Seems William Shatner turned out to be a savvy businessman in his role as pitchman for Priceline.
The former Captain Kirk on “Star Trek” has earned $600 million as the voice and face of the online travel company, according to The Times of London.
A smart bit of contract negotiating in 1998 eventually earned the actor a fortune after he agreed to take shares as part of his pay.
At first shares fell during the dot-com bust to $1.80 in 2000. But over the past 10 years the firm’s fortunes have turned around, and the shares are now worth almost $300 each.
In the advertisements, Shatner, 79, plays the role of the Priceline Negotiator whose sole concern in life is to save customers money.
The commercials have become a hit on YouTube, mainly because of Shatner’s willingness to poke fun at himself.
In one ad he is fired by Priceline and replaced by Leonard Nimoy, who played Mr. Spock in “Star Trek.” Shatner’s early ads for the company parodied his musical career, which began with the 1968 album “The Transformed Man,” in which he half-talked, half-sang his way through various songs including “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds.”
James Gandolfini may find himself starring at the wheel of his first TV series since “The Sopranos.”
HBO said Gandolfini is an executive producer of “Taxi 22,” a project early in development that could serve as a starring vehicle for the actor, best known as New Jersey mob boss Tony Soprano.
“Taxi 22” is described as a half-hour comedy centering on a politically incorrect New York City cab driver who is struggling to keep his life together. It is based on the popular French Canadian TV series “Taxi 0-22.”
Gandolfini, 48, starred in the highly acclaimed “The Sopranos” for six seasons. That drama series ended in 2007.
Dave Flebotte is writing the HBO version of “Taxi 22.”
Teen mom Bristol Palin says she is on her own financially despite being the daughter of a famous, wealthy politician.
“(My parents) are there for support when I need it emotionally, but I’m on my own financially. I work an 8-to-5 job, five days a week,” Palin, 19, who’s raising 16-month-old Tripp, told People. “My parents help out, but they’re not at my disposal. I think that’s a huge misconception.”
Bristol’s mother, Sarah Palin, the former Alaska governor and vice presidential candidate, has earned millions from her book and speaking engagements since leaving office last July.
Chaz Bono is now legally a man.
Cher‘s newly gender-reassigned son showed up in court yesterday in Santa Monica, where a judge granted Chaz’s petition for a gender and name change.
According to documents filed in March, Chaz underwent an “irreversible surgery” on Sept. 23, 2009, to change his “sex characteristics from female to male.”
In the documents, Chaz’s doctor said, “Chaz Bono has completed his gender-reassignment surgery.”
lsmith@denverpost.com
