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American Morning

Talk with William Shatner

Aired March 14, 2002 - 08:41   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: Now on a morning show that prides itself on boldly going where no morning show has gone before. I'm sure you've never heard that before. A Hollywood icon, he has been a starship commander, a cop and a sometimes singing pitchman for priceline.com.

Now, William Shatner is in the new movie "Showtime" with Robert De Niro and Eddie Murphy, in a role where he pokes fun at himself.

Take a look.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WILLIAM SHATNER, ACTOR: You burst in, you stand in the room for the criminals, you do the turn, you toss yourself around, and now you're set. But the trick is, you don't turn your head too far from the camera. Otherwise we'll lose your face. That little lady is your lover. You don't respect her, she won't respect you. You've got to know where she is at all times.

ROBERT DE NIRO, ACTOR: Right now, she's in my way.

EDDIE MURPHY, ACTOR: Westin (ph), what's your problem? You're getting camera tips from T.J. Hooker.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COOPER: That's great, the camera is your lovers. You basically spoof yourself in this movie. Did that make you nervous?

SHATNER: I got so much material to work with. These TV cops, these real cops want to be TV cops, and Rene Russo is the producer, calls in T.J. Hooker, William Shatner, so I play a guy by the name of William Shatner, but who know what is that is.

COOPER: In this movie, you're basically giving acting lessons to Robert De Niro. What does he need to work on?

SHATNER: He needs to work on his face. He needs to work on his body.

COOPER: Does he have promise?

SHATNER: He's a terrific guy. COOPER: You're probably best known in the Captain Kirk role. What do you think it is about that "Star Trek" series which still captivates people's attention?

SHATNER: I don't know. But it must tap certain universalities of emotion, philosophy, something in "Star Trek" that taps into what human beings believe in, because it's popular in so many countries.

COOPER: Do you get sick of people coming up to you on the street, and I'm sure they're like, live long and prosper?

SHATNER: Not visibly sick.

COOPER: You hide it well? You push it deep down inside?

SHATNER: I suppress it.

Anyway, "Showtime" opens on Friday. It's a very funny film. I think if you want to laugh, you'll have a good time.

COOPER: We just got a little clip from a "Saturday Night Live" stint that you did a little ways back. It still looms large in my memory. We're just going to show a little bit of it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SHATNER: Get a life, will you people? I mean, for crying out loud, it just a TV show. I mean, look at you, look at the way you're dressed. You've turned an enjoyable little job that I did as a lark for a few years into a colossal waste of time. I mean, how old are you people?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COOPER: You've written a lot of successful science fiction books. Do you still go to "Star Trek" conventions?

SHATNER: On occasion, I'll go to a convention and try to amuse and amaze them. It's fun. It's like standup comedy.

COOPER: And you have a DVD out now with Leonard Nimoy.

SHATNER: Called "Mind Meld." You can get all the information on my Web site called shatner.com.

COOPER: Which I've actually been to.

SHATNER: And did you like it?

COOPER: Id did. It's you and your daughter.

SHATNER: An interactive murder mystery. Yes, she's writing this ruby, and it's unique. So again, to see something that's different, that you've never really quite seen before, this "mind meld" and the Web sites. COOPER: To a whole new generation, you're probably best known on the priceline.com commercials. Now I understand, you've resigned with them?

SHATNER: Yes, and we're started a whole new campaign. It's going to be amusing and informative.

COOPER: I've got to ask, are you being paid in stock options, or do you want cash this time?

SHATNER: That's another segment of CNN, isn't it?

COOPER: The movie is "Showtime," it opens up this Friday. Thanks very much for being with us. It was a pleasure.

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