Out of every Star Trek actor, few are as honest with their opinion as William Shatner. The 94-year-old actor will get candid pretty much with anyone who is asking about pretty much anything, especially if it comes to his time on Star Trek. He's gained his fair share of critics over the years because of this; now, he may have a few more after some harsh words for former co-stars who have spoken ill of him.

Before I get into these latest comments, it's worth pointing out Shatner has famously feuded with TOS co-star George Takei over the past few decades about their time working together, and even had issues with Wil Wheaton after the actor shared a story about him being rude. Now, he's seemingly taking shots at them, as well as others who criticized him, after a fan on X made a comment about how he was disliked on the set of the sci-fi series. In retort, Shatner wrote:

In fairness to the alleged "part-time day players" I would wager that William Shatner doesn't get nearly as many questions about being on Boston Legal or T.J. Hooker as much as he does Star Trek. As such, it would make sense there aren't as many stories about his co-stars on those shows. Or, it's also possible he acted differently on set after his time on the breakout sci-fi series.

While stars may have definitely shared unsavory stories about Shatner unprompted, I'd also argue there's enough history of his on-set behavior on the show that it may lead to it coming up again and again. It'll inevitably be asked about when these stars appear at conventions, and there are a lot of conventions with a Star Trek presence. I can't say I've heard of a Boston Legal convention, though I can't say those don't exist either.

Whether that makes it right for these stars to continue to share these BTS stories when William Shatner has apologized is another question. As someone who has followed the actor for a while, I do think it's worth mentioning that Shatner has riled up the fandom a few times in the past with some of his opinions about the franchise outside of his relationships with his co-stars, too.

One example would be when the star famously mentioned at San Diego Comic-Con that Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry would be "rolling in his grave" if he saw what the modern shows were like. The comments sent waves throughout the fandom, thinking it was a shot at the increasingly progressive nature of the program and its inclusivity. Shatner later clarified he was talking about sexual relationships between crew members, something Roddenberry was against.

Ultimately, though, there is no Star Trek without William Shatner, and he still has plenty of fans despite the criticisms against him. All this to say, he's probably not too worried about what people are saying about him, but will speak up if he feels the need to do so.

William Shatner likely isn't headed back to Star Trek anytime soon, but fans can catch his previous appearances with a Paramount Plus subscription. I know I'm past-due for a rewatch of TOS, which might be worth doing as we get closer to the end of Strange New Worlds.

Running from 1966 to 1969, Star Trek: The Original Series was one of the most progressive TV shows of its time, and is still fondly looked back on for the way it explored many political and social topics. However, the sci-fi TV show never delved into LGBTQ issues during its three-season run. According to George Takei, this wasn’t due to a lack of interest from TOS creator Gene Roddenberry, but rather because he was concerned about it would impact the series’ run.

Takei, who played Hikaru Sulu in Star Trek: The Original Series, the six TOS movies and an episode of Star Trek: Voyager (all of which can be streamed with a Paramount+ subscription), chatted about this on The Sackhoff Show. The actor, who came out as gay in 2005, recalled how one day, he was swimming in the pool at Gene Roddenberry’s house and told the man who brought Star Trek to the masses how much he admired that the show was touching on subjects like the Civil Rights Movement and the Vietnam War. Takei then asked if Roddenberry would consider exploring LGBT equality on TOS, and here’s how the rest of the conversation went:

Like George Takei said, James T. Kirk and Uhura kissing in the episode “Plato’s Stepchildren” was indeed an historical moment, as this was the first interracial kiss depicted on American television. It helped break down a major small screen barrier, but then as Gene Roddenberry informed Takei, the episode didn’t air in many Southern stations in the United States because of that one moment. Roddenberry felt that if Star Trek started touching on LGBTQ issues as well, that would be pushing the show’s luck too far. Takei continued:

“Plato’s Stepchildren” was Star Trek: The Original Series Season 3’s 10th episode, so there’d only be another 14 episodes before the show was cancelled anyway. But George Takei understood where Gene Roddenberry was coming from, as ratings dictate whether or not a show will stay on the air. Between that, how TOS had already taken a hit from the Kirk/Uhura kiss and Takei still being closed at the time, he didn’t push the matter any further.

Fortunately, Star Trek: The Original Series laid the foundation for a franchise that’s still going strong and been able to delve into LGBTQ storytelling in its more recent history, including with Star Trek: Discovery featuring two of its principal characters in an openly gay relationship. It’s also worth mentioning that in the Kelvin timeline, John Cho’s Hikaru Sulu was revealed to be gay in 2016’s Star Trek Beyond, though George Takei didn’t approve of this creative decision.

George Takei is well-known for playing one of the most important Asian Star Trek characters, Hikaru Sulu, as well as becoming a cultural icon and a political activist. In the actor’s personal life, he carried a secret about being gay that he didn’t disclose to the public until he was 68. The Star Trek icon has gotten real about what coming out was like for him and why he felt “a sense of guilt” for years after.

Star Trek (which is streaming on your Paramount+ subscription) was ahead of its time in the 1960s, sending the message of the future with its diverse casting on the USS Enterprise. However, showrunner Gene Roddenberry felt he had to stay away from LGBT issues for fear of the show getting cancelled.

If Gene Roddenberry felt portraying queer characters wouldn’t have fared well on television in the ‘60s, you can imagine why one of its stars, George Takei, didn’t come out until 2005. With his 20-year relationship with husband Brad Altman kept private, and watching his close friends die of AIDS, Takei told USA Today why keeping his sexuality a secret came with “a sense of guilt." He said:

I understand very well George Takei’s perspective. While ‘60s television was bold with Star Trek showing the first interracial kiss and The Twilight Zone capturing themes of racism and war, actors did not come out during that era to protect their careers. It must have been very frustrating for the Los Angeles native to feel like he had to hide. He described that period as feeling just as “imprisoned” as when he grew up in the Japanese internment camps with his family behind barbed wire.

Two decades after coming out, George Takei certainly isn’t holding back about his sexuality. When gay marriage became legal in California in 2008, the American actor and Brad Altman were the first same-sex couple to apply for a marriage license. He also just came up with a new graphic novel, It Rhymes with Takei, about his life-changing decision to come out. With the LGBT rights activist being out and proud, Takei continued to talk about how it felt showing his “whole self" to the world:

Actors may have to portray other people when the cameras are on, but in their own personal lives, they shouldn’t have to be anyone but their authentic selves, free to love their partners without worrying about their careers or judgment.

While the ‘60s Star Trek may not have had LGBT themes, that changed in the J.J. Abrams reboot series when George Takei’s character, played by John Cho, was written as gay. While the intentions of having Hikaru Sulu as gay were a nod to the first actor who played him, Takei had a mixed reaction to the character change. While he wasn’t opposed to LGBT representation being shown on the USS Enterprise, he would have preferred an original character to be gay compared to his own.

Fortunately, the actor’s wishes were honored as he was pleased with Star Trek: Discovery’s original gay character, Anthony Rapp's Lieutenant Stamets. It proves that change can take time, with both legacy and progress being respected.

George Takei may have felt “a sense of guilt” keeping his sexuality quiet for all of these years, but finally coming out decades later turned out to be a “very liberating” experience for him. Now that The Big Bang Theory guest star is open about his sexuality, he’s shown no fear lending his voice towards the equality of the LGBT community as well as in his personal graphic novels. It’s truly inspiring for Takei to use his platform to inspire the kind of change he once felt powerless to make.

We lost a legend, and there’s no denying it. Yesterday, Gene Hackman, his wife Betsy Arakawa and their dog were found dead in their home. While we learned about this in the early hours of the morning, many of Hollywood’s greats did not wait to post tributes, as Francis Ford Coppola, Viola Davis, George Takei and more honored the late great actor and his family on social media.

Legendary director Francis Ford Coppola worked on the film The Conversation with Hackman. Using his Instagram to pay tribute to the actor, the filmmaker posted a BTS image of them working together, with the following heartfelt message:

The greats truly are recognizing greats here. EGOT winner Viola Davis was quick to post her tribute to The French Connection star. Using a headshot of the actor, the actress used her IG caption to honor him and note some of her favorite works of his, writing:

Antonio Banderas also got in on the tributes. After Hackman and his wife were found dead in their Santa Fe home, many were left in shock and are sending their condolences to their family and loved ones. That’s exactly what The Mask of Zorro actor did, too, writing on IG:

Josh Brolin was also “crushed” by this news.

The Dune actor posted an image of Hackman and Arakawa on his Instagram to mourn this devastating loss. Noting the actor’s iconic filmography – which includes some of the best movies of the 2000s, ‘90s, ‘80s and ‘70s – he wrote:

George Takei also posted about this death in the early hours of the morning. Citing an obituary posted about the late actor, the Star Trek legend wrote on X:

Along with actors, and like Coppola, many filmmakers paid their respects to The Royal Tenenbaums actor and his family.

A Simple Favor director Paul Feig took to X to post his tribute, citing The Conversation (the film Hackman made with Coppola) as a movie that changed the way he saw acting:

Meanwhile, Edgar Wright kept his tribute simple.

The Baby Driver director retweeted Mubi’s X post about the news. He didn’t say much, but his two simple words are effective and the message I’d like to leave us on:

Gene Hackman truly is one of the greats, and he always will be. From critical classics like The French Connection and Unforgiven to 1978’s Superman (which is one of the best Superman movies) where he played Lex Luthor to modern cult classics like The Royal Tenenbaums, he truly left a remarkable mark on cinema. His legacy will be remembered forever.

We here at CinemaBlend send our thoughts and condolences to Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa’s loved ones during this tragic time.

On one level, politics is all about the performance of the candidate, so it makes sense that actors would also be attracted to the world of politics. There have been quite a few actors over the years who have run for political office, and many of those have won their races and served in roles from mayors of their small town, like Clint Eastwood, all the way up to President of the United States, like Ronald Reagan and Donald Trump. Here are 32 examples of actors who have dabbled in politics over the years.

Sonny Bono

Sonny Bono was first known for being the his partnership with (and marriage to) Cher. Sonny and Cher had a slew of hits and a wildly popular show in the 1970s before splitting as partners and spouses. Bono stayed in show biz, appearing in movies like Airplane 2, and eventually turned his attention to governance. First, in 1988, he was elected mayor of Palm Springs, then in 1995 he ran for Congress and won, serving until his untimely death in a skiing accident in 1998.

Cynthia Nixon

...And Just Like That and The Gilded Age star Cynthia Nixon takes her advocacy and politics seriously. The actor, who takes a very progressive stance on most issues, ran for New York Governor in 2018. Though she didn't win, her voice in the race did raise many issues that have become staples of political campaigns in the state ever since.

Shirley Temple

She was the biggest little star of early Hollywood, but after her acting career, Shirley Temple got very involved in Republican politics for much of the latter half of the 20th Century. She ran unsuccessfully for a congressional seat in 1967 and later became a US diplomat, serving in Ghana and Czechoslovakia, as well as in other positions in Republican administrations.

Clint Eastwood

Few people in Hollywood are as iconic as director and actor Clint Eastwood. Though he wasn't the first actor to get into politics, his stint as mayor of his town, Camel-By-The-Sea, CA in the 1980s did open set a new precedent and opened the doors for other celebrities to get involved, no matter which side of the political aisle they stood on.

Ronald Reagan

Ronald Reagan is far better remembered and celebrated for his time in politics than his time in Hollywood, though his acting career for notable for movies like Knute Rockne, All American, and Bedtime For Bonzo. He shifted to politics in the 1960s, first as governor of California, then as the 40th President of the United States from 1981 to 1989.

Al Franken

Havard-educated Al Franken made a name for himself as one of the best comedy writers and stars of the '70s and '80s, writing for and starring in SNL and appearing in movies like Trading Places. In 2008 Franken ran as a Democrat for Senate in his home state of Minnesota. He won that race and won again in 2016 before resigning after a controversial photo emerged at the height of the #metoo movement.

Steven Michael Quezada

Albuquerque native and Breaking Bad star Steven Michael Quezada is passionate about his hometown and has served on the Bernalillo County Board of Commissioners since 2017. Before that, he served on his local school board.

Melissa Gilbert

Melissa Gilbert gained fame as Laura Ingalls on Little House On The Prairie and was active in the Screen Actors Guild throughout her career in Hollywood, eventually serving as the union's president between 2001 and 2005. In 2016 Gilbert ran for Congress in Michigan but dropped out early in the race.

Hill Harper

Hill Harper first found fame in CSI: NY and later as a cast member of The Good Doctor. In 2024, he parlayed that fame into a Senate run in Michigan as a progressive candidate. Harper had long been active in politics, though he lost in the Democratic primary to Representative Elissa Slotkin.

Fred Grandy

Fred Grandy is most famous to TV audiences for playing Gopher in The Love Boat, but he's been connected to politics his whole life. His roommate at boarding school was President Dwight Eisenhower's son David and Grady even served as the Best Man when David married Julie Nixon at The White House in 1972. Grady served four terms in Congress, starting in 1987, as a Republican Representative from his home state of Iowa. He ran for Governor of Iowa in 1994 but lost.

Jesse Ventura

Jesse Ventura is a rarity in Congress. Not only did he first get famous as a professional wrestler and later star in movies like Predator and The Running Man with fellow actor-turned-politician Arnold Schwarzenegger, he was elected as Governor of Minnesota as a third-party candidate. As the only member of the Reform Party to ever win major office, he served one term in the state house after first getting into politics as the mayor of Brooklyn Park, MN.

George Takei

Beloved Star Trek star George Takei has been active in politics for more than five decades. Not only is he a staunch advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, he has worked in local LA politics since the 1970s. He ran for local office in 1973, was later appointed to the mass transit board in LA, and ran for California State Assemblyman in 1978.

Gil Hill

Gil Hill was best known for playing Inspector Todd, Axel Foley's boss in the Beverly Hills Cop franchise. The late Hill was a police officer, which is how he ended up playing the police inspector in the movies, his only Hollywood role. In 1994 he was elected to the Detroit City Council and became President of the board in 1997. In 2001 he ran for mayor but lost to the notorious Kwame Kilpatrick.

Arnold Schwarzenegger

Other than Ronald Reagan, the most famous actor-turned-politician has to be Arnold Schwarzenegger. Before conquering Hollywood completely, the Austrian-born Schwarzenegger became an American citizen in 1983 and registered as a Republican. He's first official foray into politics was as chairman of the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports under George H.W. Bush in the early '90s. In August of 2003, the Terminator star announced he would be running for Governor of California and won in a special recall election later in the year. In 2007 Schwarzenegger was reelected to serve a full term, retiring from the Governor's mansion in 2011.

Will Rogers

Entertainer Will Rogers never had an official capacity in government, though he was named honorary major of Beverly Hills for two days in 1926. Still, the legendary vaudeville actor and humorist was actively involved in politics his whole life and even ran a fake campaign for President in 1928 to highlight the absurdities of campaigning.

Glenda Jackson

American actors are not the only ones who have gotten involved in politics. English actress, and two-time Oscar winner Glenda Jackson gave up show business to run Parliament as a member of the Labour Party in the United Kingdom. Jackson was first elected to Parliament in 1992 and served for 23 years before retiring and returning to acting in 2015. Jackson passed away in 2023.

Donald Trump

This entry doesn't need much explanation; it's obvious. Donald Trump, though not an actor per se, found a lot of success in the entertainment business with cameos in movies like Home Alone 2: Alone in New York and Zoolander, and, of course, starring on the hit reality show The Apprentice. Trump parlayed that notoriety into a White House run in 2016, and the rest is history.

Fred Thompson

Fred Thompson was known for playing stern characters like an Admiral in Top Gun and probably most famously as District Attorney Arthur Branch on Law & Order. He also served nine years as a Republican Senator from his home state of Tennessee from 1994 until 2003. Thompson ran for president in 2008 but lost in the primary to John McCain.

Diane Neal

While Fred Thompson may be the most famous actor in the Law & Order universe to get into politics, he wasn't alone. Law & Order: SVU's Diane Neal ran for Congress in New York in 2020 as a progressive independent, but finished a distant last in a four-person race won by Democrat Antonio Delgado.

Sonny Landham

Almost everyone knows that two members of the cast of Predator became governors, with Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jesse Ventura both serving as such. But they weren't the only cast members to run. Sonny Landham, who played Billy Sole in the movie, ran in the Republican primary in the race for Governor of Kentucky. Though he lost that race, he stayed involved in Kentucky politics, running for various offices over the years without winning. Landham died in 2017.

Sheila Kuehl

Sheila Kuehl started acting on television in the 1950s and is best know for her role as Zelda on The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis in the early '60s. In the early '70s she left show business and became a lawyer. Since 1994 Kuehl has served in numerous appointed and elected positions in California and has been an outspoken advocate for LGBTQ+ rights.

Ben Jones

Though Ben Jones played kind of an idiot on The Dukes of Hazzard (the mechanic, Cooter), in his real life, he served two terms in Congress as a Democrat representative from Georgia. He'd long been involved in political movements dating back to the '60s when he was active in the Civil Rights Movement in the South.

Kimberlin Brown

Soap opera legend Kimberlin Brown has played the role on Sheila Carter in well of 1000 episodes of soaps, most notably The Bold And The Beautiful. In 2016 she became a staunch advocate from Donald Trump and spoke at the Republican National Convention that year. In 2018 she ran for Congress in California's 36th District, losing to incumbent Raul Ruiz.

Ralph Waite

Ralph Waite is most famous for playing the patriarch of the Walton family in The Waltons in the 1970s. Later he starred as Jackson Gibbs, father of Jethro Gibbs (Mark Harmon) in NCIS. Three times Waite ran for Congress as a Democrat in California, including once in a special election to replace the recently deceased Sonny Bono in 1998. Later that year he ran again for the same seat in the general election. He lost both races to Bono's widow, Mary Bono.

George Murphy

Before Ronald Reagan and Arnold Schwarzenegger, there was another actor who won a statewide election in California. George Murphy served as a Republican Senator from California for one term from 1965 until 1972. Before that, he was also president of the Screen Actors Guild and starred in some of the biggest musicals of the 1930s and '40s.

Antonio Sabàto Jr.

Antonio Sabàto Jr. made a name for himself as a model and actor in the 1990s, starring on shows like General Hospital and Melrose Place. He has long been a staple of Reality TV in the years since. In 2018, Sabàto ran for Congress as a Republican in California's 26th District. He lost to incumbent Julia Brownley in the heavily Democratic district.

Tex Ritter

Tex Ritter was a legendary actor in Westerns and on stage as a country singer. He was also the father of the late, great John Ritter. In 1970 he for the Senate in the Republican primary in Tennessee, but lost to Bill Brock. Brock went on to pull off an upset in the general election when he defeated Al Gore, Sr.

Park Overall

Park Overall is best known to sitcom fans as the sassy nurse on Empty Nest, a spinoff of The Golden Girls. In 2012, she was a progressive candidate for a Tennessee Senate seat and finished third in the Democratic Primary.

Stephen Peace

Attack of the Killer Tomatoes is one of the all-time great B-movies from the 1970s. The man behind the whole series is producer and actor Stephen Peace. The low-budget movie became such a hit in video rentals that it spawned a franchise. After developing the first film, Peace got into politics, first getting elected to the California State Assembly in 1982, where he served for 12 years before moving to the State Senate in 1994 and serving eight more years there.

Bob Dornan

As an actor, Bob Dornan is best known for his recurring role as a pilot in the legendary ABC series 12 O'Clock High. He is far better known for his staunch conservative politics as a Congressman from California for almost twenty years from the '70s until the '90s.

Tracy Brabin

Coronation Street star Tracy Brabin entered politics in 2016 when she stood for a seat in Parliament in the U.K. as a Labour Party candidate. She won the seat and served in the House of Commons for five years, leaving in 2021 to stand for mayor of West Yorkshire. She's served in that role since winning that year.

Alan Autry

After a brief career as a quarterback for the Green Bay Packers (starting three games in 1976), Alan Autry turned to Hollywood and co-starred as Bubba Skinner on NBC's In The Heat Of The Night. He left show business after becoming a born-again Christian and settled in Fresno, CA. He served as the mayor of Fresno for two terms before leaving because of term limits in 2008.

If you have a Max subscription, don’t miss out on the fantastic Gremlins animated series that just dropped new episodes last week. After the streaming show brought Gizmo to a new medium for 2023’s Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai release, the story has continued with the second season titled The Wild Batch, and it has more George Takei and a solid homage to the original sequel to Gremlins.

In Season 1 of the Gremlins animated series, George Takei’s character is born when Sam accidentally gets Gizmo wet and spawns more mogwai before becoming a green Gremlin. The character named Noggin becomes a major villain in the series after he drinks a magic potion that allows him to speak like a human and be super intelligent. When CinemaBlend spoke to the Gremlins’ producers, Brendan Hay discussed working with Takei for the new season with these words:

What a fantastic nod to the original sequel to Gremlins! The title of the season of The Wild Batch, itself is a nod to the 1990 sequel (that is still hysterical 30 years later), considering it's called The New Batch, but Hay also wanted to draw from the sequel for the main villain. As you may recall, Brain Gremlin, or “Brain”, is mutated to have a refined spoken voice and a fascination with human culture. Noggin is a suit-wearing lil guy who uses his powerful brain to lead an army of Gremlins, and Sam, Gizmo and Elle have to find a way to stop him. As Hay continued:

The first five episodes of The Wild Batch's new season are now streaming on Max, and fans can look forward to the second half of the season premiering at a later (undisclosed) date. Along with Takei having a major role in the series, Ming-Na Wen and BD Wong play Sam’s parents, James Hong voices his grandpa, and Simu Liu joins this season as Chang.

Joe Dante, who directed the original Gremlins movies, serves as a consulting producer on the series. He said this in our interview about the casting:

In CinemaBlend’s interview with the Gremlins producers, Dante also recalled how Steven Spielberg has been key to the franchise’s success and they shared their thoughts on Gizmo returning to live action, too. We also spoke to Ming-Na Wen about how her relationship with voice work has changed since first starting on Mulan.

Enjoy George Takei’s iconic and talented voice on Gremlins: The Wild Batch now!

Showrunner Michael Mann had a clear vision for Miami Vice when it debuted on NBC in 1984. He wanted an action show about two "cool" vice cops that showcased both the beauty of South Florida and its seedy underbelly. The show was incredibly popular and influential over its five-season run, and it starred some up-and-coming actors who would one day be huge. 

Miami Vice also crammed in an insane amount of wild cameos you'd never expect, most notably musicians, but also captains of industry, magicians, wrestlers, and comedians. Check out this incredible list that just scratches the surface! 

Bruce Willis

In the first season of Miami Vice, the show featured a young actor with no credits to his name, Bruce Willis. Willis played a gun runner in the episode, being pursued by Tubbs (Philip Michael Thomas) and Crockett (Don Johnson). It's not crazy to say that without this role, Willis would've never landed Moonlighting and maybe never gone on to have the incredible career he had. 

Gene Simmons

Newton Windsor Blade, played by KISS bass player Gene Simmons, was a long-time criminal antagonist to Tubbs and Crockett. Since the mid-'80s weren't great for Kiss, it makes sense that the legendary rocker, known for his wild hair and very long tongue, would branch out into acting. He's not the best actor, but it's crazy seeing him on the show. 

"Captain" Lou Albano And Afa Anoa'i

Professional wrestlers are pretty common to see on TV and "Captain" Lou Albano was also no stranger to TV, appearing in a Cyndi Lauper video in the '80s. Still, it's really fun to see Albano and fellow wrestler Afa Anoa'i playing henchmen to George Takai on Miami Vice in the show's third season. 

Little Richard

In the show's second season, Miami Vice really leaned into musicians as guest stars. One prime example is rock n' roll pioneer and real-life preacher Little Richard, who appeared in the episode "Out Where the Buses Don't Run," as a preacher on the beach. The episode also included up-and-coming actors Bruce McGill and David Strathairn in guest spots.  

Penn Jillette

Penn Jillette, the talking half of the legendary magic duo Penn & Teller, has a few acting credits in his career, usually as himself. His first acting credit, however, was playing a New York City criminal on Miami Vice. It is one of the rare times he didn't appear with his partner Teller at his side. 

Julia Roberts

Even the biggest stars in the world have to start somewhere. Miami Vice was one of the places that helped launch careers, and there may be none bigger than Julia Roberts. Roberts starred in one episode, as an assistant to a crime lord in the season finale of Season 4. It was only her second credited role, and two years before Pretty Woman made her an icon. 

G. Gordon Liddy

Perhaps the wildest guest star in Miami Vice history was former FBI agent and Watergate burglar G. Gordon Liddy. That's right, the ringleader of one of the most notorious political crimes of the 20th Century had a guest spot on the show. Liddy played a former colonel in the U.S. Army who, in a very meta way, was a great admirer of former President Nixon. 

Barbra Streisand

In a truly "what the heck?" moment, the legendary Barbra Streisand makes a literal walk-through cameo in the 18th episode of Season 4 of Miami Vice. She doesn't have a line, and it's a wide shot as Crockett and Tubbs get out of the car. They look twice at her, but she keeps walking. She was dating Don Johnson at the time, which explains why it happened, but still, it's wild. 

Miles Davis

Jazz legend Miles Davis has exactly three credits in movies or TV that are not playing himself or a musician. One of them is Miami Vice. Davis played a criminal being investigated by the vice squad and with that awesome, gravelly voice, he is actually great in the role. 

Teller

The quiet half of the magic duo Penn & Teller, Teller is a man of few words most of the time. When he appeared on Miami Vice – without his partner Penn Jillette – he had quite a few lines when he played a seedy lawyer in the fourth season episode, "Like a Hurricane." It's a rare opportunity to hear Teller speak on TV. 

Frank Zappa

Musician extrodinaire Frank Zappa was a true iconoclast. You never really knew where the guy might show up. One might think that Zappa would see Miami Vice as beneath him, artistically, or too commercial, but that's what made him so great. He wanted everything to be absurd on some level and showing up to play a criminal on a yacht on a network TV is definitely absurd. 

Sheena Easton

Sheena Easton is definitely underappreciated these days. The two-time Grammy winner was huge in the '80s. Not only did she have a slew of hits, working with the likes of Nile Rogers, Prince, and Kenny Rogers, but she sang the theme song to a Bond movie for For Your Eyes Only, and appeared on multiple episodes of Miami Vice as Sonny Crockett's love interest. 

Chris Rock

It's almost hard to believe that Chris Rock's career stretches way back to the mid-1980s, but then you see him with a guest spot on Miami Vice in 1987. It's one of his very first roles, before New Jack City and his bit part in Beverly Hills Cop II, but it's a decent role for a young actor. He plays a records clerk who understands the early days of the internet. 

Phil Collins

Not only did Phil Collins' music often appear in Miami Vice but the legendary drummer and singer also played a con man named...Phil in the second season of the show. Collins has played a few bit parts in movies over the years, but this was his biggest role as an actor. 

Lee Iacocca

Miami Vice was so good at getting guest stars, they even landed a captain of industry. Lee Iacocca was the CEO of Chrysler in the '80s and as such, he was somewhat famous, especially for not being in the entertainment world. When you talk about bonkers guest stars, Iacocca has to be one of the nuttiest. He plays (uncredited) the city park commissioner in the finale of Season 2. Weird. 

Willie Nelson

There are few more iconic musicians in the world than Willie Nelson. With a career that stretches eight decades, Nelson has done it all, including guest starring on Miami Vice. Nelson got to play a retired Texas Ranger who worked with Crockett and Tubbs on a case in the third season of the show.  

Eartha Kitt

Eartha Kitt is probably best known to TV audiences as one of the huge stars who appeared on the 1960s Batman show, where she played Catwoman in the third season. The actress, dancer, and singer, also made a guest spot in Miami Vice in the second season episode "Whatever Works." 

Ted Nugent

Rocker Ted Nugent is a polarizing figure. Known for his politics as much as his guitar shredding, he has thousands of fans and thousands of detractors. Like a lot of other musicians, he plays a bad guy in the second season of the show. 

Annie Golden

Beloved actress Annie Golden started her career in show business in the 1970s as the lead singer of the punk band The Shirts, who were part of the scene at the legendary CBGB's. Golden has gone on to star on stage and screen, including a recurring role in a couple of episodes as Crockett's Ferrari mechanic. Golden is best known these days for playing Norma in Orange is the New Black.

Don King

In a show as over-the-top as Miami Vice was, it only makes sense to have one of the biggest personalities of the decade appear as a guest star. Don King was larger than life in the '80s. The boxing promoter had Mike Tyson in his corner at the time, and Tyson was one of the biggest draws in sports, meaning King was everywhere. Naturally, he played a boxing promoter named "Don Cash" in an episode in Season 3. 

Bill Russell

NBA big men are no strangers to acting. Wilt Chamberlain in Conan The Destroyer, Shaquille O'Neal in Shazam, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in Fletch and Airplane!  are a few examples. Celtics Legend Bill Russell was always a little more understated than those three, but he did find his way into an episode of Miami Vice playing a judge. 

Leonard Cohen

French-Canadian singer/songwriter Leonard Cohen had legions of fans for decades before his death in 2016. While his music was often featured in movies, he wasn't really an actor. Still, Miami Vice managed to score him for an episode in Season 2.

James Brown

One of the coolest things about most of the guest-starring spots on the show was that rarely did one of the stars play themselves. That even went for mega-stars like James Brown. The Godfather of Soul appears as a musician, but not himself, so that had to be fun for Brown and the rest of the cast. 

David Johansen

David Johansen will first and foremost always be known as the lead singer of The New York Dolls, but he's also played a few roles on screen, including the cab driver/ghost of Christmas Past in Scrooged. He also got to play a version of himself on Miami Vice before adopting the Buster Poindexter persona in his music career. 

Glenn Frey

Miami Vice was known for all its musician guest stars, and the first of those was the late Eagles guitar player and singer Glenn Frey. Frey provided a fair amount of music for the show, including his hit song "Smuggler's Blues" written for the show. He appeared in Season 1 playing a pilot who Tubbs and Crockett need for a smuggling bust, naturally. 

George Takei (And Melanie Griffith)

It's not that surprising to see an actor like George Takei on a show like Miami Vice but what makes it bonkers is that he's in a scene with Melanie Griffith and two professional wrestlers, "Captain" Lou Albano and Afa Anoa'i. It's a wild scene with the Star Trek vet playing a criminal overlord and the wrestlers as his henchman. Griffith was dating Johnson at the time, and they would eventually marry and become parents to Dakota Johnson. 

Frankie Valli

The show reached way back in the past when it cast singer Frankie Valli for an episode in its musician-laden second season. New Jersey boy Valli's career goes all the way back to the 1950s and he's had an astonishing 29 Top-40 hits. Still, his first acting role came in 1985 on Miami Vice.

Iman

Iman was one of the first supermodels of the '70s and '80s and she was on the cover of every fashion magazine out there. She didn't get into acting until 1985 when she first appeared on the show in the same episode as G. Gordon Liddy and Bob Balaban. Later she appeared in another episode in 1988 as a different character murdered by a serial killer. 

Rita Moreno

Talk about a legend! EGOT-winner Rita Moreno is Hollywood royalty and her role on Miami Vice is unique because she plays a crooked congresswoman, which is not something you would expect from her. She's brilliant, by the way, as you expect. 

Isaac Hayes

Soul singer and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member Isaac Hayes is no stranger to acting. For years he voiced Chef on South Park, and he had roles in legendary movies like Escape from New York, and I'm Gonna Git You Sucka. He also showed up in one episode of Miami Vice, playing a bad guy, which he was great at. 

The Fat Boys

Miami Vice oozed '80s cool so seeing 1980s hip-hop pioneers The Fat Boys on the show shouldn't be a surprise, but it is, and boy is it funny. Big Buff aka The Human Beat Box saunters up to Tubbs and Crockett on a street corner and makes them an offer that the two vice cops definitely refuse, but they don't bust him, because, come on, you can't bust The Fat Boys! 

Ben Stiller

Sometimes it feels like Ben Stiller has been around forever, and that's for good reason. One of his very first roles in Hollywood was on an episode in the show's fourth season. Stiller plays a criminal busted by Crockett and Tubbs and he's got some great lines, playing a real scuzzy kind of guy. 

A lot of shows over the years have brought in some interesting and surprising celebrities for cameos and guest spots, but when you look at this list from Miami Vice it's hard to argue that any show did it better. 

As a show that takes place almost entirely in the next millennium, Futurama doesn’t automatically seem like the kind of show that would boast tons of cameos from modern day celebrities, athletes, politicians and scientific geniuses. Yet that’s exactly what the animated sci-fi comedy has delivered with each season that’s aired, even when occasional cancellations kept those seasons airing years apart from each other. And what’s more, quite a few of those guest stars have also popped up in co-creator legend Matt Groening’s other beloved toon series, The Simpsons.

While there are certainly far more celebrities who have only appeared on one show or the other — for instance, relatively frequent Futurama guest star Al Gore was previously tapped to host a “Treehouse of Horror” ep, but it never happened — the number of shared famous faces may be surprising to longtime fans. So let’s pop open a six-pack of Slurm and dive in, while noting right away that the aforementioned Groening isn’t on this list, despite appearing in both shows. Note that we also left out Simpsons regulars Hank Azaria and Dan Castellaneta. (Also note that The Simpsons can be streamed with a Disney+ subscription, while all eps of Futurama are available with a Hulu subscription.)

Dick Clark

• Futurama: Season 1 “Space Pilot 3000”
• The Simpsons: Season 11 "Treehouse of Horror X"

True to his real-world persona, the animated Dick Clark was also known in both animated series for hosting New Year's Eve countdowns, though he only did so as a head for Futurama. He suffered a weirder phenomenon on The Simpsons when Y2K hit and turned him into a Terminator-esque cyborg.

Leonard Nimoy

• Futurama: Season 1 “Space Pilot 3000,” Season 4 "Where No Fan Has Gone Before" 
• The Simpsons: Season 4 "Marge vs. the Monorail," Season 8 "The Springfield Files"

An icon in the world of science fiction and beyond, Leonardy Nimoy was a welcomed figure on both animated comedies. where he played himself for two episodes of each series. Arguably the best would be Futurama's "Where No Fan..." since it brought in other Star Trek vets as well.

John Goodman

• Futurama: Season 2 “XMas Story”
• The Simpsons: Season 11 "Take My Wife, Sleaze"

Longtime Futurama fans might not remember that Roseanne and The Conners lead John Goodman was the first to voice Robot Santa, with John DiMaggio taking over the role in later seasons. The Big Lebowski vet had a slightly different vibe going when portraying biker gang leader Meathook on The Simpsons.

Conan O'Brien

• Futurama: Season 2 “XMas Story”
• The Simpsons: Season 5 "Bart Gets Famous"

Having served as a writer on The Simpsons ahead of landing NBC's Late Night — he's spoken about his favorite character to write for — talk show maestro Conan O'Brien appeared as himself on both shows, interviewing Bart for his former employer, and appearing in jarheaded form for Futurama. Note that he is one of the only celebs whose head pokes out of the top, which is a joke about the comedian's larger than average dome.

Nichelle Nichols

• Futurama: Season 2 “Anthology Of Interest 1,” Season 4 "Where No Fan Has Gone Before" 
• The Simpsons: Season 15 "Simple Simpson"

A beloved member of Star Trek royalty, Nichelle Nichols portrayed herself three times across both shows, always with shows references to fall back on. (Unlike Nichols and other Trek elite, William Shatner turned down the opportunities to appear.)

Stephen Hawking

• Futurama: Season 2 “Anthology Of Interest 1,” “The Beast With A Billion Backs,” Season 6 “Reincarnation”
• The Simpsons: Season 10 "They Saved Lisa's Brain,” Season 16 "Don't Fear the Roofer," Season 18 "Stop or My Dog Will Shoot," Season 22 "Elementary School Musical"

Perhaps it's no surprise that one of TV's brainiest animated shows would repeatedly bring in one of the smartest people who ever lived. Physicist and author Stephen Hawking appeared as himself, perhaps obviously, thrice on Futurama, and is part of the four-timers club on The Simpsons.

Parker Posey

• Futurama: Season 2 “The Deep South”
• The Simpsons: Season 11 "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Marge"

For Futurama's mermaid-focused Season 2 episode, Parker Posey lent her voice to Umbriel, not to be confused with any other size-specific mermaids out there. Over in Springfield, Posey portrayed Otto's girlfriend Becky in a role that was initially pitched to Drew Barrymore.

Sarah Silverman

• Futurama: Season 2 “The Cryonic Woman,” “Bender’s Big Score,” Season 7 “Game of Tones”
• The Simpsons: Season 21 "Stealing First Base," Season 24 "Moonshine River," Season 26 "Clown in the Dumps," Season 28 "Treehouse of Horror XXVII"

Comedian Sarah Silverman joined the world of Futurama as the recast voice of Fry's not-so-wonderful girlfriend Michelle from the '90s, with three appearances to date. (Kath Soucie voiced her in the pilot.) She was also a romantic interest on The Simpsons for Bart in a pair of eps as Nikki McKenna, while also voicing herself and others in later seasons.

Jan Hooks

• Futurama: Season 3 “Bendless Love”
• The Simpsons: Season 9 "The Two Mrs. Nahasapeemapetilons," Season 10 "I'm With Cupid," Season 11 "Eight Misbehavin'," "Take My Wife, Sleaze," Season 12 "Bye Bye Nerdie," Season 14 "Large Marge"

Saturday Night Live vet Jan Hooks brought her comedic skills to Futurama as the criminal-loving fembot Angleyne, and while she may have wooed Bender, Hooks technically has had a larger impact on The Simpsons, where she played Apu's wife Manjula across a half-dozen appearances.

Lucy Liu

Lucy Liu was part of a Futurama cameo like few others, in that she voiced various bot-cloned versions of herself, with Fry dating one of them, as well as the "real" Lucy Liu's head in a jar. (Her second episode utilized excess dialogue she'd recorded the previous season.) Over on The Simpsons, she played the adoption agent tasked with deciding whether or not Selma is worthy of parenting a Chinese baby.

Bob Odenkirk

Bob Odenkirk tapped into both Saul Goodman and some of his Mr. Show characters to bring the ego-driven Chaz to Futurama as Leela's temporary romantic interest. And in an episode penned by his brother Bill Odenkirk, the Breaking Bad vet portrayed Fat Tony's lawyer (whose character went by that very moniker) for a Simpsons ep.

George Takei

One of the most seasoned guest stars of any Matt Groening series is Star Trek vet George Takei, who portrayed himself mostly in jar-head form for Futurama. While he did play himself for one Simpsons episode, he also voiced Happy Sumo waiter Akira, an unnamed Chinese restaurant waiter, and game show host Wink.

Mark Hamill

Having played one of cinema's most beloved heroes, Star Wars vet Mark Hamill took on voicing a somewhat equally important character for Futurama, at least to a certain segment of the population: holiday mascot Chanukah Zombie. For his single Simpsons ep, Hamill voiced himself at as sci-fi con and the bodyguard-training specialist Leavelle.

Penn & Teller

The most celebrated magical duo in history, Penn Jillette and his largely silent partner Teller appeared on Futurama in their entertainment hub of Las Vegas, or rather New Mars Vegas. (I guess it's up for debate whether Teller actually appeared, considering the state of his head.) On The Simpsons, Homer attempted to create a viral moment by interrupting one of their specials, and returned for a later episode centered on Lisa diving into the world of magic, with fellow illusionists David Copperfield and Ricky Jay also appearing.

Snoop Dogg

Rapper, actor and pop culture mainstay Snoop Dogg achieved his highest ranking yet within Futurama, with his head serving as a Chief Justice alongside the heads of Paula Abdul and Ruth Bader Ginsberg. He also played himself on The Simpsons as part of an all-star rap group Hate Squad alongside Common and Rza.

Patton Oswalt

Comedian Patton Oswalt is no stranger to self-deprecating humor, so perhaps it's fitting that his guest spot on Futurama was as Giant Unattractive Monster, who did not take kindly to Fry's insinuation that his mother's looks were to blame. He was the offspring of Portlandia vets Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein's characters' on The Simpsons, voicing their son T-Rex. He returned in a later episode to voice the slime-covered entitye that served as Bart Simpson's Guilt.

Buzz Aldrin

The second person to ever set foot on the moon, former astronaut Buzz Aldrin can also boast a guest spot as a science fair judge on Futurama, in which he delivered an unexpectedly funny joke for someone of such real-life stature. Aldrin also appeared, perhaps unsurprisingly, in the Simpsons episode in which Homer goes to space, and the family's patriarch is actually dubbed a "hero" by Aldrin.

Wanda Sykes

Comedian extraordinaire Wanda Sykes delivered the robotic goods as the soda-dispensing vending machine Bev, who has a love-hate relationship with Bender while also heping to get Fry hooked on Slurm Loco. Sykes' SImpsons spot had her portraying a nameless Springfield Elementary counselor who loses her job in the middle of dispensing advice, and then calls out Milhouse for being boring. Mic drop.

Patrick Stewart

For all his years portraying Jean Luc Picard across the Star Trek universe, Patrick Stewart opted for something slightly less sci-fi for his Futurama appearance as the master of a fox-hunting club that Bender joins, complete with fancy mustache. For The Simpsons, he also went old school as the Stonecutters leader Number One, and later appeared as a bald-but-virile power plant worker whose confidence inspires Homer. (An amusing story for an actor who was initially advised to wear a wig for his Next Generation audition.)

Robert Wagner

Two and a Half Men and NCIS recurrer Robert Wagner's fame is definitely still intact in the 3000s, at least per his guest spot on Futurama, where Calculon's Walk of Fame star is replaced by a second star for Wagner, who shares a few words as an appreciative head in a jar. His Simpsons appearance seemed tailor-made for Troy McClure, as he introduced himself as an "actor, smooth customer and women's health advocate" during an instructional video teaching aging women about menopause. (Barely.)

Adam West & Burt Ward

'60s Batman stars Adam West and Burt Ward paid tribute to their respective roles during a Futurama scene parodying the comic book show's wall-climing cameo sequences, for which West voiced an actual bat-man-thing. He also appeared on The Simpsons as a car show celeb, and later teamed up with Ward for an installment featuring a faux Batman episode with Krusty as the guest star.

Seth MacFarlane

Seth MacFarlane and Family Guy are often jokingly portrayed as rivals of Matt Groening and The Simpsons universe, but he's appeared twice on Futurama - once to lay his dulcet tones down for Vegas-esque theme, and once as the dream sequence voice of Fry's dog Seymour, whose martini in hand was a tip of the wet nose to FG's Brian. He also appeared on The Simpsons as a man Marge secretly befriended during a temporary marital rut.

Kathy Griffin

As a celeb who'd previously been "canceled" over controversial photos in 2017, Kathy Griffin was an understandable choice to guest star as one of several ship captains who were sidelined for their behavior, including the titular Zapp Brannigan. She also played something of a problematic character on The Simpsons as the bully Francine, who inspired Lisa to pinpoint the phereomon that causes bullies to antagonize nerds.

With more episodes of The Simpsons and Futurama still to come in the future, the possibility for more shared guest stars is a big one.

Howard Stern has been the "King of All Media" for decades. The legendary shock jock didn't make it to the top of the radio, TV, and movie mountain by himself, though. An army of sidekicks, staffers, and Wack Packers have contributed along the way. This is our list of some of those people you can't tell Howard Stern's full story without. 

Howard Stern

You can't have this list without the man himself. Howard Stern began in radio in the mid-1970s and by the mid-'80s was already one of the biggest DJs in New York. By the mid-'90s he was arguably the biggest personality in radio history, at least in the latter half of the 20th Century. 

When he left terrestrial radio for SiriusXM in 2005, he had become one of the biggest stars in the country, in any medium. He's starred in multiple TV shows, both as part of his radio show, and shows such as America's Got Talent, and has written multiple bestsellers, and had one giant hit movie with Private Parts. He truly is the king. 

Robin Quivers

Robin Quivers has been Howard Stern's sidekick/newsreader/comedic foil almost since the beginning, first joining his show in 1981 in Washington DC, before going with him to New York a few years later. She's been a mainstay on the program, and, along with just a couple of other people, one of the most important people related to the show. Her life, including her battle with cancer, is as much a part of the show as Stern's. 

Fred Norris

Fred Norris has been part of The Howard Stern Show through thick and thin. The sound man and effects wizard first teamed up with Stern briefly in 1979, before joining the staff full-time in 1981. He is the longest-tenured member of the team, and is one of the most beloved, especially by some members of the Wack Pack like Angry Alice. Hi Fred! 

Jackie Martling

Jackie "The Joke Man" Martling first appeared on The Howard Stern as a guest in 1983 when it was on WNBC. When Stern was fired from WNBC and moved the show to WXRK (K-Rock) in 1985, he brought Martling in as a writer, eventually elevating him to head writer, and he became part of the on-air cadre. Due to a contract dispute in 2001, Martling left the show but has returned many times as a guest in the satellite era. 

Artie Lange

When Jackie "The Joke Man" Martling left The Howard Stern Show in 2001, Howard Stern held a contest to "Win Jackie's Money" and fill the seat left vacant by Martling. The contest was essentially an open audition for a spot on the show, which was "won" by comedian Artie Lange. Lange quickly became a beloved member of the cast and there are dozens and dozens of the funniest moments on show courtesy of the New Jersey native. Sadly, addiction and other vices got the best of Lange over the years and he was let go from the show in 2010 after multiple incidents. 

Gary Dell'Abate

Gary Dell'Abate, or "Baba Booey" as he's derisively and affectionately known as, has been a producer for The Howard Stern Show since 1984. Dell'Abate, who is the most frequent object of scorn from the rest of the cast, has been a critical piece of the puzzle during his long run as the show's head producer. It could be argued that without his expertise in booking guests and producing segments, the show would have never become what it is today. 

Ronnie The Limo Driver

Ronnie Mund, who is known to fans as Ronnie the Limo Driver, was just that in the beginning, Stern's limo driver. He later became Stern's bodyguard, but he's most known for his bombastic and gruff personality that has made him a fan favorite. He is often mocked by the other members of the staff, and his tendency to fly off the handle at the smallest slight often makes for some of the funniest moments on the show. He's all about having a good time. 

Sal The Stockbroker

Sal Governale, a.k.a. Sal The Stockbroker, is living the dream of every hardcore Howard Stern fan. The former stockbroker was originally a regular fan and frequent caller into the show, usually to mock Gary Dell'Abate. Eventually, he joined the staff, first as a writer, in 2005 after "Stuttering" John Melendez left, then later as a producer. 

Stuttering John

"Stuttering" John Melendez was famous for his darting interviews on The Howard Stern Show and was involved in multiple altercations with celebrities after asking incredibly rude and awkward questions in press conferences and on red carpets. He also had multiple on-air fights with fellow staff members. He left the show in 2005 after 17 years on the team to join The Tonight Show with Jay Leno as the announcer. 

Richard Christie

When "Stuttering" John left the show in 2005, Stern held a contest to fill his role. The winner of the contest, Richard Christie, has been with the show ever since. He's by far the oddest (and one of the funniest) members of the staff, working as a writer and one of the two main people (along with Sal The Stockbroker) to make the prank calls that the show is famous for. 

Beth Ostrosky Stern

You cannot tell the history of The Howard Stern Show or of Stern himself, without including a lot about his personal life. Beth Ostrosky Stern is Stern's second wife and has been a mainstay in his stories on the show since they first started dating in 2000. She's also been a frequent guest. Before getting involved with Stern and his show, she was a model and actress, including having a part in one of Ben Stiller's best films, Flirting With Disaster.

Ralph Cirella

Ralph Cirella, who died in 2023, was a huge part of Howard Stern's life and a frequent contributor to the show. He served primarily as his fashion consultant and stylist, but as fans will point out, seemed to take a lot of Stern's style for himself as well. He was so close to Stern that the shock jock almost broke down when he announced his death in December of '23. 

George Takei

Star Trek legend George Takei has been a friend of the show for decades now, including working as the show's announcer off and on since it moved to SiriusXM. It's hard to believe it all started with a botched prank phone call years ago. Takei is also never afraid to fill everyone in on his personal life and his long-running feud with his Star Trek co-star William Shatner. 

Beetlejuice

Without the Wack Pack, Stern's menagerie of weirdos and kooks, you couldn't have The Howard Stern Show, and first and foremost among them is the legendary Beetlejuice, who has been touted as the greatest of them all by Stern and others. 

High Pitch Erik

One of the most senior members of the Wack Pack is the very odd High Pitch Erik. It's hard to describe Erik, except that he is constantly berated by Stern and the rest of the cast. You'd feel sorry for him, but he keeps coming back for more. 

Kevin Metheny

The role Paul Giamatti played in Howard Stern's hit movie, Private Parts, in 1997 was a composite of Stern's various bosses at radio stations over the years, but chief among them was Kevin Metheny, Matheny was Stern's boss at WNBC who was nicknamed "Pig Virus" by Stern on the air. Matheny died in 2014.

Howard Stern's Parents

Obviously, you can't tell the story of Stern and his radio show without his parents, Ben and Ray Stern. Not only did they raise the man who would become Howard Stern, they were mainstays on the show for years. His father Ben died in 2022 at age 99 and Ray has been a part of the show less since. 

Benjy Bronk

It's hard to pick out who gets picked on the most out of the staff, but writer and producer Benjy Bronk has a real claim to be made. Frequently the target of Stern's wrath, Bronk has managed to maintain a coveted spot as an in-studio writer for the show. 

Eric The Actor

The cantankerous Eric The Actor (Eric Lynch) was one of the most controversial Wack Packers until his death in 2014. He was loved by some and hated by many, but he was always good for a laugh. 

Billy West

In the late '80s and '90s, almost every impression on the show was done by voice magician Billy West. West was a staff member for years, doing impressions and writing for the show. He left in 1995 and has gone on to voice some of the most famous characters in animation, specifically those on Ren & Stimpy, and Futurama, and as many of the Warner Bros. cartoon characters, including Bugs Bunny. 

Riley Martin

Uh...listen, man...you can't tell the story of The Howard Stern Show without Wack Packer and supposed alien abductee Riley Martin. He even landed his own show on Stern's SiriusXM channel for a time. O-Qua Tangin Wann!

Don Imus

The only person to appear on this list who was not a member of the show is Don Imus, who was Stern's arch-enemy of sorts. A fellow radio personality with whom Stern feuded with often over the years, Imus was the star at WNBC when Stern arrived in the '80s and the two immediately took a disliking to each other. In a way, Imus was part of what drove Stern to become the best in the business.

Jeff The Drunk

One of the more controversial Wack Packers is definitely Jeff The Drunk. He is despised by many fans, yet he's been a part of the show for so long now that you can't not mention him on a list like this. 

Fred The Elephant Boy

Considered by some to be the OG Wack Packer, Fred The Elephant Boy was part of the show for decades until his death in early 2023. He was also kind of the most normal of the bunch, but far from normal, of course. 

Alison Berns Stern

Until their separation in 1999, Howard Stern often talked about his first wife, Alison Berns Stern. The two were college sweethearts and have three children together. Alison was played by Mary McCormack in Private Parts.

Sour Shoes

Michael DelCampo, or Sour Shoes, has been a frequent contributor to the show. Known for his hilarious prank phone calls and spot-on celebrity impressions, Sour Shoes is a fan favorite, despite being completely unpredictable and notoriously hard for the staff to control. 

Crackhead Bob

One of the most loved Wack Packers of all time was Crackhead Bob. Though sober for years, his past addiction wrecked his body, and due to a series of strokes, he had a severe speech impediment that made him almost impossible to understand. Still, the audience loved him. Bob died in 2016. 

Tom Chiusano

Like many of his bosses over the years, Tom Chiusano, Stern's boss at K-Rock, was frequently featured on the show. Also like many of his bosses, Chiusano tried in vain to reign Stern in. In the end, he wasn't really a bad boss and let The Howard Stern Show get away with a lot on the air. 

A. J. Benza

Gossip maven A. J. Benza was a regular contributor to the show in the '90s, but he makes this list because of one of the most notorious moments in the show's history, when he started a fistfight with Stuttering John on the air. Benza was sitting in for Jackie Martling during the "Win Jackie's Money" contest and lost out on the seat to Artie Lange, in part, some believe, because of the fight. 

Shuli Egar

Shuli Egar's main job on The Howard Stern Show was to keep tabs on the Wack Pack. It's something he did very well until he abruptly left the show in early 2021 for a more peaceful life. 

J. D. Harmeyer

J. D. Harmeyer has long been in charge of social media and putting together video clips for the show. He's also long been the butt of many jokes because of his awkward personality. One of the more innocent members of the staff, he's had to put up with a lot over the years. 

Scott The Engineer

Scott the Engineer (Scott Salem) was the main audio engineer on the show for an amazing 33 years before leaving in early 2020. He was often the target of attacks on the air, but clearly, he was very good at his job. 

Howard Stern has conquered radio, TV, and even movies. He also sparked a rumor in 2022 that he could find his way into the MCU, though nothing has been revealed officially. He didn't do it on his own, and these are just some of the people that have helped make him an American icon. 

The original The Twilight Zone has had one of the most enduring legacies in entertainment. Though it only ran for five seasons (156 episodes, some of which are among the best TV shows ever), its influence and reach are remarkable. Three further series have been created over the years, including Jordan Peele’s short-lived reboot, and one ill-fated movie. 

Its influence has also been felt in the huge number of stars appearing on the show early in their careers. Some were established actors who found great fame later, and some were just starting. Here is a quick list of actors who found huge fame after appearing on The Twilight Zone.

William Shatner

Star Trek legend William Shatner appeared in two episodes of The Twilight Zone before landing his gig as captain of the Enterprise. His first episode, "Nick of Time," came in Season 2, but his most remembered is "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet" in Season 5. Both are considered among the best episodes of the show. 

Charles Bronson

Future action movie legend Charles Bronson took the slow road to fame. Throughout the 1950s and early 1960s he, like so many actors, grabbed gigs wherever he could on film and TV. One included a spot on an episode in Season 3 called "Two." In the episode, Bronson plays one of the last two people on earth who finds love with the only other one. 

Carol Burnett

The Season 3 episode "Cavender Is Coming" is not a well-thought-of episode of the show, but it is notable for starring a true legend. Carol Burnett, in a very early role for her, plays a down-on-her-luck woman who is helped by an angel to get her out of her doldrums. While it does provide Burnett with an opportunity to show off her comedic chops, in the end, comedy doesn't really work in The Twilight Zone. 

Burt Reynolds

Burt Reynolds appeared on one episode of The Twilight Zone very early in his career, playing a satirized version of Marlon Brando in an episode in Season 4 called "The Bard." The episode focuses on William Shakespeare, who arrives in the present day to help write a TV show but is horrified by the Reynolds' character's acting style.  

Dennis Hopper

Watching the Season 4 episode "He's Alive" is a wild experience in the present day. There is no other episode in the series that is so prescient today. The episode stars Dennis Hopper as a Neo-Nazi in America who has a run-in with Hitler himself. It proves just how edgy the show was, especially for its day. 

Cloris Leachman

Season 3's "It's A Good Life" is one of the most enduring episodes of the whole series. It stars Cloris Leachman as the mother of a boy with the devastating power of conjuring whatever he wants who often uses it for ill. 

Donald Pleasence

Donald Pleasence was most famous in the mid '60s through '70s, most notably for his role in The Great Escape and for his oft-forgotten turn as James Bond's #1 enemy, Blofeld in You Only Live Twice. But, in the '70s and '80s, he was most famous, of course, for his role as Dr. Loomis in the Halloween franchise. Before those roles, he starred in the Season 3 episode "The Changing of the Guard."

Robert Redford

Robert Redford is one of the biggest movie stars of all time, but like many actors, he got his start in television. In addition to a lot of credits in the early '60s on other big shows, Redford starred in one episode of The Twilight Zone in 1962. The episode, "Nothing in the Dark," aired during Season 3. 

Sally Kellerman

In truly a "blink or you'll miss her" moment, Sally Kellerman appeared in the episode "Miniature" in The Twilight Zone's fourth season. In an uncredited role, the Back to School star plays an office worker who is seen just at the very beginning. Interestingly, her M*A*S*H co-star Robert Duvall also appears in the episode.  

Burgess Meredith

For a generation of movie fans, Burgess Meredith will always be Mick from Rocky, but the actor had an accomplished career outside of that series, including starring in four different episodes of The Twilight Zone. His first is in one of the most beloved episodes of the whole series, "Time Enough At Last" in the first season. Later he starred in "Mr. Dingle, the Strong" and "The Obsolete Man" in Season 2, and "Printer's Devil" in Season 4.

Don Rickles

Don Rickles is best known for his no-holds-barred insult comedy. A true legend of Hollywood. He also strung together quite the acting resume when he wasn't making fun of his peers. That career included one episode of The Twilight Zone in Season 2, "Mr. Dingle, the Strong," alongside Burgess Meredith. 

Ron Howard

It's hard to imagine there was ever a time that Ron Howard wasn't famous. He first found fame when he was just six years old on The Andy Griffin Show, but even before that, he appeared on a Season 1 episode of The Twilight Zone called "Walking Distance." 

Robert Duvall

Before making one of the most impressive movie debuts ever as Boo Radley in 1962's To Kill A Mockingbird, Robert Duvall appeared on a handful of TV shows. One, of course, was The Twilight Zone, in an episode called "Minature," in Season 4. 

Ann Jillian had a long career in Hollywood before she retired in 2000 to devote herself to raising her son. Her career started in the early '60s when she was a kid. In Season 4 of The Twilight Zone, she starred as an orphan who refused to speak, or so thought the aunt and uncle raising her. It's a classic, creepy episode called simply "Mute."

George Takei

Star Trek legend George Takei is best known as the senior helmsman of the Enterprise, but years before that, he starred in the Season 5 episode "The Encounter." In it, Takei's character and his neighbor end up in a very unfortunate, but seemingly inevitable, situation that only the show can provide. 

John Astin

It was a different show where John Astin was "creepy and kooky," when he starred as Gomez Addams in the original Addams' Family. A couple of years before that though, he starred in a Season 2 episode called "A Hundred Yards Over the Rim." The show co-starred the great Montgomery Clift, as well. 

Buddy Ebsen

Buddy Ebsen had a very interesting career. He was famously cast as the Tin Man in The Wizard Of Oz but had to leave the production due to a serious medical reaction to the silver paint for the costume that landed him in the hospital (the production also used asbestos for snow). He then left for World War II and when he returned to Hollywood after, didn't find a ton of success. He starred in a Season 2 episode of The Twilight Zone called "The Prime Mover" in 1961, just before landing the role he would become world famous for, Jed Clampett on The Beverly Hillbillies. 

Elizabeth Montgomery

The first episode of Season 3, "Two," stars Charles Bronson as one of the two, and Elizabeth Montgomery as the other. Her star had just begun to rise as she was nominated for an Emmy around the same time for a one-episode turn in The Untouchables, but it was in 1964 when she landed the role of the one and only Samantha on Bewitched that made her part of television history.  

Lee Marvin

Tough guy Lee Marvin was already starting to make a name for himself when he appeared in two episodes ("The Grave" in Season 2 and "Steel" in Season 5). Marvin was still a few years away from the superstardom he found in the late '60s with movies like The Dirty Dozen, Cat Ballou, and Point Blank. 

Leonard Nimoy

Before Star Trek, Leonard Nimoy appeared in an episode of The Twilight Zone as a soldier on a Pacific island in World War II. The episode, "A Quality of Mercy," aired in December of 1961, in the show's third season. Nimoy would continue to guest spot on TV shows for another five years before landing his iconic role as Spock. 

Dean Stockwell

When Dean Stockwell died in 2021, he had been in show business for more than 70 years. It's an astonishing feat, and as you'd expect, he had a whole slew of acting roles, including the Season 3 episode of The Twilight Zone titled "A Quality of Mercy," alongside Leonard Nimoy. 

Jack Klugman

Future Odd Couple star Jack Klugman was as close as an actor could be to being a regular on The Twilight Zone. In total, he appeared in four episodes of the show. First, he starred in "A Passage for Trumpet" in Season 1, followed by "A Game of Pool" in Season 2, alongside the great Jonathan Winters. In Season 4, Klugman appeared in "Death Ship," and finally, in the Season 5 episode, "In Praise of Pip."

Julie Newmar

Before finding her greatest fame as Catwoman in the first two seasons of the '60s Batman series, Julie Newmar starred in the Season 4 episode, "Of Late I Think of Cliffordville." In the episode, Newmar doesn't have cat ears, but she does have devil horns, as she plays Satan trying to get the protagonist played by Albert Salmi (who played Danny's father in Caddyshack) to make a deal with the devil. 

James Coburn

By 1963, when James Coburn starred in the Season 5 episode "The Old Man In The Cave," the actor was already well on his way to fame. Earlier that year he had starred in the legendary World War II movie The Great Escape, and by the next year, he was one of Hollywood's most famous stars. 

Ted Knight

Judge Smails in Caddyshack and Ted Baxter in The Mary Tyler Moore Show will forever be the roles that the great Ted Knight will be remembered for. It took him quite a while to find big fame in Hollywood and along the way he had a lot of voice-over work and small TV roles, including an uncredited role in "The Lonely" from Season 1. At first, he's hard to spot, but once he delivers one of his few lines, viewers will immediately know it's Knight from his distinct voice. 

Peter Falk

When you think of Peter Falk you probably think of one of two roles, that of the titular detective in Colombo or as the grandfather in The Princess Bride. Those are only two roles in a storied career, however. Before ever landing his role as TV's most famous bumbling detective (all due respect to Monk), Falk starred in an episode in Season 3 called "The Mirror" where he weirdly played a Fidel Castro-like dictator in an unnamed Central American country. 

Richard Kiel

"To Serve Man" in Season 3 of The Twilight Zone is one of the most famous episodes of the series. Starring as the unspeaking, imposing alien is the one and only Richard Kiel. It's a perfect role for the actor who would become most famous for playing one of the all-time great henchmen in the James Bond movies, Jaws. 

Telly Savalas

"Who loves you, baby?" It's one of the most iconic catchphrases in TV history, made famous by Telly Savalas in Kojak. A decade before he starred as the super cool TV detective, he played a gruff stepfather who gets into a fight with his stepdaughter's baby doll in the Season 5 episode "Living Doll." 

Jonathan Winters

Jonathan Winters was most renowned for his comedy work. In addition to many comedy albums, his appearances in movies like It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World and on TV shows like Mork & Mindy made him very famous. On The Twilight Zone, he played a more serious role of a legendary pool shark called down from heaven to prove another player's mettle in "A Game Of Pool" from Season 3. 

Martin Landau

When Martin Landau won an Oscar in 1994 for his role in Ed Wood, he'd been in the business for decades. His big breakout came as part of the cast of the original Mission: Impossible TV show in the late '60s. Before that, he starred in two episodes of The Twilight Zone, "Mr. Denton on Doomsday" from Season 1 and "The Jeopardy Room" from Season 5. 

Roddy McDowall

Roddy McDowall is most famous for playing Cornelius in The Planet of the Apes series, appearing in three of the original movies. He also starred in "People Are Alike All Over" from the first season of The Twilight Zone.

Sydney Pollack

Sydney Pollack is one of the best directors in Hollywood history, known for films like Tootsie, Out of Africa, and Michael Clayton. It makes perfect sense that in an early acting role, he played a director in the Season 2 episode, "The Trouble with Templeton."

This is a list that could go on and on, especially when you add in already established stars like Buster Keaton who also appeared in episodes, but for now, we'll leave it here with these big names who starred in The Twilight Zone early in their career. 

It’s official, Avatar: The Last Airbender is making its way to the world of live-action. This classic animated series was a staple for many kids who grew up with Nickelodeon, and now it’s headed to Netflix with a new cast playing the iconic fantastical characters. 

The first season of the live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender is slated on the 2024 TV schedule for a February 22 release, and the first look at The Last Airbender’s core characters and its official trailer got us really hyped for this show. So, we figured it's about time we break down the expansive cast that Netflix has confirmed for its upcoming series. 

Gordon Cormier 

The master of all four elements, and the Avatar tasked with defeating the Fire Lord will be played by 14-year-old Gordon Cormier. Aang is the main character of Avatar: The Last Airbender, and the story follows his journey to perfect every type of bending after being on ice for 100 years. So, like our titular character, Cormier is setting off on a big journey as the kid who has been chosen to “save the world.” 

Before being cast as everyone’s favorite Airbender, Cormier appeared in the holiday movies A Christmas Miracle and Christmas Under the Stars. He also voiced a character in Team Zenko Go and appeared in the mini-series The Stand.  

Kiawentiio 

Playing Katara, one of the best female benders in the Avatar universe, is Kiawentiio. Katara and Sokka have been whisked away on a worldwide journey with Aang, and while the Avatar learns to master all the elements, she becomes a master water bender. 

Before taking on this legendary role, Kiawentiio appeared in the Netflix series Anne with an E as well as the short N’xaxaitkw and the film Beans. 

Ian Ousley 

Sokka, is the boomerang-loving boy and non-bender among the core characters, will be played by Ian Ousley. While he might not be able to bend like his sister, Sokka is a great strategist, incredibly funny and overall a big ball of charisma. 

This marks the first principal role for Ousley. Before being cast as Katara’s big brother, he had small roles on shows like Young Sheldon, 13 Reasons Why and Physical. 

Dallas Liu 

Dallas Liu will be playing Zuko, our beloved prince of the Fire Nation, and a man trying to catch the Avatar. We already know Liu and Cormier have an A+ rivalry brewing, making them the perfect pair for this iconic duo, and I can’t wait to see how this young actor plays out the complex and brilliant story of Zuko. 

Before signing on to play the scarred prince, Liu appeared in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ted Rings as well as the comedy PEN15. 

Elizabeth Yu 

Zuko’s sinister older sister Azula will be played by Elizabeth Yu. The royal fire bender is a hot-headed character, who acts as her father’s right-hand woman. She is out to take down the Avatar and her brother at times, making her one of the scarier characters in the series.

Before playing the master fire bender Yu starred in two other films: Somewhere in Queens and May December. The Last Airbender will be her first TV series. 

Paul Sun-Hyung Lee 

Keeping things in the royal fire family, Zuko’s beloved Uncle Iroh will be played by Paul Sun-Hyung Lee. Iroh acts as a mentor and father figure to the young fire bender, and he is also his nephew’s moral compass. 

After appearing in 272 episodes of Train 48, Lee popped up in various projects before landing the role of Appa on Kim’s Convenience. Then, before making his way to the world of benders, he was in a galaxy far, far away playing Captain Carson Teva in The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett. 

Daniel Dae Kim 

The primary antagonist of Avatar: The Last Airbender is Fire Lord Ozai, and he’ll be played by Daniel Dae Kim. The evil leader of the Fire Nation has been part of a generation of leaders who have corrupted their nation, and now Aang and the gang are out to stop him.

The actor behind Zuko and Azula’s evil father has a long career in the entertainment industry, but seeing him play a true villain will be new. Before the Netflix series, Dae Kim starred in Lost, Hawaii Five-0 and the series of Divergent movies, among many other projects. 

Ken Leung

Admiral Zhao is the primary antagonist of the first season of the animated Avatar: The Last Airbender, and he'll be played by Ken Leung. As a servant of the Fire Lord, he is out to capture the Avatar, however, he is also really rude and violent toward Zuko.

Leung is best known for his recent role in the HBO Max series Industry and for his time as Miles on Lost. 

C.S. Lee 

Avatar Roku was the master of the elements before Aang took over the mantel. He acts as a guiding light to the young Avatar, and provides context to the Fire Nation’s complex past. 

C.S. Lee is best known for his time on Dexter, where he played Vince, and has also played recurring characters on shows like East New York and Chuck. 

Maria Zhang 

Suki is the leader of the Kyoshi Warriors, an absolute legend and Sokka’s love interest. She’ll be played by Maria Zhang, and this will be her first major project. Before this, the actress starred in shorts like All I Ever Wanted and Dear Mom.  

Yvonne Chapman 

The creator of Kyoshi Island, founder of the Kyoshi Warriors, and the Avatar who came before Roku and Aang is Avatar Kyoshi. She will be played by Yvonne Chapman who is best known for her role in the CW series Kung Fu.

Amber Midthunder 

Along with playing a powerful woman in Prey (and its potential sequel?) Amber Midthunder has joined the Airbender cast as Princess Yue. 

Yue is the princess of the Northern Water Tribe, and plays a pivotal role in the final portion of the first season of the animated series. 

Along with Prey, Midthunder is best known for her work in Legion and Roswell, New Mexico among other projects like Hell or High Water and The Wheel. 

A Martinez  

Pakku is a master water bender from the Northern Water Tribe who helps Aang and Katara, and plays a pivotal role in both of them mastering this type of bending. He will be played by A Martinez, who played Jacob Nighthorse in Longmire and appeared in the live-action adaptation of Cowboy Bebop.

Arden Cho 

June is a bounty hunter who goes around the Fire Nation and Earth Kingdom on her shirshu, which is a creature who can sniff out just about anything. She pops up throughout the show to execute various missions to find people, however, her allegiance is always unknown. 

Arden Cho will play this incredibly cool character. She’s best known for starring as the badass Kira on Teen Wolf, and she recently starred in the Netflix series Partner Track.  

Utkarsh Ambudkar 

Bumi is the high-energy King of Omashu who is a childhood friend of Aang. The chaotic and hilarious Earth bender will be played by Utkarsh Ambudkar. 

Ambudkar is known for his work on Ghosts and Free Guy. He also had a movie on the 2023 movie schedule, World’s Best. On top of acting, he’s also a fantastic freestyle rapper.  

Danny Pudi 

Aang and the gang meet the Mechanist and his son Teo when they visit the Northern Air Temple. He’s an engineer and inventor, and this fun character will be played by Danny Pudi.

You’ll likely recognize Pudi for his role as Abed in Community. Along with the NBC cult classic, he is in Mythic Quest and voices Huey in Duck Tales. 

Lucian-River Chauhan 

The Mechanist’s son Teo is a high-flying, high-energy kiddo who becomes friends with Aang, Katara and Sokka when they visit the Northern Air Temple. 

The youngster will be played by Lucian-River Chauhan, who has appeared in shows like Heartland and Gabby Duran & The Unsittables. 

James Sie 

One of the most fun recurring characters/Easter eggs in The Last Airbender is the Cabbage Merchant, the poor man who just wants to sell his cabbages in peace. What makes this an even better Easter egg is the live-action Cabbage Merchant will be played by James Sie, the voice actor who originated the character in the animated series. 

Momona Tamada 

Ty Lee is one of Azula’s friends and a master gymnast. Playing the bubbly character is Momona Tamada, who was previously in The Baby-Sitters Club. 

Thalia Tran 

Mai, is the exact opposite of Ty Lee, and the much more serious friend of Azula. She also plays a big role in Zuko’s life, but no spoilers here. Thalia Tran will be playing the monotone warrior, and she’s best known for voicing a character in Raya and the Last Dragon.  

George Takei 

A true legend has been hired to play the face-stealing spirit Koh. When Aang travels to the spirit realm he’ll be met by George Takei’s voice and one haunting spirit. Of course, Takei is best known for his work in Star Trek as Sulu and he’s had a successful voice acting career.  

Randall Duk Kim 

Also joining the spirit world is Randall Duk Kim who will voice Wan Shi Tong, the owl who runs the Spirit Library. This role will be added to quite the list of voice acting work for Duk Kim as he played Oogway in the Kung Fu Panda movies. On top of that, he also played the Keymaker in The Matrix Reloaded. 

As you can see there’s a lot to look forward to from this massive ensemble, and if you’ve seen the animated series, you know that this isn’t even a fraction of all the characters we have to look forward to as the show moves forward. While it will be a while before we see this cast in their roles, you can go back and watch the original Avatar: The Last Airbender with a Netflix subscription, and you’ll be able to find its live-action companion there too super soon.  

Star Trek is a series that has, since its beginning, celebrated diversity. "Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations" is a cornerstone of Vulcan ideology and one the franchise has always embraced. In honor of Asian American and Pacific Islanders Month, we decided to revisit the notable Asian characters and actors who contribute to the franchise's diversity and served as an inspiration to others who came after them. 

From George Takei's Hikaru Sulu to Michelle Yeoh's Phillipa Georgiou, Asians have held notable roles in Star Trek throughout its run. Here are a few of the standouts over the years and a little on the actors who have made them so special. 

Hikaru Sulu (George Takei)

Hikaru Sulu was born in San Francisco, California, and rose to prominence in Starfleet during his time on the USS Enterprise with Captain James Kirk. He later would go on to Captain the Excelsior and would lead such a successful career that Starfleet named a ship after him decades later. 

George Takei, the actor behind Sulu, was a trailblazer for Asian actors in science fiction and someone who has been open about his own experiences and why diversity is so important. Takei grew up in a Japanese internment camp, and when he's not feuding with former co-star William Shatner, he's spending these days promoting his musical, Allegiance, which is centered on a Japanese-American family uprooted from their home and relocated following the attacks on Pearl Harbor. 

Phillipa Georgiou (Michelle Yeoh)

Phillipa Georgiou was the Malaysian-born captain of the Shenzhou, but perished after engaging in hand-to-hand combat with a Klingon. Her former officer, Michael Burnham, later came into contact with another Georgiou from the Mirror Universe, who was then sucked into the Prime timeline. Though she once lived as a fierce Terran Empress, Georgiou eventually acclimated to the identity of her Prime universe doppelgänger and became a force for good in Starfleet. 

Actress Michelle Yeoh is someone who needs no introduction these days. Yeoh chased her exit on Star Trek: Discovery with the film Everything Everywhere All At Once, which earned her the honor of the first Asian actress to win a Best Actress Oscar. Now, Yeoh will return as Georgiou for a Star Trek: Section 31 movie that those with a Parmount+ subscription will enjoy later this year. 

Harry Kim (Garrett Wang)

Ensign Harry Kim was vital to the successful return of the USS Voyager in Star Trek: Voyager, though he never received the same level of acclaim his crewmates did. Frankly, Voyager did Harry Kim dirty, but those who watch the series will see plenty of great episodes with the ensign performing in even the toughest of circumstances and succeeding. 

Actor Garrett Wang was born in California and has advocated for justice for Harry Kim over the years. Apparently, he almost got an opportunity to reprise the role in Star Trek: Picard Season 3 (via Slashfilm) but things fell through. Hopefully, Wang will get a chance to reprise the role in a future Trek series and finally get the justice for Harry Kim that he should've gotten on Voyager. 

Hoshi Sato (Linda Park)

Japanese-born linguist Hoshi Sato became one of the first humans to explore space on the Enterprise alongside Captain Jonathan Archer on Star Trek: Enterprise. Among her various achievements as part of that mission, Sato ultimately developed the linguacode universal linguistics matrix that would help future generations of explorers communicate with more ease than in her early years. 

Actress Linda Park was born in South Korea but was raised in California. She seemed to enjoy her time on Enterprise overall, but did mention in an interview with StarTrek.com that she felt most of Hoshi's stories were isolated from the rest of the crew. Park wished that Hoshi would've had more inter-character interaction with the other actors, but did enjoy the scenes that she did have with other characters such as John Billingsley's Dr. Phlox. 

Keiko O'Brien (Rosalind Chao)

Miles O'Brien is the unsung hero of Star Trek: The Next Generation and Deep Space Nine, and behind every strong man is an even stronger woman. Keiko O'Brien served as a botanist on the Enterprise D, but when she realized she didn't need to be one on Deep Space Nine, she transitioned to a primary school teacher. Keiko was admittedly not thrilled about the change of scenery but remained a supportive partner and even helped save her husband's skin a few times. 

Actress Rosalind Chao was born in Anaheim, California, and almost portrayed a completely different character in the Star Trek universe. According to an unearthed casting memo from TNG, Chao was the original favorite for the role of Tasha Yar (via TrekToday.com). That role ultimately went to actress Denise Crosby, and one could argue Chao got the better role in the end, given Yar's short run before being killed off. 

Samanthan Rutherford (Eugene Cordero)

Ensign Samanthan "Sam" Rutherford serves on the USS Cerritos on Star Trek: Lower Decks. Sam is a character that seems to excel in whatever role he's given in Starfleet, but never lets it go to his head. That's a great trait to have on the Cerritos, as the crew often gets into some hairy situations that needs people like him to keep the ship functional. 

Detroit's own Eugene Cordero serves as the voice of Sam Rutherford, who is also of Filipino descent. Cordero is also known for his live-action roles in shows like Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, The Good Place, and Silicon Valley. 

Nurse Alyssa Ogawa (Patti Yasutake)

Nurse Alyssa Ogawa was often seen around Star Trek: The Next Generation. On the Enterprise D, she was one of the head nurses, and later a senior sickbay staff member. In the event that Crusher was away, Ogawa would make reports to senior staff in her absence.

Actress Patti Yasutake might be someone currently in the limelight for her role in the Beef cast for hit Netflix series. Of course, she has had a wonderful career in Hollywood with many roles in television and film. 

La'an Noonien Singh (Christina Chong)

La'an Noonien Singh is the chief security officer on Star Trek: Strange New Worlds and a character with a direct link to one of the franchise's greatest villains. La'an is a distant descendant of Khan Noonien Singh, who was one of the main players in the Eugenics wars. La'an is very different from her ancestor, however, and has spent her time in Starfleet doing good for others around the universe. 

La'an is from space, but British actress Christina Chong is of Chinese descent on her father's side. Chong has made a huge impact with Star Trek fans in her limited time in the franchise, and viewers will know her from her roles in 24: Live Another Day and Doctor Who.  

Those looking to watch a whole lot of Star Trek will need a Paramount+ subscription to enjoy a wide variety of it. With that said, Pluto TV also has some Star Trek content available to its subscribers, provided they are fine with watching a rotating playlist. 

A little over a month ago, George Takei appeared on The Graham Norton Show and made a shocking declaration. Takei explained that he would no longer publicly discuss his feud with former Star Trek co-star William Shatner and seemingly put a cap on it by calling him a "cantankerous old man." After a period of silence, Takei has broken his vow by speaking ill of Shatner and his much-publicized space flight. 

George Takei spoke to Mirror recently, and weighed in about William Shatner's flight with Jeff Bezos to share his thoughts on the achievement. Takei picked apart Shatner's space flight and contested that he might actually have more experience in one specific element of the experience than the former Star Trek star did: 

George Takei didn't miss an opportunity to take a shot at William Shatner, and this isn't the first time he's done so about the aforementioned space flight. Takei noted in 2021 that Shatner was an "unfit" candidate for space flight. For his part at the time, Shatner fired back at Takei's criticism as he's done in years past, so I wouldn't be surprised if he responds to this latest comment in the coming weeks. 

After making the disparaging remark, George Takei was asked what the source was behind his decades-long feud with William Shatner. Takei denied he had any animosity but shared his views on Shatner without directly referring to his former Star Trek co-star by name: 

George Takei would not be the first person to speak ill of their time with William Shatner. Actor Wil Wheaton mentioned an unpleasant encounter he had with the actor while working on The Next Generation, which led to a response from Shatner, who believed he'd worked the situation out with Wheaton previously. 

William Shatner has previously fired back at George Takei and others and suggested they did it mainly for publicity. Shatner has sometimes caused a stir with his bold takes about the state of the Star Trek franchise, including the idea that the modern shows would have creator Gene Roddenberry turning in his grave. Some actors associated with those shows didn't take kindly to that comment and responded to the actor. 

Whether or not William Shatner will respond to Takei's latest comments remains to be seen, as well as whether any others in the Star Trek franchise have thoughts to publicly share. One thing that is a safe bet is that we shouldn't expect Takei and Shatner to get their own upcoming Trek series together, though that would undoubtedly be very entertaining if it happened. 

Anyone interested can watch William Shatner and George Takei act together on Star Trek if they have a Paramount+ subscription. I'm sure this won't be the last word in their ongoing public feud, but maybe we'll be surprised by the end of this year. 

One of the biggest celebrity feuds, which just happens to be in the Star Trek sphere, might finally be coming to an end. William Shatner and George Takei have traded barbs for decades and, now, it would appear that Takei has signaled that enough is enough. The Sulu actor seemingly squashed the feud during a recent interview by vowing to never speak of his former co-star again. 

George Takei has been touring the U.K. in promotion of his musical, Allegiance, which is based on his experience growing up in a Japanese internment camp. While doing press, he stopped by The Graham Norton Show to discuss his work. And for the second time in recent weeks, Takei addressed a question about William Shatner’s recent comments about him and stated that he's through with responding to such queries. When Norton asked, Takei made  bold declaration (via Daily Mail): 

Needless to say, it sounds like George Takei is tired of discussing his old co-star during his latest tour (or in any instance) and having their feud overshadow the promotion he’s trying to do for Allegiance. If Takei is true to his word, then this is the last time we’ll hear the actor mentioning Shatner, his body or how his allege treatment of him on the set of Star Trek.

This may sound weird, but one can't help but feel a bit sad over the 85-year-old actor's sentiments With the passing of Uhura actress Nichelle Nichols earlier this year, there aren’t many members of the original Star Trek series still with us. It would’ve been nice to see two of the franchise's greatest icons bury the hatchet and reminisce about the finer parts of acting in the Star Trek world while regaling fans with stories.

If there is anything positive to take from this update though, it might be that at least one of the stars will no longer openly disparage the other while speaking with fans or the media. Of course, there’s a part of me that wonders if the feud is truly over. It's George Takei's statement about William Shatner “cantankerous” that makes me wonder. Based on what's happened in the past, neither star seems to hold back when insulted by the other.

On that token, I wouldn’t be surprised if William Shatner has something to say about George Takei’s (seemingly final) critique, but he could surprise everyone and not respond. After all, Shatner raised eyebrows when he wished his former co-star a happy birthday back in April, so he may see this news and decide to move on as well. One can only wait and see and hope for the best with both men as they continue to live their lives.

If you want to see George Takei and William Shatner side by side, chances you’ll only be able to do so if you have a Paramount+ subscription to binge the original Star Trek.

George Takei is firing back weeks after William Shatner claimed that Takei has used his name for publicity purposes over the years. Based on the back-and-forths that the two Star Trek alums have had in the past, few probably expected Takei to let the comments go, and sure enough, the Sulu actor didn't hold back when addressing them.

The veteran star spoke to international news outlets ahead of the London run of the musical Allegiance, which is based on his experience growing up in an internment camp. While George Takei spoke to Mirror, William Shatner’s recent comments were brought up. Takei went on to vehemently shoot down the assumption that he evokes his former co-star's name in order to bring attention to himself:

Most would probably agree that the actor's response here is incredibly clear. At this point, it shouldn’t be too hard for Star Trek fans to believe that It doesn’t take much for either actor to speak ill of the other, regardless of the attention they’ll get for doing so. Takei’s beef with Shatner has been well documented and has persisted for quite some time.

Those weren't the only comments that George Takei shared, either. The 85-year-old actor once again brought up past Star Trek drama, slamming William Shatner while also throwing some praise towards Leonard Nimoy’s performance as Spock in the process. Here's what he said exactly:

For anyone out of the loop, this kind of animosity is hardly new. When William Shatner made headlines for going to space, George Takei cracked a joke about his health. And when Takei alleged that Shatner was jealous about how well Leonard Nimoy was received by fans, Shatner quipped that Takei wasn’t even on the set often enough to know something like that. It goes without saying that this feud runs deep and, at this point, it doesn't look like it'll be resolved anytime soon.

At this stage, It also doesn’t seem likely that other former Trek actors will stop bringing up William Shatner’s past behavior, as George Takei isn’t the only one who's called him out. (Wil Wheaton was particularly vocal about one run-in.) Some of the comments that Shatner has made in recent years have also seemingly rubbed some people the wrong way. For instance, when he once said that Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry would be turning in his grave over the franchise's current state, he upset some Trek actors who are tied the recent wave shows. Of course, the franchise will continue to change and evolve as time goes on, but I'm honestly not sure we can say the same for Shatner and Takei's relationship.

Off-screen drama aside though, there are a ton of upcoming Star Trek shows on the docket. Anyone looking to see the final season of Picard or Season 5 of Discovery better ensure their Paramount+ subscription is firmly secured. tied the recent wave shows. Of course, the franchise will continue to change and evolve as time goes on, but I'm honestly not sure we can say the same for Shatner and Takei's relationship.

Star Trek’s William Shatner is an icon, and plenty of fans believe the franchise wouldn’t be what it is today without him leading the ship as its star in the early days. But at the same time, he’s gained a lot of criticism over the years for how he's reportedly behaved as Trek’s star. George Takei and others have told stories of misdeeds that allegedly took place back during production the original series and the years that followed. It appears Shatner has had enough, however, as he fired back at the critics who continue to bring up the past. 

William Shatner was ready to talk feuds when he was interviewed by The Times Of London. During the chat, Shatner was asked about his ongoing conflicts with George Takei and other past disputes with Star Trek actors in general. Shatner seemingly called out Takei for continuing to drum up past issues and claimed the disputes weren't actually legitimate: 

The Star Trek actor claimed that the attacks on his character were more about using his name for publicity. To that point, many have evoked William Shatner's name while doing press over the years. For instance, many fans recently learned about Wil Wheaton’s purported unpleasant brush with Shatner while the Wesley Crusher actor was promoting a book. At the same time though, these appear to be the types of stories that Trek fans seem interested in. 

Of course, few have arguably spoken out about William Shatner as frequently or as loudly as George Takei, who famously played Hikaru Sulu. Takei and Shatner have traded barbs for decades and, just when it seems like one might extend an olive branch (like a birthday wish), one will make a critical comment about the other’s latest project or achievement. (Takei had a lot to say about Shatner's space flight.) Shatner took aim at Takei specifically and noted that the actor never really gave him a break:  

William Shatner is seemingly choosing to turn the other cheek, though the fact he’s more or less calling out George Takei in this latest quote honestly makes it feel as though their feud is far from over. It should be said that the bonds between these OG Trek alums become all the more precious as members of the cast continue to pass away. The death of Nichelle Nichols earlier this year was a stark reminder of that. Who knows what the future holds for Shatner and Takei yet if precedent is any indication, there could be more shots fired sometime in the future.

Stream Star Trek using a Paramount+ subscription. With everything happening with upcoming Trek shows, now is the perfect time to subscribe.

The beloved animated series Avatar: The Last Airbender has been in the process of being adapted as a live-action TV show for a long time now, but things have seemingly been rolling along smoothly, and Netflix has unveiled the last of its big casting announcements. With its core cast already confirmed, and quite a few rumored co-stars having made the rounds, Netflix confirmed the rest of the ensemble, which will include some exciting faces, like Star Trek icon George Takei.

We already know a bit about the show, and it had been announced that the core cast of the remake was set in place. The principal cast includes Gordon Cormier as the Avatar Aang, Kiawentiio as Katara, Ian Ousley as Sokka, Dallas Liu as Zuko, Elizabeth Yu as Azula, Paul Sun-Hyung Lee as Iroh, and Daniel Dae Kim as Fire Lord Ozai. They had also confirmed various recurring characters including Maria Zhang as Suki and Yvonne Chapman as Avatar Kyoshi. While all this is super exciting, Netflix has confirmed quite a few big names coming in to play beloved side characters like King Bumi, the Cabbage Merchant, and more.

George Takei, Randall Duk Kim And More Joining The Cast Of Avatar: The Last Airbender

The press release from Netflix confirms George Takei as Koh. His character lives in the spirit world and is an ancient spirit that steals the faces of others. In the original show, Koh shows up toward the end of Book One when Aang visits the spirit world while trying to help save the water tribe. I’m positive hearing Takei’s iconic voice will be haunting as Koh, and I can’t wait to see how he portrays the character toward the end of Season 1. 

Along with Takei, Randall Duk Kim will also be joining the spirit world as Wan Shi Tong. The actor known for his roles in Kung Fu Panda and John Wick will be playing the Spirit of Knowledge, who appears as a giant owl that runs the Spirit Library.

Ruy Iskander will join the cast as Lt. Jee. Iskander is known for his work in Yes Day and Benders. Lt. Jee is a fire bender and senior officer helping Prince Zuko find the Avatar.

Last of the new names is Lucian-River Chauhan, who plays Teo, the energetic and hang-gliding expert son of the Mechanist (who I’ll talk more about later). Chauhan is very young, and this is his first massive project, however, he did star with Riz Ahmed in Encounter.

Arden Cho, Utkarsh Ambudkar And Danny Pudi Among Many Confirmed As Part Of The Avatar: The Last Airbender Cast

While these four actors mentioned above are new casting announcements. Netflix also confirmed some exciting names that had been rumored. All the characters mentioned below show up toward the middle of Season 1 when Aang, Katara and Sokka make their way to the Earth Kingdom. 

Arden Cho, who recently starred Partner Track on Netflix and is known for her role on Teen Wolf, will be playing June, the ruthless bounty hunter. She tracks her prey with Nyla, her pet shirshu, who can sniff out anything anywhere. Cho has been a big advocate for breaking stereotypes and advocating for more representation on television, which she did on Partner Track. Avatar: The Last Airbender has also made an active effort to do so as well by casting and showcasing “Asian and Indigenous characters,” as showrunner Albert Kim said in the press release.

Another exciting addition to the cast is Utkarsh Ambudkar as King Bumi. The actor is best known for his role in the CBS comedy Ghosts, which returns to the fall TV schedule this week. King Bumi is a silly, silly guy who rules over Omashu. He was one of Aang’s friends before the young Avatar got stuck in ice, and the two reunite in Season 1. Personally, I can’t wait to see how Ambudkar plays this quirky character in the remake.

Adding to the list of funny guys joining the cast, Danny Pudi, who recently starred in Mythic Quest and was part of the iconic Community cast, plays The Mechanist. Pudi’s character is a talented engineer and the father of Teo, played by Chauhan. The gang meets the father-son duo on a trip to the Northern Air Temple where Aang learns all about the technological advancements and destruction that happened over the 100 years he was frozen.

Along with these three bigger names, the announcement confirmed the full cast for Season 1 of Avatar: The Last Airbender. Some of the other exciting additions include James Sie as the Cabbage Merchant and Amber Midthunder as Princess Yue. The list also confirmed Azula’s right-hand women: Momona Tamada as Ty Lee and Thalia Tran as Mai. These two characters play minor roles in Season 1 but will play huge roles in Seasons 2 and 3.

Avatar: The Last Airbender is a show near and dear to many viewers, including myself. It has stayed relevant for a long time, and after a not-so-great live-action movie, hopefully, this show can bring the iconic characters and stories back to life in a new and refreshing way. Season 1 is in post-production, but there is no release date yet, but this cast announcement is a huge step in the right direction. While we wait for the live-action show to be released, the original animated version of Avatar: The Last Airbender can be watched with a Netflix subscription. 

The entertainment world sadly lost a few titans this past weekend, one of which was Star Trek legend Nichelle Nichols, who died at the age of 89. The veteran actress famously played the role of Lt. Nyoto Uhura in the original series, its theatrical follows and more (all of which is all steamable with a Paramount+ subscription). Since Nichols’ passing was made known to the public, fans across the web have been paying tribute to the trailblazing star. And among those who are honoring her memory are fellow Trek alums like George Takei and Willliam Shatner. 

George Takei, who famously played the role of USS Enterprise helmsman Hikaru Sulu through the OG show and the films, shared some sentimental thoughts about Nichelle Nichols. In an Instagram post, he warmly memorialized his late co-star and in a separate one, shared a sweet photo of the two of them:

Captain Kirk himself, William Shatner, responded via Twitter. Shatner and his former co-star made television history, as their Star Trek characters were a part of one of TV’s most notable interacial kisses (from the 1968 episode “Plato’s Stephchildren”). Shatner spoke fondly of the late actress and praised her for playing such an impactful role: 

It goes without saying that Nichelle Nichols opened the door for many others in the industry and the science fiction genre, particularly women and people of color. For instance, Discovery’s Sonequa Martin-Green has spoken of Nichols and the inspirational words she imparted to her. Another person that Nichols blazed a trail for is Voyager alum Kate Mulgrew, who returned for Prodigy. The actress and author took to social media to share a loving tribute to the actress: 

Though the late star made her final appearance as Uhura in the ‘90s, the character lived on and, in 2009, a younger version of the Enterprise crew member (played by Zoe Saldaña) appeared in the theatrical reboot Star Trek. That film was directed by J.J. Abrams, who shared some sentiments of his own after learning of the Heroes alum’s passing: 

Another sweet tribute came from Adam Nimoy, the son of legendary Spock actor Leonard Nimoy, who died at 83 in 2015. Adam marked the Trek actress’ passing by sharing a sweet behind-the-scenes photo that shows her alongside his dad. You can check it out for yourself down below: 

The outpouring of love for Nichelle Nichols has been nothing short of incredible. And it’s appropriate given just how important she was to the Star Trek franchise, the entertainment world and society as a whole. She was a skilled performer but also a staunch advocate for change. As such, Nichols was pleased with the state of the Trek franchise, which has arguably been at the forefront of diversity and inclusion in the sci-fi space. While it’s sad that she’s no longer with us, it’s wonderful that Nichols received so much love while she was here and continues to get it.

We here at CinemaBlend extend our deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of Nichelle Nichols during this difficult time.

Moviegoers love underdog stories because it is easier to relate to an otherwise extraordinary situation when it is told from the perspective of an average person much like them. The animated film, Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank is, very literally, an underdog tale about a meek canine who wants to be a samurai and seeks training from a wise, old feline in a town entirely populated by cats.

Originally titled Blazing Samurai, this new movie from The Lion King director Rob Minkoff looks like it could be the most entertaining animated feature inspired by classic Japanese action films and featuring anthropomorphic animals since Kung Fu Panda. Check out the stars behind these charming, funny characters in our following guide to see who plays whom in the Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank voice cast - starting with the unlikely main hero.

Michael Cera (Hank)

Voicing Hank - the titular Beagle and aspiring samurai - is Michael Cera, whose last time playing a “dog” in an animated film was in 2016’s Sausage Party as a frankfurter named Barry. For a while, the Canadian actor’s main gig was playing non-literal underdogs - such as on Arrested Development as George-Michael Bluth, in 2007’s one-two-punch of hit coming-of-age comedies Juno and Superbad, and in Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (also in the title role) to name a few. 

Cera, who also voiced Robin in 2017’s The LEGO Batman Movie, has also played characters that defy this reputation - such as a creepy, young sadist in 2013’s Magic Magic, Player X in Molly’s Game, and an extremely crude version of himself in This is the End. More recently, he acted alongside creator and star Amy Schumer on Hulu’s Life & Beth and has joined Greta Gerwig’s Barbie movie cast in an undisclosed role.

Samuel L. Jackson (Jimbo)

As Hank’s mentor, a cat samurai named Jimbo, we have Samuel L. Jackson, who has played the mentor to several heroes (such as Nick Fury in the MCU or Mace Windu in the Star Wars universe). He has also played many straight-up heroes (like Frozone in The Incredibles and its sequel), some villains (like Elijah Price in Unbreakable and its 2019 sequel), some guys in between (like in The Hitman's Bodyguard and its sequel) and even another animated samurai (in the 2007 miniseries, Afro Samurai, and its sequel).

The Academy Award nominee’s lengthy filmography also includes countless cinematic classics like Coming to America, Goodfellas, Die Hard with a Vengeance, or Jurassic Park, and, also, more recent favorites like Black Snake Moan, Snakes on a Plane, or Kong: Skull Island. Also, you could name almost any one of Quentin Tarantino’s movies or any one of Spike Lee’s movies and there is a good chance that Jackson is in it.

Ricky Gervais (Ika Chu)

As Ika Chu - a greedy feline who wants to destroy the film’s central village setting - we have Ricky Gervais, who previously voiced a pigeon in Valiant, an invasive dolphin on Family Guy, a hedgehog on Bojack Horseman, himself on a few notable occasions (such as on Scooby-Doo and Guess Who?), and another cat in The Willoughbys cast for Netflix. He has also starred in a few live-action family-friendly films like 2014’s Muppets: Most Wanted and the Night of the Museum movies (which actually have an animated follow-up in the works).

Of course, the British comedian and host of some memorable Golden Globes ceremonies is even better known for less-family-friendly movies like For Your Consideration, The Invention of Lying (which he also co-wrote and co-directed), or Ghost Town. Yet, Gervais is even more famous for the TV shows he has created and starred in, like the original UK version of The Office, HBO’s Extras, or, most recently, the Netflix-original dramedy, After Life.

George Takei (Ohga)

Playing Ika Chu’s chief guard, Ohga, is George Takei, who is nothing short of a legend in the world of acting. His first screen credit was actually a Godzilla movie (1955’s Godzilla Raids Again), which led to roles in other films like The Green Berets and, of course, his best known role as Sulu in the original Star Trek cast in the 1960s and in many subsequent Star Trek movies, too. 

The LGBTQ+ activist has several notable recent TV roles, such as on AMC's horror anthology The Terror, and also makes many appearances as himself, such as on The Big Bang Theory. Takei has a large number of voice acting credits to his name, from First Ancestor in 1998’s Mulan, Hosato in 2016’s Kubo and the Two Strings, and Shinji Yokohama on Hulu’s animated Marvel series, Hit-Monkey.

Kylie Kuoika (Emiko)

Playing Emiko - an adorable, young cat with her own heroic aspirations - is Kylie Kuoika, a Hawaiian-born actor who is not only making her voice acting debut, but also her theatrically released feature film debut with Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank. Her official feature-length movie debut was the Disney+ exclusive Better Nate Than Ever earlier in 2022.

The young Broadway performer's first real screen acting debut was in the 2021 short horror movie, Harom. In 2022, she also starred in a more grounded and dramatic short film called Removable.

Michelle Yeoh (Yuki)

Emiko’s mother, Yuki, is voiced by Michelle Yeoh, whose last animated kung-fu movie was the 2011 sequel to the aforementioned Kung Fu Panda. She first tore up the screen in live-action alongside Jackie Chan in 1992’s Supercop before teaming up with Pierce Brosnan’s James Bond in 1997’s Tomorrow Never Dies and defying gravity in Ang Lee’s Oscar-winning Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon in 2000 - which are only some of Yeoh's best movies. 

The Malaysian-born actor is almost more popular than ever these days, having appeared in two Marvel movies (Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 and in the Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings cast), a few hit rom-coms (the Crazy Rich Asians cast and Last Christmas), and leading the highly acclaimed, indescribably unique crowd-pleaser, Everything Everywhere All At Once, in 2022. Yeoh also has a recurring role on Star Trek: Discovery and her most recent animated film before Paws of Fury is Minions: The Rise of Gru.

Gabriel Iglesias (Chuck)

As a fluffy cat name Chuck, we have the self-proclaimed “fluffy” stand-up star Gabriel Iglesias, who has many, many other notable voice acting credits under his belt. He played both Ned and Zed in Pixar’s Planes, Pepe Rodriguez in The Book of Life, Jimmy in both of The Nut Job movies, an afterlife clerk in Coco, Cuatro in Ferdinand, and Speedy Gonzales in Space Jam: A New Legacy - which, seriously, barely scratches the surface of that particular list.

You may have seen the Latino comedian in live-action near the end of All That’s original run on Nickelodeon, playing Tobias in the Magic Mike cast, and in A Haunted House 2 with Marlon Wayans. Iglesias also had a major role on Cristela Alonso’s self-titled sitcom before landing his own self-titled sitcom on Netflix with Mr. Iglesias.

Aasif Mandvi (Ichiro)

As another feline villager named Ichiro, we have Aasif Mandvi, who actually made his film debut opposite co-star Samuel L. Jackson with a brief appearance as a cab driver in Die Hard with a Vengeance and reunited with him in 2006 in the crime thriller Freedomland. He was also in Ghost Town with Ricky Gervais, when his best known movie role at the time might have been Mr. Aziz in Spider-Man 2. 

The former Daily Show correspondent would later land considerably larger parts in movies like The Proposal, M. Night Shyamalan’s The Last Airbender as Commander Zhao, The Internship with Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson, and Million Dollar Arm with Jon Hamm. Mandvi’s most notable TV roles include Rafiq Massoud in HBO’s short-lived satire, The Brink, Uncle Monty on Netflix’s A Series of Unfortunate Events, and Ben Shakir in Paramount+’s Evil cast, most recently.

Djimon Hounsou (Sumo)

Voicing the intimidatingly large cat aptly named Sumo is Djimon Hounsou - who is, like co-star Samuel L. Jackson, an MCU star (he appeared in two Marvel movies and lent his voice to the What If…? cast as Korath). However, he also has a few DC movies under his belt - namely 2005’s Constantine and DCEU movies Aquaman and Shazam!

The former model received his first Academy Award nomination for Steven Spielberg’s Amistad before going on to star in more classics like the Best Picture Oscar winner, Gladiator, and later earning his second nod in 2007 for Blood Diamond. In addition to joining other big franchises like the Fast and Furious movies and 2021's A Quiet Place sequel, the King’s Man cast member has also previously leant his voce to How to Train Your Dragon 2 and an animated miniseries adaptation of Black Panther from 2010 as T’Challa. 

Cathy Shim (Little Mama)

As the Grand Dame of the town being fought over, Kakamucho, Little Mama, we have Cathy Shim, who made her uncredited feature film debut alongside co-star Michelle Yeoh in 2005’s Memoirs of a Geisha. By then, she had already made some of her first appearances with the Reno 911! cast as various characters - such as Miss Junior, whom she would reprise in the Emmy-nominated, feature-length Paramount+ exclusive, Reno 911!: The Hunt for QAnon, in 2021.

She also had a small role in 2007’s Balls of Fury (which has absolutely no relation to this new animated film), was in the 2009 horror-comedy, The Revenant (which has absolutely nothing to do with the 2015 Leonardo DiCaprio film), and also had a few small roles in comedies like 2012’s The Watch and Hell Baby from 2013. Shim also had a recurring spot on L.A.’s Finest and was in the 2019 romantic drama, The Sun is Also a Star. 

Mel Brooks (Shogun)

Last, but certainly no least, we have Mel Brooks as The Shogun - the latest voice acting role of the 96-year-old comedy legend. He previously played Bigweld in 2005’s Blue Sky movie, Robots, Albert Einstein in 2014’s Mr. Peabody & Sherman, Vlad in the Hotel Transylvania movies, and Melephant Brooks in Toy Story 4. 

Of course, Brooks is just as famous for his acting as he is for writing, producing, and directing - such as his 1967 directorial debut, The Producers, which earned him his sole Oscar and was later adapted into a Tony-winning stage musical. Other classics of his include B-movie parody, Young Frankenstein, Star Wars parody, Spaceballs, medieval adventure parody, Robin Hood: Men in Tights, and western parody, Blazing Saddles.

Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank is actually loosely inspired by Blazing Saddles, so it must be quite an honor for the creators to have gotten the man behind the comedy classic to star in the film. Then again, it would be an honor to work with every member of this talented voice cast.

The science-fiction world has its fair share of feuds between notable names, though few I think are as legendary as the one between William Shatner and George Takei. The two actors from Star Trek: The Original Series have often feuded throughout their careers, and there’s been a sense they may never reconcile. However, Shatner has now publicly tweeted a birthday message to Takei. 

A little under a month after William Shatner celebrated his own birthday, he decided to play nice and wish George Takei a happy 85th birthday. Check out what Shatner shared on Twitter (or maybe an assistant did this on his behalf) below, and wonder, along with many Star Trek fans, if this marks a reconciliation between the two and the start of a beautiful friendship. 

The tweet at least hints the two aren’t hanging out together for some birthday celebration (considering there’s no picture and he’s posting the message on Twitter), though I doubt anyone would see William Shatner and George Takei together unless they were watching Star Trek: The Original Series or one of the follow-up movies with their Paramount+ subscription. To see William Shatner wish his former co-star a happy birthday now is strange, especially since it wasn’t that long ago Takei took a jab at Shatner's fitness following the latter’s space journey. 

For anyone wondering if this is an olive branch being extended by William Shatner for peace, that’s up for debate. In fact, I dug up another instance in which Shatner sent out a birthday tweet for George Takei in 2020, so this has happened before.

Months after that prior message, William Shatner called George Takei jealous after responding to a claim Takei made about Shatner’s alleged feud with Leonard Nimoy. So while there are the occasional niceties shared by both men over the years, there’s also a lot of drama. For anyone hoping this is the start of the two putting their long feud to rest, I wouldn’t get optimistic. Takei did post about his birthday, but as of this writing, he didn’t mention Shatner. 

George Takei also isn’t the only Star Trek person who allegedly had issues with William Shatner over the years. Shatner recently expressed frustration after learning about Wil Wheaton including a past encounter where Shatner was rude to the young actor in his new book. It’s also speculated that Leonard Nimoy and Shatner did have their differences later in life, though CinemaBlend learned from the Nimoy family in 2021 that Shatner was a big supporter in maintaining Nimoy’s legacy. At the end of the day, no person is perfect and people can change. It’s also true that some relationships can be complex, and that definitely seems to be the case when talking about George Takei and William Shatner. 

Star Trek is available to stream on Paramount+. Those who are fans of the franchise should absolutely consider subscribing, especially with all the new Star Trek shows arriving in 2022 and beyond. 

Star Trek’s William Shatner recently went to space and in the process, became the oldest person to ever make the journey. Many around the world celebrated the achievement, though fellow Trek alumni George Takei raised eyebrows with a questionable remark about his co-star's recent venture. Now, Shatner has clapped back with a statement of his own.

George Takei spoke about his former co-star at an event and essentially stated that the actor made a great test subject for the effects of space travel on the human body. While these sentiments were relatively tame, he then took a shot at William Shatner’s body and referred to him as an “unfit” specimen, from a physical standpoint. Shatner responded to the quote on his Twitter, asking fans not to retaliate while throwing a little shade of his own:

Much like the original comment, the Captain Kirk actor's statement has niceties that ultimately get a little shady throughout the back half. It's yet to be seen how these sentiments will be taken by George Takei, who has spoken at length over the years about his former colleague's alleged behavior towards him on the set of Star Trek. 

The two Star Trek actors have been at odds for decades and don’t appear to get along well. The public feud didn’t start until after their work on the show ended, specifically when George Takei began discussing alleged things William Shatner did on set. Shatner, in turn, accused Takei of trying to deliberately injure him during their infamous sword-fighting scene in “The Naked Time.” 

The former Sulu actor hasn’t shared a response to his fellow Trek alum, so perhaps both sides have spoken their piece. Fans might hope as much, as many would likely prefer to see these two on great terms, especially during the twilight of their careers. It's unfortunate that not everyone involved with this franchise can have the relationship Captain Kirk and Spock had.

If there is some silver lining to the situation, it’s that William Shatner and George Takei can take shots at each other and move on from the situation as though nothing happened. Neither one’s seems to have lingered on the situation. Hopefully, things don’t escalate any further and that the two will simply let things rest.

At present, you can catch all Star Trek productions on Paramount+. For more happening in the franchise, get the latest update on what’s happening with Strange New Worlds.

William Shatner’s recent trip to space inspired and impressed many worldwide, especially Star Trek fans. While many franchise fans were quick to congratulate, tweet, and marvel at the 90-year-old actor’s achievement, others couldn’t help but snark at the situation. Namely, his former colleague George Takei took some time to acknowledge the achievement, albeit in a slightly shady way. 

George Takei spoke to audiences at his new play, called Thoughts of a Colored Man, and talked to Page Six about William Shatner’s space flight with Blue Origin. Takei shared his opinion of Shatner’s flight, and never one to mince words, he broke down how he felt about it.

The tone can certainly be read as jokey, though given that it’s coming from George Takei, it’s hard not to see a bit of shade in the statement. Takei made a valid point about the importance of seeing how space travel impacts an older body, but there were more diplomatic ways to share that opinion. Calling a person “unfit,” even at age 90, isn’t generally considered kind, so one could certainly interpret this as mean-spirited. 

Of course, it’s also noteworthy that there’s been a feud between William Shatner and George Takei for years now. The two used to co-star on Star Trek and, as far back as the 1960s, have had tense moments along the way. Both men share negative stories about the other, and the disdain they have for each other seemingly rises each year. So, while Takei could’ve been joking in his latest comments about Shatner’s space flight, it’s more on brand that he said it to take a shot at his former co-star. 

William Shatner hasn’t responded to George Takei’s comments, as he’s probably still preoccupied with the experience of his once-in-a-lifetime space flight. After all, it’s not often someone becomes the oldest person to travel in space. It has to be especially surreal for Shatner, who is best known for portraying a fictional space captain. Takei’s comments might sting Shatner a bit, though given the unique experience the actor just went through, it’s also possible he’ll just ignore it completely. That seems to be the best play here because what can anyone say to bring down a guy who’s been in space? 

Star Trek fans can binge all of William Shatner’s greatest moments as Captain Kirk on Paramount+. For more on the franchise, check out the new Ferengi design in Star Trek: Discovery, which certainly raises some interesting questions.

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Star Wars has plenty of exciting projects arriving over the next few years, but one of the most intriguing will actually be with us before the end of the year. I’m talking about Star Wars: Visions, an anthology series that imagines the galaxy far, far away through an anime lens. Although we’d only gotten a peek at the project up to this point, we now have both a new look at the show and an official list for the A+ cast, which includes Star Trek legend George Takei, Stranger Things’ David Harbour, Shazam! 2’s Lucy Liu and much more.

Star Wars: Visions will be made up of nine short films, all crafted by different anime studios. The confirmed titles for shorts are: “The Duel,” “Tatooine Rhapsody,” “The Twins,” “The Village Bride,” “The Ninth Jedi,” “T0-B1,” The Elder,” “Lop & Ocho” and “Akakiri.” George Takei will be lending his talents to “Akakiri,” in which he’ll voice a character known as Senshuu. Meanwhile, David Harbour will voice Tajin in “The Elder,” while Lucy Liu joins “The Duel” as Bandit Leader.

As mentioned, these three stars are far from the only top-tier talent to be joining Star Wars: Visions. Other notable cast members include Henry Golding, Bobby Moynihan, Jamie Chung, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Allsion Brie, Neil Patrick Harris and Kyle Chandler. The show will also see Star Wars vet Temuera Morrison reprise his iconic role as bounty hunter Boba Fett for “Tatooine Rhapsody.”

Many of the show’s cast members are newcomers to the franchise, but you may be surprised to know that some of these big names have had roles in the franchise before. SNL alum Bobby Moynihan previously voiced Orka on Star Wars: Resistance. George Takei also has a previous credit, as he served as the voice of General Lok Durd on Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Takei may have a preference for Star Trek, but he seems to be very comfortable in George Lucas’ galactic playground.

And fans will be pleased to know that a number of the short films won’t be “Elseworlds” (I know that’s a DC Comics term) stories. Instead, several will actually take place during significant periods in the Star Wars timeline. “The Elder,” for example, will take place at some point before the events of The Phantom Menace. And interestingly enough, “The Ninth Jedi” is set after The Rise of Skywalker and will focus on what became of the Jedi after that film. Those films and the others in the Skywalker Saga are available to stream on Disney+, which you can sign up for using this link.

Star Wars has been trying to branch out in different ways over the past few years and, to me, Visions is a natural extension of that strategy. Sure, the show is poised to bring in new characters and show off different corners of the galaxy, but it’ll also allow a diverse array of creators to put their own spin on things. It’s honestly poetic that Star Wars would be getting a Japanese project when you consider that George Lucas’ vision for the franchise was originally inspired by legendary filmmaker Akira Kurosawa.

The footage we’ve seen so far is nothing short of incredible and, hopefully, Visions should provide a fresh take on the Star Wars mythology. And if the series proves to be a hit, maybe there’s a chance we’ll get another set of stories at some point in the future.

You can see all of Star Wars: Visions' shorts when they simultaneously hit Disney+ on September 22.

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Asian American movies like The Joy Luck Club have been one of the few to showcase predominantly Asian casts, but things are starting to change. Thanks in large part to the box office success of Crazy Rich Asians, Hollywood has turned their eyes to Asian American stories. Movies like Minari are also showing Asian American stories can be artful and award worthy. Check out the list below for more films that showcase the Asian American experience and culture. Or, in the case of our first and earliest entry, its importance in Asian American cinema...

Enter the Dragon (1973)

While this movie doesn’t focus on the Asian American experience per se, there can be no denying Enter The Dragon’s significance in Asian American cinema. Directed by Robert Clouse for Warner Bros. (and co-produced with Hong Kong's Concord Production, Inc), the set up is simple: Lee, played by Bruce Lee, is tasked by British intelligence to infiltrate the martial arts competition run by the notorious drug lord, Han, and take him down. Of course this film is often regarded as one of the greatest martial arts action films of all time, but what it represents is much more than that. Enter the Dragon and Bruce Lee helped break down western stereotypes of Asians, especially Asian men, who were commonly viewed as emasculated.

This was done not just with Bruce Lee’s physique, but also through his insane amount of charisma and philosophy. Lee’s work and influence was also responsible for the Kung Fu-mania that swept America in the 1970’s all the way to today, with the CW’s reboot of Kung Fu. Lee’s style of martial arts also launched several action stars, including his close friend Chuck Norris, of Walker, Texas Ranger fame. Sadly, Lee passed away before the film was released, but Enter The Dragon’s influence on pop culture is still being felt today.

Rent Enter the Dragon on Amazon.

Joy Luck Club (1993)

Only the second major studio film to feature a predominantly Asian cast (go back nearly 30 years to the problematic Flower Drum Song for the first), Wayne Wang directed this multi-generational movie based on the book of the same name. Featuring early performances from The Mandalorian actress Ming-na Wen, as well as Rosalind Chao and Lisa Lu, The Joy Luck Club is about four older Chinese immigrants who regularly see each other for mahjong and storytelling. Each has an adult daughter and deals with the struggles of leaving China and their attempts to bond and connect with their first generation daughters.

This '90s film holds a special place for a certain group of first generation Chinese-American immigrants, as it authentically depicts both the struggles their parents went through, as well as the struggle to be raised Eastern at home, but live in a Western society. This film was also one of the first to depict Chinese Americans not as caricatures, but as legitimate, realized people, warts and all.

Rent The Joy Luck Club on Amazon.

Better Luck Tomorrow (2002)

Directed by Justin Lin, Better Luck Tomorrow tells the story of a group of Asian American teens living in an Orange County Suburb. Most of the teens are overachieving and Ivy League-bound, however, to let off the steam from all the pressures they dabble in petty crimes, including selling answers to tests, drugs, and return fraud. Eventually as they fall deeper, the petty crime turns to violent crime.

An indie darling, Better Luck Tomorrow was Justin Lin’s breakout hit. This is one of John Cho’s first leading roles, and also featured Sung Kang, who will next be seen reprising his role as Han in the Covid-delayed F9 on June 25, 2021. Better Luck Tomorrow is a great example of showcasing an Asian American cast, and some of the stresses placed on these teens to get into top schools and put themselves on the path to success and the pitfalls that come with the pressure. This one is definitely worth a watch, especially if you want to see Justin Lin’s more intimate work outside of The Fast and The Furious franchise.

Stream Better Luck Tomorrow Amazon Prime Video

Rent Better Luck Tomorrow Amazon.

To Be Takei (2014)

2014’s To Be Takei, directed by Jennifer M. Kroot, didn’t pick up any prestigious awards, but it is an interesting peek into George Takei’s life. While he’ll forever be known as Hikaru Sulu in Star Trek, Takei’s life has been full of ups and downs. Notably and painfully, Takei and his family were put into an internment camp by the US Government during World War II, a dark chapter in American history that doesn’t receive enough attention. Since his Star Trek days, Takei has had a steady career, mostly in voice work, but was recently seen in AMC’s anthology drama, The Terror. He’s also amassed a large following on social media thanks in part to both his funny, and politically charged tweets. Since coming out as gay in 2005, George Takei has also been a prominent LGBTQ activist along with his partner, Brad Altman. If you’re looking for a fun and interesting peek into one of America’s most prominent Japanese-American actors, make sure to watch this one.

Rent To Be Takei on Amazon.

Columbus (2017)

Columbus is the directorial debut of celebrated video essayist, Konogada. The tiny Southern Indiana town of Columbus is oddly enough, a sort of mecca for architecture. John Cho stars as Jin, a Korean American who has been living in Seoul as an English-to-Korean translator. His father, a renowned scholar, falls ill and is hospitalized in Columbus, which brings Jin back to America. Columbus illustrates the push and pull of Asian ideas about family and being duty-bound. Jin doesn’t have a particularly good relationship with his father, but parts of him are battling with the guilt of growing up in a culture that expects you to take care of your family and the fact that he isn’t particularly interested. This probably isn’t a foreign concept to non-Asians, but Columbus really nails how deep that guilt can feel for some Asian Americans.

Rent Columbus on Amazon.

Crazy Rich Asians (2018)

Crazy Rich Asians is likely responsible for the most recent wave of Asian American-fronted cinema in Hollywood. This Jon Chu film is based on the eponymous book series. Rachel Chu, played by Fresh Off The Boat’s Constance Wu, learns that her hunky and charming boyfriend is really the heir to one of wealthiest families in Singapore. This film also features Michelle Yeoh, and featured star-turns for Awkwafina and Henry Golding, who will next be seen in the G.I. Joe spinoff, Snake Eyes. After bringing her on a trip to meet his family, Rachel finds that even though she is among her own “people," she is actually culture shocked to see how this group of wealthy Asians live.

There’s a lot to love about Crazy Rich Asians. This film strips away any images of servile, sexless Asians and proudly (and loudly) puts all of their beauty and power on full display. Using Rachel as our POV, the film also highlights the struggles some Asian Americans face when their identity isn’t firmly planted in either the Asian or the American part of themselves. In America, Rachel Chu is about as Asian as it gets, but once she gets to Singapore it becomes clear that being Asian is more than just getting good grades and going to good schools. This movie also crushed the box office becoming the 6th-highest grossing romcom, proving that Asian-American led movies can be big business.

Rent Crazy Rich Asians on Amazon.

The Farewell (2019)

The tagline for The Farewell is “Based on an actual lie”. Indeed director Lulu Wang channeled her own life story for this film, in which Chinese-American New Yorker, Billi, played by Awkwafina, learns that her grandmother in China that she is very close to has terminal cancer. More than that, her parents tell her that her Nai Nai (Chinese for grandmother) doesn’t know, and they will not be telling her, instead faking a wedding as an excuse to get everyone together to see her one last time. The Farewell really challenges the idea of Eastern and Western philosophies around death, and puts it on full display. To Billi, this lie they are telling is about as awful as it gets. For her Chinese family, to tell her would be the easy way out, to keep this secret is their duty and responsibility to carry this burden for Nai Nai (played by Zhao Shu-Zhen).

Billi’s parents also have to deal with the scrutiny from the rest of the family having moved to America many years ago. While the Western way of life is all about chasing your dreams, the Eastern way is more rooted in family and society. This movie uses the quirky wedding set up to move the plot forward, but The Farewell does a great job looking at the Asian American experience of balancing your heritage and trying to figure out your own path forward.

Stream The Farewell on Amazon Prime.

Rent The Farewell on Amazon

Minari (2020)

Minari has been an awards season darling, for good reason. This semi-autobiographical immigrant drama from Lee Isaac Chung stars The Walking Dead alum, Steven Yeun, as Jacob, a South Korean immigrant who has recently bought a plot of land in Arkansas in hopes of becoming a farmsteader. This tender and quiet drama captures the immigrant experience powerfully, showcasing the tension between Jacob, who has gone all-in on the American Dream, and his wife Monica, played by South Korean actress Yeri Han. Jacob is determined to make this dream work, and reluctant to go back to his life in California as a chicken sexer (look it up, it’s SFW!).

Monica sees things a little differently, struggling to assimilate into this new small town life. Best Supporting Actress frontrunner, Youn Yuh-jung, is also a scene stealer as Monica’s mother who comes from Korea to help with the children. This adds another layer, as she brings a bit of the old life Jacob is trying to leave behind. In particular, their son David longs for an “American” grandmother who smells nice and bakes cookies, rather than his very Korean grandmother. The film doesn’t answer any big questions about the success, but it leaves you hopeful for the future.

Rent Minari on VOD on Amazon.

These are just a few of the many great works out there to capture Asian American stories. Netflix has also been putting out Asian American-led films including the romcom, Always Be My Maybe, and the popular film series, To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before. Contract negotiations have stalled the sequel to Crazy Rich Asians, but perhaps the biggest test is yet to come when Marvel Studios releases Shang-Chi and The Ten Rings, which is due in September 2021.

We just lost a legend in Christopher Plummer. He was Sound of Music’s Captain Von Trapp, Up’s villainous explorer and Best Supporting Actor winner for Beginners, along with being a husband, father, friend and collaborator to those who knew him. Following news breaking of his passing on Friday, an outpouring of tributes were penned in memory of the late actor, including from his Maria, i.e. Julie Andrews, and recent co-star Knives Out’s Chris Evans.

His most famous co-star is undoubtedly the 85-year-old Julie Andrews, who shared the screen with Christopher Plummer for the timeless Sound of Music film back in 1965. The actors remained friends for the past 65 years, and following his death, Andrews released this statement via ABC News:

When the pair were interviewed back in 2015 by Vanity Fair, their dynamic was described as something of a “well-worn patter of an old married couple” as Julie Andrews also referred to the actor as “honeybun” and they looked back on 50 years of friendship. Although it's a somber day for the Mary Poppins actress, she has a breadth of memories to look back on with Christopher Plummer, and chiefly remembered their laughs and good times together.

Christopher Plummer is survived by his wife Elaine Taylor, and his one daughter, Amanda Plummer, who he had in 1957 with his first wife, Tammy Grimes. Along with his Sound of Music co-star, Captain America’s Chris Evans took to Twitter to share these words about the late talent:

What a sweet memory! Christopher Plummer had a short-lived, but key role in the whodunnit Knives Out, which became an Oscar nominee for Best Original Screenplay. In the 2019 movie, Plummer played the fallen patriarch to Evans’ Ransom. Knives Out’s writer/director Rian Johnson also shared this tribute:

Christopher Plummer was also an incredible character actor who never shied away from playing a great villain. Back in 1991, he played a Klingon adversary in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country to the original cast. Sulu actor George Takei said the following on Twitter about his former costar’s passing:

John Cusack also shared his condolences, describing his impressions of the Oscar winner, who he worked with on 2005’s Must Love Dogs. In his words:

Pixar Animation also collaborated with Christopher Plummer on one of the studio’s most celebrated films, Up. Pixar’s Twitter account shared a sketch of his character, Charles F. Muntz, to remember him by:

Amazon Prime Video also paid tribute to Christopher Plummer’s career with an apt quote from Knives Out that the actor uttered before his character died in the murder mystery:

Christopher Plummer will be greatly missed, and here at CinemaBlend, we offer our deepest condolences to the late actor’s family, friends and fans. Before we say so long and farewell, let’s take a moment to remember the Captain and Maria’s Sound of Music dance:

It hasn't been an easy year in Hollywood as far as losing iconic actors, but Christopher Plummer will always live through his movies such as The Sound of Music.

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While Star Trek helped launch one of the biggest fandoms (and television / movie franchises) in the world when it premiered in 1966, it also put diversity front and center and helped viewers dream of a world where our differences made us stronger and that fact was universally recognized (OK, at least on Earth) and everyone truly got along. Unfortunately, there have been rumors of a major feud between series stars William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy for decades, and Shatner has just called out co-star George Takei over his claims about that supposed discord.

If you're thinking that word of any such rivalry would have settled with Leonard Nimoy's passing in 2015 at the age of 83, think again. George Takei was recently interviewed on the podcast David Tennant Does a Podcast With..., and was, of course, asked about his time working on the Star Trek series and the movies the cast filmed. When the topic of the rumored rift between Nimoy and William Shatner came up, Takei said:

This has been the main through line whenever people (including, previously, George Takei) talk about how William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy didn't like each other when filming Star Trek. The story pretty much always goes that Shatner was playing the captain, and was, basically, the lead of the show, and was less than pleased when it became clear that a lot of people really dug what Nimoy was doing as Spock. Spock's popularity annoyed him, Shatner took it out on Nimoy, and a grand science fiction fight was born...allegedly.

Here's the problem, though. There have also been public tensions between Shatner and Takei for decades, and Shatner is not in the mood to hear the former Enterprise helmsman diss him or his friendship with Nimoy. So, Shatner took to Twitter after news got out about what Takei said on the podcast, with this rebuttal:

Ohhhhh, myyyyyy. Alright, as you can see, Shatner made a specific effort to poke holes in Takei's main argument. According to him, Takei doesn't even have anything to back up his claim that Shatner was jealous of Nimoy's popularity, because the cast never saw fan letters, so it wasn't readily apparent how many people wanted to reach out to each actor. On top of that, Shatner noted that Takei wasn't even on set that much, so even if the cast had seen fan correspondence every now and then, he likely wouldn't have been privy to it, at least, certainly, not any but his own.

For his part, William Shatner has admitted that there were tensions between himself and Nimoy during the early days of the show. In 2016 he told The Hollywood Reporter that those disagreements were both of their faults and that he doesn't remember there being any "fireworks" because of it. He also came clean about Nimoy not talking to him right before the time of his death, but says he doesn't know for sure why that happened, seeing as how they had a long friendship.

This is one of those situations where we're never going to really know what happened back in the days of Star Trek, because we weren't there and everyone has their own view of a situation, anyway. Let's just be thankful that Leonard Nimoy, George Takei, and William Shatner were able to do such good work on the legendary show that they helped to kick the franchise off right.

You can revisit all of Star Trek: The Original Series on Netflix, Hulu, or CBS All Access. For more on what to watch in the coming weeks, check out our guide to fall TV!

Although the TV side of the Star Trek franchise is going strong with Star Trek: Discovery and upcoming series like Picard, the film side is in flux. The plan was for the Kelvin timeline to continue with Star Trek 4, but following reported salary disputes and script issues, the project has been shelved indefinitely.

Instead, it’s looking like the Star Trek movie Quentin Tarantino pitched will be the one to keep the film series going, and George Takei, who played Hikaru Sulu in Star Trek: The Original Series, the first six Star Trek movies and an episode of Star Trek: Voyager (among other projects) is excited to see what kind of Star Trek story Tarantino has cooked up. He said:

George Takei expressed his support for Quentin Tarantino’s Star Trek movie while speaking with EW at San Diego Comic-Con about his AMC series, The Terror: Infamy. At this point, it’s been over 20 years since Takei last played Sulu in live action, but depending on if this movie’s set in the original Star Trek timeline and when specifically, perhaps there might be a way for the actor to briefly reprise the role.

Word came in towards the end of 2017 that Quentin Tarantino pitched an idea for a potential Star Trek movie to Paramount Pictures, and not long after that, The Revenant writer Mark L. Smith was hired to write the screenplay based on that pitch. With Star Trek 4 off the board, this other cinematic tale stands a better chance of becoming a reality.

What’s still unclear is whether or not Quentin Tarantino will actually direct this R-rated Star Trek movie. The director plans to retire from filmmaking after helming 10 movies, and his ninth movie is about to come out. Tarantino has come up with a loophole where he makes Star Trek and then adapts another one of his own ideas as the official 10th movie.

However, Quentin Tarantino also said that he wouldn’t mind directing Star Trek as his 10th movie, as it could serve as an example of what his career might have looked like if he focused on adapting other people’s scripts. We’ll have to wait and see which option he chooses, or if he decides to simply serve as executive producer and leave the directing to someone else.

Keep checking back with CinemaBlend for all the biggest news concerning the Star Trek franchise. In the meantime, feel free to browse our 2019 release schedule to plan your trips to the movie theater this year accordingly. That includes Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, which opens on July 26.

The Big Bang Theory has seen loads of guest stars in its almost 12 full seasons on CBS. But, as fans and probably even non-fans know by now, the show will be heading off to that big nerd convention in the sky at the end of this season. The questions now is, which of those major guest stars do we want to see return? While the choices are many, sadly, several of the biggest guests that the long-running comedy has seen have passed away. So, while we won't be treated to any more visits (or voice overs) from Leonard Nimoy, Carrie Fisher, Stephen Hawking, Adam West or Stan Lee, there are still plenty of options for last minute guest appearances. Here are the ones we think would be the most fun to see again.

James Earl Jones

One of the most epic Big Bang Theory cameos came fairly recently, when Darth Vader...I mean, James Earl Jones portrayed a very open and easy-going version of himself in a Season 7 episode that aired in early 2014. Sheldon is such an odd duck that the show often has fun pitting his intriguing behavior against his fan encounters, but those usually don't turn out so well for him. Just a few weeks ago we saw him vomit when finally getting a chance to shake hands with William Shatner, and by the time James Earl Jones made his guest appearance, Sheldon had already managed to piss off / scare Stan Lee, Leonard Nimoy and Bill Nye to the point that they have restraining orders against him, so his time with Jones was a real treat.

Sheldon tracked Jones down at his favorite sushi restaurant, and the acting legend actually welcomed his company. He regaled Sheldon with Hollywood stories as the two spent the night adventuring around town at an ice-cream parlor, a carnival, a strip club and a sauna. While Sheldon got bored with all his tales of working on major movies, how could another meeting between these two not be perfect? Whatever the circumstances, I can see James Earl Jones remembering Sheldon and wanting to hang out again, with the picky (but newly matured in many ways) fan trying to shake the over-eager star without hurting his feelings. Yup, ideal comedy situation!

George Takei

Star Trek legend George Takei has only shown up one time on The Big Bang Theory, in a Season 4 episode that aired way back in 2010 where he played himself...but a version of himself that was only in an odd fantasy of Howard's. I think the time is right to have Howard come into contact with the man who brought Hikaru Sulu to life, well, in real life.

Takei's last appearance saw his fantasy self question Howard's sexuality when he interrupts a fantasy liaison between Howard and Katee Sackhoff (we'll hear more about her later), and then pop up again in Howard's mind as he tries to make some moves on Bernadette after a date. While his two fantasy friends try to offer advice on how to solidify things with Bernadette, Takei's take on the situation ends up better for Howard. Obviously, when Howard meets George Takei in the real world, they will have to have an awkward conversation about why Howard feels like he knows him. But, in my dream (haha) scenario, Takei will leave Howard with the feeling that he was really privy to that date with Bernadette somehow. It's slightly creepy, and I love it.

Katee Sackhoff

OK, this guest appearance takes us back into the masturbatory mind of Howard Wolowitz, as Battlestar Galactica actress Katee Sackhoff has shown up on The Big Bang Theory twice, but simply as a...useful fantasy of his. In addition to her Season 4 fantasy trip with George Takei, she came by solo in a Season 3 episode to help Howard enjoy bath time a little bit more. But, most importantly, each of Sackhoff's guest appearances saw her talking to Howard about his burgeoning relationship with Bernadette. You probably know where I'm going with this...right?

Wouldn't it be marvelous if Howard...no, even better, Bernadette, runs into Katee Sackhoff completely by chance, only to reveal to the former sci-fi star how her husband is a fan and used to enjoy her image quite frequently? Maybe the conversation, instead of turning even weirder, could actually do a lot more to show how solid the marriage between Bernadette and Howard really is now. I mean, why would he ever tell her such an intimate and potentially embarrassing detail of his fantasy life unless he was pretty secure in what they have as a couple? Guys, this could turn into a lovely almost-full-circle moment for what has turned out to be the longest and strongest romance on The Big Bang Theory. Who's with me?

Laurie Metcalf

We're now going to get into a couple of less flashy guest stars, seeing as how neither of these famous folks play themselves on The Big Bang Theory, but, instead, have portrayed important family members of our core characters. Let's start with Laurie Metcalf, who, as Sheldon's no-nonsense and long-suffering mom Mary, has been one of only three actors to show up since Season 1 as a parental unit. In addition, Mary has only been absent from two seasons of the sitcom, so it makes sense to bring Mary in at least once before everything wraps up.

Mary has often given Sheldon a lot of trouble for how he does things (and often, with good reason) but she's also been incredibly understanding when it comes to some of the moves he's made in his relationship with Amy, because she knows that no one else would put up with her son's very specific quirks and requirements long enough to lead to any kind of serious romance. While Sheldon has done a pretty good job of maturing (slowly, but surely) during his time with Amy, the couple has still seen some difficulty this year. It wouldn't be totally unlikely for Mary to come for a visit to see how things are going with her son and (relatively) new daughter-in-law, or for either Sheldon or Amy to actually reach out to Mary for advice on navigating something in their relationship. And, I'm sure Mary would be all too glad to help.

Katey Sagal

Last, but most definitely not least. We have another actor who stepped in to play a parent when most needed: at Leonard and Penny's wedding. While Penny's dad, Wyatt, has shown up here and there on the show since Season 4, we didn't get to meet her mom, Susan, until Penny's second wedding ceremony with Leonard in Season 10. And, not only was Katey Sagal a wonderful choice, but seeing as how we haven't seen her since then, now would be a great time to bring Susan back.

Why's that, you ask? Well, because Penny and Leonard have been dealing with some issues when it comes to procreation this season. With Leonard wanting to be a father very badly, and Penny not wanting to have kids, and knowing this about herself for quite a long time. This conflict has died down somewhat since Leonard declined to donate sperm so that Penny's ex, Zack, and his wife could conceive, but there's no doubt that trouble is still bubbling below the surface. This might be a good time for Penny to reach out to Susan and actually ask for help. Even if Penny doesn't end up following her advice, it would mean that we get to see Katey Sagal at least one more time.

So, there you have it! There aren't many episodes of The Big Bang Theory left now, but I think I've given the writers some pretty solid plans for how they can bring back some (or all) of the above guest stars to make these last few episodes some of the best yet. You can see if The Big Bang Theory brings any of these fine actors back by keeping up with the series when it airs Thursdays at 8 p.m. EST on CBS.

Star Trek's George Takei has joined the second season cast of a high-profile and much-acclaimed drama. AMC has announced that Takei will star in the second season of its hit horror anthology, The Terror.

George Takei has joined the cast as Yamato-san. He is described as being a community elder. Yamato-san is also a former fishing captain. No other details were provided about Takei's character. What was shared is intriguing though.

As previously announced, Season 2 is set during World War II. It will center on a string of inexplicable deaths that come to haunt a Japanese-American community, including an internment camp. Season 2 will chronicle one young man's journey as he tries to both understand and fight the sinister entity that is to blame.

One would hope that the young hero of the story will seek Yamato-san's assistance in his battle against the entity terrorizing their community. Viewers will have to tune in and see if that happens. Season 1 involved people on stranded ships being confronted by a menacing entity.

Could George Takei's character have previously encountered this same entity while a fishing captain? Besides both seasons dealing with an evil force, the water does seem to be a possible connection. Perhaps that experience will come into play. It is an anthology series, so their being disconnected is not entirely off the table. Anthologies tend to be a bit isolated in connecting to previous installments.

In a sign that bodes extremely well for the Star Trek icon's screen time on the show, George Takei has signed on as a series regular. Had he signed on to recur, that would have potentially indicated a steady, albeit slightly less visible, presence. His status a series regular bodes well for high hopes of him being prominently featured in Season 2.

Along with the casting announcement, AMC shared that George Takei will also serve an integral role behind the camera. Takei will act as a consultant on The Terror's second season. The actor will bring his personal experiences to bear on the project.

During his childhood, George Takei was imprisoned in two Japanese-American internment camps following the start of World War II. Accordingly, he will work with executive producers on The Terror to assure the historical and storytelling accuracy of the season.

Production on The Terror's second season will get underway in January. Season 2 will span ten episodes. With an early 2019 start date for production, The Terror is slated to air at some point in 2019. An exact release date for Season 2 has not been announced yet, so stay tuned.

The first season was a huge hit when it aired on AMC earlier this year. During its run, The Terror ranked as the second new cable drama of the season. Season 2 is getting itself into gear to perform similarly. The upcoming season gives fans of The Terror something to look forward in the new year.

CBS' The Big Bang Theory will be heading into its final season when it hits the air this fall, and, as could be expected of a very popular show that's been on the air for eleven seasons, there have been many, many guest stars during the show's run. Since Season 12 will be our last go-round with Leonard, Penny, Sheldon, Amy and the rest of the gang, we figured now would be a grand time to pay tribute to the best of the best when it comes to guest starring appearances on The Big Bang Theory, knowing, of course, that this final season is sure to have some surprises up its sleeve with regards to guest performances. Here for you now, we'll go through our favorite guest stars who have popped up on the show, and rank them by sheer awesomeness and utilization in the plot.

So, without further ado, and with zero apologies to Charlie Sheen, here are the top 12 celebrity guest appearances that have occurred on The Big Bang Theory since the show hit the schedule in 2007.

12. Leonard Nimoy

While Leonard Nimoy is a recurring figure in Sheldon's life, once even getting a restraining order against the "Big Bang Theory" character, the only time he has technically appeared on the series is in the Season 5 episode "The Transporter Malfunction," when he popped up as the voice of a Spock action figure that Sheldon encountered while he was dreaming. It was weird, it was wacky and it just makes our list.

11. Wil Wheaton

Wil Wheaton has an ongoing presence on The Big Bang Theory and he is clearly an important celebrity on the show. The Star Trek actor and blogger has been appearing as a minor character on the hit series since Season 3, popping up as a guest star (usually) once or twice a season. His initial issues with Sheldon were amusing, but now that the two men have become less antagonistic toward one another, his appearances have been a wee bit less exciting, although catching the actor in a gorilla suit was good for some laughs.

10. LeVar Burton

Star Trek: The Next Generation actor and Reading Rainbow host LeVar Burton has popped up on The Big Bang Theory on three occasions, first in the Season 4 episode "The Toast Derivation," then again during Season 6's "The Habitation Configuration," and Season 8's "The Champagne Reflection." We've loved the "Fun with Flags" segment but our favorite joke probably has to be Burton admitting he should've listened to Wil Wheaton and "gotten a gate" when Sheldon keeps bothering him.

9. Steve Wozniak

The Apple co-founder first appeared on The Big Bang Theory during the Season 4 episode 'The Cruciferous Vegetable Amplification." The gang runs into The Woz randomly at a Cheesecake Factory and the technology guru does a great job when he is confronted by Sheldon. So, technically, the Woz's role is a small one, but we do get to see him poke fun at Steve Jobs and his turtlenecks, and even makes a jab at nerds. (This happened before Jobs tragically passed away after battling cancer, so it was a lot funnier at the time.)

8. Katee Sackhoff

The Battlestar Galactica actress may have moved on to "greener pastures" with, first, the Netflix series Longmire and her upcoming show Another Life, but she doesn't mind revisiting the character that made her famous. Sackhoff has actually appeared more than once on the CBS comedy as a figment of Howard's romantic imagination, once even popping up as herself in the bathtub with him! The second time she shows up in a flight suit... along with George Takei.

7. Stan Lee

It's no secret that Stan Lee loves the opportunity to show up on sets for cameos. The Marvel spokesman has popped up in every Marvel-produced superhero movie, and he also appeared in the Season 3 episode "The Excelsior Acquisition." Sheldon and Penny showed up, unwelcome and uninvited at Stan Lee's house, and the legendary comic creator was forced to get a restraining order. Between the outraged Stan Lee, the excellent Fantastic 4 robe he was wearing and the general ridiculousness of the setup, the guest performance was top-notch.

6. George Takei

Takei's cameo amusingly appeared in "The Hot Troll Deviation," which happened to be one of the episodes Katee Sackhoff is also in. Most fans would be excited about Sulu popping up on the comedy, but Takei also nailed his performance, appearing with Sackhoff in one of Howard's fantasies and also appearing to give advice to Bernadette. In real life he comes off as a lovable eccentric, and that's exactly how he played his Big Bang Theory appearance.

5. Carrie Fisher

The late, great, Carrie Fisher had a really short role in The Big Bang Theory, but it's still a gem. The Star Wars franchise actress appeared in an episode of the comedy that also featured James Earl Jones. He, along with Sheldon, doorbell ditches her and, well, she reacts like a crazy person with a baseball bat, out for blood. The episode actually marked the first time Fisher met Jones face to face, which ads an adorable aww moment to the crazy performance.

4. Adam West

Most guest stars on The Big Bang Theory step in for a quick scene or two, the late Adam West, though, was present throughout almost the whole episode when he appeared in "The Celebration Experimentation" in Season 9. After nine years, Sheldon has finally allowed his friends to help him celebrate his birthday, and Leonard decides to gift his friend with having Adam West at his party. Some of the highlights of this episode include West joining in on a debate about who the best Batman is, with the elder Batman throwing serious shade on Ben Affleck, and West calling Sheldon "Sherman" when he meets him. It was a pitch perfect guest spot, to be sure.

3. Bob Newhart

Bob Newhart has popped up on five episodes of The Big Bang Theory. The comedic legend is less geektastic than some of the other big names on the list, and he is also one of the few big names that hasn't shown up to play himself. However, as Professor Proton, Newhart actually nabbed an Emmy for his performance as a retired TV scientist whom Sheldon and Leonard adore. Unfortunately, the character passed away in "The Proton Transmogrification," although he's reappeared twice (the first time as Obi-Wan Arthur) as either a dream or figment of Sheldon's imagination to give advice to his life-long fan. And, luckily, he's set to reprise his role at least once more in the final season.

2. Stephen Hawking

Stephen Hawking was a "dream guest" for executive producer Bill Prady and co. for years before he actually appeared on the series. He did end up appearing in 2012, in the aptly titled "The Hawking Excitation." In the episode, Howard was tasked with taking care of Hawking's wheelchair during a guest lecture and Sheldon slipped Howard one of his papers to show the man. Hawking ended up correcting an error in Sheldon's paper, which was hilarious, but the man was also able to poke fun at himself in the episode, which made it even more endearing. While the world lost Hawking in early 2018, he was able to complete a whopping six additional guest appearances, more than anyone else on this list.

1. James Earl Jones

You would hope any cameos by individuals related to the Star Wars franchise would come up near(ish) the top, and the over-the-top James Earl Jones appearance has to be tops. In the episode, Sheldon spent time with James Earl Jones after not being able to get into Comic-Con, with the goal of asking Jones to be a panelist at the con he wanted to create with his friends. What followed was a slew of wild shenanigans. Seriously, getting to see Sheldon hang out with James Earl Jones on a ferris wheel, at karaoke, in a sauna and doorbell ditching Carrie Fisher had to be one of the most amusing comedy sequences in recent TV memory. Anytime Sheldon is able to holler, "Hey Los Angeles, I'm on a ferris wheel with Darth Vader. And he's nicer than you think," you should know you have a win.

It's a sobering time in the entertainment industry, as formerly respected figures in Hollywood are being accused of sexual misconduct on almost a daily basis. After allegations began pouring in about Harvey Weinstein, resulting in his firing from both his company and the film academy, the floodgates truly opened. A bevy of actors, directors, and producers have now been accused of using their power to influence, assault, or harass others, with their careers seemingly being ended in the process. And now Star Trek actor and pop culture icon George Takei has been accused of assaulting a former model in his home in 1981.

News broke yesterday at THR, with Scott R Brunton detailing how he became disoriented after a night of drinking, temporarily losing consciousness in George Takei's home. He claims that he regained consciousness to find Takei groping him and undressing him. Afterward, he fled the residence. He allegedly told friends about the situation over the years but is just now coming forward in a more public capacity with his story. You can read an excerpt below...

George Takei has since taken to social media to refute this claim, claiming he doesn't even remember Scott R Brunton at all. On his Twitter thread response, Takei said this:

So far Scott R Brunton is the only one to accuse George Takei of sexual assault, and it's not clear exactly how this will affect his career moving forward. That being said, these type of accusations often change the trajectory of a variety of projects, so it's certainly something that is being taken seriously in the industry.

That's definitely shown to be the case with some other high profile entertainment professionals in the past few weeks. After Harvey Weinstein was ousted from his various positions, Star Trek: Discovery actor Anthony Rapp accused Kevin Spacey of sexually harassing him at the age of 14. A variety of other accusers, many of which were on the crew of House of Cards, have since come forward, and Netflix has cut ties with the Academy Award winning actor. And just yesterday comedian Louis CK admitted to allegations of sexual misconduct, claiming that consent means something else when you're in a position of power. Since then, CK's movie I Love You, Daddy has been canned, with FX cutting ties and The Secret Life Of Pets sequel dropping him from the lead role.

Disclosure: CinemaBlend's parent company, Gateway Blend, has a working relationship with George Takei.

While many are excited for Star Trek: Discovery to air, the series has sparked a bit of controversy with its diverse cast. In what some communities are referring to as "white genocide in space," the supposed lack of white representation in the new show has upset some folks. Star Trek franchise vet George Takei appeared on MSNBC and responded to the diversity controversy:

Indeed, the basis of Star Trek from its very beginnings seems to have been rooted in diversity. Long before Michelle Yeoh or Sonequa Martin-Green joined the cast of Star Trek: Discovery, you had people like Nichelle Nichols and, of course, George Takei paving the way for an evolving sci-fi in the late 1960s. As I'm sure many reading this know, William Shatner and Nichelle Nichols made history in 1968 with television's first interracial kiss. (A disputable issue, but still.)

Going back to Takei's point to MSNBC, those who complain about the lack of diversity in Star Trek are, regardless to whether or not they've been following the new series, perhaps blind to the fact that the series has always embraced diversity. And if they were looking into the current batch of cast members, they would know that the series does feature quite a few white actors and actresses.

The acronym that George Takei mentions as the guiding principle for Star Trek is actually a part of the official lore. Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations is the basis of Vulcan philosophy, and a symbol Spock is seen to wear in the Star Trek series. (Leonard Nimoy was reportedly not a fan of the symbol and claimed Gene Roddenberry created it as a way to sell more replica merchandise to the fans, though there's no word on how he felt about the concept itself.) If you look around the various Star Trek shows you'll see the IDIC symbol, which looks like a pyramid with a star on top with a larger crescent like circle encompassing it, in various Vulcan scenes.

George Takei, and the rest of the world, will have to keep waiting to see Star Trek: Discovery, as the series has been scheduled for a fall premiere on the streaming platform CBS All Access, with no exact date given. You can sit around and wait for a more official time, or you can kill time with all the new television popping up every day! Check out our summer TV guide to see what's premiering and returning, and also keep tabs on when the show's your watching now will air their finales.

Over the years Star Trek has become iconic for its depiction of a futuristic utopia. People from all walks of life unite under the banner of the Federation, and work together to seek out new life forms and discover new worlds. It's a franchise known for its progressive nature, but the upcoming Star Trek: Discovery will mark the first time that the series has introduced a wholly original gay character in the form of Anthony Rapp's Lieutenant Stamets. It's an enticing prospect, and one that excites George Takei far more than the decision to make Sulu gay in Star Trek Beyond. Takei explained:

During a recent appearance at the Unforgettable Gala on Saturday (via Variety) George Takei addressed the issue of LGBT representation in the Star Trek franchise. Although he resisted the decision to make John Cho's Sulu gay in the rebooted silver screen Star Trek series, he has been wholly supportive of the introduction of original gay characters like Stamets. In his own opinion, changing Sulu's sexuality as a tribute to him compromised Gene Roddenberry's original vision for the character, and did nothing to honor the Star Trek creator in any substantial way.

The originality of a gay character appears to be the biggest issue for George Takei. Although Sulu's homosexuality barely factors in to the narrative of Star Trek Beyond in any substantial way, Takei considers it an unnecessary departure for a well-established character. On the other hand, the introduction of a Lieutenant Stamets in Star Trek: Discovery represents the first time that a main Star Trek character has been designed from the ground up to represent the LGBT community, and that's something that Takei has wanted to see for quite some time.

In fact, LGBT representation is an issue that George Takei wanted to see tackled as far back as the original series. The actor reportedly spoke to Gene Roddenberry about the possibility of introducing gay characters on the series, but the political and social climates of the time prevented such a creative decision. Times have changed since then, and Takei is happy to see Trek finally become an even more inclusive universe.

Following a recent delay, Star Trek: Discovery is expected to debut this May on CBS. CinemaBlend will bring you more information related to the upcoming Star Trek series as new details become available. Until then, make sure to check out our comprehensive midseason premiere guide for more information concerning all of the most highly anticipated spring television debuts.

Star Trek alum George Takei has taken a dive into Pokemon Go, strolling through Central Park in New York City while attempting to catch Pokemon and become a master trainer. There's a lengthy video available of Takei with his friend Matt, learning a thing or two about the game.

The video was posted up over on George Takei's official Facebook page, and the video clocks in at 20 minutes long. Takei and his friend were decked out in Pokemon paraphernalia, with hats and backpacks and shirts while they traveled through Central Park.

A large portion of the video is Takei explaining things like staying hydrated, wearing suntan lotion, taking care of your skin, being cautious and conscious while out and about, as well as staying healthy and getting out to walk and maintain physical fitness.

Pokemon Go is more like a side character in the video journey above. Within the first 10 minutes Takei manages to catch a Rattata, which is one of the common Pokemon that you'll find sprinkled throughout the environments you venture to while playing the game. Takei doesn't seem too impressed with the Rattata, but he does jokingly ask if it's possible to "eat it".

Interestingly enough, they discuss some of the harrowing exploits people have encountered while playing Pokemon Go and Takei's guide suggests to always bring a partner with you while traveling around and playing the game. This prompts Takei to launch into an anecdote about traveling through Central Park back in the 1960s and in order to protect himself while traveling alone in the park, Takei would recite lines from the play he was in while raging and sometimes throwing out martial arts poses. The whole theatrics was to make people think he was a crazy, angry, raging karate master so that they would leave him alone while traveling through Central Park at night.

While Takei's method may have been a brilliant makeshift solution for his situation, it wasn't something other Pokemon Go players came up with when they were led into remote parts of town and robbed by armed men. Situations like that have popped up infrequently as people travel around playing the game.

In Takei's case, they didn't run into trouble while walking through Central Park, but they did have some difficulty in trying to catch some of the Pokemon in the game. A Bellsprout gave the traveling duo a bit of problem as they spent a couple of minutes trying to catch it... it was a bit light on its feet.

The video managed to spread across Facebook rather quickly, garnering more than 2.1 million views since going live back on July 28th. It's been shared more than 15,000 times and continues to gain a lot of shares and a lot of attention on social media.

It basically just goes to show that a lot of people love Pokemon Go, and now even Captain Sulu has managed to take a dive into the wonderful world of Pokemon thanks to the popularity of the mobile app.

Trekkies have always been a divided group. Whether it's a disagreement over Kirk vs. Picard, or the simple debate of which Star Trek film is best (hint: it's Wrath of Khan), Trekkies represent a fandom that loves to debate. One such debate reared its head recently when it was revealed that John Cho's incarnation of Sulu in Star Trek Beyond had been made gay by the filmmakers, causing original Sulu actor George Takei to voice his disapproval of the change. It now seems that Takei's opinion on the gay Sulu issue has become somewhat taken out of context, and the Star Trek icon recently took to social media to clarify his stance. Check out his lengthy Facebook post below.

The legendary actor and LGBT activist took to Facebook in order to properly inform people as to his opinion regarding the changes made to the character of Sulu. George Takei stands by his belief that Gene Roddenberry originally envisioned this particular character as heterosexual, but he seems to have softened somewhat in the sense that he applauds Simon Pegg for taking this route with his former role. However, he believes that a gay Star Trek character should have been created for Star Trek Beyond, rather than adding this new element to an existing icon from the classic series.

Although George Takei stands by his opinion, he also gives a bit more context to his thoughts. He goes on to explain that he and Gene Roddenberry used to regularly discuss the idea of adding LGBT characters to the Star Trek mythos, but ultimately they agreed to keep the characters straight because the 1960s was a time when numerous social taboos like race, gender, and sexuality had not been addressed. In his eyes the decision to make Sulu gay feels more like an homage to the actor, and not the character itself, which doesn't sit entirely right with him.

Of course, given what we know about the new Star Trek continuity, there's still a fairly easy way to write this whole thing off. Considering the changes made to the Star Trek timeline in 2009 when J.J. Abrams rebooted the series, these characters technically are not the exact same ones from the original 1960s Star Trek series. The original series and these rebooted films take place in separate timelines, and as such one could simply argue that Takei's Sulu is heterosexual, but John Cho's is gay. That's how nerd logic works, people.

Regardless of your stance on the Sulu issue, there's no denying that both sides have presented some compelling arguments. We will have to wait and see how the character evolves when Star Trek Beyond hits theaters on July 22.

There's been a lot of news surrounding the reveal that Hikaru Sulu is gay in the Kelvin Timeline of Star Trek films. Sulu actor John Cho stated that Star Trek Beyond would show Sulu with his husband and their child, which has been met with somewhat controversial responses. George Takei, who originated the role Sulu in the original series and is himself a gay man, voiced his displeasure over the change. Simon Pegg, co-writer of the screenplay and one of the people who came up with the idea, politely disagreed with Takei. Now Spock actor Zachary Quinto is getting into the mix, and he wishes Takei saw it differently.

Yesterday Sulu became the first openly gay character in all of Star Trek. And while George Takei is proud that homosexuality is being represented in a series known for being inclusive, he felt that it would have been better to create an original gay character. Making Sulu gay, a character who was historically heterosexual, he argued was an unnecessary twist on Gene Roddenberry's original vision. Zachary Quinto, who is also a member of the LGBT community, disagrees. Speaking with Pedestrian.TV, Quinto said that any positive showing of gay characters in film is a good thing.

Both men make good points, and no one is really "wrong" in this argument. Zachary Quinto does make a good argument, stating that the Kelvin Sulu is different from the classic version and it doesn't affect the original series in any way (but try explaining that to a casual fan). The "reveal" of Sulu's sexuality is not supposed to be a big deal, and is simply a part of his personal life when he's not piloting a spaceship. There also seems to be a misunderstanding that Sulu is coming out of the closet, but as far as the movies are concerned, he was never in the closet to begin with. His sexuality was just never brought up before because Sulu was never a very big focus in the films.

This comes right after the comments Simon Pegg made defending the decision. Pegg argued that, while introducing a new character who happens to be gay is a great thing to do, that character might have been defined by his or her sexuality, rather than their actual character. It made more sense to Pegg to reveal a pre-existing character is gay so that the audience is "unaffected by any prejudice."

It's always nice to see people in the industry who disagree with each other, but are still polite and respectful. Star Trek Beyond is directed by Justin Lin and will be arriving in theaters very soon on July 22.

The news that a member of the current Enterprise crew would be revealed as gay was likely expected to be a somewhat controversial announcement. However, it's unlikely many were expecting the controversy to be between the script writer and the man who used to play the character. Yesterday, we learned that in Star Trek Beyond John Cho's Sulu will turn out to be gay. Since then, one of the most critical voices of this decision has been the original Sulu, George Takei himself. Now, Beyond's screenwriter Simon Pegg has defended the decision, saying that it was important that the first LGBT character in the Star Trek universe needed to be somebody that the audience already knew.

When George Takei made his public comments regarding the idea of Sulu as gay, his primary criticism was that making Sulu gay was making a significant change to the world that Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry had built. He would have preferred that they create a new character for the films who was gay. Simon Pegg, who wrote the screenplay for Star Trek Beyond along with his duties of playing Scotty, told The Guardian that it was important that the first gay character in the series be somebody audiences were already familiar with, as it would allow them to simply incorporate this one facet of who the character was into their already existing relationship.

In regards to George Takei's primary criticism, that this makes a change to Gene Roddenberry's creation, Simon Pegg says that he doesn't believe the reason that the entire Enterprise crew was straight was because of an artistic vision, but rather because the time period in which the series was being produced forced him to do so. He also says there's a problem in simply creating a new character, as doing that would essentially be tokenism. Making a new character who is gay makes that person "the gay character." By using somebody who the audience already has a relationship with, Sulu doesn't become the gay character, he's just Sulu, who so happens to be gay, in the same way that Kirk happens to be straight.

While we don't know the exact circumstances of how the audience will learn about the fact that Star Trek Beyond's Sulu is gay, John Cho has said that it's a very matter-of-fact moment. The film doesn't draw attention to it, because in the film's future setting, the fact simply isn't that important. It's just who he is.

It's unfortunate that this issue has become such a divisive one among people who all care about Star Trek. Nobody here is really "wrong." It's clear that both sides really want to see what's best for the franchise, they just have differing opinions about how to do that.

Star Trek Beyond hits theaters July 22.

Over its five-decade history, Star Trek has never had an openly gay major character, but that changed today. It was announced that in Star Trek Beyond, it will be revealed that John Cho's version of USS Enterprise crewman Hikaru Sulu is gay. This personal life revelation was partly done as an homage to George Takei, Sulu's original actor who came out in 2005. However, Takei himself isn't pleased with the development, saying it goes against what Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry has in mind for the character.

While speaking with The Hollywood Reporter, George Takei stated that while he is glad that the Star Trek franchise has a gay character, he wishes the character had been heterosexual, as he and Roddenberry envisioned him during The Original Series. As he put it:

George Takei first heard about Star Trek Beyond's plans for Hikaru Sulu last year when John Cho contacted him about the creative decision. Takei instead suggested that the production instead create an original character who is gay, rather than "out" Sulu. Not long after, director Justin Lin reaffirmed the Sulu plans to Takei, to which the actor passed along the same sentiments. Then a few months back, Takei believed they may have changed their minds and took his complaints into consideration when Scotty actor Simon Pegg, who came up with the Sulu mea with Lin, praised him for his LGBT advocacy in an email. However, that proved not to be the case, as Cho told him last week that the character being gay would eventually come up during the press tour. Takei told Cho to go about his promotional duties as usual, but he wasn't going to change his mind on the matter.

Hikaru Sulu's sexuality will be referred to at some point during Star Trek Beyond when he's seen with his husband taking care of their daughter (presumably Demora, who was briefly seen as an adult in the 1994 movie Star Trek Generations). The moment isn't meant to draw attention, it's simply a way to look into the helmsman's personal life in the midst of the intergalactic adventuring. It's worth noting that Sulu never had an onscreen romantic interest in the previous Star Trek TV shows and movies, so it's not like this move is technically contradicting established canon, especially if their daughter was adopted or conceived via a surrogate. As for Takei, while he's disappointed in how the movie series handled his character, he hopes that he may be able to take the character in another direction in the upcoming Star Trek series that will air on CBS All Access, perhaps by playing either playing an elderly Sulu or even an alien that sounds just like him.

Star Trek Beyond flies into theaters on July 22.

As much as we know about the characters in the Star Trek universe, most of our information is limited to what happens on board starships. It turns out there's a lot about their personal lives that we just didn't know. The newest piece of interesting, but intentionally unimportant information is that the rebooted version of Hikaru Sulu, as played by John Cho, is gay.

The rebooted timeline currently running in the Star Trek universe deals a bit more with the personal lives of the crew of the Enterprise than the original series or films ever did. Spock and Uhura have a thing. Kirk has daddy issues. These aren't the sorts of things they dealt with in the 1960s. Australia's Herald Sun is reporting that in an interview with John Cho, the actor announced that we will all learn in the upcoming Star Trek Beyond something new about Sulu. While we knew the character would have a daughter (he's got her picture on his control console), it turns out Sulu has that daughter with a same-sex partner. While this will be revealed in some way in the film (exactly how is not clear), it's apparently not done in any specific way to draw attention to it. It's just a thing, no big deal. Cho told the Herald Sun he really liked how the film handled it.

Of course, the decision to make John Cho's version of Sulu gay is no accident. From what the Herald Sun reports, Star Trek Beyond writer (and co-star) Simon Pegg put it in the script as a nod to the original Sulu, George Takei. It's a nice gesture. While it's a tribute to the original actor that his character can be out in the new film, while the actor was not able to be during the original run of Star Trek, at the same time, not making "a big thing" out of it is a very Star Trek thing to do. The series has always been about looking forward toward a positive view of humanity's future, where things like this simply aren't a big deal. Here's an image of John Cho with the picture of the daughter that will be in the film, which he showed off on Entertainment Tonight, during which time, he teased another reveal to come. Could his marital situation be what he was referring to then?

What do you think about this revelation about Sulu? Is it a fitting tribute to George Takei and the proper direction for a member of the Enterprise crew? Let us know what ou think in the comments.

It’s a debate that has raged for decades in the halls of science fiction and doesn’t show any signs abating anytime soon: Star Wars vs. Star Trek. It’s a passionate argument and one that seems especially topical as Star Wars: The Force Awakens takes over the world and as we get ready for Star Trek Beyond, which recently released its first trailer. This is largely a fan debate, but one key player in the Trek universe, George Takei, just added his two cents.

The actor and activist, most known for his role of Mr. Sulu on Star Trek the Original Series, talked to Fortune and revealed his stance in the Trek vs. Wars discussion. Guess which side he falls on? Though he appreciates Star Wars, he has a very specific reason for why his loyalties lie with Star Trek. He said:

For Takei, it’s the vision of Gene Roddenberry, who created Star Trek in the 1960s, that sets it apart from its genre compatriots. Assembling an intentionally diverse cast, he pushed at race and gender lines like few other televisions shows at the time, or since.

Originally titled Wagon Train to the Stars, Star Trek set out to employ the genre trappings to tell complex, mature stories that use the futuristic backdrop to address problems and issues in contemporary society. As a genre, this has always been one of the hallmarks of science fiction, using outlandish settings and plots to reflect the state of society, and few properties have done this as successfully as Star Trek as they tackled a variety of topic from racism to war and many others.

The third movie in the rebooted franchise, Star Trek Beyond, hits next summer, and from what we know of the plot, it sounds like it will follow in the footsteps of its predecessor. With Fast & Furious’ Justin Lin at the helm, this will be an action-heavy affair, but the story reportedly picks up the crew of the Enterprise in the middle of their five-year mission to explore new worlds and cultures, going where no one has gone before. We’ll have to wait and see if the socially conscious element remains intact.

Financially, there’s really no contest in the Star Wars/Star Trek debate. Though the previous two Trek films were successful, Star Wars: The Force Awakens is currently obliterating box office records.

I’ve always been of the mind that you can be a fan of both, and they’ve each shaped my life more than is probably healthy. How about you? Where do you fall on the Star Trek vs. Star Wars debate? Sound off in the comments below.

Television is in an era of reboots and revivals. One of the biggest franchises to be getting a reboot is none other than Star Trek. It should really come as no surprise that CBS would want to cash in on the built-in audience for the Star Trek universe that has been built over the past half century on the small and big screen. Recently, original series actor George Takei stated he is optimistic about what the new show means for the franchise:

It’s reassuring to see one of the most familiar faces of Star Trek be so supportive of the new project. The franchise may have been producing spinoffs and expansions since before it was cool to do so, but there’s a certain prestige that comes with being part of the cast of the show that started it all, and George Takei has been around since the beginning.

George Takei played Hikaru Sulu on the original Star Trek series that ran from 1966 – 1969. Although the show only ran for three of the five years of the mission of the Starship Enterprise, the franchise’s return on the big screen saved it for generations to come. Takei appeared as Sulu in all three seasons of the show and in six of the films in the franchise. So, his approval, as noted to THR, is not tantamount to the show's success, it's still a nice little addition.

This new series will be a departure from past installments in the franchise beyond a fresh cast of characters. This version of Star Trek will air on a digital platform as CBS attempts to boldly go where… well, where a lot of entertainment services have gone before. CBS head honcho Les Moonves has already announced that Star Trek being released on the network's subscription streaming service CBS All Access is a move designed to attract more subscribers to put it in league with Netflix and Amazon Prime.

While perhaps Takei's hopes about the new Star Trek series are a bit overly optimistic, we're hopeful that the show will be a success. Between seasoned fans of decades past and newer fans drawn into the universe by the latest films, Star Trek should be enough of a hit that it may at least boldly take CBS All Access where it has never gone before. George Takei’s hopeful attitude toward the new series only makes the reboot more promising, and the wait for the series premiere in 2017 may well be a tough one.

The original Star Trek series has always had the reputation of being a game changer in the socially turbulent climate of the 1960s. Showrunner Gene Roddenberry changed the game by introducing bold plotlines, including an interracial kiss between William Shatner and Nichelle Nichols’ characters. But now George Takei has admitted that he asked Roddenberry to further advocate for gays and lesbians. In a recent interview, he explained why Roddenberry stated he was unable to tackle that issue at the time.

Takei also told Big Think that considering Star Trek’s status as a series set in the 23rd century, diversity was a key aspect of the drama. In fact, diversity was key to Roddenberry’s philosophy, as well.

But 20th century network TV simply wasn’t ready for the representation of 23rd century life in many instances. For example, that groundbreaking kiss between Shatner’s Captain Kirk and Nichols’ lieutenant Uhura never made the air in certain southern states and ratings related to the series “plummeted” following that episode. In fact, they were the lowest the series had experienced at that time, leading Roddenberry to believe tackling the subject of gay and lesbian relationships could have endangered the life of the show.

It’s years later now, and TV and films have started to present a wide variety of characters of different races, genders and sexual orientations to audiences. In fact, we live in a time when it has become easier for actors and actresses to come out, rather than staying in the closet as George Takei did for years. (He even admits he came to Roddenberry to discuss the issue as a “liberal” rather than as someone who might be personally invested in the issue.)

Roddenberry’s legacy may not have included a moment where gays and lesbians took the spotlight on network TV, but without shows like Star Trek bringing similar social issues to the forefront, it’s doubtful the trickle down effect would have led us where we are today. And as the show's 50th Anniversary approaches, it's pretty cool to remember that.

As the late night talk show circuit is in flux with hosts coming and going willy nilly, viewers looking for something more out of this world will be happy to know that genius astrophysicist Neil DeGrasse Tyson has set a premiere date and a stellar guest list for his upcoming series StarTalk. NatGeo has set StarTalk to debut on Monday, April 20, at 11 p.m. ET, so you can be sure that (insert weed joke here).

StarTalk, which is a small screen version of Tyson’s acclaimed podcast of the same name, will deliver an hour-long look at the world of science and space, as viewed through the pop culture prism that has made Tyson a celebrity in his own right. Each episode will be filmed in front of an audience at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, and fellow beloved brainiac Bill Nye the Science Guy will be featured in a pretaped segment where he presents his own views on the topics covered, such as technology and Star Trek.

Speaking of the hit franchise, the first episode will take on the theme “Star Trek as Inspiration for the Future,” with series star and author George Takei popping by to talk about how the futuristic aspects of the show fit in with today’s society. Next up? None other than director Christopher Nolan, who will talk with Tyson about Insterstellar and how he peppers his films with his love for science. Will Tyson still have his initial opinions on the film, or will they have changed by that point? Comedian and Bob’s Burgers star Eugene Mirman will also be a part of that episode and others.

Seriously, StarTalk’s guest list over its ten-episode stretch is pretty extraordinary, and strays far from network talk shows’ celebrities pimping their latest projects. Later episodes will feature journalist and fellow podcaster Dan Savage talking about love and science, Huffington Post co-founder Arianna Huffington talking about the Information Age and communication, astronaut Chris Hadfield discussing social media in space, and former president Jimmy Carter talking about eradicating epidemics. Other guests include author and biologist Richard Dawkins, Twitter co-founder Biz Stone, NASA administrator Charles Bolden, and iconic TV producer Norman Lear.

This will be Tyson’s second attempt to bring science and knowledge to TV audiences en masse, as he was also the host of last year’s Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey. A gorgeous CGI-filled update on Carl Sagan’s classic 1980 series Cosmos: A Personal Voyage, the newer version garnered high acclaim, Emmys, and decent ratings. So here’s hoping StarTalk can follow in those intergalactic footsteps.

StarTalk will debut on NatGeo on Monday, April 20, at 11 p.m. ET, with encores airing every Friday night at 7 p.m. ET.

Tragic news broke today when beloved actor Leonard Nimoy died at age 83, and the world came together to collectively mourn the icon’s passing. Nimoy, most known for his role as Spock in the Star Trek franchise, was a figure who touched and inspired many, and his legacy will forever ‘live long and prosper’.

The actor’s character extended from himself, and fans saw him as a profound and inspirational figure who knew what it meant to feel alien in your surroundings. Though Nimoy was much more than just Spock, it was his constant reprisal of the character and incredible portrayal throughout the franchise that will be most remembered. His character, and his career would impact many, and today, his biggest celebrity fans pay tribute to the man via Twitter who has been, and always shall be… our friend.

William Shatner, Nimoy’s longtime co-star and dear friend opened up on the death of his colleague.

Patrick Stewart remembers his time with the inspirational man.

A friendship bloomed on Star Trek Into Darkness between the original Spock and his successor, Zachary Quinto.

George Takei remembers his dear friend from the USS Enterprise.

Another Star Trek star, Marina Sirtis recalls what a true gentleman Nimoy was.

Kim Cattrall remembers the man who was her mentor.

Wil Wheaton shares his gratitude for the galaxy that Nimoy passed down.

Jonathan Frakes salutes Mr. Nimoy.

Seth MacFarlane thanks Nimoy for his work in bringing alive one of the greatest characters in American storytelling.

Kevin Smith says farewell with a memorable quote.

Harry Potter author JK Rowling pays tribute in her own way.

Even President Obama made an official statement recalling his own admiration for Spock and the man behind the character.

And NASA recognizes Nimoy and his time with the cult-classic franchise as the inspiration behind many’s desire to explore space.

Specifically, Chris Hadfield, the first Canadian to walk in space, shares his gratitude.

And plenty more actors remember the lasting effects that Leonard Nimoy and Mr. Spock have had on the entertainment industry and beyond.

And in Leonard Nimoy’s last tweet before his passing, he reminds us that memories are what live on. So with that, our memories of him, will live long and prosper.

It’s always a challenge taking on an iconic role when it has been played to near perfection by a different actor. That original characterization burns a place in pop culture, and the new person is trying to change it, to reshape it, and to make it his or her own. So when John Cho was preparing to play Sulu in J.J. Abrams’ retooled Star Trek back in 2009, he picked the brain of George Takei – the only person who truly knew what it was like to play Sulu – and received this very specific advice.

John Cho opened up about their conversations during his recent Reddit AMA, admitting that George Takei approved of Cho’s casting in the role, and even put a good word in with Abrams. "It meant the world to me that he approved of my casting," Cho told the site. Then, during a lunch meeting, Cho elaborated:

This sparked an interesting debate underneath Cho’s answer on the Reddit AMA about how that element of the original TV series is lacking from Abrams’ two Star Trek movies. Some claimed the point of Star Trek Into Darkness was pro-exploration and anti-military. Others claimed that, similar to Wrath of Khan, the Abrams Trek movies are driven more by violence and "action" over intelligent thought.

That could be due to Abrams. It could be due to Star Trek co-screenwriters Alex Kurtzman and Bob Orci. Seeing as how Orci will be in the director’s chair for Star Trek 3, this might worry die-hard Trek fans hoping for a return to form. John Cho tries to ease their concerns:

Right after, though, Cho admitted, "I don't know anything about Star Trek 3." And yet, he confirmed that he recently went in for a costume fitting. So, believe what you will.

John Cho has worked hard to establish Sulu as an integral component on the rebooted Star Trek timeline. He has been an action hero in the 2009 installment, and briefly assumed the captain’s chair in Into Darkness (as shown above). We’re excited to see what Sulu can do in Star Trek 3, and we hope that Cho never forgets the peaceful advice George Takei passed along years ago.

There are some days where my job doesn't sound real. One of these days was the Monday I was asked to join George Takei on the Queen Mary 2 for the Transatlantic Premiere of his new documentary To Be Takei. Bused to Brooklyn, I boarded an ocean liner that's longer than the block I live on, more stories than the apartment building I live in, and more luxurious than any hotel I've ever stayed in. It was an appropriately grand venue for a documentary meant to encapsulate the remarkable life story of George Takei, a man whose had a massive impact not only on pop culture but also on politics.

After cocktails and canapés, I was directed toward an ornate and cavernous theater. (Full Disclosure: the boat was so big I got lost, and repeatedly had to ask dedicatedly grinning crewman to point me in the right direction.) Amid all the finery of Queen Mary 2, I enjoyed To Be Takei, which was afterwards complimented with a Q&A with the film's director Jennifer M. Kroot, and its stars George Takei, and his husband Brad Takei né Altman. The fruits of this fantastic event are below.

To Be Takei isn't only about George Takei. It's also very much about his husband Brad. I spoke with Brad before the film screened, and he confessed he thinks of the title as having a "double meaning," in that it applies to him too. After all, he has taken George's last name following their 2008 wedding. George seemed to concur, introducing the film as "the story of our lives…there's a guy named Brad Takei who shamelessly steals the movie from me." It's an overstatement to say this beloved celeb is overshadowed by his witty partner, but not by much!

There's no love lost between William Shatner and George Takei. They did three seasons of Star Trek together and six films, but while Takei grew close to the rest of his Starfleet crew, Shatner never warmed to him. Things came to a boil when Shatner publically complained he wasn't invited to Takei's wedding. Takei still insists he was invited.

New interviews with Shatner and his old colleagues Nichelle Nichols, Leonard Nimoy, and Walter Koenig give a deeper look into this conflict. For Takei, Shatner's claim boiled down to publicity. He said in the Q&A, "I think that’s why he made a big fuss about not getting an invitation two months after the wedding (to promote his talk show Raw Nerve). I mean, that’s clearly irrational, but as you saw, we had all of the surviving Star Trek cast members in the film, and Bill is there. We’re a family and like so many families, we have our eccentric crazy uncle, you know, and our crazy uncle shows up when we have these gatherings and as Nichelle says (in To Be Takei), 'That’s our Bill.'"

Takei was born this way, meaning an actor. Recounting his deep need to perform from an early age, George declares in the doc, "You are born an actor." His loving father urged him not to go into show business, pointing out how hard it would be as an Asian-American, a group not very well represented in TV or film. George told him, "Daddy I'm going to change it!"

Changing it wasn't easy. While Sulu went on to become a role model for many Asian-Americans, Takei sometimes struggled, taking offensive roles to further his career. His first gig ever was providing voices for the American overdub of Rodan. And later he played racist Asian stereotypes in two Jerry Lewis movies, The Big Mouth and Which Way to the Front? He was convinced to do this duo by an Asian-American agent, who believed Lewis's vehicles could mean mainstream exposure for Takei. However, he regrets taking these roles, and thinks they did little to help his career.

George would be happy to jump on Marvel's voicework train. James Spader, Paul Bettany, Vin Diesel and Bradley Cooper have all gotten to join the Marvel Cinematic Universe as voice actors. Takei has done voice work on Marvel cartoon series like Ultimate Spider-Man and The Super Hero Squad Show. And he'd be game to take his iconic timbre to the big screen, "I would love to be a superhero."

John Wayne promoted Sulu before Starfleet did. George Takei worked with John Wayne in the 1968 war drama The Green Berets. On set, the iconic cowboy gave Takei the nickname "Captain Sulu." The Star Trek star pointed out Sulu was a lieutenant, not a captain. But Wayne stuck to the nickname because Takei played a captain in The Green Berets. Sulu's onscreen promotion came in 1991 with Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country.

Don't call being gay "a lifestyle," or else George will be quick to correct you. It might sound like semantics, but even to his husband Brad, George is quick to point out that the word "lifestyle" implies a choice was made, rather than "orientation" being a matter of genetics. George remembers realizing his own orientation when he was in 5th or 6th grade. Then he fondly recounts his first gay experience as a teenager, calling it "delicious and terrifying."

Takei understands that coming out publically isn't for everyone. In the film, George Takei speaks candidly about how he felt his coming out could contribute to the gay rights movement. But asked at the Q&A about closeted celebs, he offered understanding, "I know that coming out is a very difficult and a very personal process. I respect everyone’s decision on coming out. However, we appreciate everyone who can make that move, has the courage to come out, because it helps enormously. As Dan Savage said in the film, every person that’s out helps normalize it, because we are diverse. There are bankers that are gay. We’re discovering professional athletes, basketball players, football players that are gay. I mean, very macho images there, and the more diverse the gay population, LGBT population is understood to be, then equality for the LGBT community becomes that much more doable and rational. It becomes sensible fair thing to do." He concluded, "So, we appreciate people coming out, but I don’t urge people or I don’t force people or certainly not out people. They have to make the decisions themselves."

Allegiance was made because of sheer co-incidence George Takei was considering making a musical that would depict what the internment of Japanese-Americans must have been like for his father. The perfect pair of collaborators happened upon him twice in two days. Jay Kuo and Lorenzo Thione met George and Brad Takei first by chance at a restaurant, after the Star Trek star's signature voice made them turn. Then the very next day, the foursome were unexpectedly reunited on Broadway, seeing the show In the Heights. A conversation about the song "Useless," spurred a collaboration that had Kuo and Thione writing Allegiance, with George Takei set to star.

Allegiance is coming to Broadway. It's just a matter of when. The musical made its world premier in the fall of 2012 in San Diego's The Old Globe Theater, where it was a smash hit, breaking a 77-year record for attendance and box office. Takei and Thione are dedicated to bringing the show to Broadway, but finding a theater has been a major obstacle. But they are so certain they will find a venue that you can purchase a place in line to buy eventual Broadway tickets to Allegiance now. Thione told us, "We’re just waiting for our spot in line, because as George said, there has been an unprecedented demand for real estate on Broadway and there have been so many shows that have been waiting in the wings for many years. So, it’s a matter of maybe hopefully a few more months and we’ll be happy to announce our dates then."

George Takei believes in America, democracy, and freedom for all. He declared, "We live in a democracy. When I was curious about my childhood incarceration and I engaged my father in long discussions, he explained our democracy to me as a people’s democracy. He said, 'It can be as great as the people can be, but it’s also as fallible as people are.' Our democracy is vitally dependent on the citizens actively engaging in the process of democracy, bringing support to those people that cherish the ideals of our democracy and trying to improve our democracy. We started out with great ideals. Fallible human beings along the way have failed, but also have done amazing things.

You know, when the nation was founded, women had no rights, couldn’t own property, couldn’t vote, didn’t have rights over their own children, and yet because they actively engaged in the democratic process, debated and marched and advocated for equality, today women are in so many leadership positions. They’re secretaries of state. They’re corporate presidents. They’re astronauts that lead teams of male astronauts into space.

It can happen in our democracy and I hope seeing this documentary overall, the internment story is important to me, to get marriage equality seen as something that everybody should have, that protection and the responsibility. But this all comes through our democracy…Active participation in our democracy is vital and our democracy is dependent on that … We’ve got to make it equal for everybody to have free speech and free access to vote. So, that’s a message overall I hope that comes off."

To Be Takei opens August 22nd.

Between George Takei's distinct voice, his excellent sense of humor and his appreciation for the phrase "Oh my!," it's a wonder we haven't heard his take on Fifty Shades of Grey already. Well, better a little bit late than never, right? Takei sat down to entertain us with a bit of light reading from E.L. James' popular erotic romance novel. Check it out ahead.

Following in the footsteps of Gilbert Gottfied in putting his extremely recognizable voice behind some of the steamier scenes from James' novel, and in response to fans who said he had a "special connection with the book," Takei thumbs through the novel and reads a few excerpts for our pleasure… Oh myyy!

If ever I decide to re-read this novel, I'm fairly certain I'll be reading Ana's repeated use of the phrase "Oh my!" in Takei's voice every time, after having viewed the above video. And that's not a complaint.

Speaking of "Oh my," if you didn't notice at the end of the video, Takei plugs his recently published book Oh Myyy!, which is available for purchase and focuses on his rise to internet fame in the later years of his career, including his experiences with Twitter, YouTube and Facebook.

I’m just going to come and say this, right off the bat. I don’t like Akira. Actually I don’t really like most anime either. Wait, before you pillory me in the comments section, hear me out on this. For once anime fans, I’m actually on your side.

See a few weeks ago we found this shortlist of actors likely to be up for the two leads in a new, live-action Hollywood version of the well-known Japanese anime. The list was populated entirely by a bunch of white people. The whitest of white people. White people like Robert Pattinson, Chris Pine, Justin Timberlake, and that British kind who stole Tobey Maguire’s job as Spider-Man. Akira on the other hand, is one of the most well-known pieces of entertainment Japan has ever produced. And... none of the movie’s leads, animated though they might be, is even remotely a generic white guy.

Now I like white guys. I like them a lot more than I like either anime or Akira, so if anyone’s going to be behind this move it should be me. But I’m not.

Imagine for a moment, if you will, that Hollywood tried to cast Jackie Chan as Superman. There’d be an uproar, and we’d be right to be up roaring. It’s not about the color of his skin, but the fundamental nature of the character. It’s about where he comes from, who he is, what we identify with about him. Why should Akira be any different?

The characters of this film are in their own way just as iconic as Superman, and are clearly Japanese. They should probably stay that way. Leading the fight to let them keep their cultural heritage is, believe it or not, George Takei.

I’m surprised Takei even knows anime exists, but apparently he does and the Star Trek star has spoken out on the subject of race bending. He sent this tweet out into the ether through Twitter last week:

Yes, George Takei just said epic fail. He’s serious about this social media thing, I guess.

That link, should you choose to follow it, takes you to a simple Facebook page. I wouldn’t worry overmuch about it, in my experience online petitions are pretty much useless, unless you’re trying to get Betty White a hosting gig on some Lorne Michaels produced variety program. What’s more useful though, is someone like Takei, someone who’s actually spent much of his life fighting just this sort of thing speaking out in Hollywood. What’s nearly as useful is if other people, people like you, speak out about it too. Not by clicking “like” on some Facebook petition, but by actually voicing your feelings on the subject to someone who might be able to do something about it. Here’s how you can make that happen.

If you’re on the side of me and Mr. Sulu, and want Hollywood to keep Akira Asian, let Warner Bros. know with a simple tweet by clicking right here.