Ranking every series William Shatner ever starred in

As a lifelong Trekkie and someone who has followed William Shatner‘s career since the early days of Star Trek, I must say that ranking his most significant roles is no easy feat. Each show represents a different era in his illustrious career and holds a special place in the hearts of fans like myself.

William Shatner is primarily recognized by many as the actor who spearheaded Star Trek during its initial phase. For over two decades, from 1966 to 1994, Shatner portrayed James T. Kirk in an exceptional manner. He was a cornerstone character of the series that attracted fans for several decades. As he approaches the end of his life, it appears he’s moving away from leading roles on television. However, this transition seems to be confined to the small screen.

At the age of 93, William Shatner remains active and dynamic. He lends his voice to the character Keldor in Masters of the Universe: Revolution, and also appeared in the 2021 film Senior Moment. Beyond acting, he’s also hosting a variety of programming, such as The UnXplained: Mysteries of the Universe, which is his latest project.

While it’s true that Shatner has appeared in numerous productions, a closer look reveals that he has only starred in eight main series, although there may be more. Here, we will examine his most significant works and separate the gems from the duds.

For this purpose, zero personal opinions about the show will be factored in. This isn’t which show we liked the most, this is the show that was arguably seen as the best. We’ll be using the two most common metrics for fan approval in IMDB and Rotten Tomatoes.

Fear not, fans! For this particular list, we’ll solely concentrate on the ratings given by you, our audience, on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics sometimes miss the mark quite often, so we’re intentionally steering clear of their reviews in this instance.

7. TekWar (IMDB: 6.4/Rotten: 36%)

We’re attempting to weigh two ratings, sometimes at odds with an underlying cultural significance. TekWar might rank as the third or fourth significant franchise in William Shatner’s career, based on our analysis. He played a pivotal role behind the scenes and aimed to expand it into a multi-media juggernaut. Regrettably, this endeavor didn’t succeed, leaving us with only a subpar television series that appears outdated even by 1990s standards, when it was first broadcast.

6. $h*! My Dad Says (IMDB: 6.2/Rotten: 47%)

The series was inspired by a popular Twitter handle. What could potentially lead to its downfall? The Twitter handle amassed a substantial number of followers, which led to a book and ultimately a TV show. Starring William Shatner and Jonathan Sadowski, it was generally well-received, but being on network television limited the show from fully exploring the same edgy content as the original account did.

5. Barbary Coast (IMDB: 6.8/Rotten: NA)

For the first time after Star Trek, William Shatner portrayed a law enforcer in a district of San Francisco that was perpetually on the brink of exploding. The series appears to be obscure, but those who recall it have positive feelings towards it, ranking it highly.

4. T.J. Hooker(IMDB: 6.1/Rotten: NA)

Despite not being the highest-ranked series on the list and receiving his lowest IMDb rating, T.J. Hooker possesses an element that no other show before it has: cultural relevance. Until now, none of his previous shows have achieved what T.J. Hooker did – reaching a milestone of 91 episodes. Although some may boast higher IMDb scores or even Rotten Tomatoes ratings, none can match the longevity of T.J. Hooker.

To clarify, the television series “T.J. Hooker” holds the record as the second longest-running show in William Shatner’s career, surpassing all but one other series. Interestingly enough, the exception isn’t “Star Trek”.

3. For the People (IMDB: 7.7/Rotten: NA)

Despite not having watched For the People ourselves, it appears to have been a favorite among fans. With an impressive 7.7 rating on IMDb and starring Jessica Walter, who’s known for her roles in Arrested Development and Archer, it’s clear that the show had something special. The fact that it was Shatner’s first regular series role, and one of the few shows to delve into the personal lives of its main characters, adds to its intrigue.

2. Star Trek: The Original Series (IMDB: 8.4/Rotten: 80%)

I’m a bit shocked, but not surprised that Star Trek’s first foray into television is only second on Shatner’s list. A stellar science fiction show and one that did so much for the industry at large. It’s a cultural touchstone and one that the series itself is still trying to replicate the success of today. While there have been dozens of shows, films, and books to come out of the franchise since the original 1966 series, none were as massive as the original. Maybe The Next Generation but even then, the original had a larger audience.

Despite Shatner not being solely responsible for the show’s success and the larger Star Trek franchise, his impact was significant enough to warrant top placement. However, numerous other contributors have joined since then, making substantial contributions as well. Given the longevity of the franchise spanning close to 60 years, but with Shatner only being a part for about 30 years, it’s challenging to argue that the series wouldn’t have continued without him. Nevertheless, it’s evident that it has persisted quite well without his consistent presence.

Thus making his impact a bit less impressive than previously thought.

1. Boston Legal (IMDB: 8.5/Rotten: 86%)

Though Boston Legal may not have left the same cultural footprint as Star Trek, it’s widely accepted that Captain Kirk’s role was William Shatner’s most exceptional acting performance. Ratings, episodes, and cultural relevance are all significant factors, but ultimately, what truly counts is Shatner’s performances. In Boston Legal, Shatner displayed a surprising and captivating charm that left many surprised. At an age of 70 when the show premiered, Shatner remained every bit the dazzling charmer he had always been, if not even more so.

It’s no wonder the series garnered the ratings it did. Similarly, it’s no shock that “Boston Legal” was William Shatner’s most enduring role, rather than “Star Trek” or “T.J. Hooker”.

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