GEORGE TAKEI Tells Maher Why He Simply CANNOT STAND William Shatner

[Segami]

.......George Takei never disappoints!...........

July 18, 2014 - One of the saddest facts about the original Star Trek cast is that actors George Takei (Hikaru Sulu) and William Shatner (Cpt. James T. Kirk) can't stand each other in real life. No matter how many times Trekkies hear about the feud, it never seems to feel right or make sense. During his appearance on Real Time, Takei was grilled by Bill Maher on that never-ending feud that reminds millions of Americans of the time members of their favorite band didn't get along. "You just want to go, 'Come on, Bee Gees, just get along!'" the host joked.

"Well, we're human," Takei explained, with Maher expressing confusion that someone from our northern neighboring country couldn't get along with someone else.

"Canadians have a certain image of being even-tempered and friendly and all that," Takei continued. "Well, he is a person who is that way with himself. He is very self-centered."

After a hearty laugh, the geek celebrity-turned-Internet-sensation said, "We work together. We're professionals. We get the work done, but, it's with a lot of difficulty." He joked with Maher that the temptation is sometimes there to just "drive the starship into a death star" just to spite Shatner (weird mix of geek references, eh?).

The feud came up again when Takei talked about how his cast-mates all knew was gay except for one. "It went right over his head." The obvious answer: William Shatner.

.

[physioex]

1. Not saying it was right....

But that was another era with different attitudes, we shouldn't be so quick to judge Shatner.

[MohRokTah]

2. The feud is ongoing.

Shatner is an asshole and it goes beyond his assholery in the 60s. He's an asshole to this day.

[joeybee12]

26. He recently made ignorant comments when George got married...

If it was a different time, then Shatner is doing his best to bring that time to the present.

[Initech]

3. Because he's George Takei, damn it!

[roamer65]

4. Not surprised on Shatner, but it can take two to tango.

Only Shatner could think he could sing a good rendition of "Lucy in the sky with diamonds".



Seriously, though. Shatner is a long time severe tinnitus sufferer, so while he may have a typical actor's ego...I have to believe he does have some empathy in him.

[Rowdyboy]

5. As always, an interesting interview....

[dsc]

6. Apparently Shatner had more than one fued

He also had problems with Nimoy to the point that his contract for the movies stated that if Nimoy got to direct one so did he.

[CreekDog]

30. That's why every other Star Trek movie is horrible

[Lurks Often]

37. Shatner only directed Star Trek V

perhaps the worst of the Star Trek movies with the original cast, but not the worst of the Star Trek movies, that honor goes to Star Trek: Nemesis.

[Tommy2Tone]

7. Denny Crane..

That is all..

[Manifestor_of_Light]

8. I was very glad that Bill Maher brought up

the shameful history of the Japanese-American internment camps, ordered by President Roosevelt, although there was no evidence any Japanese-American ever spied for the enemy.

Mr. Takei said that two American soldiers with rifles and bayonets made he, his parents and his little brother get out of their house in Los Angeles, and go to the Santa Anita racetrack stable to live, because the internment camps had not been built yet.

Mr. Takei said he was five; his little brother was three. Absolutely shameful. Bill said he wanted to mention it because his parents, the generation who fought world War II, were pretty much all gone, and that the war was passing from living memory. I thought that was very good of Bill.

[EX500rider]

29. "although there was no evidence any Japanese-American ever spied for the enemy"

Not entirely true, although it wasn't spying, it was even worse.

The Niʻihau Incident
After a Japanese pilot Shigenori Nishikaichi crashed on a smaller Hawaiian Island 3 local men of Japanese descent helped him in overcoming his captors, finding weapons, and taking several hostages.


"The incident and the actions of Nishikaichi's abettors contributed to a sense in the American military that every Japanese, even those who were American citizens or otherwise thought loyal to the United States, might aid Japan; this ultimately may have influenced the decision to intern Japanese Americans during World War II."


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niihau_Incident

[delrem]

9. A good thing is this is old news. Star Trek is done.

These guys are just cleaning up.

[90-percent]

10. Shatner

He comes off as self deprecating to me. Doesn't seem like that bad a guy. Feuding is so stupid but celebs live in a perpetual high school social hierarchy life by it's nature. They are not the same people they were 45 years ago. All those lost decades they could have been friends....

-90% jimmy

[Bluenorthwest]

15. I have very first hand experience, Shatner is a homophobic sexist pig.

The worst stories I could tell you are about how he treats women. Not a pleasant person at all.

[90-percent]

16. Thank you for your info

I just don't get it. It's so hard to go through life mean. I find going through life aspiring to niceness to be utterly delightful. A shame when our celebrities are so miserable.

-90% Jimmy

[JVS]

23. I'd say Shatner is a lot like John McEnroe. Both of them come off as self-deprecating now because..

it's the only option they have after establishing themselves as arrogant assholes. It's the sheepish acknowledgement of their past and owning up to it.

[PowerToThePeople]

11. Had to watch an old school trek tonight.

[newfie11]

12. My all time favorite show

And I remember well the black and white vs white and black episode.

We need more TV shows like that.

[eShirl]

13. That shed absolutely no new light on the feud.

The explanation has always been that Shatner is self-centered. It can't be! An actor who has an ego??! How atypical.

No, something more is there, that we will probably never know.

[edbermac]

14. Sounds like a Beatles fan still whining about Yoko.

Give it a rest, George.

[joeybee12]

27. He was asked a question, he answered it...

He didn't bring it up himself.

[snooper2]

17. the replies here are cracking me up! don't pick on the poor widdle Shatner LOL

[tavernier]

18. Has Shatner ever publicly dissed GT?

I've read comments from Takei over the years but don't remember seeing any from WS. Now I'm a bit curious, as it doesn't sound very professional from either corner.

[eShirl]

19. Does speculating he suffers from a psychosis count?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/10/22/william-shatner-slams-geo_n_136781.html

I can understand someone who grew up in a concentration camp being touchy about perceived lack of respect. On the other hand, I believe Shatner when he says he has absolutely no idea what he ever did to Takei.

They are both human, and I like them both.

[Metric System]

20. Nichelle Nichols wrote about Shatner's ego in her book "Beyond Uhura," released 20 years ago:

"Without anyone's consent, Bill Shatner stepped into the role [of Gene Roddenberry], bossing around and intimidating the directors and guest stars, cutting other actors' lines and scenes, and generally taking enough control to disrupt the sense of family we had shared."

http://startrekdom.blogspot.ca/2007/05/in-shadow-of-spock-great-shatnernimoy_06.html

[calimary]

21. George Takei's Facebook page is a Not-To-Be-Missed page!

If you're ever bummed out or frustrated - just go there and read a little. Revel in his sense of humor. You're gonna find several things you want to share on your own page (if you have one). Terrific and enjoyable reading. He's just a tonic for the soul! And some very noble points made on behalf of the LGBT community and its interests for which he's been an advocate for awhile now. Also - the posts from fans are great, and encouraging. It'll perk you up! At the risk of stealing - I would add - "OH, MYYYYYYY!!!!!" I interviewed him several times when I was still working. What a cool dude! I've always been a "Star Trek" fan, from the earliest days, and a fan of all the actors in the original series and beyond. Always liked Mr. Sulu, and was very pleased to see he eventually made captain. He said that was his own doing. He was ALWAYS really active with the fans, always going to conventions, always very conscious of the fan base and very attentive. He encouraged the fans to write in and ask for more for Mr. Sulu. There was enough of a fan response that the folks at Paramount figured they better heed some of it. So Sulu got promoted, and as you'll notice, he's popped up again and again all over the "Star Trek" landscape (or spacescape, maybe?).

And it just now occurred to me as I was writing that - CONSIDER THAT AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT GRASSROOTS ACTIVISM CAN ACCOMPLISH!!! He motivated the fans and got them activated, and they did the rest.

[CBGLuthier]

22. I read Takai's excellent memoir a few years ago

He may not like Mr. Shatner but James Doohan hated his guts and swore he would never work with him again. Shatner allegedly stole lines that were originally written for Doohan's character among other things.

I read Harlan Ellison's version of City on the Edge of For ever in which he talks about Shatner reading the script and he caught him counting lines for himself and Nimoy to be sure he had the most.

I also read one of Shatner's books. He is a self-absorbed human being, but that is what it takes to be a star sometimes, sadly. Not all of them can balance being a star and being a decent human being very well like, for example the late James Garner.

Shatner may be a big shiny star but Takai has won the world over with his genuine humanity and incredible sense of humor.

[cascadiance]

36. I still remember many years back in the late 70's when they had a Star Trek reunion at MSU...

... both Doohan and Shatner headlined that fan gathering that I attended then. Trying to remember what happened then now so long ago, but don't remember them being at odds with each other then. I don't remember Takei being at that one though.

Makes you wonder how many other casts of shows that we watch all of the time have these underlying feuds that we never hear about much.

[A-Schwarzenegger]

24. The BEE GEES didn't get along?!

[magical thyme]

25. Shatner loves his horses

so in my universe that makes up for a lot of sins.

Rider friends have seen him and met him on the show grounds. He looks terrified when he rides, but he takes very, very good care of and obviously loves his horses.

[libodem]

28. I follow him on Facebook

. [img][/img]

[Lurks Often]

31. The book "Inside Star Trek"

by Herbert Solow & Robert Justman, both producers on the show, sheds a more objective light on things.

The authors both liked Shatner and appreciated his work ethic and things needed to be looked at under the conditions of the show as it was being filmed. The lead actor was the actor most responsible for making the show a success, the more successful the show, the more money they make and the better their career will be, so yes Shatner tended to do things to protect his role and his career. Lots of actors do that, I doubt Shatner is even close to being the worst offender in that case. Hell, most of us probably do similar things to make sure our own career goes well.

Mind you, I'm not saying Shatner is a saint, just a person with flaws like most of us.

[Blue_Adept]

33. Agreed

Context of the time is important. That's not saying one defends the person, but understanding that you can't put today's morals on past events is important because by doing that, you lose the importance of what was and why it can be transformative in the now for people.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

32. I love William Shatner and George Takei

If they have a feud, I'll let them do the mutual hating. I'm not going to hate on people I don't even know because of personal things that happened between them.

[WinkyDink]

34. So, if one wants to know more than "He's self-centered" (Gee! An actor?!), one must watch? No.

[cascadiance]

35. Perhaps then we can all be thankful that Takei will never be on a Priceline commercial?

[uppityperson]

39. um, wtf?