This year, we decided to combine our annual fan club get together, Shatner Weekend 2004, with the Hollywood Charity Horse Show affording members the opportunity to attend both events during the same 3-day period. We scheduled a full slate of activities between Friday, April 30th and Sunday, May 2nd including lunch with Bill, a VIP tour of Paramount Pictures, and several visits to the Los Angeles Equestrian Center, site of the 14th Annual Hollywood Charity Horse Show. Just two days before the start of the Weekend, Bill invited us to attend the taping of his appearance o&shy;n the <em>On-Air with Ryan Seacrest</em> show and we were delighted to juggle the itinerary to include this special event. It provided a wondrous complement to an absolutely magical Weekend.

For a touch of nostalgia, our base camp this year was the Safari Inn in Burbank, California. You may recall that this particular hotel served as Hooker?s living quarters in several episodes of the 1980?s <em>T.J. Hooker</em> television series. We met in the lobby of the hotel early Friday, morning. This year?s group included members from across the United States and as far away as Australia. First o&shy;n the itinerary was breakfast at Paramount Pictures. We all piled into our van and made our way to Hollywood. During the 25-minute drive, we listened to local radio station KOST 103.5 which was coincidentally airing an interview with Bill o&shy;n the Hollywood Charity Horse Show! What a marvelous kickoff.

We arrived at Paramount just before 8:00am. After being cleared through the Main Gate, we headed for the Commissary for breakfast. We opted to eat in the cafeteria side of the dining room primarily to save time as we were scheduled to begin the tour at 8:30am. The Commissary was located in a beautiful building with a curved roof and exposed wood beams. In many ways, the inside of the structure resembled an upscale aircraft hanger. Coincidentally, it was decorated with beautiful framed photographs of horses which were part of an equine art exhibit o&shy;n loan from professional photographer Gloria Muscarella.

After breakfast, we met up with two Paramount Guest Relations tour guides for our pre-arranged studio tour. Last year, we were scheduled to tour the studio when management cancelled all private functions just two weeks prior to our event due to heightened security measures. It worked out all right in the long run, because we were able to visit Warner Brothers where Bill filmed <em>T.J.Hooker</em>. This year, we were able to reinstate the tour of Paramount, and the group was excited to visit the studio where Bill filmed the <em>Star Trek</em> series and feature films.

Many of the shows were o&shy;n hiatus during our visit, but we were able to visit the <em>Entertainment Tonight</em> stage where host Bob Goen was taping a public service announcement. Mr. Goen was very gracious and seemed delighted to able to perform in front of a live audience. He even remarked that he wanted "a fan club just like Shatner?s" to follow him around!

The tour guides brought the group through the Backlot, down New York Street, by the Paramount Fire Department, between numerous stages and exterior sets, all the while expounding upon the rich history of the studio. Parklike settings throughout the property were dotted with small kiosks with vintage photographs and captions describing the history of the studio. Near the end of the tour, we had the opportunity to see the B-Tank where many of the whale and underwater sequences in <em>Star Trek IV</em> were filmed. In reality, the tank is a parking lot that?s painted blue at the bottom. When filled with water, it resembles a large body of water.

Before leaving the studio, everyone was given the opportunity to visit the Company Store and buy some unique souvenirs. Then we boarded the van and made a mad dash over to the Hollywood &amp; Highland complex for an early lunch with Bill. We were originally scheduled to meet him for lunch at noon, but rescheduled to 11:00am to fit&nbsp;the <em>Ryan Seacrest</em> taping into that timeslot. The California Pizza Kitchen restaurant opened up half an hour early to accommodate our group and reserved the whole patio for us. Bill?s former assistant, Robin Guido (who recently moved back to Northern California) pre-arranged our lunch with Bill, and our group?s admittance at the <em>Ryan Seacrest</em> taping with really short notice and we owe her a debt of gratitude for making it all possible. Thanks, Robin.

Just minutes after we arrived at the restaurant, Bill strolled across the courtyard and joined us, trailed by a small camera crew. The crew was o&shy;n hand to tape a preview for the <em>Ryan Seacrest </em>show. Thankfully, they got what they needed pretty quickly and left us to ourselves. Bill greeted the group and immediately started up an easy conversation. He was charming and gracious and relaxed. And, of course funny. He has a way of finding humor in just about everything. Bill mentioned how happy he was to be working o&shy;n a series again, while very cognizant of the time demands it would make o&shy;n his already busy life. He talked a little about the Hollywood Charity Horse Show and asked everyone where they were from. Anne-Marie Rayward from Australia was the hands-down winner.

Lunch was very informal and we dined o&shy;n pizza and salad. Just across the way was a large outdoor screen, and at noon the <em>Ryan Seacreast</em> show started. The producers allowed Bill to stay with us until just moments before he was needed o&shy;n the set and from our vantage point o&shy;n the patio, we watched the show live o&shy;n the big screen. Bill was mesmerized in watching Seacrest?s first guest, 10-year-old Dakota Fanning as she charmed the audience. He seemed astounded by the&nbsp;command the little girl had of the camera and the audience at such a young age.

Soon it was show time?for Bill that is?and he was escorted o&shy;nto the set. Within moments, several stagehands led our group into the building, quickly and efficiently processed us through security, and brought us up to the balcony above the stage during a commercial break. When Bill was introduced, he bound o&shy;nto the stage. Almost immediately, he decided to reenact Dakota Fanning?s energetic entrance. Bill disappeared off stage, and then came back running and literally jumped into Ryan Seacrest?s arms. The amazing thing is, Ryan Seacrest caught him!

Bill acknowledged our group in the balcony when he was talking about the Hollywood Charity Horse Show and the camera tilted up to our group several times during the show. Near the end of the segment, Ryan Seacrest asked Bill to sit in a chair that resembled Captain Kirk?s chair from the original Star Trek series. There was a similar chair for Seacrest. Bill obliged, but the chairs weren?t particularly well constructed and Bill noticed that the buttons o&shy;n the armrest were loose. Soon he began throwing the buttons into the air and o&shy;nto the floor and Ryan Seacrest joined in. It was hilarious.

After the taping was over, we took some time to peruse the Hollywood &amp; Highland complex, home of the new Kodak Theatre. Members had the opportunity to view Bill?s Star o&shy;n the Hollywood Walk of Fame and visit the Star Trek memorial in cement in front of Grauman?s Chinese Theater. And of course, do a little shopping.

Next, we headed over to the Los Angeles Equestrian Center to meet up with Bill and his lovely wife Elizabeth. Bill and Liz were both set to compete in the reining competition that afternoon and graciously welcomed our group in the barn area between classes. Club members who were attending the Weekend and had purchased a dinner party ticket for the Hollywood Charity Horse Show were afforded the opportunity to pose for a photo with Bill and his horse. Our thanks to Danny Gerardi and his crew for their assistance in getting Bill?s horse ready for his big moment.

As Bill wasn?t set to ride again for several hours and it was already late afternoon, we headed back to the hotel. After freshening up and grabbing some dinner, members gathered at the Coast Annabelle Inn o&shy;n Friday evening to watch videos.

While the Hollywood Charity Horse Show officially began earlier in the week, the charity related activities were scheduled for Saturday, with this year?s show benefiting Ahead With Horses, Tilden?s Children and Camp Max Straus.

Several members in our group volunteered their assistance with the show o&shy;n Saturday and their help was very much appreciated. We transported members over to the show early in the afternoon in time to partake in Kids Day which was a celebration for the kids participating in the Tilden?s Children program. This year, Kids Day featured members of the Los Angeles Police Department, Los Angeles Sheriff?s Department, the CHP and the Los Angeles Fire Department. Below, Bill poses with a couple of members of the LAPD.

Music was provided by Double Action. The food was catered by Baja Fresh. As always, the costumed talent were a big hit. They came dressed in <em>Star Trek</em> and <em>Star Wars</em> costumes and entertained the children throughout the afternoon.

At 5:30pm, the festivities moved into the main covered arena, with Brad Paisley singing the National Anthem. Shortly thereafter, Bill came out and introduced the Ahead With Horses demonstration. Seeing these severely handicapped children perform o&shy;n horseback is something that stays within your heart. It?s what caught Bill?s eye many years back and what the horse show was built around?helping kids in need. Completing the arena entertainment was a free style reining competition and a demonstration by the California Rangers Eagle Troop drill team.

The silent auction began at 4:00pm this year and ran until 8:00pm. With over 200 items, there was something for everyone this year. Bill?s daughter Lisabeth even donated a lovely sculpture. Below, donations from Elizabeth Taylor, President and Mrs. Jimmy Carter and Ben Stiller are featured.

After the opening ceremonies in the main arena concluded, the reining competition continued for several hours. Meanwhile, the dinner party was well under way. This year, Factor?s Deli catered the event, and Brad Paisley and his band performed a private concert.

Celebrities attending this year?s Hollywood Charity Horse Show included Sylvester Stallone, Beau Bridges, Scott Hamilton, Ben Stiller, Christine Taylor, Rebecca De Mornay, Jennifer Flavin and Eric Roberts. It was quite an evening. Almost everyone in our group purchased a party ticket and they had a great time. Some of them are pictured below.

Even though most of us didn?t get to bed until late Saturday, we were up again early Sunday morning buoyed by the wonderful memories of the previous two days. We met up at the Safari Inn and traveled a short distance to the Los Angles Equestrian Center to meet with Bill. He and Elizabeth were already there when we arrived at around 8:30am. O&shy;nce again, we wondered where Bill gets his energy. He was so incredibly busy for the week up to the horse show, doing publicity, managing the show, and of course competing. Yet in spite of it all, he and Liz were bright and cheery and waiting to participate in Sunday?s events.

We met with them at their barn area for a couple more photos and a group shot. Autographs were next for those that made a $50 donation to the horse show. Of course, the Piece de Resistance was Robert?s Commodore Computer table phone. During the 2001 Shatner Weekend, Robert had Bill autograph his Commodore hard drive. Last year, he brought his Commodore keyboard. Robert?s the President of Fresno?s Commodore Computer User?s Group. By way of a bit of explanation, Robert likes Commodore computers and Bill was the spokesperson for them way back when. You must admit, it makes for a rather unique set of autographs.

Next up, we presented Bill with the final tally for what we raised for the Hollywood Charity Horse Show during the Weekend: $3,000 in dinner party tickets and over $3,000 in additional donations. Then we presented Bill and Liz with a gift from the Weekend attendees, a card signed by everyone and a beautiful Inuit sculpture of a dancing bear by artist Tim Pee. You may recall in the March newsletter Bill spoke of his delight in seeing the dancing bears o&shy;n his trip to Alaska with Elizabeth last year.

Later that morning we headed over to the arena to watch the continuing competition. Bill and Elizabeth each showed a few times?and they had the absolute best cheering section.

In the early afternoon, several members had planes to catch and we said our good-byes. Those that remained had an excellent lunch at nearby Viva?s Restaurant famous for their great Mexican food.

Our kind thanks to Bill and Elizabeth for making this year?s Weekend such a special experience. All of the members had a wonderful time and we enjoyed meeting new friends and reacquainting ourselves with old friends. If you are interested in participating in the next Shatner Weekend, please let us know.

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