JOSH: I was just thinking of this Star Trek convention I went to a couple of years ago. Shatner was there. I always wanted to see him. I grew up with Captain Kirk, so... I'm at this convention—nerds everywhere—waiting for Shatner. All the other actors had just been themselves, you know, answering questions, a joke or two. But not Shatner. He comes out onstage and starts doing this stand-up routine—one-liners and all—joke after joke. He'd answer a question, but not until he got a few jokes in. Well there was this deaf guy, a deaf mute I guess, who would hand the actors a card with his question written on it.

[Pause.]

He walks up to Shatner and holds out his card. Shatner takes the card, but without even looking at it says, "I'm sorry, I don't like boys." And there's like this total silence over the convention hall. Shatner just drops the card, turns his back on the guy and goes to the other end of the stage. The guy just lets out a "Ahhhhh" or "Uhhhh" or something, trying to ask his question. Shatner ignored him—called on someone else.

[Pause.]

So the guy picked up his card and walked away.

[Silence.]

It's sick, I guess. But that show means a lot to some people. Whenever I used to watch Star Trek, I always thought about the future. You know, Hope. Compassion. Possibilities.

[Pause.]

I wonder if that deaf guy thought that, too.