William Shatner - Archive Interview Part 5 of 5

[InfiniteOasis]

"Talk about your co-stars!!!! dammit! do it now!"

[cciemail]

This interview started out well, but then got very bad. The interviewer just wanted to make speechs and give his ideas, and often without any question at the end of it.

[delrossa]

As others have said- the interviewer is poor and keeps interrupting Bill Shatner-

Otherwise very interesting...

[at90percent]

I kind of knew the interviewer was a closet Trekkie. He was so hesitant to get to Star Trek at first. Then once he got into it, he just badgered Mr. Shatner to death about it.

He said, that it was just an acting job. This guy turns it into a huge phylisophical discussion.

[iankyoko]

This interviewer doesn`t know when to shutup. We don`t want to hear him.

[TRUMPER007]

Bill is as interesting as ever but the interviewer would be better working with the Gestapo.

[keeg021985]

What a dork of an interviewer. He's more concerned with talking about his own idiotic philosophy than actually obtaining information.

[iminlovewithkirk]

What a terrible interviewer...Bill did well to stay as calm as he did...Fancy calling James T. Kirk a "father figure". I watched every episode of the original series in the 60s, all the re-runs in the 70s, all the movies up to Generations, and still play the original series at my work computer all day long, every day...I have always thought Kirk was a SEX GOD, not a 'father figure'.

[jamesa4050]

it seems like the interviewer is playing investigative reporter.

how 'bout Regina Meredith (CMN) for interviewer? ha ha just an idea...

thanks Mr. Shatner.

[alreadywhere]

This interviewer has no connection with his interviewee. There's no opening up on Shatner's part. The middle of the final part seems like a contrived effort to bring out what the interviewer already believes, rather than allowing the interview to move naturally. After that part, the whole mood is tense.

Knowing what Mr. Shatner was going through at the time explains part of it.

[DorvellTStewart]

You neglected to mension Rescue 9-1-1. LOL!

[brendandawna]

@DorvellTStewart or Barbary Coast, or TJ Hooker

[comodisc]

Intelligent questions and intelligent responses

One of the best Shatner interviews I've seen

[AcadaemyProductions]

yeah, Bill was really quite polite to this interviewer, who was, in fact, inexperienced and asked stupid questions("Who was the main character on Star Trek, Capt. Kirk or the Enterprise?" what the heck?)

and what's with shatner's cold review of jimmy doohan?! =(

[theKarst]

its was the Enterprise, obviously.

[eddtoro]

I grew up watching Captain Kirk and I never thought of him as a father figure. I wanted to be the Captain. bold, in command, good looking, jumping and fighting. I wanted to be him.

[ballerina2be]

I know this has been said before but honestly, the interviewer couldn't take a hint. He just kept picking, picking, picking towards the end of the interview. The fact that Bill had to say he was "going though a trepidatious time" and hearing him say it was just heart-wrenching.

[spiralcosmosart]

Indeed. This was 9-15-99.  On August 9, 1999, Shatner returned home around 10 p.m. to discover the body of his wife Nerine at the bottom of their back yard swimming pool. Alcohol and Valium were detected in an autopsy. Fucked up time to do an interview that's 2 & half hours long.

[marconiricciardi]

William Shatner was a gentleman to put up with this guy who sounds more like a police interrogator than an interviewer. How annoying!!!

[fanofheadroom]

agreed

[yutu34]

Okay, so I've just watched the whole thing. And at first thought Bill was being difficult, but as it went on I realised that this was very close to Nerine's death and of course he was not in the best of moods. And of course the interviewer was terrible, but Bill kept being very real and honest.

It was wonderful to see Bill not be ON as in so many interviews he does. Uncomfortable for him, but intriguing for us.

Such a professional actor it was great to hear him talk about his craft.

[jnapple1]

@yutu34

have you ever heard any of the primary cast members say the iconic star trek opening monologue in an interview or elsewhere besides the TV shows/movies?

[gsaum]

My god, man, just let Shatner answer the questions! What a horrible interviewer!

[IntermittentSprocket]

Star Trek is brilliant 60s and beyond entertainment in storytelling. Bill is captain Kirk he fits the character perfectly.

[BionicBollocks]

My thoughts entirely, the interviewer was knowledgeable but totally inexperienced. I too wouldnt have been half as forgiving as William was.

[brenbaroque]

I think Mr. Shatner showed exceptional patience with an inexperienced interviewer. I doubt if I would have been as patient or generous. Mr. Shatner explained his thoughts eloquently and sincerely. Thanks again Bill you made your true fans proud.

[RogerDodger69]

It is noticeable that around 10:15 he starts to revert to his Capt. Kirk delivery style when talking about the ideals of the show...

[shaunmalley]

Cool to hear Shatner talk, but the interviewer was crap

[Dava1000]

The funny thing about this whole exposition about the Kirk Character is that this interview would not even have occured if the show didnt become a fan favorite over the years since its cancellation...He is being incredibly honest in that he is just recounting the distant and fragmented memories of his experience doing a job for 3 years in his life....Note his mention of producer of Gene L.Coon who is totally forgotten today.

[45init]

As far as the kirk evolution, if there was one, it wasn't Shatner's responsibility to worry about that. That was Rodenberry's and the writers' responsibility to worry about that. He did exactly what he was supposed to do (what he is complaining about here) he spent all his time learning the lines.  Later on, in the 80s things changed of course.

[learisinhighrage]

he does look like he's sick to death of talking about star trek

[mrsmxyzptlk]

He doesn't seem interested in revisiting the past.

[janesays218]

I can't blame him. He's been asked all these questions a thousand times. It must get old.

[waynescooby]

Fair enough...his wife had died the month before

[dannothunder44]

I get the impression Shatner wants to tell the interviewer to "Get a Life!"

[idic]

thanks for posting this!