I honestly don't know where to begin here......
Last Thursday night I got to host the legendary WILLIAM SHATNER on stage at the Capitol Center in Concord, for a very special 70 minute sit down Q&A following a screening of "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Kahn". It was one of those events that you think can't possibly live up to your expectations - but it did.
I'll get this out of the way - Shatner, or "Bill", as his close friends like ME call him (haha!) is a very smart, genuine, caring, kind, and curious guy, and this night is in my Top 5 experiences ever.
Where do I begin?
First, it was so cool that my buddy Tom Bergeron flew back from CA to be at the event (he and Bill are good friends as well), and the three of us had dinner before the show.
The conversations covered everything from family, world events, covid, to interviewing techniques and showbiz stuff. No Trek talk whatsoever. And Bill was as down to earth and easy to talk to as any celeb I've ever met. In addition- he actually talks with you. He asks questions about anything you say - and that's pretty rare for someone that famous. He's very engaging.
Oh yeah, did I mention HE'S 90 YEARS OLD??
You'd never know it.
Dinner was excellent (my compliments to the Chef- it was a 4 star meal right in the dressing room!)
And then it's showtime - and when I introduce Bill - the place goes nuts. Bill walks on stage and immediately launches into a 5 min story about how "Kahn" almost didn't get made at all! And while he's roaming about the stage- i just stood there and marveled at him. 90 years old, and he's tearing it up. And when Shatner is holding court on stage- I stood behind him and watched.
One doesn't "sit", until the King sits....
So he finally does, and we're off. I prepared 4 pages of questions and didn't get close to even half of them. Once you start with a guy like him, you just go where he goes, and you LISTEN.
He was hilarious, and we had some great exchanges! Great stories from Trek, Boston Legal, his trip to space, and more. In addition, you had to be here to hear about subjects like horses,
directing, being 90, and - of course- his sphincter.
Yes. We talked about SPHINCTERS. And it was hilarious!
And let me tell you, when you get "Shat" on by William Shatner - and he reaches out to give you the 'nucks - IT MAKES YOUR LIFE.
I got "Shat" on by the Shat himself, and it was glorious.
He even laughed so hard, he was just about crying. I'll never forget it.
And after it was over, I brought Roadkill back and watched him meet one of his idols.
And that too, was glorious. Bill was pretty exhausted, but he was very nice to Roadkill, and that's when this happened -
That might be my favorite pic of the night. You'll have to listen to the show on Wednesday to hear what Shatner said to Scotty that was PRICELESS!
That, and THIS is another favorite pic.
Bergeron- CLASSIC. Love the man.
The night was a huge thrill for me, and when it was over and Bill and I left the stage- we met behind the movie screen and we shook hands. I asked him "How was it for you?" And he answered-
"You were fabulous".
Well, it doesn't get any better than that.
Thanks so much to the amazing audience there that night, to Sal, and the incredible staff at the Captiol Center for the opportunity, and to Tom - for being such a good friend.
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