So Easy, Even Kirk Could Do It
April 11, 2011 7:50 AM Subscribe
George Takei and Patty Duke filmed a series of Star Trek themed spots promoting the Social Security Administration's website.
George Takei And Patty Duke! What other random people can we dig up to promote goverment services? Goldie Hawn and Stevie Nicks talk about Medicare! Patrick Duffy and Charro discuss Welfare!
posted by The Whelk at 7:59 AM on April 11, 2011 [8 favorites]
posted by The Whelk at 7:59 AM on April 11, 2011 [8 favorites]
I like this game: Dennis Rodman and Molly Ringwald on the Postal Service.
posted by etc. at 8:05 AM on April 11, 2011 [5 favorites]
posted by etc. at 8:05 AM on April 11, 2011 [5 favorites]
Even teenagers?
Sure they can help their grandparents...get medications...
posted by nomisxid at 8:06 AM on April 11, 2011 [1 favorite]
Sure they can help their grandparents...get medications...
posted by nomisxid at 8:06 AM on April 11, 2011 [1 favorite]
Cyndi Lauper and Steven Weber for the National Guard.
posted by The Whelk at 8:08 AM on April 11, 2011 [3 favorites]
posted by The Whelk at 8:08 AM on April 11, 2011 [3 favorites]
Ted Nugent and Kevin Smith for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.
posted by jscott at 8:11 AM on April 11, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by jscott at 8:11 AM on April 11, 2011 [1 favorite]
Nicholas Cage and Wesley Snipes for the IRS.
posted by T.D. Strange at 8:12 AM on April 11, 2011 [4 favorites]
posted by T.D. Strange at 8:12 AM on April 11, 2011 [4 favorites]
Jenny MCcArthy and Courtney Love for the CDC
posted by MustardTent at 8:13 AM on April 11, 2011
posted by MustardTent at 8:13 AM on April 11, 2011
George Takei has an awesome Twitter. Oh Myyy.
posted by kmz at 8:15 AM on April 11, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by kmz at 8:15 AM on April 11, 2011 [2 favorites]
Nicholas Cage and Wesley Snipes for the IRS.
Yeah, but because of budget cuts, they had to get the British one.
posted by schmod at 8:16 AM on April 11, 2011 [1 favorite]
Yeah, but because of budget cuts, they had to get the British one.
posted by schmod at 8:16 AM on April 11, 2011 [1 favorite]
George Takei is my captain.
posted by fuq at 8:25 AM on April 11, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by fuq at 8:25 AM on April 11, 2011 [2 favorites]
Tom Selleck and Rebecca De Mornay for the US Bureau of Weights and Measures.
posted by robocop is bleeding at 8:31 AM on April 11, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by robocop is bleeding at 8:31 AM on April 11, 2011 [1 favorite]
Ray J. Johnson and a couple of Snorks for the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
posted by inturnaround at 8:32 AM on April 11, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by inturnaround at 8:32 AM on April 11, 2011 [1 favorite]
Paaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaain!
posted by homodigitalis at 8:32 AM on April 11, 2011
posted by homodigitalis at 8:32 AM on April 11, 2011
That's not Patty Duke. That's her identical twin cousin.
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 8:34 AM on April 11, 2011 [7 favorites]
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 8:34 AM on April 11, 2011 [7 favorites]
Why does Patty Duke get Vulcan ears? Is this supposed to legitimize her inclusion in this promotion as though she's some sort of guest-starring alien? I mean, I love Patty Duke, but she's no Jane Wyatt.
posted by Dr. Zira at 8:34 AM on April 11, 2011
posted by Dr. Zira at 8:34 AM on April 11, 2011
Kate Gosselin and Gordon Jump for the US Census Bureau.
posted by Dr. Zira at 8:36 AM on April 11, 2011 [3 favorites]
posted by Dr. Zira at 8:36 AM on April 11, 2011 [3 favorites]
Why does Patty Duke get Vulcan ears? Is this supposed to legitimize her inclusion in this promotion as though she's some sort of guest-starring alien? I mean, I love Patty Duke, but she's no Jane Wyatt.
Of course not. Amanda Grayson didn't have pointy ears.
*pushes up nerd glasses*
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 8:37 AM on April 11, 2011
Of course not. Amanda Grayson didn't have pointy ears.
*pushes up nerd glasses*
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 8:37 AM on April 11, 2011
Neil Patrick Harris and Ricky Martin for the US Secret Service
posted by PapaLobo at 8:37 AM on April 11, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by PapaLobo at 8:37 AM on April 11, 2011 [2 favorites]
Even just seeing George Takei's name makes me hear a perfectly-enunciated 'you're a douchebaaaag' in my head.
You tell 'em, George.
posted by emmtee at 8:43 AM on April 11, 2011 [1 favorite]
You tell 'em, George.
posted by emmtee at 8:43 AM on April 11, 2011 [1 favorite]
Pat Buttram and Elvira, Mistress of the Dark for the United States Patent and Trademark Office
posted by AzraelBrown at 8:46 AM on April 11, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by AzraelBrown at 8:46 AM on April 11, 2011 [2 favorites]
More Takei: George Takei Should Be Spiderman! (it's a plug for the Broadway musical Allegiance).
posted by filthy light thief at 9:12 AM on April 11, 2011
posted by filthy light thief at 9:12 AM on April 11, 2011
We get it George, you're the Asian Gay Shatner. I'm just disappointed that you want to be.
I hope you people realize that some of the celebrity pairings include dead people... but it might be an incentive for Hollywood to create a CGI Gordon Jump so they could make WKRP.com
posted by oneswellfoop at 9:19 AM on April 11, 2011
I hope you people realize that some of the celebrity pairings include dead people... but it might be an incentive for Hollywood to create a CGI Gordon Jump so they could make WKRP.com
posted by oneswellfoop at 9:19 AM on April 11, 2011
CGI Gordon Jump and CGI David Lee Roth's Hair for that thing where they tell little kids to exercise
posted by Copronymus at 9:21 AM on April 11, 2011
posted by Copronymus at 9:21 AM on April 11, 2011
We get it George, you're the Asian Gay Shatner.
No way.
George's Twitter feed is way funnier.
posted by adamdschneider at 9:31 AM on April 11, 2011
No way.
George's Twitter feed is way funnier.
posted by adamdschneider at 9:31 AM on April 11, 2011
That's not Patty Duke. That's her identical twin cousin.
I wonder if a hot dog makes her lose control.
posted by cottoncandybeard at 10:08 AM on April 11, 2011
I wonder if a hot dog makes her lose control.
posted by cottoncandybeard at 10:08 AM on April 11, 2011
George Takei's shtick these days is pure shameless pandering—but he does it with such joy and enthusiasm, and for a series of such good causes, that I find it hard to fault.
posted by Zozo at 10:22 AM on April 11, 2011 [6 favorites]
posted by Zozo at 10:22 AM on April 11, 2011 [6 favorites]
I can't be the only one who was hoping from something from 1969.
(Gordon Jump is dead?!)
posted by mrgrimm at 10:23 AM on April 11, 2011
(Gordon Jump is dead?!)
posted by mrgrimm at 10:23 AM on April 11, 2011
Spock, are our ceremonies for outworlders?
posted by tommasz at 10:25 AM on April 11, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by tommasz at 10:25 AM on April 11, 2011 [1 favorite]
Richard Boone and Marc Bolan for the National Parks Service
posted by stenseng at 11:00 AM on April 11, 2011
posted by stenseng at 11:00 AM on April 11, 2011
James Rebhorn and Neal Schon for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
posted by BoatMeme at 11:33 AM on April 11, 2011
posted by BoatMeme at 11:33 AM on April 11, 2011
Tom Green and Dolly Parton for the Department of Energy.
posted by Fraxas at 11:38 AM on April 11, 2011
posted by Fraxas at 11:38 AM on April 11, 2011
God Shammgod and Željko Ivanek for AMTRAK
posted by BoatMeme at 1:24 PM on April 11, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by BoatMeme at 1:24 PM on April 11, 2011 [1 favorite]
I'd argue Shatner tries to be Takai, but fails.
Meanwhile, Nimoy is nice to the fans and fond of the franchise and his character, but seems happy enough to keep that old life a bit further than an arm's reach most of the time. Huh. That sounds almost like an ideal form of retirement for a lot of people. Why isn't he doing this?
posted by mccarty.tim at 1:43 PM on April 11, 2011 [1 favorite]
Meanwhile, Nimoy is nice to the fans and fond of the franchise and his character, but seems happy enough to keep that old life a bit further than an arm's reach most of the time. Huh. That sounds almost like an ideal form of retirement for a lot of people. Why isn't he doing this?
posted by mccarty.tim at 1:43 PM on April 11, 2011 [1 favorite]
mccarty.tim, possibly because "Spock" had his overexposed day in the sun much earlier whereas "Sulu" didn't - or not to the same degree? I recall it's only been in recent years that Takai felt able to go public about being gay, and that only then did his celebrity status rise to its current level. So maybe he's still enjoying it at this point and feels like he's got some catching up to do.
posted by Greg_Ace at 2:37 PM on April 11, 2011
posted by Greg_Ace at 2:37 PM on April 11, 2011
So maybe he's still enjoying it at this point and feels like he's got some catching up to do.
If I had three wishes, wishes one and two would be the usual boring nonsense about world peace and millions of pounds, but my final wish would be for George Takei always to have fun. And live forever. And get a dune buggy. Screw world peace.
posted by ArmyOfKittens at 3:22 PM on April 11, 2011 [4 favorites]
If I had three wishes, wishes one and two would be the usual boring nonsense about world peace and millions of pounds, but my final wish would be for George Takei always to have fun. And live forever. And get a dune buggy. Screw world peace.
posted by ArmyOfKittens at 3:22 PM on April 11, 2011 [4 favorites]
Geez, guys. Thanks for the derail from the serious issue addressed in this post: has there ever been another commercial targeting seniors and directly encouraging them to use the internet instead of calling a 1-800 number?
I mean, there are those Jitterbug phones, but if memory serves there wasn't such a decisive pro-internet edge to their commercials.
posted by HeroZero at 9:01 PM on April 11, 2011
I mean, there are those Jitterbug phones, but if memory serves there wasn't such a decisive pro-internet edge to their commercials.
posted by HeroZero at 9:01 PM on April 11, 2011
I didn't know Patty Duke was still alive. I hated her show, simply because I was too little to understand most of it, but I was the youngest, so that was irrelevant.
posted by Goofyy at 9:10 AM on April 12, 2011
posted by Goofyy at 9:10 AM on April 12, 2011
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posted by bicyclefish at 7:56 AM on April 11, 2011 [7 favorites]