About Last Night

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Now I know how it feels to be Ed McMahon. Last night was a touch surreal, a touch magical, and most memorable.William Shatner is currently touring the country, screening Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan and then chatting with a moderator for an hour or so. When I saw he was coming back in March, I organized an outing, secured tickets, and began looking forward to the evening.A few weeks back, Inge Heyer, chair of Shore Leave, reached out to let me know she had recommended me to the Lyric Theater in Baltimore, which was looking for a host. Last Monday, the event company contacted me, asked for a headshot, bio, and some video showing me doing something similar. A few hours later, I was informed Mr. Shatner had approved me.I mentally began preparing the topics and questions to ask, avoiding the obvious and looking to get into his role as a storyteller, an inquisitive sort who has branched into so many different areas. I refreshed myself on the making of the movie and other aspects of his career. When done, I had a draft intro and three pages of questions.Howard Weinstein agreed to look these over, edited them, suggested a few, and I was all set.Last night, the drive to dinner with my friends – Lisa Sponaugle, Steve and Renee Wilson, their sons Ethan and Christian, Ethan’s girlfriend Jessica, Marc Okrand, and Alan Chafin – was during rush hour and rain so it was comical as Steve texted me and Lisa the menu so we could remote order to make up the lost time. Dinner was a rushed affair but wefinished and hustled back into the rain and the Lyric.I was taken backstage and Omar, the tour manager, gave me the rundown right after hitting the play button at precisely 7:30. This was timed very carefully. I was able to chill in the wings, watching at a skewed angle. No sooner does Peter Preston die than I was taken off to the green room. At first, Omar and I reviewed the questions submitted by fans, clearing out duplicates or oddball ones. Additionally, Shatner had a few he wanted sprinkled in to prompt specific stories so those were credited to my pals in the audience. Finally, I was taken to Mr. Shatner’s room, just as he was completing some other conversation. Then, for twenty minutes, I had his undivided attention as we got to know one another. I had introduced him at Shore Leave a few years back but it was a quick greeting back then. We talked about a wide range of topics, things he had recently done and read. We talked the passing of Tom Wolfe and I was telling him about the New Journalism movement. He was telling me about dinner with Steven Hawking. He grew interested in my work on editing the Star Trek comic then my work as a teacher. Along the way, he touched on a point and stopped, saying, “Let’s talk about this onstage.” Meanwhile, James Horner’s soundtrack could be heard on a nearby speaker so just about the time of Spock’s funeral, we posed for this picture, then went backstage. He was micced with a wireless and I was handed a traditional microphone. Then, the end credits began to roll, the image changed, and I heard my muffled introduction, mentioning my editing and writing, a shout out to Crazy 8 Press, and then I was on.I took my seat hearing a few people shout, “Hi Bob!” although I couldn’t see who they were. I gave my introduction and then Bill walked out and began his routine. He clearly had stories well-rehearsed and ready to roll out. He provided background on the first feature and when he groped for a name, turned me. At one point he was talking special effects so I thought he meant Robert Abel whose work added to the film’s woes. He said no then, “What’s wrong with you!?” Apparently, he was looking for Douglas Trumbull.And so the night went. I managed a mere handful of my own questions, a few audience questions, and the ones he wanted. Along the way, the audience laughed and applauded. He addressed me now and then, prompting responses or reactions. I was clearly there to be the straight man and I embraced the part.As he was rolling, he was telling a story which had him proclaiming his love to various people then turned and, “I Love you, too, Bobby.” That’s an audio clip I’d love to have.Omar wanted us to start wrapping around 10:20 but Bill had earlier said he was thinking closer to 10:30 and sure enough, we steered the conversation so he wrapped his final, hysterical story at 10:31.We walked off stage and he paused, shook my hand, and thanked me. He offered up a compliment or two then was herded off to a VIP meet and greet. I went out into the departing crowd and was informed I did well. Everyone had a good time, enjoying both the movie and the conversation.Lisa, an actor, told me I looked and acted just fine and I will take her experienced critique to heart. Me, I got through it without embarrassing myself and enjoyed the entire experience.

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