Who knew William Shatner aspired to be Barbara Walters? In the new Biography Channel series "William Shatner's Raw Nerve" (10 tonight), the erstwhile captain of the starship Enterprise waxes philosophical in armchair-to-armchair conversations with celebrities.
Each half-hour episode features a single celeb subject. Shatner's "Star Trek" co-star, Leonard Nimoy, will submit to an interview for an episode not yet scheduled. It's expected to air sometime early next year.
First up, Valerie Bertinelli, who recently guest starred on Shatner's "Boston Legal," which ends its run next week.
"What's your feeling when you're assailed by divorce?" Shatner asks Bertinelli.
Other questions: "Is there sin?" "Do you believe in hell?"
"The more you speak, the more Catholic it sounds," Shatner says to his guest. "Give me a sin."
"I've committed adultery," she replies.
In one respect, these interviews are fascinating in what they reveal. These stars haven't come to pitch a new TV show or movie. They've come to pitch themselves and lay bear their souls at the feet of... Shatner?
His fatuous manner and oddball introductions -- for Bertinelli: "She was a rock and roll wife, now she isn't. She was fat, now she isn't" -- only add to the surreal notion of Capt. Kirk as confessor. But "Raw Nerve" is not without some voyeuristic appeal, as much to see what Shatner will ask as to how the stars will answer.
Posted
Dec 02 2008, 01:59 AM
by
Rob Owen