Kevin Pollak Does William Shatner

This is from 1991

[@jeffreyriley8742]

He was very good on Star Trek. I think almost all impressions of him are in loving tribute to his mannerisms and "Shatner-esque" acting style.

[@everestsdriveway366]

Jeffrey Riley of course they are!

[@NudePostingConspiracyTheories]

Yes. He’s melodramatic and overacts- andit works. One of a kind.

[@fluorosco]

​@@NudePostingConspiracyTheories❤

[@fluorosco]

​@@everestsdriveway366❤

[@CT2507]

Nope. People who dont watch Star Treck find him ridiculous. Overacting is not a good actor trait.

[@ConstantlyAdging]

I really can't get enough of good william shatner impressions

[@idrinkmilk282]

same dude. hes a legend and the only thing better than the man himself is somebody doing a good impression.

[@vassa1972]

And funny

[@Dolores5000]

CruelOptimism yeah we need a superchunk

[@geraldhicks1243]

@@idrinkmilk282 cvvbV BBC b am cX Ixvmvz B C

[@idrinkmilk282]

@@geraldhicks1243 wtf are you in a wheelchair?

[@JiM-SWEET-art]

I luv the arm swing. Shatner does that all the time. The walk is perfect too.

[@pokemonpreadythepokemonmaniac]

I…totally agree.

[@maxxmasson4263]

Love Shatner he has gone longer and farther than most men will ever go and his movies will go on forever

[@jamezkpal2361]

Kevin is one of those rare impressionists who is not only perfect but also has great material.

[@marioiacolucci]

He is great good impression also I do this impression sometimes for fun with my family they love it

[@klchu]

All William Shatner impersonations are really impersonating Kevin Pollak impersonating Shatner.

[@zazelby]

This is true. Pollak was the first one I'm aware of to do that thing of randomly putting pauses in the speech followed by a bunch of words spoken really fast, but it works because he also actually sounds like Shatner.

[@c.a.t.732]

If one goes back and actually watches the original Star Trek series, Kirk doesn't act that way at all. The impressions we're all used to by Pollock and others are a strange caricature that has little basis in reality, but we've become so conditioned to them that we accept them as real. I invite anyone who disagrees to actually watch the original episodes.

[@josefschiltz2192]

@@c.a.t.732 Very curious. Coming from the UK, I'd seen Kevin Pollak at all until a couple of days ago on KZbin. Of course I saw Star Trek upon it's first UK airing around 1970. From school, my own party pieces would be the bridge crew and Scotty. I came up with the same exaggerations for William Shatner. Long term infection a-a-n-d inflection of THE Shatnerism is unavoidable doingit for so-o long!

[@CMZIEBARTH]

The humor in impressions is that they are caricatures.

[@ezmodey1105]

@@josefschiltz2192 kzbin.info/www/bejne/kIDSpaaYdpafaLs

[@gojays1969]

Laughed so hard almost peed! Pollak is amazing. Not only does he have Shatner's voice and inflection down pat, he also is spot on with the gestures. Also, I thought he was great in 'A Few Good Men.' Perhaps the best movie in the 90's. Wonder what Mr. Pollak is up to nowadays.

[@marioiacolucci]

Rescue 911 was great they also have the pinball game

[@jennifersman7990]

Pollak is one of those character actors who turns up in any number of TV series and movies. I just saw him in Marvelous Mrs. Maisel playing Midge Maisel’s father in law. What’s rare with him is that he’s one of those actors who seamlessly goes between drama and comedy. It wouldn’t surprise me if people get him confused with Billy Crystal

[@linkfan160]

You just can't replace what he brought to Capt. Kirk. It may have been slightly over-played at times, but you can't deny it was unique and nobody, not even Chris Pine will ever come close to giving off the same enthusiastic vibe that he did.

[@annettegoldenberg7452]

That is a terrible impersonating job.

[@ezmodey1105]

@@annettegoldenberg7452 kzbin.info/www/bejne/kIDSpaaYdpafaLs

[@edwardknoch4987]

@@annettegoldenberg7452 LOL, watch the clip Infinite Z posted, and maybe you'll realize that it was actually spot on!

[@XMIR10C]

@@annettegoldenberg7452 agree awful, i havent seen anyone do him kirk to perfection, like others have done other people (aka carrey doing Jimmy stewart " kzbin.info/www/bejne/omHWqn98rtqcfqc

[@XMIR10C]

@@edwardknoch4987 nope

[@val13c59]

William Shatner is so impressed with his own voice, that he decided to record an album of himself talking.

[@davidhutchinson7888]

And it was glorious

[@randystover9276]

Speaking of actors that love to listen to themselves how about McConaughey

[@enegmatixerebro]

Death, destruction, disease, horror. That’s what war is all about, Anan. That’s what makes it a thing to be avoided. You’ve made it NEAT and PAINLESS. Soooo NEAT and PAINless you’ve had no reason to STOP IT. And you’ve had it for five hundred years.

[@headshotsongs9465]

"Bones! Scotty! I need impulse power!"

[@nathanmasters115]

You....... DON'T UNDERSTAND! ... you............ DON'T UNDERSTAND!! lmfao XD

[@marioiacolucci]

Nathan Masters yes I don't understand he he!!!

[@marioiacolucci]

Nathan Masters I don't understand women never will!

[@gojays1969]

Pollak is just the king of impersonations. It's just amazing.

[@marioiacolucci]

he's awesome!

[@erickjanes4122]

Ehhh I've seen better

[@hollywoodghostbusters9869]

Christopher Walken is my favorite impression of his

[@CraigSmithII]

He's also a good actor. His performance in Casino was good

[@DrunkPlaylists]

@@erickjanes4122 lol always that person

[@connieplankghost]

Bill Shatner is the man. i grew up with him and all Star Trek´s crew.

[@Aquablue33]

He's not a bad actor.

[@connieplankghost]

Bill Shatner is inspirational, his whole Persona!

[@KTF0]

Shatner was the original entertaining bad actors. Nic Cage took entertaining bad acting to the next level.

[@Trev359]

@@Aquablue33 No, he's a terrible actor.

[@ARichardP]

Love Shatner.

[@PolyphonicPress]

A good impersonator can recite movie lines. A GREAT impersonator can create a situation as the person their impersonating.

[@kellyanastasia2752]

In the early 2000s, Kevin Pollak did a series of dates at a club where I was working in Minnesota. One of the nicer people I ever remember us having there. We took him out to do some radio appearances one morning and ended up stopping at McDonald's along the way. Going into McDonald's with Kevin Pollak was memorable.

[@Simbabbad]

You're not alone, my friend... people like mocking him, yet they fail to remember this was a TV science fiction show without convincing aliens, convincing space fights, or convincing alien planets. Star Trek was basically people talking into the same sets over and over again, it all stood on dialogue and characters. To make it seem alive or significant, you had to have one Hell of a presence on screen, and Shatner did that accordingly. He made the show. You can't play his role casually.

[@jayhawk2689]

No the point is Shatner had a unique way of speaking when acting and Kevin nailed it

[@TCBElvisAPresley]

Loved it. The story I've heard (I see your comment was 10 years ago, so... Hi. Lol) was that his experience at the time was mostly as a Shakespearean stage actor, and hadn't exactly adjusted to the small screen yet. He did seem a -little- calmer in the Star Trek movies.

[@HerrEdge]

Correct as hell

[@davidanderson3586]

No one can do W Shat like you Kevin :-)

[@yujikunschmidt]

I didn't even watch Star Trek and I can't stop watching this man's impersonation!

[@ryanbaker979]

2:03 "I'm only here to help.. you FIND the... you you.. inside of you" - gold~

[@alzoraig]

YOU

[@robertpolanco1973]

Kevin Pollak's take on William Shatner is super-impressive. It certainly helps.

[@vincentbarango1604]

Hey! I had looked for this for years. Glad I found it. Exactly as I remember.

[@tremolo664]

Thanks for uploading this, man! I'm having a very tough life lately and watching this video a few times a day helps a bit =]

[@videonut11]

Being Shatner is one thing. Imitating Shatner, the way Kevin Pollak does, is hilarious.

[@Alagboriel]

What they call over-acting is just the effect of a stage actor doing television...it happens to anyone that does it. In tv, gestures and maneirisms are supposed to be toned down, but it is really hard for stage actors to do it. I personally prefer Shatner as he is. Is it fun to mock? Depending on the scene. I've seen a lot of videos here on youtube tha killed me. Like "The Shatnerian School of Acting" that sums up a lot.

[@stephaniecarrow4898]

As a young unknown, Shatner had a small part in an excellent Canadian TV production of Oedipus Rex. It's available on YT. Even though like all the actors, he wore a full mask, and he spoke only a few lines, his voice was unmistakable. Not unlike Star Trek, that production also called for extremely expressive acting, and it worked beautifully. I can imagine that he brought much of what he learned there to Star Trek.

[@makingourdreamhome]

I only know Kevin Pollack from his amazing part in A Few Good Men so I'm amazed to see his fabulous comedy and impersonations. x

[@janeeyre1990]

"William Shatner: the king of overacting for no apparent reason." The most succinct description of Shatner ever.

[@cam2d2]

I'm going to be very sad when William Shatner passes away.

[@kpec3]

Thanks for posting! Kev is still a riot!😊

[@kato64]

Kevin Pollak’s impression of Shat is so good you can tell who he’s imitating by the still in the thumbnail for this video.

[@Seminal_Ideas]

You... ... Don'tunderstand. Perfect Shatnerese timing

[@vtrlpz4396]

Gotta luv the oversized suits back in the 90's!

[@Andy-kw5nw]

Amazing how he got the Few good men gig right after this!

[@hansdumbf7608]

OMG!!! that was fantastic!!!

[@aeyb701]

His is a younger, tv-trek shatner. Calliendo’s is the 21st century model. I like both.

[@torreador1972]

Its love and appreciation that hes still impersonated after all these decades

[@paulfilipovich6127]

I love Kevin’s impressions. Would love to meet him

[@jocknarn3225]

So didja get da KFC gig .. was “Napkin Head” suitably impressed by the Koik impersonation😂🤣😂

[@Jeng4280]

Ha! William Shatner the king of overacting. 😂😂😂

[@Genevieve111]

All are bang on... incredible...

[@calvinjackson8110]

They say the highest form of flattery is imitation. I hope William Shatner takes it this way and can laugh at himself along with others. I read somewhere that being able to do this is a major step toward being comfortable and secure about yourself.

[@martyemmons1859]

When Kevin describes Shatner as the 'king-of-overacting', the first thing I imagined was Pollak's Shatner doing the Hamlet soliloquy: To be or not to be That is the question Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune... The thought of that performance had me laughing uncontrollably! I sure would've liked to have watched Kevin Pollak's performance of that!

[@SuperJ213]

I loved this special back in the early 90's. Unfortunately, I had it recorded on VHS and never got around to coping over to DVD.

[@highstimulation2497]

0:48 OMG HAHAHAHAHAH can't even!

[@Realmasterorder]

His body language is incredible and hilarious

[@joustjoust1735]

“By talking about me “ 😂

[@jeffreyriley8742]

I love the little arm shake at 1:58.

[@Jobe1600]

he always does Great impressions, he always has the physical aspect of it down pat

[@thegoodgeneral]

Lucrative, sure. Fulfilling, I'd say Pollak has come out on top. People like him, like working with him.

[@hollyhock9638]

After having watched all TOS related content and then the unexplained this is too spot on it killed me

[@umbertosartorotti6757]

Amazing !!!!!!

[@fierceditiesnaruto]

This is awesome!

[@skullduggery3377]

he's better than shatner...

[@rajithwarren529]

BREASTwings. thighs

[@OOOOOOOOOF]

*breastWINGS thighs

[@GideonGleeful95]

rajithwarren That's what I call a thigh gap.

[@judethedude96]

@@GideonGleeful95 I know this comment is 3 years old but I want to tell you how brilliant I think that joke is lmaoooo

[@Twocoolman115]

Nothing better than a good pair of breasts and thighs.

[@kirk1968]

Man...those long 90s jackets. I had one :D

[@romanticandperky]

Back in the 70s, I saw William Shatner in a play at the Westport Country Playhouse. For the life of me, I cannot remember the name of the play, but William Shatner made his entrance from the bathroom, wearing a bathrobe. I don't mean that he literally made his entrance from the bathroom of the theatre; it was part of the play. Around that time, I found myself at the Improv comedy club in NYC, and someone actually told this joke: "Why did Captain Kirk crap on the ceiling? He wanted to go where no man had ever gone before!"

[@leegraves101]

Id love to see Kevin do Shatner and Peter Falk on Columbo. Shatner was on there a couple of times as the bad guy.

[@AshleyNimoy]

THIS GUY IS SPOT ON!!!!!LOL

[@user-ji6ze9pb2w]

So good...

[@1godonlyone119]

His Kirk is practically miraculous -- always cracks me up!

[@michaellinner7772]

I was born in 1961 and began my imitations of people just a few years later. It all started with Shatner when I was 6 years old. It was one of the big reasons why, beginning in Junior High, the other kids started calling me Belushi. Oh those halcyon days of yore. I've got my diploma from the William Shatner School of Overacting around here somewhere. Aaahrg, my place is soooo messy. I can't find anything!!! 2:53

[@jeffreyriley8742]

I could definitely listen to Pollak doing hours of Shatner on my IPod or whatever.

[@zmani4379]

I can't believe how much Shatner looks like Kevin Pollock here lol

[@cr0uchingtiger]

He sounds like Shat when he's talking normally!

[@Gxgxgxgxfuck]

awesone

[@alekesam]

Dude, I wish I could find the part when he starts in on Stallone, Van Damme, Jeff Speakman, And Arnold and getting awards for best line or most catchy phrases.

[@darrinschwarz3710]

It's not over acting......... it's called being THEATRICAL, and it can be quite challenging. Very few can be as THEATRICAL as William Shatner. The character of Kirk will NEVER die. Why do you think STAR TREK continues?

[@Trev359]

No, it's overacting. Very few would want to be as "Theatrical" as Shatner. Most actors prefer proper acting. Patrick Stewart was trained in the theatre and he doesn't overact like that. He wipes the floor with Shatner.

[@adamtrudeau5606]

Actually....it's....called....SHACTING!

[@JakeandElwoodBlues]

So right!

[@marioiacolucci]

Mr Pollock was talking about rescue 911

[@KirbySings]

His jacket....just keeps GOING...

[@mark.lawrence]

chicken... is... my life...

[@Maximillionaire666]

Chicken is...MY LIFE!!! Classic.

[@tabasco7915]

I like it when stand-ups keep it clean.

[@rong4189]

0:27 “Man’s about to decide my fate, he’s got an envelope on his head 👌”

[@BillSmithBSartist]

Napkin

[@Eatzbugs]

I love his covers of Deep Purple

[@isaacmccleod8885]

Brilliant .belly laugh ensued

[@bozotheclown169]

back in 91 Shatner had a hit movie in theatres (Trek VI), a hit tv show (911) and a hit bestseller novel (TekWar).

[@yuljohnson5502]

Kevin knows how to sound and act just like William shatner!

[@incognitoone]

Gets shatner everytime! hahahahaha

[@jeffreyriley8742]

He's impersonating SHATNER , not Kirk. For his perfect Kirk impression, put KEVIN POLLAK STAR TREK in the youtube search engine.

[@metallicakixtotalass]

god that first "BUT" as shatner fucking makes me lmao everytime

[@EricScottBloom]

Game Over!

[@Alagboriel]

Well, I'll have to agree on that one. ^^

[@mattsantos4799]

People if you get a chance, catch William Shatner's guest appearance on Columbo. Its classic William Shatner.

[@linkfan160]

I've watched a lot of Star Trek episodes and I swear I am like the ONLY ONE who doesn't notice the over-acting. I don't see it at all actually. He just seems like any other great actor I've ever seen. Maybe that's just my Canadian pride talking....

[@vampirelove75]

this guy does the best shatner!

[@pancakesandtea]

oh my goodness this is hilarious

[@rvsam4u]

He is good 👍!

[@cydisc]

David Byrne called...

[@Rikegile]

I’ll bet he’s an obsessed fan of Star Trek

[@sportshistorybuff]

Now that I think about it, I never knew of Canadian impressionist Rich Little ever doing a Shatner impression, which is odd since they were both Canadian.

[@linkfan160]

I've watched a lot of Star Trek episodes and I swear am I like the ONLY ONE who doesn't notice the over-acting? I don't see it at all actually. He just seems like any other great actor I've ever seen.

[@MrJett1971]

Great actor. Haha haha!

[@kakka_karot_cake]

I used this to get a job as a civilian contractor

[@sweetpinkivette]

"I'm only here to help you. Find the you, you, inside of you" 😂

[@notlikely4468]

How a William Shatner impression saved my life.... I was working as a probation officer...one of my clients had missed a bunch of appointments...so I'd breached her...the Justice of the Peace was swearing out a warrant I get a phone call from her....apologetic...conciliatory So...if she turns herself in before the warrant gets issued...it will make an impression on the judge...there will be time...but far less than if she waits for the sheriffs But she needs a ride to the Sheriff's barracks Silly me.... I show up at her place....stand IN the door...she has to grab something out of the bedroom in the back So I step into the apartment 2nd mistake That's when her "boyfriend/pimp" steps out of the kitchen to my right and behind me This guy is about 6'4"....with the pleasant demeanor of Joe Pesci...who's just been told he's "funny" And he's between me...and the door...with his back to a kitchen full of sharp pokey things So...it seems I'm going to die in this place...with a shoe full of my own piss He is not at all happy about his meal ticket going back to jail So he and my client start an argument about the issue I'm just trying to keep us all "triangular"...with one eye on the door...waiting for an opportunity "Help...me Help you... Help.... her" When buddy starts laughing and tells me that's the worst fucking Captain Kirk he's ever heard And...that was the "thin edge of the wedge"

[@ManofManyPasswords]

I was born 1991 wow :P

[@HotDogWolf1]

:57 Best pause EVER! xDD

[@mitchacus]

"Breast, WING. . . thigh" I right here xD

[@ahirjay19]

Denny crane