Denny Crane
Posted on 09/16/2018 9:58:26 AM PDT by ETL
NEW YORK — The original "Star Trek" series is one of the most popular sci-fi series of all time. But for years, it was a flop that left William Shatner performing out of the back of his truck.
"Star Trek" broke countless boundaries, solidified science fiction in popular culture, and sparked a relationship with fans for 50 years and counting, and it remains one of the most beloved television shows in history. But it wasn't always this way.
On Sept. 5, Shatner, who played Capt. James T. Kirk in the series, joined the podcast "The James Altucher Show" on stage here at the comedy club StandUp NY to discuss his new book, "Live Long And …: What I Learned Along the Way" (Thomas Dunne Books, 2018). Space.com attended the event, where Shatner also discussed the show's difficult early years. Indeed, "Star Trek" wasn't an instant success.
"We were being canceled every year … They were canceling, and they weren't canceling," Shatner recalled during the podcast. "The third year, we limped along Friday nights." And, after the third season, the show was canceled.
In the months and years following the cancellation of "Star Trek," Shatner and the rest of the cast weren't given many offers, jobs or accolades. In fact, as Shatner explained during the taping, after the show was canceled, he toured around the East Coast in his truck, producing, directing and acting in his own performances, often with other known actors.
"I had a truck; I put a cab on the back of the truck, took my dog, and I drove across the country," Shatner said. "I toured these 13 weeks, lived in the back of the thing.
"I did star in 'Star Trek,' and I was living in the back of a truck," Shatner added, laughing. He performed funny, theatrical comedies and other acts that were popular at the time. Shatner recalled that he started to notice people paying attention to "Star Trek" while at a ski lodge where a blooper reel from the show — originally made as a personal gift to cast members — was playing.
As network executives continued to see interest from the public, Shatner said, "Star Trek" reruns began to play more often on television, and at more popular times. Obviously, the series eventually took off and became astronomically popular and internationally beloved.
Still, the actors whose faces and names will forever live in the sci-fi hall of fame struggled financially because they were not getting residuals from the series, Shatner said. Without delving too far into actor compensation and how unionization gave later actors more financial security, Shatner noted that "saying yes" helped him to survive and continues to help him thrive and lead an incredible life. As he put it, "Saying yes to the various things in your life is critically important."
Indeed, Shatner is no stranger to saying "yes." The face behind Capt. James T. Kirk has said "yes" to everything from writing, to music, to sending a message to NASA Voyager probes.
I thought about that, but in the pilot he was already king and setting out to battle the Persians. I guess they could have shown the pilot a few episodes in, and shot new ones to establish the intrigue you referenced. I still think there were fewer intrinsic opportunities for variety with that show premise.
Has there ever been a TV show set in ancient times, other than HBO’s Rome or the Flintstones?
Well they are both tall and gangly. And the shows they were in are similar.
I was thinking of the TV shows. The CWS vet in the postwar west. As I recall, Ward Bond’s character on Wagon Train was a Union vet (as was the cook and the second in command), while the scout had been a Confederate. Ironically the two actors didn’t get along on the set because Bond was very right wing and Robert Horton was a big lefty.
Also Western characters were often often identified by the gun they carried. There was a lot of variety.
I met her at a Star Trek con in the 1970s in NYC. Somewhere I have a program sheet of her neat autograph along with Isaac Asimov on the same sheet. She was uh impressive to say the least. RIP Angelique.
Science Fiction is what it is.........You either like it or you don’t. If you like it, you take the good with the bad and just sit back and have fun with it............It ain’t that hard.
That’s what I am doing with Blake’s 7. Horrible production quality by today’s standards actually worse the ST:TOS. Also the quality of he plots are very uneven. Some are quite good even intriguing others are so full of holes you would swear they last every other page of the script!
But it’s fun!
B7 despite the problems wasn’t that bad.
I would say, STNG was mediocre. But yes, STOS was the one I bought on DVD.
I also bought the James Blish books, and the first and second generation novels.
None of those three are my favorites, but Shatner certainly made his mark.
I prefer Niven/Pournelle, Sturgeon, and others.
Jeri Ryan, far and away!
Denny Crane
DS9 was horrible the first couple seasons. Then they shaved Sisko’s head, gave him the Defiant and a pair of balls, brought in the Klingons and gave Quark a bigger role. The later seasons were the best of any Trek except possibly TOS.
I just finished binge watching Boston Legal again. Loved Shatner as Denny Crane and James Spader is also one of my faves. My first husband could have been a stand in for William Shatner.
Too bad they dumped the Show. Ya never knew what Ol’ DC would say or do next.
Saw a commercial for NHL starting soon and when the Player had hold of the Stanley Cup, the first thing I thought of Denny engraving his name in it.
I didn’t realize it only aired for three seasons.
I was in grade school back then and thought the show was stupid and in my 20’s I thought the first movie was stupid too.
From the Wrath of Kahn on I’ve enjoyed all the movies except for Undiscovered Country, which was lame.
Blake’s 7 is a very unusual series when you consider the fact that the namesake of the series Blake disappears after the second season. The as I understand it reappears at the end of the 4th year. What was that all about contract dispute ?
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