Shatner Set For Two-Episode Guest Stint?

TrekToday.com ^ | August 9, 2004

[presidio9]

UPN has reportedly commissioned advertisements touting William Shatner's (James T. Kirk) return to Star Trek.

CBS Television City Research Center, located in Las Vegas's MGM grand hotel, is showing a commercial for Enterprise's fourth season announcing a guest appearance by Shatner, according to a post by 'Lt. Barclay' on the TrekWeb message boards.

Barclay said in his report that the center previewed an episode of CBS's new comedy series, Centre of the Universe, for visitors. "During the show, a few UPN commercials were shown, including one for Enterprise," he said in his report. The Enterprise ad reportedly contained scenes from season three, followed by a Star Trek logo and a voice over announcing that Shatner would be appearing in two episodes this season.

Rumours about Shatner making the trek to Enterprise have circulated since the series premiere in fall 2001, but have picked up steam in recent months. Back in May, executive producer Rick Berman said the writers were looking for a way to bring Shatner on board Enterprise. In June, it was reported the actor approached Berman with a "great story idea" for a guest stint (story). The only stumbling block at that time was that Shatner is signed as a regular on ABC's new drama series, Boston Legal, and would require time off to appear on Enterprise.

The CBS Television City Research Center is a joint initiative between Viacom, the parent company of CBS and UPN, and ACNielsen, which provides television ratings data. The complex includes screening rooms fitted with touch screens so visitors can give instant feedback on the programs as they are watching them.

Please note that this information has yet to be confirmed by UPN or Paramount Pictures and until such time you should treat it as you would any rumour from an unofficial source. The original post can be found here at the TrekWeb forums.

[The Scourge of Yazid]

Stylish queer:

Chile, he is Flaaaaaming! And I'm not talking about the "Human Torch" dear.

[The Scourge of Yazid]

William Shatner:

You calling me a fat-ass buddy?(!)

[Petronski]

Now THAT'S revolting, cat!

[Hacksaw]

Enterprise started out with a reasonable premise... and then was quickly destroyed by preachy leftist lecturing and a wishy washy captain character.... The show has only lasted at all because of its Star Trek name.

I think the last season was pretty good. I also liked the episode where they encountered a civilization of humans who were kidnapped and then revolted. They had a society like the old west. It reminded me of one of TOS episodes.

[Destro]

If I was the producer of Star Trek I would have made this version about a Orion space pirate busting ship patroling the growing human settlements - plenty of green skinned slave girls to tempt a more assertive kick ass captain.

[finnman69]

Shatner is fat and pathetic even according to other humans.

[TheBigB]

Hmmm...I see sulfur. Now, if he could only find some ordinary coal...

[Riley]

It's not about the show, it is about Shatner. Click on the link in post five and I defy you not to crack up.

There's a clerk at the 7-11 down the street named Khan. I think of that scene every time I see the guy. I've thought of doing that myself, but he'd probably just call the cops or something.

[Frank_Discussion]

"On Enterprise, Archer is a much better captain."

Beat the crap out of alien species, steal warp engine components to save billions of humans, torture stupid marauder thugs... yep, Archer's got some stones.

The only wishy-washy thing I've seen the character do was a little self-torture over stealing some parts, as I mentioned above. He did it, despite ethical misgivings, and saved Earth. In a similar situation, I know I would have felt the same. Doing the "right thing" isn't always comfortable, which was the point, and i felt it was pretty realistic.

[Frank_Discussion]

...and a rudimentary lathe...

[Revolting cat!]

[The Scourge of Yazid]

Sammy Davis Jr.

(Takes a bow. Leaves stage. Pops out glass eye. Endorses Richard Nixon. Converts to Judaism.)

Yeheh baby! Now that's one hep cat.

[headsonpikes]

LOL! He's barking mad!

I'm listening on-line to WWOZ, and suddenly this barking riff comes on over the rockin' blues - color me surprised!

[TheBigB]

I can't stand Star Crap

[Riley]

So while he's making the crude anti-gorn diamond cannon, I wonder how many times he walked right by the 90mm recoilless rifle stashed in the bushes...

[HamiltonJay]

Sorry Willie,

Industry standards is that a show needs 100 episodes to go into syndication today. Without fourth season Enterprise wasn't going to make it. Go search some news on the show, they have openly admitted as much.

Short of a miracle there will not be a 5th season of Enterprise... the show has been a loser financially... Syndication rerun is the only chance for it to make money.

And no I am not confusing Picard with Archer... Archer was made into a preachy leftist... season 3 they tried to toughen him up trying to save the series, but it was too little too late.

[presidio9]

[TheBigB]

[Revolting cat!]

Directly from the Sammy Davis Jr National Museum and Library: Sammy's eye preserved.

[Ciexyz]

Back in the 60's, when I was a young teen, I wrote a letter to the Network asking them to save the original Star Trek series. I remember Shatner's first gig after the series' demise: a Promise margarine commercial.

So I'll tune in to see him on "Enterprise", too.