William Shatner acknowledges the VIC-20

RobertBe · Post by **RobertBe** » Mon Feb 13, 2012 1:09 am

From the book, "Shatner Rules: Your Guide to Understanding the Shatnerverse and the World at Large", by William Shatner, Dutton (a member of the Penguin Group), New York, c. 2011:

p. 142, "Don't get me wrong, I understand technology, but often I can't do technology. I get the mechanics, but I'm not that mechanical. I mean, I understand how to change a tire, but I usually call AAA when a tire needs to be changed."

p. 143-144, "I've been keeping it a secret for years, especially from the good people in advertising who employ me on occasion. In fact, if you visit YouTube (hopefully someone will show me how to do that soon), you can see me singing the praises of the Commodore VIC-20, 'the wonder computer of the eighties,' promising 'great games' and opportunities for 'the whole family to learn computing.' All for the bargain price of 'under three hundred dollars.' (You can get one of these VIC-20s on eBay for about ninety bucks now. Apparently, the wonders of this wonder computer ceased pretty quickly.)"

p. 145, "Oh yes, did I mention '$#*! My Dad Says [television show]? Thirty years ago, I was on the cutting edge of the 'wonder computer of the eighties,' and then I was on the first television show spun off a Twitter feed."

Truly,
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group
http://videocam.net.au/fcug

eslapion · Post by **eslapion** » Mon Feb 20, 2012 6:55 pm

Apparently, the wonders of this wonder computer ceased pretty quickly

With the VIC-20 being the first ever computer to sell more than one million units and its market popularity lasting about 3 years, which is pretty much a miracle for tech gadgets, Shatner, for all the respect I have for him, seems to have missed something quite important.

RobertBe · Post by **RobertBe** » Mon Feb 20, 2012 10:36 pm

eslapion wrote:...Shatner, for all the respect I have for him, seems to have missed something quite important.

After the VIC-20 advertising campaign, Bill devoted his energies to his t.v. show, T.J. Hooker, until 1986. It's no wonder he didn't keep up with the VIC-20.

Are you keeping up with the Commodore
'cause the Commodore's keeping up with you,
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group
http://videocam.net.au/fcug

eslapion · Post by **eslapion** » Wed Feb 22, 2012 2:41 pm

RobertBe wrote:After the VIC-20 advertising campaign, Bill devoted his energies to his t.v. show, T.J. Hooker, until 1986. It's no wonder he didn't keep up with the VIC-20.

If my memory serves me well, Commodore computers appeared in both The Wrath of Khan(1982) and The Search for Spock(1984) and Shatner was more or less behind it.

Oh well...

RobertBe · Post by **RobertBe** » Wed Feb 22, 2012 3:19 pm

eslapion wrote:If my memory serves me well, Commodore computers appeared in both The Wrath of Khan(1982) and The Search for Spock(1984)...

The Commodore PET did not reappear in Star Trek III: The Search for Spock.

...and Shatner was more or less behind it.

Oh, I've never heard of that one. I always attributed its appearance to the movie set designers and art directors.

Truly,
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group
http://videocam.net.au/fcug

Lozza · Post by **Lozza** » Tue May 15, 2012 6:30 pm

what a legend Mr Shatner is (check me profile pic !)

however.. whilst he may be acknowledging the Vic-20.. let us too.. acknowledge him.. and his astounding musical skills !

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AB3uVARNhmM

rock on Will