Bill Maher highlighted a significant moment in television history during an interview with Star Trek icon William Shatner on Friday’s episode of Real Time.
Shatner, known for playing Captain James T. Kirk in the popular franchise, kissed black actress Nichelle Nichols (Lt. Uhura) in a 1968 episode titled “Plato’s Stepchildren.”
While this might not seem like a big deal to most, it was “a major moment in American culture,” according to Maher, who noted it was the first scripted kiss between a white man and a black woman.
At the time, southern TV stations were canceling shows that attempted to promote interracial relationships and NBC was worried about the audience reaction. Maher applauded Shatner however for being “brave about it” and insisting on doing it.
A modest Shatner, who first made light of the moment with a kiss face, acknowledged that he had something to do with it happening. “If you had not insisted,” Maher said…, “It would not have gotten done,” Shatner admitted.
Maher and the audience responded with applause. “For those who say nothing has changed, watch it, because things have changed a lot,” concluded the HBO host.
During the interview, the pair also discussed how Shatner fell from grace and ended up living in his truck after the first run of Star Trek was canceled after three seasons.
“How did you fall so fast?” Maher asked. “With great precision,” the now-93-year-old joked, adding that it was just “circumstances of life” which included a divorce and a lull in work.
These days, Shatner is the subject of the new documentary, You Can Call Me Bill, and releasing a digital album with the National Symphony Orchestra titled So Fragile, So Blue.
He’s also planning a trip to Antarctica to highlight his efforts in climate change, which he says has “an element of hope” since “there’s so much going on by science and scientists to correct global warming.”
“There’s a wave coming,” insisted Shatner, referring to technological developments that are in the works.
