I wonder if they told Shatner she was coming on after his reading? Did he fake that look of surprise, or was it real?
In any case, there’s no question that the audience is on her side. Quite a difference from the last time around. She is growing on people, and not just conservatives, because I doubt that was a conservative audience.
On the one hand, he had to have known. Their joint exit, his chagrined reaction to her reading, etc, were clearly rehearsed. OTOH, I suspect Shatner was genuinely shocked by the overwhelming reaction to her appearance by a (presumably largely liberal) audience.
It was totally scripted. I wrote a daily newspaper TV column for years and spent plenty of time backstage in Hollywood watching shows like this come together. Absolutely nothing happens spontaneously, even "spontaneous" incidents.
It was all rehearsed.
Americans love a winner - as Patton said. And Sarah has come back like nothing ever went wrong.
Love it,love it, LLLLLLOVE IT!
I don’t care if he knew or not...although he did look a little uncomfortable. And the audience reaction to Sarah’s entrance was AWESOME! She looked beautiful as always,and was so funny! (BOOM!hello Mr nightstick! LOLOL)
Looked real. Like he was thinking: “I’ve been pwned!”
I also wondered if he knew she was there, When he first held up her book the audience cheered like they were glad he was going to make fun of her. But then when she came out the cheering and screaming was louder and seemed to be the whole audience. I didn’t hear any boos for her, if there were some they were drowned out.
Especially if you consider that the audience was removed from the building for awhile so she could rehearse and had NO idea she was going to make an appearance! Did you catch the looks of surprise on the various band members’ faces?? Shatner may have been faking it, but they weren’t! Wish the camera had panned the audience as well!