3Is it okay if I have this ridiculous fangirl moment?
While reading Nimoy’s I Am Spock, I came upon this passage about the early episodes of Star Trek and how the characters Kirk and Spock weren’t quite in sync yet:
…the conflict kept recurring. Those were hectic, exhausting times, both Bill and I were under enormous stress – as I’ve said, celebrity’s not as easy thing to cope with, and there are no classes in helping you to deal with it – so some tension was inevitable.
But here’s the bottom line: Our deep, sincere respect for each other outweighted any conflict. We sorted out a lot of things in those early years, and have become very good friends. And as I’ve said before (and will no doubt say again), if it hadn’t been for Bill Shatner’s dynamic portrayal of Kirk, the character of Spock could never have worked so well. It’s the synergy, the chemistry between the two (and De Kelley’s Dr. McCoy) that helped make Star Trek magical.
One of the wisest things I think Gene Roddenberry ever did was to consult Issac Asimov on the friction between Shatner and myself, and the problematic popularity of Spock. Asimov advised him to make Kirk and Spock loyal, inseparable friends, so that when the audience thought of one, they’d automatically think of the other.
… MYSTERY SOLVED.
*epic flail*
I can’t even, I mean, I think… can I just say I am a FAN of Asimov? As in the first science fiction novel I ever read was the short story collection Gold of Asimov’s works? AND HE BLEW MY YOUNG MIND AWAY!
This is one of the best things I have ever learned about the making of Star Trek. :DDDD
…
Also Shatner was a prankster and had the best time ever, apparently, doing things like hiding Nimoy’s property. (No surprise there, Bill!) They’d banter in the makeup room until, and I quote, “De Kelley would wander in, wonderfully laconic and soft-spoken, smiling and shaking his head at us both; he was always there to listen to Bill or me gripe about each other […] and always dispensing his oft-solicited wisdom, in classic Dutch-uncle style.“
I get the feeling Nimoy really and truly admired De Kelley from the get-go.
This gives me warm fuzzies. XD
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This is absolutely fantastic! And the fact that ISAAC ASIMOV was one of the people who advised Roddenberry on Kirk and Spock’s portrayal truly speaks for itself. I love Asimov. This really gives you a perspective on the importance of Kirk-Spock-McCoy friendship. I wish JJ would take lessons from this.
I love this quote. I have never read “I Am Spock.” This is wonderful. I have just now shared it with other friends who are “older” fans (like me) and may have forgotten these wonderful little tidbits. They’re all tittering. (You go, Asimov!)
This just brightened a craptastic day and restored my faith in humanity in general. <3