William Shatner talks "Twilight Zone"

William Shatner appeared in two episodes of the original "Twilight Zone", "Nightmare at 20,000 feet" and "Nick of Time", and was asked by a fan at Big Apple Comic Con 2019 what his thoughts were on the upcoming reboot hosted by Jordan Peele. Shatner told a few stories about his time on the show and about Charlie Beaumont, and his thoughts on the return of anthology programs coming back into popularity.
For more information on Big Apple Comic Con, head to www.BigAppleCC.com
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[@neka7663]

Charles Beaumont. Criminally overlooked, but one of the best! I think Penguin has a collection of some of his best known stories, more than a few of which are classic Twilight Zone episodes.

[@kitcat7538]

William Shatner is so charming even in old age! A national treasure in two countries. Still buzzing around happily writing books and giving interviews at the age of 88. I hope he's still at it when he's 100.

[@tpstrato2270]

he will be here way into his 100s

[@feliciakidd9358]

He sure is. I still laugh till this day at that episode of The Twilight Zone him on the plane.

[@catlady8324]

You don’t think he over does it a bit at times? Like, overacting? Just a bit, maybe?

[@edwardfitzgerald3877]

This man was born in March of 1931. He is now 90 years old. Wow. He is so lovely.

[@danielhetue6968]

He just turned 93 a couple of days ago and hopefully, he reaches a centennial mark and that is 100 years old which will happen in 7 years.

[@scottuehlinger7887]

Shatner was also in the first Man From Uncle (called, incredibly...the VULCAN AFFAIR), Thriller, the Outer Limits and many others....

[@zoppie]

Shatner and Nimoy were both in a Man From U.N.C.L.E. episode called "the Project Strigas Affair." The Outer Limits episode (the episode name eludes me) was the one where he plays an astronaut back from Venus who can't seem to get warm anymore. The mission in the story had been called Project Vulcan.

[@ashroskell]

That’s fascinating. Love trivia like that ✌️👍

[@ashroskell]

He mentioned Richard Mattheson, who wrote I Am Legend, one of the best books I ever read (let alone sci fi novels, just great literature) and which has NEVER been done justice on the screen. It would make a ground breaking mini-series, if adapted faithfully. But, to any who love sci fi, or just a gripping read, that book is next level stuff, genuine literature ✌️

[@kennysherrill6542]

@@zoppie Just last week I was trying to remember that very episode when Bill played the Astronaut, his speech on man going to the stars is iconic. Yes great show and thanks for helping me remember that.👍🇺🇸

[@kaila62kaila]

Once Shatner said he only remembers he was just a hungry actor while filming the "gremlin" Twilight Zone episode. I just noticed on KZbin he was EVERYWHERE in the early 1960s television. How did he learn all those lines? I would love to read his biography one day!

[@robd1329]

You should see his recorded live plays from wayyy before star trek. Thats a damn lot of dialogue for any actor to remember on live tv back in the day. It still baffles me how he did it

[@reginamay2767]

love hearing about the old times of those shows, awesome to hear william tell the stories in the shows he was in, the the actress that played with william in nightmare at 20,ooo feet she past away her name was christine white. the other actress that played with him in twilight zone nick of time I think she past away to. both of the TZ shows he was in is 2 of my favs.

[@022171]

The way the audience is helping his memory on these questions reminds me of the SNL bit he did as himself appearing at a Trekky convention. "Come on, people, it was just a TV show. You! Have you ever kissed a girl?"

[@gargantuaism]

I am now more surprised when people actually say Rod "SERLING" than I am when they say "Rod STERLING". I would say at least 75% of the time Twilight Zone comes up I will hear somebody say something like "Oh Rod STERLING was a genius". I cannot figure it out, why do so many people have such a hard time saying "ROD SERLING?"

[@carlesq.]

reality shift,it was sterling

[@hanniffydinn6019]

Mandela effect baby! It was sterling !

[@squamish4244]

It's easier to remember the more forceful name "Sterling". Also "sterling silver". And Serling is a much less common name.

[@hanniffydinn6019]

@@squamish4244 no it’s the Mandela effect! It was sterling!

[@squamish4244]

@@hanniffydinn6019 Ahhhh! Now I...I don't know! There's...someone on the wing! I'm Captain Kirk! I'M CAPTAIN KIRK!

[@DanHarkless_Halloween_YTPs_etc]

Thanks for the upload! I wasn't familiar with _The Intruder_ before this. Roger Corman is one of my least favorite directors (only one directed by him that I enjoyed was _The Undead,_ and that was helped along by the MST3K riffing), but sounds like this is one worth seeking out.

[@fredfungalspore]

Bill makes an interesting point about the network requirements.. Most are very young beyond belief with very little life experiences but seem to have the power to push their point of views regardless of challenges...😮

[@chevypreps6417]

That is not William Shatner on stage in this video that is James T Kirk. He is always interesting to listen too.

[@halholbrookspussy]

CHARLES BEAUMONT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@ajas90]

It's funny to see how Mr. Shatner has forgotten several names of people that have been instrumental in his career when it was starting out. Even the fanboys do an even better job at remembering names of people from Shatner's own life. It just shows you that celebrities are just as human as anybody - they just live in another world. I for example don't remember the names of all my teachers, classmates, and co-workers throughout my life, and I'm only 30. I can only imagine with how many different people Mr. Shatner has interacted throughout his career, so unless he would've had a photographic memory, it's only natural that he also forgot. The big difference though is that the names he forgets that fanboys and fangirls remember in a heartbeat; imagine struggling to remember a household name like Rod Serling! Shatner got to live the life, whereas fanboys 'only' got to witness it through TV screens.

[@michaelrochester48]

Paul McCartney says his fans know more about his life than he does! It’s just a matter of dwelling on facts wheras they are just living their life

[@crepesoftime]

@@michaelrochester48 I think Shatner one time even said that die hard Trekkies "need to get a life" or something along those lines.

[@tommygunng9113]

@@crepesoftime That was a SNL skit: kzbin.info/www/bejne/kJKlkHpnjLOHbZI

[@TommygunNG]

@@crepesoftime That was a SNL skit: kzbin.info/www/bejne/kJKlkHpnjLOHbZI

[@rosemariemann1719]

@@crepesoftime Yes, "Get a life ! " I think he also said, " It's only a t.v. show ! " But so many folk DO take it so seriously ! Guess it's relaxation , fun, and makes them feel part of something special . I hope not TOO much of their lives, though, because that's more an obsession : surely not so good....? 🤔🇬🇧💕🇺🇲😊

[@llongdong]

How can ya listen to this after 90 seconds?

[@garyspence2128]

Our attention spans have not been distorted by cell phones, video games, and quick cutting in motion pictures. We may be older, but we're patient, and are willing to wait for the information. Unlike you young rascals...

[@JS-jh4cy]

What episodes? The air and the choice with the fortune teller?

[@johnwhite5551]

Nightmare At 20,000 feet and Nick of Time.

[@tinaberkley7295]

Another rather obscure "NBC Movie of the Week?" in which the "Shant" was involved in, as well as Andy Griffith (terrific "heavy" in this one), is called "Pray for the Wildcats!" Look it up, well worth the watch!

[@rosemariemann1719]

I watched, "Pray For The Wildcats", and thought it was not very good...sorry...

[@emsleywyatt3400]

Their wardrobe for that flick looked like Trek uniforms.

[@volumedealer2716]

Always saw it as wierd or creepy show. It was always a feeling next to fear, but not quite that.

[@Barnabas45]

Rod Sterling?

[@DR360WHO]

Brucifer Mephistopheles- twilight zone

[@assoverteakettle]

@@DR360WHO @Brucifer Mephistopheles was being sarcastic. Listen closely at 1:45 and Shatner incorrectly says "Rod Sterling" instead of "Rod Serling". It was probably only two weeks to shoot that episode in his early career as a TV actor so he probably does not remember that much about the experience.

[@dr.inkwell1070]

@@assoverteakettle did he change his name? I thought it was Sterling?

[@rondobson1828]

Eh.... give Shatner a break... He's about 106 here

[@libradragon]

Yep, it is Rod Serling, and the crazy human brain does not recall with accuracy any sane version of reality. Mandela Effect? :D

[@brandonflorida1092]

Fascinating.

[@3b0ny1]

The Twilight Zone series has always been about mystery, that’s the lure and if the new writers simply resurrect old episodes without coming out with new and original episodes it’s going to fail.

[@irontribeissues9104]

Well, it may not fail bc ppl are horribly trained now to slurp down just about anything branded… but it deserves to fail if they are that lazy.

[@3b0ny1]

@@irontribeissues9104 the reason I said that is because producers have tried to resurrect the Twilight Zone series many times before in the past without much success outside of the one that premiered in the 90’s. I think that one had a 5 year run. The reason for this in my opinion is not because people are not interested in a new Twilight Zone series but rather its because the producers keep putting in writers who are not true fans of the series. So what ends up happening is that they go through old material and simply update it with a modern day twist that encompass very little originality. That grows old quick.

[@3b0ny1]

My bad, that was the Outer Limits revival that premiered and had a successful run in the 90’s not the Twilight Zone series.

[@DJ-bj8ku]

What I want is intelligent, character-driven stories devoid of pyrotechnics and gratuitous sex that actually say something about our world. In other words, good writing and directing. Now they’re producing stuff off of algorithms, so I’ve tuned out.

[@rsmith02]

There are very good documentaries and original series out these days. Much better than the TV wasteland of sitcoms I remember when growing up. Even Star Trek was hampered by the format of contained 1 hour shows and didn't really allow for character arcs.

[@DJ-bj8ku]

@@rsmith02 Can you recommend a couple? I don’t think I subscribe to enough platforms.

[@jamescullen2448]

Fantastic man end off 🇬🇧🤝

[@KRYPTOS_K5]

Hello captain. Sorry for my English. I am not American. I live in a poor and primitive country. Well I must say I am your "transgerational" fan because I don't love the more recent Star Treks shows. I am not exactly a fan of "star trek" in general. I am a fan of your star trek TV show and of yours. I think original star trek is more realistic than the all posterior shows, well, by many important reasons. Well (sorry for my auto didactic English). Captain, may I ask you something? I wish to know if in your opinion Beaumont aged in his lookings and physical appearance as you commented here or if he aged only in his behaviour and mental faculties? Thank you.

[@hugdam]

Diário de bordo, data estelar...eterno Capitão James T Kirk, da USS Interprise

[@dorianmclean6755]

I love him. No doubt

[@heathg7665]

Wow, Shatner can’t even remember Rod Serlings name. What a shame. Serling was a prolific writer and career starter for actors. Shatner of course, on par, has forgotten his roots.

[@weed89ilt]

that TOLD us absolutely NOTHING about TWILIGHT ZONE Shatner is on planet ZORP-O...what a Bummer...i ONLY cared about what T.Z. was like to work on

[@rsmith02]

He doesn't remember that: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pIm2aq19brSjiqc

[@secondrule]

Geez, the show was on like 60 years ago. Do you remember how it was in your school classroom 20 years ago when you took that history test?

[@robd1329]

He should have asked him about TJ Hooker...if it was true he banged Heather Locklear! Im sure he would remember that!!!

[@xusiaxod6255]

The new Twilight Zone by Jordan Peele is a load of woke nonsense and an insult to Rod Serling..

[@emsleywyatt3400]

The Twilight Zone was "woke" before woke was even a thing.

[@xusiaxod6255]

@@emsleywyatt3400 No, it wasn't.

[@irontribeissues9104]

This is a total fail. He’s just a forgetful old dodderer hung up on exact names instead of the story itself.

[@rsmith02]

Well, what did he say next? He told us about the life of a writer who meant something to him. The details of filming a show 60 years ago probably aren't memorable.

[@secondrule]

What's your claim to fame? Posting a comment on youtube, lol.

[@robd1329]

..hes 90

[@dk60ish]

It's been assumed that Charles Beaumont had either Alzheimer's or Pick's disease, based on hospital testing at the time, but this was before medical world really knew that much about such diseases that affected the brain. Beaumont's drinking was simply one of his reactions to his dealing with something affecting him that he couldn't understand, he died at 38. It's somewhat lame of Shatner to focus on the drinking alone, & chalk it up to his "friend" living a real twilight zone, you don't need enemies with a friend like William Shatner! en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Beaumont#Life_and_work

[@shaystern2453]

say this drivel when your 90