Shatner's Toupee fan and regular commenter "RM" (we are delighted that our commenters are starting to sign themselves with user names) recently took it upon himself to use a professional media search tool to dig up some interesting tidbits related to Bill Shatner's toup - the first of which we present to you today. It is a 2004 report from the UK Daily Star, which chronicles Star Trek: The Next Generation actor Patrick Stewart's interview with Frank Skinner of The Frank Skinner Show that same year.
While recalling working with the actor on Star Trek: Generations (1994), Stewart makes the ultimate mistake of mentioning Bill Shatner's toupee - "I guess I am in trouble now" he says. We should add that while Shatner foes like the late James Doohan or George Takei have used the toupee as a blunt instrument to try to hurt or humiliate Shats, here the revelation is entirely innocent - Shatner and Stewart, as far as we understand, got on very well during Star Trek: Generations and have remained friends.
Our thanks to "RM" for this great piece of toupological research. Our honorary degree department is...well, we can't say anymore! Here's the article:
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The Daily Star, December 28, 2004 - page 22.
TO BALDLY GO; STAR TREK KIRK'S WIG SECRET REVEALED
by Peter Dyke
CAPTAIN Kirk really does baldly go where no-one has gone before - because he wears a wig.
Star Trek icon William Shatner's embarrassing secret is revealed in a telly interview tonight.
Fellow Trekkie Patrick Stewart, who plays Captain Jean-Luc Picard in The Next Generation, is grilled about 73-year-old Shatner's barnet on The Frank Skinner Show.
Skinner quizzes Stewart - himself a domehead - about rumours James T Kirk wears a "rug".
He teases: "You have worked in wigs. And I have heard rumours about Bill Shatner that he's got a bit of help up top."
Stewart, 64, reveals he sussed Shatner wore a "syrup" while working together on the movie Star Trek: Generations.
He tells Skinner, 47: "The poster that advertised the film said: 'Two captains. One mission.' I thought it might be fun to fix that caption and for it to say: 'Two captains. One hairpiece.'" But he admits his revelation may land him in hot water with Shatner.
He adds: "I never discussed this with Bill. I guess I am in trouble now."
Shatner has always brushed aside questions about wigs.
He has said: "It's like asking somebody: 'Do you have breast implants?'"
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Naturally, there is a video of this exchange somewhere, which hopefully we will be able to track down eventually.
I read somewhere that Bill´s toupee was displaced at that death scene. Toupological research please!
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