It’s the penultimate night of Shatnermas! Night 7! We’re almost done with our celebration of all things William Shatner and, tonight, we’re looking at random Random Shat-tasticness!
Back in the 70’s and 80’s, ABC used to have an occasional special called, “Battle of the Network Stars.” In it, stars from the three major networks would compete in athletic events for their network and the contests were usually held on the campus of Pepperdine University in California. The host for the show was none other than legendary sportscaster Howard Cosell.
In 1982, The Shat competed in the Kayak Relay along with his “T.J. Hooker” co-star, Heather Locklear, and Stephen Collins, who played Will Decker in “Star Trek: The Motion Picture.”
The Shat’s ABC team, of course, came in first.
(If you’re unable to see The Shat’s legendary athletic performance, click here.)
In 2005, Shatner serenaded none other than George Lucas with a rendition of the classic song, “My Way,” complete with Stormtrooper Kick Line!
(If you can’t see The Shat’s musical number, click here.)
What celebration of Shatnermas would be complete without The Shat’s now cult classic performance of “Rocket Man” on the Science Fiction Film Awards in Chicago, broadcast in 1978? Pure. Gold.
(She packed my bags last night, pre-flight. Zero hour, 9:AM.)
I learned tonight that The Shat was once on Muppets Tonight! Here he is in a brief clip with Miss Piggy, channeling his famous “Nightmare at 30,000 Feet” episode of “The Twilight Zone.”
(Therrrrrrrrrrrrrrre’s………..someone on the wing! Some……………………………THING!)
The Shat was also a fixture on game shows in the 70’s and, in probably his most memorable clip from “The $25,000 Pyramid” (and Dick Clark’s favorite), he plays the bonus round by himself.
(Best Pyramid Bonus Round, ever.)
Another favorite 70’s game show was “Match Game,” and The Shat made the occasional appearance. In this clip from “Match Game ’74,” The Shat works with…prunes.
(…Had To Go.)
In 1970, film legend John Wayne produced a variety show that took place around events in American History? (Man, that sounds like a train wreck, doesn’t it?) In this clip from “Swing Out, Sweet Land,” Shatner appears with “Bonanza” and “Battlestar Galactica” star, Lorne Greene, as well as “The Wild Wild West” star, Ross Martin.
(Check out The Shat as John Adams, here.)
Who doesn’t love some T.J. Hooker action scenes?!
(Can’t see the video? Click here, dirtbag!)
Lastly tonight, we finish off the Seventh of Shatnermas with The Shat singing Bonnie Tyler’s “Total Eclipse of the Heart” on Lopez Tonight back in 2011. We return tomorrow night for the culmination of our Shatnermas Celebration!
(Really, you have to see it to believe it.)
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