Oh my! It appears as if actors William Shatner and George Takei are far more connected at the professional hip than most of us realize. We know Shatner played Captain Kirk and Takei played Enterprise pilot Sulu in the classic TV show, Star Trek, and its hit films. However, it appears Mr. Takei shadows Mr. Shatner in many other dramatic ways. From astronaut turned bionic James Bond (The Six Million Dollar Man) to legendary shock jock Howard Stern himself, Shatner and Takei seem to orbit each other like rival satellites. Today, the two veteran actors have been introduced to a new generation, thanks to big TV roles, Howard Stern and their TV advertising spokesman roles.
The Twilight Zone
Gene Roddenberry’s Star Trek wasn’t the first time Shatner and Takei acted on the same series. Though guest stars in different episodes, both actors are featured prominently in Rod Serling’s classic, “The Twilight Zone” – an early landmark sci-fi television show. Shatner’s episode, “Nightmare At 20,000 Feet” sees him screaming about airplane gremlins, while on a creepy, stormy night flight. In, “The Encounter”, Takei plays a Japanese American handyman who’s violently possessed by a samurai sword. It was broadcast only once, then pulled from ever airing again in American syndication because of the sensitivity to the story’s racial overtones.
Star Trek
Here’s the sci-fi biggie. Shatner and Takei helped forge an iconic TV series, which spawned novels, video games, comic books, action figures and of course a dozen hit movies and still counting. Interestingly, Shatner wasn’t even first choice to be captain of the Enterprise, so the unaired pilot, “The Cage”, has no Kirk nor Sulu in sight. It’s been a wild, weird and decidedly profitable ride for both actors where Star Trek is concerned, and with a new Trek movie prepping for release soon, there’s still no end in sight.
The Six Million Dollar Man
The connection here is not only striking, but terminal. Not only do Takei and Shatner both guest star in the bionic adventures of Lee Majors, they both die heroically in their respective episodes. In, “Burning Bright”, Shatner plays an astronaut pal of Col. Steve Austin (Majors), who’s not feeling well. Fact is, Shatner’s character is going stark raving mad. The poignant finale sees Austin trying to save his pal, but to no avail. Takei’s bionic boost is called “The Coward”, and has Austin trained by master mountain climber Takei, only to be shot by the bad guys. Shatner’s episode aired first, then a week later came Takei’s. Talk about tailing each other like a pair or cosmic comets!
The Howard Stern Show
Shatner’s been a long time guest of The Howard Stern Show, where Howard and the gang delighted in bringing up the very public tension and stress that’s marked much of the interaction between Takei and Shatner – along with a few other members of the Star Trek family. In 2009, Takei one upped Shatner by becoming the official Howard Stern announcer. He regularly joins in on the fun in studio with Howard and the gang. No matter the past pains between the two men, Takei attended The Comedy Central Roast Of William Shatner in 2006, and while he jabbed and joked at the big ‘Shat’ mercilessly, he said he was truly honored to be there.
TV Pitchmen – Priceline & Sharp Aquos
The Shat/Takei connection continues. Both men had guest roles in episodes of the classic “Mission Impossible” TV show, and both are TV pitchmen. Mad Men’s Don Draper would be proud. William Shatner is one of the most regonized pitchmen around, mostly hawking Priceline – as the Priceline Negotiator. Not to be outdone, or outsold, George Takei acts as spokesman for Sharp Aquos, a line of vibrantly clear and colorful LCD TVs.
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