Shatner actually has a solid resume. He did a terrific twilight zone episode before Star Trek, I think it was the one with gremlins on the plane. After Star Trek, he did T.J Hooker for a few years. And how can you not like a show that had Heather Locklear on it, and the Beach Boys and Jerry Lee Lewis. Rescue 911, Priceline and now Denny Crane, have made the guy a ton of money. And if you’re and entertainer that’s the bottom line, making money.
He wrote once that his theory of managing your career was to work every chance you got. He also had a role in “Judgment at Nuremberg”. I believe he also raised Arabian horses, and he’s written - probably with help - a bunch of books.
He’s done more than the rest of the cast combined, so the claims that he hogged the series rings hollow with me. When you are telling a story in 40 minutes, you don’t have time for a lot of wandering around.
I’d respect the others a lot more if they said something like, “We had 3 years where Shatner and Nimoy carried the show, and then I went on with my life. Great memories, though!”