Beam Him Up: William Shatner Comes to Count Basie

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By Mary Ann Bourbeau
RED BANK – William Shatner has a certain charm about him, making a reporter feel as if her interview is the most important one he has done.
Maybe it’s that charm that has made him a beloved celebrity for more than five decades. Or perhaps it’s the wide range of television shows he has starred in – “Star Trek,” “The Twilight Zone,” “T.J. Hooker,” “Boston Legal” and “$#*! My Dad Says” – that attracts fans of all ages. It could be the diversity of projects he has taken on over the years as not only an actor, but as director, producer, writer, spokesman, recording artist, horseman and philanthropist. More likely, it’s all of the above.
“I’m open to everything,” he said. “That’s part of the game.”
Shatner will open his life up to the audience when he brings his one-man show, “It’s Shatner’s World – We Just Live In It,” to the Count Basie Theatre on Feb. 5. The show proved hugely popular when it toured the United States, Canada and Australia in 2011, so he is bringing it back for a second go-round.
“It’s an affirmation of life,” he said. “It’s about saying yes to life’s opportunities. It’s a great piece of entertainment. People come out and laugh and sing. It’s very joyful.”
Shatner said he will talk about a wide range of topics including “Star Trek,” science fiction, motorcycles, lowland gorillas, music, comedy and what makes people tick. Perhaps he will talk about breeding horses on his Kentucky farm, or the time he sold his kidney stone for $25,000 and donated the money to Habitat for Humanity.
“I love performing this show,” he said. “There’s a thrill you get onstage attempting to amuse and amaze people for two hours. It’s the brass ring of show business.”
He may even discuss the late David Bowie, whom he never met, but whose 1969 song, “Space Oddity,” was recorded by Shatner in 2011 on an album entitled, “Seeking Major Tom.” It’s one of several albums recorded by Shatner that, because of his distinctive speak-sing delivery, have become cult favorites.
“David Bowie was a wonderful and unique artist,” Shatner said. “I heard from someone that he said how wonderful my recording was. Although he could have been lying.”
The octogenarian could certainly rest on his laurels at this point, but Shatner has no plans to sit on the sidelines. The biography he wrote about his 50-year friendship with Star Trek cast mate Leonard Nimoy will be released in February.
“It’s difficult for men to make deep friendships,” he said. “I achieved that with Leonard for a while. It was very precious to me.”
The Emmy Award-winning actor can’t say the same for fellow “Star Trek” alum George Takei. The two have very publicly declared their disdain for one another.
“He’s a very strange man,” Shatner said. “He did me wrong over the years.”
Shatner has many projects in the works, among them a Christmas album and an upcoming television show. He, along with Henry Winkler, George Foreman, Terry Bradshaw and comedian Jeff Dye, will star in the travel reality series, “Better Late Than Never.” The show takes the men to locations such as Tokyo, Seoul, Bangkok and Hong Kong, offering a comedic look on how the men navigate unfamiliar cultures while also checking off “bucket list” items.
“A camera follows us around while we do things like sumo wrestling and eating crickets,” he said. “You’ll see me get in the ring with George Foreman and catch a pass from Terry Bradshaw. It’s very funny.”
“It’s Shatner’s World – We Just Live In It” will be performed at the Count Basie Theatre at 8 p.m. Feb. 5. Tickets are $59 to $149. Leading up to the show, The Count Basie Theatre Cinema Society will present the first six “Star Trek” movies from Feb. 1-3. Tickets are $5 per movie and are free to Count Basie Theatre Cinema Society members and Shatner ticket holders.
For more information, visit www.countbasietheatre.org.
Arts and Entertainment writer Mary Ann Bourbeau can be reached at mbourbeau@tworivertimes.com.
Follow her on Twitter @MaryAnnBourbeau.