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So... William Shatner has another talk show, and it's kind of the next logical step after Shatner's Raw Nerve. On that show, he talked to various iconic entertainment figures -- Judge Judy, Jenna Jameson, Rush Limbaugh -- while this show moves into the realm of general newsmakers, specifically those embroiled in some sort of controversy. In the first episode, which aired last night, he interviewed Bernard Goetz, the New Yorker who shot four teenagers on the subway in 1984, claiming that they were trying to mug him, and it was a fascinating show to watch -- partly because Goetz was incredibly candid about the events, but also because Shatner was awe-struck the entire episode. I personally prefer a taken aback Shatner to a cocky, confident know-it-all Shatner, so it was fun to see him just sit there with his mouth open.
Not that I blame him -- it's one thing to be shocked by the things Jenna Jameson says about sex, but it's another to hear the man sitting next to you describe what it was like to shoot four people. On a dark set, he got Goetz to paint a picture of New York City in the mid-1980s, then give every minute detail of how the controversial, possibly unjustified shooting went down. Whether he wanted Goetz to speak freely or because he was worried Goetz was packing heat, Shatner mostly let his guest tell the story in his own, often surprising words, although he did interrupt whenever he needed clarification or wanted to get at Goetz's motives. He seemed to be legitimately fascinated with what Goetz was thinking before, during and after. Occasionally he'd editorialize, but only to sort of mildly point out that what Goetz did was kind of a big deal, which is like saying the Genesis device is slightly dangerous. (Obligatory Star Trek reference!)
Aside from the interview, there was some good commentary footage from one of the jurors on his trial, as well as the founder of the Guardian Angels and the lawyer who later sued Goetz, and the dramatic re-creations were done very subtly, treated almost like found footage. Plus, B-roll of the 1980s New York subway system is always entertaining, like watching scenes from The Warriors or Crocodile Dundee II. Hey, maybe for his next talk show, Shatner can interview directors who made interesting or controversial movies! Not that Crocodile Dundee II is either.
All in all, I'd watch this show before Raw Nerve in a heartbeat, if only because Goetz is much more interesting a figure than, say, Tim Allen. Granted, not every episode will have Shatner talking to a violent offender -- upcoming guests include POW Jessica Lynch, student-dating teacher Mary Kay LeTourneau and survivors of the DC snipers, the Ruby Ridge standoff and the Unabomber -- but all should be eye-opening, especially for people who may have been too young when the original events happened. Not knowing the exact details of the Goetz case (I was seven), I got to watch most of the news footage, including his confession, for the first time, and actually found myself anxiously awaiting the outcome of his trial. (He got off scot-free.) It's kind of sad that I have no idea of the outcome of an actual historical event, while I can see the ending of an episode of Law & Order coming a mile away.
Did you watch Aftermath? Tell us what you thought below, then see what we thought of Plain Jane!
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My jaw was also on the ground during this interview. This man Bernard Goetz, is 100% loony, loco, crazy. As a white woman, I would be petrified of him on the subway. And the whole thing with the squirels. CREEPY!!!!
mr shatner i am your biggest fan i watch all your shows my favorite tj hooker i watched your show with bernie gotez during the interview you had complete control because he was out to lunch on some of the topics you were talking about i was realiy impressed hell of a job look forward to the next show
Monica.... I'm a white woman, too, and if I had been on a subway with 4 loud, obnoxious black punks and known Goetz was armed, he'd have been the one person that I would have wanted to sit by. The lib lawyer in the ponytail should have an experience exactly like that but then he couldn't could he, because he wouldn't be armed. Why wouldn't he be armed? Too weak to even protect himself. Grow a pair!
I agree with Goetz...you start a fight-you are responsible for your victim's injuries and YOUR OWN. Thank goodness the creeps won't be bothering any more people. Was it worth it, punks? Phhhhhhht!
I totally agree with kikki. I remember those times and it was like the criminals had control of the subways. Goetz had already been mugged once and had been hurt badly. The Guardian Angels were patrolling the subways because the police were overwhelmed. Goetz was just trying to protect himself. I think Shatner did a wonderful job interviewing him, too.
Monica sounds like the kind of dumb hippy that would blame herself after getting beat up by the kind of animals this guy wasted. I can see it now, "well its not their fault, they've been held back their whole lives." Dumb broad.
Remember a show like this is highly edited. That's what the black background is for. But its great entertainment.
Goetz is definitely an unsympathetic person with little emotion and a lot of pure logic. He has an electrical engineering and nuclear engineering background. I think he is a little loopy but was probably dealing quite threatened in that subway car. I would not have convicted him-- NYC was a sh!thole at the time. But also, I wouldn't have him as a friend either.
I own guns, have a permit to carry and do. It's amazing Goetz isn't in jail. Let's say the inital kid did act in a threatening manner, and I do believe he was based on what I've read, shooting the others was clearly wrong. Shooting someone a second time after you've put them down is illegal, you cease using deadly force the moment the attacker stops. He can cuss you out, call you every name in the book, threaten to come after you later...but if he's immobile and you shoot him you've broken the law. The only thing that keeps this from being tragic is that these kids were scum (and Ron Kuby's an ass) they were hardly people that had good to offer to society...so Goetz got lucky there. Those that think this guys a hero really need to study self denfense laws and watch this nutcase again...his first love is a animal? He's got a screw loose but got lucky when he ran into those little crimminals instead of some law abidding smart a$$ed teenagers instead. It was only a matter of time before he snapped.
Is this civil lawyer for real? I wondber if he would feel the same if it wasn't his JOB to win judgments for all the VICTIMS of the world and also profit himself in the judgment? If he was ever in a fistfight or threatened by violence he should know that some people who are threatend with bodily harm do not react as a victim and respond with anger instead! Anger is an emotion and when answering a threat with anger is not always easy to stop once you get started. If you threaten a real man with violence then you should expect him to answer like a man! All you have to do is look at these so called "Innocent" teenagers and what they have done since the shootings...rape...robbery...real upstanding citizens!!!! Also, what did Mr. shatner mean when Goetz said so what at the end of the show...he said the "so" is the differnce between him and Goetz...doest that mean that he would not have the nerve to do what Goetz did or was he putting him down as an animal? My vote is goetz and most of the people of New York city were fed up of being bullied and killed in the streets by scum!
Some of you are completely ignorant of the facts in Goetz's case or you choose to ignore them. He wasn't some lunatic who acted inappropriately. Four teenagers came up to him on the subway (at a time when the subway was a much more dangerous place to be at night) with screwdrivers and demanded money. Those punks got what they deserved.
Goetz had every right to defend himself no matter what the armchair lawyers on this board think. The right to self-defense isn't defined as being over by putting some guy on the ground. You have a right to stay on the offensive as long as you feel your life is in danger.
Anyone who doubts Mr. Goetz was in danger from these Thugs doesn't know the facts ALL but the kid Mr. Goetz put in the wheelchair have gone on to commit violent crimes if only Mr. Goetz had put them all in wheelchairs!
Hwantto say thank you for this interesting article! =) Peace, Joy.
Hi! Fine post! Please keep us posted when we could see a follow up!
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