Advice WILLIAM SHATNER Gave PAUL WESLEY to Play Captain Kirk on STAR TREK: STRANGE NEW WORLDS

[@WilliamHBaird-eq2hp]

"Take care of my ship!" is the greatest compliment any actor can get from Bill Shatner.

[@HucksPopCultureCafe]

What a terrific clip. And for the great Shatner to tweet, “Take care of my ship”……just beautiful!

[@sal8s]

Captain Kirk is like the James Bond of Star Trek. It's all about what the actor brings to the character.

[@tedsheridan8725]

"So I sit next to Willam Shatner on the plane, and wouldn't you know it, there's a gremlin on the wing!"

[@markthompson4225]

I wonder how many people get this

[@EROCK611]

that would be so trippy... def a candid camera moment. I wonder if Shatner ever thinks about a gremlin on the wing when he flies?

[@yegankander2030]

William Shatner came to Comic Con South Africa...took a picture and and autograph with the man. What an amazing gentleman. The patience and love he has for his fans is astounding. Some female fan yelled from the back of the autograph line 'Why are you so handsome? And he goes...'I don't know...' with a sly smile. What a great experience. Hopefully he makes another trip to South Africa.

[@barberbill63]

What most don't realize is that when Kirk gives those speeches that everyone makes fun of, he was not just talking to the people next to him. Kirk was making s ship wide address notifying the entire crew.

[@mrphusion7505]

Around the 4:50 minute mark Paul mentions re-watching the original series (the subject of Shatner's mannerisms came up). And he's right. For the most part, Kirk is very smooth throughout the entire thing. Rarely does he do anything odd and when he does it usually fits the context of the moment. I have a feeling most people that 'remember' it that way are just victims of the Mandela Effect, and others probably haven't really seen it, but see the jokes and pass them along.

[@SquireWhipple]

You are 100% right, and I came here to same something similar. Shatner was a very good actor, and even his biggest detractors (like Takei) have freely admitted this. If you watch the original series, his performance is nothing like the caricature that everyone seems to have accepted as truth. There are maybe two or three times in the whole series where his delivery is a little stilted, and he has said himself that he was simply trying to remember his lines in the midst of a hectic shooting schedule.

[@swordblaster2596]

I agree. The myth of his kirk acting is based on skits etc, which are of course caricatures.

[@pauldecoster]

An article from Quilette suggested that Shatner’s exaggerated acting was done with an awareness of how hard it was to get good reception on TV sets in the 60s when antennae ruled the roofs. It’s like he was playing to the back of the living room.

[@MadSpectre47]

There's moments that just stand out, or even entire episodes. The Enemy Within where he screams I'M CAPTAIN KIRK (as the evil half) The one with Sargon inhabiting his body where he's practically loving on himself (Return to Tomorrow?) Those moments are so easy to mock and then they take on bigger and bigger life than they really were, until that's all there was. And it's just not true. Unlike most others, it seems, I really like Paul Wesley's Kirk. He is exactly as Gary Mitchell described in the second pilot. "A stack of books with legs". He was a nerd. He was picked on by upperclassmen at the Academy (Finnegan). He was bookish as hell, motivated and determined. Paul Wesley's Kirk is all these things. And I mean... the swag, the bravado... has to come from being the youngest Captain ever AND getting command of the freakin Enterprise to boot.

[@andytay5507]

For all nonTrekkers: The reason Shatner was often 'exaggerated' in his acting is that he comes from Shakespearian stage acting, where you have to project your voice and your mannerisms so that even people in the back can understand you.

[@kevinpittman2517]

its funny hardly anyone knows that

[@AcmeRacing]

When he did The Masked Singer I didn't know who he was from the song. When he did an interview segment later, even with his voice altered, his pacing and emphatic delivery was a dead giveaway. It may be from doing Shakespeare on stage, but Shatner has internalized it to the point that it's his normal speaking voice.

[@Warhorse500]

Shatner wrote in "Star Trek Memories" about this. Apparently, Roddenberry was rewriting the scripts as they were shooting, and new pages were coming out so fast that the cast didn't always have time to memorize the lines. So..those...dramatic pauses...weren't always dramatic pauses. Sometimes he was merely trying to remember the new lines. Like Wesley says, those have been badly emphasized over time.

[@humbertougalde6880]

Well, yes, but there’s more to it than that. 60s televisión was full of camp and over the top reactions. ST was no exception. Shatner was hardly the only one doing these sequence. The whole cast, even Nemoy, had a hand full of the sequences when they were put on display like that. It just happened that Shatner had the biggest bulk.

[@larafan70]

yeah to imitate how he did it would be hilarious parody. As long as he has the same nuances. I always saw him as a burning the candle at both ends. black coffee kind of person( Shatners character not Shatner himself. No way is he that stoic.). Mccoy threatened to hit him with a shot to help him sleep. That and a workaholic, and not about the paycheck and married to his ship.

[@arthuralford]

Montelban played Khan in one episode in the original series, Space Seed. The two-part episode is The Menagerie, which is where Pike is introduced, and reuses footage from the pilot The Cage

[@masterofallgoons]

NEEEEERRRRRDDD

[@emaarredondo-librarian]

Don Ricardo Montalbán. Yep.

[@Daemon3667]

Thank you for clarify! These kids these days! Lol

[@STSWB5SG1FAN]

In the TOS episode and the sequel. Props to RC but he was no Khan.

[@seanraines5871]

@@Daemon3667 lol

[@MikeJw-je4xk]

I'm very glad to see Paul making James T Kirk his own. Nobody can possibly duplicate Shatner's take. One of my favorite episodes of season two is episode 3, the time shift with the bittersweet La'an and Kirk relationship.

[@Me-qp8vz]

But playing Kirk as an emo sucks. Hopeless actor. Doesn't not convince me at all that he could one day be a captain. he doesn't copy the Shat but at least act like someone who could make the rank of captain and not emo out. I'm so sick of emo producers hiring these types of actors.

[@thenewvoice8]

best ep of the season I think

[@operative2136]

Yeah, I'm glad he didn't aim for a Shatner impression. Wesley's take on the role seems a little more natural as a result. I do appreciate that they seem to be emphasizing Kirk as an intuitive "out of the box" thinker, which seems appropriate for the character.

[@mickmerr]

His portrayal is his own, but IMO, it's not Kirk. He lacks the charisma to command of the scene, and the character is neutered (writing).

[@captainjefferies9047]

@@Me-qp8vz Kirk was always emotional. You don't get Trek.

[@JoeKawano]

2:00 On William Shatner reading a book: Kirk is described as, at the academy, “a pile of books with legs” 😅

[@blppt]

Which is funny because in TOS, the Captain is a horndog that will bone anything with legs. Maybe repressed sexuality from his "college" years.

[@thenewvoice8]

This lad was superb as Kirk, any episode of SNW he was on was next level - and I'm a TOS, TNG, DS9, VOY ad ENT fan and have been for near 50 years!

[@jfleming2203]

I grew up with Trek (almost 50 now) and love this new show. His ship is in great hands Mr Wesley. Well done sir.

[@mrbear1302]

reruns.......

[@novafilmcompany]

I've really warmed to Wesley as Kirk - as I have to all the cast playing original characters. It's impossible to replicate or imitate the originals. I think Pine did a pretty good job of adding some Shatner to his version. But if you watch the original series; Wesley actually has some of that "air" about him of how Kirk was in TOS.

[@JB-1138]

I wouldn't mind this guy playing Kirk for years to come. 🖖🏻

[@GlennTillema]

He does well with the role! I was at first disappointed he wasn't aping Shatner but after I got over it I saw that they really wrote the scripts well for the character and he did a great job of portraying him. Kirk, in the novels and in TOS was the captains captain; he knew starfleet regulations like they were wrote onto the back of his hands and for the most part abided by them. He was also a brilliant tactician and it was a lot of fun to see the call out to TOS where he always beat Spock in 3D chess. I've really warmed up to him in the role and look forward to him.

[@Swordfish393]

Really he does such a good job of it that if you alternate between watching SNW and TOS episodes it's not jarring in the least-it seems to fit.

[@josephmoylan9199]

Yes couldnt agree more he does a damn fine job and the best part is he doesnt OVER dramatize shatner like so many others have done strange new worlds is an epically written pre kirk series if that makes sense it is like its bringing the pilot episode its proper history

[@JonFether]

2:46 - "some thing" - Absolutely priceless two words to hear together given that Paul Wesley is recounting a meeting with William Shatner aboard a passenger airplane. Getting twilight zone vibes!

[@lowket]

Paul does an excellent version of James T. Kirk. He does his own thing, and giving the character depth and backstory at the same time. Awesome, love him, the cast and the new series.

[@alienlovearts]

Are you kidding?

[@Me-qp8vz]

Only an emo would say that. I hope you grow out of that.

[@alienlovearts]

@@Me-qp8vz it’s a wide held opinion that Wesley was miscast. Completely different personality. Facts.

[@farn451]

Ricardo Montelban once said of Hollywood, that there are 5 stages for an actor: 1 - Who is Ricardo Montelban? 2 - Get me someone who looks like Ricardo Montelban... 3 - Get me Ricrado Montelban! 4 - Get me someone who looks like Ricardo Montelban... 5 - Who is Ricardo Montelban?

[@rolandofgilead43]

he's not the only one who's ever said that Ernest Borgine for example also said that as did Mickey Rooney as well and i'm sure many others that i'm not aware of. not that long ago i watched some and i'm not making this up but in the early 50's long before he became part of Star Trek he did some musicals and he wasn't bad one is called Latin Lovers (1953) it's a really bad fucking film but he's good in it and i can't remember if he sings in that one but he's not a bad singer either.

[@Scipio488]

Although Montalban probably spelled his own name right.

[@farn451]

@@Scipio488 wow, someone put a penny in the arsehole!

[@Dudepatrol47]

Calling him “Roarke” when trying to remember Ricardo Montalban’s name was pretty appropriate, since that was his character’s name in Fantasy Isaland

[@stewartisan213]

He's a great Kirk

[@TheRealJuseBeats]

🧢

[@scottstewart5784]

This actor has that something needed to play Kirk. I can see his swagger while he's sitting down.

[@melindahall5062]

Perfect description …he shows his swagger when he’s sitting down……it’s was Shatner’s energy that initially made the captain what he is.

[@failingup4907]

Stephen Amell would be the perfect Capt Kirk, dude even looks and sounds like him.

[@Tom_YouTube_stole_my_handle]

There is another actor who played Kirk in the original Star Trek on TV, Sandra Smith in Turnabout Intruder.

[@kishannaconandoyle1907]

Amazing episode!

[@bunkeymunky]

He really nailed Kirk down in "Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow". I couldn't figure out what he was doing that finally made me see him as Kirk. It wasn't the voice, cadence or walk. It's his EXPRESSIONS. He has seriously done his homework, because he does this thing when he smiles, compassionate or serious, that's ALL Shatner.

[@sblsbl7600]

Actress Sandra Smith played Kirk in Turnabout Intruder. They didn't actually switch bodies.

[@astrofan1993]

I love that William Shatner gave his blessing to Paul Wesley to play his iconic role. It shows that he really has no problem with someone else taking on the role, despite some die-hard fans basically saying, "Shatner or no one at all." What people tend to forget is that both Paul Wesley's and Chris Pine's Captain Kirks are younger and more impulsive than William Shatner's mature, experienced, seasoned commanding officer. Their respective characters have to grow into the man they would eventually become. So we are seeing a very unique aspect of Captain Kirk in Strange New Worlds: his life and career in Starfleet before he commanded the Enterprise, how he gains the experience to become the iconic captain we all know and love. Furthermore, the famous "pause" that is often joked about with Kirk's character actually comes down to Bill trying to remember his lines, according to himself in his book "Get A Life!" So if the line is something like, "You can't trust the Klingons. They will destroy you," Bill--trying to remember his lines--would make it sound like, "Youuu... can't trust the Klingons. Theyyyy... will destroy you." So it's not so much a quirk as it is just Bill trying to remember what his next line is. And for the record, the two-part episode you're thinking of is "The Menagerie," which was a clever way of re-airing the original pilot, "The Cage" (which starred Captain Pike, played by Jeffrey Hunter, although the version of Pike in the wheelchair in "The Menagerie" was played by Sean Kenney). It used Kirk's Enterprise as a framing device, essentially making it a story within a story. The episode with Ricardo Montalbán was "Space Seed," completely unrelated to "The Menagerie."

[@kishannaconandoyle1907]

William Shatner played Kirk at different ages. We cannot forget he played Kirk on 6 movies too. Roddenberry himself used to say: Star Trek universe started with the first movie (1979) not after TOS. 60s audience didn't like TOS, closed after just 3 seasons. 70s people gave Star Trek new life to become what this franchise is today.

[@astrofan1993]

@@kishannaconandoyle1907 Technically seven, if you count Star Trek Generations. And while Star Trek in the 1960s did not have as large of a following as it does today, it did have a passionate and extremely vocal fanbase, which saved the show from cancellation after Season 2. But it really took off in 1969, when it started syndication (ironically a month before it ended its original run on NBC, according to Memory Alpha). By the late 1970s, it was popular enough to where they were considering bringing it back with Star Trek: Phase II, but the success of Star Wars convinced them to retool Phase II into Star Trek: The Motion Picture. That kicked off the movie franchise, and the success of the films led to Star Trek: The Next Generation premiering in 1987.

[@captainbanderson2125]

The SNW Universe has been great and Paul does a Great job of playing an Alternate Universe Kirk 💯❤️💯

[@johninsalisbury2010]

i'm glad that shatner is good with wesley playing Kirk. I've seen season 1 and 2, and love how Paul does the part. It makes you think about the character in new ways.

[@rustyshackleford1040]

This guy does his own thing as Kirk and it works. Cocky but kind. Love season 2 and hope 3 is coming!

[@Me-qp8vz]

The best character is leaving it's going to suck now.

[@ironfist7789]

Yeah he seems more like the old serious Kirk (although I havent seen a lot of the show). I think the Abrams version misinterpreted him as a just doing everything off the cuff and completely undisciplined. The original had his moments of improvisation, but he always seemed more calculating and strategic than people give him credit for (I suppose they are comparing him to Spock). Also during the Wrath of Khan he just got complacent and screwed up after sitting in the Admiral's office too long.

[@vanmoody]

@@ironfist7789 One issue I think of is we are seeing characters at different times in their lives. Perhaps Kirk was undisciplined as a youth in the original timeline we aren't sure. But growing up without his father in the new timeline caused this discipline problem. I wouldn't mind seeing Wesley get a series of his own after they conclude strange new worlds. Or they could run alongside each other. Kirk could have his own command before he takes over the Enterprise. Your point about the original series was true. Kirk was a by the book commander who was cunning.

[@DQsRabbitHole]

Am I the only one who sees a young Bruce Campbell when I watch Mr. Wesley as Lt. Kirk? He's doing a great job, and I love hearing that he the same kind of stuttering fan of Mr. Shatner that I would be if I happened to run into him.

[@moretoknowshow1887]

Paul is great as his version of Kirk. S2 was amazing, ready for S3!!

[@doctaflo]

saw a clip of Shatner saying of Paul Wesley’s performance: “that’s just not Kirk.”

[@TheSlackrguy]

Season 1 of Star Trek Strange New Worlds is fantastic.

[@ABCDG13]

Anson Mount’s hair deserves its own agent and management! Lol

[@lotstodo]

I was surprised he was Kirk. I didn't think of Kirk having dark hair, but he has won me over. When Kirk met Spock and they shook hands, I was a sobbing mess.

[@robertschmaltz351]

This guy is a class act. I appreciate that he's not doing an impression. I haven't watched SNW S2 yet, so I only saw him at the end of S1. There is always a temptation of crapping on older characters to elevate current ones. I didn't feel like they did that in S1. In fact, I felt like it was just the right mix of making Pike heroic in that he realized he needed to step aside for Kirk to save the future from a Romulan war. Self sacrifice of ego is not something you really see in today's "heroes." That takes guts in writing and I really, really appreciate the fact that they did it.

[@jryanp]

Ricardo Montalban, who played Khan, suffered from intense back pain a good bit of his life, but reportedly refused to take painkillers. For Star Trek II to reprise the role he worked out intensely: no CGI was involved in creating his look.

[@ablaze1989]

XD theres also the fact that CGI wasn't really a thing back then lol. wrath of Khan did have one of the first if not the first CGI clip though.

[@GeneralBulldog54]

Even as a kid, I heard the rumors of his supposed rubber chest in ST2. That said, hearing he suffered from back pain a good lot of his life does put into context why in his latter years he was wheelchair bound.

[@les4767]

@@ablaze1989 Yes, the Genesis Device demo was the first full CGI sequence done for a film.

[@Brook11223]

That is an awesome story.

[@ALscience]

Good call not to go with an impression of Shatner. I wasn't sure about Paul at first, but he has truly grown on me. He's doing an awesome job. Such a great show! This past season was fabulous!

[@KeatrithAmakiir]

I am a huge trekie, grew up on TOS, love DS9 and Voyager,. hated Enterprise at first, like everyone, and think SNW is INCREDIBLE!

[@nicholasmaude6906]

I'd like to see Paul Wesley do a scene or two Shatner style just to see what it looks like.

[@williamblake8560]

Captain Kirk being interviewed by Lex Luthor...

[@bipolarminddroppings]

My favourite Kirk right here. Great to see a younger, not yet legendary Kirk.

[@thebullet7874]

Shatner did over act several times in STOS but that is part of what made it soooooo goooood.

[@MadLFC]

There were a lot of raised eybrows (no pun intended) when Wesley was cast but after seeing him in season 2 I'm pleasantly surprised. He touches on Shatner in very clever and subtle ways without overdoing it. He brings his own take on Kirk without making it a facsimile of previous versions. The guy has natural charm which is a definite bonus. I see a lot of potential between him and Peck's Spock for the coming seasons. Hopefully they'll build on what little we've seen so far without undermining Anson Mount's Pike who must be the star of the show. I think there's room for Pike and Kirk but only in that order. This is after all, Pike's Enterprise and should remain so. For those fans who seem to criticize Wesley's toned down portrayal, please be aware that this is deliberate by the showrunners. This version of Kirk is younger, more raw and not yet as self assured as the Kirk of the future. He's still learning and finding himself along the way. The special leadership gifts that this Kirk possesses are not yet on full display. You can't have the Kirk of Shatner's ilk dominating the stage as it would undermine Pike's presence as show lead. Wesley has struck the right balance and both he and the showrunners know exactly how to deliver a Kirk of this era. Finally, if fans want to criticize any version of Kirk it should be Chris Pine's. This is not because of Pine's acting abilities but the writers of those movies who have dumbed down their Kirk into an arrogant, impulsive child who always seem out of his depth. Almost to the point of being incompetent.

[@printerman99]

TY Paul, I agree with the comment about TOS Kirk. Everyone "claims" Shatner hesitated ( overly dramatic ) as he spoke, not true. He only did it at times to emphasize a point.

[@kurtsnyder4752]

Sandra Smith was Captain Kirk in the Turnabout Intruder episode, leastways when Kirk was in Janice Lester's body and she was in his.

[@Melmac101]

I've watched season two it's awesome ❤

[@JohnSmith-kf8mv]

Awesome show. Was in for the duration from the opening ep.

[@emgee44]

Paul reminds me a little of Jim Carrey, so him doing Kirk...

[@markspruill7118]

I enjoyed watching this clip, but the title is misleading. I didn't hear any significant content where Shatner gives advice to him about playing Kirk.

[@nerdykeith]

The advice was the tweet. Thats it lol

[@ceougin20]

The last time I saw these dudes in the same room together Paul was pointing a gun at Micheal.

[@NitpickingNerd]

If you like Anson Mount why did you try to kill him in an episode of Smallville

[@deterlanglytone]

Did you know, allegedly Anson was offered Lex but turned it down for undisclosed reasons.

[@NitpickingNerd]

@@deterlanglytone he looked a lot like Clark back then .. could have played Clark

[@JonasMoses-z4c]

Paul Wesley has managed to surprise me with his take on James T. Kirk. I was very disappointed when they cast him, initially...prepared for him to be disastrously miscast. Instead, he's already making this iconic Trek Everest of a role his own. Bravo, Mr. Wesley! Terrible interviewer, though. Who is this guy...keeps interrupting the guest, talks over him, trying to one-up with his anecdotes. Yikes! Please, sir, just ask the lead questions and then listen.

[@Jodi28]

Must agree with you , as this is a pet hate of mine . Jimmy Fallon and Conan are notorious for this . Just shut-up and let your guests talk . People don't tune in or watch because of the interviewer . Bottom line it's rude and disrespectful in my opinion .

[@JonasMoses-z4c]

@@Jodi28 I was the creator/host of a commercial television series on Science-, Medicine- and Technology-themed subjects. The show did quite well, for many reasons, the top two of which were that 1) I insisted on "just-the-facts" journalism, with no room for opinion, hyperbole, jargon, "truths," dogma or fringe theory and 2) the STAR of the show...was the facts. Not the guests, not the host... The series was broadcast live, in real-time, with no digital delay and no censorship. My instructions to my guests, "pretend we are in a Starbucks, talking about your science (or whatever their core competencies were). There is no audience. This is a conversation." and, "feel free to share whatever facts you wish (try to avoid using inappropriate vulgarities(!)), so long as whatever you are stating as fact is fact-based and can be independently verified by multiple, reliable sources (peer-reviewed journal articles, etc.)." And, "don''t be afraid to get as esoteric as you wish. My role will be as 'naïve audience..' (e.g., "you said that the NIH has oversight or this? What acronym is this, NIH?" "Oh, National Institutes of Health") and reel in the narrative so that as your conversational partner at the table, I can understand all the $1,000,000 words you just used... " My series aired for five "seasons." The last live broadcast had eight+ millions viewers, in more than 50 countries. THAT is how great television is made. Don't tell your audience what to think. Allow them to come to their own conclusions, based upon the facts. Don't feed your audience pablum... provide them with thoughtful, carefully researched and intellectually challenging. I was stunned by how our audiences grew in number, and by the broad swathe demographic represented.

[@crystalfajman3732]

I was a little concerned at first, too. All I could think of was his days playing a vampire on Vampire Diaries. Luckily. It never really crosses your mind.

[@Gm7.photography]

Have to agree, I wasn't really into the Vampire show, but it seemed pretty standard level of CW acting challenge. Lazy scripts, overdramatic for a teen audience etc. But man does this guy get it. He nails Kirk and more importantly as you can hear here. He is loving do it. As for the Interviewer, that's Lex Luthor you're talking about! It's a podcast rather than an interview, so the format is conversational.

[@teresajennings1243]

He played Lex Luther on Smallville.

[@garydrummond3870]

OH MY GOD!! I can't believe they didn't know Ricardo's name. I'm screaming at my computer. KHANNNNNN!

[@tygrlili]

My husband and I love the show..

[@jaydenchrono]

I think Shatner has learned to accept that things have moved on, but I reckon he just really wanted to play Kirk one more time.

[@heleneb2105]

He should have. Generations was an awful end for Kirk.

[@andytay5507]

​@heleneb2105 Actually, it was a great end. It was originally done that he was killed by a phaser blast by Soran. But they thought that was too anticlimactic. So, and bear with me, cuz it's lengthy: 1) At the beginning, Worf makes a leap of faith and physical leap for his promotional bars, 2) In the middle, Kirk leaps with his horse over a trench (revealing that he's afraid of heights, which was not true in past shows and movies, but for this movie its critical to the storyline). 3) At the end, even with fear, he makes the leap for Soran's controller, and dies in the process. We even get to hear him say it was fun, as he saved the galaxy again. So, in classical storytelling and a typical Roddelberry morality tale, there is a symmetry to the idea that you must ignore your fears and leap for what is righteous. (Oh, and in Classic Kirk style he also saves the Enterprise B).

[@heleneb2105]

@@andytay5507 I just can't agree.

[@davidblank420]

SNW is incredible, they even have little direction and lighting choices from TNG, so fucking good.

[@stevkyt2374]

Not just good but fucking good. Does that mean anything?

[@anonymousposter3570]

The Space Seed (Ricardo Montalban) was not a double episode. You are referring to the Cage and the Menagerie.

[@kishannaconandoyle1907]

TOS captain Kirk: William Shatner Movie trilogy: Chris Pine SNW tv series: Paul Wesley. *Take care of my ship* shows how William Shatner still love his Star Trek journey. ❤

[@marcoliver625]

If i'd had ever met Ricardo Montalban i would have had to seriously fight the urge to shout "KHAAAAAN!". Well done for not succumbing to that temptation.

[@artvankampen8993]

Very fun until the embarrassing last minute or so. Not just the confusion with Montalban’s name but thinking “Space Seed” was a 2-Parter when Pike is the Captain (even though it takes place on Kirk’s Enterprise) in the only 2-Parter “The Menagerie.”

[@waltonsimons12]

Plus Paul Wesley thought Shatner was only one before him to play Kirk, when everybody knows Sandra Smith played Kirk trapped in the body of Janice Lester in the series finale "Turnabout Intruder."

[@artvankampen8993]

@@waltonsimons12 I’ll let them slide on that. 😃

[@davidsmith5523]

We just nitpick cos we feel bigger inside doing it. Trek trolling is so fun. Puke.

[@waltonsimons12]

@@davidsmith5523 I should probably have included a smiley or a "/sarcasm" tag with my comment. Since I didn't, let me clarify that I don't actually expect Paul Wesley-- or anybody else-- to know that anybody besides William Shatner played Kirk in the original series. And I CERTAINLY don't think it's a requirement for being able to portray Kirk in the modern series.

[@JoeBorrello]

Sandra Smith also played James Kirk in the original series.

[@Kevin-Brent]

How can anyone forget Ricardo Montalban? Corr-in-thean leath-or alone should be enough to trigger the name. 😉 Great actor, hell of a voice!

[@brendanfalvy1281]

Every time I see him on SNW, it reminds me a little of Jim Carrey's parody on In Living Color; and that is not a criticism by any means, let's be clear. I've seen that said as a negative, but I feel it works really well for him trying to develop the character. I totally agree that it's not the right direction to try and imitate Shatner, and what I like about Wesley in the role is it makes me feel like Carrey's Kirk is also a spoof of this Kirk. I don't know if that was any conscious effort on Wesley's part, but I think it registers sincerely with the character to give the sensation that the parody also somehow resonates with Wesley's performance. I could see them falling into the trap of making another Shatner parody by accident. Let's be honest, only Shatner can really perform Kirk like that In earnest...

[@thomasmohr6743]

He needs to gain some weight and I see Carrey the whole time.

[@SuperDeadparrot]

The characters transcend the actors.

[@ABCDG13]

Anson Mount’s hair is glorious! Lol

[@alex_davis_11]

I’m more of a Star Wars girl, but CONGRATS on the role Paul.

[@DireNeeds]

LMAO 😄Ricardo Montalbán. Must've spoke it a dozen times while you guys were trying to figure it out.

[@MagicAl5F4781]

Maybe Paul Wesley will get to do SNL like Chris Pine and show us what it would be like to go full Shatner.

[@andytay5507]

Michael Rosenbaum: 'I'm a huge fan of yours'. What the hell is your name?

[@miranda13c]

Paul is great in the role!

[@debbiethompson6240]

I love this new Star Trek Series. The Cast is sooo good! The writing is sooo good! Glad to hear you younger guys Binge Watch the Original Star Trek Series it just makes this New Series feel Cohesive. I am an older fan that doesn't mind when a movie, or TV Series is remade as long as it is well made with respect to the Original! Oh, also fun to see whenever possible, Original Cast Members!

[@DanielAppleton-lr9eq]

So many writers & producers act like they're reinventing the wheel with reboots, & they ARE. They're just making it square or rectangular.

[@JasonWickham-k2z]

Jim Carey did a brilliant James T. Kirk impression. So they got a young guy that looks like Jim Carey. Hey, whatever. It works. Love that show! 😀

[@iousdeeva]

omg if there was ever a time to break an NDA this would be it lol

[@MrTiberus1701]

Well I wish Bill Shatner had given this advice a couple of years ago to the “creative individuals” currently making ST for the past couple of years. I haven’t watched any Trek and won’t until Roddenberry’s vision of ST returns and I know I’m not the only one. At least the damage isn’t on the scale of what happened to Star Wars.

[@jasperstuut]

It has begon airing, when did they record this?

[@clarkharvell5242]

I'm not a fan of how he plays Kirk myself. I love the show though!

[@carlbradley4872]

People discussing Trek who cannot remember Ricardo Montalban are not worthy. Full stop.

[@tyro244]

I will not be surprised if Paramount decides that the next ST series is Star Trek TOS - Seasons 4,5,6,7.

[@mickmerr]

I see nothing wrong with this (and it could well be the plan).... provided the writing improves...

[@missymissymiss5192]

He’s good as Kirk but Shatner is still the king.

[@FloatingOnAZephyr]

Not being able to name Ricardo Montalban. That’s got to be some kind of Star Trek crime.

[@heleneb2105]

Indeed

[@baron7755]

He was on the show more than Pike this season

[@christophernuzzi2780]

"Spock" (Leonard Nimoy) didn't hate William Shatner. Far from it - they were good friends, and after Nimoy's death, Shatner wrote a book called "Leonard" about his memories of Nimoy and their friendship. It was the other cast members, those outside of the "Kirk-Spock-McCoy" triumvirate that didn't like Shatner, because they were jealous over money and screen time. I don't doubt that Shatner had his moments, but I'm sure they all did - except, perhaps, for DeForrest Kelley, whom everyone connected with Star Trek universally agrees was the nicest guy you could ever hope to meet.

[@durdenswrath]

Paul Wesley is 100% better atcplaying Kirk than Pine was. Kirk was not as high strung as Pine was.

[@thribs]

The Luthor brothers together again

[@darrinwebber4077]

I've only been able to watch SNW intermittently... But have seen Wesley as Kirk. I think Wesley is an excellent choice for the role and is doing an outstanding job. Just saying.

[@Cafeman_2D]

I really dig the new guy playing Kirk. Just finished S2.

[@Buzzdog1971]

Waiting for the reboot of Ace Ventura.

[@Shaun789]

Space Seed wasn’t a ‘double episode.’ The Menagerie was the only two parter. Unbelievable!! Just kidding, who cares right.

[@CountryMetal01]

Ricardo Montalbán!!

[@bradbrown7273]

I think hes great as young Kirk

[@ArkansasPilgrim]

I get that another actor shouldn't "imitate" the original Kirk, or better put, "do an impression". But, then again, it's an established character, and there should be something recognizable about him even though it's a different person playing him.

[@Fyrehart97]

I don't like Paul Wesley's performance of Kirk. Yet here he seems much more natural and comes across much more like Kirk - even kind of sounds like him with a the accent and cool, masculine confidence. What the hell is happening on set? He just comes across as slimy and annoying as Kirk - here, he's great. Can he please just be more himself in Strange New Worlds? Also, why did someone on the SNW team tell him to not be like William Shatner? Chris Pine was great as Kirk because he had a fantastic impersonation of Shatner that he can do, but he didn't exactly use it in the movies. He found a perfect balance and so comes across as believable. I feel like Paul Wesley is so obsessed with not doing an impersonation of Shatner that he's gone so far away he's not playing Kirk.

[@laurak8240]

Totally agree.

[@indyjones1899]

Preach!

[@toddnolastname4485]

If you're the new Kirk and you meet actual Kirk, you tell him you've been cast in a recurring role on the new show, not telling him what the role is. You asked if he's seen the show. Of course, he's going to wonder who they'll get to play Kirk when the character shows up. You say, quietly, that they're not ready to announce it yet, but does he have any advice.

[@ratfinkie62]

How come this Kirk looks like Jeffery Hunter?

[@JB-1138]

Maybe he was runner up for the part.

[@DoremiFasolatido1979]

Yeah the "dramatic pause" thing everyone attributes to him is definitely massively exaggerated, though he does do it now and then. It's less that he does it all the time, and more that on the rare occasions he DOES do it, it's pretty extreme. My main issue with Shatner, and actually Takei as well, is just how utterly HAMMY they were. Kelley had kind of an issue with it too. Most of the rest of the cast were quite good, keeping their performances subtle and nuanced. But Kirk, Sulu, and McCoy (but mostly Kirk) were just so melodramatic about every tiny fucking thing. Bones and Kirk sometimes bordered on the histrionic. It's one of the reasons that Spock and Scotty were always my favorites. Scotty occasionally went a little too far, but the vast majority of the time he was very down-to-earth and sincere. But, that was also a different decade, where performance art technique was still adapting from stage to screen. Actors still had the mindset of performing on stage, rather than actually acting out a reality separate from our own. It was about presenting a front, not about immersion in a role. And the audiences of the time were a box of rocks, and you had to bash them in the face with something to get the idiots to understand it. Now it's less about force in getting modern audiences to pick something up, and more about repetition without making it seem repetitive. Since everyone has the attention span of a gnat, you have to do a thing over and over again to get them to finally grasp it. But because they're all fixated on instant gratification, you have to make it seem like you're NOT repeating yourself...or make it so catchy that they don't mind watching/listening a thousand times back-to-back.

[@alphanerd7221]

Dudes wrong. Sandra Smith also played Captain Kirk on TV.

[@michaelprenez-isbell8672]

Sorry, no. Sandra Smith also played James T Kirk on television in the Original Series, in the episode Turnabout Intruder.

[@elusivemindsstudios]

God it’s so hard to watch these interviews Rosenbaum doesn’t stfu and let the guest speak

[@JonasMoses-z4c]

EXACTLY! I added that exact same criticism in my comments. Paul Wesley, great new take on Kirk...interviewer, please be quiet.

[@iDX1701]

He’s awful at this. He must have called gates McFadden old like ten times

[@JB-1138]

Sounds rude, but she is old...

[@iDX1701]

@@JB-1138 😂😂 I know but you don’t tell a woman that