William Shatner serves fried turkey with ham

In the decades since leaving Montreal for Hollywood, the Shat has traded in his smoked meat for southern fried turkey. (As well as an October Thanksgiving for a November one.)

And State Farm has hired him as the spokesman for a PSA to prevent turkey frying fires:



It's long, but it's worth it to get every morsel of Shat's signature over-the-top delivery.

Via Adfreak

Canada has always had a special place for The Shat

William Shatner, who just recently accepted both an honourary degree from his Alma Mater at McGill and a lifetime achievement award from Canada's Governor General (along with an acceptance video that went viral on NFB)  is a good example of the way we always welcome our ex-pat celebrities home.

But it's not the first time.

Back in the early '70s, between the cancellation of Star Trek and the beginning of the movie series ( won't bring TJ Hooker into this)  The Shat came back in forgotten role as spokeman for the Loblaws grocery chain.



The toupe. The delivery. The total Shatner package.

DON'T EV-ER CHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANGE!!!

The Shat does O Canada

Do you know how I know we're living in the future?

My 69-year-old Mom, who has an iPhone and texts, Skypes and Facetimes me regularly as she travels the world, shared this cool NFB video with me via Facebook message:



(If you can't see it, click here)

Here's the official explanation:

When William Shatner gets a Lifetime Achievement Award from Canada's Governor General, he shows appreciation as only Shatner can. In this short film, the most famous space cadet in showbiz takes helm of our heritage and treats us to a memorable rendition of Canada's national anthem.

Produced by the National Film Board of Canada in co-operation with the National Arts Centre and the Governor General's Performing Arts Awards Foundation on the occasion of the 2011 Governor General's Performing Arts Awards.

I would also like to mention that my Mom has gone from small town '50s good girl and '60s housewife to feminist handywoman, straight gay rights activist, and most recently as the United Church of Canada's equivalent to an elected Bishop.

Thanks, Mom. William Shatner is awesome. But you, you are even awesomer.

Can the Shat save the salmon?

Today in Ottawa, William Shatner will join New Westminster–Coquitlam NDP MP Fin Donnelly, marine biologist Alexandra Morton and Chief Bob Chamberlain of Kwicksutaineuk Ah-Kwa-Mish First Nation to speak in support of a New Democrat bill that would force BC salmon farmers to move their operations to closed-containment tanks and away from coastal waters.

The Shat won't be appearing in person, though, but will join via communicator from his base in L.A.

"Must... SAVE... the... SALmon..."

The Private Member's bill in question calls for an amendment to the Fisheries Act requiring that commercial fish farming be carried out in closed containment pens within five years. It was actually inspired by Grade 10 student Thea Block, who works summers on her father's fishing boat out of Cortes Island, B.C.

Thea won an NDP-sponsored contest that asked high school students to submit proposals for legislation.

According to David Suzuki's web site, sustainable aquaculture must meet the following:

• Uses less wild caught fish (in the form of fish meal and fish oil) than it produces in the form of edible marine fish protein, and thus provides net protein gains for society;
• Does not pose a substantial risk of deleterious effects on wild fish stocks through the escape of farmed fish ;
• Does not pose a substantial risk of deleterious effects on wild fish stocks through the amplification, retransmission or introduction of disease or parasites;
• Employs methods to treat and reduce the discharge of organic waste and other potential contaminants so that the resulting discharge does not adversely affect the surrounding ecosystem; and
• Implements and enforces all local, national and international laws and customs and utilizes a precautionary approach (which favours conservation of the environment in the face of irreversible environmental risks) for daily operations and industry expansion.

Landlocked salmon farms are uncommon, but creativity and technological innovation are needed if we want our grandchildren to enjoy one of Canada's most prestigious food fish.

"LLLLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOXXXXXX!"

I'll update once the press conference coverage comes in.

UPDATE (10 pm) Here is what he said:

“Salmon feed and nurture not only the animals that are on the land but the sea as well, and the plants and trees and shrubbery,” the 79-year-old actor’s disembodied voice told a news conference Thursday that had been organized by the New Democrats.

“The fauna and the flora of the British Columbia river shores and rivers are nurtured by the salmon. Without the salmon, they die. And when they die, [there is] a huge rent in the tapestry of nature in that area. It is a basic species that must be saved.”