality of this project.

One of the reader's problems will be to figure out how much of these recollections are serious, and how much should be taken with a grain -- or a mine -- of salt.

As the star of a TV show that became a cult classic, then a pop-culture phenomenon, Shatner has perfected the ability to make fun of himself.

Up Till Now shows his realization that it would be hard for him to be anyone but Captain Kirk.

"All the extraordinary opportunities I've been given since that time can be traced directly to that series," he writes. "So if I hadn't done Star Trek, none of the things that followed would have happened, therefore you wouldn't be reading this book."

Shatner is breezy and unpretentious about himself and his career, and he tells some funny jokes. Only one chapter focuses specifically on Star Trek. He covered that material more fully in his 1993 masterpiece, Star Trek Memories.

But Shatner also deals with difficult issues. He's been divorced twice, and his third wife died tragically, a victim of alcoholism.

He sometimes changes gears awkwardly between his flippant examination of his good fortune and exploration of more serious episodes and causes about which he is passionate, not just being paid.

Readers who look here for deep philosophy and life lessons are likely to be disappointed. Those who wish to spend some time with a personable man who is willing to make fun of himself will find what they are looking for.

Who knows? Up Till Now may not be the final frontier.

Bill Rambo is a teacher in Landmark and a fan of the original Star Trek.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/subscr ... 0220c.html

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TRexx - Aug 09, 2008 - 10:42 AM
Post subject:

From the Vancouver Courier...

Shatner... opens... up... and... gets... personal

Carolyn Cooke, Vancouver Courier / Friday, August 08, 2008

Who doesn't know William Shatner? He's had remarkable longevity as an actor, from the early days of the Stratford Shakespeare Festival in his youth to the early experiments of television years later, to movies, playing notable roles such as Captain James T. Kirk of the starship Enterprise to the tough-talking cop T.J. Hooker to Denny Crane, the outrageous attorney on Boston Legal.

In between he has written, produced, dabbled in music, appeared on countless TV game shows and more.

But Shatner is perhaps best known for his self-parodies, and not just on SNL.

There's no doubt the man has a sense of humour, and it comes through in his autobiography, Up Till Now, written with David Fisher. In fact, he states early on that serious passages will be noted as such.

Shatner, one of Canada's best known imports to the States, lays his whole life out for readers, including his early years in Montreal, his marriages, divorces, the tragic death of his third wife, an alcoholic, to the animosity toward him from other cast members of Star Trek.

He covers his disappointment in dating women who couldn't separate him from his space hero role and the time he bottomed out after his first divorce, living in a camper in the corner of a theatre parking lot because he was flat broke and homeless.

While even the most casual pop cultural fans will be familiar with many of Shatner's endeavours, it's still quite a treat to see the world through his eyes and stories as he struggles to make it in one of the toughest businesses out there, and come to terms with the even more difficult challenges of having a balanced life and making sense of it all.

There are parts of the book where it's clear Shatner feels the need to defend his ambition, creativity and art -- notably The Invisible Man, but I won't ruin the surprise for the uninitiated. But, like many such things, even this much reviled record eventually found a following who appreciated the creator's vision.

Up Till Now, though written with a professional writer, reads like having Shatner sit on the couch next to you, regaling you with endless stories and jokes as he meanders through the ups and downs of his life.

http://www.canada.com/vancouvercourier/ ... 350784cd8e

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TRexx - Aug 09, 2008 - 11:01 AM
Post subject:

From Recipe Zaar...

William Shatner Banana Nut Bread

Aug 8, 2008

This is a recipe I found at TV guide live, under celebrity chefs. It is so good, I usually make it into muffins rather than a loaf as it is easier to grab and eat that way. Hope you enjoy! Also, the ingredients are all very healthy.

12 - 15 muffins (change servings and units)

Ingredients

2/3 cup honey
1/2 cup butter
2 eggs
1 tablespoon yogurt
3 bananas
1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1-3/4 cups whole wheat flour
1/4 cup wheat bran
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup nuts

Directions

1: Cream together honey, butter, eggs and yogourt.

2: Mash bananas well with fork, stir in 1/2 tsp (2ml) baking soda and set aside.

3: Mix together flour, bran, salt and remaining mixture. Add bananas, mix thoroughly.

4: Stir in nuts. Pour into buttered 9x5 in (2litre) loaf pan.

5: Bake in 350F (180C) oven for 1 hour or until tester inserted in centre comes out clean.

6: Remove from pan and cool on rack. Makes 1 loaf.

http://www.recipezaar.com/318430

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TRexx - Aug 10, 2008 - 07:56 PM
Post subject:

From the New York Post...

Where No Mind Has Gone Before

By Richard Johnson, August 10, 2008

William Shatner should brush up on Mr. Spock's family at warp speed. "I can't think of a single instance where he remembered who I was when our paths crossed," Leonard Nimoy's son, Adam Nimoy, 51, writes in his memoir, My Incredibly Wonderful, Miserable Life. "And so, when I see him, I usually go up to him and shake his hand vigorously and say, 'Mr. Shatner, I'm one of your biggest fans.' . . . Bill will look at me like he thinks he should know me from somewhere but he just can't place the face. That's when I'll put him out of his misery, and introduce myself."

http://www.nypost.com/seven/08102008/go ... 123842.htm

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TRexx - Aug 12, 2008 - 12:19 AM
Post subject:

From the Orlando Sentinel Blog...

Emmys' plan to "look mahvelous"? William Shatner, Helen Mirren, Hedi Klum, Donald Trump to recite famous TV lines

posted by halboedeker on Aug 11, 2008 4:57:41 PM

To mark 60 years of television history, the Emmy telecast will enlist celebrities to recite well-known lines.

Those lines range from "you look mahvelous" to "live long and prosper" to "good night, John Boy."

Those doing the honors are Emmy-winners Kelsey Grammer, Ricky Gervais, Helen Mirren, Doris Roberts, James Spader, William Shatner, and Jeremy Piven. The list of speakers also includes Donald Trump, Heidi Klum, Alec Baldwin, William Baldwin, and Denis Leary.

The Emmy telecast will be Sept. 21 on ABC.

http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/entert ... -to-l.html

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TRexx - Aug 13, 2008 - 12:42 AM
Post subject:

From Variety.com ...

Creeps, Crooks Corner the Category

By Robert Abele - Tue., Aug. 12, 2008, 2:02pm PT

The Emmy inroads that networks AMC and FX made this year are fully apparent in this category. Original basic cable nabbed its first-ever supporting actor nominations, meaning the infusion of fresh blood could spell victory for Mad Men or Damages.

That said, it's a gallery of tainted creeps on view -- sleazy businessmen, corrupt lawyers, a devious antihero -- so voters will be responding to shades of darkness rather than heart-tugging qualities.

The only mostly lovable rogue, really, is William Shatner on Boston Legal, but it's his fourth year running as a nominee, and he won for the show's first year, which means he might have an uphill battle to score again. This is a tough category to win twice in.

The other returnee to the category is Michael Emerson, whose manipulative, desperate island protector Ben on Lost has become the show's narrative linchpin, which might help his cause with voters who are addicted to the skein.

All eyes, though, will be on the cable invaders. Ted Danson will be looking for his first dramatic Emmy for playing the billionaire target of the seasonlong class-action lawsuit on Damages, a performance that tested the sitcom icon and showed new depths in the veteran.

The last two nominees qualify as "Hey, that guy" character types making the breakthrough into Emmy notoriety: Zeljko Ivanek (Oz, 24, Homicide) as Danson's Southern attorney Ray Fiske on Damages and John Slattery (Desperate Housewives, Ed) as the drink-loving, chain-smoking, womanizing boss Roger Sterling on Mad Men.

WILLIAM SHATNER

Show: Boston Legal

Emmy pedigree: Two wins plus three other noms

Best scene: Denny wants to try a murder case without Alan's help, and after being initially flustered, pulls out a victory with a wonderful closing speech.

Why he might win: Denny Crane is a popular character, and with ABC announcing the end of the show next year, voters may see fit to reward Shatner again.

Maybe not: Shatner's a prior winner, and repeats in this category are rare, the last one being Ray Walston's back-to-back awards for Picket Fences in the '90s.

See the complete article at Variety.com

http://www.variety.com/article/VR111799 ... 2&cs=1

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TRexx - Aug 14, 2008 - 12:05 AM
Post subject:

Via MarketWatch.com ...

Elite Men of Hollywood Slip Into Auri Footwear

Major Celebrities to Wear Newest Men's Fashion Statement On Red Carpet to Help Raise Money for Charity

Last update: 3:49 p.m. EDT Aug. 13, 2008

HOLLYWOOD, Aug 13, 2008 (PrimeNewswire via COMTEX) -- Auri Footwear, the hip, Southern-California based design house of stylish men's footwear, has partnered with Stars For A Cause, "Entertainment Tonight" and Hollywood's top male celebrities to kick off a year-long campaign in which entertainment's "A" list men will have the opportunity to design their own Auri Footwear shoes, wear them to major red carpet events, then have them auctioned off to raise money for charity by world renowned auction house Bonhams and Butterfields.

ET, the world's largest syndicated and most watched entertainment news program, will be televising this year-long red carpet star-studded fundraiser.

"We are so proud to have been selected to be a major part of such an exciting and positive campaign," said Ori Rosenbaum, president of Auri Footwear.

The Stars For A Cause campaign invites major celebrities to design their own custom shoes in partnership with Auri Footwear. They can select from an array of exotic materials and Auri's current collection of ultra chic patterns, including a classic wingtip called "Player," a stylish cap toe called "Casanova," a sleek slip- on called "Lothario," and an amazing Chelsea boot called "Gigolo." The custom footwear is made-to-order and delivered to the celebrity ready-to-wear for his various red carpet appearances throughout the year.

At the end of the awards season, the Stars For A Cause celebrity-designed footwear will then board Queen Mary 2 for its April 26, 2009 Transatlantic Crossing from New York to Southampton, England where it will be displayed at a prestigious location for a VIP reception and viewing by the public. Finally, the one-of-a-kind footwear will be showcased at gala events in New York and Los Angeles hosted by Bonhams and Butterfields preceding its worldwide Internet auction on Thursday, May 28th 2009.

The special celebrity-designed shoes will utilize a solid piece of CNC machined alloy that creates the main backbone of Auri Footwear's patented new design technology. It is then sterling silver plated, and diamonds are layered into the component as well. This exposed mechanical chassis is topped off by exquisite Italian leather uppers with sheep skin lined interiors and, as with all Auri Footwear, utilizes Outlast temperature regulating materials originally developed for NASA and used in space suites to create even more comfort.

"No one has ever seen this level of performance technology, fused with both contemporary and classic men's footwear styles," stated Rosenbaum. "I think when the public sees their favorite stars wearing these very unique and recognizable shoes on all of the major red carpet events in the coming year, it will create some serious buzz about both the cause and this brand."

Stars that have already requested the SFAC/Auri custom footwear design kits include Kevin Spacey, Charlie Sheen, Jon Stewart, William Shatner, Ryan Seacrest, Howie Mandel, Bill Maher, Denis Leary, Kevin Dillon, Steve Carell, Steven Colbert, Christian Bale, Ben Affleck, Jim Carey, Tim Allen, Tom Cruise, Matt Damon, Johnny Depp, Pierce Brosnan, Orlando Bloom, Sasha Baron Cohen, Jack Black, Bow Wow, Ludacris, Zach Braff, Collin Farrell, George Lucas, Leonardo Dicaprio, Wentworth Miller, Jude Law, Brad Pitt, Will Smith and Ben Stiller. Dozens more are expected throughout the awards season, and Auri Footwear will be seen on the stars and on the red carpet starting with the 60th Prime Time Emmy Awards (September 21, 2008), The American Music Awards (November 23, 2008), The Golden Globe Awards (January 11, 2009), The Screen Actors Guild Awards (January 25, 2009), The 51st Grammy Awards (February 8, 2009), The 81st Academy Awards (February 22, 2009) and concluding with the Academy of Country Music Awards (May 17, 2009).

For more information, please visit www.aurifootwear.com.

About Auri Footwear Inc.

Auri Footwear was created to fill the gap between cutting edge technology and fashionable, edgy men's styles. Auri Footwear was founded in 2007 on the principles and beliefs that "you get out what you put in." The entire team believes in doing well for community and mankind. They are committed to making the brands recognition beyond the excellent and next level products they develop. The complete line includes boots, sports fusion, sandals and dress shoes. Auri footwear is crafted using premium Italian full grain leathers and exclusive zoned linings developed for NASA incorporating like Outlast(r) for temperature regulation, Drylex(r) to wick moisture away from the foot and other patent-pending designs. For more information, please visit www.aurifootwear.com or call 949-793-4045.

This news release was distributed by PrimeNewswire, www.primenewswire.com

SOURCE: Auri Footwear Inc.

Stacey Doss Doherty PR
949-285-2362
stacey@sddpr.com

http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/e ... ;dist=hppr

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TRexx - Aug 16, 2008 - 03:38 AM
Post subject:

Via Reuters.com ...

William Shatner signs off on new video autographs

By Alex Dobuzinskis - Thu Aug 14, 7:50 PM ET

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - William Shatner sat in a drab office staring at a TV monitor displaying a message he was supposed to read to a fan while signing an autograph, but Star Trek's Captain Kirk wasn't very happy.

"I can't do this, this is crazy," Shatner said.

The message on screen -- which was submitted by the fan -- was just too odd. But as an investor and partner in Live Autographs, a new video service in which celebrities appear on camera to deliver a personalized greeting as they sign an autograph, Shatner had to say something.

"Are you nuts? You want me to say, 'When I'm smoking and sipping whiskey with Allen' -- who's Allen? -- 'I'm secretly thinking of you and your dog?'

"I can't say that," Shatner added, glaring into the camera, his words dripping the trademark irony he has summoned in countless TV performances, including his Emmy-winning role as Denny Crane on the ABC courtroom drama Boston Legal.

And with that, and his signature, it was over -- costing the fan $149 and Shatner a bit of improvisation.

In the latest twist to the age-old practice of handing out celebrity signatures, customers of Live Autographs get not just a signed photograph, book or napkin; they receive a customized video clip with a short personal message from the star.

Other celebrities who have agreed to participate include auto racer Danica Patrick and actress Carmen Electra.

Rough estimates place the value of autographs bought and sold in the United States at $2 billion a year, said Steven Cyrkin, editor and publisher of Autograph magazine. The firm Julien's Auctions last year sold an autographed Marilyn Monroe picture for $18,000.

But with the incidence of fraudulent autographs on the rise, Live Autographs bills itself as a service that helps authenticate the celebrity signature.

Shatner, 77, launched the business on Wednesday, signing pictures, mugs and even a toy "communicator" from Star Trek, the 1960s TV space adventure that made Shatner a star.

Before starting the taped autograph session, Shatner -- whose signature is in high demand from Star Trek fans -- told Reuters about all the things he has signed at live events.

"Bras and panties and rear ends -- that's true -- and babies and marriage certificates and checks," he joked.

Shatner has had a sometimes contentious relationship with Star Trek devotees, poking fun at fans in a 1986 Saturday Night Live skit in which he told a rabid "Trekkie" to "get a life."

Responding on tape to a written query from a Live Autographs customer asking if he would rather captain a starship or be an entertainer, Shatner replied curtly: "I can't even understand your question, but I want you to understand -- I'm an actor."

But for others, Shatner was more amiable. In one video, he recorded a wedding announcement for the parents of a couple who secretly got engaged at a Star Trek convention.

Many of the autographs were bought as gifts.

"Someone's going to wake up tomorrow morning and on the TV is going to have Shatner saying, 'Hey Johnny, happy birthday.' And they're going to get the shock of their lives," said Live Autographs Chief Executive Officer Rob Dwek.

http://www.reuters.com/article/peopleNe ... 3120080814

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TRexx - Aug 16, 2008 - 04:01 AM
Post subject:

Via Reuters.com ...

William Shatner: Please, beam him up Scotty

Posted by: Bob Tourtellotte, August 15th, 2008

Actor William Shatner of Star Trek fame threw out some verbal gems this week at a videotaped autograph session, as he recorded personalized messages to fans seeking autographs.

The story is linked here, but we couldn't fit in all The Shat's words of comic wisdom. So, not wanting it all to go to waste, we put it here.

Fans paid $149 or more to submit written questions or messages they wanted Shatner to read on video as he signed an autograph for them. He is doing it for a company in which he has partnered, Live Autographs.

One fan asked Shatner if there's anything he wouldn't do for money. "Sell my body," Shatner said. "On the other hand ..."

Then there were the misdirections, as fans wanted The Shat to say one thing and he said another. One family wanted the actor to record a phone message that said: "This is William Shatner asking you to boldly leave your message at the tone."

"Thanks for asking me to answer your phone but I can't do that," Shatner said in his message. "Answer your own phone."

Some of the messages Shatner was asked to read were too weird, and he wouldn't follow the script. But some were just too serious. One customer wanted The Shat to record a birthday greeting for a fan that said, "For 40 years you've lived your life with morality and character. For the next 40 years I suggest you live your life in the same manner."

That last sentence was too much for The Shat, who substituted "For the next 40 years I suggest you have some fun."

When asked to impart some words of wisdom to a young girl, Shatner told her to grab her brother and "bite him on the toe until he screams, and then when your parents say stop, don't."

All in all, Shatner signed more than 200 items with videotape rolling.

(Reporting by Alex Dobuzinskis)

http://blogs.reuters.com/fanfare/2008/0 ... up-scotty/

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TRexx - Aug 16, 2008 - 04:21 AM
Post subject:

From TechCrunch.com ...

Confirmed: William Shatner Loves TechCrunch

[Click image to view video at YouTube.com]

Michael Arrington, August 14, 2008

On May 15, I ordered a personalized autograph on LiveAutographs.com from William Shatner. For $149 I was promised a signed photo with the message "I Love TechCrunch" along with a video recording of the autograph. Today I received an email notification that my autograph will be shipped within 48 hours, and the video above. It took three months, but they came through for me.

So, anyway, the service seems legit. And I can tell that Shatner isn’t just acting -- he really does love TechCrunch.

But wait… I also received a second email this evening from a company called Meet And Greet Entertainment with the following message:

Meet And Greet Entertainment wrote:

Dear Michael

Regarding the above article: Dude, William Shatner Totally Loves TechCrunch

FYI … Interactive Meet And Greet Entertainment (IMAGE) LLC owns the product and business operating system described in the article which is illegally being used by LiveAutographs.com.

LiveAutographs.com signed contracts with IMAGE last year to be an official licensee which they have breached. They are falsely stating that this is their unique concept, while using our intellectual property.

LiveAutographs.com has arrogantly attempted to steal IMAGE intellectual property.

IMAGE has patents pending for the product United States Patent Application: 0060221195 and will be seeking legal remedies.

Thanks for your kind attention

Gary Sohmers
www.meetandgreet.tv

So what’s all the drama about? No idea, and frankly I don’t care all that much. Let ‘em sue each other out of existence for all I care. Just as long as I get my autograph first.

http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/08/14/co ... echcrunch/

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TRexx - Aug 16, 2008 - 05:00 AM
Post subject:

From RealTechNews.com ...

Shatner Can Now Say "Get a Life" Virtually

By Michael Santo, Editor-in-Chief, RealTechNews, August 15th, 2008

Well, William Shatner could, if he was still associated with the Live Autographs, but it appears his association ended after a signing event he participated in earlier this week. I'm assuming, of course, you remember that classic SNL sketch from 1986, where Shatner spoofed his convention experiences.

Live Autographs, according to their site, offers the following experience:

* A personalized celebrity video message
* Authentic autographed memorabilia
* Plus, a free video download that captures and confirms all the action

While you can't get Shatner any longer, there are a bunch of other celebrities currently signed up (including a ton from Lost, if you're a fan of that show), such as Danica Patrick, Hulk Hogan, Cindy Margolis, Steve Austin, etc.

You type the message you want them to say or question you want answered, and assuming it doesn't violate the site's Terms of Service, the celebrity will respond on video, as well as autograph the memorabilia you choose.

According to Reuters, Shatner gave a curt, virtual "Get a Life" sort of response to someone who asked him if he would rather captain a starship or be an entertainer:
"I can't even understand your question, but I want you to understand -- I'm an actor."

Of course, he was kinder to others.

There is a piece of Shatner memorabilia still up on the site, but clicking on it just gets you a (mostly) blank page in return.

Fees? Depends on the item chosen. If I were Live Autographs, I'd change the way the site works. If you want to select, say, a picture of Carmen Electra, there doesn't seem to be a way to get it full-screen (or even, non-thumbnailed). And if I was interested, I'd really like to see what I'm getting.

Definitely still beta, as the site itself says.

http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/5953

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TRexx - Aug 17, 2008 - 07:36 PM
Post subject:

From The Times (South Africa)...

Captain's log

Published:Aug 17, 2008

William Shatner, it seems, has been around forever. He chats to Oliver Roberts about hit shows, his new book and life lived at warp speed.

Interviewing William Shatner is a bit like having a conversation with your grandfather. First of all, it's like the guy has been around forever -- was there ever a time when William Shatner didn't exist? -- plus, he's done heroic, fantastical things that are outside of our time and comprehension, like captaining a spaceship into the final frontier and fighting crime with Heather Locklear.

Even his voice -- over the phone it comes out like the sound of your favourite breakfast cereal tumbling into a bowl -- has the comforting qualities of a man who seems averse to age and disease. And, if you're ever in an emergency, you know he's got friends at the 911 place who'll risk everything to make sure you get rescued. Ladies and gentlemen, William Shatner is here -- everything is going to be okay.

It's a wonder, then, that it's taken him such a long time to write his autobiography. It's called Up Till Now and it's just been released.

You might not guess it, especially when watching him in his role as Denny Crane, the salacious, midget-lusting attorney in Boston Legal, but The Shat is 77 years old.

When you think about it, though, it makes sense. The series that defined and immortalised Shatner -- Star Trek -- was launched in 1966, when the actor was 35 years old. The show -- in which Shatner played Captain James Tiberius Kirk -- spawned a whole new flock of super nerds and saw 34-year-old men dressed in flannel shirts emerge from their parents' garages for Star Trek conventions. Today, 42 years and multiple film and television series remakes later, the original series (which ran just 79 episodes) is still as popular as it was when it first came out, if not more so. It has generated over 2-billion in merchandise sales (Google lists more than 1.3-million sites for merchandise) and, at any one time on eBay, there are around 12000 items for sale. Random products include a Spock decanter, Enterprise earrings, Christmas decorations, a limited edition "Hand Phaser Prop" replica kit, wrist communicators, and an "I slept with Kirk" mug.

All this begs the question: If Star Trek hasn't aged in nearly half a century, can't the same be said of Shatner? The guy still rides horses for goodness' sake. And his wife, Elizabeth, is hot.

Whether or not the physics of time and space have any effect on Shatner will forever be up for debate, but what is certain is that, in the number of human years he's been on Earth, Shatner has accrued substantial wisdom. Both in his book and in person, he is profound, ponderous, witty and, most endearing of all, self-effacing. Despite incredible fame, a vast fortune and having his face on a mug, Shatner does not take himself seriously. And neither does anyone else. This is the magical parody that is The Shat.

"People reveal themselves over a period of time, and over that time the true you comes out," says Shatner over the phone from Los Angeles. "Whatever the relationship -- whether it's a marriage or a group of actors together on set -- you cannot hide from who you are for very long."

Up Till Now is a surprising read for many reasons. Instead of being the self-indulgent, pseudo- philosophical itch that many celebrity biogs are, Shatner's is masterfully written -- it never borders on vanity and is never contrived. In it, he is both as serious and contemplative as Captain Kirk and as cheeky and charming as Denny Crane.

The biggest surprise you'll get from the book, though, is the realisation that you know almost nothing about Shatner. Sure, we all remember him from Rescue 911 ("After school on a beautiful summer's afternoon in Chicago, little Jake is climbing some electric pylons before tragedy strikes ... "), but did you know he was the guy sweating and freaking out on an airplane, because "there's something on the wing!" in Twilight Zone's original "Nightmare at 20000 Feet"? Did you know that Shatner was originally a comic actor who appeared in countless comedic theatre productions in his native Canada before coming to the US? Did you know that he's worked with the likes of Alfred Hitchcock, Lee Marvin, Paul Newman, and Steve McQueen? Did you know that he writes songs and has brought out two albums, the latest of which was produced in collaboration with musician Ben Folds? Did you know that the mask worn by the character Michael Myers in the original Halloween was a rubber Captain Kirk mask that had been painted white?

In typical style, when asked about whether he ever felt destined to be famous and whether the desire to make an impact and be remembered is a God-given gift, Shatner leaps into modesty.

"I never had any expectation," he says bluntly. "I attribute a great deal of it all to luck. I think the pursuit of success is environmental -- I had wonderful parents who encouraged and supported me and taught me the value of money and hard work."

In the book, Shatner also recounts, with admirable honesty, the traumatic events that led to the death of his third wife, Nerine Kidd, who he was with for over seven years. She was an alcoholic and he came home one evening to find her lying drowned at the bottom of his swimming pool. The incident occurred just after Shatner's Rescue 911 days and he recalls the eeriness of hearing his own panicked voice on the recorded 911 call a few days after Kidd's death.

Most distressing, however, were the tabloid speculations that Shatner had murdered his wife. Even after all this time in the public eye, Shatner admits he can still get affected by false stories and the intrusion into his private life.

"It's only human to feel a little emotion, whether irked or angry," he says.

"Although I must say that, when something bad is written about you and it's true, it makes you more angry than when it's false."

Perhaps Shatner's youthful secret lies not in the bizarre time-freezing that the very mention of his name seems to evoke, but rather in his insatiable quest for heightened experience. Some of the adventures he has undertaken include paddling from Montreal to New York in a canoe, racing a Nascar round an oval at 260km/h, and flying a stunt plane. Shatner is an adventurer, but he's wary of the sensation junkie's downfall: Ruining an intense moment by trying too hard to absorb everything from it, instead of just lying back and letting it absorb you.

"In striving to experience things, you may be rushing the experience," he says.

"That carries with it the seeds of its own displeasure, and you have to guard against that."

Certainly, having been packed with so much, Shatner's 77 years must seem like a rush to him -- perhaps this is another factor in his eternalness, as if the ageing process cannot keep up with all the fun he's having. However, when he watches himself on old Star Trek, he says the man on screen is unrecognisable to him.

"He's a complete stranger," he says. "Not only is he physically foreign, emotionally I don't know where I was at that time. There's also a certain amount of revulsion involved -- how could I have looked that young? What happened? I should have taken more vitamins. It's totally science-fictional."

http://www.thetimes.co.za/PrintEdition/ ... ?id=820769

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TRexx - Aug 20, 2008 - 11:43 PM
Post subject:

Via Yahoo News ...

Priceline.com's William Shatner Makes AOL's List Of Top Celebrity Spokespeople Of All Time

WalletPop names the celebs who have become "nearly synonymous" with their brands

Wednesday August 20, 2:57 pm ET

NORWALK, Conn. -- (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Ten years ago, consumers first heard William Shatner proclaim that priceline.com (Nasdaq: PCLN - News) www.priceline.com would be "big... really big." That decade of association has paid off. AOL's personal finance site WalletPop www.walletpop.com has named Shatner to the list of its favorite celebrity spokespeople of all time. Shatner joins a star-studded list of pitchmen (and women) that includes Bill Cosby, Michael Jordan and Brooke Shields.

According to WalletPop, "Celebrity spokespeople have long been a favorite marketing tool of companies with products or services to sell. Some stars fit the bill so perfectly, that they became nearly synonymous with the brands they were paid to pitch."

As for Shatner, WalletPop says, "Famous for his role as Captain Kirk in Star Trek, Shatner plays 'The Negotiator,' who uses his unusual-but-effective persuasion skills to negotiate the best travel deals for priceline.com customers. In 2004, Shatner was also cast as the eccentric but highly capable attorney Denny Crane for the final season of the legal drama The Practice and reprised the same character in the subsequent spin-off, Boston Legal. Shatner recently was nominated for a 2008 Emmy Award in the category 'Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Drama Series' for his work in Boston Legal.

Over 10 years, priceline.com's spots have been praised by ad critics and parodied on Saturday Night Live and in the pages of MAD Magazine. "We're pleased to see William Shatner receive this recognition because he truly has become synonymous with the priceline.com brand," said Brett Keller, priceline.com's Chief Marketing Officer. "Most celebrity relationships wear out over time and are short-lived. It's a tribute to William Shatner's acting skills that the priceline.com spots have remained so fresh, entertaining and relevant for a decade."

To see the latest William Shatner priceline.com spots, visit: http://www.priceline.com/promo/shatner_ ... tiator.asp

About Priceline.com(R) Incorporated

Priceline.com Incorporated (Nasdaq: PCLN - News) www.priceline.com provides online travel services in 21 languages in over 60 countries in Europe, North America, Asia, the Middle East and Africa. Included in the priceline.com family of companies is Booking.com, a leading international online hotel reservation service; priceline.com, a leading U.S. online travel service for value-conscious leisure travelers; and Agoda.com, an Asian online hotel reservation service.

In the U.S., priceline.com gives customers more ways to save on their airline tickets, hotel rooms, rental cars, vacation packages and cruises than any other Internet travel service. In addition to getting great published prices, leisure travelers can narrow their searches using priceline.com's TripFilter advanced search technology, customize their search activity through priceline.com's Inside Track features, create packages to save even more money, and take advantage of priceline.com's famous Name Your Own Price® service, which can deliver the lowest prices

Priceline.com also operates the following travel websites: Travelweb.com, Lowestfare.com, RentalCars.com and BreezeNet.com. Priceline.com also has a personal finance service that offers home mortgages, refinancing and home equity loans through an independent licensee. Priceline.com licenses its business model to independent licensees, including priceline mortgage and certain international licensees.

Contact:
Press information:
Brian Ek, 203-299-8167
brian.ek@priceline.com

http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/p ... ;dist=hppr

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TRexx - Aug 21, 2008 - 12:06 AM
Post subject:

From The Age (Australia) ...

Adult themes on the rise

A US parents' group isn't happy with Alan (James Spader) and Denny's (William Shatner) famous heart-to-hearts on Boston Legal.

By David Ho - August 21, 2008

A study looks at marital sex on TV.

ADULTERY, teen sex, and examples of extreme or unusual lust are hot topics on prime-time TV, while sex within marriage often gets a cold shoulder, a prominent US media watchdog alleges.

In a study of more than 207 hours of scripted shows on the five main American broadcast networks, the Parents Television Council found spoken references to non-marital sex outnumbered mentions of marital intimacy by about three to one. For scenes that visually depict or imply sex, the ratio was four to one.

Citing an array of shows ranging from Desperate Housewives to Law and Order: Special Victims Unit, the study also said once-taboo topics are increasingly common, including partner-swapping, threesomes, strippers and prostitution. The study found 74 mentions of still more explicit or "kinky" sexual behaviours.

TV networks "are more interested in being shocking," said Melissa Henson, the study's author. "They're more interested in being provocative than telling a story that's going to resonate with the vast majority of TV viewers."

The study comes at an uncertain time in a debate in America over what is appropriate for broadcast television. TV networks and government are duelling over the rules of broadcast indecency, and a Supreme Court case looms this year. TV networks also face increasing competition from steamy cable shows not burdened by many of the restrictions.

Technology is rapidly changing the way people watch shows, with payTV and the internet offering a host of new options.

The PTC, a leading critic of sex and violence on TV, is known for campaigning against shows it deems offensive and flooding federal regulators with complaints.

Critics of the group say its studies support a broader agenda.

"The Parents Television Council won't be satisfied with television content until they convince the Government to enforce their personal, selective judgements," said Jim Dyke, executive director of TV Watch, an advocacy group backed in part by the entertainment industry and CBS, Fox and NBC.

Dyke called the PTC study biased, faulty and designed to influence legislators and raise money. He said the study supports the belief that "parents aren't competent enough to make television viewing decisions for their own families".

In another take on PTC criticism, one network recently used the group's complaints that the show Gossip Girl is too racy as part of its advertising.

The PTC's four-week study of programs on ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC and CW networks found 151 verbal references to non-marital sex and 54 to married sex. Henson said that when marital sex is mentioned on TV, it is often described in a boring or disrespectful way.

Prime-time TV "seems to be actively seeking to undermine marriage by consistently painting it in a negative light," the study said.

Asked by reporters if non-marital sex is just a more likely part of dramatic or humorous storytelling, PTC president Tim Winter said there were decades of shows with positive descriptions of intimacy "that served the medium extremely well".

The PTC said the ABC network had most sexual references, particularly to adultery, and often cited the network's shows in the study, notably Boston Legal.

The study quotes a Boston Legal character as saying: "Here's the thing about monogamy. It only works if you cheat."

ABC, part of the Walt Disney empire, would not comment on the study.

US Federal Communications Commission rules limit broadcasts deemed offensive involving profanity, sex and bodily functions to late-night hours, a schedule intended to keep such subjects away from children.

Last month, a federal appeals court threw out the $550,000 government indecency fine brought against CBS for Janet Jackson's breast-baring "wardrobe malfunction" during the 2004 Super Bowl half-time show.

The court said the commission was wrong to impose a fine for the fleeting moment of nudity during the live broadcast. It was a departure from the agency's long-held approach to enforcing broadcast indecency rules, the court found.

Another legal case with potentially great impact is expected in the next few months when the Supreme Court considers its first broadcast indecency case since 1978.

That case stems from a commission decision in 2006 that Fox violated decency rules with two broadcasts of the Billboard Music Awards, which included swearing by Cher in 2002 and Nicole Richie in 2003. The commission had ruled earlier that even isolated broadcasts of the F-word are usually a violation.

Last year, a federal appeals court in New York tossed out that government policy banning fleeting curse words on broadcast TV, setting the stage for the Supreme Court case.

- COX NEWS SERVICE

http://www.theage.com.au/news/tv--radio ... 00826.html

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TRexx - Aug 21, 2008 - 12:36 AM
Post subject:

Via the Canwest News Service (Canada)...

Finally, William Shatner's true story

Alex Strachan, Canwest News Service : Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Author, actor, producer, celebrity pitchman. He is Shat, and he is everywhere. E! True Hollywood Story, the often trashy, occasionally revealing profile program about all things Hollywood, unmasks the man behind Star Trek's Capt. James T. (Tiberius) Kirk and Boston Legal's Denny Crane, not to mention countless other stage and TV roles from the golden age of TV.

The Shat, in case you've forgotten, famously appeared in a classic Twilight Zone episode as a panicky airline passenger who spots a gargoyle on the wing during a thunder-and-lightning storm. John Lithgow famously reprised the Shatner role in 1983's Twilight Zone: The Movie. Now you know. Of such stuff is True Hollywood Story made.

William Alan Shatner -- just plain Bill to his friends and colleagues -- was born in Montreal. Star Trek may have brought him fame and fortune, but it's Boston Legal that has hauled in the silverware: Two Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe in just the four years Boston Legal has been on the air. As True Hollywood Story shows, what you see is pretty much what you get with the artist formerly known as Capt. Kirk. The Shat didn't get where he is today by being shy and retiring.

He has the requisite star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame to show for his decades in showbiz, and an accompanying star of Canada's Walk of Fame to go with it.

More revealing, at least in terms of showing who he really is, he was chosen last year to induct legendary pro wrestler and broadcaster Jerry "The King" Lawler into World Wrestling Entertainment's (WWE) Hall of Fame. Now we're talking. You can keep your Emmys, your Golden Globes, your stars on the various Walks of Fame. You haven't really made it until you've flirted with fame in the WWE.

True Hollywood Story is on E! (CHCH TV) tonight 10 pm Eastern Time.

http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolo ... e79966ca33

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TRexx - Aug 22, 2008 - 08:17 PM
Post subject:

From USA Today...

Shatner smiles for the Candy

By Whitney Matheson. Posted at 11:39 AM/ET, 08/22/2008

Do you like William Shatner?

Well, William Shatner likes you.

During a recent autograph session for LiveAutographs.com, the actor was kind enough to put down his futuristic pen and deliver a personal message to readers of this blog. You can check it out on YouTube or below:

[Click image to view video at YouTube.com]

As I've written before, Shatner is one of several celebs who participates on the site, where you can order autographed merchandise and personalized video downloads. Right now merch from the Lost cast is available. Proceeds go to Stand Up to Cancer.

(And yes, popcandyvideo is my YouTube account. I hope to add to it in the near future.)

http://blogs.usatoday.com/popcandy/2008 ... tml?csp=34

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TRexx - Aug 23, 2008 - 11:24 PM
Post subject:

From The Sunday Times UK...

A Life in the Day: William Shatner

Interview by Danny Scott. Photograph: Daryl Weisser. August 24, 2008

The 77-year-old actor, best known as Star Trek's Captain Kirk, has recently enjoyed Emmy success with Boston Legal. He has just written his first non-Trek autobiography, Up Till Now, and lives in Los Angeles with his fourth wife, Elizabeth.

I wake up any time between 5am and 7am, depending on what the day holds. If I'm working I have to be up early, but if I've got the day off I like to sleep a little later. On those days I let my beautiful wife take care of me. She lavishes attention on me, and I luxuriate in that. Five or six times a week I try to do some exercise, which usually involves the swimming pool. We've got a nice pool at home, and I work out for 30 to 40 minutes. The exercise is important, you see, because I am trying to develop a six-pack stomach. At the moment, unfortunately, it's a 12-pack... It needs a little trim here and there.

Breakfast is always light. Maybe just a bowl of fruit, but I've developed a taste for rice cakes and fresh tomato. Don't ask me why. It just fills me up without being too calorific. That will be followed by coffee -- four shots of decaf. Actually, I take it as a macchiato. I've had to cut back, but I still see myself as... shall we say, a coffee-lover. My sine qua non is Starbucks. That's the coffee against which I measure all the others. My wife stocks the kitchen with many different types and I try a new one every day. And I love the fact that the cocoa bean -- I'm talking about chocolate, too -- has so many subtle variations. It's like wine.

Just for a change it would be nice to try the scruffy, unshaven look, but that only really works if you're a young guy. The problem is that I have become an old guy, so I have to shave every day. Me! An old guy! How did that happen?

I think it must be a mistake. Shaving, showering and taking my vitamins -- I'm very fastidious about my supplements -- adds up to about 30 minutes. After that I might do some delegating. I am a great delegator. If the fountain isn't working I get the fountain guy in. If the toilet is leaking -- as it is at the moment -- I get the toilet guy in. Probably my favourite phrase is "Let's get somebody to fix that." Having said that, my wife and I have done a lot of work on the house. Okay, that's not strictly true. A lot of work has been done on the house. By the building guys, the decorating guys and so on. We have a wonderful old house in the Los Angeles hills -- that's old in American terms, which is about 100 years. Out of one window I can watch the sun rise, and out of another window I can see the sun set. The vista must be at least 270 degrees, with an incredible view out over the San Fernando Valley.

If there's time, my gorgeous wife -- make sure you get that in -- and I take the 45-minute drive to where we keep our horses. Horses have been my passion for many years. I've competed at all levels, and I still have ambitions to win a world championship. The only problem with horses is that it's a rich man's passion. I had to wait until I was earning a bit of money before I could really indulge. You have to worry about shoes, socks, blankets, stables, trainers, hay... And the more expensive the horse, the more it costs to keep it. The bills are triple what they'd be if I had an old nag.

There's a wonderful Italian restaurant not far from the stables. My beautiful wife and I -- make sure you get that in -- are often joined by the trainer, the trainer's wife, the assistant and anyone who happens to be there. And the food... Well, once the menu's in my hand there's no stopping me. Sometimes I order everything on the menu. Sometimes I order two or three of everything on the menu, so we can try a little bit of each dish. So much for the six-pack.

I have an office in Los Angeles, and in the afternoon I might take a trip down there to work on one of the projects I'm involved in. It could be Boston Legal, it could be Gonzo Ballet... That's right, a ballet. Somebody has created a ballet to go with six songs from my last album, Has Been. Driving to the office -- in fact, driving anywhere -- is one of life's real pleasures. I have an Aston Martin DB7, and sometimes I just stand there and gaze at this work of art. This is a car to relish. Sitting inside, I'm engulfed by a patina of thankfulness. I've been known to drive a little too... er, enthusiastically. And, yes, I have been stopped by the rozzers -- the coppers, that's what you Brits call them, isn't it? -- several times. They always call me Bill. "Bill, you were driving a little fast there." I always agree with whatever they say and I always call them sir. "Yes, sir, I was." Most of them like to have a chat about when I was the captain of a spaceship. Then they say: "Okay, Bill, not so fast next time."

In the evening I love, love, love it when my children come to visit. All three of my daughters live close by, and I have five grandchildren. I sit them on my knee and tell them stories. They're probably still a bit too young to fully understand what a fantastic storyteller I am. When they're a bit older they will appreciate my true value. At the moment they just think I'm the weird old guy that they have to put up with once a week.

If it's not too late, I'll watch something on TV. Maybe sports, news or a movie. Sci-fi? I'm not too crazy on sci-fi. And I don't like talking. I don't like didactic movies. I like instant entertainment.

If there's nothing on TV, I listen to jazz, but I never know who I'm listening to. I just listen to the radio.

By 10pm my incredible wife -- make sure you get that in -- and I are in bed and asleep. In fact, it's normally before 10pm. Not a bad day, eh? I'm a very lucky guy.

http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/ ... 572706.ece

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TRexx - Aug 24, 2008 - 01:10 PM
Post subject:

Via Spider-Man Crawlspace...

William Shatner Interviews Stan Lee

August 24, 2008

I was shocked to find two of my favorites on the screen for the first time. William Shatner interviews Stan Lee. Lee goes over the same material, but it's with the SHAT!

http://www.spidermancrawlspace.com/wordpress/?p=524

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TRexx - Aug 24, 2008 - 09:15 PM
Post subject:

From AL.com ...

Capt. Kirk may get beamed off Alabama TV ad

Posted by Associated Press - August 24, 2008 11:56 AM

MONTGOMERY -- Boston Legal actor William Shatner may play a lawyer on TV. But his ad for an Alabama law firm is raising concern at the Alabama State Bar.

The State Board of Bar Commissioners has asked the Alabama Supreme Court to approve new rules on advertising by Alabama lawyers. One of the rules would prohibit the use of paid actors and testimonials. State Bar President Mark White says the proposed rules are designed to keep lawyers' advertising professional.

Auburn lawyer Mike Slocumb uses Shatner in his ads. He says the proposed rules would violate his First Amendment rights.

http://blog.al.com/breaking/2008/08/cap ... off_a.html

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angel - Aug 24, 2008 - 10:55 PM
Post subject:

TRexx wrote:

From The Times (South Africa)...

Captain's log

"People reveal themselves over a period of time, and over that time the true you comes out," says Shatner over the phone from Los Angeles. "Whatever the relationship -- whether it's a marriage or a group of actors together on set -- you cannot hide from who you are for very long."
Ain't that the God's honest truth! Very wise our Captain is. Personally I hate playing guessing games. Honesty is the best policy. Cool

TRexx - Aug 25, 2008 - 11:54 AM
Post subject:

From the New York Post - Page Six...

From Bard To Worse

Canadian thespian Christopher Plummer

By Richard Johnson - August 25, 2008

Christopher Plummer will never forget the one-night stand he picked up in a bar before he was to perform Henry V in 1956 -- because it helped make William Shatner a star.

In his upcoming autobiography, In Spite of Myself, the veteran actor writes: "I woke up alone the next morning . . . [pain] all around my groin and lower abdomen . . . I started to whimper like a whipped dog. 'So this is what syphilis is like?' I thought. 'I suppose I deserve it, but Christ, how the hell was I to know?' " It turned out his sex romp dislodged a kidney stone that doctors had to remove via a horrifying procedure with a surgical wire. Just as bad, "It began to sink in . . . Shatner, my understudy, would have to go on . . . [It] instantly brought back the pain. I screamed for a nurse who jabbed me with more morphine." Shatner didn't let his big opportunity get away. "I knew then that the SOB was going to be a 'star,' " recalls Plummer.

http://www.nypost.com/seven/08252008/go ... 125919.htm

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TRexx - Aug 28, 2008 - 10:03 AM
Post subject:

From the Stamford Advocate...

Priceline 'Negotiator' comes in at 24

By Michael C. Juliano, michael.juliano@scni.com - 08/28/2008 01:00:00 AM EDT

After finding fame as Captain Kirk of the Starship Enterprise, William Shatner has established himself as one of history's most famous pitchmen as spokesman for priceline.com, Norwalk-based online travel company.

A decade after saying the e-commerce service would be "big . . . really big," the 77-year-old star of Boston Legal has been named to WalletPop's list of 25 favorite celebrity of all time -- a roster that includes Michael Jordan, Bill Cosby, and Brooke Shields.

Shatner was voted to the 24th spot by WalletPop's editorial board, behind Joe Namath for his Beautymist pantyhose ads, and in front of Verizon's spokesman James Earl Jones. Bill Cosby comes in at number one as the lovable pitchman for Jello brand products.

"William Shatner is a really iconic figure, and I think he works it well because he plays against type," said Beth Pinksker, WalletPop's editor. "It's so cheeky, and that's why he's so memorable."

Brett Keller, Priceline's chief marketing officer, said Shatner's recognition is well-deserved.

"We believe he's the longest tenured celebrity spokespersons to appear on behalf of companies in TV commercials," he said, adding that Shatner's fame as Captain Kirk has worked well with Priceline's image as the future of e-commerce. "He's the perfect fit for us."

Shatner, who was nominated for a 2008 Emmy for playing an eccentric attorney Denny Crane, on Boston Legal is now positioned in Priceline's commercials as "The Negotiator," whose role is to negotiate the best travel deals for customers through unusual-but-effective persuasion skills.

Frederick Moran, a Stanford Group analyst, said Shatner's designation as a top celebrity spokesperson reflects his tenure and efforts to enhance Priceline's visibility for the traveler.

"With Shatner's backing and Priceline's efforts, it has become the fastest growing e-commerce service, exceeding Expedia and Orbitz."

Kevin McEvoy, a marketing professor at the University of Connecticut's Stamford branch, said 10 years is a good run for a celebrity spokesman, but what that means is hard to say.

"Because he has a degree of credibility, people may feel comfortable using Priceline," he said. "It gets him publicity, but it doesn't build his credibility as an actor."

http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/norwalk ... i_10321750

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TRexx - Aug 28, 2008 - 09:16 PM
Post subject:

Via About.com ...

Chris Pine Discusses Star Trek and Playing James T Kirk

By Rebecca Murray, About.com, Aug 2008

On Shatner's Dramatic Pauses:

Chris Pine: "You know, really what Mr. Shatner did was very specific and very unique to him. All I really tried to do is do justice to what he did. I think if I went to Mimic-ville, I went to try to do Shatner-ville, it would not have been smart. J.J. [Abrams] never really asked for that so it was finding the balance, I think, between what was done before."

Read the complete article at About.com...

http://movies.about.com/od/startrek/a/s ... 080408.htm

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TRexx - Aug 29, 2008 - 07:39 PM
Post subject:

From Parade Magazine...

Personality Parade®

By Walter Scott - Published: August 31, 2008

Question: Where does William Shatner get his clothes for Boston Legal?
~~ William Fletcher Jr., Atlanta, Ga.

Answer: When David E. Kelley created the role of Denny Crane for Shatner, 77, he asked men's costume supervisor Shelly Levine for an English edge with bold colors. "I buy Bill's shirts and ties from Turnbull & Asser, British clothier to princes," Levine tells us. "But his suits are from Carroll & Co., in Beverly Hills."

http://www.parade.com/celebrity/0808/pe ... reet-stars

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TRexx - Aug 31, 2008 - 09:19 AM
Post subject:

From Sun Media (Canada)...

Everest has tough climb ahead

Gord Rand (left), William Shatner and Eric Johnson star in the mini-series Everest.

By Bill Harris, Sun Media - August 31, 2008

We all have heard the cliche about climbing a mountain because it's there. But seriously -- why?

Early in the CBC mini-series Everest, which airs tonight and tomorrow, that very question is raised expansively during a poignant scene in an airport.

Everest, which stars Eric Johnson, William Shatner, Jason Priestley and Gord Rand, is based on the 1982 climb of the mountain by a Canadian contingent. The group is set to depart Canada when climber Dave Read, played by Michael Teigen, gets a public tongue-lashing from his wife Sally, played by Chantal Perron.

"You're a selfish bastard," Sally screams, drawing the attention of everyone in the vicinity. "(It's a) communal death wish ... you're a bunch of adrenaline junkies ... it's not like you're feeding the hungry or bringing world peace ... if you get on that plane, I am filing for divorce."

Cue the inevitable stare-down. Dave says nothing and Sally knows what that means. She storms off.

There's a pregnant pause before Dave finally bellows, "Dibs on a window seat!"

Ha ha, very funny. But the situations the troupe faces on Mount Everest are less hilarious, and the production team has done a fine job capturing the element of always-imminent danger. It's a long way from the light-hearted vibe in that old Seinfeld episode, when neophyte rock-climber George Costanza got too obsessed with his delicious sandwiches.

To say Everest "stars" Shatner and Priestley is a stretch. Priestley's appearance is nothing more than a cameo, although he indicated while Everest was being filmed (in Alberta, British Columbia, and Nepal) that he would have liked a bigger role had he not been previously committed.

Shatner's character is not a climber -- Captain Kirk isn't as young as he used to be -- but rather a reporter named Norman Kelly who is covering the Canadian excursion.

The real star of Everest is Johnson, who plays Laurie Skreslet. Johnson handles the role ably, and we must say, his blond hair always looks terrific, even during a mountainside blizzard. His backpack must be half-filled with shampoo.

Everest has been completed and in the can for a year or so, but the CBC's delay in giving it an air date could have something to do with the fact that mini-series have fallen out of style.

In the past three years CBC has aired a number of high-quality mini-series that, by the network's own admission, very few people watched. It's funny, because in this era of personal video recorders (PVRs), one might think mini-series would be more accessible to viewers.

Then again, the old magic of a mini-series had to do with presenting it as "event TV," and the only things that really count as "event TV" these days are live extravaganzas, such as the Olympics, Canadian Idol, Dancing with the Stars or the Academy Awards.

In other words, there's at least one similarity between attracting a big TV audience and climbing a mountain: Neither is easy.

The four-hour (two-part) miniseries makes its broadcast premiere tonight (Sunday) August 31, at 8 pm, and concludes tomorrow (Monday) September 1, at 8 pm, on CBC television.

http://jam.canoe.ca/Television/TV_Shows ... 1-sun.html

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TRexx - Sep 01, 2008 - 10:17 PM
Post subject:

From the AMC TV blog...

Masters of SciFi -- Star Trek and Lost Producer Damon Lindelof on Entertaining the Masses

Posted by Clayton Neuman, September 1, 2008 12:23pm

AMC: You've said the episode of Lost where Desmond travels through time is an homage to Star Trek. Did you approach the upcoming film as a fanboy?

Lindelof: I had a real reverence for the material, but more importantly, for the world and how special that world is, and how long it's persevered. I watched a fair amount of the original and I really watched a lot of Next Generation. The first series of meetings we had were along the lines of: What is the State of the Union of Trek, and has it been brought to a place where people will resent our involvement because we're coming from the outside? I think it's like how with Batman, it got to the point where there was more press about the nipples on the Batsuit than there was about the characters, and the franchise needed a reboot.

AMC: William Shatner has been very vocal about his displeasure in not having a place in the film. How did you react?

Lindelof: Mr. Shatner created Kirk, so I understand and sympathize with his feelings about what his role -- or lack of a role -- in our movie was. That being said, Kirk died; he fell down a cliff face. That made it incredibly challenging for us to tell the story we wanted to tell and figure out a way for William Shatner, who is now several years older than Kirk was when he died, to be in the movie. It's an incredibly ambitious movie on a technical scale. I can say with confidence that we achieved what we set out to achieve, and that's all you can ask for.

http://blogs.amctv.com/scifi-scanner/20 ... erview.php

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TRexx - Sep 02, 2008 - 05:40 PM
Post subject:

From Jukebox Heart...

Screamer of the Day: William Shatner!

Posted by pulse on September 2nd, 2008

Fear of Pop -- "In Love" (Charlie Dark vocal remix)
Giant Step Records 1998.

Listen here:

-> MP3 = 4.12 MB -> 4:30 playback time

The man just continues to dazzle us with his legendary flexibility! And that applies to more than just his performing arts talents, but that's a topic for a much different forum. Here he is being totally himself and providing the fabulous spoken vocals about love and all its foibles. Really, this is not to be missed.

This record is a white-sleeve promo-only double vinyl collection of remixes of "In Love", and in addition to the Charlie Dark remixes we have appearances from Attica Blues, Chukwu and Thievery Corporation. The only images to show are the sticker on the cover. If you MUST have this after hearing it, there is a seller on discogs.com that, as of 8PM 01 Sep 08, has a copy for sale for ten bucks.

For years, this record was lost somewhere in the stacks. I was determined to find it, so today I had the idea to search Discogs.com for William Shatner and cross reference the titles that came up against all titles in my own database, and BINGO. There it was. Press the arrow above to play...

http://jukeboxheart.com/?p=75

Subscribe to Jukebox Heart here.

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TRexx - Sep 03, 2008 - 03:33 PM
Post subject:

From the Crosseyed Cyclops Blog...

Vegetarian World (1982) William Shatner

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

Just for camp value I'm posting this -- but it does have some informative value (surprise to me watching it).

Early 1980's documentary on vegetarianism hosted by William Shatner.

28 minutes, MPG and MPEG4 files are available (and streaming).

Download here

http://cosseyedcyclops.blogspot.com/200 ... lliam.html

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TRexx - Sep 09, 2008 - 12:40 AM
Post subject:

From SciFi Scanner blog @ AMC TV...

Masters of SciFi - J.J. Abrams on Reviving Frankenstein in Fringe and Adhering to Canon With Star Trek

Posted by Clayton Neuman, September 8, 2008 12:03pm

The mastermind behind Lost, Alias, and the upcoming Star Trek reboot talks to AMCtv.com about his new out-there show Fringe, premiering tomorrow [Sept. 9 at 8pm on FOX], and the tricky science behind determining fanboy desire.

...

AMC TV: How do you react to William Shatner's ire at not having a role in the movie?

J.J. Abrams: It was very tricky. We actually had written a scene with him in it that was a flashback kind of thing, but the truth is, it didn't quite feel right. The bigger thing was that he was very vocal that he didn't want to do a cameo. We tried desperately to put him in the movie, but he was making it very clear that he wanted the movie to focus on him significantly, which, frankly, he deserves. The truth is, the story that we were telling required a certain adherence to the Trek canon and consistency of storytelling. It's funny -- a lot of the people who were proclaiming that he must be in this movie were the same people saying it must adhere to canon. Well, his character died on screen. Maybe a smarter group of filmmakers could have figured out how to resolve that.

Read the complete article at AMCtv.com...

http://blogs.amctv.com/scifi-scanner/20 ... erview.php

Roberto Orci has subsequently disclosed, "Alex [Kurtzman] and I did indeed come up with a sequence for Shatner that we wrote before the [WGA] strike, although technically it wasn't a flashback. After the movie [is released], I'll post the sequence in question."

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TRexx - Sep 11, 2008 - 05:48 AM
Post subject:

From the Daily Express (UK)...

Nobody Beamed Up William

Wednesday September 10,2008

ACTOR William Shatner will not be going to see the new Star Trek movie but insists it has nothing to do with sour grapes.

The Captain Kirk legend, who is conspicuously absent from the Hollywood prequel despite his old chum Leonard Nimoy landing a cameo, explains: "My wife and I haven't been to a movie in two years at least.

We see films at home on DVD instead."

And though he and Nimoy are still on good terms, the 77-year-old admits he has no clue what the prequel -- which stars newcomer Chris Pine as the young Captain Kirk and Simon Pegg as Scotty -- is all about.

"It's the strangest thing," says Shatner.

"My dear friend Leonard won't tell me what it's about. He clams up. I think there is an explosive charge in his head that the film's director JJ Abrams put there and, should he say the words 'Star Trek', it goes off."

The actor, who stars in US drama Boston Legal, is equally baffled by the meetings he had about appearing in the movie.

"When I look back, I have no idea what those meetings were about but I know I have no connection with this film whatsoever."

http://www.express.co.uk/features/view/ ... up-William

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TRexx - Sep 11, 2008 - 11:57 PM
Post subject:

Via KBTX TV...

Mr. Sulu's Wedding

Posted: 5:07 AM Sep 11, 2008. Last Updated: 5:07 AM Sep 11, 2008. Reporter: Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Star date 9-14-08. Mr. Sulu will go where no Star Trek castmate has gone before. To his gay wedding. George Takei will tie the knot with his boyfriend Brad Altman in Los Angeles Sunday.

Nichelle Nichols, who played Uhura, will be their "best lady" and Walter Koenig, who played Chekhov, will be the best man. William Shatner was invited, but never replied, so he's not expected.

Takei tells AP Radio "we are overjoyed, ecstatic." For his part, Altman says he "can't live without George." They've been together 21 years without a license, but Takei says he's not worried that making it official will change anything. He says they have "a tested and stable relationship."

After the ceremony, Takei and Altman will honeymoon in Argentina and Peru.

http://www.kbtx.com/thebuzz/headlines/28233064.html

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TRexx - Sep 12, 2008 - 12:26 AM
Post subject:

From Entertainment Weekly PopWatch Blog...

Vote for the EWwys!

(You came up with the nominations, after all)

Photo Credit: Ron Tom

Sep 11, 2008, 09:55 AM | by Michael Slezak

For William Shatner, scoring an Emmy nomination for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama has become an annual occurrence as predictable as geese heading south for the winter, Will Smith opening at No. 1 on July 4th weekend, and drug stores displaying Christmas merchandise at increasingly ungodly dates. (I kid you not: I saw a rack of hideous, holiday-themed plush toys at my local Duane Reade this morning. Rated Argh!)

But I've got exciting news for those of you who've ever been frustrated by the way the Emmys reward the same old nominees year after year after blasted, stinkin' year: Shatner and his Boston Legal cohorts all got snubbed in the first annual EWwy Awards, EW.com's brand new TV awards recognizing the great shows and performers who, for whatever reason, can't seem to get any love from the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.

We chose four nominees in every category from your passionate rants on our PopWatch message boards, then EW TV critics Gillian Flynn and Ken Tucker rounded out each list with a fifth "critics' choice" selection. Click here to vote for the EWwys in five drama divisions -- the battle for best series is super-close; Battlestar Galactica, Bones, Friday Night Lights, and The Wire are all within reach of the coveted Golden Ewe trophy -- then come back to EW.com tomorrow when we'll reveal the nominees in five comedy races. The EWwy polls close Sept. 17, and every vote counts -- even Mr. Shatner's.

Also, a note to the Emmy-obsessed: If you haven't already, check out EW.com's Emmy Headquarters, where you'll find the complete list of this year's major nominees, our hella fun Emmy predictions game (in which you can challenge our own Scoop Doggy Dogg Michael Ausiello for prognostication supremacy), and even a gallery of the best and worst moments from last year's Emmy telecast! Enjoy!

http://popwatch.ew.com/popwatch/2008/09 ... s-vot.html

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Mirizor - Sep 15, 2008 - 04:58 AM
Post subject: Shatner Launching new Vlog...

...according to TrekMovie.com

Paul, you are also mentioned by name as well.

http://trekmovie.com/2008/09/13/shatner ... l-tonight/

DOC - Sep 22, 2008 - 05:34 PM
Post subject:

September 21, 2008

The New Season Television
Boston Lawyers Get a Few More Days in Court

By JACQUES STEINBERG

MANHATTAN BEACH, Calif.

DENNY CRANE and Alan Shore, the two high-priced lawyers played by William Shatner and James Spader on ABC’s “Boston Legal,” were having a spirited argument about the continuing liability of big tobacco when the conversation was brought to a halt by the unfurling of a zipper.

It was Crane’s.

“My junk,” Mr. Shatner’s character lamented to Mr. Spader’s from the corner of his opulent office, as he peered into his open suit pants. “My junk failed me.”

“It’s receded,” he added, recounting a recent bout of impotence. “Like a turtle too ashamed to come out of its shell.”

The scene, from the first episode of the series’s fifth (and final) season, which begins on Monday, is true to any number of installments that have preceded it. Since being spun off from “The Practice” in 2004, “Boston Legal” has drawn attention for plumbing ethically tangled issues like assisted suicide, the execution of the mentally impaired and the neglect of military veterans, with a leavening of theater-of-the-absurd moments. Less noticed is that the series has also sought to explore the contours and complexities of male friendship in a way that few, if any, other shows have ever attempted.

Since the middle of the first season virtually every episode has ended with Mr. Shatner and Mr. Spader settled in club chairs on the balcony of Crane’s office, talking late into the night about their (apparently) platonic affection for each other over sips of Scotch and puffs of cigar smoke.

“I sometimes think the episode might just be a vehicle to get us to the balcony scene,” Mr. Spader said, clad in one of Shore’s elegant pinstripe suits, his diction as tight as his character’s, during a pause in filming on a recent afternoon.

Shore and Crane, who are otherwise skirt-chasing womanizers, sometimes follow their cathartic balcony sessions with a seemingly innocuous sleepover, either because they don’t want to be alone or want to keep talking.

“Where does male love begin and end?” Mr. Shatner said in his dressing room here on a recent morning, when asked to distill what “Boston Legal” was ultimately about. “I’ve never had male friends like that. Never to this extent of being such a buddy that it displaces the intimacy you might have with a woman. It’s interesting to speculate what the limitations are.”

In a telephone interview from his home in Northern California, David E. Kelley, the series’s creator and principal writer, said he had come to fashion those balcony scenes from “a nostalgic longing we all have for a time in our life — and it’s probably high school or college — where we really had the flexibility of schedule just to sit with a close friend and share thoughts.”

“We’re all on such treadmills,” added Mr. Kelley, the father of a son and daughter with the actress Michelle Pfeiffer. “When you get married and have kids, you’re home reading bedtime stories at that hour.”

For a time last spring Mr. Kelley was convinced that Crane and Shore would be having their final balcony session on last season’s finale, in May. He even wrote that episode with the two pledging to go off and spend more time fishing and less time working.

“I was sure it wasn’t coming back,” Mr. Kelley said of the series. The issue was, at least partly, money. “We were very far apart on license fees,” said Mr. Kelley, who produces the show with 20th Century Fox Television. “ABC wanted the show back, but at a number that made financial sense for them. Their number didn’t make sense for us. It was a negotiation.”

From ABC’s perspective there was also the matter of ratings: this past season “Boston Legal” was ranked 50th among prime-time shows on broadcast television, according to Nielsen Media Research, with an audience of about 8.9 million — a loss of about 200,000 from the prior television season, but a drop of 1.3 million from the season before that. (As a counterbalance to that math “Boston Legal” is a perennial Emmy winner, with Mr. Spader and Mr. Shatner having won multiple times for their roles; each has been nominated again this year, along with Candice Bergen and the series itself, for outstanding drama.)

Complicating the negotiations was that ABC and Fox Television were disagreeing over another show, an ABC pilot titled “Life on Mars,” that Mr. Kelley had adapted from a British precursor. Ultimately ABC Studios wound up becoming a co-producer of the show with Fox, which had the effect of removing Mr. Kelley.

“They probably wanted more creative control than I was used to giving, which made sense,” Mr. Kelley said.

Only hours before ABC was to announce its fall prime-time schedule, the network made a decision that would amount to a split verdict on “Boston Legal”: It would return for one more season, but a truncated one.

“Because we do love the show,” said Jeffrey Bader, executive vice president of ABC Entertainment, “we wanted to find a way for the show to come back and end in a way the show deserves.”

There are to be 12 episodes this year, as opposed to the standard 22, with the final show a two-hour finale.

“Creatively I wouldn’t have felt shortchanged if we ended after four years,” Mr. Kelley said. “We got to tell the stories we set out to tell. But I think there are more to tell.”

And so, in what has become the equivalent of a weekly video op-ed column, Mr. Kelley will again use Mr. Shore’s character in particular this season to rail (mostly in closing arguments in court) about any number of matters that are troubling him, including the disproportionate power of drug companies and the seeming inequity of a law that effectively prohibits malpractice suits by soldiers treated in military hospitals.

Having had his characters tally the dead and wounded in Iraq and bemoan the encroachment on civil liberties in recent years, Mr. Kelley may also have more to say about the Bush administration — in large part, he said, because few other scripted series have sought to take a political stand.

“Once I thought it was irresponsible for a producer to be espousing his own views and rants,” said Mr. Kelley, who worked as a lawyer in Boston before finding his niche in Hollywood working on shows like “L.A. Law” and creating others like “Ally McBeal” and “Picket Fences.” “I have since become convinced we are living in a time where it is irresponsible not to. We were witnessing the death of debate.”

Still, what viewers may ultimately remember about the show this season is the pathos of its characters, chief among them Denny Crane. He is a lion of a defense lawyer whose quirks, frailties and flashes of brilliance have provided Mr. Shatner a late-career opportunity to reintroduce himself to those who knew his work on “The Defenders,” “Star Trek” and “T. J. Hooker,” to say nothing of those ubiquitous Priceline commercials. Crane will continue to grapple with what appears to be the early onset of Alzheimer’s, in yet another pioneering story line for a main character on network television.

When he first appeared in the final episodes of “The Practice” — a show built on a firm as gritty as Crane Poole & Schmidt of “Boston Legal” is well heeled — Crane was defined by little more than the way he said his name. It was rapid-fire — from Mr. Shatner’s mouth, it sounded like “Dennycrane” — and it instantly announced a self-centeredness and impatience.

“We originally wanted a guy who thought saying his name was enough,” said Bill D’Elia, the executive producer who was hired by Mr. Kelley to shepherd the transition from “The Practice” to “Boston Legal,” and who has overseen “Legal” ever since.

Asked the source of that staccato delivery, Mr. Shatner had a ready answer: “I always imagined it being the way a snake flits its tongue out to taste the air. Denny flicks his name out there to get a reaction.”

What has never been entirely clear to Crane’s associates or the show’s viewers is this: When, for example, he appears in an office corridor fully dressed but for his pants, has he done so consciously (as a gag) or not? This season, Mr. Shatner said, he expects the character to become more self-aware.

Speaking during a break from rehearsing the fifth episode of the final season, Mr. Shatner said: “There’s an interesting chord being played, in a scene I’m paying a lot of attention to, in which I say, ‘I think I’m slipping.’ Later on I say, ‘I’m slipping.’ Then I say, ‘I know I’m slipping.’ ”

“I think Kelley is planning on something dire, with some disposition,” Mr. Shatner added, “or some disposal.”

Which raises an immediate question: Might Mr. Kelley be planning to kill off Denny Crane, leaving Alan Shore bereft and bereaved?

As it turns out, Mr. Kelley does not seem to be leaning that way, at least partly for pragmatic reasons.

“One of the problems or challenges is that in this world of DVDs, series live on long after they air,” he said. “For whatever reason, the audience we have does seem to like to watch these episodes over again on DVD.”

“We’ve always been mindful that when these characters walk off into the sunset, that it be organic to the fun and spirit of this series, that you have the sense these guys are still out there doing what they do,” he said. “They just won’t be on TV doing it.”

DOC - Nov 25, 2008 - 07:48 PM
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SHATNER'S RAW NERVE

~Doc Cool

DOC - Nov 25, 2008 - 09:43 PM
Post subject:

Where's TRexx been?

DOC - Dec 08, 2008 - 06:35 PM
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and

, that no other Shat-Fan has inquired where our Shatner related current events poster, TRexx been Question

~Doc

DOC - Dec 12, 2008 - 02:29 PM
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William Shatner's Celebrity Impersonations

DOC - Dec 22, 2008 - 07:06 PM
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William Shatner
During the summer months of 1969, while NBC Television was airing the final reruns of the original Star Trek series on Thursday nights, William Shatner took to the road in order to do a succession of stage appearances in Summer Stock around the country. One of these appearances was scheduled for the now defunct Playhouse in the Park in Philadelphia. I suggested a possible interview with Jim Kirk to the editors of England’s L’Incroyable Cinema Magazine, and they jumped at the possibility. I telephoned the local press representation for the theatre in the round, and they arranged for an interview. Shatner was going through a bad period at this stage of his career. By his own admission, it was the worst period of his life.

Star Trek had ended with few new offers on the horizon. He feared being permanently type cast in science fiction, and his wife had begun divorce proceedings. He was literally living out of his van, and traveling cross country with his two pet Doberman Pinschers. He seemed wary of strangers as the interview began, but quickly warmed up to us.

Allan Asherman, and my brother Erwin, joined me for the session. We spent a delightful hour with Bill in his dressing room, as he answered questions about the origin and ultimate future of the popular television program. His natural wit and playful spirit shone through the sadness like a beacon in the Solar System. If my brother looks slightly terrified in the accompanying photograph, it's probably because Morgan, one of Bill’s rather ominous looking Dobermans, was sniffing Erwin’s hand just out of camera range.

After the interview had been completed, he invited us to catch a performance of the play he was starring in, There’s A Girl in My Soup. Based on the hit Broadway show, Shatner portrayed a vain television chef whose prized bachelorhood is threatened by the appearance of a fetching young lass who enters his life and menu. The production co-starred the beautiful Jill Haworth who had played opposite Sal Mineo in Otto Preminger’s “Exodus.” At the end of the performance, he stopped for a moment, turned round on stage and waved a personal farewell to us. Apparently, we had broken through the façade and touched the troubled actor.

-Steve Vertlieb
February, 2007

DOC - Apr 21, 2009 - 01:08 PM
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Watch FOX 11 News / Good Day LA Online

William Shatner's
Raising Money for Horses

* David Dain

Los Angeles (myFOXla.com) - William Shatner's 19th annual Hollywood Charity Horse show is raising money at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center in Burbank on April 25, 2009. The show benefits Ahead With Horses and the Camp Max Straus Foundation. Willie Nelson is scheduled to perform, there will be a silent auction, an arena show, and western-themed dinner.

Web Extra! William Shatner

* David Dain

Los Angeles (myFOXla.com) - William Shatner will play a major role in the 19th annual Hollywood Charity Horse Show at the L.A. Equestrian Center in Burbank on April 25th. Willie Nelson will be there to provide entertainment for the gala event that benefits Ahead With Horses and the Camp Max Straus Foundation. William talks about those things in this exclusive web interview.

DOC - Jun 01, 2009 - 11:51 AM
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Excerpt from a Star Trek cast interview

DOC - Aug 03, 2009 - 12:18 PM
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Added this article to the 'Sir Shat' file... Thanks Hart for the article...

Carving “Boston Legal” for Bill Shatner

DOC - Aug 03, 2009 - 12:21 PM
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Thanks Jena...

William Shatner Makes Palin's Speech Into Poetry (VIDEO)

rubypearl - Feb 22, 2010 - 06:53 AM
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Sure DO miss this thread...

Sure do miss DOC's old original "Shatner Files" that was lost in the crash of...????

kstahmer - Feb 22, 2010 - 01:23 PM
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Nostalgia: a wistful or excessively sentimental yearning for return to or of some past period or irrecoverable condition.

The key word: irrecoverable

... or maybe not.

This is cyberspace. Posters have popped in, unexpectedly, out of the digital ether after years of absence.

Wait and see.

rubypearl wrote:

Sure DO miss this thread...

Sure do miss DOC's old original "Shatner Files" that was lost in the crash of...????

That was lost in the crash of Nightmare at 20000 Feet, which didn't crash.