The world has gone mad.
Who would have guessed that William Shatner would be a better talk-show host than Rosie O'Donnell is a variety-show host?
Capt. Kirk has a bizarrely intense, oddly addictive style. Not only does he keep us guessing what sort of soft baritone profundity/insanity might escape his lips, he plays well with others. In his new chat show, Shatner's Raw Nerve, Tuesdays on Biography (channel 134 on Time Warner's digital-cable tier), he aims to hit the nerves of celebrity guests with personal questions that others might not have the nerve to ask.
Rosie, meanwhile, scuttled the dream of reviving the variety show last week with her seriously misguided hour typified by Conan O'Brien taking a pie in the face.
Shatner, a.k.a. Denny Crane, Capt. James T. Kirk, T.J. Hooker, commercial pitchman and camp spoken-word recording artist, brings unexpected enthusiasm to the task of debriefing C-list celebrities. The goal is to avoid actors pushing books and movies, and instead to plumb their deepest secrets, childhood memories and personal philosophies. The shameless Shatner, a multimedia success who puts his self-deprecating sense of humor on display in clever commercials, now goes a step further.
In last week's premiere episodes -- which will be repeated today at 11 and 11:30 p.m. -- Shatner did back-to-back half-hours with Valerie Bertinelli and Tim Allen
He quizzed Bertinelli on adultery and drug addiction. Grilling a mid-level and descending celebrity on her theories on religion -- as if he's going to elicit some timeless quotation -- he leans in intently. David Frost didn't apply such gravitas to Richard Nixon.
In the next new episodes, at 10 and 10:30 p.m. Tuesday, he talks with former porn star Jenna Jameson and talk-show host Jimmy Kimmel.
In future half-hours he'll talk to Drew Carey, Howie Mandel, Judge Judy, Kelsey Grammer, Jon Voight and fellow Star Trek alum Leonard Nimoy. Shatner wants us to know that he's not just going to plug their latest DVD.
In taking on this interviewer role, Shatner joins the ranks of empathetic, smart and curious talkers who do well in the format.
Ellen DeGeneres, the Everywoman who gets along equally with stars and unknowns, takes the unassuming approach. Larry King, a softball shmoozer who seems to worship fame, positions himself as a confidant to the stars.
Charlie Rose stands at the intellectual end of the spectrum; Dr. Phil plays the know-it-all authority figure talking down to the less fortunate.
James Lipton depicts the self-important, Serious interviewer who has done vastly more homework than necessary. David Letterman gets away with being the not-particularly-interested host.
They are all well-compensated conversationalists of different sorts. But Shatner? He may be having the most fun.
Speaking of Denny Crane, Boston Legal will sign off tonight because of creator David Kelley's wise decision to quit while ahead. It concludes with back-to-back episodes wrapping up the five seasons.
Amazingly, this is the first time since the 1980s that Kelley won't have a show in the works.
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