William Shatner explains the feud with George Takei

[@nebularain3338]

I've heard George take stabs at Shatner and other people many times, but I've never heard Shatner taking a stab at George. I think that says a lot tbh.

[@aperson2730]

Actually that's a good point

[@anthonykent00]

This is true. I would add, though, almost 100% of the original cast seems to hold the same opinion of Shatner (as Takei). That carries weight too.

[@chouseification]

People who are assholes to others often don't realize what assholes they are - so they won't be bothered to bring up times they've had friction with others, as it's so frequent for them it doesn't stick out of normal. That's the most important thing to remember, plus the fact that the entire cast thought he was an ass says all that matters.

[@baltod4978]

Most of bills castmates on ST say the same thing about him, as do other actors who've worked with him in other films. Are they all lying? I don't think so. The fact that bill doesn't own up to it today says a lot about him as a person- very egocentric.

[@carlphilippgaebler5704]

Even here, he says "I do not carry a hatchet. I carry a piece sign."

[@spudhead169]

Notice here, that Shatner never resorted to Ad Hominem. He explained the whole thing from his point of view and never once attacked Takei in any way. Didn't call him names, didn't besmirch his character. Now, listen to Takei talk about Shatner and it's a very different story. Now, I don't know who is and who isn't telling the truth and to what degree. I have no way to verify what each of them say about each other. But, I am naturally going to lean my belief toward the one who isn't acting like a child in a school playground.

[@mrsmith9882]

Excellent point. I concur.

[@jeanwissinger6013]

Takei is hateful in all his accusations.

[@sysko5986]

This is the first I've heard of any animosity like that, I agree with what you said. Maybe this popped up for me because I saw an old Conan interview with Takei earlier, he did mention Shatner and Nim.... , yeah celeb stuff, names even don't interest me lol. In that interview I thought he was joking about them but I guess it actually had an edge if he's famous for it. Any way Shatner IMO seems fairly real and professional.

[@rogersmith9808]

@@mrsmith9882 Superb point.

[@Alun49]

Good point!

[@livinginvancouverbc2247]

Takei: "I've worked with Bill Shatner off and on for fifty years and it's like he genuinely doesn't know who I am." Shatner: "I've worked with George Takei off and on for fifty years and I genuinely don't know who he is." Seems pretty straightforward.

[@BrooklynAvenue]

It's amazing watching someone with no self awareness go into a rant. He literally repeated Takei's complaint as a defense and demonstrated George's point. Get PAST YOURSELF, Shatman.

[@0raffie0]

There's no good side to pick here, Shatner can't hide his arrogance in any interview I've seen of him, and Takei is a total moron. But who cares who they are, we don't know them, we've been watching them on TV for 50 years, but we don't know them, we just watch them deliver lines and play a role. That's because they are JUST ACTORS.

[@matthewronsson]

@@0raffie0 Right. Shatner's ego is legendary from what I've read. However, it sure seems true that George is demanding a periodic coworker act like a close friend for the cameras, in a sense, to et Bill to do a gig for at his own expense. I can't blame Bill for sending someone to the ceremony (more than thoughtful when he didn't have to even do that) in order to keep a prior commitment. 'It's not like we were ever friends, just acquainted through a job as periodic co-workers". It's just like any other job; just because I worked with others, even for years, doesn't mean I'm friends like that with all of them- or any of them for that matter, even if I thought they were a good group of guys. George shows an opportunistic ego and arrogance here too. Slinging mud at Shatner in an apparent effort to stay relevant at Bills expense.

[@googleblows4016]

Takei is a bigoted loon. There's also that.

[@Rabbithole8]

@@BrooklynAvenue Takei is holding on to some things that happened decades ago and when asked to describe what they were, they are about perceived or real slights. Yet you think that is justification to carry that for fifty years! Takei should to to therapy and learn how to let it go. Imagine if Shatner actually did some really egregious things to him. In addition to this, you resent Shatner when you don't even know him and he certainly didn't do anything to you. Even if Shatner is self centered, how is that justification for Takei to go on about it for a life time and why does it matter to you?

[@thatguyfromcetialphaV]

I met William Shatner as a kid at the Albert Hall in 96. He was warm, funny and just himself. When I got his autograph, he gave a 14 year old kid 30 seconds of his time, as did Leonard Nimoy. It's a memory I treasure. Thanks Bill.

[@skyistaken1605]

Thats an amazing memory to have. R.I.P Leonard Nimoy

[@paullisanti8673]

I met William Shatner at a ComicCom gathering when our son, Dominic was about 5, back in 1993 or so, and he was just a lovely, kind and warm decent man. I will always remember his humility. Why anyone in any way shape or form speak poorly about a man of such accomplishments is beyond me. So Honored to have met him, NOT because he was famous--is famous; not because we're Star Trek Fans--we're not. He was an accomplished young man in his 20s when he was doing Shakespeare in Canada and did documentary films for the National Film Board Educational films. He's just a great, great--down to earth man who as all of us, have had a considerable amount of sadness. Jealous people are the lowest currency on this planet. Shame on George Takei for speaking so recklessly and making stories up just like some immature kid who so desperately wants attention and perhaps is trying to be relevant--God bless William Shatner--

[@thatguyfromcetialphaV]

@@skyistaken1605 Indeed, both were great to meet.

[@thatguyfromcetialphaV]

@@paullisanti8673 The only other person I had jitters meeting was Mario Andretti. I had waited 30 years to meet him and he was just the sweetest bloke.

[@Bayers2020]

That’s amazing Treasure that forever

[@MyLateralThawts]

I’ve been to separate conventions with both Shatner and Takei. Shatner had the largest venue and talked positives. Takei had the smallest room and talked negatives. The feud in a nutshell.

[@craigtheschmeg3253]

George Takei is basically the typical constantly offended self absorbed gay man who thinks the world revolves around him. He was a woke millennial before it was fashionable.

[@viktorreznov4718]

@@craigtheschmeg3253 *OHHHH, MYYY!*

[@johnwaldrop3211]

@@craigtheschmeg3253 Tell it like it is Craig 👍

[@russelljohnson7726]

@@craigtheschmeg3253 Damn dude, you NAILED it, on so many levels!!!

[@PlayNiceFolks]

@@craigtheschmeg3253 him being gay has nothing to do with it, but you're now publicly, objectively a bigot against gay people. Congrats

[@mitchprever4632]

Dont know about any of the others but I once met Nichelle Nichols in Chicago about 5 years ago...In a Seven Eleven ...she was beautiful...stunning really...she took the time to speak with me and allowed me to take a selfie with her...after 4 or 5 minutes of amazing conversation she said she had to go and loved talking with me...she then leaned forward hugged me and kissed me on the cheek...what an extraordinary woman...

[@RuleofFive]

You're a lucky man! I had such a crush on that woman!

[@senorpepper3405]

I've been watching the original series on heros and icons and she was a beautiful woman

[@BobSmith-dk8nw]

Some of those people really, really appreciate the fact that other human beings are their fans - and remember them - after all these years. .

[@seesnap]

Wow mine was opposite I got a limp handshake and looked like I was handing her a turd to sign. Still cool seeing her

[@berliner0]

Awww

[@vivienlatham5189]

I've been an actress for decades. Mostly Theatre, some film and tv. It' is true what Bill Shatner said - you're there to WORK. Show up on time, know your lines, understand the scene, do your homework re your character and their background, know what your intentions are etc. IF you have time to make friends, great. But you're not there to make friends. Sometimes you do make friends, and then there are those who are never more than acquaintances. Theatre is different, in that you rehearse for weeks together before performing. Film or tv? You may not have any scenes together at all. I've done films where I had a few scenes, worked with a handful of actors...and I was done. Never met the rest of the Cast because we never were in any scenes together. Bill Shatner was the star of Star Trek, was married, 3 daughters, divorced (I think) prior to or during the 3rd season. Being the star (or one of the stars) means a lot of pressure. Rightly or wrongly, the star feels the success of the show rests on their shoulders. Shatner had a lot to worry about, other than making friends. Whatever issues George Takei had should have been dealt with years ago. He needs to get over it and move on.

[@carrychris2010]

Very true. Even I know when hearing actors interviewed that many of them never see the other cast members on the set due to editing and scenes. George was a miner character who just did his scenes then sent home for the day. I admire a professional who just comes in and does his job.

[@NewEnglandViews]

George obviously felt slighted by the captain on set.… But this decades long revenge tour is sad and pathetic. Hopefully he realizes it before the end.

[@tuforu4]

Jeeeez amricans

[@mcrfan343]

Very informal. Although Leonard Nemoy and Deforest Kelly we’re also the main stars of Star Trek. Otherwise I love this post.

[@theretep6494]

Mrreciprocat your use of emojis is giving me stage 3 eye cancer..

[@badweetabix]

I am a fan of Leonard Nimoy; I respect him in how he acts on and off screen. That he thinks of Shatner as a friend, makes me also trust his judgement of Shatner's character. By the same token, Nimoy does not seem to think of Takei as a friend and that says a lot.

[@johnlaing8637]

Of course he doesn't take a stab. He barely knew he existed, in spite being on the set with him for 3 years and making over half a dozen movies with him. He's wondering why would I go to the wedding, when asked, of one of the most prominent minority actors of the 60's as a gay man and an Asian man? Because you are not a self centered white privileged narcissist is why. This is a guy who took Star Trek and his role as Kirk for granted until Patrick Stewart had to explain that it was ok for Kirk to be the greatest honor of his life. It is, and I love him for it, but Shatner is a self involved idiot. Also see how he crushed Will Wheaton.

[@spellman007]

wft are you talking about? Nimoy refused to voice spock on the cartoon unless George & Nichelle were involved. he was a class act.

[@mr.battle20]

@@johnlaing8637 Oh good Lord. Virtue signal somewhere else, cupcake. We're not buying.

[@johnlaing8637]

@@mr.battle20 it’s not about the virtue signaling. It’s about being a jerk that doesn’t feel connected to his coworkers. Like I said, see Will Wheaton. Or better yet, read Shatner when in the 80’s he discovered all his cast mates hated him. I’m saying he is self centered for not knowing his cast mate, who also is a minority and that doesn’t make it ok. To me it’s worse. I don’t know you after decades. DECADES.

[@mr.battle20]

@@johnlaing8637 You're making it all about race. That's what we call virtue-signaling. It's an empty-headed, vacuous approach to life. William Shatner said absolutely nothing about his race, btw. You did. If he was saying "lol, I'd have nothing to do with that yellow-skinned Chinaman!" then maybe you'd have a case. Your preoccupation with race betrays the fact that you are, in fact, the racist in the room. Perhaps we should instead take things at face value and realize that what Shatner is saying is the truth. Try actually watching the original Star Trek series. Kirk, Spock, and McCoy were the main stars. Everyone else was pretty much a glorified day player. This does not require you to start your silly armchair crusade against the white man. P.S. Having experience in acting myself, I can tell you that the lead actor is VERY VERY busy. To people who only have a few lines in a production, it may seem that they're preoccupied or aloof, but in reality, the leads are busting their butts and carrying the show on their shoulders. George Takei is simply a bitter man who is jealous and resentful that he wasn't the star. Rather than attempting to clear the air with Shatner, he's instead ridden on his coattails for decades, lobbing insults at him in an attempt to stay relevant.

[@fyreflye100]

I saw George Takei at a Star Trek convention in 1992. I was very excited to see him speak in person - and he preceded to give the most mind-numbingly boring speech I have ever seen. This was not long after the sixth Star Trek movie movie where Sulu had been made a captain, and I swear almost every freaking sentence George uttered contained the phrase, "Captain Sulu." For well over an hour, it was Captain Sulu this and Captain Sulu that. He was promoting a new series of Captain Sulu books, and he kept telling us we should write letters to Paramount asking them to make a series starring the adventures of Captain Sulu. He never mentioned Shatner or Kirk in this talk, except a passing reference to the old, balding captain who needed to retire already. Not long after that, I saw George Takei on QVC, along with Walter Koenig and Nichelle Nichols. The QVC host made a comment about how she wished she could have been in the limousine with the three of them as they were coming to QVC. Walter Koenig said something like, "I I can tell you what we talked about in the limousine. It was Captain Sulu and the weather and Captain Sulu and our families and Captain Sulu, and then we talked some more about Captain Sulu." I wanted to reach through the TV and give Walter a big kiss! People always talk about Shatner's ego, but I'm telling you George Takei has a massive ego as well, and I think a lot of his intense hatred towards Shatner comes from pure resentment that he was the main star instead of George.

[@Spartanm333]

Walter, in a reflective moment on Shatner Raw Nerve, suggested regret at attending Takei's wedding as best man. He wasn't a close friend to George but was flattered to be asked. Once he got involved he saw that Nichelle (Uhura) was the best lady to Takei's male partner. He came to consider that this was a deliberate and cynical lean on Star Trek fans by Takei to promote the wedding, possibly pay for the lavish event. Bill has said he cannot understand why Takei keeps attacking him but that is an easy one to answer... Takei is a chronic self publicist and Shatner is the biggest draw on Star Trek (still). Of course he will drive and exaggerate this conflict, it keeps him in the fandom news with some kind of bitter relevance. What a sad, ineffectual, narcissistic old man George has become.

[@colinmontgomery5492]

@@Spartanm333, watch it. You're talking about the great George "Oh, my!" Takei. Guy played Captain Sulu, for Christ Sakes.

[@notused2118]

George should be happy he was even on the show. Imagine anything but a white male captain back then. Ratings plunge! Tv wasn't ready for george to be captain.

[@mr.butterworth]

Not Used - TV never would have been ready for George to be captain. A requirement of the job is that the captain be able to make out with hot alien babes, and George would never have been able to pull that off convincingly.

[@deafmusician2]

George wasn't even a "star". He was a supporting character that was forgettable, at best.

[@BarryBranton]

I have always respected William Shatner, and more so now.

[@danielboloten8406]

I agree with you 100% As a Montréal native I have been living in his old neighborhood along with my parents and my grandparents for over 65 years, my father attended the same schools as he did. My family and I have been friends with members of the family for over 50 years and they have always been very supportive of him and his career. As a classically trained actor who has performed at the Stratford festival in Ontario he is a skilled dramatist; his work on Star Trek has led to him being typecast as Captain Kirk. He is a hardworking man who enjoys his craft and he has earned his place in the industry as well.

[@OddTimeMan]

I had the pleasure of working with Shatner on many occasions, and I worked with Takei on one occasion. They were both very nice people. Sometimes people just don't get along with each other. It happens.

[@rockabilly95]

I agree with you 💯%! I love both actors and George seems an equally nice guy, just cannot fathom what he has against Bill. Sometimes it's like that.

[@jacksonwayneputnam1599]

They’re actually probably both very similar to each other, and that’s kinda why they don’t get along. Human brains are just weird like that.

[@onastick2411]

Why is it news, I worked with plenty of people I didn't like, and plenty of people I did like and plenty of people was indifferent to, why should it be any different just because the end product is a TV show? It's only a thing, with people who can't tell the difference between reality and fantasy.

[@josephhewes3923]

It's not a matter of people not getting along. As Shatner said, he didn't even really know Takei. Shatner dealt with a hundred people in doing Star Trek. Some of those people, he dealt with every day. Takei he dealt with once a week in a very limited way. Shatner didn't know him. But Takei gets to raise his own profile, but picking a fight with Captain Kirk. I'm on Shatner's side of this.

[@realPromotememedia]

Shatner didn’t need anything from takei . . Whereas takei has spent his entire life needing validation from shatner. It happens

[@bkruse72]

after reading some of Takei's tweets, I am totally on Bill's side with this.

[@adriansherlockdamondark.1094]

Star Trek could've tanked at the outset like so many other science fiction shows. Shatner's decision to give Kirk a twinkle in the eye and a little hint of a smile, to make him slightly playful like he didn't take it all so seriously, until the situation called for it, is probably it succeeded and why all the other cast members had a job and a life long association with Trek which ended up making them financially comfortable as well as well known and respected. So, respect to Mr Shatner.

[@kevinmoore4887]

The pilot was made, the entire cast was replaced, except for Spock, which was re-written. Nimoy is the only one in the original pilot. Captain Pike was replaced by Kirk. I was glad to see Pike return as the former captain. Jeffery Hunter is an excellent actor.

[@kevinmoore4887]

@Mrreciprocat For the Denny Crane and TJ Hooker fans of course.

[@bjackins1879]

Adrian, you are so right. He truly knew how to be Prince Charming in addition to stern tough handsome Captain. He used his eyes and smile to great advantage which was smart for him as an actor (wow us with what your face can do) but also a good decision for the role as it's a lot of what made Kirk human, likable, intimate, caring, etc. I have been "guilty" of neglecting people who were "bit" players in my "drama" and I certainly would understand if they called me on it. But it's true we each have a lot to focus on. Regrettably we miss things, and people, who are important. It's best to overlook stuff like that. Thanks for the good remark.

[@gamesthatiplay9083]

TNG also told Riker to always have that twinkle and smile. A lot of the people known as the TOS cast were barely in the show. It was a 3 person show, and the others only appeared in like 5/8ths of the episodes. Totally different time back then.

[@johnlaing8637]

Of course he doesn't take a stab. He barely knew he existed, in spite being on the set with him for 3 years and making over half a dozen movies with him. He's wondering why would I go to the wedding, when asked, of one of the most prominent minority actors of the 60's as a gay man and an Asian man? Because you are not a self centered white privileged narcissist is why. This is a guy who took Star Trek and his role as Kirk for granted until Patrick Stewart had to explain that it was ok for Kirk to be the greatest honor of his life. It is, and I love him for it, but Shatner is a self involved idiot. Also see how he crushed Will Wheaton.

[@TheFremenBlue]

I realize this thread is old, but I just recently saw an interview clip with Walter Koenig, in which he tells how Takei took 6 weeks off of shooting for Star Trek in order to film his role in the John Wayne movie "Green Berets". Since Takei was unavailable, scenes & lines that would have been Sulu's were given to Chekov instead. Walter found out years later that Takei was very angry with him for a long time over taking over those "Sulu" scenes. What were they supposed to do, just cut the scenes and have a short episode? Takei wasn't available by his own choice, so of course they gave the lines to someone else. But Takei nursed a grudge against Koenig (not against the production people). So yeah - Takei has irrational jealousy and anger issues. I'm glad Shatner spoke up - he's put up with this crap long enough. (Walter's only complaint about Shatner was that he didn't pal-around with the supporting actors - but as Shat said, that's because he was *busy*.)

[@hxhdfjifzirstc894]

George Takei is a whiny little bitch.

[@Stryyder1]

Yeah basically I think Shatner really ignored anyone below a certain level. He played the traditional game of actors aloofness in terms of only interacting and dealing with people he considered on his level professionally either on a conscious or unconscious level. If you will notice most of the griping he gets are from people that feel slighted that most likely he didn't waste any of his effort on. Here is a quote "But Bill reflects, “If the original concept of the show was still in effect and the series was still going today, the situation would be exactly the same. There are people whose names and parts are above the title and people who aren’t. That’s the nature of the business and that’s the way these stories are told.”" You don't here the same thing from the costars of his more recent shows like TJ Hooker and such. Remember only Shatner, Nimoy and Kelly were listed above the title card in the original series. Everyone else was a day player.

[@carpballet]

@@Stryyder1 Are you sure the term “day player” is correct?

[@Stryyder1]

@@carpballet Credit guidelines are wacky but in general when the title credit actors are not listed in the end credits you look at the entire before after credit list not just the end credits. They were credited as featuring So ranking credits Starring is first co-starring is second, featuring is third and typically and or with are last. This is based typically on contractual billing (Why Shatner's name was always larger than Nimoy) and number of lines in the script. Back in the day Featuring was I believe 2-5 lines per episode. Nimoy went from co-starring to also starring at some point a promotion in credit language. Someone did an analysis of lines per script and on average Kirk averaged 30 lines per dialog per script Sulu about 2.9 -----------------Kirk---Spock---McCoy---Scott---Uhura---Sulu Season-1--------30.37---15.48---6.92----2.66----2.44----2.97 Season-2--------31.60---15.06---9.52----5.36----2.89----2.00 Season-3--------30.45---15.93---9.89----6.24----2.27----2.25 Movie-(2009)----24.30---12.15---7.52----2.99----5.69----3.57

[@victoriaheindel1143]

My thing is this: not EVERYONE is friends with their co-workers. Plain and simple. It reminds me of the feud between Sarah Jessica Parker and Kim Cattrall. Their characters on TV/movies were BEST FRIENDS. But away from work, they were not at all. Kim is honest about it and for some reason, Sarah (and other 2) take offense to it.

[@benmobi]

He explained it well and without personal vitriol. There was never a "feud", or I guess you could call it a one-way feud, because Shatner never fought back.

[@Ayy_Doll_Fiddler]

Shatner has no reason to even fight. There's nothing to "fight back' at.

[@michaelbarry1651]

Shatner basically says that he doesn't know George Takei, hardly noticed him, had a much more important and difficult role...than the unimportant Takei. Sounds like classic California passive-aggression to me: Shatner couldn't have treated Takei with disrespect because Takei isn't worth noticing at all.

[@Bejaardenbus]

Whatever appearance Shatner makes, whatever show he hosts, it's always a ray of sunshine. It always lifts up the whole endeavour. He seems like a class act, and I believe him.

[@itcamefromtheradio]

I had Shatner on our show a while back and he was nothing but charm. I have seen him at various cons over the years and the man knows how to handle a room. Takei (the one time I met him at a con) was all class and the only TOS actor to personalize his signature. Sometimes people just don't get along. Look at Power Rangers with Austin St. John and Jason David Frank.

[@AV84USA]

George feeds on drama. Every time I see him in a cameo or interview he is either over the top or delivering low blows.

[@Retiredmco]

ROFDLMAO at delivering low blows!!!

[@cryforthemoon]

George is basically one of those 'mean girl' types from high school.

[@johngilles9371]

He's a drama queen!

[@robertking3539]

All that estrogin

[@darknotered7425]

Ohhh, my....

[@berczigabor]

Judging by the level of camera shake in this video, this must have been recorded during the largest and most intense space combat of all Star Trek history

[@invisiblekincajou]

deflector shields up! full power!

[@FomorViceroy]

The original video was probably extremely shaky and this was stabilized using a video editing app. Stabilization isn't perfect in video editing suites. It can never fix it 100%.

[@maitreyas.4902]

I can hear the music. Da dan da da da dunt to da.

[@mixjon76]

@@maitreyas.4902 Da dan da da da dunt to da...DAAA DAAA!!!

[@ravenstar5376]

or fighting CHEKOV and busting his ass (day of the dove ) cus chekov cant throw a punch

[@Lyze]

Takei is just full of himself. He's made himself a brand, every aspect of his life is political and self glorifying. He picks fights to build himself up at the expense of others who are arguably more famous and beloved. That's called ENVY.

[@centralscrutinizer6108]

I've heard Takei is full of some other people as well. LOL!

[@jdbarr769]

@@centralscrutinizer6108 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@ajfarson]

I think George is full of himself but I know that Shatner isn't the greatest person to work with too. I remember a story about Will Wheaton meeting him and Shatner treated him like crap and Will being all let down by the interaction. Rodenberry had to get on Shatners case about it and tell him to apologize and several others told Will that they call that treatment from Shatner as being "Shat" upon. So yeah... both men are probably assholes.

[@ChrisJonesTKD]

It's a crying shame that two men of their life experience can't just sit down over a coffee work this sh#t out.

[@Guy-Mann]

It's not really arguable. Most others are more famous and beloved. Takei is known for having an unusual voice and for making his entire persona "creepy gay guy."

[@kwaddell8799]

You gotta put yourself in Bill's shoes in the 1960's. There were 'a few' Channels on the dial. You had Radio, TV, and if you were really lucky, then you got to play in a Film. Your career could be over tomorrow. From what i understand, Shat was going through a divorce and he had children. He put everything into that show. He wasn't there to make friends. Maybe George was? Who knows? Who really cares. I respect Shatner.

[@SKBottom]

Dream Scape 13 tv channels? We only had 4, counting PBS.

[@loginregional]

Not just that, there were only TWELVE on the dial.

[@johnnypenso9574]

That sums it up nicely. In this day and age we're used to hearing about actors on hit shows making millions of dollars a year but that wasn't the case back then. If you had a regular show you got a regular paycheck and that was a rare thing for an actor back in those days. Half of Hollywood tv actors would have cut off their arm to be in a prime time show on television and those jobs were few and far between back then. Shatner had to give it his all and focus on his job. Sulu was generally only in a couple of scenes in most of the shows, same with Uhura, Chekov and all the other fringe characters. Like it or not they were low man on the totem pole and the lead actors didn't have a lot of time to spare for them. I don't imagine it's much different on any other show back in the day.

[@JohnNNJ]

Stephen Bottom, we had seven (2,4,5,7,9,11,13), plus there were a couple/few UHF channels, conditions permitting.

[@GettingtheTruthOut]

13 channels? No city in America had 13 channels in the 60s. In most of the country it was 4 until the late 70s.

[@digitalbroadcaster]

I had the privilege of working with Shatner and Nimoy on a Star Trek motion picture and can honestly say that he had the time to speak to me as a human being, as did Nimoy. They were both very down to earth (pardon the pun). I never had the chance to speak with the others as it was a busy production. So to me, William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy were the two drivers of the series/film, and the rest were the passengers.

[@jeffstone2136]

Interesting. Less well known is how Nimoy was apparently a bit of a prima donna during the old show too. The role went to his head, and he started being a diva. But not anywhere near what Bill was said to be like. Way to diss Dee Kelley there, btw, the beating heart of the series and its human soul.

[@DB-um2cz]

Second Unit Aerials I would add DeForest Kelley to Nimoy and Shatner, but besides that I completely agree.

[@presto709]

Quick, start a feud with Shatner. It will do wonders for your career.

[@DB-um2cz]

Sipseyhiker You raise a good point.

[@Carpedog2206]

Second Unit Aerials tell that to Will Wheaton. Shatner was a complete dick to him when they met, for no reason.

[@happyfarmer979]

He could never spoil your rep, William. You are the best.

[@johnlaing8637]

Of course he doesn't take a stab. He barely knew he existed, in spite being on the set with him for 3 years and making over half a dozen movies with him. He's wondering why would I go to the wedding, when asked, of one of the most prominent minority actors of the 60's as a gay man and an Asian man? Because you are not a self centered white privileged narcissist is why. This is a guy who took Star Trek and his role as Kirk for granted until Patrick Stewart had to explain that it was ok for Kirk to be the greatest honor of his life. It is, and I love him for it, but Shatner is a self involved idiot. Also see how he crushed Will Wheaton.

[@SteveKasian]

Who made it to space first? (I mean, ACTUALLY made it to space. ;-) Hahahahaha NOT TAKEI!

[@womanbread]

@@johnlaing8637 What is wrong with you? Why do you keep copying and pasting this same thing, over and over again?

[@Kharis1964]

Another less known fact is that when Takei took a role in THE GREEN BERETS film during TREK season two, he was off for most of that season and thus Walter Koenig was brought in as Chekov. When Takei returned, he was very resentful of Koenig being his "replacement" and pretty much treated him like shit for quite some time afterwards according to Koenig himself. It seems it wasnt all the cast having a problem with Shatner at the time was quite true as they would have it. Also, they were the supporting cast-period. The series leads, as you see in the main credits, were Shatner, Nimoy and Deforest Kelly and they got along and saw each other socially off camera. Nimoy didnt hang out with Takei, Nichols, Doohan or Koenig either nor did Deforest Kelly and yet you dont see them bitching about them..it's a lot of sour grapes because they werent the main focus of the show. Bottom line: they wouldnt even be known now, if it werent for Shatner, Nimoy and Kelly making the show what it was and they seem to forget that.

[@ronaldbell7909]

I think this is the kind of thing that tells us more than anything about Takei, sadly. He wasn't just this way with Shatner.

[@HonkiDonki]

"Bottom line: they wouldnt even be known now, if it werent for Shatner, Nimoy and Kelly making the show what it was and they seem to forget that." Not to mention that Shatner was very involved in building the Star Trek legacy after the end of TOS and TAS by writing books and producing and participating in documentaries (and so was Leonard Nimoy, obviously). William Shatner is being invited as a talk guest because he is Captain Kirk and had many other projects. George Takei is invited because he dislikes William Shatner and can take a somewhat believable stance because he was a supporting cast member. The whole Shatner-Takei feud seems to be a story of one-sided envy from Takei's side. For instance, he complained in 2008 that Shatner was unaware of Takei's sexuality and the name of Takei's partner. But why should Shatner give a fuck?

[@StoutOfHeart]

Saddest part is, we've only got Shatner left. He's a multinational treasure and should be protected at all costs. Nimoy and Kelley, in my opinion, were never as heralded as they deserved for not only their Star Trek universe contributions but, for their extensive acting history beyond Starfleet.

[@IAmTheRealBill]

@@StoutOfHeart and let’s not forget Nimoy’s singing!

[@HonkiDonki]

@JohnnySilverfoot I watched that response a couple of days ago, too. Really makes George Takei look like a narcissist, who saw himself as the irreplacable star of the show.

[@MH-yx1pv]

This is why William Shatner is great man. He is straightforward.

[@robsash8991]

He's also full of shit. Every actor on that show, Boston Legal etc say Shatner is an ass.

[@kennywood9911]

"I don't know him." "He continues to spoil my reputation." "I have no idea who he is or what he is or what he wants," Geez, this kinda talk sounds familiar. Nowadays, it's much easier to spot a narcissist.

[@Lucifronz]

Uhh no, he's bullshitting everyone. He does this every few years to get attention by pretending there's a feud. Takei doesn't sound like a great guy, but I genuinely believe he doesn't give two shits about Shatner and that Shatner has been playing up this drama for years to get people talking about him. Drama is a great motivator for attention, after all.

[@joeshmoe1378]

@@robsash8991 I mean, if the Enquirer says so it must be true.

[@dsandoval9396]

@@joeshmoe1378 right? it's so easy to spot weak minded people like that because they take third hand information as fact when the people they got that third hand info from speaks to them through a one way screen, LOL! I don't know how IS right or who IS wrong, but aside from stories and based on the way people present themselves Shatner does seem like a straight forward guy, and Takei does present himself bitter and angry. I mena Takei is in a good place, he's not poor, he's well off, not spending hungry nights, lives in a good neighborhood, in pretty much good health... shit man, just be grateful for what you have and move on. How old is that chip on his shoulder? He's like a child.

[@garyvale8347]

whether you like William Shatner or not .....one thing we all can agree on is, this man has worked hard at his acting career for many decades and has a very unique style..........

[@brianbright7347]

Denny Crane!!!!!

[@TheCarnivalguy]

Whether

[@garyvale8347]

@@TheCarnivalguy got it and edited it.....thank you

[@TheCarnivalguy]

I’ve been a fan since he appeared in the 1963 classic Twilight Zone episode “Nightmare At 20,000 Feet”. I was 10 years old at the time. Shatner was amazing in that role, and my older brother and I never missed Star Trek TOS.

[@drizzt8965]

@@TheCarnivalguy I was 11 at that time and loved that episode. I do not know about you but I still cannot believe that I am able to own the entire Twilight Zone series on Blu-ray!

[@ronrichker]

Takei owes his entire career to Shatner. Yes, that's right. Shatner made the show. Bottom Line, no one would ever know the name George Takei if it weren't for William Shatner, period.

[@janistransbian]

more like they both owes their entire career to gene roddenberry. it was HIS show, not shatner's.

[@varanid9]

No, if it weren't for Lucille Ball and NBC, the show would never have existed despite Roddenberry.

[@colkilgore100]

No, if it wasn't for Ricky Ricardo and his Cuban band coming to America and Ricky meeting Lucy and those 2 getting married and forming Desilu studios and producing the show nobody would ever have heard of this disgusting takei-thing.

[@loginregional]

that tacky thing.

[@kid-citychilddevelopmentce5744]

lucas mccain it appears he's not so "gay"

[@chrish236]

I was in the audience for this. I never miss Shatner at a convention, I always skip Takei.

[@donnyhoney151]

I thought when Takei publicly embarrassed him by telling him he had always had something he wanted to tell him and then saying FU and the horse you rode in on was extremely low class. I lost all respect for Takei at that point. Have no respect for him now. Comes across as pure jealously to me.

[@thebrazilianatlantis165]

That was just a joke, some roast writer wrote that because Shatner rode in on a horse.

[@midnightchannel111]

Donny Honey Takei always comes off as low class in longer interviews, and also cride: I have often heard him make extremely crude sexual suggestions and he laughs at comments that would cause me to leave the room (and I am not a prude at all). He seems to value sex a lot, but never love.

[@Romulan2469]

Takei carries around a lot of hate and a grudge against Bill and for that reason alone I don't respect the man, and it's nothing to do with his sexual preferences either. Shatner is a class act, he may be a bit egotistical but that's the way he is and so are a lot of people. If Takei had issues with Shatner during the 60s show he should have brought it up then when it was relevant, but instead he bottled it up for decades and now fires cheap shots at Shatner. Shatner has been significantly more successful than Takei over his long career and I think it eats away at George that he was never the leading man.

[@NMagChiTown]

@@Romulan2469 I wonder if all that drama Takei was always on, lead to him being the captain of a different ship in one of the later movies? As some way, or in his own way of appearing / coming off, somehow equal to Shatner? All the others played their usual roles, except Takei if you notice...

[@Romulan2469]

@@NMagChiTown Yes I believe you are right. He had to try and psychologically get a one up on Shatner by becoming the captain of Excelsior. I think Takei has an inferiority complex. The rest of the cast didn’t take things so seriously, but Takei has always had a grudge to settle with Shatner. Very unprofessional behaviour in my view.

[@baroqueguitarist5673]

I'm glad to see so much love for Shatner in the comments. He deserves it as the original star of the show. Forget all the nonsense and rumors/gossip. Celebrate him in his golden years and show him love for all the wonderful roles in Star Trek. If anyone else played Kirk Star Trek likely would have been an obscure failed 60s short run show forgotten long ago.

[@LarryC213]

I liked his answer. It seemed to be both honest and sincere.

[@HMSL86]

Was it? He went out of his way to make Star Trek all about himself back in the day and gave nothing to supporting characters such as Sulu, Uhura and the others. Who wouldn't hold a grudge? This guy is just too much.

[@coolramone]

TMH - too many haters

[@Whoopdido777]

@@coolramone I understand his point. We, as an audience like to believe that these characters we watch every week are friends, but that isn’t always the case. Jason Alexander (George from Seinfeld) gave an interview back in February and said that he and the rest of the cast weren’t really friends. They were “work mates”. They all had their own lives and just did what they did and then came to the show and worked and then went back to their own lives. He said he and Julia Louis Dreyfus were both married with kids at the time so he bonded a little more with her, but when the series ended they were all like “ok, see ya...bye.” Every now and then they send happy birthday emails to each and stuff but they don’t get together.

[@samgitoakafotografiraptor4693]

@@HMSL86 sounds like the first five minutes to galaxy quest ? Are you mixing up the two. I hear rumors Chevy chase is a blatant racist . I dunno

[@originalhgc]

@@HMSL86 Was it William Shatner who made ST all about Capt Kirk? After all, he was the lead character of the show, which was Gene Roddenberry's doing. And it was the fandom that turned him into an icon. What Shatner did was to successfully promote the Star Trek brand by being a big personality himself. What, exactly, was he supposed to do for the other characters and/or actors?

[@cessnaace]

And now at age 90 Shatner's been to space, and Takei is even more bitter than he was before. I guess the world owes him a flight too (sarcasm mode).

[@Hanzyscure]

Shatner might buy him a one way ticket.

[@SteveKasian]

Great idea! Let's have SpaceX launch his arz on a Falcon Heavy, into deep space & out of the solar system, 35° out of the ecliptic plane. He could eventually meet up with VGER and re-enact the first Star Trek movie! Then maybe he could get his coveted few seconds more of screen time he never got.

[@SIXPACFISH]

@@SteveKasian Oh Hell No! That would freeze him in suspended animation like Buck Rodgers. We couldn't risk inflicting that on the future.

[@SteveKasian]

@@SIXPACFISH Oh yeah, huh. He would be like the "protomolecule" in The Expanse show. That would truly leave this entire sector in a chronic state of panic and fear that he would someday return, with no warning. No bueno. We can't have that.

[@shay-ryanjones8965]

And off to Fairyland Sulu went.. 😆

[@josephiudice5978]

This is the most honest thing i've heard in a while...

[@addie_is_me]

Jealous of what?

[@johnlaing8637]

Of course he doesn't take a stab. He barely knew he existed, in spite being on the set with him for 3 years and making over half a dozen movies with him. He's wondering why would I go to the wedding, when asked, of one of the most prominent minority actors of the 60's as a gay man and an Asian man? Because you are not a self centered white privileged narcissist is why. This is a guy who took Star Trek and his role as Kirk for granted until Patrick Stewart had to explain that it was ok for Kirk to be the greatest honor of his life. It is, and I love him for it, but Shatner is a self involved idiot. Also see how he crushed Will Wheaton.

[@TheTenCentStory]

@@johnlaing8637 So he should have gone to the wedding and been George's friend because he's a gay Asian man?

[@johnlaing8637]

@@TheTenCentStory No. but a small yes, it’s not because George is an Asian homosexual, but that being open minded of other people and cultures is what Star Trek was about. “To seek out new worlds and new civilizations, to boldly go where no man has gone before” and the “Prime Directive” was a mission statement of future mankind having evolved but respectful that we are different and should unlike colonial times, let other civilizations develop. It’s this cast of 7 that more than any other pushed intellectual idealistic advancement in mass media that man can be peaceful while exploring and learning. George’s marriage to his partner of 21 years was a victory to the fact that Star Trek pushed those boundaries. It intellectually focused a world in ideas that simply did not exist in mass media for all to consider until Star Trek presented them. That thinking just wasn’t present in Dragnet or Gunsmoke. The idea that a black, a Russian and an Asian could all be on one ship together representing a mission of humanity seeking peace and knowledge. The wedding was supposed to be a victory lap William Shatner. A celebration that one of your own got to increase his right to love who he wanted as a legal life partner. A celebration not of a homosexual Asian, but a celebration of Star Treks influence on advancing mankind and pushing it to go where it had not gone before! Takei knew the man, and he didn’t like him, but he respected that he was part of a legacy that allowed his love to be legally acknowledged by the nation, and thus William Shatner deserved to share in the celebration. He should have gone, because it would have been an indelible moment in history, gay marriage legalized and an actual original crew member of the Enterprise and the original cast members are there to share in what is clearly felt to be a major advancement of American society, and thus a celebration of what Star Trek stood for and helped create. That is why he should have gone.

[@TheTenCentStory]

@@johnlaing8637 Two men getting married isn't an advancement in American society.

[@awol1209]

man he looks great for 84!

[@870Rem12gauge]

He's 92. And can run circles around George Clooney.

[@andy6576]

Nope, he's 85, he was born in 1931. Still FANTASTIC for his age, though.

[@timmyturner1802]

idiot lol

[@timmyturner1802]

Over a million in plastic surgery and still looks like an ASS CLOWN LOLOLOLOL

[@hammeringhank5271]

True

[@DrRich-mw4hu]

Well said by a LEGEND! Dignity and respect for Mr. Shatner. 👍

[@mickymickymike4105]

I feel like this with most people, especially my coworkers. At work, I’m there to work and get paid. Of course at work I’ll be cordial and a team player, but those people are not my friends. We work together for those 8 hours and after that, I’m on my own time. I totally understand Mr. Shatner. George seems jealous of his success and the only reason he is still relevant is because he brings up William Shatner.

[@smc1942]

There is no anger in his voice. His frustration with all this is plain! But frustration IS NOT anger. I thought he explained everything very well. Plus, many time's you will learn 10 page's of dialog, then they rewrite the whole thing, & now you have 2 hours, or less, to learn 10 page's of NEW dialog. It's clear from his words, tone of voice, & body language, Shatner is tired of this "feud", but he didn't start it, contribute to it, etc. He just wants to be left alone! I understand that very well. I have been through all this with toxic family members. Albeit without Hollywood's spotlight on it. But it's the same bullsh*t, & I'm tired of it. I'm still a fan of Star Trek. I probably always will be. People need to accept the fact that you cannot force people to like you. Sometimes, no matter how nice you are to them, they are going to hate you with a passion. Or just not care at all. All this feud business usually start's with jealousy.

[@watchgoose]

He keeps saying he didn't know who George is. Maybe George wanted more attention from him.

[@zdelany6963]

william shanter is so right ....this impresstion that actors are all friends .....they go to work and go home .

[@rioriggs3568]

We see that at work... But you're the best, you should be helping and supporting us (the rest of the team)... Well to be the best, I work my ass off 80 hours a week.. Some people are driven by helping others (good for them), some people are driven by becoming the best they can be. You're a work colleague, you're not my child, you're not my responsibility! Put in the hours like I do and stop bitching! Team Shatner 100%! Montreal baby!!!

[@jeffstone2136]

That does not need they have to be pricks to each other.

[@belisariussmith9095]

Its incredibly rare that work-friendships, much less work-acquaintenceships, survive after the work is over. Even when they do, they are rarely as strong as they were during the work.

[@Willaev]

@@jeffstone2136 Takei is the one being the prick for decades.

[@danielueblacker9118]

it's called acting people have to wake up for sure... Denny Crane.....

[@japan32japan]

like it or not ... William Shatner WAS star trek ..... a perfectionist .... to be admired .....

[@DarksaberForce]

Like Mark Hamill is to Star Wars.

[@tomstokoe5660]

Kirk Spock Bones Without any of them the show would've fallen part, all 3 of them deserve equal credit (although Nimoy is first amongst equals imo).

[@bombtwenty3867]

Is that...........all..there was........to Star Trek?

[@victorbruant389]

But not to be admiraled

[@mikeries8549]

@@tomstokoe5660 plz add scotty. We need more power!

[@Falconlibrary]

TAKEI: We have an ongoing decades-long bitter feud! SHATNER: Which one are you, again?

[@oreally8605]

😆

[@GAMLAPATTE]

😂😂😂

[@anderander5662]

Who would you rather spend an evening with: George Takei or William Shatner??? I can't even imagine the former. The lip-snacking, eye-rolling and "Oh My's" would get old in 5 minutes flat.

[@LordSathar]

Takei has become for real what Dr. Smith in lost in space was a parody of.

[@anderander5662]

@@LordSathar i hadnt thought of it...you are correct.

[@therealpatriarchy]

Mincing.

[@johnlaing8637]

Of course he doesn't take a stab. He barely knew he existed, in spite being on the set with him for 3 years and making over half a dozen movies with him. He's wondering why would I go to the wedding, when asked, of one of the most prominent minority actors of the 60's as a gay man and an Asian man? Because you are not a self centered white privileged narcissist is why. This is a guy who took Star Trek and his role as Kirk for granted until Patrick Stewart had to explain that it was ok for Kirk to be the greatest honor of his life. It is, and I love him for it, but Shatner is a self involved idiot. Also see how he crushed Will Wheaton.

[@colorfulbleeding]

@@johnlaing8637 There is no "white privilege" in Shatner career , just hard work.

[@LightYearsFromHere]

Hot damn, maybe Shatner really IS Captain Kirk!

[@normal_media]

he is. You need to know that. lol

[@ProNorden]

Denny Crane sounds reasonable.

[@LarryC213]

LightYearsFromHere, Quote: "Hot damn, maybe Shatner really IS Captain Kirk!" Of course he is, and he always will be. Just like Leonard Nimoy will always be the individual that you see in your mind's eye when you hear the words Mr. Spock.

[@larrygreen8912]

LightYearsFromHere Dilithuim crystals are real

[@mariemackey6132]

LOL

[@savedbygrace2397]

People in your life who hate you for no known reason are often jealous of something.

[@glenturney4750]

Sulu wanted into Capt. Kirk's pants. That's all.

[@jeffstone2136]

Orrrrr, as is more likely, they are just cunts.

[@s.e.wagger3888]

Did Cap'n Kirk say something derogatory about George being a bum-jocky / sword-swallower???

[@infinitecurve5524]

@@glenturney4750 HAHA. Damn straight!

[@glenturney4750]

@Batphink Reynolds: You've met Sulu? 😂

[@1984Phalanx]

I briefly got to meet Shatner and have a picture with him at the Vegas convention in 2012. The volunteers working there all said he was really nice and thanked them all for volunteering.

[@johnshaft5613]

I have no opinion good or bad about Shatner, but I find it incredible how good he looks for his age. When this was filmed, he was 84 years old. It doesn't look like he has had "work" done either...that usually comes out looking all weird. The way he looks and still carries himself is incredible for his age.

[@m005kennedy]

I read he has been bald for many years but never appears in public without his wig.

[@m005kennedy]

@Centurian I’ll tell you I am old but the one thing I don’t lack is hair on my head. I’m 68 and I have the most hair among my brothers. One of my brothers started being bald by age 18. Not my problem. All the other problems of old have I have but not that one. I don’t think there is even one public photo of Shatner without his wig. In our generation baldness was much more of a problem than for people today. Today young people almost embrace baldness by shaving their heads if the hairline isn’t where they think it should be.

[@bellhopwalrus2517]

Can you imagine Wm. Shatner with Kenny Roger's implanted cheekbones?

[@m005kennedy]

@@bellhopwalrus2517 looks like a job for Photoshop!

[@bellhopwalrus2517]

@@m005kennedy Probably done and posted before I had the chance to respond. 😀

[@JeffMcNeal]

Well composed considering the gigantic earthquake that was going on while he spoke.

[@Langkowski]

Shatner doesn't mean he don't know who George Takei is. He knows his name, his face and what character he played and all that. It is George Takei as a person he don't know.

[@robinsuewilson]

After having met Mr Shatner this is the truth he is a hard worker and often hard workers that don't have time to play at work and are hated by the ones that have more free time to play

[@johnlaing8637]

Of course he doesn't take a stab. He barely knew he existed, in spite being on the set with him for 3 years and making over half a dozen movies with him. He's wondering why would I go to the wedding, when asked, of one of the most prominent minority actors of the 60's as a gay man and an Asian man? Because you are not a self centered white privileged narcissist is why. This is a guy who took Star Trek and his role as Kirk for granted until Patrick Stewart had to explain that it was ok for Kirk to be the greatest honor of his life. It is, and I love him for it, but Shatner is a self involved idiot. Also see how he crushed Will Wheaton.

[@kamuelalee]

"Because you're Captain Kirk!" That pretty much explains it

[@warhero99]

Is this about not having a captain sulu series?

[@edmundblackadder2741]

I'M CAPTAIN KIIIIRK!!!

[@crazycoinbox6078]

I can't understand a word he said. He needs to learn to pull the mic away from his mouth.

[@googleblows4016]

@Lysander ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ But no one cared about the minor characters on ST. That's why they're _minor characters._ Also, Shatner wasn't a script writer. If the writer and director didn't think it was good for the show, it wouldn't have been changed. Besides, we all know from experience how cliques work with gossip and accusations. Fortunately, through the magic of social media data (a decade's worth), it's easy to see the _real_ problem; George Takai is a racist, sexist bigot and Shatner is the quintessential target of Takei's bigotry: he's a straight, "white" male with an alpha personality who SEIZES opportunities rather than trying to guilt the world into freebie handout opportunities. Takai would rather call this ability to SEIZE opportunity "privilege", attributing success to superficial qualifiers and spending his days whining about it, rather than simply coping with a colleague being particularly good at life.

[@DomeDweller]

Lol nice.

[@howardgriffen7187]

Wow! Shatner laid it out there! Great explanation from a real human being.

[@jpodell007]

@Tim James the irony here is that George Takei (an American of Japanese heritage) supports the very same political party (Democrat) that arbitrarily and forcibly relocated him and others in his racial and ethnic group solely because of those immutable characteristics in addition to the very same political party that says nary a peep of condemnation about moslem countries that imprison, execute, and/or impose corporal punishment on LGBTQ persons.

[@bman1122]

@@jpodell007 Party changed completely, Civil Rights Act 1964. But you probably know that already. Good point about the muslim countries kinda

[@Stryder46]

@Craig G, only in Fantasyland. In the real world no one's imprisoned, been executed or received corporal punishment for being LGBTQ in America. Don't be such a drama queen.

[@janasali821]

George Takei and other actors on the show said he was such an arrogant ass, he wanted the camera focused on him at all times and hated sharing with any other. When Leonard nimoy started getting popularity on the show, shatter was apparently very upset by that. I’m sure he regrets it now

[@MrKit9]

He's a fucking egotistical asshole who has NEVER given a damn about another human being. Ever!

[@jeremyt.torgerson31]

The issue is, Takei WANTS to be the most important person in the room, and the sad fact is, he's not. Captain Kirk is Star Trek; Lt. Sulu was there to press a button or two.

[@royelmo38]

George was a "supporting" cast member. Their roles were confined by their function on the ship. If the ship were involved in some in flight action, people on the bridge had more scenes.

[@mattongbp]

Takei is a Japanese secret nationalist! You played the future captain America and your country just nuked his spiritual country, not once; but twice!!!

[@gitman3486]

Him and Wheaton should form a club

[@womanbread]

@@mattongbp We got it the first ten times you've copied and pasted that same thing, George.

[@Acadian.FrenchFry]

It was really only until George started this shade throwing on Shatner that people actually learned who he was. I think he does it for the attention. In a sense riding Shatner's coat tails.

[@igorschmidlapp6987]

Remember, George bailed on the show for an episode to shoot his bit part in "The Green Berets". Sulu was supposed to be in "The Gamesters of Triskelion", but he was in Georgia, shooting with "The Duke", so, they used Chekov (Walter owes George)...

[@billkeithchannel]

All I know about George is that he is a gay man that did a commercial for an LED TV touting the vibrancy of its yellows.

[@susie154]

UzeHerName possibly

[@ProNorden]

Denny Crane sounds reasonable.

[@nicksmith3746]

Agreed.... George was an insecure, in-the-closet fool.

[@ginobean737]

Eloquently expressed and makes a lot of sense, that Shatner barely knew George Takei.

[@randombarbarian5637]

This is the ultimate BOSS speaking... when Andrew Lincoln (of The Walking Dead) was asked once who he wanted to work with if he had a chance, without hesitation he said William Shatner. That's what's up!

[@Duncan_Idaho_Potato]

As a bit of contrast, I'd like to inform/remind you all that the entire main cast of Star Trek: The Next Generation became, and remain to this day, very dear friends. Nearly 30 years after the TV show ended, they still reunite as often as they can just to be in each other's company. No cameras, no publicity, just old friends hanging out.

[@JohnWebbb]

@Joby Fluorine because it’s awesome. 8)

[@Paulafan5]

TNG was more of an ensemble while Star Trek was all about Kirk, Spock, and McCoy. William knew Deforest and Leonard, but the rest of the cast wasn't really that involved in TOS.

[@khemikora]

@@Paulafan5 What about Scottie?

[@zeb5478]

Also TOS was only three seasons, cutting new territory , and fighting for survival unsuccessfully, while TNG was seven seasons, had an instant following and popularity which would give the actors more time to bond.

[@Duncan_Idaho_Potato]

@@Paulafan5 That's a very good point. Every main cast member of TNG got at least a couple of episodes per season in which they were the focus character, the "star" of the episode. It was pretty rare on TOS for anyone other than Kirk, Spock, or McCoy to get the spotlight for very long in an episode. Heck, even the guest stars frequently got more screen time than any one of the lesser main cast characters.

[@judsonmiers1315]

Seems like a pretty straightforward explanation, easy to understand situation, and he had EVERY opportunity to be a horrible person, but he acted like a class act.

[@johnlaing8637]

Of course he doesn't take a stab. He barely knew he existed, in spite being on the set with him for 3 years and making over half a dozen movies with him. He's wondering why would I go to the wedding, when asked, of one of the most prominent minority actors of the 60's as a gay man and an Asian man? Because you are not a self centered white privileged narcissist is why. This is a guy who took Star Trek and his role as Kirk for granted until Patrick Stewart had to explain that it was ok for Kirk to be the greatest honor of his life. It is, and I love him for it, but Shatner is a self involved idiot. Also see how he crushed Will Wheaton.

[@trekkiejunk]

@@johnlaing8637 -- You forgot that in addition to the series and movies, they also appeared together at countless conventions for more than 40 years. If i worked with someone that routinely, i couldn't imagine saying, "I don't know the man." There are a lot of people who i have worked LESS intimately with, for a shorter period of time, who i never developed an after-work friendship with, but if we ran into each other now, we would hug and catch up. Literally DOZENS of ex co-workers like that. And that's not to mention that Bill and George are connected by both being icons in the same property.

[@trekkiejunk]

@@johnlaing8637 -- If it wasn't clear, i totally agree with you. I also met Shatner at a convention, and he was an ass to me. I was pissed since i paid almost $200 to meet that fucker, and he was a total jerk. Nimoy was at the same convention, and i paid for him too. But he treated me with kindness, respect, and appreciation for being there to see him. It meant the world to me.

[@greytakerrev7147]

@@johnlaing8637 he crushed Whil Wheaton please I saw the book he made about about Whil Shatner on how he crushed his dreams by just talking about his outfit?!l Are you for real??? On top of that the way he articulates himself in explaining his ooh so horrific child traumatic experience is like an adult making a book saying my terrible childhood with the center focus being how his uncle said his shoes looked tacky. I couldn’t keep myself from laughing when I read it. He has even apologized to him for that, but Whil seems to have forgotten that for some reason he must need attention some how.

[@SweetBearCub]

@@johnlaing8637 It may not be apparent to us as viewers, but remember that Takei might have only been on set for 1 or 2 days, and it takes 6 days to make most episodes of a weekly Star Trek series. Usually when actors are not needed on set, they're either in makeup trailers, or they're in their personal trailers resting, making calls, etc. We like to think there was a lot of close time on set, but it rarely shakes out that way due to how most productions work. Finally, yes he "knew" Takei, as in he knew his name, he was cordial, but what he was getting at is that he did not know the man beyond pleasantries.

[@brynpookc1127]

We’re also talking about a TV show made in the 1960s. It was not an ensemble group which is more frequent in today’s world. There was very little interaction between the lead actors, who were mainly shooting every day and the others who came in, often when the leads were not even on set, to do their parts. It was also the culture of the time.

[@HELLH0WND]

Takei was never the same since he was absorbed by Landru.

[@HisWordisLife4U]

I always thought it was weird they took his word for it that he was ok after being beamed up without Bones affirming it. I think you are right.

[@cherylmurray7942]

Hahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!

[@etherealnebulous]

LOL 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@berliner0]

Oh my

[@watchmanonthewall14]

Landru and the body are one.

[@leonptr]

George Takei has built his career on the back of this so called "feud" He's dined out on it for years now. It's actually quite sad.

[@valkyriesardo278]

I've listened to an elderly Takei complain that Shatner was responsible for reducing Takei's screen time. Shatner was a lead in the series with contractual privileges. Whether he acted from aesthetic judgment or ego makes no difference. Takei accepted a supporting role. He continues to resent that he wanted more and did not get more. Shatner was hired to play Captain Kirk not George Takei's agent. Notice that Shatner moved on to other productions. He has become a public icon as William Shatner, arguably exceeding James Tiberius Kirk. Takei is still no more than Sulu and even less a man than he was onscreen. He continues trying to leverage attention for himself by whining about a role that was over and done many years ago. That is pathetic and shameful.

[@desecration171]

I don't follow their careers or STU enough to know who's telling the truth (more). However you're ignoring important aspects. A main star can cut into a support persons screen time. It doesn't have to be intentional. If a main star says he wants X amount of screen time then it's coming, most likely, out of a support person's time. Conversely a main star can argue for more screen time for her support people to work on a particular story arc. So it's not as if Shatner has NO influence whatsoever. It was a different era and I'm sure Shatner would never admit it today but being the white male lead actor had its perks. A bit of Takei professional jealousy may stem from that. It would also explain why Shatner is/was so dismissive of Takei. Shatner never exceeded Kirk. Kirk is what made him a legend. Don't get it twisted. Nimoy and Shatner both despised the characters that made them household names. Shatner would be some 80s has been at this point if not for the fact zealous fans kept his name out there. He also had no problem being Kirk-adjacent when it suited his financial needs. Takei was also not the only person to report Shatner as being problematic. As I often remind people "two things can exist at the same time". Takei can be one of those stereotypical gay troublemakers involved in drama as well as Shatner being a total dick and attention whore.

[@zakuraayame5091]

@@desecration171 yes, racism ... in a show where the white male lead kissed the black female comms (first televised interracial kiss ever, btw), various colors of alien women, sometimes reptilian skin. What an asshole, to love any and all without any discrimination. You realize there has been many successful gay actors over the entire time Mr. Grumpy pants has been in the business, many very openly gay, flamboyantly so some. Take a step back; between Takei and Shatner; who is the one pointing fingers and throwing shade. If you wish to pass judgement, do so based on the person's intent, emotion, empathy. Ignoring all else, who seems to be speaking from a place that is malignant and who is speaking in a benign way. That is all you really need to know, and you can feel it here pretty clearly. Their careers have nothing to do with this example of two human psychologies. Takei would be exactly the same no matter what path in life he took. Some people are bitter, complaining, never satisfied tools. Shatner is just pure career focused. I mean Patrick Stewart was the same way. Both are theater men. The lady that played Janeway is just a serious an actress, extremely dedicated and these people sacrifice time with the FAMILY ... and you want to defend a whiny baby who isn't their child, parent, spouse that he didn't get enough play time? Society depresses me.

[@desecration171]

​@@zakuraayame5091 If you're going to engage then don't wade in the kiddie side of the pool. This is Hollywood I'm talking about. HW is more responsible that American mainstream media itself in promoting sexist and racist attitudes and stereotypes throughout the world (not just America). The 1960s and 70s was a completely different era and that still doesn't change the fact that racism and sexism is still rampant now. Were you out of the country during ME2 and the 2020 Racial Reckoning? Star Trek NG had an episode that had an entire planet run by a race of people that mimicked African culture. They further fed into racial tropes by having the "Aryan princess" kidnapped the Big Black Brute and held against her will (at least until she gave into his savage ways). Everyone knew this was a dog whistle throwback to Civil War and Jim Crow era propaganda of black men kidnapping and raping WW that later led to many of the racial mass murders that go undiscussed in public education. "Liberal Hollywood" would never do such a thing, right? I'm just crazy and looking too deeply into things. Sulu and Harry Kim filled in for the sexless Asian male trope. Kim couldn't even get laid by 7 of 9 and she all but told him to slide his penis in her Borg Box. Who can forget that boondoggle that was Jordi trying to digi-mance that engineer only to have her find his secret Holodex pornstash. I can go down the list of characters from ST1 to today but the overall point is the best love interest and story arcs go to white leads and supporting casts. Sisko was STU first non-white lead, which was jammed inbetween both main white-led franchises (NG and Voy). Coincidence or lack of confidence that a non-white actor couldn't carry a series by himself (Read: New Falcon and Winter Soldier series)? Let's get back to STOS. OS had a diverse cast but the 3 main leads were all white males. Kirk had one kiss scene with a non-white woman. Okay. Kirk was also making out with a bunch of WW dressed or dye-colored to look like aliens. That doesn't change the mind of the racists who were watching the show realizing these were still WW with mostly caucaisian traits. If they replaced all of Kirk's alien love interest with black women (and I mean the mocha kind, afro out and full lips) those viewers would've lost their minds. This was the 60s. George T. "knew his place" as well as the others despite it being a multicultural show. Now if the NW people knew how the rules worked, why is it that the white actors didn't? Sounds pretty weird. Now let's get to the profiling personality types. You remember First Aunt Viv? Everybody thought she was bat shit crazy until years later we found out Will and Alphonso might have had a little something to do with why she snapped and could no longer work in Hollywood. She was a serious actress and hands down a much better theater actor than Shatner. Mulgrew was a serious actress, as you said, but she also got into a little set drama when she was upstaged by a younger, blonder model as the new co-lead. She wasn't very nice to Jerry Ryan which she even admitted to years later. Petty professional jealousy. In this particular case it was one-sided but I'm using it to bolster my case that how people present themselves in public as "being above it all" doesn't mean they weren't engaging in backroom drama with the others. What do you think the repercussion would've been if black people found out Will Smith, the beloved non-confrontational fun guy, was the real reason Aunt Viv got fired mid-series? For decades Will Smith has put up a facade of being the perfect family man. I personally never bought into it. Anyone that pretends to be that aloof is hiding something. I don't fully believe Shatner for that very reason. Noone gets that mad at you and starts hitting you with a stick for no reason. I never defended George. You said that. I'm just not taking a side and blaming both parties. Just like with Jane Hubert (1st Aunt Viv) her attitude (and being seen as an ABW) didn't help her career out like George but that mean George was 100% at fault either. Just because George may be a toxic individual it doesn't mean his ire wasn't warranted. When/if you reply back just say "Sho'Nuff!!!"

[@zakuraayame5091]

@@desecration171 the 'big bad black guy' episode of tng LOL you didn't watch it then. but let me help you. There was planet they visited. Women had property rights, not men. The bad dude was trying to do something shady, the color of his skin ONLY MATTERS TO RACISTS. It ended with the crew helping save THE BLACK QUEEN. She has her love, the one that always respected her as her mate, and the idiot is her servant. Racism is where racists want to see it and hollywood means absolutely shit to me, and anyone with a fucking brain cell. If you allow media of any form to control and mold your mind in bad ways, that is YOUR problem. You are the town of South Park, and you are calling every flag you see racist because those are the tinted glasses you view the world through. You know what, I've been profiled and illegal searched and seizured by the police both personal property and my person. I've had an officer ask me to take out my wallet and when I did he pulled his gun on me. Don't fucking try to talk to me about racism and bullshit. But I don't think every cop is a god damned racist profiling asshole. I also know when someone is actually being opressed. I've been opressed for the color of my skin and my gender before. I've had friends discriminated for their sexual preference. I've quit good jobs because of shit like that. Society today doesn't even have a fucking clue and you are part of the problem pussy footing and pretending every little damn thing is an actual offense. Well, if you think and live that way, you will oppress your damn self. If you didn't understand that from last time and want to think it is kiddie pool time; no honey, it is adult swim, and real adults don't cry over spilled milk all the damn time, they clean it up, move on, and possible try to prevent milk being spilled in that way again. Don't play victim, don't make people victims that aren't. Who am I going to cry to about illegal search and seizures? The same person I'll complain about the cancer I have. You fight through it, you make yourself stronger, and you don't fucking whine like a little bitch about it because that doesn't do anything. Now, this fucking moron Takei. Have you personally ever been a hard working individual? It is fucking tough. You don't have time for family, you definitely don't have time for someone who is trying to ride your coattails instead of forging their own path while you have 50x the responsibility in your position. I've had to fire people like him that come and complain 'my manager doesn't recognize what I do' 'yeah, you are a lazy and I have just the thing for you, a one way invitation out of here'. Maybe you haven't worked with people your entire life. Try it. Go manage a fast food place or a grocery store. Have fun. Now manage factories where production numbers and waste control mean everything and you are still dealing with people who want to be babied. No respect for Takei. It has nothing to do with race or who he likes to kiss at night. It has everything to do with his personality. If we are speaking of Shatner back in the day, I wouldn't befriend him, why, because he couldn't be an actual friend to anyone. Workaholics cannot. You want to learn about someone who a lot of people thought was truly difficult to work with that many loved? Johnny Carson. But you have a lot of baggage to throw on people. I don't really give a fuck, I'm taking these two at their face value. One is like 'I don't know the guy enough to even have a grudge!' the other is literally talking shit for decades because things didn't go his way. Get over it. I didn't get to date every girl I swooned over, should I call them assholes? or racist? FFS

[@desecration171]

​@@zakuraayame5091 He "rode his coatitails" for 50 years to get what out of it? LOL Why was Janet Hubert really mad at Will Smith? Personality conflict aside, it is really difficult for black actors to find meaningful work in HW. It's even harder for them to land a successful lead role or "black show". Will and Alphonso being a couple of young goofballs had no idea that by calling for the mods they would permanently damage her career path. That is something black people have to take into account that when they complain or make waves. I'm sure if the two men were more culturally aware at the time and JH knew the final outcome all parties would've sat down and tried to arrive at a better solution than for her being blacklisted and Will taking a huge reputation hit Race ALWAYS plays a role in American culture whether the persons involved have racist intentions or not. Non-white minorities are as petrified of reporting a discrimination problem as much as whites are afraid of being accused of being racist. I never said Shatner was a racist. I said being a white male he had certain privileges, especially given the time period, that allowed him more power and freedom of expression than an Asian man whose also gay (2 strikes).So because some random gay person made it big in HW that's somehow supposed to apply to all gays and is completely ahistorical of the treatment and representation of gays in HW, either in film or actual career options. Why didn't you just throw in a "my one black friend" while you were at it or regale us with one of your boot-strapisms about how the little Negro children could make it out the ghetto if only they applied themselves like Michael Jordan. **eyes roll** Shatner didn't have to address the Takei problem because he had more to lose by getting down in the mud with him. After awhile though people are going to start asking questions about why someone is consistently attacking you. Your response is typical of the race-denying gaslighter. "Race wasn't a factor here. There was noone caught on tape wearing a Klanhood, burning crosses, and using the Hard-R." I'm talking about things in the context of the time period these two lived in and you're trying to downplay that, which as I said is typical. This is YT not some college debate class where you try to blow smoke until the time in your round runs out. Go find someone else to play with. Don't @ me again. Seriously. I mean it.

[@GlorifiedTruth]

This celebrity feud has been the cornerstone of my existence for over 30 years now. I rarely talk or think about anything else.

[@jaykraft9523]

While there may be no doubt that Takei had a point about the shallowness of Shatner during the taping of the show, even manslaughter caries a limited time conviction. He should of had his say decades ago, and then let it go. Instead, he repeated these grievances over and over spanning decades. It became worse than anything Shatner may have done, and quite frankly, a little weird.

[@tomthx5804]

Here is the nub of it all. Nobody cares about George Takei. The only way he can get any publicity is to start a "feud" with Shatner. End of story.

[@jaykraft9523]

couldn't have said it better

[@Titan500J]

Tom thx I think you hit the nail on the head. George is just plane jealous. Very sad.

[@beacee]

Takei is not the only one on the set who had issues with Shatner. He seems quite arrogant.

[@Hibernicus1968]

The other's had issues, but they were all able to resolve them, Takei is the only one who seems to be holding on to it.

[@jjojo2004]

I BELIEVE Bill. It was once mentioned the issue was that 50 years ago, Bill denied George a few minutes of extra screen time. Whether it's true or not, it doesn't matter. STAR TREK IS CAPTAIN KIRK---NOT SULU. His character is supporting at best. George needs to get over it. 😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫

[@auggie803]

-Takei will Never get over it. He is to into himself and will go to his grave with that stupid attitude. Just like Gun Smoke had its 3 or 4 main stars(Matt Dillon) SO did Star Trek with there main 2 stars being Bill & Mr Spoke. Lenard.

[@nancystone2917]

LIKE W.S. SAID ON THE SNL TREKKIE CONVENTION SKIT...GET A LIFE [GEORGE].

[@Djarra]

The other story is that when TAS was first cast Shatner and Nimoy were brought back but the rest of the cast would be played by James Doohan and Majel Barret it was Nimoy that insisted everyone be bought back especially Nichols and Takei although budget wise they couldn't afford both Takei and Walter Koenig and apparently Shatner wanted Koenig back rather than Takei (in the end Walter wrote an episode but didn't appear)

[@amightysailingman]

It's not just Takei, though. Doohan, Nichols, Koenig - none of them liked Shatner. To him, they were the "little people" who were beneath him. Guest stars had similar stories. Characters were suddenly put on stools instead of standing because Shatner didn't like that they were taller than he was even with the lifts he always wore. Yvonne Craig said Shatner grabbed her and physically moved her so he could present his best profile to the camera. Not just suggested she move, but actually manhandled her.

[@kellymartin8090]

If youv’e read “Star Trek Memoirs,” by Shatner George himself says he and the rest of the supporting cast did not like Shatner because, from time to time, he stepped on their lines, and in some cases, deleted their lines (that right was in Shatner’s contract. Many leads have those options). Also, Shatner didn’t pay attention to them, so they resented him. As Shatner just said, he was into his job and didn’t snuggle up to the cast. Leonard Nimoy did.

[@jimquantic]

For what it's worth Bill, he did nothing in our eyes to spoil anything whatsoever, thanks for the work. You once referred to yourself as a "journeyman actor" and we could not agree more. Again, thank you for the great roles and characters you brought to life. From the Andersonville Trials, to everything else, well done.

[@johnlaing8637]

Of course he doesn't take a stab. He barely knew he existed, in spite being on the set with him for 3 years and making over half a dozen movies with him. He's wondering why would I go to the wedding, when asked, of one of the most prominent minority actors of the 60's as a gay man and an Asian man? Because you are not a self centered white privileged narcissist is why. This is a guy who took Star Trek and his role as Kirk for granted until Patrick Stewart had to explain that it was ok for Kirk to be the greatest honor of his life. It is, and I love him for it, but Shatner is a self involved idiot. Also see how he crushed Will Wheaton.

[@boydcrowder9841]

Shatner is right. As much as I like Takei, he is takes things a little too personal.

[@tabletalk33]

+Boyd Crowder George has problems upstairs.

[@Servellion]

Too be fair, Shatner has had problems with other actors as well. So likely the problem is both Shatner and Takei.

[@Celisar1]

I am not the real Dread Pirate Roberts. What a stupid comment! Talk negatively about yourself if you must.

[@davidtsang4949]

He meant that he doesn't know George as a person. They're not friends. They don't hang out with each other.

[@johnscanlan6337]

That's a key element of identity politics, the constant and never ending search for things to be offended by!

[@jasonschlierman412]

God bless William Shatner. Hope he lives another 90 years!

[@hugh1297]

Walter Koenig (Chekov) said it was strange Takei asked him to be his best man at his wedding, since they didn't know each other well, and the "cynical" explanation was he wanted to generate publicity for his wedding using Star Trek connections

[@johnnyw525]

I don't think that's true. Why would Koenig accept if that was how he really felt? It's a bit hypocritical go through with it if you thought it was a sham.

[@easyalpha1]

Shatner wanted to come too....

[@realPromotememedia]

Takei has no friends Takei wanted to make a point

[@mrofnocnon]

The "cynical" were absolutely right!

[@johnnyw525]

@@realPromotememedia Erm. His wedding had something like 3,000 guests.

[@atravelerofbothtimespace4172]

Trekkies calm down . George Takei is the Hater and the aggressor

[@patwest1815]

@ He has joined the SJW club in recent years.

[@voltsoftruthBSbuster]

Wow my respect for this man just went a notch higher. Always conduct your self in a dignify manner, and people will know who is lying and who speaks the truths simply by observing your actions. It takes a very sad person to hold a grudge for over 40 years and take low blows at a person even if he had wronged you once. One of these man has a life, a career and serious matters to attend and has no time to stop for every single "barking dog" , the other one is full of jealousy, envy, no prospects, and lives in the past. I'm sure smart people can work out which one is which.

[@metallkopf988]

So GT and the Shat didn't become close during filming? So what? It's not obliged to bond with everyone you work with. So everyone else on the cast hated the Shat too? So what? Maybe the man is indeed a self-centered git, but guess what: No one is required to be friends with anyone else. If anything, choosing who you want to be friends with and whose weddings to go to is one of the most important social freedoms known to humankind. Expecting Shatner to go to Takei's wedding just because of expectations connected to the Star Trek franchise completely violates this freedom of choice for someone who may not be a great example for a human being, but who still gets to choose how and with whom to spend his free time... Being happy, content and sufferable has everything to do with managing your expectations of other people... One of the best pieces of advice I can give from what I've learned from life so far is that you do not owe anyone an explanation for declining a social invitation or telling someone no. If someone petulantly demands that you provide one, they likely want to manipulate or guilt you into confirming to their expectations. Even if Shatner was indeed a complete dumpster-fire of a human being, Takei does seem like something of a vindictive bitch... Likely he only ever invited him to double-bind Shatner. If he attends, complain about his behaviour at the wedding, if he doesn't attend, complain about him not attending...

[@kevinscollan8293]

I think you've hit that nail on the head bud.😎💕🖖

[@colemcleod941]

I think that Takei's 'feud' with William Shatner is best summed up with this quote from Johnny Depp's character - John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester, in 'The Libertine' - wherein Wilmot is coaching a young actress after she suffers the rowdy ire of a raucous crowd during her stage performance; "Mrs. Barry, you must acquire the trick of ignoring those who do not like you. In my experience, those who do not like you fall into two categories: The stupid and the envious. The stupid will like you in five years time. The envious, never."

[@JasonJrake]

Love that movie! only saw it once but I still remmeber that line.

[@mixerD1-]

Solid advice for anyone at anytime. 👍

[@marinakaye8284]

Thanks. I was trying to remember that name, Wilmot, Earl of Rochester only coupla day ago!!

[@drcarp7377]

Shatner is a much deeper and thoughtful man than people give him credit for. I believe him when he says he was too absorbed and busy in his work to take much notice of Takei. I know one of the accusations from Takei was that Bill was always looking to have the best lines and steal the scene from his fellow actors. So what!, he was the lead role. Takei still got a very good part that defined his career, and provided for him for the rest of his life. But surely an undercurrent here must be Takei's sexuality. Something he would have been deeply sensitive about. And if Bill, whether knowingly or not, shunned Takei in some way, then he is likely to get very bitchy about that. And of the two, I think Bill is the more straight forward. I think if he didn't like you, or dislike something you did, he would say so. Whereas Takei strikes me as somebody who doesn't say anything bad to your face, but loves to disrespect you behind your back.

[@dropkickmurphy4114]

Also sounds similar to Wil Wheaton's response to the first time HE got to meet Shatner as a young man: To hear Wil tell it, Shatner just blew him off instead of dropping everything to engage with him. Between Takei and Wheaton, I'm thinking it's a couple of fragile egos who get offended easily.

[@switchbladekid1365]

I'm going to get jumped on for saying this, but Shatner is famous in the industry for counting lines. Leonard Nimoy almost left Star Trek in the first season because Shatner would object when Spock and McCoy had more lines than he did. The idea that he and Nimoy were close is a myth.

[@Retroboxmedia]

Having seen the way George Takei trolls others online who disagree with him, it doesn't surprise me that he's burnt a bridge with Shatner. That sadly, seems to be a theme in his life.

[@marcweeks9178]

"(B)urnt a bridge..." Pun not intended, I suppose.

[@Scyllax]

George Takei doesn’t like shits like you?

[@VincentGuastini]

Haivng worked with Mr. Shatner I have nothing but great respect and love for the man. He is a hero and a inspration.

[@knottreel]

Takei had an over-inflated ego. Whenever he spoke, you'd think he was some major star, yet he was just a supporting character on Star Trek.

[@mcrfan343]

Oh come one his acting career consisted a lot more than Star Trek.

[@knottreel]

@@mcrfan343 What do you think he'll be remembered for by most people?

[@jaelge]

@@mcrfan343: And what precisely might that have been?

[@jaelge]

And could've been easily replaced. Takei's career did not go as far as he thought that he was entitled for it to go and he harbors resentment for those who went further. It's jealousy, pure and simple. For whatever reason instead of gratitude and graciousness many people who owe someone a lot will invent reasons to resent them instead.

[@manwithoutfear05]

Barely a supporting character.

[@jimba6486]

Kirk, Spock, and Dr. McCoy made Star Trek. Period.

[@stephenconway2468]

Agreed. They were the stars of the show. Then you could line up Scotty on the next level. Then the rest. No disrespect to them, but that was the set up by the studio.

[@RRR-is3rf]

Yes they had perfect chemistry .

[@kamuelalee]

They were a clic on that show...all others, rightly or wrongly, were supporting actors.

[@glenthecarguy]

dont forget alien chicks !!

[@pablohanc]

Agree, the great triumvirate.

[@TELEVISIONARCHIVES]

Tekei has told a few stories that are lies. He told Bill Maher that Star Trek was banned in the south because of the kiss between Kirk and Uhura . But the fact is it never happened. He also said everyone on Star Trek knew he was gay except Shatner. That's also not true. Nobody knew he was gay during the time the show was on. He also said Shatner had a TV Guide photographer kicked out because it was in his contract to approve the photographer. That also is not true.

[@bonnie448]

televisionarchives, Bill said in his book about Leonard Nimoy that the show with the kiss of Uhura was banned in many areas of the south!

[@suedenim]

Some of these false stories simply repeat the Official Story According to Roddenberry, who made up a lot of stuff. The actors wouldn't have been in a position to know stuff like what Southern NBC affiliates were doing... Unless they heard it from the showrunner.

[@robertdevito5001]

@@suedenim could also be a bit of "telephone" the game where you pass a message from friend to friend until the point at the end where it's nowhere near the original message, the whole "he said she said he said" scenario. "Some stations threatened to ban the show" "Some stations talked about banning the show, or something" "yeah, some stations banned the show or didn't want to play it or something like that, I think" "yeah the show got banned in the South at one point" Or if could just be drama made up to promote the show and make it seem like it was daring and risk taking, because nothing sells like rebellious attitude and controversy.

[@suewalsh1883]

The episode was banned on some stations in the south, that’s true.

[@Neville60001]

@@DavidWatersJames, source?

[@swissarmytenor]

Always seemed that Takei didn't care for the fact that Shatner was relevent an he -Takei - wasn't. To remedy that he visciously, publically, slandered Shatner. Once that started, Takei started getting invites from talk shows, etc... Takei wanted attention and he got it. He also revealed what kind of person he is.

[@mechanicjobs]

Nothing George says will change how I feel about William Shatner.

[@beyourself2444]

Got to agree

[@robd1329]

@@beyourself2444 they should get together now and have it out in the open...just let it all out and have beers in the end > its good therapy!

[@GigaTrope]

I read Takei's autobiography and it's clear he has some emotional issues - he seems to need constant validation from other people.

[@dman3438]

Marz10 most gays do

[@craftistic82]

I had to unfollow him on FB because of this exact reason

[@maskedmarvyl4774]

You're right. Most actors don't need validation.......

[@maskedmarvyl4774]

@@lancew2585 , you're rather pathetic, Lance. Any gay is twice the man you are.....

[@maskedmarvyl4774]

@James Brice , "haw"?

[@StarCadet]

Takei is so angry that Shatner was the star and not him. Takei feels that he was SO incredible as Sulu and so talented, that he should have had his own spin-off and that Shatner must have held him back. Takei is just a bitter man who can't accept that he didn't have what it takes to take center stage, so he blames everyone. In Takei's mind, as show with Sulu would have done 10 TV seasons and 12 movies all breaking records.

[@SenorJuan2023]

I don't even remember ever seeing Takei in anything not Star trek related.

[@guaporeturns9472]

I love Sulu but can’t stand Takei

[@anarchorepublican5954]

...actually I always that thought Takei's Sulu was a little creepy...remember the episode where he was running around the quarter deck with no shirt on and waving a rapier?...

[@guaporeturns9472]

@@anarchorepublican5954 That was one of his best performances.. a deranged man running around with a weapon is supposed to be a bit unsettling.. and he did . He nailed it. Explain " creepy” please.

[@anarchorepublican5954]

@@guaporeturns9472 ...in that role Takei always seemd to be digging deep into he's very own inner most meglamanaic (that bloodcurdling grin:)...not to mention all his public performance since have only conformed the suspicion...Lt.Sulu s a glory hound..the real Capt Kirk really went into space...not again as a sad washed up Sci Fi Hero on the screen...but the oldest man ever to orbit our planet...now only a true egoitic megalomanist could hate on that...perhaps George Takei, has actually been the evil Lt. SuLu from "Mirror, Mirror" universe all along...after all... all it takes in a Transporter Glinch...

[@Enkephalen]

This one-sided feud perpetuated by George Takei against William Shatner for the past 40-50 years reminds me of a scene from the Cary Grant 1951 movie “People Will Talk” wherein Mr. Shunderson (Finlay Curtis) speaks to Professor Elwell (Hume Cronyn): Shunderson: “Professor Elwell, you're a little man. It's not that you're short. You're...little, in the mind and in the heart. Tonight, you tried to make a man little whose boots you couldn't touch if you stood on tiptoe on top of the highest mountain in the world. And as it turned out...you're even littler than you were before.”

[@Stevesmith-yw7cr]

George Takei has a problem.....Takei hated the idea of Shatner saying....."Where no man has gone before".

[@glenturney4750]

Then Takei bent over. 😁

[@32lara32]

Haaaaa! I'm dying!!!

[@batman6621]

haha he gay😁 lets make fun of gay people😁 haha bent😁 haha uranus😁 😁😁😁😁😁......

[@TobeyStarburst]

George Takei needs to stop bashing Shatner.

[@Romulan2469]

+Tobey Starburst Takei is very bitter about not having been the Captain on the show and he holds resentment towards Bill for it. Shatner has my respect.

[@anitaarchibald6138]

Madolite, True, but it's the media. They smell blood in the water and they go for it. Nothing new about that. But Takei gave them that first taste of blood or they wouldn't have persisted in bringing it up. He could just say he didn't want to talk about it.

[@user-wk2qp8cp8x]

Fuck you ! Oh my😂😂😂

[@ckalnicki]

Shatner is an asshole personified....

[@glenturney4750]

Start bashing Takei right back. 😁

[@StoneShards]

I think George is offended that Bill doesn't know him. He felt slighted that Bill didn't actively befriend him. There are people like that...

[@crunkalac]

Takei was pretty much an extra on a relatively short show from 50 years ago...

[@gamesthatiplay9083]

After reading through a lot of these comments, I feel like yours is the one that is the most true. Bill was too busy to befriend the guy who was barely there and barely on the show. Some shy people hold grudges against people who don't reach out to be their friend.

[@spellman007]

ya probably because Leonard & Deforest were nice people... unlike Bill.

[@spellman007]

@@crunkalac and yet, the show and bill like to sell themselves as 'progressive' using George and Nichelles image! lol, the irony!

[@playsauce]

How'd it feel losing by over 7 million votes? Rekt.

[@SeemsLikeSomething]

This seems like a case of chased love. You can’t make someone care about you. I can relate to both of them. George wants Shatner to care about him, treat him as family, because of their work history together. William doesn’t really see it like that. He’s doing a job, busy, not really into extracurriculars with the crew. It’s a difference of position and expectation. It’s a reasonable misunderstanding. George takes it a bit too far by constantly criticizing it, but that won’t get ya the thing you were wanting initially. It’s a relationship that just wasn’t meant to be. George needs to let it go, and William needs to try to have a little compassion for George being hurt by all of it. Simple really. But hey, people do what they do. Ya chase something that doesn’t wanna be caught, you’ll end up tired and sore and the thing you’re chasing will be even less interested in being caught. It’ll always go that way. Oh well :/

[@JohnWebbb]

This analysis has far too much empathy and nuance for the Internet. By the way, can I follow you on Twitter?

[@mikegike7273]

So true.

[@adrianclint1449]

"And all this science I don't understand It's just my job five days a week A rocket man"

[@warp9p659]

I've never seen this clip before. Loved it! George Takei has frequently referred over the years to Star Trek having an "ensemble cast" of which he was an integral part. Wrong. While the character of Sulu is certainly very familiar to everyone who is a Star Trek fan, the character appeared in probably less than half of the TOS episodes produced, often with no more than one or two short lines of dialogue confined the bridge set. That's the characteristics of a supporting role, not a lead or co-starring role. Kirk, Spock, and McCoy were the "ensemble" cast, with Kirk being the lead. The other characters, many of whom were memorable and added much to the series, only supported the script and were not used in every episode. George is well known because of Star Trek, but Star Trek is not well known because of George. I'll leave it at that.

[@chrislaine8807]

warp9p65 Perfect explanation - saved me from typing ty 😀

[@mikem4432]

it still does not explain why Shatner had to be a dick to the man.. it is the mentality of a primadonna .. even Gene Roddenberry acknowledged this.

[@georgealexander141]

And Takei spent most of the second season filming THE GREEN BERETS with John Wayne.

[@gabrielsierra865]

@@mikem4432 He is the same to everyone, but some take it more personally than others. However, what he did to young Bad Paisley on that talent TV show where he was a "judge" was horrible.

[@academyofshem]

@@mikem4432 Gene Roddenberry was the biggest prima donna of all.

[@robsurfingtherabbithole1301]

George Takei and his pathetic political antics the last 20 years tell me all I need to know about what time of human being he is. His dislike of Shatner is exactly as others have said. PURE envy.

[@gamesthatiplay9083]

It's weird how George toes the political line for the party that put him in a detention camp.

[@sergioleone3583]

@@gamesthatiplay9083 And he also advocates putting others in camps just because they want to stay in control of what goes in their bodies.

[@vagabondwastrel2361]

George Takei seems to be more of a political animal than an actor. He also loves the fact he was tossed in a camp by the democrats. That allows for his support of communism be quickly dodged with "I was in a camp".

[@johnlaing8637]

Of course he doesn't take a stab. He barely knew he existed, in spite being on the set with him for 3 years and making over half a dozen movies with him. He's wondering why would I go to the wedding, when asked, of one of the most prominent minority actors of the 60's as a gay man and an Asian man? Because you are not a self centered white privileged narcissist is why. This is a guy who took Star Trek and his role as Kirk for granted until Patrick Stewart had to explain that it was ok for Kirk to be the greatest honor of his life. It is, and I love him for it, but Shatner is a self involved idiot. Also see how he crushed Will Wheaton.

[@DocDarkness]

@@johnlaing8637 I've worked with people for years, and I don't know them personally or hang out with them at all. Im not obligated to be friends or hang out with the people I say good morning to at work just because I see them every day..Over the course of 50 years how much screen time do you actually think Bill and George shared? Maybe 2 hours total. If you actually watch the og shows and the movies youll notice that they are hardly in the same scenes, when actors aren't in the same scenes they aren't off screen rooting on their buddies they usually aren't even on site. Heck they shared no screen time in Undisvovered Country for that matter. Bottom line enjoy the shows and movies and leave their personal lives out of it, it's better that way.

[@nichtsschlagteinenastronau7782]

The Shat is the one and only captain of the Enterprise! Greetings from Cologne / Germany!

[@wherewolfprime]

Actually, Shat is the past tense form of the verb "shit"!!! ( as opposed to the nou

[@wherewolfprime]

to continue: the noun "shit".)

[@EGC316]

No shit.

[@nichtsschlagteinenastronau7782]

Hahahahaha, okay, believe me, I didn‘t mean it that way… PLEASE, Captain Shatner, forgive me! (PS: I came back here because of Bill Shatner‘s flight with USS Blue Origin 1701 A today. For me he‘s the greatest! Greetings from Germany!

[@Enkephalen]

@@nichtsschlagteinenastronau7782 Waving "hello" from America.

[@wmperry222]

George could have a mental problem Bill. You've been in my entire families homes, for decades, on various tv shows. We all love you Bill.

[@arthdenton]

I guess Takei had a big crush on Shatner and Shatner didn't even bother to notice it. Because he didn't 'know' him. :)))

[@reggiebenson9172]

Ewwww GROSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!

[@missmiou6273]

I think you hit the nail right on it's head lol

[@bendu8282]

Yep 😂 😂

[@michaelfontanelli2450]

In the Biblical sense?

[@Jabberwockybird]

"Oeoh My!"

[@RandyFricke]

George Takei was great as Sulu but the credits read: Star Trek Starring William Shatner. Not Star Trek Starring George Takei. Shatner had 10 times the workload of dialog. He (Shatner) didn't have time to socialize and get all buddy-buddy with everybody in the cast. George needs to let it go already.

[@thinkingronin6178]

George Takei was always just a jealous, petty, little man.

[@cellokid5104]

I wouldn't go THAT far

[@ethics3]

@@cellokid5104 I would ...In fact i would go farther

[@OpenMawProductions]

@@cellokid5104 George was pissed at Walter Koenig for a decision that HE HIMSELF made. Nobody told him to run off and go be in the Green Berets and then completely lose the best half of the second season to Koenig. That wasn't Koenig's fault, yet George has repeatedly stated over the years he held a grudge against Walter for something that wasn't even his fault. Like, I get that Shatner can have a huge ego... Giving himself lines in the script, having the camera put on him... But he was also the leading man, build as the leading man, and with a lot more responsibility. As Shatner said, George came in for a couple of days a shoot and then he was gone again.

[@johnlaing8637]

Of course he doesn't take a stab. He barely knew he existed, in spite being on the set with him for 3 years and making over half a dozen movies with him. He's wondering why would I go to the wedding, when asked, of one of the most prominent minority actors of the 60's as a gay man and an Asian man? Because you are not a self centered white privileged narcissist is why. This is a guy who took Star Trek and his role as Kirk for granted until Patrick Stewart had to explain that it was ok for Kirk to be the greatest honor of his life. It is, and I love him for it, but Shatner is a self involved idiot. Also see how he crushed Will Wheaton.

[@spellman007]

@@OpenMawProductions most level headed comment. they were both drama queens in reality.

[@thomaschacko6320]

“I was the leading actor . . . “ That’s what hurts Takei the most!

[@christinepacetti7368]

I love will shatner he looks great.Oh it is no wonder that people are always talking about him he 's handsome!!!!

[@peterdaniel66]

The easiest way to keep yourself relevant is to create controversy... What has Shatner done as an actor and what has George done? I rest my case.

[@nadennight]

Oh my!

[@jamesmcmanamy4704]

Shatner was the STAR!!! The supporting actors owe their existence to him. I'm surprised he even wasted his time talking about Takei.

[@4fundays]

Love ya Bill! Class act! Live long and I know you do prosper. 💗💗💗

[@williamgermericana9572]

Nobody watched star trek to see kataki or whatever his name is. This is what jealous people do try to destroy those above them thinking it gets them closer to the top....