Star Trek: The Next Generation star, Patrick Stewart, recently recorded an emotional appeal for Refuge, a charity that supports women and children experiencing domestic violence.
During the video, Stewart speaks out against domestic violence and recalls his childhood, saying that he witnessed his father using violence against his mother.
“Behind closed doors my father was an angry and frustrated man who couldn’t control his temper,” said Stewart. “As a child I witnessed his repeated violence against my mother.”
Watch the BBC video, embedded below.
For more information or to donate, visit refuge.org.uk.
Former Star Trek: The Next Generation castmates, Brent Spiner and Wil Wheaton appeared on last Thursday night’s episode of the CBS comedy, The Big Bang Theory.
In the episode, “The Russian Rocket Reaction,” Big Bang Theory stars (Johnny Galecki, Jim Parsons and Kunal Nayyar) along with Brent Spiner attend a party thrown by Sheldon’s nemesis, Wil Wheaton.
Star Trek author, consultant and historian, Larry Nemecek has released the first trailer for his upcoming documentary, The Con of Wrath.
Star Trek producer, Harve Bennett and Star Trek‘s original Pavel Chekov, Walter Koenig are both featured in the trailer, embedded below.
First announced back in May, the film will focus on the notorious “Ultimate Fantasy” convention, which took place back in 1982.
Nemecek hopes to have the film ready to premiere in 2012, to commemorate the 30th anniversary of “Ultimate Fantasy.”
If you’d like to help with production costs of the project, donations can be made through Larry Nemecek’s Trekland website. All donors will receive a screen credit along with additional “thank you” gifts, based on the amount of the donation.
As we previously reported, William Shatner’s new heavy metal CD, Seeking Major Tom, will be released by Cleopatra Records on Tuesday, October 11th.
Today, video has been released of Shatner recording his rendition of Black Sabbath’s “Iron Man” for the upcoming release.
The video follows Shatner into the recording booth to deliver the opening lines “I am Iron Man,” as only Shatner can. Guitars for the song were handled by former Ozzy Osbourne and current Black Label Society guitarist, Zakk Wylde.
Watch the embedded video below.
Full track listing for William Shatner’s Seeking Major Tom:
Disc: 1
1. Major Tom (Coming Home) feat. Nick Valensi (The Strokes)
2. Space Oddity feat. Ritchie Blackmore & Candice Night
3. In A Little While feat. Lyle Lovett
4. Space Cowboy feat. Brad Paisley & Steve Miller
5. Space Truckin feat. Ian Paice (Deep Purple) & Johnny Winter
6. Rocket Man feat. Steve Hillage (Gong / System 7)
7. She Blinded Me With Science feat. Bootsy Collins & Patrick Moraz (Yes/Moody Blues)
8. Walking On The Moon feat. Toots Hibbert (Toots & The Maytals)
9. Spirit In The Sky feat. Peter Frampton
10. Bohemian Rhapsody feat. John Wetton (King Crimson / Asia)
Disc: 2
1. Empty Glass feat. Michael Schenker
2. Lost In The Stars feat. Ernie Watts (Zappa/Rolling Stones)
3. Learning To Fly feat. Edgar Froese (Tangerine Dream)
4. Mr. Spaceman feat. Dave Davies (The Kinks)
5. Twilight Zone feat. Warren Haynes (Gov t Mule / Allman Brothers Band)
6. Struggle (original track William Shatner / Adam Hamilton)
7. Iron Man feat. Zakk Wylde (Ozzy Osbourne) & Mike Inez (Alice In Chains)
8. Planet Earth feat. Steve Howe (Yes / Asia)
William Shatner was one of the guest stars at The Roast of Charlie Sheen, which premiered Monday night on Comedy Central.
As he was welcomed on stage, Seth McFarlane, who hosted the show, described Shatner as “The guy who played Captain Kirk back before Star Trek looked like a bunch of gay guys working in a Mac store,”.
Shatner, who himself has been the focus of a similar roast in 2006, took several jabs at Sheen. He joked about Sheen’s appearance, saying “I’m 80 years old,” proceeding to inquire about Sheen’s age [who is 46] and asked “How come it looks like we went to high school together?”.
Shatner went on to tell Sheen to “slow down and smell the roses,” saying “that’s why I’ve had such a storied and illustrious career. Because I’m patient”.
“I’ve had my share of wild times with the señoritas. I’ve had sex in space with green women,” said Shatner.
He continued, saying that if he wanted the kind of attention Sheen has been getting recently, he’d have to do something drastic, “like kiss a black girl or let an asian drive,”.
The Roast of Charlie Sheen will be replayed all week on Comedy Central and is available on iTunes.
Watch Shatner roast Sheen in the uncensored video clip below.
On Sunday night, Netflix CEO, Reed Hastings made the announcement that the company would split their DVD-by-mail and instant streaming services into two separate companies, in a post on the Netflix blog and in an email sent out to subscribers.
While the streaming service will continue to carry the Netflix name, the DVD-by-mail service will now be called “Qwikster.”
The post also apologizes to subscribers for the sudden price increase a few months ago and the lack of explanation for it. “It is clear from the feedback over the past two months that many members felt we lacked respect and humility in the way we announced the separation of DVD and streaming and the price changes. That was certainly not our intent, and I offer my sincere apology. Let me explain what we are doing.” wrote Hastings.
Netflix currently offers Star Trek: The Original Series, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Voyager, Star Trek: Enterprise and the 2009 Star Trek film as part of their streaming service. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine is scheduled to be added on October 1st. As part of their DVDs-by-mail, every Star Trek film and series (including Star Trek: The Animated Series) are available.
Watch Reed Hastings and new Qwikster CEO Andy Rendich’s apology in the video embedded below.
Last night, millions watched as Leonard Nimoy along with show host Jane Lynch, opened the 63rd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards with a prerecorded sketch comedy segment.
Nimoy, who played the role of “President of Television” in the skit with Lynch was joined by Jeremy Piven and Rex Lee from Entourage, Johnny Galecki, Jim Parsons and Kaley Cuoco from Big Bang Theory, Kevin Nealon, Andy Richter, Eric Dane from Grey’s Anatomy, the cast of Mad Men and several other stars.
William Shatner chimed in on the ever-popular discussion of which is better, Star Wars or Star Trek, in a video posted to his Youtube channel earlier today.
“Star Trek had relationships, conflict among the relationships, stories that involved humanity and philosophical questions.” said Shatner. “Star Wars was special effects. It was ILM at it’s best. First of all, Star Wars is derivative of Star Trek, by what 10, 15, 20 years, something like that?” he added.
Shatner went on to discuss the special effects used in the Star Wars films, the original Star Trek films and JJ Abrams’ 2009 reboot.
Discussing the females in both franchises, Shatner said “Princess Leia, as beautiful as she was and as wonderful an actress as she [Carrie Fisher] is can’t compare to the marvelous heroines we had on Star Trek.”
“I’m not saying that’s just the only thing that makes Star Trek better than Star Wars. I’m saying the stories were better.” Shatner said.
“That would be the perfect union of Star Wars and Star Trek.” Shatner joked about a relationship between Captain Kirk and Princess Leia.
The complete Star Wars saga is set to be re-released tomorrow on Blu-Ray.
William Shatner recently spoke to Metal Hammer Magazine to discuss his new concept album, “Seeking Major Tom”.
The album features several high level guest appearances from members of the heavy metal world, including Zakk Wylde from Black Label Society and Ozzy Osbourne, Ian Paice and Ritchie Blackmore from Deep Purple, Carmine Appice from Ozzy Osbourne, Mike Inez from Alice in Chains and Michael Schenker from The Scorpions.
Shatner discussed working with them, saying “It’s staggering, because half of them, so I’m told, sought us out, and the other half jumped at the chance! So we have twenty of some of the greatest musicians alive. The accumulation of talent on this album is phenomenal — I’m bowled over!”
“A lot of these artists just laid it down on the track and sent it in,” he said, “but in Zakk Wylde’s case I was there, and I watched a virtuoso musician, and how he works. I’d laid down my vocal with [producer] Adam Hamilton in his studio prior to Zakk, then we went up to Zakk and heard what he was doing, and I realized that what I had done was totally inadequate. I did my bit, but it didn’t have any deep understanding of what he was going to do. So after his vocal, I had to go back to the studio and lay down the track again!”
“As I began to listen with enthusiasm to rock ‘n’ roll, this sound called ‘heavy metal’ began to intrude, and the thought was, ‘this is the next level of dissent.’ And now, having done some of the heavy metal songs, I realize what it’s all about, which is the energy, the passion, and I’m slowly evolving my musical taste, as a result of the work I’m doing.” Shatner said of his first venture into the world of heavy metal.
The album is scheduled to be released on October 11 on Cleopatra Records.
Listen to Shatner’s rendition of Black Sabbath’s “Iron Man” below.
The Science Channel announced that Rod Roddenberry’s long-awaited documentary, Trek Nation is scheduled to air on Wednesday, November 30.
Read the press release below.
Press Release
STAR TREK CELEBRATES ITS 45th ANNIVERSARY TODAY WITH THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF SCIENCE’STREK NATION TO AIR THIS NOVEMBER 30
When Gene Roddenberry’s epic series Star Trek first aired on NBC on September 8, 1966 no one knew what a phenomenon it would become. Forty-five years later, the legacy and millions of fans across the globe still continue to believe that space is the ‘final frontier’ and has yet to be fully explored.
In celebration of this momentous occasion, SCIENCE is working with Gene Roddenberry’s only son, Rod Roddenberry, to produce the world premiere documentary, TREK NATION set to air on Wednesday, November 30.
The film shadows Gene Roddenberry’s son, Rod, as he explores his family legacy and the crusade his father’s passion and curiosity for exploration. Through interviews with his most devoted fans, including George Lucas and J.J. Abrams, TREK NATION follows a son searching for the wisdom of his father. TREK NATION demonstrates that Roddenberry’s work has not only inspired legions of fans across the globe, but also generated a movement which has influenced entertainment, politics, space travel, social moralityand much more. TREK NATION profiles how the Star Trek franchise helped foster a timeless understanding of the human condition and captured man’s constant search for a better world.
Youtube user Michael Homan, uploaded the two-part video below in commemoration of Star Trek‘s 45th anniversary. The videos, described as “Tribute To Gene Roddenberry’s Star Trek” span every series of franchise, including The Original Series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager and Enterprise.
In description, Homan describes the videos as “My tribute video to my favorite Sci-Fi series that I love, admire, that has really inspired me, that really made a big impact on me, and has touch my heart and gave me hope for a common future”.
Star Trek‘s original Lt. Uhura, Nichelle Nichols, made an appearance this morning on FOX 5′s Good Day Atlanta. Nichols, who spoke from a recreation of the Enterprise bridge (as part of Star Trek: The Exhibition), was on hand at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida to witness the launch of the Delta II Rocket, which carries the twin Grail spacecraft on it’s mission to further study the moon.
Nichols discussed Star Trek‘s longevity by crediting it’s creator, saying “it’s innovative thinking, it’s far-reaching examination and decision by Gene Roddenberry of what we’re capable of achieving as human beings if we apply our minds to it.”.
“If you can dream it, you can do it.” she said, regarding the continuing evolution of the International Space Station.
Nichols went on to discuss mankind’s further exploration of the solar system and the universe saying “we continue to look up and out,”.
