Exclusive video interview: William Shatner on dogs, Dallas Comic Con, re-fighting Gorn in the STAR TREK Video Game

Exclusive video interview: William Shatner on dogs, Dallas Comic Con, re-fighting Gorn in the STAR TREK Video Game

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This may be, without a doubt, one of the strangest interviews we’ve ever posted, but you can’t help enjoying the uniqueness of it either. William Shatner was recently in Dallas to promote the new scratch-off STAR TREK ticket for The Texas Lottery. On Saturday, March 30 of 2013, Bill came to the Dallas Convention Center for the event, which was also an attempt to make history in The Guinness Book of World Records for the most costumed Trek fans in one place at one time. Sadly, the numbers were about half of what was needed (the record is 1063, Dallas had 561), but the fans seemed to be having fun regardless. Shatner talked about the phrase “Scratch off”, even implying it could be used to tell off someone you don’t care for, and prompted everyone in the crowd to proclaim along with him, yelling “SCRATCH OFF!” He then attempted to scratch off the first official ticket (which was an oversized display version), with somewhat comedic results. After signing a handful of autographs and taking photos with VIP winners, he participated in select press interviews, and Bigfanboy.com (myself and Devin Pike) were lucky enough to get a few questions in with the man himself. What resulted is rather… interesting. The first time I met Bill back in 2009 (I think) we had talked about how one of his great dogs was from Texas, and that he frequently comes here for various reasons. That was my intro to kick things off, and the story that followed was somewhat sad, a little shocking, and perhaps unintentionally funny. See for yourself in the clip. We also got him to mention that he’ll be back in Dallas for the Dallas Comic Con this May 17-19 (Bill is appearing on Saturday, May 18 only), and even comment a bit on the STAR TREK video game commercial in which he once again tangles with The Gorn (that video is also below). Check both clips out and tell us your animal husbandry thoughts in the comments.

And here’s the rather fun commercial re-teaming Shatner with The Gorn:

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About the Author

Born and raised in Dallas, Mark has been a movie critic since 1994, with reviews featured in print, radio and National TV. In 2001 he started the Entertainment section of the Herorealm website, where he contributed film reviews and celebrity interviews until 2004. After three years of service there, he started Bigfanboy.com, which has become one of the Dallas film community's leading information websites. Bigfanboy hosts several movie screenings in the Texas area, and works closely with film and TV studios and promotional partners to host exciting events and contests. The site also features a variety of rare celebrity and filmmaker interviews, and Bigfanboy.com regularly covers the film festival circuit as well. In addition to Hollywood reporting, Mark has worked for many years as an advertising and sci-fi/comic book artist. Clients have included Lucasfilm Ltd., Topps Trading Cards, The Dallas Mavericks and The Dallas Stars. From 2002 until 2015 he managed the Dallas Comic Con, Sci-Fi Expo and Fan Days events in the DFW area. He currently catalogs rare comic books and movie memorabilia for Heritage Auctions, and runs the Dallas Comic Show conventions, but remains an avid moviegoer and cinema buff.