William Shatner recently shared his mixed feelings about participating in a Super Bowl LX commercial for Kellogg’s Raisin Bran, which humorously plays on his name. The legendary Star Trek actor, who is now 94 years old, expressed that the pun—“Will Shat”—has been a source of childhood teasing, leading to his “apprehensions” about the ad.
In the commercial, Shatner teleports across the country to deliver Raisin Bran to those in need, adding a lighthearted twist to the promotion of the cereal’s high fiber content. Reflecting on his past experiences, Shatner recounted how he would often get into fights when teased about his name in locker rooms as a child. “I mean, I used to get into fights when I was a kid in the locker room,” he recalled. “I’d say, ‘Don’t call me that!’ and I’d fight them.”
Despite his reservations, Shatner ultimately decided to participate after discussing the concept with the advertising team. He emphasized that they took care to find a tasteful way to incorporate the humor while discussing the natural topic of bathroom humor, which provided a new layer to an old memory.
Though he had no intention of watching the commercial ahead of its premiere, Shatner planned to celebrate the Super Bowl with friends at a watch party, where his ad would air. “I generally avoid watching myself,” he admitted. “But I thought it’d be fun.”
Fans might be curious about the stunts in the ad, particularly whether Shatner really jumped off the top of a van. He clarified that while he has a history of performing his own stunts, he left this particular action to a stunt double, humorously noting, “No, they cut before I jumped off, put a stunt man in there and looked vaguely like me, and then cut rapidly to me on the table. Movie magic.”
Shatner’s willingness to revisit the old joke in a lighthearted manner for a major event like the Super Bowl showcases his ability to embrace humor about his past while entertaining both new and old fans alike. The commercial promises to add a delightful touch to the festive atmosphere of the big game.