Author Topic: Vintage William Shatner (Read 2444 times)

Fedya · « **on:** May 07, 2009, 10:07:44 PM »

Long before he danced on Show Me the Money or threw furniture around in the Winners' Circle, William Shatner had dreams of being a serious actor. One of the movies he made in those early days, The Explosive Generation, airs May 8 at 11:30 AM ET on TCM.

Shatner plays a high school teacher who lets his students write about what they want and, they being teenagers, mostly write about... sex. Word of this eventually reaches the parents, who are naturally horrified (this is 1961, after all), and the usual controversies about what to do with a teacher who has his students do things that make their parents uncomfortable.

Obviously, for fans of game shows, or Star Trek, it's interesting to see Shatner doing serious work. However, those who enjoy classic cinema will also want to watch the main female student. That's Patty McCormack, who has had a long movie career -- most recently appearing as Pat Nixon in Frost/Nixon, but having been a child star early on, notably as one of the movies' most evil children in The Bad Seed.

Matt Ottinger · « **Reply #1 on:** May 07, 2009, 10:41:06 PM »

[quote name=\'Fedya\' post=\'215219\' date=\'May 7 2009, 10:07 PM\']That's Patty McCormack, who has had a long movie career -- most recently appearing as Pat Nixon in Frost/Nixon, but having been a child star early on, notably as one of the movies' most evil children in The Bad Seed.[/quote]
Not to be confused with Pat McCormick, the (ObGameShow) I've Got A Secret staffer who became a writer for Johnny Carson, onscreen foil for Burt Reynolds, and -- coming full circle -- frequent game show panelist.

calliaume · « **Reply #2 on:** May 08, 2009, 04:23:31 PM »

[quote name=\'Fedya\' post=\'215219\' date=\'May 7 2009, 09:07 PM\']Patty McCormack, who has had a long movie career -- most recently appearing as Pat Nixon in Frost/Nixon, but having been a child star early on, notably as one of the movies' most evil children in The Bad Seed.[/quote]
Readers here might remember her best as Jeffrey Tambor's wife on The Ropers during that spinoff's brief run.

(ObGameShow)She appeared on a celebrity Family Feud ep when the casts of The Ropers and Angie clashed. There were no survivors.

Jimmy Owen · « **Reply #3 on:** May 08, 2009, 05:44:43 PM »

Thanks for the heads-up on this. Also in the cast: Steve Dunne who hosted "Double Exposure" and "Truth of Consequences" (primetime while Barker was working the day shift) among other games.

Jay Temple · « **Reply #4 on:** May 09, 2009, 10:53:19 PM »

[quote name=\'calliaume\' post=\'215258\' date=\'May 8 2009, 03:23 PM\'][quote name=\'Fedya\' post=\'215219\' date=\'May 7 2009, 09:07 PM\']Patty McCormack, who has had a long movie career -- most recently appearing as Pat Nixon in Frost/Nixon, but having been a child star early on, notably as one of the movies' most evil children in The Bad Seed.[/quote]
Readers here might remember her best as Jeffrey Tambor's wife on The Ropers during that spinoff's brief run.

(ObGameShow)She appeared on a celebrity Family Feud ep when the casts of The Ropers and Angie clashed. There were no survivors.
[/quote]
Ah, yes, the low point for casting on FF specials (at least during the Dawson era). Understandably, the boy who played their young son wasn't on the team. However, this left a vacancy which was filled by ... the girl at the hot tub. Yes, I actually consider this worse than the Welcome Back Kotter team that didn't have Gabe Kaplan and the Gilligan's Island team that didn't have Bob Denver.

rwalker · « **Reply #5 on:** May 10, 2009, 01:03:50 PM »

He wanted to boldly go where no man had went before.