Willam Shatner labled as difficult - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

EricIdlefan · 01-30-2004, 12:38 AM

Did you all know that when Star Trek was on in the sixties that nobody liked Willam Shatner because he became a billionaire thanks to Star Trek reruns, revenue, merchandise, fan clubs, fan conventions??!!
They thought he was a "prima donna" and ordered people around and was very condescending toward the cast and crew!! He began directing shows and writing as well and he was an egotist. The other cast members made sure that when he says that he wasn't going to be at one of the ST conventions, they would be there but if he showed up, they would not come due to him. They said that he thought he was hot due to him being the star of the show!! Sad but true!!

treky · 02-08-2004, 02:18 AM

I heard that too, but the way I heard it-in George Takies (Sulu) autobiography, called "To The Stars"-it was mostly him, Walter Koenig (Chekov) & James Doohan (Scotty) who felt that way about the Shat. He also says that they were surprised & dissopointed to find he was still the same way when they all got together again for the first movie. And he was that same way during the filming of the other movies. And he says that when they heard he was set to direct "Star Trek 5" they weren't looking forward to it for that reason. But, they were pleasently surprised cause he had changed. But, in Shatners book "Star Trek Memories" & its followup "Star Trek Movie Memories" he says that he became friends with Doohan & Koenig, two guys who he says, "put me near the top of their **** list" during the filming of their scenes in "Star Trek: Generations" and as far as I know, he's still freinds with them, along with Takei-who he's also since made up with.

EricIdlefan · 02-11-2004, 06:11 PM

I hope so because when Patrick Stewart was the captain of the Next Generation, I heard also off the tube he was funny, warm, and considered himself a team player instead of a prima donna like you know who!!

TJL · 02-11-2004, 06:23 PM

I have always heard that some of Shatner's fellow castmates had problems with him; who really knows why. I guess since he was the lead character of the original series, there was probably some jealousy involved.
I have read both of Shatners Star Trek Memories books and I think he's pretty cool.

He's Captian Kirk for crying out loud!

treky · 02-12-2004, 02:45 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by EricIdlefan
I hope so because when Patrick Stewart was the captain of the Next Generation, I heard also off the tube he was funny, warm, and considered himself a team player instead of a prima donna like you know who!!

the Shat never had any problems getting along with Patrick Stewart.

Zoneboy · 02-16-2004, 08:54 AM

Too bad that Jack Lord turned down the part of Captain Kirk, It might have been interesting to see him in the role. On second thought, scratch that. Inspite of his egotistical self, I can't see anyone but Shatner playing Captain Kirk.

EricIdlefan · 02-16-2004, 11:52 PM

What I am trying to say about Shatner and Stewart is that on the original ST, Shatner had an ego and no other cast members, save for Leonard Nimoy, was willing to speak to him.

Stewart, on the other hand, on ST:TNG was easy and funny to work with and the cast loved him!!

Lost dutchman417 · 02-24-2004, 07:24 PM

The original captain of the enterprise was captain christopher pike played by jeffey hunter, it was suposed to be the TV pilot, but nbc didnt think it had enough knock down dragout fist fights in it, so it was not aproved and a much more to the stations liking pilot was done with shatner, thats when a second pilot was aproved, well jeff hunter went on to do king of kings and then died shortly there after, its too bad jeff had not lived and could have stayed with star trek as captain pike, it would have been nice to see how he would have built up the character, despite shatners rep on star trek i still like the character of James T Kirk alot.

Max Whittaker · 05-29-2004, 10:08 PM

I've heard many accounts of Mr. Shatner's attitude problems. Honestly, when I met him, I didn't see any of it! He seemed to be genuine with me. Very appreciative of my admiration without a trace of ego. I could be wrong. I don't know him well. But I'm reluctant to believe such rumors unless I see evidence of it myself.

Though... he did seem rather reclusive compared to some of the other cast... Oh well! He was an important role model for me at a critical moment in my development and, even if he turns out to me the most dispicable man on Earth, I will always be grateful at least, for what his character did for me.

Thanks Bill!

The Flying Dutchmans · 05-26-2006, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by redrocker22

Too bad that Jack Lord turned down the part of Captain Kirk, It might have been interesting to see him in the role. On second thought, scratch that. Inspite of his egotistical self, I can't see anyone but Shatner playing Captain Kirk.

Too bad that they didnt keep jeffrey hunter as captain pike and gave his character a try in the series instead of shatner, hunter was better looking and at the time A better actor, then maby hunter would be alive today.

The Flying Dutchmans · 05-26-2006, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Max Whittaker

I've heard many accounts of Mr. Shatner's attitude problems. Honestly, when I met him, I didn't see any of it! He seemed to be genuine with me. Very appreciative of my admiration without a trace of ego. I could be wrong. I don't know him well. But I'm reluctant to believe such rumors unless I see evidence of it myself.

Though... he did seem rather reclusive compared to some of the other cast... Oh well! He was an important role model for me at a critical moment in my development and, even if he turns out to me the most dispicable man on Earth, I will always be grateful at least, for what his character did for me.

Thanks Bill!

When did you meet him? because after shatners wife passed away he did some soul searching and from what I heard became a good person.

treky · 05-26-2006, 04:17 PM

I also met him in person once BEFOREhis wife died, and he was a very nice, warm, and kind person. So, I also find those stories hard to beleive.

The Flying Dutchmans · 06-04-2006, 09:31 PM

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Did you all know that when Star Trek was on in the sixties that nobody liked Willam Shatner because he became a billionaire thanks to Star Trek reruns, revenue, merchandise, fan clubs, fan conventions??!!

It wasnt just star trek that made shatner so rich, shatner never turned down work of any kind and always wanted to be paid alot for his services, and being the spokes person for priceline.com helps alot too.

DirtyHarry · 10-20-2007, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Max Whittaker

I've heard many accounts of Mr. Shatner's attitude problems. Honestly, when I met him, I didn't see any of it! He seemed to be genuine with me. Very appreciative of my admiration without a trace of ego. I could be wrong. I don't know him well. But I'm reluctant to believe such rumors unless I see evidence of it myself.

Though... he did seem rather reclusive compared to some of the other cast... Oh well! He was an important role model for me at a critical moment in my development and, even if he turns out to me the most dispicable man on Earth, I will always be grateful at least, for what his character did for me.

Thanks Bill!

He was a bunghole!

01-30-2004, 12:38 AM	#1
EricIdlefan USA 250th! Forum Addict Join Date: Oct 12, 2003 Location: East TN Posts: 68,236	Willam Shatner labled as difficult Did you all know that when Star Trek was on in the sixties that nobody liked Willam Shatner because he became a billionaire thanks to Star Trek reruns, revenue, merchandise, fan clubs, fan conventions??!! They thought he was a "prima donna" and ordered people around and was very condescending toward the cast and crew!! He began directing shows and writing as well and he was an egotist. The other cast members made sure that when he says that he wasn't going to be at one of the ST conventions, they would be there but if he showed up, they would not come due to him. They said that he thought he was hot due to him being the star of the show!! Sad but true!!
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02-08-2004, 02:18 AM	#2
treky star trek fan Eternal Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Feb 25, 2002 Location: Conshohocken, pennsylvania Posts: 14,490	I heard that too, but the way I heard it-in George Takies (Sulu) autobiography, called "To The Stars"-it was mostly him, Walter Koenig (Chekov) & James Doohan (Scotty) who felt that way about the Shat. He also says that they were surprised & dissopointed to find he was still the same way when they all got together again for the first movie. And he was that same way during the filming of the other movies. And he says that when they heard he was set to direct "Star Trek 5" they weren't looking forward to it for that reason. But, they were pleasently surprised cause he had changed. But, in Shatners book "Star Trek Memories" & its followup "Star Trek Movie Memories" he says that he became friends with Doohan & Koenig, two guys who he says, "put me near the top of their **** list" during the filming of their scenes in "Star Trek: Generations" and as far as I know, he's still freinds with them, along with Takei-who he's also since made up with.
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02-11-2004, 06:23 PM	#4
TJL Suburbanite Extrordinaire Forum Star Join Date: Dec 29, 2001 Location: New Jersey - the cradle of civilization Posts: 16,591	I have always heard that some of Shatner's fellow castmates had problems with him; who really knows why. I guess since he was the lead character of the original series, there was probably some jealousy involved. I have read both of Shatners Star Trek Memories books and I think he's pretty cool. He's Captian Kirk for crying out loud!
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02-16-2004, 08:54 AM	#6
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,376	Too bad that Jack Lord turned down the part of Captain Kirk, It might have been interesting to see him in the role. On second thought, scratch that. Inspite of his egotistical self, I can't see anyone but Shatner playing Captain Kirk.
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02-24-2004, 07:24 PM	#8
Lost dutchman417 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Feb 16, 2004 Location: SW missouri Posts: 13	Pike was first The original captain of the enterprise was captain christopher pike played by jeffey hunter, it was suposed to be the TV pilot, but nbc didnt think it had enough knock down dragout fist fights in it, so it was not aproved and a much more to the stations liking pilot was done with shatner, thats when a second pilot was aproved, well jeff hunter went on to do king of kings and then died shortly there after, its too bad jeff had not lived and could have stayed with star trek as captain pike, it would have been nice to see how he would have built up the character, despite shatners rep on star trek i still like the character of James T Kirk alot.
	__________________ ive gotta be a tv guy

02-11-2004, 06:11 PM	#3
EricIdlefan USA 250th! Forum Addict Join Date: Oct 12, 2003 Location: East TN Posts: 68,236	I hope so because when Patrick Stewart was the captain of the Next Generation, I heard also off the tube he was funny, warm, and considered himself a team player instead of a prima donna like you know who!!

02-16-2004, 11:52 PM	#7
EricIdlefan USA 250th! Forum Addict Join Date: Oct 12, 2003 Location: East TN Posts: 68,236	What I am trying to say about Shatner and Stewart is that on the original ST, Shatner had an ego and no other cast members, save for Leonard Nimoy, was willing to speak to him. Stewart, on the other hand, on ST:TNG was easy and funny to work with and the cast loved him!!

05-29-2004, 10:08 PM	#9
Max Whittaker I want Serenity back Forum Veteran Join Date: Apr 30, 2001 Posts: 6,180	I've heard many accounts of Mr. Shatner's attitude problems. Honestly, when I met him, I didn't see any of it! He seemed to be genuine with me. Very appreciative of my admiration without a trace of ego. I could be wrong. I don't know him well. But I'm reluctant to believe such rumors unless I see evidence of it myself. Though... he did seem rather reclusive compared to some of the other cast... Oh well! He was an important role model for me at a critical moment in my development and, even if he turns out to me the most dispicable man on Earth, I will always be grateful at least, for what his character did for me. Thanks Bill!
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05-26-2006, 04:17 PM	#12
treky star trek fan Eternal Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Feb 25, 2002 Location: Conshohocken, pennsylvania Posts: 14,490	I also met him in person once BEFOREhis wife died, and he was a very nice, warm, and kind person. So, I also find those stories hard to beleive.

06-04-2006, 09:31 PM	#13
The Flying Dutchmans Member Senior Member Join Date: Apr 30, 2006 Location: New York Posts: 1,017	-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Did you all know that when Star Trek was on in the sixties that nobody liked Willam Shatner because he became a billionaire thanks to Star Trek reruns, revenue, merchandise, fan clubs, fan conventions??!! It wasnt just star trek that made shatner so rich, shatner never turned down work of any kind and always wanted to be paid alot for his services, and being the spokes person for priceline.com helps alot too.