On December 20th 1986, William Shatner was the guest host on Saturday Night Live. In his opening monologue Mr. Shatner mentions that one of the most interesting aspects of the Star Trek phenomenon has to be the conventions. The monologue dissolves into a sketch set at the 16th Annual Star Trek Convention being held in a convention room of a local Holiday Inn. The highlight of the sketch is when Mr. Shatner growing tired of the Trekker’s nerdish questions says,
You know, before I answer any more questions there's something I wanted to say. Having received all your letters over the years, and I've spoken to many of you, and some of you have traveled... y'know... hundreds of miles to be here, I'd just like to say... GET A LIFE, will you people? I mean, for crying out loud, it's just a TV show! I mean, look at you, look at the way you're dressed! You've turned an enjoyable little job, that I did as a lark for a few years, into a colossal waste of time!
I end my Child of Television column with a quote. There have been more than a few articles where I have quoted Mr. Shatner in this famous SNL sketch. I use Mr. Shatner's quote whenever I felt that someone needs to be told to, "GET A LIFE!" because "IT'S JUST A TV SHOW". This memorable moment and my quoting there of has inspired me to create The Shatner Award.
The first meeting of the Shatner Award committee was held at the Don Knotts room of the Burbank Holiday Inn, February 1st 2006 at 7:43 P.M.:
The Shatner Award committee was informed that in order to be compliant with Robert's Rules of Order they must use actual dates instead of STAR DATES.
New Business:
The Shatner Award will be given to those individuals or groups who need to be told to, "GET A LIFE!" because "IT'S JUST A TV SHOW". The rules for winning a Shatner Award are as follows:
1) The winners need to have had made their Shatner worthy comment in a public forum i.e. TV, Radio, Web site, Blog, Podcast etc. Since the Shatner worthy quote will be printed on the award itself, the Shatner Award committee needs to verify the actual quote with a GOOGLE SEARCH. (Sorry we can't just give SHATNER AWARD to your uptight Aunt Betty or self-righteous brother in-law Phil.)
Article comments
1 - Chris Beaumont
Excellent! I look forward to future winners, and hope to never be one myself.
2 - sal m
so if i understand the award criteria - or is it criterion? - anyone who utters a word on American Idol can immediately be considered for "a Shatty?"
3 - Tony Figueroa
No, but the ladies on "The View" spend more than 10 minutes talking about American Idol over something more newsworthy may be considered.
4 - sal m
i think i'm getting it...so the same would go for anyone on tv discussing any of these so-called reality shows, such as survivor?
and i know you rejected "the shat" as the name, but does that include "a shatty?"
5 - Gordon Hauptfleisch
I especially like rule #9, and I kind of like THE SHAT (in announcing the winner: "and the Shat happens for...").
Their not eligible, but back in my bookstore days, I always wanted to tell anyone who bought the "Klingon Dictionary" to "Get a Life."
6 - Joanie
Just wanted to let you know that your article is now appearing on Cleveland.com!