His crowning moment on SNL
William Shatner: You know, before I answer any more questions there’s something I wanted to say. Having received all your letters over the years, and I’ve spoken to many of you, and some of you have traveled... y’know... hundreds of miles to be here, I’d just like to say... GET A LIFE, will you people? I mean, for crying out loud, it’s just a TV show! I mean, look at you, look at the way you’re dressed! You’ve turned an enjoyable little job, that I did as a lark for a few years, into a COLOSSAL WASTE OF TIME!
[ a crowd of shocked and dismayed Trekkies.... ]
I mean, how old are you people? What have you done with yourselves?
[ to “Ears” ] You, you must be almost 30... have you ever kissed a girl?
[ “Ears” hangs his head ]
I didn’t think so! There’s a whole world out there! When I was your age, I didn’t watch television! I LIVED! So... move out of your parent’s basements! And get your own apartments and GROW THE HELL UP! I mean, it’s just a TV show dammit, IT’S JUST A TV SHOW!
Charlie: Are- are you saying then that we should pay more attention to the movies?
William Shatner: NO!!! THAT’S NOT WHAT I’M SAYING AT ALL!!! HEY, YOU GUYS ARE... THE LAMEST BUNCH... I’VE NEVER SEEN... [ walks away from podium ] I can’t believe these people... I mean, I really can’t understand what’s....
[ Emcee argues with Shatner off-mike, shoves him, Shatner shoves back harder.... ]
Second Emcee: Uh... that was William Shatner, ladies and gentlemen. Uh, I’d like to remind you Trekkers that we have some fine refreshments from all over the galaxy... Coke, Diet Coke, Bubble Up, Orange, I believe. We....
[ Meanwhile, Emcee waves the contract in front of Shatner, who then reluctantly returns to the podium.... ]
William Shatner: Of course, that speech was a “re-creation” of the “Evil Captain Kirk” from um... Episode, um... [ Emcee whispers ] THIRTY-SEVEN... uhh... called... [ another whisper ] “The Enemy Within.”
[ Trekkies get happy, applaud ]
William Shatner: Yuh, Yuh, so thank you... and, and... Live Long and Prosper...
[ Trekkies make Vulcan “peace sign”.... ]
William Shatner: So everybody... set your phasers on stun, cause... THIS CONVENTION’S AHEAD WARP FACTOR NINE, Y’KNOW? RIGHT! ALL RIGHT! WARP FACTOR NINE!
“”I’d just like to say... GET A LIFE””
Along with that wonderful moment is his first words at the start of the the movie Star Trek 5:
“What the hell are we doing here?”
I always wonder if he insisted on that opening line, as if to say “Enough with the original crew.”
Recently he mentioned the Hollywood and Drive-By Media attempting to erase Captain Kirk from the record. He stated something akin to - since Captain Kirk is everywhere, in every country, it would take many generations to really get rid of the character, and probably won’t succeed anyway. He wasn’t concentrating on himself, just an observation.