For today’s 50th anniversary of Star Trek, we could have compiled a list of best and worst episodes, but that’s kind of been done before. Instead, we wanted to pay tribute to the comic genius of the original Captain Kirk, who has been regaling fans with his Kaufmanesque style of humor for almost as long as he’s been acting. While some would argue that the humor in some of Shatner’s early efforts, such as his rendition of 'Rocket Man,' is unintentional, we completely disagree. The man has always known he was funny, and thanks to Priceline, Conan O’Brien and others, the world has embraced Captain Kirk’s humor. Here, in no particular order, are some of his most memorable comedic outings.
Free Enterprise
Robert Meyer Burnett’s 1999 film has the unique honor of being the only Star Trek-themed coming-of-age comedy. It also features an amazing comic performance by Shatner as a Bizarro-world version of himself, who wears what looks ike an Air Force Captain’s hat, offers protagonist Mark koan-like advice, and wants to produce a one-man rap production of Julius Caesar (Mark: “Won’t you have to stab yourself in the back.” Shatner: “I’ve done it before.”)
World of Warcraft Commercial
“Hello, I’m William Shatner, and I’m a shaman.” What more do you need?
Rocket Man
Shatner has recorded many memorable songs over the years, but nothing matches his 1978 rendition of Elton John’s 'Rocket Man.' As host of that year’s Science Fiction Film Awards, Shatner was introduced by songwriter Bernie Taupin, who indeed seemed “truly proud” of Shatner’s interpretation of “my Rocket Man.”
Pyramid
Under a minute of Shatner at his manic finest in the classic game show. He’s almost unrecognizable in this VHS transfer, but still amazing.
Palin Bongos
After the 2008 election, Conan O’Brien declared Sarah Palin’s farewell tweets as poetry, and brought in “poet laureate” Shatner to read them, set to bongos. Yes, it’s another iteration of the classic 'Rocket Man' formula, but it’s something nobody but Shatner could do.
History Channel Commercial
“Hello, I’m William Shatner. I’m Jewish. You’re probably not.” Is he being offensive to Jews? To gentiles? No, he's being Shatner, and it turns out that he's actually being sort of patriotic (though he doesn't mention that he's Canadian). This is the Shatner of Shit My Dad Says, but funnier.
Fuck You
This uncensored version of the CeeLo Green song, which Shatner performed to copious bleeps on the George Lopez show, includes an intro with Shatner opining about “how language gets in our way of communicating with each other.” Long before Swear Trek, Shatner shows he's the master of the f-bomb.
Reaction to Priceline Negotiator’s Death
Shatner’s Priceline commercials represent their own sub-genre in his vast oeuvre, but nothing may match his reaction to the Negotiator’s 2012 death. Seeming to echo his regret about Captain Kirk’s death in Star Trek Generations, Shatner comments that the writers had an idea about bringing his character back to life. “If I don’t come back to life, I’m dead,” he says. (Fortunately, the Negotiator, unlike Kirk, was indeed reborn.)
Police Squad
This credit sequence is a brief and perfect example of Shatner’s understated approach to physical comedy. Understated? Yes, indeed.
Showtime
This 2002 bomb pairs Robert DeNiro and Eddie Murphy as real cops hired to play themselves in a reality TV show. The producers hire Shatner as their acting coach, based on his T.J. Hooker experience. DeNiro (well, his character, at least) is appalled at the idea of Shatner teaching him to act, but “T.J.” takes it in stride, basking in Murphy’s adulation, gamely bouncing off the hood of a car, demonstrating how to confirm that a mysterious white powder is cocaine.
