What Might Have Been

Lieutenant Uhura died at age 88. I’m not sure, but I think that leaves William Shatner and George Takei as the last of the original cast standing. I read somewhere that Takei has a long-standing grudge against Shatner. I don’t really care but the reason given was so bizarre it stuck. It seems Takei, Lieutenant Sulu never did get to command a starship. He blamed his former Captain, Kirk, (William Shatner) for denying him his very own command.

https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/star-trek-actress-nichelle-nichols-dead-89

I think Lt. Uhura’s obituary can finally lay that as a reason for Takei’s feud with Shatner to rest. See below:

During the third season of “Star Trek,” Nichols and another series star, William Shatner, who played Capt. James Kirk, made TV history when they shared an interracial kiss.

Tracy Wright, Fox news

This was in 1969, I’m guessing that the original script gave Captain James T Kirk a choice. He could kiss a black actress, Uhura, something that had never been done on TV. Alternately, Kirk could throw a lip lock on Sulu. Something else that had never been done. As a double contender, Takei thought he had it locked up. There he was poised and puckered for the first inter-racial plus gay kiss on TV. Takei remained unrequited, no TV history, and no starship command.

It could have happened that way!