I’m working on a new book, and I had to go into my archives for some research. While I was there, I found a story I wrote when I was … 28? 29? Something like that. It’s entirely true, and I love it as much now as I did then.
This was originally published in my first book, Dancing Barefoot, and it appears here online in its entirety for the first time.
I first met William Shatner on the set of Star Trek V back in 1988. I was 16, and had been working on TNG for two years at the time. We were enjoying some success with our show, and I was very proud of the work I was doing. When I found out that the original series cast would be working next door to us for two months, I was beside myself.
Gene Roddenberry was still heavily involved with the production of TNG back then, and he and I were good friends. When I’d pass by his door, it was not uncommon for him to throw an executive out of his office and ask me in for a visit. He knew that I was a fan of the original series, and he knew that I was more than a little intimidated by these actors. He offered several times to make introductions, but I always declined. If I was going to meet these legends of Science Fiction, I was going to do it on my own.
For weeks, I tried to get up the nerve to introduce myself. When I would walk from the stage to my dressing room or school room, I would do it slowly, looking at their stage door, hoping to catch a glimpse of Mister Spock, or Doctor McCoy, or even the legendary Captain Kirk. The few times they did appear, though, I could never find the courage to approach them.
This went on for about six weeks.
Word got around our set that I was too chicken to introduce myself to the original series actors. It became something of a joke, and the crew began to give me some good-natured ribbing about my reluctance. Next Generation was immensely popular at the time, and I was still riding high on the success of Stand by Me. They couldn’t understand why I was so intimidated by these actors – my face was splashed across the cover of every teen magazine in print.
Why was I so intimidated? I was a 16 year-old geek, with a chance to meet The Big Three from Star Trek. You do the math.
One afternoon, while I was sitting outside stage 9 talking with Mandy, my costumer, they opened the huge stage door across the way, and I could see right into the set of Star Trek V. It was a large area, like a cargo bay, filled with extras and equipment. It was quite different from our set, but it was unmistakably The Enterprise. Standing in the middle of it all was William Shatner. He held a script open like it was a holy text. The way he gestured with his hands, I could tell that he was setting up a shot and discussing it with the camera crew.
I waited for the familiar rush of nerves, but it didn’t come. Seeing him as a director and not as Captain Kirk put me at ease. I knew that this was my moment. If I didn’t walk over and introduce myself right then, I would never do it.
I was wearing the grey “acting ensign” space suit, unzipped with the sleeves tied around my waist. That costume was quite uncomfortable, so I’d take the top half off whenever I got the chance. Because it was a jumpsuit, I would tie the sleeves around my waist, and wear a lightweight fleece jacket, zipped up to cover the embarrassing muscle suit the producers had me wear.
We all wore those muscle suits, but I think I was the most traumatized by it. I’ve always been a very slight person without much muscle mass (even now, at age 30, I weigh 145 pounds at 5’10”) and having to wear all that thick padding did little to improve my fragile teenage self esteem.
I turned to Mandy, and took off my fleece. I asked her to zip up my spacesuit, and fasten the collar. If I was going to meet William Shatner, I was going to do it looking as “Starfleet regulation” as I could.
She made sure my costume looked good enough for camera, and wished me good luck. I got a high-five from one of the teamsters as I confidently walked across the street and into the cargo bay of the Enterprise 1701-A.
It took about eight steps for my confidence to evaporate. Surrounded by extras in Starfleet dress, standing next to a shuttlecraft, William Shatner, director, was immediately transformed into Captain Kirk, intergalactic legend. I was transformed from Wil Wheaton, fellow actor and film industry professional, into Wil Wheaton, drooling fanboy and Star Trek geek.
I looked around. I guess I blended in well, because nobody had noticed me. I turned to make my escape, and bumped into a still photographer who had worked on TNG the first season.
“Hey, Wil. What are you doing here?” he asked.
I swallowed, and looked at the stage door.
“Oh, uh, I just came over to, um, look around, and, uh, stuff.” I said. I shuffled my feet, and began to move back toward the familiarity of my own spaceship.
“Well, as long as you’re here, you should meet Mr. Shatner!”
Mr. Shatner? Who was Mr. Shatner? There’s no Mr. Shatner here, just Captain Kirk and several Starfleet officers.
He turned toward Captain Kirk, and called out, “Hey! Bill! Come here a second!”
My heart began to beat rapidly, as he turned toward us. Captain Kirk looked right at me. I froze. He gave his book to someone, and began to walk in our direction. I involuntarily straightened my back, and sucked in my stomach. My muscle suit felt tight and awkward around my arms and chest.
Within seconds he was standing next to us. He was about my height, and looked heavier than he did on television.
Captain James T. Kirk of the starship Enterprise said, “What can I do for you?”
“Well, Bill, this is Wil Wheaton. He’s part of the cast of The Next Generation, and he’d like to meet you.”
Captain Kirk looked at me for a long time.
“So, you’re the kid on that show?” He seemed annoyed.
My throat and mouth were dry, and my palms were sweating. My heart pounded in my ears, as I answered. “Uh, yes, sir. My name’s Wil.”
He continued to look at me. I carefully wiped my hand on the hip of my spacesuit, and extended it. “Nice to meet you,” I said.
He didn’t take my hand.
“What is that, your spacesuit?” He said, and made a sound that was somewhere between a laugh and a cough.
“Oh? This? Yeah. It’s not as cool as yours, but it’s what they tell me to wear.” I put my hand down. I really wanted to leave. I felt a little light headed. Why wouldn’t Captain Kirk shake my hand? And why didn’t he like my spacesuit? Could he see the fake muscles? Maybe he didn’t like the color. I became hyper-aware of the spandex, clinging to my body, and longed for the comfort of my fleece jacket.
“Well?” He asked.
Oh no. He’d asked me a question, and I’d missed it.
“Excuse me?” I replied.
“I said, what do you do over there?” he asked. There was a challenge in his voice.
“Oh, uh, well, I’m an acting ensign, and I sometimes pilot the ship.” Maybe he’d be impressed that I’d already logged several hours at the helm of the Enterprise D, all before the age of 16.
“Well, I’d never let a kid come onto my bridge.” He said, and walked away.
Captain James Tiberius Kirk, of the Starship Enterprise 1701, and Enterprise 1701-A, the only person in Starfleet to ever defeat the Kobiyashi Maru, the man behind the Corbomite Maneuver, the man who took the Enterprise to the Genesis planet to return Spock’s katra, the man who I had admired since I was eight years old, was immediately transformed into WILLIAM FUCKING SHATNER.
I bit my lip, and turned to say good-bye to the still photographer who had made the introduction, but he had vanished as well.
I walked back to my own stage with my head down, avoiding eye contact the entire way. When I got to the entrance, I found Mandy, and asked her to unzip my costume, so I could put my fleece back on.
As she unzipped the back, she said, “did you get to meet William Shatner?”
“Yeah.” I didn’t want to let on that I was upset.
“What’s wrong?” she asked, as she handed me my fleece jacket. There was concern in her eyes.
“Well . . .” I hesitated. Saying it out loud would make it real. “He was a dick to me.”
Her eyes widened, and she gasped. “What?! Why? What happened?!”
I fought back tears, and recounted our introduction.
“What an asshole!” She said, “Oh, Wil, I am so sorry!”
I nodded my head, and she gave me a hug. I drew a deep breath, shrugged my shoulders, and walked back to my trailer, where I sat down and cried. I had spent weeks getting up the courage to meet this man, and in less than five minutes he had insulted and humiliated me. He had reduced me from peer to peon. I had worn my stupid costume, thinking that it would matter to him, and he’d made fun of it.
15 minutes later, an assistant director knocked on my door, and told me that they were ready for me on the set. I stood up, wiped my face off, and told him that I’d need to make a quick stop at the makeup trailer on my way. He radioed this information to the 1st AD, and told me to hurry.
I walked to the makeup trailer, taking great pains to look at the ground, the walls, the sky . . . anything that would keep my head turned away from the Star Trek V stage.
I sat in the chair, and my makeup artist, Jana, began to touch me up. “I heard about what Shatner did to you.” she said. “Fuck him. He’s a jerk, and has been for years. He’s probably just jealous that you’re younger, better looking, and more famous than he is.”
I sighed. I didn’t want him to be a jerk, and I didn’t think that he was jealous of anything. I was certain that I’d done something wrong.
“I guess so.” I said, as noncommittally as I could.
She put down her makeup sponge, and turned the chair away from the mirror, so I was facing her. She looked me in the eye, and said, “Don’t let him upset you, Wil. He’s not worth it.”
“Okay,” I lied. I knew I was going to be upset about this for a long time.
“Okay,” she said, and dusted my nose with translucent powder.
I walked into the stage, and took my seat on the bridge of the Enterprise D, next to Brent Spiner.
“I heard about Shatner,” Brent said.
Jesus, was this on the news or something?
“Yeah,” I said.
“You know he wears a toupee, right?”
I giggled. “No, I didn’t know that.”
“Yep. He’s balder than old baldy up there.” He tossed a gold thumb over his shoulder at Patrick.
I giggled some more, as the stored up adrenaline coursed through my veins. “Boy, that’s pretty bald.”
“Yep.” Brent put his hands up on his console.
The first AD said, “This will be picture,” and we all focused.
“Picture is up! Very quiet please!” He shouted, “Roll camera!”
“25 apple, take 1,” the sound mixer said, “Sound has speed!”
The camera assistant clapped the slate.
“Action!” said the director.
Patrick entered from his Ready Room, and walked to the captain’s chair.
“Mister Crusher, take us out of orbit, and lay in a course for the Ramatis system, warp 6” He said.
“Aye sir,” my fingers danced over the CONN. “Course laid in, sir.”
“Make it so, Mister Crusher.”
The camera creaked back on the dolly track, as the Enterprise D went to warp speed.
“Cut! Great! New deal!” the director said.
“Wrong set! We are moving to the Observation lounge for scene 55!” said the 1st AD, “The actors can relax for about 10 minutes.”
On my way back to my trailer, the DGA trainee stopped me. “Gene Roddenberry would like you to call his office, Wil.”
“Okay.”
I changed direction, and walked to the stage phone. My heart began to beat hard in my chest. Had Gene heard too? WILLIAM FUCKING SHATNER had known Gene for over 20 years . . . if Gene knew that I’d upset him, maybe Gene would be upset at me, too!
I passed the craft service table, setup behind the starfield that hung next to the Ten-Forward set. Michael Dorn and Jonathan Frakes were pouring cups of coffee.
“To hell with him, W,” Jonathan said. I love it when he calls me “W.”
“To hell with who?” Michael asked.
“Shatner shit all over Teen Idol,” Jonathan told him.
Beneath his latex Klingon forehead, Michael rolled his eyes. “You want me to kick his ass, Wil?”
“No, that’s okay. Thanks, though.” I said.
“I’ve got your back, man,” Michael said.
I dialed Gene’s office, and told his secretary that I was returning Gene’s call.
“He’s expecting your call. Just a second, Wil.” There were two clicks, and Gene’s soft, gentle, friendly voice was in my ear.
“Hi Wil, how are you?”
“I’m okay. How are you?”
“Fine, fine. I understand that you had some words with Bill Shatner today.”
Oh my god. Was he going to be mad at me?
“Uh . . . yeah . . .” I said.
“Wil, Bill Shatner is an ass, don’t you worry about him, okay? I am proud to have you on my show. Don’t you ever forget that.”
Did Gene just call WILLIAM FUCKING SHATNER an ass? And then he said that he was proud of me?
“Gosh, Gene, thanks,” was the best I could do.
“Come by my office soon, okay?”
“Okay.”
“See you then.” He hung up.
I began to feel better. Although a childhood hero had kicked me in the nuts, a bunch of people who I cared about and respected had all made efforts to put it in perspective. I felt loved, and protected.
The next day, when I got to work, there was an envelope on my dressing room table. It was addressed “To Master Wil Wheaton” and was “From the Office of William Shatner.”
I dropped my backpack, and tore it open.
Inside, there was a single three by eight note card. The Paramount Pictures logo was stamped into the top in blue, and “William Shatner” was stamped into the bottom in gold.
There was a message typed on the card, which said,
Dear Wil,
You are a fine young actor, and I would be honored to have you on my bridge any day.
Sincerely yours,
Bill
He’d signed it in ink. Blue ink. My mouth hung open, and my hands trembled a bit. I held it up to the light, to make sure it was real. The phone rang.
“Hello?”
“Wil? It’s Gene,” I recognized his voice immediately.
“Good morning Gene,” I said.
“I spoke with Bill Shatner yesterday, and he should be dropping a note off for you today.”
“It’s already here,” I said. I read it to him.
“Good. You are a fine young actor,” he said. “See you later.”
I couldn’t believe it. Gene Roddenberry, creator of Star Trek and The Great Bird of the Galaxy, had called WILLIAM FUCKING SHATNER, Captain James T. Kirk and director of Star Trek V, and asked him to apologize to me, Wil Wheaton, 16 year-old acting ensign and drooling fan boy. Of all the wonderful gifts Gene gave me across the years, that is one of the most fondly remembered, because I know that without Gene’s intervention that note never would have been written.
In 2002, Bill and I played together on a special Star Trek edition of the game show Weakest Link. He was friendly and warm toward me the entire time. Several months later, I asked him on Slashdot, “Are we cool, or what? I mean, I always thought you didn’t like me, but I had a good time with you at Weakest Link watching the World Series. So are we cool, or was that just pre-game strategy?” He replied: “We are so cool, we’re beyond cool. We are in orbit man. I don’t do pre-game strategy. I look forward to some personal time with you.
Here I am, with Paul and Storm, performing this in 2011:
Here’s a comment I posted to my Facebook:
I’ve spent plenty of time with Bill in the years between when I wrote about this, and the last episode of BBT we did together. It’s been, like, maybe a dozen times, if that.
Every time, he’s been kind toward me, engaging once or twice, and never cruel or dismissive. We aren’t buddies, but we’re cordial. I’m okay with that.
I’m not okay with how he treats people on social media, and I’m deeply disappointed that he seems to have lost the central meaning of Star Trek at some point in his life. But that’s not what any of this is about. This is a story that I am going to go ahead and call “a good story” that’s entertaining, true, and fun to tell.
What a great story. I’m so sorry your experience meeting William Shatner was such a bad one. Fighting back tears can be so hard when we get a chance to talk to someone we once idolized and they talk to us like we are garbage and somehow beneath them. It’s really too bad when people have decided that they are better than you when they really know nothing about you. It sounds like your next interaction with him was much more pleasant of an experience. I’m glad that you had some closure for that situation.
PS Never noticed the muscle suit so it must have been subtle enough to at least pass muster in a teenage girl’s eyes.
I fucking love this.
This is a great story. I really enjoyed reading it, as it parallels some experiences I had working with more high profile actors. Thank you for sharing it.
And I STILL teared up just like last time. <3<3<3
I used to work in concert production. I always dreaded working with bands and artists that I was a fan of their music just in case they pulled this kind of crap. Darrius Fucking Rucker
I remember reading that story in your book. Your experience shows how important are the people in our lives. There’s a terrible narrative that we’re not supposed to care what others think and say about us or to us, but we’re too connected to each other for that narrative to be anything about harmful.
Your story also shows what a strength that connection is: “Although a childhood hero had kicked me in the nuts, a bunch of people who I cared about and respected had all made efforts to put it in perspective. I felt loved, and protected.” That and Mr. Roddenberry’s extraordinary understanding and efforts to re-set what. happened to you are powerful reminders how important it is to be kind from our souls.
Great story! However, I would have had Worf lay some Klingon smack down on Kirk … just sayin’ … he had it coming 😉
You are SO the man.
Heh, I just couldn’t help mapping this on to the Big Bang story line where Sheldon Cooper was off to meet his idol. Will Wheaton, but, alas, there was no mention of mee-maws.
While I was in the US Navy in the late 1970s I got an Apple ][+ with the Language Card and UCSD Pascal. That changed my life, aiming me solidly toward Engineering and Computer Science. When I left active duty I went to UC San Diego because of Professor Ken Bowles, the creator of UCSD Pascal. I even had him as a professor in a Freshman Pascal class, but never got to meet him, as he was running one company, starting another, and was teaching an undergrad class to meet his minimum teaching requirements then disappearing, letting his TAs carry the load.
I was a bit bummed, to say the least. A decade later the UCSD School of Engineering was raising money for a new building complex by selling engraved pavers that would be laid in the main plaza. I bought several, dedicating one to each of the professors who had influenced me most, including Dr, Ken Bowles.
Additional years passed while construction proceeded, and eventually we donors were sent maps showing where our pavers would be set. Immediately after which UCSD contacted me to be in a news story about the pavers and the new buildings. The day before, I was told it would be with Dr, Ken Bowles (an Emeritus professor by then, long since retired) and would include lunch at the Faculty Club.
Finally got to meet one of my heroes, and we hung out for most of a day. He looked very much as he did when he was my professor 20 years prior. I suppose then he was stressed, and now he was relaxed, enjoying life. We talked about many things, but what I remember most was his wife’s garden.
Meeting one’s heroes doesn’t always go as planned, but it’s truly great when it works out eventually.
I love this story from end to end!
But if Leonard Nimoy was ever mean, I don’t think I could handle it….
It’s just so wrong to treat a kid that way, and particularly a sensitive, impressionable one, who idol worshipped him. I wonder what happened with him in the intervening years that he was so pleasant to you in 2002 during the game show. Back in the day I read a lot about Nimoy and Shatner’s relationship. I don’t remember much, except one story that went around of Shatner taking out the pain of his father’s death on Nimoy; “Someone give that man an aspirin” during the Spock mind-meld Horta scene of The Devil in the Dark: “Pain, so much pain”. I know both of them suffered from tinnitus after explosions on another episode. Shatner at one point wasn’t sure he could go on in the agony it caused.
That’s not to excuse him in any way. But the juxtaposition of those two points in time where he was completely changed, is awesome.
Great story that shows the importance of being kind.
Ah, I do remember reading this way back when.
I had the pleasure of being friends with a key grip on one or two of the TOS movies. Thanks to him, I had the rare treat of visiting the set one day. It is a fond memory for many reasons. One being that I never met my heroes. I did meet a lot of very nice people (some of whom were in costume – something that was a bit…startling at the time).
Shatner has always been one of those personas that I very carefully separate from character. Why? You just laid it out perfectly.
You also very clearly laid out the reality that there were then, as there are now, a lot of very nice people who take the time to care about those around them. It is one of the reasons so many of us admire so many from TNG.
Wil, I totally understand how you felt about meeting Shatner…I’d feel the same way about meeting YOU! I’m glad things went better for you the next time you got to meet him!
You made me cry. Thanks. (I mean that in a good way.)
Thanks for reposting this story Wil. It was good to reread. Your work continues to gives me hope, joy and inspiration. Thank you!
I love this story and the friends you had on set on Next Gen! I do sympathize though. One time I met this actor named Wil on a cruise ship and went from being a professional woman in upper management to one who could barely string a sentence together. Fortunately for me, my encounter was very nice!
GREAT FUCKING STORY!!!!!
I just love how your friends loved young Wil!
I absolutely adore this story and it makes me love the cast of TNG more than I already did (if this is even possible).
That is a wonderful story. Thank you for sharing it.
What a relief that it turned out so well after all! I was always bothered by his actions on your behalf and it is nice to know that you guys are now on good terms.
I love this story! I have always liked you Wil, over Shatner anyway. Rather meet you than him that’s for sure!
I have heard many times that Shatner was/is difficult. I raised my kids on Trek and when we saw him at con, my eldest came to the conculsion that he was an ass. That is one of the bad things about meeting celebrities. Often, they do not live up to your expectations. I find the opposite is true more often. I haven’t met you yet but after your panel in Denver, I have been waiting for another opportuinity to meet you.
I am sad that Shatner treated a fellow actor so badly when that actor was still a child. I love that TNG cast all stood by you and helped you handle it and huge KUDOS to Gene. What a class act.
I love that performance of your story with Paul & Storm. I rewatch it every once in a while and it always makes me smile!
I’m glad everyone had your back and offered support the day William Fucking Shatner shat on you. That’s more important than Shatner NOT being a douche the next time.
Good story, and thanks for sharing. 🙂
Well written and from the heart. Kudos. You’re as fine a writer as you are an actor. I enjoyed the hell out of this.
As part of my own recovery, I’ve been reading about narcissists. They put other people through hell, but their own mental systems are pretty messed up … they’re not happy, but they can’t even begin to fix what they don’t acknowledge.
You’ve not only worked on yourself, you’ve reached outward to try to help others throughout the years. You’re a hell of a guy, Wil.
Hah! That’s a sad yet great story- so many great friends to support you despite the disappointment. My high school bf’s sister was WILLIAM FUCKING SHATNER’S personal assistant, so we got to see Star Trek V with the cast preview. It was the worst of the ST movies, sadly, and Shatner was too busy w his horses to show up, but lots of gossipy stories were told about him. And one of the female Klingons was there- very intimidating in person!
This reminds of the time I tried to meet Patrick Duffy. I was a film student aspiring actor/screenwriter in 1987, when – as a member of a Dallas talent agency – I landed an extra’s part on the set of (what else?) Dallas. They were filming at an upscale restaurant in Dallas’ West End, and I thought I’d approach Duffy to get his autograph for my mother who was a big fan. During a break in filming, I got close and politely and meekly addressed him. He blurted out “What?” He had been engaged in conversation with a co-star. He then looked at me briefly and emitted a disparaging glare. My autograph attempt was aborted – and I suddenly didn’t care. I glared back at his perfectly-coiffed head and thought he wasn’t worthy of getting his autograph for my mother. He was nothing but an obnoxious overpaid, over-hyped Hollywood figure, and my mother was too good for his smarmy signature.
Gossip columnist Liz Smith once commented “these people” (meaning celebrities) weren’t really that fascinating. I used to enjoy how Jay Leno often mocked his celebrity guests who were usually too brainless and self-absorbed to realize how stupid they looked.
You were better than William Shatner, Wil – then and now!
Thank you Wil, this is a fantastic story! It’s kinda well known that Shatner is not exactly a warm guy. Bold, though? That I didn’t know! X–D
Great story, well told. And on behalf of Canada, we’re sorry.
Ok, I wasn’t expecting tears, but here we are.
I am REALLY glad to hear that Michael Dorn and Jonathan Frakes and Brent Spiner and Gene Roddenberry are all such wonderful people, and to hell with William Fucking Shatner. I will treasure the thought of Dorn offering to kick ass for you.
+1 to this. Hearing that these other three guys didn’t hesitate to give their support, but also turned out to be even BETTER than I’d imagined was heartening. Especially knowing that they didn’t mind a “kid” being their peer makes me love this cast even more.
There’s so much to love in the post, Wil. My favorite, though, was Brent Spiner, then Michael Dorn then Jonathan Frakes boosting you. Heck of a crew you had there. Love them all so much more that I did 10 minutes ago.
I choose to believe every word of this story as the gospel truth, because it reinforces my view that TNG is superior to TOS in every way, including clearly the cast being superior humans.
I am so moved by what you wrote, what you went through Wil. I’m so disappointed that Bill was such an asshole to you. My heart aches for the pain you had. But I am also encouraged by the way the TNG cast and crew had your back. Amazing how protective they were of you. Who doesn’t want Michael Dorn in their corner? I remember Mr. Rogers saying “Look for the helpers”. Look how many were there! Such amazing friends. You may have felt (like most of us did at that age) like you were nothing special. But obviously a lot of people thought you were, and cared deeply for you. Thank you so much for sharing this story.
Great story, Will. REALLY great story! More, please.
Wil sometimes anyone can be misunderstood at any given moment! Bill was having a bad day and stepped on you not knowing your state of mind then. He most likely felt rather shitty when they told him about it. I don’t think Gene gave him the business about it. That was bills idea I’m sure.
WFS was the adult. Bad day or not, he didn’t have to abuse a kid.
I did notice that the note did not contain a statement of apology of any kind, or any ownership of his mistreatment of a person who was at once a professional peer and a fan. That says a lot. Coerced or not, Shatner didn’t admit that he did something wrong. When people don’t acknowledge and own what they do (for better or worse), they can’t grow as people.
I’ve heard you read this. Still brings tears to my eyes. You rock, dude!
I love this story and also the book that it was in. I can’t wait for your new book, whenever it’s ready!
I love that the TNG cast had your back. It’s good to know that they are kind people.
wil, i love this story so SO very much! thank you for sharing.
It’s a pity he had to be a dick to a kid. I comprehend that some actors don’t like fans, but have some human decency.
Your real Trek family stood up for you.
Times like this, I separate the real life actor from his character, or I couldn’t watch a show. I’ve had to do it with plenty of actors. They’re human. Some are great (Connor Trinneer for example) and some are dicks.
This is so crazy. I originally read this when I was still living in Minneapolis, reading your blog very regularly, and before I ever moved to LA and met any of my idols. Finally I did, and was a 20-something fanboy casually running into the likes of Kevin Nealon at the gym (he was awesome), Lucy Liu at the Indian restaurant (she was awesome), and finally you at a show at ACME (you were the awesomest). My only “dick celebrity” moment was after I finally managed to get real acting work, and I’m on the set of “Community” and ran into Chevy Chase, and the scene played out very similarly to yours. It’s a great story though, just like yours.
Wil, you’re still an idol of mine. You and Neil Patrick Harris were the two biggest inspirations to me, a small town kid from Wisconsin, to follow my dreams out to the bright lights of Hollywood. Thanks for that.
*Also met NPH and crazy number of random times. One of those is my most embarrassing story. Also a good one. Let me know if you want to hear it sometime 😉
“You want me to kick his ass”…I so love Michael..
That was a great story! They say you should never meet your heroes…but I’m glad it turned out okay.
Happiness is seeing a post on wilwheaton.net pop up in your feed.
Great story, and loved seeing you tell it live. But I am glad you guys ended up being cool in the end (re: 2002).
I am just watching your latest (old) stream on Twitch while typing this, and look forward to further streams/videos/etc from you Mr. WilW 🙂 .
P.S. Jokes for the day:
“What do you call a boat that carries nothing but p3nls shaped potatoes? A Dictatorship!”
“What do you call the first baby born on said ship? A Dictater-tot.”
WFS indeed. F him.