S (Part 1)

 S (Part 1)

Welcome back my loyal band of followers. 

Today we recall the very real ups and downs of meeting your heroes. 

Today we recall meeting:

William Shatner

Martin Sheen

Armin Shimerman

Alexander Siddig

William Shatner

As you may well know, I’ve been watching Star Trek for over 50 years and the original series was my gateway drug. Following the adventures of Captain Kirk and Mr Spock and then seeing the Star Trek universe expand over the years, have brought me great pleasure.  

So, it’s my first Star Trek convention, 2016, and I’m faced with very long queues, a distinct lack of understanding how things work, but the expectation of meeting George Takei, Walter Koenig and William Shatner.  I’ve already written about meeting Walter and I’ll save my George story for the appropriate point in this journal.  Which leaves Shatner. Or was it just his waxwork.  He just sat there, not acknowledging your presence in any way. Not even a flick of the eyes in your direction. Nothing. You walked in, stood near him, they clicked the photo and away you went.  Was it worth it? No. 

But for meeting Walter and George, who were both much more human, that weekend would have been a huge disappointment and I might never have gone again. But I did…but never to see Shatner.

Martin Sheen

The security around Martin Sheen, at a convention in 2019, was remarkable. I’m not sure it was at his request but anyway, the chance to  meet Martin Sheen was not going to be missed no matter how many levels of burly guards you had to navigate. As I watched them set up the photo shoot I thought it was going to be Shatner all over again. Mr Sheen sitting behind the desk, you thrown in and then dragged out the other side, no time to talk, or have any real contact with him. But I had a secret weapon! I had my ‘Bartlet For America’ shirt on.  As Mr Sheen walked toward his desk he was scanning the crowd, smiling and nodding and then he stopped and pointed at me, my shirt, and put his thumbs up, a big smile on his face. But that wasn’t  the end. When my turn came to be thrown into the frame for the photo, he turned in his chair and shook my hand and pointing at the logo said ‘thanks for that: if only’.  Now that’s how to be a film star Mr Shatner. 

Armin Shimerman 

I don’t think there are many people that I’ve met at conventions who seem as chatty and genuine as Armin Shimerman. A brilliant character actor who has appeared in series like Hill Street Blues, Cagney & Lacey, Beauty and the Beast, but it is as Quark, the Ferengi bar owner, in Star Trek :DS9  that he will be best remembered I guess. It was a pleasure to meet him. 

Alexander Siddig

I get to tell one of my favourite convention stories now. I’ll start by saying Alexander Siddig is the only celeb I’ve queued to meet on three separate occasions. I just love the guy. Anyway, I’m waiting in line  to get this photo taken and the man organising the queues was one of those jobsworths types. No patience and no sense of the happiness that most convention goers bring with them. 

He’s repeatedly shouting, ‘queue here for Siddig’ and we are all trying our best to obey his instructions and then, over his shoulder, I see the man himself appear. Walking towards us, that warm smile on his face, he taps the shouting man on the shoulder. The man turns and Mr Siddig asks, ‘Is this the queue for Siddig?’  Yes came the shrill reply, just get in line - and he points to the queue and so Mr Siddig obliges and comes and stands in the queue next to me. Well I’m almost crying with laughter, but I get a wink from the star, an arm around the shoulder, and then he starts chatting to everyone around him.  Eventually he makes his apologies and goes to prepare for the photoshoot.  Yep, Sid is a class act.  Up yours Shatner. 

Next week I recall meeting

Marina Sirtis

Helen Slater

Brent Spiner