Skift Take
Who remembers Star Trek anyway? It's likely that just as many people or more know actor William Shatner through his Priceline advertising gig. Are big-name celebrities better in commercials than owls, gnomes, and belt-less soap opera stars? We're not sure of his return on investment, but at this point he can almost name his own price.
Grabbing breakfast with a bunch of reporters at Tuscany Steakhouse in Manhattan on Monday to mark Priceline's 20th anniversary, legendary actor, singer (OK maybe not-so legendary) and pitchman William Shatner held forth on numerous issues of the day, including travel, emerging technologies, acting, social media and social justice.
Away from the gaggle of reporters, one of whom incredulously asked Shatner when is the best time to book a flight, as if that were his expertise, Skift grabbed five minutes at a breakfast table with the actor.
Asked how he looks at his 20-year stint, which spanned print, radio, and TV commercials hawking Name Your Own Price as the Priceline Negotiator, then Express Deals, and now the company's Tweniversary, Shatner said he's incredibly proud of the gig.
Shatner has had his ups and downs with his Priceline work over the years, including in the early days when the stock price fell from $265 per share to around $2.25, decimating his stock-based compensation, and several years ago when the company seemingly killed off his Negotiator character in a cliffhanger, or
