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Shatner Goes After 'Raw Nerve' In New Show

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By WALT BELCHER

The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 2, 2008

There was a time when William Shatner took himself so seriously that no one else did.

This was the Shatner who ran from his Capt. James T. Kirk role on "Star Trek" after the series ended in the 1960s.

This was Shatner the thespian, a man who, in his own mind, was a lot more talented than the parts he was getting in '70s films such as "Kingdom of the Spiders."

After all, he invented a peculiar halting, emotions-over-the-top style of delivering a line. It makes the simplest phrases sound portentous.

It wasn't until Shatner embraced his inner kitsch that we started loving the guy.

In the twilight of his career, after "T.J. Hooker," "Rescue 911" and all those "Star Trek" movie sequels, he began to parody himself.

He became a wily comedian, starring in hilarious Priceline commercials and garnering his first-ever Emmy for playing nutcase lawyer Denny Crane on "Boston Legal."

With "Boston Legal" coming to an end next week, 78-year-old Shatner has a new gig, hosting a celebrity talk show on Bio (formerly the Biography Channel).

"Shatner's Raw Nerve" debuts at 10 tonight. Blunt and charming, he is dogged as he delves in things such as sex, religion, politics and other areas that could touch a raw nerve.

"She was fat and now she isn't," is his introduction of tonight's guest, Valerie Bertinelli.

In an unusual seating arrangement, Shanter is perched in a big comfy chair facing the guest who is seated in a matching chair. And he's not going for light banter. In a discussion of religion with Bertinelli, she says she might go to hell because she has committed adultery.

Upcoming episodes will feature similar intimate moments with Jimmy Kimmel, Judge Judy, Tim Allen, Jon Voight, Kelsey Grammer and former "Star Trek" co-star Leonard Nimoy.

Shatner has been vocal about not being included in the upcoming "Star Trek" prequel, which features Chris Pine as a young Kirk. However, the film's director, J.J. Abrams, has said that he wanted Shatner in the film but the actor wanted more than a cameo.

For more fun with Bill check out his messages at www.williamshatner.com.

JIM IS BACK: Now that "Dancing With the Stars" is over, ABC will fill the void on Tuesday nights with the series that won't die: "According to Jim."

Jim Belushi and company are back with back-to-back episodes from 9 to 10 tonight. Now in its eighth season, "According to Jim" is ABC's longest-running comedy currently on the air.

"NCIS" SPIN: CBS's Tuesday night crime drama "NCIS" has quietly become one of the most popular dramas on television in its sixth season. Talk about a sleeper. It's always had a following but this season the ratings are going through the roof.

CBS is considering a spin-off for next season. "NCIS" has a solid cast headed by likable Mark Harmon as the seasoned and centered Agent Gibbs in the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. He's backed by a team of quirky younger characters including my favorite, geek-Goth forensics whiz Abby Sciuto (Pauley Perrette).

This year's success could be the beginning of a trend in which multilayered plots and fantastic characters are out and old-school dramas like "NCIS" are in.

Series on which crimes are wrapped up each week, the plots don't require heavy lifting and the characters are like family could be drama comfort food in these troubled economic times.

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