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Tag: William Shatner

  • William Shatner and NASA Share Twitter Exchange

    William Shatner and NASA Share Twitter Exchange

    Iconic actor William Shatner tweeted to NASA on Saturday, and received an update on the status of the International Space Station.

    Back in April, NASA honored Shatner with its highest award bestowed upon civilians, the Distinguished Public Service medal. The medal cited Shatner for “outstanding generosity and dedication to inspiring new generations of explorers around the world, and for unwavering support for NASA and its missions of discovery.”

    Best known for his role as Captain James Tiberius Kirk on Star Trek: The Original Series, Shatner has been somewhat of an informal spokesman for NASA over the past few years, issuing a Star Trek-themed wake-up call to the astronauts of the Discovery mission STS-133 in 2011. In 2012, the actor recorded a message for the occupants of the International Space Station, and also narrated a video regarding NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover:

    Here is the Twitter exchange from Saturday:

    Shatner, an avid Twitter user, has contacted NASA before via the platform, and in 2013 traded tweets with astronaut Chris Hadfield, Canada’s first space station commander:

    Shatner, 83, was recently in the news for panning a new Facebook app called “Mentions,” which is geared toward celebrities, and tracks how many times their names are mentioned in social media.

    Shatner’s assessment of “Mentions”:

    “I’m not quite sure why Facebook released this app for ‘celebrities’. It seems to be ill conceived. I will probably use it to post to my Facebook when I’m on my phone but it doesn’t allow for mail or groups. I will continue to use my regular Facebook App as well as the Pages app.”

    Image via YouTube

  • Star Trek: William Shatner Is Cooler Than You

    Star Trek: William Shatner Is Cooler Than You

    William Shatner has the life. He’s had one of those roles that was not only famous for the usual pop culture reasons, but it endeared him to a generation or two as an icon. Shatner’s voice is not just associated with Star Trek, it’s associated with space travel in general. As such, he was recently honored by NASA with a Distinguished Public Service medal.

    But William Shatner has done more than just Trek. There was T.J. Hooker. Snicker all you want. He got to run around with Heather Locklear for five seasons. That’s longer than the original Star Trek ran.

    But there’s also his iconic role as Denny Crane, first on The Practice, then on Boston Legal. Denny Crane had these words of Zen-like wisdom for us all:

    “No matter how hard your day, no matter how tough your choices, how complex your ethical decisions, you always get to choose what you have for lunch.”

    And that is the kind of material you get, and should get, from William Shatner. The man is living the life, and he knows it.

    “If you make a fool of yourself, you can do it with dignity, without taking your pants down. And if you do take your pants down, you can still do it with dignity.”

    “My boy, that was a TV show. I used a stunt double. I always use a stunt double. Except in love scenes. I insist on doing those myself.”

    Shatner has not gone out to pasture, either. He maintains a strong presence on Twitter, live-tweeting television shows, commenting on society, and engaging with fans.

    Shatner even prowls on Reddit.

    And he reviews apps, thoroughly too, on his Tumblr account. Like his review of Facebook’s new Mentions app.

    But he isn’t keen on Pinterest.

    Shatner explained himself best: “I am surfing the giant life wave.”

    Image via YouTube

  • William Shatner Not Happy With Zuckerberg App

    William Shatner Not Happy With Zuckerberg App

    William Shatner is clearly not happy with Mark Zuckerberg’s new app–the one that is available to celebrities only. Called ‘Mentions,’ the app is available to celebs and notable people so they can keep track of how often their names are mentioned on Facebook.

    Shatner dissed ‘Mentions’ via his Tumblr account, sharing his dislike (no, they still don’t have a button for that) of the fact that in order to utilize ‘Mentions,’ celebs must ‘like’ others.”

    “When you install the Mentions App you cannot proceed further until you follow another one of their other ‘celebrity’ accounts,” Shatner explained. “The first person on the list I was given was George Takei (rolling my eyes.) I ended up choosing Robert Downey Jr. to follow and then I hid his posts (sorry Robert!) I think that is a big flaw in the set up. If this app is for celebrities then WHY force them to follow another celebrity in order to set up this app? I think that is a flaw; I’m already following those who I want to follow – why insist I follow that short list of others?”

    “Rolling my eyes,” Shatner wrote about the rather awkward suggestion that he follow George Takei. The two actors have a bizarre feud going on.

    Incidentally there was no mention by the Star Trek star as to whether or not Robert Downey, Jr. chose to follow him back. Hmmm….doesn’t seem likely.

    William Shatner summed up his feelings about Mark Zuckerberg’s new ‘Mentions’ app as follows:

    “I’m not quite sure why Facebook released this app for “celebrities”. It seems to be ill conceived,” he wrote. “I will probably use it to post to my Facebook when I’m on my phone but it doesn’t allow for mail or groups. I will continue to use my regular Facebook App as well as the Pages app.”

    Per William Shatner’s assessment of Mark Zuckerberg’s new app, do you think it will live to see lots of celebrity action? Is Captain Kirk being harsh or is it really a rather silly notion?

    Do you think lots of people will take Facebook app advice from William Shatner?

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • William Shatner Craps On Zuckerberg’s New App

    William Shatner took to his Tumblr account recently to write up a review of Facebook’s new app, Mentions. The Mentions app is not available to everyone, but is intended for celebrities and public figures who would get “mentioned” on Facebook. The idea is that it allows said celebs to interact better with fans and to keep track of their “publicity stock”, so to speak.

    Shatner said he has three Facebook apps: Facebook, Pages, and now Mentions. Having all three, he felt he was in a good position to give the rest of us who can not access Mentions an idea of how well it works.

    The first thing that rankled Kirk was the requirement that the celeb using the app “follow” another celebrity. True to Facebook form, the app offers suggestions. Apparently there is no algorithm to take into account decades-old rivalries and beefs.

    “When you install the Mentions App you cannot proceed further until you follow another one of their other ‘celebrity’ accounts,” Shatner explained. “The first person on the list I was given was George Takei (rolling my eyes.) I ended up choosing Robert Downey Jr. to follow and then I hid his posts (sorry Robert!) I think that is a big flaw in the set up. If this app is for celebrities then WHY force them to follow another celebrity in order to set up this app? I think that is a flaw; I’m already following those who I want to follow – why insist I follow that short list of others?”

    Shatner then proceeds to do a thorough breakdown of the of the app’s features, complete with screenshots. And, in the end, he offers his takeaway judgement on the app.

    “I’m not quite sure why Facebook released this app for “celebrities”. It seems to be ill conceived,” Shatner said. “I will probably use it to post to my Facebook when I’m on my phone but it doesn’t allow for mail or groups. I will continue to use my regular Facebook App as well as the Pages app.”

    Image via YouTube

  • William Shatner: Facebook’s Mentions App ‘Ill Conceived’

    Last week, Facebook announced the launch of its latest app Mentions. It’s an app aimed at letting “public figures” (or celebrities) manage their Facebook presence, talk with fans, and talk with each other from their mobile devices.

    Celebrity William Shatner is not impressed. He even went so far as to write a review of the app on Tumblr. He says he discovered the new app from a banner ad at the top of his Facebook account. He also uses the Facebook app and the Pages app (which anyone can use to manage their Facebook Pages).

    “When you install the Mentions App you cannot proceed further until you follow another one of their other ‘celebrity’ accounts,” he writes. “The first person on the list I was given was George Takei (rolling my eyes.) I ended up choosing Robert Downey Jr. to follow and then I hid his posts (sorry Robert!) I think that is a big flaw in the set up. If this app is for celebrities then WHY force them to follow another celebrity in order to set up this app? I think that is a flaw; I’m already following those who I want to follow – why insist I follow that short list of others?”

    He proceeds to pick through the feed, mentions/activity, posting, notifications, etc.

    Shatner’s conclusion is as follows: “I’m not quite sure why Facebook released this app for “celebrities”. It seems to be ill conceived. I will probably use it to post to my Facebook when I’m on my phone but it doesn’t allow for mail or groups. I will continue to use my regular Facebook App as well as the Pages app.”

    At least he’s going to use it.

    Mentions is the latest app from Facebook Creative Labs, which is also responsible for the strange Slinshot app launched last month.

    Image via Tumblr

  • James Garner Passes Away in Los Angeles at 86

    Actor James Garner passed away at his Brentwood area home in Los Angeles Saturday, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. He was 86.

    LAPD officer Alonzo Iniquez said Garner was found dead of natural causes, after police responded to a call made at around 8 p.m. PDT. Authorities confirmed Garner’s identity with the help of his family members upon arrival. Details on the cause of death have not been released, though Garner did suffer a stroke in 2008, only weeks after his 80th birthday.

    James Garner was born James Scott Bumgarner on April 7, 1928, in Norman, Oklahoma. He is remembered for his work on the big and small screen, in a career that spanned over five decades.

    Garner starred in several television shows over the years, and was most notably featured as Bret Maverick in the 1950’s comedy-western series Maverick, and as Jim Rockford in the 1970’s police procedural The Rockford Files.

    On the silver screen, Garner starred in over 50 films including The Great Escape (1963), Grand Prix (1966), Victor Victoria (1982) and Murphy’s Romance (1985), for which he received an Oscar nomination.

    Here Garner stars alongside Steve McQueen in The Great Escape:

    Modern audiences remember him for his role in the hit 2004 romdram The Notebook, starring Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams.

    Here is a deleted scene from The Notebook:

    Hollywood personalities take to Twitter to honor Garner:

    Here Garner discusses his craft, Steve McQueen, Marlon Brando, Jodie Foster and Mel Gibson:

    Image Wikimedia Commons

  • Efrem Zimbalist Jr., Actor, Dies at 95

    Efrem Zimbalist Jr., Actor, Dies at 95

    Actor Efrem Zimbalist, Jr., best known for his roles in the television series 77 Sunset Strip and The F.B.I., passed away at his ranch in Southern California on Friday. He was 95.

    In a statement, the actor’s daughter Stephanie Zimbalist and son Efrem Zimbalist III said, “We are heartbroken to announce the passing into peace of our beloved father, Efrem Zimbalist Jr., today at his Solvang ranch. He actively enjoyed his life to the last day, showering love on his extended family, playing golf and visiting with close friends.”

    Zimbalist Jr. was born on November 30, 1918 in New York City to Russian-born violinist Efrem Zimbalist, Sr. and Romanian-born operatic soprano Alma Gluck. The actor attended Yale University in the late 1930’s and then served five years in the United States Army during World War II. He received a Purple Heart for a leg wound sustained during the battle of Hürtgen Forest. A year later, Zimbalist returned to New York and made his Broadway acting debut in The Rugged Path, starring Spencer Tracy.

    Zimbalist’s stint on Broadway segued into a career in Hollywood, and the actor signed a contract with Warner Bros. in 1956. His first lead role came in 1958 as detective Stuart “Stu” Bailey in the popular police procedural 77 Sunset Strip, which ran until 1964. In 1959, Zimbalist garnered the Golden Globe for “Most Promising Newcomer – Male”.

    Here is a clip of the opening credits of 77 Sunset Strip:

    Zimbalist was likely best known for his starring role as Inspector Lewis Erskine on The F.B.I., which ran from 1965 to 1974.

    Zimbalist maintained a strong personal relationship with FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover while the show was in production. Hoover demanded technical accuracy for the series, and that FBI agents be portrayed in the best possible light. Actors who portrayed agents also had to pass a background check, and Zimbalist himself spent a week at the FBI academy at Quantico, Virginia before production of the series began. Hoover later designated Zimbalist as the image for actual FBI agents to model their personal appearances after.

    Fellow actors took to Twitter to offer their condolences:

    In addition to son Efrem and daughter Stephanie, Zimbalist is survived by four grandchildren and several great-grandchildren.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • William Shatner Gets NASA Medal Honor

    William Shatner Gets NASA Medal Honor

    Actor William Shatner has received NASA’s highest civilian honor, the Distinguished Public Service medal.

    Shatner’s award came as a result of several projects he has worked on with NASA over the years. Shatner hosted the NASA documentary celebrating the 30th anniversary of space shuttle missions. He also recreated his famous Star Trek television introduction (“Space … the Final Frontier …”) in one of the last wake-up calls for the astronauts of the STS-133 mission.

    “William Shatner has been so generous with his time and energy in encouraging students to study science and math, and for inspiring generations of explorers, including many of the astronauts and engineers who are a part of NASA today, ” said David Weaver, NASA’s associate administrator for the Office of Communications at NASA Headquarters in Washington. “He’s most deserving of this prestigious award.”

    The medal was presented to Shatner in Los Angeles at his annual Hollywood Charity Horse Show, where he raises money for a variety of children’s causes. The citation for the medal reads, “For outstanding generosity and dedication to inspiring new generations of explorers around the world, and for unwavering support for NASA and its missions of discovery.”

    Over the years, many people have been honored with the Distinguished Public Service Medal, the public version of the Distinguished Service Medal reserved for astronauts. These include Neil deGrasse Tyson in 2004; Carl Sagan in 1977; and Shatner’s old boss, Gene Roddenberry, in 1993.

    Shatner, a prolific Twitter user, responded to the honor on his account.

    Image via NASA

  • William Shatner Honored by NASA for Service

    William Shatner Honored by NASA for Service

    NASA honored iconic actor William Shatner with its highest award bestowed upon civilians Saturday, the Distinguished Public Service medal. Shatner received the citation while attending his own Hollywood Charity Horse Show in Los Angeles, which raises money for children’s causes.

    The medal cited Shatner for “outstanding generosity and dedication to inspiring new generations of explorers around the world, and for unwavering support for NASA and its missions of discovery.”

    Best known for his role as Captain James Tiberius Kirk on Star Trek: The Original Series, Shatner has been somewhat of an informal spokesman for NASA over the past few years, issuing a Star Trek-themed wake-up call to the astronauts of the Discovery mission STS-133 in 2011. In 2012, the actor recorded a message for the occupants of the International Space Station, and also narrated a video regarding NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover:

    David Weaver, NASA’s associate administrator for the Office of Communications at NASA Headquarters in Washington, said in a statement, “William Shatner has been so generous with his time and energy in encouraging students to study science and math, and for inspiring generations of explorers, including many of the astronauts and engineers who are a part of NASA today.” Weaver added, “He’s most deserving of this prestigious award.”

    Shatner, 83, was born on March 22, 1931, in the Côte Saint-Luc neighborhood of Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and has shown support for his home country’s space exploration efforts. Last year he traded tweets with astronaut Chris Hadfield, Canada’s first space station commander.

    Shatner’s latest artistic endeavor is a reality show called The Shatner Project, which is set to premiere some time this year, and will be a five-episode series in which the actor and wife Liz will gut their 1970′s-era California home, and remodel it. Commenting on the new series, Shatner states, “I am embracing change. Our home will be unfamiliar territory for a while but I am excited by all of it.”

    Image via NASA

  • William Shatner Sends Letter to Real Captain Kirk

    On Saturday, the Navy christened its newest – and most technologically advanced – ship ever seen: the USS Zumwalt. This large $7 billion guided missile destroyer is completely electric and is manned by Captain James Kirk himself.

    No, not that one.

    James A. Kirk was commissioned into the U.S. Naval Academy in 1990 and has since served on destroyers and cruisers and, mostly recently, is serving as Executive Assistant to the Director of Service Warfare.

    No doubt he has heard his share of Star Trek jokes, but the best of all had to be when Captain Kirk himself, actor William Shatner, sent a letter and autographed picture to the crew of the USS Zumwalt last week prior to the ship’s christening.

    “Unfortunately I can’t be with you when your vessel is commissioned and obviously your captain, Captain Kirk, is dear to my heart,” Shatner wrote. “So forgive me for not attending, my schedule won’t allow me, but know that you are in our thoughts — Mr. & Mrs. Shatner — and that we bless you and hope that you have a safe journey wherever your ship takes you.”

    Barbara Zumwalt, niece of the late Elmo Zumwalt, for which the ship got its name, posted a photo of Shatner’s gifts on Twitter.

    Initial operating capability of the USS Zumwalt should be reached by 2016.

    The letter and autographed photo from Shatner are displayed at Bath Iron Works in Maine.

    In a recent interview, Shatner was quoted as saying, “The thing you have to remember is that life is for the living. You only have this minute, this little particle that goes kachung! – and then is gone. You have such a short time to live and you’ve got to help other people, be kind and just love.”

    The crew of the USS Zumwalt indeed felt that kindness lately from the original Captain James Kirk.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Sandra Bullock Planning Miss Congeniality TV Show

    Sandra Bullock liked her Miss Congeniality role so much that she might reprise it on the small screen.

    According to Radar Online, an unnamed source says Bullock is planning a television spinoff that will be Bridesmaids meets 24.

    “Sandra loved her Miss Congeniality FBI agent character Gracie Hart and the concept so much that for years she has continued to keep up friendships with FBI agents she met while researching it, ” the source said.

    Miss Congeniality released in 2000 and starred Bullock as an FBI special agent who goes undercover by joining a beauty pageant. Candice Bergen, Benjamin Bratt, Michael Caine, and William Shatner costarred. The movie was a box office success and was nominated for several awards, including two Golden Globes.

    The less-successful sequel, Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous released in 2005.

    Bullock stepped into a similar role in 2013’s The Heat, starring alongside Melissa McCarthy as FBI special agent Sarah Ashburn. Like Miss Congeniality, The Heat was a commercial and critical success. It also marked Bullock’s biggest box office opening ever.

    “Sandra loves that real FBI agents, particularly female ones, continue to respond to and write her letters about both Miss Congeniality and The Heat,” said Radar Online’s source.

    Bullock has a few years of television experience under her belt. Her production company Fortis Films executive produced The George Lopez Show from 2002 to 2007.

    Entertainment Weekly named Bullock its 2013 Entertainer of the Year following the success of Gravity and The Heat. The former earned the actress an Oscar nomination for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role.

    Bullock will voice a character in Despicable Me spinoff The Minions which is scheduled to release in December 2014.

    There is talk of a sequel to The Heat but Bullock says she won’t be part of it.

    “I’m not doing a sequel to The Heat,” she said at the Gravity premiere. “I’ve done two sequels. They were horrible.”

    Image via YouTube

  • William Shatner Turns 83, Launching New Series

    Cultural icon William Shatner turned 83 yesterday, and has yet to show any sign of slowing down – He’s set to star in his own home renovation series on the DIY network, entitled The Shatner Project. Best known for his role as Captain James Tiberius Kirk on Star Trek: The Original Series, Shatner also gained notoriety for the title role on police drama T.J. Hooker, as attorney Denny Crane on the legal seriocomedy Boston Legal and was also the host of the popular reenactment series Rescue 911.

    Shatner was born on March 22, 1931, in the Côte Saint-Luc neighborhood of Montreal, Quebec, Canada. He began his silver screen acting career in the 1951 Canadian film The Butler’s Night Off, though his first feature role came in the 1958 MGM film The Brothers Karamazov with part-time robotic cowboy Yul Brynner.

    Aside from acting gigs, Shatner also co-wrote several novels set in the Star Trek universe, and authored a series of science fiction novels called TekWar that were adapted for television. The auteur also began music and spoken-word projects, beginning in 1968, with the release of The Transformed Man, in which he’d delivered disjointed, disproportionately intense renditions of Mr. Tambourine Man and Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds. Shatner has also collaborated with Ben Folds on numerous occasions, and the duo co-wrote the album Has Been in 2004.

    Shatner’s interpretation of Pulp’s Common People:

    Awesome.

    Here Shatner loses, and then regains control, in a profound display of his mastery of his craft:

    Interestingly, Shatner has ties to central Kentucky, and owns a 360 acre farm near Versailles called Belle Reve. He enjoys breeding and showing American Saddlebreds and Quarter Horses.

    The Shatner Project is set to premiere some time this year, and will be a five-episode series in which Shatner and wife Liz will gut their 1970’s-era California home, and remodel it. Commenting on the new series, Shatner states, “I am embracing change. Our home will be unfamiliar territory for a while but I am excited by all of it.”

    Image via YouTube.

  • William Shatner Turns 83, Is Now Doing Reality TV

    William Shatner turned 83 on Saturday and we’re reminded that the man is an institution at this point. From Captain Kirk to the Priceline Negotiator, everybody young and old recognizes him at this point. While his age and fame has definitely limited his roles over the past few years, he’s still acting to this day. In fact, he’s getting his own reality TV series.

    The DIY Network announced last week that Shatner will be starring in a new reality TV series called The Shatner Project. The series will star himself and his wife as they gut their own home and remodel it. There are currently only five episodes planned.

    “I am embracing change,” said Shatner. “Our home will be unfamiliar territory for a while but I am excited by all of it.”

    If The Shatner Project sounds familiar to you, it’s because it’s not the first time he’s used the name. In 2009, he started The Shatner Project on YouTube as a video blog that chronicled his day to day life for his fans. Here’s the humorous video that launched the series five years ago:

    Unfortunately, there’s not a similar trailer for the new Shatner Project just yet. It will no doubt be charming and humorous, but it can’t be as good as the trailer he did for the Star Trek video game last year.

    Speaking of Star Trek, Shatner’s next appearance at a convention will be at The Official Star Trek Convention in Chicago on June 6-8. He will only be present on Saturday, however, so Trekkies wanting to see Captain Kirk in the flesh will want to be in attendance.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • WIlliam Shatner Releases Newest Album

    WIlliam Shatner Releases Newest Album

    82-year-old William Shatner isn’t just known for his work on Star Trek, or his rather recent appearances in Priceline commercials. The man can now be iknown for his music prowess releasing his second album.

    This isn’t the first time the Star Trek man took to the studio. He surprised and I guess you could say startled his fans on his 1968 debut album, “The Transformed Man.” He even recorded his own version of, “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” for that premiere record.

    Check out Shatner’s version of “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” here.

    It’s been quite some time since his first release, but his most recent album will be released in just a few days on Monday, Oct. 8. This marks Shatner’s fifth studio album.

    The newest album, “Ponder the Mystery” will be a prog-rock sounding album with help from Billy Sherwood of the band Yes. It’s not just Sherwood helping out with this album. Robby Krieger of the Doors and country superstar, Vince Gill will be making an appearance on the latest album as well.

    The album will be performed live with a backup band. Check out the track listing below.

    “Ponder the Mystery” track listing:
    1. Red Shift
    2. Where It’s Gone… I Don’t Know with Mick Jones
    3. Manhunt with Simon House
    4. Ponder The Mystery with Steve Vai
    5. So Am I with Al Di Meola
    6. Change with Rick Wakeman
    7. Sunset with Joel Vandroogenbroeck
    8. Twilight with Edgar Winter
    9. Rhythm Of The Night with Nik Turner
    10. Imagine Things with Vince Gil
    11. Do You See? with Edgar Froese
    12. Deep Down with Robby Krieger
    13. I’m Alright, I Think with Dave Koz
    14. Where Does Time Go? with George Duke
    15. Alive with Zoot Horn Rollo

    Photo Credit: YouTube

  • William Shatner Headlines Salt Lake Comic-Con

    Salt Lake City is hosting its first-ever Comic Con this weekend and it is sold out, with over 50,000 tickets sold by the end. Appearances by William Shatner, and a re-teaming of Adam West and Burt Ward, are special highlights of the event.

    Shatner and West headlined a one-hour session on the journey each made toward pop culture immortality, adding quips about aging and the host state. West garnered applause with, “The two icons each have bad hips. But look at us, we’re still perfect.”

    The pair revealed that they only ever worked on one project together, a 1968 TV movie Alexander the Great, shot in Utah. Shatner played Alexander, West played General Cleander, but the film failed to get picked up as a series. Both had already been playing the roles that made them famous, Captain James T. Kirk in Star Trek and Batman in Batman (respectively).

    Star Trek premiered on NBC on this day in 1966 and Shatner gave a Tweet-out to the series that gave him his first big break:

    Not to be outdone by sibling-Cons, the rest of the SLCC Special Guest line-up includes Kevin Sorbo (Hercules), Lou Ferrigno (The Hulk), Henry Winkler (The Fonz), David Prowse (Darth Vader, the body), Dean Cain (Superman) and a host of other sci-fi and fantasy icons.

    (image)

    Some of the celebs, along with SLCC organizers Dan Farr and Bryan Brandenburg, even took time to visit the city’s capitol building and Governor (Pictured: unidentified, Dan Farr, Kevin Sorbo, Gov. Gary Herbert, Lou Ferrigno, Claire Coffee, Bryan Brandenburg).

    The weekend actually featured the GEEX Gaming and Electronics Expo, but organizers decided to add the flair—and probably added draw and sales—of designating it a Comic Book and Entertainment Convention.

    Shatner is also breaking news with a fourth studio album, Ponder the Mystery, to be released on 8 October and for which he will tour. He joins with musician Billy Sherwood, formerly in the band Yes.

    [Images via Salt Lake Comic Con Facebook.]

  • William Shatner’s Age Catches Up To Him In His Latest Fight With The Gorn

    For an 82-year-old, William Shatner still looks incredibly young. That being said, it seems that his age is finally catching up to him. Despite that, he still holds his own against one of his oldest adversaries – the Gorn.

    All of this is for the upcoming Star Trek: The Video Game. The story takes place between 2009’s Star Trek reboot and the latest film – Star Trek: Into Darkness. In the video game, Kirk and Spock must fight off a Gorn invasion.

    Of course, this video only raises our collective hope that William Shatner will make a cameo in the newest game. He could prove an invaluable ally to future Kirk and Spock what with his incredible acting and charm.

  • 693 Star Trek Episodes Are Now Free on Hulu Until the End of March

    693 Star Trek Episodes Are Now Free on Hulu Until the End of March

    In honor of William shatner’s birthday (he’s 82 today), Hulu is looking to kill your productivity this month by making nearly every Star Trek episode free until the end of the month.

    This includes Star Trek: The Original Series, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Star Trek: Enterprise, and Star Trek: Voyager.

    In all, this is 693 episodes. And you have just under 10 days to catch them while they’re still free.

    You do the math.

    “Resistance is futile. Almost as futile as controlling a population of tribbles,” says Hulu.

    (image)

    The last limited time deal that Hulu ran was a little more up my alley. On Valentine’s weekend, Hulu opened up over 800 Criterion Collection films for free.

    To get started on all 693 episodes, head here.

  • Cuoco Joins Shatner In New Priceline Ad [Video]

    Priceline has put out a new ad in which The Big Bang Theory’s Kaley Cuoco joins longtime Priceline spokesman William Shatner as his daughter.

    The ad is titled: Priceline Shocker: The Negotiatior’s Secret Daughter Revealed”. The company uploaded it to YouTube for your viewing pleasure.

    “The Negotiator harbors many secrets, and this is just one of them,” said Shatner. “It’s another layer to the enigma of The Negotiator that shows us there are many different ways to find great hotel deals. And, as in life, there is something new he can learn from a younger perspective.”

    “It’s definitely exciting working with Bill, and being part of a campaign and a brand that I’ve pretty much grown up with,” said Cuoco. “He has single-handedly built the Priceline Negotiator into a pop culture icon. I think there’s a lot of overlap in our fans, who will appreciate seeing us together as a father and daughter team. And who wouldn’t want to be William Shatner’s daughter?”

    The campaign is set to begin running on January 14.

    This week, Priceline reportedly gained FTC approval for its acquisition of Kayak.

  • William Shatner, Wil Wheaton Tout NASA Accomplishments

    Though the budget for NASA has been declining since the early 90s, the discoveries and technological advances coming out of the agency continue to stimulate the economy and improve the lives of all Americans. This makes NASA arguably the best investment the U.S. government makes, and the agency has recruited some sci-fi legends to make the case for space exploration.

    William Shatner, Wil Wheaton, and June Lockhart have each starred in a new public service announcement touting a few of NASA’s accomplishments that have changed life on Earth for the better.

    Shatner, best-known as Captain James T. Kirk of the USS Enterprise on the TV show Star Trek, discusses the medical advances that have come from NASA research, including remote ultrasounds, robot-assisted surgery, and thermometer pills.

    Wheaton is well-known as Wesley Crusher (the boy) on the TV series Star Trek: The Next Generation. His PSA focuses on life-saving technologies developed by NASA that have improved safety in a variety of industries. Examples include rocket-powered parachutes, life rafts, and personal locator GPS beacons.

    Lockhart, known for, among other things, her role as Maureen Robinson on the TV show Lost in Space, chimes in with her PSA on the NASA-developed clean water technology that is used around the world.

  • Shatner Returns as the Priceline Negotiator

    In January, William Shatner’s Priceline Negotiator was killed off, and Priceline ads began featuring a different spokesperson. In case you don’t remember, the Priceline Negotiator met his doom in the act of saving a bus full of endangered tourists. Saving them from high prices on hotels, of course. Take a look at Shatner’s funny, fiery death below:

    That’s certainly more spectacular than Kirk’s Star Trek: Generations death. Following that ad, Priceline declared the Priceline Negotiator dead, and there were tears.

    Much like Spock, however, the Priceline Negotiator is back from the dead. Priceline has released a new commercial featuring the suave haggler and his newer counterpart, a Priceline.com agent. During a clandestine meeting on a secluded beach, the Agent attempts to convince the Negotiator that he still has work to do:

    How exactly the Priceline Negotiator survived the catastrophe on the bridge is unknown, and even Priceline said in a statement that no one knows for sure. Did he manage to grab onto the bridge at the last moment? Did the bus have an emergency transporter? Does Priceline have a hidden Genesis Device it was able to use to bring the Priceline Negotiator back from the dead? No matter how it happened or why, Shatner will be seen more often on TV screens across the U.S., and that’s always a good thing. As long as he isn’t singing an Elton John cover, that is.

  • William Shatner Dines With One Millionth Twitter Follower

    Good guy William Shatner apparently appreciates the little people. While on tour for his one-man show Shatner’s World, the legendary actor (and sometimes recording artist) treated a South Carolina couple to dinner – just for having the luck of being his one millionth follower on Twitter.

    Shatner tweeted out a video from the dinner, which took place during a stop in Charlotte, North Carolina. The lucky couple was Troy Pound, and self-described Sci-Fi geek, and his wife of 16 years Wendy.

    Check out the tweet and video below:

    (image)@WilliamShatner
    William Shatner    Dinner with my 1 millionth follower @pdoxjr and his wife @mrspdox in Charlotte, NC stop for @ShatnersWorld MBB http://t.co/0o70DT80(image) 1 day ago via web ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

    The dinner took place at The Capital Grille, right across the street from where Shatner was performing at the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center. Shatner’s one-man show is described as “a one man force of nature delivers a larger than life performance complete with his laugh-out-loud humor, signature storytelling and select musical selections in his inimitable style.”

    “When he found out he’d won, he must’ve shatnered himself,” writes one YouTuber. Indeed.

    Mr. Pound seems to still be over the moon about the dinner. “It was fabulous, kinda still awestruck,” he says on Twitter. “Thanks for the fame, however short-lived, still was an honor.”

    Asked if he was still dining out on his story of meeting Bill, he had this to say:

    (image)@pdoxjr
    Troy Pound    @Vashti18 LMAO, no I am just a simple guy, sitting in my corner of the Interwebs. #butthedinnerwasawesome(image) 15 hours ago via web ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

    Nice move, Shatner, way to make someone’s day (month? year?). Only a few more generous Twitter rewards and you can get on Chad Ochocino’s level, who is notorious for doing awesome things for his social media followers like taking dozens of them out to dinner and giving them tickets to NFL games.