To Be Takei
by Spencer Blohm
For Trekkies everywhere, George
Takei is an icon. His role as Sulu in the original Star Trek television series in
the 1960s has earned him the respect and adoration of sci-fi junkies worldwide.
However, it's his life post-Star Trek life that's the focus of a new
documentary called To Be Takei, which is premiering and airing
exclusively on Direct TV from July 3rd through August 5th. Don't worry
though, Trekkies, there's plenty of Trek talk in the documentary to keep your
attention.
Being Asian-American and gay in the
years post-WWII were difficult for George, and he struggled to find work as a
minority actor. Of course, we all know Takei received his big break in 1965,
when he was cast as Hikaru Sulu in the second pilot for a little-known show
called Star Trek. Although the original
series only lasted for three years, it's the role that has defined his career,
and one he's reprised numerous times in the Star Trek films and series
that followed the original. Some of the most exciting parts of To Be Takei are
the interviews with his former costars Walter Koenig, Nichelle Nichols, Leonard
Nimoy, and his long-time verbal sparring partner, William Shatner. Takei and
Shatner have been feuding on and off for over forty years, so managing to
convince Shatner to sit down and be interviewed in a film about Takei was a
praise-worthy feat for filmmaker Jennifer Kroot. While the bad blood between
the two actors may likely never be fully cast aside, it provides entertainment
for fans who, no doubt, enjoy the two gentlemen's witty barbs at each other.
The film wouldn't be complete
without discussing George's LGBT advocacy, something he's relatively new to
after publicly coming out at the age of 68 in 2005. As one of the most
influential and well-liked personalities on social media, he has been using
those various platforms to spread his message of tolerance and love, all with
his signature tongue-in-cheek humor.
Another aspect to the film is George's resurgence into popular
culture, thanks to his regular appearances on The Howard Stern show and his Facebook
page, which has been "liked" more than 7 million times.
Beyond Facebook, George has become a regular source of entertainment on Twitter
and YouTube, where his channel is filled with videos ranging from a cover of "Let It Go" to him reading passages from 50 Shades of Grey. The title of the film
is even a play on one of his
famous YouTube videos where he takes on Tennessee's "Don't Say
Gay" bill, by encouraging fans to simply say "Takei" instead of "gay."
His online popularity is so massive, AARP hired him to star in a web series for
them called "Takei's Take", which is about to
debut its second season.
All
the jokes and celebrity aside, To Be Takei also shows a touchingly
personal side to a man best known for a dirty joke or two. Viewers get a look
at Takei's life with his husband, and partner of 25 years, Brad Altman. The two
have drastically different personalities, which makes their bickering all the
more endearing and funny to watch. For fans looking to get a better look at the
man we all know as Sulu, To Be Takei is a fun, entertaining, and deeply
personal way to get to know George Takei.
Spencer Blohm has
been a lifelong Trekkie, thanks in large part to his father's avid sci-fi
addiction. He lives and works in Chicago with his cat—who, despite his best
attempts, is sorely disappointing as the Spock to his Captain Kirk.
Labels: George Takei, Star Trek
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home