Comedy Central Red Carpet of William Shatner Roast
Boldly traveling where few have been, William Shatner survives this evening’s The Comedy Central Roast of William Shatner at the CBS Studio Center in Studio City. The Shat hits the fan with the taping airs on Sunday August 20th at 10 pm.
William Shatner is best known for his Captain Kirk role in Star Trek. Funny how a role he viewed once as temporary can change your entire life. Star Trek was considered a space going version of television’s Wagon Train. He accepted the role as he thought it was going to die rapidly and then he would be able to play the role he wanted to play, Alexander as in Alexander the Great. The irony, is that Alexander the Great went nowhere, and Star Trek became a legend, now celebrating its 40th anniversary next week in Las Vegas at the annual Star Trek Convention.
If you’re a Trekky, it’s a must see. George Takei (Lt. Hikaru Sulu) and Nichelle Nichols (Lt. Nyota Uhura) had the pleasure of roasting Bill tonight. Leonard Nimoy was to make a special appearance by video. DeForest Kelley (Lt. Cmdr. Leonard ‘Bones’ McCoy, M.D.) and James Doohan (Lt. Cmdr. Montgomery ‘Scotty’ Scott) are no longer with us, so let’s not hope for a Star Trek reunion.
William Shatner was more svelte in person but looking as he just walked off the stage in his current role as Denny Crane on Boston Legal.
When William Shatner was asked who he looked forward to roasting him the most, with a pause and expressed only as he can “They’re all beasts of prey, and they’re going to jump on me with their claws and their fangs and tear me apart.”
With Sandra Clark from The Star magazine
If you want to roast Shatner yourself or a view uncensored clips from the Roast, exclusive red carpet interviews and the after party with Comedy Central’s comedian Jessi Klein, visit the “MotherLoad’s” coverage at www.comedycentral.com
Star Trek memories
Roasters on the Red Carpet
Andy Dick
Artie Lange
George Takei
Greg Giraldo
Jeffrey Ross
Kevin Pollak
Lisa Lampanelli
On the Red Carpet
Adrian Zmed
Alan Thicke
Anne Jeffreys
Betty White
Brad Paisley
Carlos Alazraqui
Carrie Fisher
Cedric Yarbrough
David Carradine
Dick Van Patten
Doug Benson
Farrah Fawcett
Fred Willard
Jeri Ryan
Joe Francis
Niecy Nash
Rene Auberjonois
Scott Hamilton
Trish Suhr
Comedian Doug Benson
Alan Thicke (Growing Pains) – “I’m here to honor an icon from Canada.”
Jeri Ryan (Boston Legal, Shark)
“I’m here to honor him for his long tenure in the business.”
“I’m a rock – et man”
Betty White (The Golden Girls)
“I’m a little baudier than I appear on television.”
…on favorite memories – “Yesterday. He was wrestling with James Spader. We did a Boston Legal and he was in this tight fitting wrestling thong…”
Carrie Fisher (Star Wars)
About appearing in a Star Wars now. – ““I could be Grandma Leia dispensing advice from one of those little forests with Yoda.”
Scott Hamilton (Olympic gold medalist)
On favorite memories with Bill – “being in his company on so many occasions…if I had to nail it down, a picture of my 2 year old son on a saddle with Bill and Bill was riding him around showing him everything with his horses.”
“He’s like a grandfather to my son”
Brad Paisley (Country singer)
…on comparing a Comedy Central Roast with the Academy of Country Music Awards – “I haven’t seen the roast yet how bad it’s going to be, but backstage at the ACM awards can be just as brutal.”
…on memories – “He comes out on the road with me. Anytime he walks out on a stage and does his thing he’s awesome. They go crazy.”
David Carradine (Kill Bill: Vol 2)
“He was a comic villain. He’s hilarious.” “He’s always been a sweetheart.”
Rene Auberjonois (Boston Legal)
…on how to make him a better attorney - “that’s the last thing we want him to be a better attorney. It’s the jewel in the crown of the company is what a bad attorney he is…he’s never lost a case. And what can you say about an attorney that’s never lost a case. There’s no advice I can give.”
… on Bill – “sweet man, tremendous interest in everybody and everything around him, he has an insatiable curiousity”
Niecy Nash (Reno911!)
George Takei (Star Trek)
“I’ve been waiting for a decade for this opportunity.”
…on favorite memories – “it’s been 40 years – how can I pick one?! Those 10 will be distilled for tonight.
“I think he’s late for his autopsy.”
Comedian Greg Giraldo
Cedric Yarbrough (Reno911!)
Comedian Fred Willard
Comedian Jeffrey Ross
Roast Master Jason Alexander (Seinfeld)
“I’m wearing Kiton, from Barney’s.”
Comedian Kevin Pollak
…on how many times people have had him do his William Shatner this afternoon– “37”
“I’m wearing Ted Baker.”
Nichelle Nichol (Star Trek)
…on roasting - “I’ve been waiting 40 years for the chance.”
Roastee William Shatner
Adrian Zmed (TJ Hooker)
“I’m here to have my shot at Bill”
Anne Jeffreys (friend of Bill)
…on people being worried about her coming thinking people would say something that might upset her – “There’s not a lot people could say about Bill that could shock me.”
…if Bill were standing next to her now – “I’d say Go for it Bill. Give ‘em hell!”
All in all, to sum it up, fans and friends of William Shatner number many and repeatedly hearing words such as “very sweet”, “honor” and his legendary sense of humor on the red carpet, makes it no mystery why he’s being roasted.
(C) MBN 2006 (Joyce Chow, William Hoehne)
