# Boston Legal--I . . . I think William Shatner might actually . . . **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 1, 2004, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boston-legal-i-i-think-william-shatner-might-actually/272379 "2004-11-01T19:14:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Kallessa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7993a0/32.png) [@Kallessa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kallessa)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2004, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boston-legal-i-i-think-william-shatner-might-actually/272379/1 "2004-11-01T19:14:10Z")
be able to act! I’m loving this show, and I’m beginning to be, how can I say it? I’m beginning to be impressed by Denny Craig. He’s almost a parody of Shatner, and at first I thought it was just Shatner overacting as Shatner. I mean, the role is perfect for Shatner–if he wasn’t in the role, it would have to be someone trying to act like Shatner. But, dare I say? His performance in last night’s episode contained nuance, pathos even. Maybe hanging around actors all his life has finally paid off. The rest of the cast is great as well. I had not been watching _The Practice_ when James Spader was on it, but I love his slimey lawyer with a very hidden heart of gold. The women characters need a bit more development–Sally is a bit of a drip, but the blonde and the one with the accent both have possibilities. Anyone else watching this show? ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2004, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boston-legal-i-i-think-william-shatner-might-actually/272379/2 "2004-11-01T19:28:12Z")
Shatner was _always_ a reasonably skilled actor; he just tended toward camp and self-parody after his _Star Trek_ years, and it’s not like _T.J. Hooker_ gave him a big chance for subtlety. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2004, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boston-legal-i-i-think-william-shatner-might-actually/272379/3 "2004-11-01T19:34:12Z")
That Twilight Zone episode of his sure isn’t remember for the great performance by the gremlin, nor the gremlin’s costume. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2004, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boston-legal-i-i-think-william-shatner-might-actually/272379/4 "2004-11-01T19:46:47Z")
I actually liked the other Twilight Zone episode with him better. You know, the one where he and his wife are newlyweds on their honeymoon, and their car breaks down in this little town, so they go into the diner and find a fortune telling machine that seems to tell the truth? ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2004, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boston-legal-i-i-think-william-shatner-might-actually/272379/5 "2004-11-01T20:05:09Z")
I’ll concur with the consensus. Shatner is an idiosyncratic but not untalented performer who found himself in a somewhat difficult pigeonhole after _Trek_ ended. Go back and look at _Judgment at Nuremburg_ or better yet _The Andersonville Trial_ sometime. ---
**Author:** ![Askia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Askia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askia)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2004, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boston-legal-i-i-think-william-shatner-might-actually/272379/6 "2004-11-01T20:29:20Z")
Denny Craig. ---
**Author:** ![thwartme](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecc23a/32.png) [@thwartme](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thwartme)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2004, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boston-legal-i-i-think-william-shatner-might-actually/272379/7 "2004-11-01T20:50:09Z")
Shatner is not just reasonable talented, Shatner is great. There are several episodes of Star Trek - and several scenes in the films - which are only watchable because of his performance, and the performances of the actors around him. TJ Hooker would have collapsed under the weight of bad writing if not for two things: William Shatner’s acting and Heather Locklear’s looks. And by the way… Denny **Crane**. thwartme ---
**Author:** ![OldBroad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ed655f/32.png) [@OldBroad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldBroad)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2004, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boston-legal-i-i-think-william-shatner-might-actually/272379/8 "2004-11-01T22:44:21Z")
I’m thoroughly hooked on this show - the humor is what gets me. Shatner is perfect in this role. The Science channel has a program (can’t remember the name just now) that he narrates, too. He has a great voice. I’m glad he found a great character. ---
**Author:** ![Ross](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e274bd/32.png) [@Ross](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ross)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2004, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boston-legal-i-i-think-william-shatner-might-actually/272379/9 "2004-11-01T23:10:15Z")
It was a hell of a thing when Spock died. ---
**Author:** ![Kallessa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7993a0/32.png) [@Kallessa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kallessa)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2004, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boston-legal-i-i-think-william-shatner-might-actually/272379/10 "2004-11-02T00:48:15Z")
Denny Crane. I’m Denny Crane. Denny Crane. I’m Donnie Crane. Denny Crane. Denny Crane. Denny Crane. ---
**Author:** ![Syntropy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/65b543/32.png) [@Syntropy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Syntropy)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2004, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boston-legal-i-i-think-william-shatner-might-actually/272379/11 "2004-11-02T01:07:03Z")
As I said before; Shatner has decided to run with the scene stealing hack persona. I love it. I think it’s great. He’s not trying to be anyone but himself. Still a little disappointe with James Spader just being Mini-Me to Shatner, but, eh. I can live with it. He still has that lecherous perv thing that he had going in _Secretary_. ---
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2004, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boston-legal-i-i-think-william-shatner-might-actually/272379/12 "2004-11-02T03:15:02Z")
Shatner/Denny Crane with a Botox needle stuck in his forehead a few episodes ago: priceless! Still got it. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2004, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boston-legal-i-i-think-william-shatner-might-actually/272379/13 "2004-11-02T06:15:56Z")
Shatner got recognized in the first place because he was tearing up the stage playing the Royal Shakespearean theater. He knows how to act. He’s like Christopher Walken - he’s built a persona for himself that his parts have to fit into. But when they do, he can be fantastic. If they don’t, he becomes a parody of himself. Both he and Walken have mannered ways of speaking and carrying themselves. Both are successful because they have learned to have fun with it. I love Boston Legal. The writing isn’t as strong as the best on TV (Deadwood, Sopranos), but for a network show it’s one of the best. Shatner and Spader are great, and surprisingly they seem to have some chemistry together. I think there are Emmy nominations still to come for both of them. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2004, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boston-legal-i-i-think-william-shatner-might-actually/272379/14 "2004-11-02T15:20:24Z")
Shatner got his break when he understudied Christopher Plummer in _Henry V_. Supposedly he did a great job filling in for Plummer, and got support from CP himself. Later he returned the favor by getting Plummer a choice role in _Star Trek VI_ At least according to A&E’s Biography anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2004, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boston-legal-i-i-think-william-shatner-might-actually/272379/15 "2004-11-02T15:35:16Z")
**Big Giant Head** on **Third Rock from the Sun**. What other actor could have played that role?