While Star Trek fans might like to pretend the ongoing feud between George Takei and William Shatner doesn’t exist — I do the same thing with my favorite bands, don’t worry — the bickering’s been heavily documented over the years. Last night on Real Time, Bill Maher asked about the seemingly never-ending beef and Takei finally revealed why he can’t stand being around good ole Captain Kirk.
“He is Canadian. And Canadians have a certain image of being even-tempered and friendly and all that,” Takei said of Shatner. “Well, he is a person who is that way … with himself. He is very self-centered.”
He said that the men are both professionals and so they are able to get the work done. “But, it’s with a lot of difficulty,” he conceded.
Maher mixed his Star franchises by saying, “It’s not like you’re going to drive the ship into a Death Star just to spite him.”
“The temptation is there,” Takei said.
The conversation then switched gears to the topic of gay rights. According to Takei, nearly the entire cast and crew of Star Trek during the late ’60s knew that he was gay. Well, not everyone exactly. “It went right over his head,” he laughed, implying his oblivious sparring partner Shatner.
Sucks to be Canadian and clueless, huh? It’s okay, though. We still love you, Captain. And, yes, you too, the ever-fragrant Hikaru Sulu. Watch the full interview below.
