... and 12 years later I finally come across this absolute gem. Wow. Absolutely awesome. I truly appreciate Wil Wheaton's existence in pop culture. What a class act. Cheers!
I also am late to this party. Be sure to look for The Velvet Wesley with Scalzi. Loscon. 2009? 2008?! I’m not sure. But it was epic. And I think recorded.
I was going to say something almost exactly like your comment, but you say it so well. I heartily agree. There's something magical about a well-told story of being 14 that is exactly that to all of us 15-and-ups.
George Takei was my best Trek interaction. And it wasn't even my interaction. I just shook his hand and took a pic. It was a crying child in a very long line waiting for a very long time . And George had a long day but wouldn't let them parry down the line. Finally he put a stop to the line, apologized to everyone for the delay, and sat with the crying child and their family talking and playing and taking pictures.He then went back to his spot and continued on . Every actor I have ever met has never come close to that small kindness showed by George to a crying child.
I was one of the guest handlers for George at Comic Con Honolulu several years ago. He had the longest, slowest line because first he's a huge inspiration and second he took his time with every single fan. My fondest Comic Con memory was the young Japanese-American woman who walked up and asked me if George could sign her diploma. I said yes, and she explained to me that George was the reason she got into STEM. That growing up seeing someone who looked like her on the bridge of a starship inspired her. She was literally meeting her hero. As she got closer to George's end of the table, I saw her visibly start to shake. They were too far away for me to hear what they were saying to each other, but George was clearly moved. They both were. He spent a good long time talking to her. Brings me to tears every time I re-tell this story. George is a real one. His husband Brad is pretty wonderful too!
I'm a harmonica player, and an admin on a couple forums. One of our members went to see Blues Traveller. He really wanted to meet John Popper. He waited out back after the set, but when Popper came out he rushed past him to the tour bus. The guy was heartbroken... but the harmonica world is small, and word got back to Popper. Popper reached out to the guy. Apparently they'd arrived right at show time and he hadn't made it to the mens' room before, and he'd wet his whistle a couple times. He was rushing to the tour bus to get to the bathroom. He got the guys contact info and he gave him a call. Apparently he ended up calling the guy and they ended up talking on the phone for an hour. (Although I haven't met Popper in person, I know a few other people who have met him, and he seems to be a really nice guy.)
There's a story about how the TNG cast would be separately invited to some major Hollywood party, and gradually they would find themselves gathered in some quiet corner, often without the husbands or wives they arrived with, just so they could sit and talk. These people were compressed together inside a sound stage with no windows for about 15 hours a day in uncomfortable costumes and often prosthetics. Based on their experience it was natural they had to grow to either love or hate each other: it's nice that it turned out the best possible.
There is reason he calls Gates McFadden his space mom and it’s not just because she played his mom on the show. Wil has stated in interviews he considers TNG cast his real family
It's wonderful to watch all this play out from 70 years of age starting out as a Star Trek fan as a kid. It took this long for all this to happen and the perfect hilarious story to form. Second set of hugs for Wil Wheaton.
I was touched by this story. Now that Will is older and can write this piece and fill it with humor, while staying true to the story is a reminder of how talented and remarkable he has become as an adult. He does a fine job with The Ready Room, including his part in the podcast Bridgewater. A fictitious story based on a real location and my hometown for decades. Thank you Will for taking the high road in this retelling of the story in such a way that was pure comedy. “Live long and prosper.”
Like Wil, I too grew up idolizing William Shatner. I would run home from school to catch the latest episode of Star Trek and wait anxiously each month for the newsletter from the Star Trek fan club to arrive in the mail. I even tried to start a letter campaign to bring back the series "The Barbary Coast" after it was cancelled after only one season. Shatner was going to be at a small convention in Santa Rosa, and I paid extra money to get to be close to the stage and get to meet him afterwards. Let's just say it didn't go well ... After hearing Shatner talk about himself for 45 minutes in a chair that was close enough for me to see up his nose.... When it came time to meet him, he thought my choice of tee shirt designs was rather unfortunate. I was wearing a tee I had painted with a picture of one of Shatner's horses on it. Apparently he didn't like that horse very much.... How was I supposed to know this??? It's f'ing hilarious now, but my world stopped when he said that. I don't know how I even got home safely. Instead of being impressed with my art skill and choice of subjects (as I had hoped he would be), he tore me to pieces in front of everyone because he didn't like that particular horse. To say I was devastated was an understatement.... So I was howling with laughter in parts of Will's story.... Commiserating with him as well.... Lol I hope if I ever get to meet Mr. Wheaton, things will go a little better .... 😊
I'm certain things would go better. Unlike your shared childhood hero, Wheaton appears to be a very funny, down-to-earth, kind-hearted person. AND a far more talented actor. 😉
I don't know why but I never cared for Shatner, not any of the characters he played. So I was saddened but not surprised to hear all the stories of his narcissistic behaviour towards people who idolized him.
I was thrilled when I learned that Shatner was a horse person. I was heavy into horses my whole life, did a lot of horse shows. But then I found out he raised Saddlebreds, & everything fell to ashes.... apologies to nice Saddlebred owners, but every one I met in person was a pretentious jerk.
I love Wil Wheaton. He loves Star Trek like a nerdy fan, even though he's part of it. Also.. I've seen one of Shatner's hair pieces. I went to the salon/office that makes and styles the special hair pieces, and installs them to their head with some special goop. A friend was getting measured for the monstrosity. The guy opened a cabinet and there were Styrofoam heads on shelves. One had a label reading...Bill S. It looked like his hair, perfect. Before the door was shut I also saw one that was labeled Burt R for Burt Reynolds. I geeked so hard at seeing Captain Kirk's hair piece.
I love that everyone he worked with had his back and made an effort to help him feel better, it must have been such a crushing experience, and it's so great that his colleagues stepped right up and supported him.
Whether true or fantasy, that is one of the funniest stand-up routines I have seen in the longest. And if all off us go back in time to Lenard Nimoys death, Captain Kirk just might have been as depicted. I don't know I never met him!
I'm one of the very original Trekkie. Yes, there are still a few of us around. Since Shatner's still alive and I'm younger than he maybe there's still some time left in my old bones, to catch up on amazing creative works from the people that I've admired all of my life. Wil, you and your friends here did a wonderfully creative job of storytelling. A truth, your truth and all of our truths who grew up with Gene Roddenberry's much beloved for generations of the Star Trek who still boldly go where all men and creatures now seem to go. Thank you so much for this. Fine job. 😏 I laughed through the entire performance. BTW, my son absolutely loved Stand By Me. But then we both love all of Stephen King's stories. What a cast that movie had! Since this was 11 years ago, I guess I should catch up with what your doing today. Live long and continue to prosper, Wil Wheaton.
Wow. LOVE the performance in this video, the story is great and the music is fun. I have done a couple panels with my husband with "No Shit, There I Was..." as the title, telling stories about our almost 50 years in fandom and having met at a convention. I am amazed that someone else, someone big name star, had the same experience I did. I managed to meet almost all of the TOS cast, exceptions being Nimoy and Kelley, who had both passed away. Everyone had been fantastic. My brother says that George was practically a member of the family (he saw him a few times more than I did). Nichelle Nichols introduced me to Mae Jemisin. Majel was a beautiful, poised, and friendly person. I think the two that I have the most fond memories of are Walter Koenig, who brought my then-three-year-old daughter back to me at the dealer's table I was working and said he found her charming. My sister had put her in the costume contest and she went to the stage, turned around once, then sat down on the step and pulled her dress over her head. He had kids about that age and we talked. He ended up buying a ceramic unicorn we had. The other is Jimmy Doohan. I was wandering the convention hotel about 3 am, couldn't sleep. I bumped into Jimmy, who was having the same thing. We ended up on a couch talking for a couple of hours, about his heart attack, about my love of Trek (I started watching first-run TOS at age 9), and it was just a great discussion. Then a few years ago, Shatner came to my hometown, outside of Houston, to open a new memorabilia store (Come Meet William "Captain Kirk" Shatner. I was in my wheelchair, my husband and I paid the $100.00 fee (this was the last TOS I needed to meet) and waited. I don't know if it was the 100 degree heat or he was just cranky, but he was a dick. Seriously. And, like Will, I had been a huge fan. Back in the day I used to write Star Trek Mary Sue stories with Kirk as my adopted father (ok, remember, I was 10-12). I really wanted to meet him, to thank him for all the great memories. And he shook my hand, got a picture, and then said "Next." That was it. Maybe someday I'll get to meet Will and some of the other Next Gen cast.
That sounds very much like the experience a number of us had with him at a convention. He really was a d!ck. I did get to meet Leonard Nimoy there, too. He was wonderful. Most of the cast members of TOS and TNG I've met have been kind and friendly. Unfortunately, Shatner, Koenig, and Picardo (from Voyager) were not so much. Shatner was the worst of them, though. I'm glad your experience with Koenig was positive. It shows he has some redeeming qualities.
as a 🇨🇦 I want to apologize - but there really is no excuse for William f**king Shatner - when I’m having a rough day - will just think of Michael Dorin going all Worf on you know who 🤣😂 love you Wil glad TNG guys had your back - more importantly - so glad Picard let Wesley on his bridge 🙏🇨🇦
I never thought much of Will Wheaton when he was on Star Trek. Honestly, I, too, thought that a teenager, regardless of his parentage, did not belong on the bridge of a starship. Then he started making regular appearances on The Big Bang Theory. It was on that show that I realized several things about him. One, that he is actually quite a good actor. Yes, he was playing "himself," but I'm pretty sure it was a fictionalized person that happened to be also named will Wheaton. Second, that aside from just being a good actor, he had excellent comedic timing. I gained a large amount of respect for him from that show. Now, having seen this (albeit 11 years after it was uploaded to RUclips), I am once again reminded how good he really is. This was LOL funny and I enjoyed every second of it.
Yeah the problem with Wesley Crusher was the writers had no idea how to write him in the first few seasons. In later seasons the character improved a lot.
@@DaDunge That was pretty much true of all of the characters for most of the first season, and (in some cases) beyond. My best friend and I used to have a running joke that you could say the words "No sh!t!" after every line out of Counselor Troi's mouth for the first few seasons. Fortunately, as you pointed out, things got better, and she went from being my most disliked character on the show to one of my top 3 favorites by the end. (Chief O'Brien didn't fare so well, though in his case I've never really decided if it was the writing or the actor. I literally threw something at the TV when he turned up on Deep Space Nine. Something soft, fortunately.) If you haven't seen Mayim Bialik's podcast with Wil Wheaton as the guest, I highly recommend it. (For anyone reading this; not specifically in response to your comment.)
If you like WW, check out his audiobook performances. His first couple books were a bit iffy, but he's become a truly outstanding reader. His performances on John Scalzi's "Head On" & "Lock In," for two examples, are absolute perfection.
@@DaDunge Yep! Season 1 Wesley was annoying as all hell because there isn't an actor on the planet that could say that dialog without sounding insufferable. The writers royally screwed Wheaton. But the idea of a teenager on the bridge was actually a great one. This is the future. We've gotten past racial, national, gender, etc divides. Makes sense that we'd also get past the divide that only certain age groups can do certain things.
It's not surprising Gene was so kind to him. My sister met Gene and Majel in an elevator once. She was 8-years old, and the two of them were so kind to her. Gene noted that my sister looked like a young Majel (she did - she still does almost 50 years later). My sister was on Cloud 9 for months after that!
Years ago, when the earth was young, I met James Doohan at a teeny tiny Star Trek convention in Miami. James was awesome, it was a pleasure meeting him and hearing him tell stories about his time in Star Trek. It was there that I realized that James was missing a finger in his right hand. He had lost it in WWII. He was a soldier for Canada. During the show they always hid his right hand off camera to avoid having to explain the missing finger. Anyway, at some point someone in the crowd asked him what it was like working with William Shatner. Without missing a beat James Doohan said that Leonard Nimoy was a great director to work for. So I am not surprised at all by your story. By the way, when I was going to college in the early 80s Gene Roddenberry came to the campus to give a lecture, which I was lucky enough to attend. He showed us The Menagerie episode which I had never seen before. It was a wonderful experience.
I'm not a convention kinda girl but I've got to admit I'm jealous of all of you who have met Gene Roddenberry and the nicer folks on the cast. I sort of think of Shatner as a surgeon, you have to have a lot of ego to do what he does. But there are other people out there who can do it without being a d!@K
This story makes me respect Brent Spiner even more than before. And how awesome were Jonathan Frakes and Michael Dorn? Roddenberry’s handling of the incident was spot on. This is how the adults in the room should behave when someone is being bullied. When I started college in the late 90s, I became friends with a young woman in my dorm whose family owned and showed Saddlebreds. Shatner also owned and showed Saddlebreds, so the girl and her family occasionally crossed paths with him at the shows. I asked her what it was like meeting him. Her words-not mine, “He’s an asshole.”
Wheaton wasn't being bullied. Shatner was an asshole to him and was very rude but the concept of bullying has become so watered down the last few years that no one seems to understand the concept. If Shatner had made Will feel threatened (instead of just bad), then he would have been bullying.
@@raindogs I was at a con where a person with a disability stood in line for the Q and A until she got up to the mic, and handed her question to a con worker to have her ask the question for her. Instead of just answering the question, Shatner spent 30 seconds or so talking about how weird it was that the woman in line didn't ask her own question. Just a complete and utter insensitive asshole about it. Bad enough that when my wife and I walked past Jess Harnell's table afterwards and Jess asked us how the presentation was and we told him what happened (we spoke with Jess earlier in the day, gotten a picture and autograph, and Jess talked about being Shatner's neighbor but Shatner thinks he's Gene Simmons), Jess gave us both a hug and said how sorry he was that we had to see that. Jess is a mensch. Shatner is an asshole, if not a bully.
@@jedsa05 You are absolutely right about Shatner being an asshole. I'd like to throw him, Gene Simmons and Alec Baldwin in a pit with no exit and watch them beat the crap out of each other for a solitary steak.
@@KennBurch I just knew someone was going to say this. It would be verbal bullying if Shatner had made him feel threatened or caused him to act in a self-destructive manner. Making someone feel bad by being an asshole isn’t being a bully.
I am so glad Will has turned into...no, MADE himself into the man he is. It's a hard thing to do and he did it well. I truly value him and always wish him well.
Am I the only one who teared up during the last phone call from Gene Roddenberry? Something about him looking out for Will and standing up for him, hits me right in the emotions.
@@mandiweaverling9605 “would you like me to kick his ass?” - I totally heard that in Warf’s voice. Yeah I loved TNG, and didn’t really think about Will that much at the time. It was just another character and I didn’t really think about the kid or the part. He was just another character. Then, I saw him on Big Bang, and saw him as him, and not this little punk. But he was a cool kid who got in with a very good and caring and supportive bunch of people. Good on him for staying cool and not turning into a douche.
Yeah, too bad Roddenberry couldn't live up to that moment while he was having affairs, taking credit for other people's work. Ask Grace Lee Whitney about Roddenberry some time (if she were still alive). The Great Bird of the Galaxy could be a real vulture.
@@lfrankow Yeah, the guy has had to face a barrage of insults over the years mostly just nit picking and attacking his character. From what I’ve personally seen and heard he is a solid all round good guy.
Great story that Wil Wheaton shared. I applaud his candid recounting of this event and kudos to the adults, Brent Spiner, Jonathan Frakes and Michael Dorn who were supportive to their young colleague. I think that Gene Roddenberry especially handled the situation well by letting Wil know he was every bit as important to him and to the show as any one else, including Shatner and that Roddenberry got Shatner to apologize. I am sorry that someone Wil looked up to was so self-absorbed that he couldn't treat young Wil with the respect he deserved.
I've seen Wil perform this bit, and seen him together with Paul & Storm several times but never seen them do this. What a lovely, lovely performance! Thanks for uploading this.
How in the world I came across this while perusing Nick Cave videos is beyond me but thank you inscrutable Google algorithms for randomly throwing this out as a suggestion ! I haven't laughed that hard in a while ! I too actually had a William F'ing Shatner experience at a tennis tournament at UCLA back in 2010 or 11. I was part of a video crew producing and filming the event. I was technical director at the time and operated an integrated video/audio production kit called The Video Toaster by Newtek. It had lots of 2D and 3D video transitions or wipes that you could use to transition from say a live video feed to a commercial or a graphic showing stats concerning the tennis match. So, the time came at the end of a set when the players would sit down and rest that we would transition from a live shot to stats concerning the match at that time. One of my photogs said, "Hey, I've got William Shatner ! He's across the stadium !". I told him "STAY ON HIM, STAY ON HIM !! ". I quickly punched up Camera Two who had Shatner in frame . I looked over at the producer who was about to panic that I hadn't yet transitioned to match stat graphics yet and smiled a wicked smile and then I yelled at my audio guy to find me something cinematic as an audio stinger. I then chose the perfect 3D transition for this one in a million shot of William F'ing Shatner. Camera Two yelled " HE'S UP HE'S MOVING! ". I yelled "TRACK HIM !", then to Audio "CUE AUDIO, GO ;". The Audio Engineer launched this slightly Star Trekky cinematic audio stinger out to stadium sound just as Shatner was walking amongst the rows and ....he... STOPPED ! That's when I yelled at Camera Two, "STAND BY TWO, TAKE TWO!! ". AND I immediately punched Two out live to the two Jumbotrons at either end of the tennis stadium at UCLA. And EVERYONE now saw William F'ing Shatner on the Jumbotrons! The producer FREAKED!! "TAKE HIM DOWN, TAKE HIM DOWN !!". I told him "WAIT....WAIT". AND at that moment Shatner turned to see what the commotion was about in the crowd. HE NEVER LOOKED AT THE JUMBOTRONS!! HE BEVER KNEW HE WAS LIVE ON AIR !! And at that moment I launched the 3D transition wipe. Which consisted of a transparent globe that came flying into the live shot of Shatner and encircled his HEAD !! THEN.... a golden ring of spinning lights encircled the globe which now contained William F'ing Shatner's head superimposed in the globe and became a FLYING SAUCER which then launched out of the frame and pulled in the match statistics graphic. By the time Shatner looked up to see if he was being filmed his live shot was gone and all he saw was the stats graphic. In Camera Two which was now in preview in my control screen in the Video Toaster I could see Shatner's puzzled look and then he left for a while only to return with a hot dog and a drink after the match resumed. And to this very hour.....WILLIAM F'ING SHATNER NEVER KNEW HIS HEAD BOLDY WENT WHERE NO HEAD HAD GONE BEFORE !! I was in TV production for 20 years both in front of the camera and behind it in production. This was and will remain my finest hour !! 🤣
Many years ago I went to a TNG event. Patrick didn't attend but Denise did. This group was so entertaining. Brent was doing Bing Crosby and Micheal walked in on Marina's Q&A and asked her weight. I don't see how they were able to shoot the show. We were all in stitches.
Great story and Will Wheaton's delivery is hilarious. 😆Thanks for sharing this and a big THANK YOU to Will and his friends for a terrific performance. 🤗I ran into Shatner at a small Verizon store in Studio City several years ago, and after standing next to him while we both took care of business, my impression also became "William F****** Shatner. Of all the great actors, music stars, composers, directors, etc. I've met, none of them came even close to "Ego personified." 🤨
I love this bit! I understand Wil's obsession with F*cking Shatner because he was the original who came into our living rooms as Captain Kirk. I remember asking me begging my mom to let me stay up to watch it. It came on after 8:00 p.m. in Germany and I had school in the morning. I found out Shatner was an ass some years later in an interview with someone else who enlightened us to that fact. He said he treated several actors of his Star Trek crew pretty badly, especially James Doohan aka Scotty who was my favorite along with Leonard Nimoy. Doohan was a lovely man who lived in Redmond, WA and I was so disgusted with F*cking Shatner that I stopped watching the original and became a huge fan of STTNG. Patrick Stewart is a billion times the human being and actor that Shatner could ever be and that's why they made Picard, for Paramount. He's beloved and always will be!!! Wil Wheaton is a wonderful actor and human being as well. I was heartbroken to find out he was so abused by his parents. I'm glad that his STTNG family became his surrogate family and had his back. Live long and prosper W!!! 💞💞💞
That was awesome 😎 So glad to hear Gene would not allow such disrespect coming from a so called professional. If it hadn't been for Star Trek, Shatner would have been making cameos all his life.
@@_Majoras According to a friggin' Act of Congress, that's who! What is wrong with you? Do you recognize an opinion or do you have to be run over by a truck first? Stupid!
What a great way to tell a story!! 😂 I met Mr. Shatner back stage of a show I and my choir did when I was in high school. It was with the Glendale Philharmonic and Carmen Dragon. Shatner was so kind and friendly to all of us. We all shook his hand and joked around.
The easiest thing to forget is also the most important to remember. Your heroes are human. Fun-facts: Bill & Wil both cameoed on the Big Bang Theory & shared a mutual dislike of Sheldon Cooper.
I’m surprised that no one else is mentioning what a good impersonator Wil is. “To Hell with him W!” I almost lost it. 🤣 I could just see Frakes saying this. And it really adds to the story.
As good as that was. I could really picture Michael Dorn going all Klingon on Shatner, also Data finally learnt how to deliver comedy LOL. I was actually half expecting Patrick to come to his defense and tell Bill where to go.
I met Tom Baker (4th Doctor) when I was in my thirties. He was absolutely adorable and everything you would hope. Considering that I morphed from an assured, articulate woman into a tongue tied 7 year old, he was great about it. Not like Shitner, so I hear
I just saw Wil at the Galaxycon in Austin, TX. He's still going strong and entertaining folks like the pro he is. I listen to lots of audio books. I like to search for books that Wil has recorded for so many excellent authors.
A great story made even better by the reactions of his TNG cast mates. You can easily picture Johnathan Frakes saying "To hell with him W!". Love it!!!
This many years later and I still stop and watch this when it comes through my feed, it's so good. Also, I love Gene Roddenberry and I'm so glad I was a Spock girl.
Me, too! I’ll take a pointy eared half human half Vulcan over Captain (inappropriate dramatic pause) James T. (Inappropriate dramatic pause) Kirk any day, lol!
In The Captains, Shatner said something like he always thought of Star Trek as just a job and thought trekkers were mocking the show more than anything, until he met a guy who said he became a pilot because he wanted to be like Captain Kirk. After that, I guess Shatner understood trekkers better.
Something softened him, he was fabulous on the Whoopi arranged Captains Round Table, very funny and enjoyable. And he disclosed to everyone's shock that he had never watched an episode of either his show or TNG. He didn't know who Wil was I'm sure, and didn't care. A sensitive teenager star's worst nightmare!
I met Dee Kelley at the 25th anniversary convention in Anaheim. Lovely man, may he rest in piece. When he had a few drinks, his Georgia came out strong! Leonard Nimoy was also just wonderful when I met him in NYC. Shatner is the ONLY original I haven't met, and with good reason. I don't do assholes.
That had me in stitches! And also highlighted what a great crew they had behind the scenes for those series. Everything I've read and heard about Gene suggests he was an awesome man.
Stumbled upon this today and what I heard inspired me to post what's probably the first comment I've ever posted. It literally brought tears to my eyes imaging what that young Wil experienced that day from Shatner's cruel words. I had heard a rumor recently that the original Star Trek cast were not particularly fond of one another, unlike the cast of TNG, who are all very close, and I had wondered why that was...well I guess now I know. God bless everyone of the cast of TNG who were, and are, such wonderful people, and God bless Gene Rodenberry for clearly being the embodiment of the vision he was writing into Star Trek.
@@noravanwyk2748 I don't think the two handed punch and the jump and kick with both feet actually work in reality. At which point Kirk is out of moves.
I love this so much! I think I'd heard the story before but not told by you and in such a fun way. I'm so very glad that you were supported by your awesome crew on the ST:TNG set. They have always seemed like the best people! You're the best and I'm glad that some people were able to see that back in the day when you needed it most. Best wishes to you, sir, and thank you for sharing your talents.
I'm increasingly of the notion that Wil is one of the nicest people on the planet. Working with the triple-act of Spiner/Dorn/Frakes must have been an absolute riot.
Wow, I don't know how I went 12 years without seeing this. Hilarious and SO satisfying. Bill Shatner IS an asshole (I've had my own experience with him. Never ask the guy for an autograph if you run into him in Vegas. LOL), but it's so awesome to know that Gene Roddenberry is everything I thought he was. I love Wil Wheaton, and this was superbly done by all. What a great memory this will be for the ages! I laughed till I cried!
McCoy was always my favorite. (I was 7 years old when I started watching) I could always see myself invited to sit on the porch with his family, drinking lemonade and eating cookies his wife had baked. I instinctively knew to admire Shatner from afar..........LOL But, of course, the magic was always the ensemble cast, each with his or her own unique personality which came through in their respective characters. My second fav was Scotty !! LOL
This was the most fantastic thing I've seen Wil do! 😂😂😂 I love this so much. I was laughing so hard, my 10 year old came over to see if I was all right!!! 😂
I saw Wil tell this same story along with Paul and Storm at W00tstock in San Diego the day before ComicCon-this was a few years ago. It might have been in June of 2010 or 2011. There was much joy in that show but this story was a highlight! I am delighted to relive the experience today.
Oh wow. That was the best story. Great writing. I too feared having to meet Shatner because of his reputation. Maybe he's mellowed over the years but he was pleasant in the few times I worked with him.
Wow! I’m so glad this came up in my feed, even if 12 years later. I’m an even bigger Wil Wheaton fan, now, and I didn’t think that was possible. I laughed, shed a few tears, and enjoyed every second of this greatness. ❤❤❤
I can so understand that starstruck moment! It can blow you away. I was a Kirk fan and my friend was a Spock. In the early 80’s my friend (she was obsessed with Nimoy-not Spock) and i went to see Nimoy in his one man play Vincent in Atlanta at all 5 of his performances. The first showing he did a meet and greet with people. After that my friend had arranged for us to meet him backstage. First and foremost that man in person is freaking past a 10. His was immensely kind to us even when he was obviously tired. He put us at immediate ease. You cannot compare Shatner to Nimoy. I have always been grateful to my friend for the gift of how wonderful Nimoy was.
I've loved Wil Wheaton since I was hostess on the S.S. Emerald Seas, and a Star Trek convention hired out the entire ship. TNG had only been out for a year or so and I hadn't yet seen it. My future hubby was a huge fan, and he pointed out all the cast members were who were onboard, along with stars from the original series. One of my hostess duties was to introduce passengers to the captain for the Captain's Cocktail Party as they went in. Wil stood in line with the other passengers who were dressed in all kinds of crazy costumes, apparently not realizing that as one of the stars of the show, he didn't need to wait in line! It was normally a very formal affair, and the men who weren't in costumes were dressed in tuxes, and women were dressed in gowns. Wil was wearing blue jeans and a simple, white button-down shirt and tennis shoes, but realized his faux pas. He apologized for being underdressed and offered to not come in, but as I took one look around at the other passengers dressed as little green men, Star Fleet officers (complete with pointy Spock ears), and other characters from the show, I almost laughed out loud when I told him he looked just fine. Such a sweet guy, then and now!
I think I was in the audience for this show! I also love that everyone had his back on this. It’s so great watching this last season of Picard knowing that everyone on that cast really are still great friends.
Soooo, as a kid of the 70s I never enjoyed Star Trek. I kinda dug the Star Trek movies, but The Next Generation? Loved it. Loved the entire cast. Wheaton is a gem. This monologue is epic. It kinda reminds me of the year I turned 14. I walked a few miles into town with my best friend to meet Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman on the set of Rain Man in El Reno Oklahoma. Tom is such a douche bag, and Dustin was the nicest man I've ever met.
![Noob To Max With DRAGON REWORK In Blox Fruits [FULL MOVIE]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/LnBMOinoOvA/mqdefault.jpg)
... and 12 years later I finally come across this absolute gem. Wow. Absolutely awesome. I truly appreciate Wil Wheaton's existence in pop culture. What a class act. Cheers!
I'm glad I'm not the only one! Cheers!
Me too... just found this now... what absolute fun!!
same here...love myself some W ...one of the nicest guys around
I also am late to this party.
Be sure to look for The Velvet Wesley with Scalzi. Loscon. 2009? 2008?! I’m not sure. But it was epic. And I think recorded.
Just found it today 😃
It's amazing how a simple story like this, told with the right delivery can be simultaneously devastating, heartwarming ,and hilarious. Bravo.
Who knew Wesley Crusher was such a raconteur!
The music really adds to it as well.
Yes, great storytelling. I was transported. No pun intended. :)
I was going to say something almost exactly like your comment, but you say it so well. I heartily agree. There's something magical about a well-told story of being 14 that is exactly that to all of us 15-and-ups.
I couldn't have said it better, but I'm gonna try. 😏 I really enjoyed this!.
George Takei was my best Trek interaction. And it wasn't even my interaction. I just shook his hand and took a pic. It was a crying child in a very long line waiting for a very long time . And George had a long day but wouldn't let them parry down the line. Finally he put a stop to the line, apologized to everyone for the delay, and sat with the crying child and their family talking and playing and taking pictures.He then went back to his spot and continued on . Every actor I have ever met has never come close to that small kindness showed by George to a crying child.
You would probably like Mr. Takei's TED Talk.
I've met George several times; lovely guy.
Now, George IS a legend, and deservedly so. What a wonderful soul!
I was one of the guest handlers for George at Comic Con Honolulu several years ago. He had the longest, slowest line because first he's a huge inspiration and second he took his time with every single fan.
My fondest Comic Con memory was the young Japanese-American woman who walked up and asked me if George could sign her diploma. I said yes, and she explained to me that George was the reason she got into STEM. That growing up seeing someone who looked like her on the bridge of a starship inspired her. She was literally meeting her hero.
As she got closer to George's end of the table, I saw her visibly start to shake. They were too far away for me to hear what they were saying to each other, but George was clearly moved. They both were. He spent a good long time talking to her. Brings me to tears every time I re-tell this story.
George is a real one. His husband Brad is pretty wonderful too!
God Bless Mandy!
The only way that the cast and Gene would have heard about it.
I'm a harmonica player, and an admin on a couple forums. One of our members went to see Blues Traveller. He really wanted to meet John Popper. He waited out back after the set, but when Popper came out he rushed past him to the tour bus. The guy was heartbroken... but the harmonica world is small, and word got back to Popper. Popper reached out to the guy. Apparently they'd arrived right at show time and he hadn't made it to the mens' room before, and he'd wet his whistle a couple times. He was rushing to the tour bus to get to the bathroom. He got the guys contact info and he gave him a call. Apparently he ended up calling the guy and they ended up talking on the phone for an hour. (Although I haven't met Popper in person, I know a few other people who have met him, and he seems to be a really nice guy.)
Now, that's a cool story - thank you for sharing it with us. I was a huge Blues Traveler fan back in the day (how did they go so quickly?)
From what I understand, the cast of TNG was pretty tight. Kudos to them for sticking up for Will!
There's a story about how the TNG cast would be separately invited to some major Hollywood party, and gradually they would find themselves gathered in some quiet corner, often without the husbands or wives they arrived with, just so they could sit and talk.
These people were compressed together inside a sound stage with no windows for about 15 hours a day in uncomfortable costumes and often prosthetics. Based on their experience it was natural they had to grow to either love or hate each other: it's nice that it turned out the best possible.
Shut Up, Wesley! 😂
I’ve heard the story before, and I always fantasize about Patrick Stewart going over there and telling Shatner off.
There is reason he calls Gates McFadden his space mom and it’s not just because she played his mom on the show. Wil has stated in interviews he considers TNG cast his real family
@@bccooper2418 Thats because all the members of his real family were just a bunch of massive dicks to him.
It's wonderful to watch all this play out from 70 years of age starting out as a Star Trek fan as a kid.
It took this long for all this to happen and the perfect hilarious story to form.
Second set of hugs for Wil Wheaton.
Agreed, by this 71 year old.
I was touched by this story. Now that Will is older and can write this piece and fill it with humor, while staying true to the story is a reminder of how talented and remarkable he has become as an adult. He does a fine job with The Ready Room, including his part in the podcast Bridgewater. A fictitious story based on a real location and my hometown for decades. Thank you Will for taking the high road in this retelling of the story in such a way that was pure comedy. “Live long and prosper.”
Uhhhmm... His name is"Wil" not "Will" there buckaroo.
Like Wil, I too grew up idolizing William Shatner. I would run home from school to catch the latest episode of Star Trek and wait anxiously each month for the newsletter from the Star Trek fan club to arrive in the mail. I even tried to start a letter campaign to bring back the series "The Barbary Coast" after it was cancelled after only one season. Shatner was going to be at a small convention in Santa Rosa, and I paid extra money to get to be close to the stage and get to meet him afterwards. Let's just say it didn't go well ... After hearing Shatner talk about himself for 45 minutes in a chair that was close enough for me to see up his nose.... When it came time to meet him, he thought my choice of tee shirt designs was rather unfortunate. I was wearing a tee I had painted with a picture of one of Shatner's horses on it. Apparently he didn't like that horse very much.... How was I supposed to know this??? It's f'ing hilarious now, but my world stopped when he said that. I don't know how I even got home safely. Instead of being impressed with my art skill and choice of subjects (as I had hoped he would be), he tore me to pieces in front of everyone because he didn't like that particular horse. To say I was devastated was an understatement....
So I was howling with laughter in parts of Will's story.... Commiserating with him as well.... Lol
I hope if I ever get to meet Mr. Wheaton, things will go a little better .... 😊
I am so sorry he treated you that way! I'm both shocked and disgusted. *hugs*
At least you know that he is a dick to everyone, not just you. I'm still sorry you had to go through that.
I'm certain things would go better. Unlike your shared childhood hero, Wheaton appears to be a very funny, down-to-earth, kind-hearted person. AND a far more talented actor. 😉
I don't know why but I never cared for Shatner, not any of the characters he played. So I was saddened but not surprised to hear all the stories of his narcissistic behaviour towards people who idolized him.
I was thrilled when I learned that Shatner was a horse person. I was heavy into horses my whole life, did a lot of horse shows. But then I found out he raised Saddlebreds, & everything fell to ashes.... apologies to nice Saddlebred owners, but every one I met in person was a pretentious jerk.
I love Wil Wheaton. He loves Star Trek like a nerdy fan, even though he's part of it. Also.. I've seen one of Shatner's hair pieces. I went to the salon/office that makes and styles the special hair pieces, and installs them to their head with some special goop. A friend was getting measured for the monstrosity. The guy opened a cabinet and there were Styrofoam heads on shelves. One had a label reading...Bill S. It looked like his hair, perfect. Before the door was shut I also saw one that was labeled Burt R for Burt Reynolds. I geeked so hard at seeing Captain Kirk's hair piece.
I love that everyone he worked with had his back and made an effort to help him feel better, it must have been such a crushing experience, and it's so great that his colleagues stepped right up and supported him.
I see what you did there.
@@Hidyman Would that make Shatner, a Crusher?
Unfortunate though that none of them actually do have his back as they all have said publicly that they have no recollection of these events.
Worf it up!
Whether true or fantasy, that is one of the funniest stand-up routines I have seen in the longest. And if all off us go back in time to Lenard Nimoys death, Captain Kirk just might have been as depicted. I don't know I never met him!
I'm one of the very original Trekkie. Yes, there are still a few of us around. Since Shatner's still alive and I'm younger than he maybe there's still some time left in my old bones, to catch up on amazing creative works from the people that I've admired all of my life. Wil, you and your friends here did a wonderfully creative job of storytelling. A truth, your truth and all of our truths who grew up with Gene Roddenberry's much beloved for generations of the Star Trek who still boldly go where all men and creatures now seem to go. Thank you so much for this. Fine job. 😏 I laughed through the entire performance. BTW, my son absolutely loved Stand By Me. But then we both love all of Stephen King's stories. What a cast that movie had! Since this was 11 years ago, I guess I should catch up with what your doing today. Live long and continue to prosper, Wil Wheaton.
I have watched and rewatched this many times. What a wonderful storyteller (and his "backup" ensemble has spot-on timing). It's a freakin' classic.
Wow. LOVE the performance in this video, the story is great and the music is fun. I have done a couple panels with my husband with "No Shit, There I Was..." as the title, telling stories about our almost 50 years in fandom and having met at a convention.
I am amazed that someone else, someone big name star, had the same experience I did. I managed to meet almost all of the TOS cast, exceptions being Nimoy and Kelley, who had both passed away. Everyone had been fantastic. My brother says that George was practically a member of the family (he saw him a few times more than I did). Nichelle Nichols introduced me to Mae Jemisin. Majel was a beautiful, poised, and friendly person.
I think the two that I have the most fond memories of are Walter Koenig, who brought my then-three-year-old daughter back to me at the dealer's table I was working and said he found her charming. My sister had put her in the costume contest and she went to the stage, turned around once, then sat down on the step and pulled her dress over her head. He had kids about that age and we talked. He ended up buying a ceramic unicorn we had. The other is Jimmy Doohan. I was wandering the convention hotel about 3 am, couldn't sleep. I bumped into Jimmy, who was having the same thing. We ended up on a couch talking for a couple of hours, about his heart attack, about my love of Trek (I started watching first-run TOS at age 9), and it was just a great discussion.
Then a few years ago, Shatner came to my hometown, outside of Houston, to open a new memorabilia store (Come Meet William "Captain Kirk" Shatner. I was in my wheelchair, my husband and I paid the $100.00 fee (this was the last TOS I needed to meet) and waited. I don't know if it was the 100 degree heat or he was just cranky, but he was a dick. Seriously. And, like Will, I had been a huge fan. Back in the day I used to write Star Trek Mary Sue stories with Kirk as my adopted father (ok, remember, I was 10-12). I really wanted to meet him, to thank him for all the great memories. And he shook my hand, got a picture, and then said "Next." That was it.
Maybe someday I'll get to meet Will and some of the other Next Gen cast.
That sounds very much like the experience a number of us had with him at a convention. He really was a d!ck. I did get to meet Leonard Nimoy there, too. He was wonderful. Most of the cast members of TOS and TNG I've met have been kind and friendly. Unfortunately, Shatner, Koenig, and Picardo (from Voyager) were not so much. Shatner was the worst of them, though. I'm glad your experience with Koenig was positive. It shows he has some redeeming qualities.
as a 🇨🇦 I want to apologize - but there really is no excuse for William f**king Shatner - when I’m having a rough day - will just think of Michael Dorin going all Worf on you know who 🤣😂 love you Wil glad TNG guys had your back - more importantly - so glad Picard let Wesley on his bridge 🙏🇨🇦
thanks for sharing!
I never thought much of Will Wheaton when he was on Star Trek. Honestly, I, too, thought that a teenager, regardless of his parentage, did not belong on the bridge of a starship.
Then he started making regular appearances on The Big Bang Theory. It was on that show that I realized several things about him. One, that he is actually quite a good actor. Yes, he was playing "himself," but I'm pretty sure it was a fictionalized person that happened to be also named will Wheaton. Second, that aside from just being a good actor, he had excellent comedic timing. I gained a large amount of respect for him from that show. Now, having seen this (albeit 11 years after it was uploaded to RUclips), I am once again reminded how good he really is. This was LOL funny and I enjoyed every second of it.
Yeah the problem with Wesley Crusher was the writers had no idea how to write him in the first few seasons. In later seasons the character improved a lot.
@@DaDunge That was pretty much true of all of the characters for most of the first season, and (in some cases) beyond. My best friend and I used to have a running joke that you could say the words "No sh!t!" after every line out of Counselor Troi's mouth for the first few seasons. Fortunately, as you pointed out, things got better, and she went from being my most disliked character on the show to one of my top 3 favorites by the end. (Chief O'Brien didn't fare so well, though in his case I've never really decided if it was the writing or the actor. I literally threw something at the TV when he turned up on Deep Space Nine. Something soft, fortunately.)
If you haven't seen Mayim Bialik's podcast with Wil Wheaton as the guest, I highly recommend it. (For anyone reading this; not specifically in response to your comment.)
@@thoughtfulskeptic7529 I'll pass I'm really not a fan of Mayim Bialik.
If you like WW, check out his audiobook performances. His first couple books were a bit iffy, but he's become a truly outstanding reader. His performances on John Scalzi's "Head On" & "Lock In," for two examples, are absolute perfection.
@@DaDunge Yep! Season 1 Wesley was annoying as all hell because there isn't an actor on the planet that could say that dialog without sounding insufferable. The writers royally screwed Wheaton. But the idea of a teenager on the bridge was actually a great one. This is the future. We've gotten past racial, national, gender, etc divides. Makes sense that we'd also get past the divide that only certain age groups can do certain things.
What a life lesson about people with true character. So glad Gene and all the TNG crew had your back! Sometimes it is better not to meet your heros.
It's not surprising Gene was so kind to him. My sister met Gene and Majel in an elevator once. She was 8-years old, and the two of them were so kind to her. Gene noted that my sister looked like a young Majel (she did - she still does almost 50 years later). My sister was on Cloud 9 for months after that!
@@nebula1400 Gene sounds to have been quite fatherly. Nice to know he was kind to your sister!
Years ago, when the earth was young, I met James Doohan at a teeny tiny Star Trek convention in Miami. James was awesome, it was a pleasure meeting him and hearing him tell stories about his time in Star Trek. It was there that I realized that James was missing a finger in his right hand. He had lost it in WWII. He was a soldier for Canada. During the show they always hid his right hand off camera to avoid having to explain the missing finger. Anyway, at some point someone in the crowd asked him what it was like working with William Shatner. Without missing a beat James Doohan said that Leonard Nimoy was a great director to work for. So I am not surprised at all by your story.
By the way, when I was going to college in the early 80s Gene Roddenberry came to the campus to give a lecture, which I was lucky enough to attend. He showed us The Menagerie episode which I had never seen before. It was a wonderful experience.
I'm not a convention kinda girl but I've got to admit I'm jealous of all of you who have met Gene Roddenberry and the nicer folks on the cast. I sort of think of Shatner as a surgeon, you have to have a lot of ego to do what he does. But there are other people out there who can do it without being a d!@K
That moment with Shatner prepared Will for his long standing battle with Sheldon.
And Sheldon's story of not meeting his hero Will was perhaps a variation on Will's experience with Shatner
This story makes me respect Brent Spiner even more than before. And how awesome were Jonathan Frakes and Michael Dorn? Roddenberry’s handling of the incident was spot on. This is how the adults in the room should behave when someone is being bullied. When I started college in the late 90s, I became friends with a young woman in my dorm whose family owned and showed Saddlebreds. Shatner also owned and showed Saddlebreds, so the girl and her family occasionally crossed paths with him at the shows. I asked her what it was like meeting him. Her words-not mine, “He’s an asshole.”
Wheaton wasn't being bullied. Shatner was an asshole to him and was very rude but the concept of bullying has become so watered down the last few years that no one seems to understand the concept. If Shatner had made Will feel threatened (instead of just bad), then he would have been bullying.
@@raindogs I was at a con where a person with a disability stood in line for the Q and A until she got up to the mic, and handed her question to a con worker to have her ask the question for her. Instead of just answering the question, Shatner spent 30 seconds or so talking about how weird it was that the woman in line didn't ask her own question. Just a complete and utter insensitive asshole about it.
Bad enough that when my wife and I walked past Jess Harnell's table afterwards and Jess asked us how the presentation was and we told him what happened (we spoke with Jess earlier in the day, gotten a picture and autograph, and Jess talked about being Shatner's neighbor but Shatner thinks he's Gene Simmons), Jess gave us both a hug and said how sorry he was that we had to see that. Jess is a mensch. Shatner is an asshole, if not a bully.
@@jedsa05 You are absolutely right about Shatner being an asshole. I'd like to throw him, Gene Simmons and Alec Baldwin in a pit with no exit and watch them beat the crap out of each other for a solitary steak.
@@raindogs Verbal bullying is still bullying. A wound doesn't need to be physical to be a wound.
@@KennBurch I just knew someone was going to say this. It would be verbal bullying if Shatner had made him feel threatened or caused him to act in a self-destructive manner. Making someone feel bad by being an asshole isn’t being a bully.
I am so glad Will has turned into...no, MADE himself into the man he is. It's a hard thing to do and he did it well. I truly value him and always wish him well.
Am I the only one who teared up during the last phone call from Gene Roddenberry? Something about him looking out for Will and standing up for him, hits me right in the emotions.
I totally teared up. I teared up at the Dorn and Frakes part too.
I’m right there with you 😭😭😭 I started crying when Wil was talking about Spiner.
@@mandiweaverling9605 “would you like me to kick his ass?” - I totally heard that in Warf’s voice. Yeah I loved TNG, and didn’t really think about Will that much at the time. It was just another character and I didn’t really think about the kid or the part. He was just another character. Then, I saw him on Big Bang, and saw him as him, and not this little punk. But he was a cool kid who got in with a very good and caring and supportive bunch of people. Good on him for staying cool and not turning into a douche.
Yeah, too bad Roddenberry couldn't live up to that moment while he was having affairs, taking credit for other people's work. Ask Grace Lee Whitney about Roddenberry some time (if she were still alive). The Great Bird of the Galaxy could be a real vulture.
@@lfrankow Yeah, the guy has had to face a barrage of insults over the years mostly just nit picking and attacking his character. From what I’ve personally seen and heard he is a solid all round good guy.
With the recent revelations about Wil's past and his family, this is even harder to listen to. I just want to hug that young kid.
Great story that Wil Wheaton shared. I applaud his candid recounting of this event and kudos to the adults, Brent Spiner, Jonathan Frakes and Michael Dorn who were supportive to their young colleague. I think that Gene Roddenberry especially handled the situation well by letting Wil know he was every bit as important to him and to the show as any one else, including Shatner and that Roddenberry got Shatner to apologize. I am sorry that someone Wil looked up to was so self-absorbed that he couldn't treat young Wil with the respect he deserved.
I think Wil Wheaton sucks farts.
This never gets old. As the 3rd season of Picard is winding down it reminds me just how wonderful this cast truly is/was.
3rd season winding down? LOL, I'm reading this midway through November 2023.
I love how wholesome the TNG cast and crew were about cheering will up
I've seen Wil perform this bit, and seen him together with Paul & Storm several times but never seen them do this. What a lovely, lovely performance! Thanks for uploading this.
How in the world I came across this while perusing Nick Cave videos is beyond me but thank you inscrutable Google algorithms for randomly throwing this out as a suggestion ! I haven't laughed that hard in a while ! I too actually had a William F'ing Shatner experience at a tennis tournament at UCLA back in 2010 or 11. I was part of a video crew producing and filming the event. I was technical director at the time and operated an integrated video/audio production kit called The Video Toaster by Newtek. It had lots of 2D and 3D video transitions or wipes that you could use to transition from say a live video feed to a commercial or a graphic showing stats concerning the tennis match. So, the time came at the end of a set when the players would sit down and rest that we would transition from a live shot to stats concerning the match at that time. One of my photogs said, "Hey, I've got William Shatner ! He's across the stadium !". I told him "STAY ON HIM, STAY ON HIM !! ". I quickly punched up Camera Two who had Shatner in frame . I looked over at the producer who was about to panic that I hadn't yet transitioned to match stat graphics yet and smiled a wicked smile and then I yelled at my audio guy to find me something cinematic as an audio stinger. I then chose the perfect 3D transition for this one in a million shot of William F'ing Shatner. Camera Two yelled " HE'S UP HE'S MOVING! ". I yelled "TRACK HIM !", then to Audio "CUE AUDIO, GO ;". The Audio Engineer launched this slightly Star Trekky cinematic audio stinger out to stadium sound just as Shatner was walking amongst the rows and ....he... STOPPED ! That's when I yelled at Camera Two, "STAND BY TWO, TAKE TWO!! ". AND I immediately punched Two out live to the two Jumbotrons at either end of the tennis stadium at UCLA. And EVERYONE now saw William F'ing Shatner on the Jumbotrons! The producer FREAKED!! "TAKE HIM DOWN, TAKE HIM DOWN !!". I told him "WAIT....WAIT". AND at that moment Shatner turned to see what the commotion was about in the crowd. HE NEVER LOOKED AT THE JUMBOTRONS!! HE BEVER KNEW HE WAS LIVE ON AIR !! And at that moment I launched the 3D transition wipe. Which consisted of a transparent globe that came flying into the live shot of Shatner and encircled his HEAD !! THEN.... a golden ring of spinning lights encircled the globe which now contained William F'ing Shatner's head superimposed in the globe and became a FLYING SAUCER which then launched out of the frame and pulled in the match statistics graphic.
By the time Shatner looked up to see if he was being filmed his live shot was gone and all he saw was the stats graphic. In Camera Two which was now in preview in my control screen in the Video Toaster I could see Shatner's puzzled look and then he left for a while only to return with a hot dog and a drink after the match resumed.
And to this very hour.....WILLIAM F'ING SHATNER NEVER KNEW HIS HEAD BOLDY WENT WHERE NO HEAD HAD GONE BEFORE !!
I was in TV production for 20 years both in front of the camera and behind it in production. This was and will remain my finest hour !! 🤣
Many years ago I went to a TNG event. Patrick didn't attend but Denise did. This group was so entertaining. Brent was doing Bing Crosby and Micheal walked in on Marina's Q&A and asked her weight. I don't see how they were able to shoot the show. We were all in stitches.
Great story and Will Wheaton's delivery is hilarious. 😆Thanks for sharing this and a big THANK YOU to Will and his friends for a terrific performance. 🤗I ran into Shatner at a small Verizon store in Studio City several years ago, and after standing next to him while we both took care of business, my impression also became "William F****** Shatner. Of all the great actors, music stars, composers, directors, etc. I've met, none of them came even close to "Ego personified." 🤨
Wil Wheaton is awesome everything he touches is gold
I'm a fan of him as a voice actor. I listen to a lot of audiobooks, including some he has narrated. Also loved him on Eureka.
He is HILARIOUS on Eureka!
He brings the right level of snark to John Scalzi novels. If you haven’t listened to “Agent to the Stars” and “Red Shirt” you must.
I love this bit! I understand Wil's obsession with F*cking Shatner because he was the original who came into our living rooms as Captain Kirk. I remember asking me begging my mom to let me stay up to watch it. It came on after 8:00 p.m. in Germany and I had school in the morning. I found out Shatner was an ass some years later in an interview with someone else who enlightened us to that fact. He said he treated several actors of his Star Trek crew pretty badly, especially James Doohan aka Scotty who was my favorite along with Leonard Nimoy. Doohan was a lovely man who lived in Redmond, WA and I was so disgusted with F*cking Shatner that I stopped watching the original and became a huge fan of STTNG. Patrick Stewart is a billion times the human being and actor that Shatner could ever be and that's why they made Picard, for Paramount. He's beloved and always will be!!! Wil Wheaton is a wonderful actor and human being as well. I was heartbroken to find out he was so abused by his parents. I'm glad that his STTNG family became his surrogate family and had his back. Live long and prosper W!!! 💞💞💞
That was awesome 😎 So glad to hear Gene would not allow such disrespect coming from a so called professional. If it hadn't been for Star Trek, Shatner would have been making cameos all his life.
Wil has embraced his past so well. It helps that he is eminently likeable.
That was an absolutely delightful 20 minutes. Thank you so much.
Wil Wheaton is a very special man. He is a class act.
according to who?
@@_Majoras According to a friggin' Act of Congress, that's who! What is wrong with you? Do you recognize an opinion or do you have to be run over by a truck first? Stupid!
"...obligatory muscle suit"???? OMG, Will! If I sympathized with you BEFORE, you're an absolute HERO to me now.
What a great way to tell a story!! 😂
I met Mr. Shatner back stage of a show I and my choir did when I was in high school. It was with the Glendale Philharmonic and Carmen Dragon. Shatner was so kind and friendly to all of us. We all shook his hand and joked around.
I’m so glad you captured this performance! Delightful! 🖤
The easiest thing to forget is also the most important to remember.
Your heroes are human.
Fun-facts: Bill & Wil both cameoed on the Big Bang Theory & shared a mutual dislike of Sheldon Cooper.
I’m surprised that no one else is mentioning what a good impersonator Wil is.
“To Hell with him W!”
I almost lost it. 🤣 I could just see Frakes saying this. And it really adds to the story.
So much hidden talent lovely to see him in action
Seriously! That was one of the best parts of the whole thing. I died!!
He is an incredible voice actor. I listen to audiobooks simply because they are narrated by him whether I am interested or not.
As good as that was. I could really picture Michael Dorn going all Klingon on Shatner, also Data finally learnt how to deliver comedy LOL. I was actually half expecting Patrick to come to his defense and tell Bill where to go.
He totally had no need to identify who was talking. You saw Frakes standing in front of you.
Says so much about meeting our heroes...
Fun, beautifully told, touching story.
Thanks for your generosity and enlightenment
I met Tom Baker (4th Doctor) when I was in my thirties. He was absolutely adorable and everything you would hope. Considering that I morphed from an assured, articulate woman into a tongue tied 7 year old, he was great about it. Not like Shitner, so I hear
I've never been a Star Trek fan but now I'm a Wil Wheaton fan.
I just saw Wil at the Galaxycon in Austin, TX. He's still going strong and entertaining folks like the pro he is. I listen to lots of audio books. I like to search for books that Wil has recorded for so many excellent authors.
A great story made even better by the reactions of his TNG cast mates. You can easily picture Johnathan Frakes saying "To hell with him W!". Love it!!!
This many years later and I still stop and watch this when it comes through my feed, it's so good. Also, I love Gene Roddenberry and I'm so glad I was a Spock girl.
Me, too!
I’ll take a pointy eared half human half Vulcan over Captain (inappropriate dramatic pause) James T. (Inappropriate dramatic pause) Kirk any day, lol!
In The Captains, Shatner said something like he always thought of Star Trek as just a job and thought trekkers were mocking the show more than anything, until he met a guy who said he became a pilot because he wanted to be like Captain Kirk. After that, I guess Shatner understood trekkers better.
Nope I will place a bet that once a d*ck always a d*ck.
Something softened him, he was fabulous on the Whoopi arranged Captains Round Table, very funny and enjoyable. And he disclosed to everyone's shock that he had never watched an episode of either his show or TNG. He didn't know who Wil was I'm sure, and didn't care. A sensitive teenager star's worst nightmare!
I met Dee Kelley at the 25th anniversary convention in Anaheim. Lovely man, may he rest in piece. When he had a few drinks, his Georgia came out strong! Leonard Nimoy was also just wonderful when I met him in NYC. Shatner is the ONLY original I haven't met, and with good reason. I don't do assholes.
I just love this story and the guitar/melodica duo make it even better!
Gene WAS the Great Bird of the Galaxy. Without him, there would be no Trek. Which is a terrible thought. Thank you , Gene.
That had me in stitches! And also highlighted what a great crew they had behind the scenes for those series. Everything I've read and heard about Gene suggests he was an awesome man.
Stumbled upon this today and what I heard inspired me to post what's probably the first comment I've ever posted.
It literally brought tears to my eyes imaging what that young Wil experienced that day from Shatner's cruel words. I had heard a rumor recently that the original Star Trek cast were not particularly fond of one another, unlike the cast of TNG, who are all very close, and I had wondered why that was...well I guess now I know.
God bless everyone of the cast of TNG who were, and are, such wonderful people, and God bless Gene Rodenberry for clearly being the embodiment of the vision he was writing into Star Trek.
Awesome show - Ty ty so much for not only catching this but also for putting it up for us to see 😆
I would pay good money to see Worf kick Kirk's ass.
Hahahahahiehiehiehiehahaha Ohhh Let him try. 😂😂😂🤣🤣🤣😂😂😂
@@noravanwyk2748 I don't think the two handed punch and the jump and kick with both feet actually work in reality. At which point Kirk is out of moves.
Worf got him back with some subpar legal representation in Star Trek VI so it all works out.
I never realized that Wil Wheaton was such a comedian. He really made me laugh!
This is so rewatch-able, story told so brilliantly with the perfect accompaniments!
Why has this NOT been broadcast on This American Life. It's the perfect format.. and a fantastic story.
HOW AM I ONLY JUST NOW LEARNING OF THIS?? This was wonderful!
RUclips's unknowable algorithm...just appeared for me too and I've been searching Will and ST for weeks. Go figure....or not lol
I love this so much! I think I'd heard the story before but not told by you and in such a fun way. I'm so very glad that you were supported by your awesome crew on the ST:TNG set. They have always seemed like the best people! You're the best and I'm glad that some people were able to see that back in the day when you needed it most. Best wishes to you, sir, and thank you for sharing your talents.
Wil is such a great story teller.
I have seen this before, it's a little older, and it's very hilarious and heartfelt and the music just makes it even better
Never gets old. I rewatch every few years.
I'm glad you found such a wonderful family on set!
This is so painful and wonderful and funny. Will Weaton is a sweetheart. And although this is 12 years old it's easy to send him virtual hugs.
This is great! What a fantastic story, told so creatively.
That was one of the finest talk stories that I've listened to you. Bravo!
Wesley Crusher was always one of my favourites. Great job, Will! Glad that Gene saw that, too.
I've heard the interview version of this encounter... this was a wonderful work of art!! Thanks, Wil and friends!!
I'm increasingly of the notion that Wil is one of the nicest people on the planet.
Working with the triple-act of Spiner/Dorn/Frakes must have been an absolute riot.
I agree, and I didn't even particularly care for his character on ST:TNG. But since then I have learned to appreciate him.
This was hysterical! What a great story, funny and truthful, and...just...WOW! Excellent. Thanks for sharing this, Eric.
Awwww, I wanna cry for poor 16 year old Wil Wheaton. I feel so bad for him. I would've been just as devastated.
Oh my gosh! That was awesome. I met Mr. Shatner just recently and in those brief moments, he was an asshole to me too! Well done, Will!! LLAP
This was one of those sketches that I hate to see end. Makes me really like Wil Wheaton and his humorous delivery
Feels so good to have my suspicions confirned. I never understood the iconry of the shat. So glad Wheaton had such good support.
Wow, I don't know how I went 12 years without seeing this. Hilarious and SO satisfying. Bill Shatner IS an asshole (I've had my own experience with him. Never ask the guy for an autograph if you run into him in Vegas. LOL), but it's so awesome to know that Gene Roddenberry is everything I thought he was. I love Wil Wheaton, and this was superbly done by all. What a great memory this will be for the ages! I laughed till I cried!
McCoy was always my favorite. (I was 7 years old when I started watching) I could always see myself invited to sit on the porch with his family, drinking lemonade and eating cookies his wife had baked. I instinctively knew to admire Shatner from afar..........LOL But, of course, the magic was always the ensemble cast, each with his or her own unique personality which came through in their respective characters. My second fav was Scotty !! LOL
This was the most fantastic thing I've seen Wil do! 😂😂😂
I love this so much. I was laughing so hard, my 10 year old came over to see if I was all right!!! 😂
It’s definitely funny it really shows how talented he is and I’d say he’s been severely underrated.
I saw Wil tell this same story along with Paul and Storm at W00tstock in San Diego the day before ComicCon-this was a few years ago. It might have been in June of 2010 or 2011. There was much joy in that show but this story was a highlight! I am delighted to relive the experience today.
Oh wow. That was the best story. Great writing. I too feared having to meet Shatner because of his reputation. Maybe he's mellowed over the years but he was pleasant in the few times I worked with him.
This story never gets old! I love it!
Wow! I’m so glad this came up in my feed, even if 12 years later. I’m an even bigger Wil Wheaton fan, now, and I didn’t think that was possible. I laughed, shed a few tears, and enjoyed every second of this greatness. ❤❤❤
This was very cleverly and thoughtfully done. Keep em coming Mr. Wheaton.
Eric, thank you for posting this. It's a very good story told well.
What a legendary tale 😍
I can so understand that starstruck moment! It can blow you away. I was a Kirk fan and my friend was a Spock. In the early 80’s my friend (she was obsessed with Nimoy-not Spock) and i went to see Nimoy in his one man play Vincent in Atlanta at all 5 of his performances. The first showing he did a meet and greet with people. After that my friend had arranged for us to meet him backstage. First and foremost that man in person is freaking past a 10. His was immensely kind to us even when he was obviously tired. He put us at immediate ease. You cannot compare Shatner to Nimoy. I have always been grateful to my friend for the gift of how wonderful Nimoy was.
Loved the charactered theme music!
I loved TNG far more than the originl series and I enjoy Will Wheaton's acting. This was a great video. I wish him all the best.
I only wish the audio was better, but I laughed my a$$ off at what I could hear! Bravo to Will and Paul and Storm!
That has got to be the funniest retelling of that particular story that could ever be done, nice job Will and friends!
12 years old and I am just now seeing this! So much for their algorithm…lol!!
this is giving me so much life!
Love Wil!!!
I've loved Wil Wheaton since I was hostess on the S.S. Emerald Seas, and a Star Trek convention hired out the entire ship. TNG had only been out for a year or so and I hadn't yet seen it. My future hubby was a huge fan, and he pointed out all the cast members were who were onboard, along with stars from the original series. One of my hostess duties was to introduce passengers to the captain for the Captain's Cocktail Party as they went in. Wil stood in line with the other passengers who were dressed in all kinds of crazy costumes, apparently not realizing that as one of the stars of the show, he didn't need to wait in line! It was normally a very formal affair, and the men who weren't in costumes were dressed in tuxes, and women were dressed in gowns. Wil was wearing blue jeans and a simple, white button-down shirt and tennis shoes, but realized his faux pas. He apologized for being underdressed and offered to not come in, but as I took one look around at the other passengers dressed as little green men, Star Fleet officers (complete with pointy Spock ears), and other characters from the show, I almost laughed out loud when I told him he looked just fine. Such a sweet guy, then and now!
This is why TNG is my favorite show of all time.
I love this story❣️
Oh, Will, you are too wonderful!
I think I was in the audience for this show! I also love that everyone had his back on this. It’s so great watching this last season of Picard knowing that everyone on that cast really are still great friends.
That was poetry. I actually teared up. GOD, that was hilarious and touching.
First time I watched this. As soon as he said "William Fuckin' Shatner" I started laughing. 😅😅😅
Soooo, as a kid of the 70s I never enjoyed Star Trek. I kinda dug the Star Trek movies, but The Next Generation? Loved it. Loved the entire cast. Wheaton is a gem.
This monologue is epic. It kinda reminds me of the year I turned 14. I walked a few miles into town with my best friend to meet Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman on the set of Rain Man in El Reno Oklahoma. Tom is such a douche bag, and Dustin was the nicest man I've ever met.