Fun story about the interracial kiss: When it was being filmed, they still weren't sure if they actually wanted to show the kiss. So they filmed a take where there was no kiss. They were going to decide later which take to actually use. But Shatner purposefully made a weird face during the take without the kiss, totally ruining it, so they had no option of using that take. Only the camera man could see what Shatner had done and he kept quiet.

In the episode where Sulu became a swashbuckler, the writers originally wanted Takei to be a samurai. Not wanting to perpetuate the stereotype of asian people being katana masters, he suggested the change to a musketeer personality because he knew fencing. The writers loved it and changed the script. Takei actually didn't know how to fence and crammed as many fencing lessons he could schedule before filming to not look stupid in front of everyone.

Massive shoutout to Gene Roddenbery for intentionally creating a diverse cast! He purposefully wanted Sulu’s character to be ambiguously Asian, so Asians of many cultures could relate to him. He included a mixed race person second in command, a black woman in a position of authority, a Russian, a Scotsman (apparently that was a big deal at the time). Just incredible!!!!!! Edit: it’s so heartbreaking to hear that the interracial kiss almost got the show cancelled

Thank you for using the term "concentration camp". We need to own our history.

They never taught us about the camps in school. It was only hearing about George's experiences when I was an adult that introduced me to that part of our history.

When I was a teenager in the 80s, I was a shameless nerd and my history teacher knew I loved Star Trek. He sometimes had casual discussions with his students in which he would mention things about history that weren't taught in the state curriculum. He asked me if I knew anything about the actor who played Sulu, and I said I didn't, and he very casually said "did you know he was in the concentration camps in the 40s?" I was so confused, as my first thought was about German concentration camps, but I went home and asked my dad, and he sighed and sat down and made me sit down, too. This was my cue that this was a serious discussion. He took me to the library in our town so I could read about it. I think I was 14 at the time. I was so shocked... it never occurred to me this could happen in America. It really woke me up. I'm not the biggest fan of George Takei, but I have great respect for what he did to bring awareness to important matters.

George Takei is a gem, in any meaning of the word. He lived through so much hate, racism and inequality and still came out on top and is one of the nicest and most compassionate human beings on this planet. It is very sad that he had to hide himself from the world for so long, but now he shines brighter than most of us and he keeps on fighting. We need so many more people like him.

Watching this as a terrified trans girl in Missouri, hearing George's story was an immensely comforting reminder that things can get better. Thank you so much for sharing that today.

“now you can call me ‘husband’” brought tears to my eyes. just two lil old guys in a loving marriage is so wholesome to see amidst this new wave of bigotry in america. heals the soul.

I'm so thrilled to enjoy one of these documentaries while the subject individual is still with us! There's usually at least a small element of sadness when you realize or remember the person isn't.

Despite not being American or Japanese, or gay or an actor... (etc.!), I have always held him in the highest regard. And as the years have gone on, and as I've learned more about him, I've thought even more. He's such an awesome gent with a spine of titanium, and with a beautiful sense of humour. On top of being so awesome, he's found the time to make other people's lives. I'm so glad that he found his happy ending ❤️❤️❤️

I love George Takei's speaking voice. He always sounds like he's reciting Shakespeare :-)

I'm not from the US, but I wasn't aware of these concentration camps, or that part of George Takei's life. What a great documentary this was, of a great man. He's a legend.

I always liked George Takei whenever he popped up in things i was watching. While Star Trek was his biggest role of his career i remember him first appearing in Heroes being Hiro Nakamura's dad teaching him sword fighting and him having a powerful presence in the small amount of time he was in the series. His Big Bang Theory appearances were cool nods as well as funny. He has been through so much in his life and seems like a lovely man

I know this episode isn't about Nimoy, but I have even more love & respect for him because of it.

I teach TV History at a film school. Matt, your videos are invaluable! A moving testament to LGBT history and overall human rights. Today's generation (thankfully) can take SO much for granted without any awareness of how much blood had feared has gone into the substance of what we have the luxury to see as everyday freedom. And YET there are REPUBLICANS who want to claw back this freedom. As a straight white guy, I don't have a personal stake in this battle but it's a battle ALL OF US MUST CONTINUE TO FIGHT. George T is an amazing role model on so many levels - as a person, as an activist and as a human being. I have had the great honour of meeting him a couple of times -- so charming and charismatic in person. It would be SO EASY for him to have become hardened and bitter given the brutality he faced for both his race and his sexuality - things he CANNOT CHANGE. And yet he has become a role model for both - and so much more.

George and Brad are just such couple goals. I'm so teary. Seriously angry at the supreme court for threatening same sex marriage in the same breath in which they reversed Roe v. Wade.

George Takei is important to so many people, but he means so much to my family with 3 generations of Japanese American science geeks and especially for me. For those who question why representation matters so much, it's because George Takei is the only mainstream celebrity who is, like me, Japanese American and queer. Me and my dad saw him in person at a comic con panel talk and he talked about many of the experiences mentioned in this video, and in that instant I finally knew what it was like to look up to someone like me and know that if he can make it in the entertainment industry in the 60's then I can do it now.

As an autistic I could never hide my non conformities and I can tell you that the tension of enduring constant discrimination and predjudice is really quite horrid. it has had a large part of my failure to thrive.

George Takei is a hero. No matter what he's done as an adult, he's been heroic to legions of people. And yeah, he's definitely a gay icon of the greatest stature.

I met George as a child and got his autograph not even knowing who he was, and not realizing what an important icon he would become for me later on. Both as a Star Trek fan and as a gay man. He is definitely a treasure.

I had the great honor of singing at his wedding reception. He and Brad are both very sweet. As a child, I also attended a couple of field trips to orchestral introduction performances that George narrated. I thanked him for that because they were genuinely very cool events. He was extraordinarily gracious about it even though I'm not sure he really knew what I was talking about (I'm sure I explained it badly, as I still do).

I was lucky enough to have a teacher in grammar school who was Japanese American, who had grown up in Hawaii. She was young enough to not have been in in the camps, but her parents and other relatives told her all about it, and she passed those stories to her students. That always stuck with me and became extremely influential to my understanding of US history.

I don't e get star struck but I was working a small coffee shop in a tourist theatre town in Southern Ontario, Canada, when Takei and his future husband walked in and I was serving them... I was in shock and awe, stuttered and blurted out with eyes as wide as saucers "You're Sulu!" I was a mess and he and his husband were very kind and patient with me. Kind, humble and nice people.

I first watched George Takei when I was a little girl and saw him when Star Trek premiered. I was lucky enough to see him perform in London in his musical, Allegiance a few weeks ago. It was so wonderful and allowed me to realize a dream to see him perform in person. The musical was filled with meaning and so beautiful about a very shameful time in American history. He is an amazing person - thanks for featuring him!

Yes, please! What a great difference it could have made for so many kids growing up realizing they were gay, and what a difference for gay adults coming out, that it could have made if we could have had open acknowledgement of gay people both as story characters and real life actors, authors, singers, etc. Growing up, I never knew three of my Star Trek heroes, in front of and behind the camera, were gay men. It might have helped me as a kid (born a few months before Star Trek premiered). -- But they DID help me, even though I didn't know until I was well into adulthood that they were gay. They were good role models and artists, for me growing up, before I had any idea they were gay. How thankful I am that they could create art (acting and writing and costume design). Sulu's oiled chest swashbuckling scene, talking to that moving plant Beauregard, many others, and his performance in the Green Berets, fantastic. Thank you, George.

George is one of those people I'd like to walk up to, shake his hand and say, "Thank you". His existence has improved the lives of many and has improved America overall. So, thank you George.

George has been thru so much and still such a calm and pleasant person. This is what heroes are made of.

Growing up as a kid in the 80s, I used to watch reruns of Star Trek with my mom. And my favorite characters were and still are Bones and Sulu. I have loved George Takei since the 80s, and he is a world treasure. I am currently reading his graphic novel with my 14 year old autistic child, it is wonderful, and I highly recommend it.

I can't even say how much I love the formal portrait of George, Brad, and George's mother. ❤😊

I'm a big fan of the musical that George helped create called Allegiance (which he starred in too!) and it's so cool to learn how much one of the main characters was based on his father's attitude and activism in the concentration camp!

I met George Takei in the early 2000s when I was consulting with the Japanese-American National Museum. We had a conference called Camp Connections that brought internees together for the first time since they were released from the camps. It was very moving listening to him talking about his experience as a child in the camps. He was very cool.

I read They Called Us Enemy, and have such a debt of gratitude to George for teaching something so difficult in a way that I could really understand

What a treasure of a man.

I'm still gobsmacked that Takei voiced Masumi Arakawa in Yakuza: Like A Dragon! One of my favorite games in recent years, and his voice acting performance definitely doesn't disappoint whatsoever.

Yes, I'm proud to say that Massachusetts was the FIRST state to recognize marriage equality!!! My husband, our young (at the time...now they're in their 20s) children, and I joined our UU church in a protest against inequality in our Massachusetts town. Shortly after equal marriage became law, my family and I went to several same-sex weddings! My children are so accepting of everyone because we wanted to normalize LOVE IS LOVE! I'm so grateful for that!

13:50 Leonard Nimoy standing up for other minorities. King shit. Kol hakavod.

Angela Lansbury’s Murder She Wrote is rerun on late night TV. An episode from 1987 really caught my eye. George was a guest star playing a janitor at a TV station, the scene of the crime. After all his success with Star Trek, he still had to play a totally stereotypical subservient Asian character speaking almost pidgin English. It was jaw dropping seeing him have to submit to this type of role in the late ‘80s. Even the Perry Masons he was on in the early’60s were more open in their portrayal of Asian characters.

Awesome video....I'm trans and it's horrible while I was listening to Mr. Takei about the old days, and how we can forget how history tends to repeat itself and how we allow it to do so.

I'm literally tearing up right now, thank you Matt and thank you Uncle George!

Now look, Matt. I have a problem. I can't watch so many of your videos without "the happy tears", and as I am getting older, it makes them hard to see. Sooo... Could you please just... ... keep doing what you do? These are so inspiring, so well-researched, and overall, just very impressive videos. Much love Maude X

George Takei is unapologetically badass. The Living Legend

i've been a trekkie since the beginning - love George always - this video has moved me to tears - i'm so ashamed of my country right now - but George and his life story fill me with hope

George Takei is an American hero and icon.

We LOVE YOU GEORGE!!! He has never stopped fighting. I fell in love with Sulu when I was a little girl....I knew he was different. Love his Facebook/podcasts, love it ALL! The Japanese being "bad" was from the WWII era, and quickly faded. Thank Gods. I can feel that being gay AND Japanese at that time was a TERRIBLE situation. I am proud he survived to be an ICON. My family was German, we got a certain amount of angst at that particular time, for the same reason. Several older relatives were in the service HERE; guarding the camps the Germans were in. (because we all spoke German) They didn't get it nearly as bad as the Japanese; and again, shortly afterwards the stigma of WWII faded. Go Georgie, Go Georgie!!!!

I highly recommend George Takei's graphic novel: They Called Us Enemy.

In the years between the original Star Trek series and the first movie, George used to come to our small convention in Greensboro NC and on Sunday mornings he would go out for a run with a gaggle of good looking young men. We knew then, and we thought it was adorable! So when he officially came out, we shrugged - we'd already known for decades! Go George! Love you forever! ❤😄

It's wonderful that you finally got around to George Takei's story, and none could have told it better. This is really fantastic.

I had the great pleasure of working with George and Brad Takei at a convention in Hawaii. It was so wonderful to see how he interacted with his fans. He had the longest, slowest line, because he took his time with everyone. You could see on their faces the true inspiration he is to so many Asian Americans. One woman even asked him to sign her physics diploma, because he was the reason she got into STEM.

Saw him at NYC Comic Con in 2021 He was so cool to meet and very nice. I have his photo on my wall with us doing the🖖 symbol. He’s changed so many lives.

Man that last part has me teared up. Seeing their wedding and their happiness is so beautiful. George is so amazing.

I met George in Brighton after a pantomime performance with my partner. Before he was out ... We knew he was as he introduced us to his "friend"

I do wish this paid a bit more attention to Mr. Takei's wonderful performance in The Twilight Zone. The role he played, while somewhat stereotypical, was human and sympathetic, as one would expect of any Serling presentation, and presaged his groundbreaking turn as Mr. Sulu. And dang, George could act even all those years ago!

Thanks for including George's time as a frequent guest on the Stern Show. I really grew to like him through his appearances on the show. Additionally, as was stated he had a lasting impact on the show. So many great drops have come from George.

The highest cheekbones in the galaxy

Takei is a Global treasure and I just want to hug him and say a heart felt thank you.

He is now affectionately known as Uncle George to so many of us. Thanks for another great vid, Matt!

Jack Soo, né Goro Suzuki, was also sent to an internment camp during WWII. He changed his name to Jack Soo so that people would think he was Chinese, not Japanese, origin to avoid the post-war stigma. He even played Chinese characters like in Flower Drum Song because Americans largely didn't know the difference.

Man, this could NOT have come at a better time for Trek fans 🙏

How does this man not have a Congressional Medal of Honor?? We need to get on this!

Thank you Matt. When I came out at age 21 (September 30th, 1992), though I had not been intimate with anyone, male or female, as a gay man while I was serving on active duty in the US Navy, I recently looked back with my first television interview that aired only on KIRO-TV, channel 7 in Seattle. I remember the question being asked if I would advise other men and women in the military to do what I did, I replied at the time no because at that time, I was only seeing this as my personal fight. 1992 was the first time I could vote in a presidential election and I was very hopeful when then Governor Bill Clinton was elected. The only reason I voted for him was after I came out and did that first interview, I heard he wanted it to be possible for men and women to be able to serve openly if they were gay. I had my discharge hearing though on December 15th, 1992 and because I still had not been with anyone sexually, all the Navy had against me was my typed letter to the editor of "The Bremerton Sun" (Now I believe called "The Kitsap Sun"), I faxed from the public affairs office were I worked as an on-base journalist for what was then called "The Trident Tides." The letter detailed what was happening in the PAO after a sailor on one of our nuclear submarines had just recently made headlines by coming out. I told of how I laughed at all the "gay jokes" the first day, but by the third day (the day our weekly newspaper had to be finish and sent to the printers for our weekly release), I wanted a way to voice both my support for the sailor and my anger over myself and those gay jokes. So, I finished the letter by typing (I still had not actually said these words) "Not only can I sympathize with Petty Officer ....., but I can also empathize with him because I too am a gay man." My honorable discharge was placed on hold when President Clinton officially took office on January 20th, 1993 but it was an interview with a very popular local female reporter that would change my life forever. Her name, Mona Lee (who then became Mona Lee Locke, then wife to the future Governor of the state of Washington Gary Locke and who would serve in President Obama's cabinet - my own personal six degrees of separation to Obama LOL). She had heard about my story and wanted to do an in-depth interview with me. Because I didn't have a driver's license (had a huge fear of driving), she agreed to come to the base (I was stationed at what was then called Naval Submarine Base, Bangor in Silverdale, Washington). But the base would not granted them permission to come onto the base and I was not granted to wear my Navy uniform for the interview. Mona and myself were granted to do the interview strictly at the Pass & ID parking lot, we were not granted to enter any building. She came over and the interview lasted for more than two hours. I remember when we finished, she hugged me and told me that I gave her some great information and that the story would air that night as the "Feature Story" during the 5-6 news hour (meaning it would be a 5 minute piece). When it aired that night, I was watching it in my barracks with the guy who lived on the 3rd floor of the BEQ. None of them knew before it aired that I had publicly come out and I was nervous because I was ready to be attacked. To my surprise, when it finished, all I got was handshakes and high fives. That's also when I started doing research, being a journalist at that time, and George was someone that caught my attention due to his political prowess. I already had known about what happened to him as a kid, because the first guy that I ever dated, was a HUGE Star Trek fan (sorry #GeorgeTakei, it was not you but I could not stand William Shatner's acting - I can hear an #OHMY now). So, now my respect for him through watching this has grown immensely. It is also good to see that Brad and him have been able to chart their relationship through just about every hurdle that came their way and they just look like that perfect couple that still gives this single 51 year old gay man hope of a better utopia for us all! xo

I first was introduced to George as Sulu on Star Trek. Then I was reintroduced to George when he became the spokesperson for the Howard Stern show. This is my favorite incarnation of George. Able to take a joke and the willingness to make fun of himself. I never knew this Actor could be so funny. Also we got to meet his Husband Brad through the Stern Show. To me George is a Great actor , husband and friend.A gentle soul.

This is going to sound weird, but I've discovered that watching your videos, hearing these stories, is the only time outside of a rare breakthrough in therapy where I can openly weep. What happened to George's family is coming for people like me faster than anyone actually realizes.

I did not know about the pre-Stonewall activism. Thank you, Matt.

I never realized he’d been forced into the US concentration camps till I heard him in an interview with Mr. KFI, in Los Angeles >25 years ago. His musical Allegiance is so beautiful and heart breaking.

If anyone is interested in learning more about the POW camps in NA during WWII, I recommend reading “Osaban”. It’s written by a child camp survivor.

Takei as a voice actor has also been super representative.....i know Blue Eye Samurai's Seki would have been another hard to believe lovable elderly man, but something about Takeis voice hlis symbolic of comfort and hope for a future for me

I was first introduced to this man in 2012's TMNT as Splinter. This man has always been an inspiration 🙌

Oh, YES❣ I will wait patiently for George Takei any day! Edit: Oh, no. It's in 20 hours. I can go and come back for George Takei any day as well!

George helped me immensely, although he would never know it. As a closeted young gay man, I was able to "read his beads" and drew comfort from his strength of character. It made my life quite a bit easier. I lost my life partner in late 1999 to hepatic cancer, but am still able to remain strong. Thank you George!

I love this. Star Trek was one of my favorite shows growing up.

As a Japanese American, the only books I could find about my country were either about brave American soldiers killing us. Or the concentration camps. I don’t know why they thought those were ok to give a little fourth grader, and I think to an extent I was a bit traumatized by what I read.

Absolutely haunting opening lines about the national anthem behind barb wires. You'd be hard-pressed to find a metaphor that slices to the core of USA's past as deeply.

I could listen to George talk all day ~o~

Thank you for this! So many questions I had at the outset were eventually answered. What an awesome tribute~

I had chills pretty much continuously through this video from start to end, and almost cried a couple times. Can we have a Takei Day every year? 😭

How the hell can your videos keep getting better when they're already the best out there? Somehow, you did it again. Very moving and inspiring.

Thanks so much for making these videos. We need to remember our past and especially remember that it wasn't very long ago and continues on into the present!

We loved George. This just makes us appreciate him more. He's got to be flattered by this profile.

As usual, Matt a well-researched and put together piece. Enjoyable to watch.

This episode made me cry, I related so hard. Thank you!

I love uncle George so much. Such a powerful and wonderful person

Thanks Matt, another fantastic video. ❤

I'm genuinely crying at this, I want to thank you for sharing this story from the bottom of my heart. As a gay man in America this story gives me hope for my future, never stop fighting.

Your pacing/writing in telling this story brought through so much heart, I was crying by the end of this. I knew bits of George's story but not the whole, what a wonderful man. Thank you for such a brilliant video.

My late hubby Alan loved George and so do I.

I don't understand how you can "not have a problem" with something but be against it. How can you be against something and not have a reason?

Really an amazing video Matt! Even more than usual, and your videos are always so in depth and insightful. I was lucky enough to see Mr. Takei in his musical Allegiance at the Japanese American cultural and community center. It felt unbelievably special and important to get to see it there, surrounded by people who had obviously gone through the tragedy themselves. What an impactful and heartbreaking experience. It was exhilarating to be in his presence, but more importantly it really allowed me to engage with a history Id only read about in dry and uncritical text books. My next door neighbor, a teacher, my friends grandparents were all concentrated and intered. i knew their stories seen other plays on the subject but this just connected differently. Im not sure why so many chose the south bay area of los angeles to relocate after the tragedy, but my community is clearly better and stronger because of their political and cultural influences.

I have new additional respect for an already admired individual. I almost missed this, glad I didn't! Thank you so much for your excellent series!!!

Fun fact: George Takei was the first Star Trek actor with speaking lines to appear in Star Wars

god what a badass!!! thanks so much for this one, matt

Thanks for all your dedication and hard work Mr. Takei

George and Nichelle were always my favourite TOS actors and their real lives were even more interesting and impactful.

Every video on your channel that ive seen so far is a compelling story from beginning to end and an emotional journey. You have a gift. I wish you could have been one of my film studies lecturers back in the day.

Thank you for sharing another amazing video, thank you so much❤

I just realized Sulu being the pilot was probably a big middle finger at the old Asians can't drive stereotype

I cried so many times during this thank you for this video. I’m a Chippewa gay transgender man and I have so many emotions about all of this WOW wow

My husband’s father was in the Air Force as a bookkeeper . The family ( my husband wasn’t born yet) was stationed at the Japanese encampment. What a shame this took place. His family had to live in a New Mexico at that camp. A horrible memory.

ohhh you're good @MattBaume i'm in tears now!

Another FANTASTIC video. Great job, man.