Radio ham: GEORGE TAKEI

Never too old

Finally out, ‘Star Trek’ legend George Takei takes on a new adventure. But can the 68-year-old activist curb Howard Stern’s use of the word ‘fag?’

By Daniel A. Kusner Apr 20, 2006

His voice is unmistakable. In the lobby of the Melrose Hotel, George Takei greets me with a warm “Hello.” His distinctively rich timbre sounds more impressive in person than it does on TV or radio. It must have taken years to develop, and it’s paid off.

Takei is most famous for playing Lieutenant Hikaru Sulu, helmsman for the starship Enterprise on “Star Trek.” He’s also has scored some high-profile gigs as voice-over narrator: Disney’s “Mulan,” “The Simpsons” and “Futurama,” to name a few.

And now Takei is using his voice to speak out for gays and lesbians.
Earlier this month, Takei stopped in Dallas as the newest spokesperson for the Human Rights Campaign’s “Coming Out Project.” Last year, in an interview with the California bi-weekly magazine Frontiers, Takei officially confirmed his sexuality. Takei and his partner, Brad Altman, have been together for two decades — they met while jogging with the California chapter of the gay running club, Front Runners.

The news wasn’t the least shocking. But it was news — especially since Takei said he was publicly coming out to let Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger know that, as a California resident, he was appalled that a fellow actor vetoed the state’s same-sex marriage bill.

Like Ian McKellen and Richard Chamberlain, Takei is a welcome addition to the ranks of queer celebrities who came out in their golden years. His newly out status is also revitalizing his career. Four weeks ago, Takei appeared on an episode of “Will & Grace” — working with guest star Britney Spears.

His work with HRC is certainly commendable. With his speaking appearances, Takei hopes to “energize the base” membership of HRC but more importantly, to reach the suburban and rural folks of Red State America: When they see Sulu’s familiar face, they might be able to relate to someone who happens to be gay.

But Takei’s most impressive gig as a gay man is his freelance job as the official announcer for the Howard Stern show on Sirius satellite radio.

Long before he “officially” came out, Takei was a Stern show favorite. His recognizable voice added a wonderful presence, and Stern’s madcap crew often interviewed Takei — joshing around about his often-speculated sexuality and his rather uppity ways: Takei’s Papillion doggie is named “La Reina Blanca,” (the White Queen).

A frequent on-air contest was for callers to imitate Stern’s mash-up song “Sulu Dance:” a parody of the Men Without Hats hit “Safety Dance” spliced together with Takei-isms. And last year, when Howard turned 51, Takei was the “surprise” caller wishing him happy birthday. After that call their friendship was solidified, and Takei proved he had a terrific sense of humor. Stern’s gay fans were delighted.

As Stern’s official announcer, Takei is the most prominent openly gay person Stern has ever aligned himself with. Next in line would probably be flamboyant decorator and regular call-in guest Bobby Trendy, and Mark Harris, the starved-for-attention gay man who married Martha Raye.

The general public probably doesn’t realize it, but avid Stern listeners know that Howard is pro-gay — especially when it comes to same-sex marriage issues. In February 2004, when President Bush called for a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage, Stern did a 180 on Bush.

Following 9/11, the radio jock praised the president and was an enormous supporter. But as soon as Bush called for the “amendment protecting marriage,” Stern said Bush was crazy and became one of the president’s loudest detractors during the 2004 election campaign.

Immediately after he started his anti-Bush crusade, Stern’s troubles with the FCC began. And after the Super Bowl incident with Janet Jackson, Stern became the FCC’s number-one enemy in the war over on-air indecency. The radio host was at the frontline battle for freedom of speech. Losing this battle was the reason the King of All Media moved to Sirius.

While he hopes to revolutionize satellite radio, Howard Stern will probably go down in history a master broadcaster and free speech activist. But gay listeners can’t help notice how often Stern and co-host Artie Lange use the word “fag.”

Some may argue that plenty of disparaging words used to describe minorities make their way onto Stern’s broadcasts. Callers often say, “nigger,” “gook,” “spick,” “kike” and, of course, “faggot.” But except for the word “faggot,” you never hear Stern use such despicable terms (although he does often refer to himself as a “hook-nosed Jew bastard.”)

So how come the word “fag” is fair game? And how come it’s used so liberally?

When I ask Takei about it, the beaming senior citizen suddenly morphs into a confused old man.

“He does? Well, I’ve never heard him say that,” Takei says.

Yeah, Stern and Artie Lange say the word “fag” all the time.

“I don’t listen to the show. When I’m on, they don’t use … [the word].”

So you didn’t know he hurls the word “fag” on-air?

“No, I didn’t know that,” Takei says.

Well, now you do, George Takei. Consider yourself informed.

“I don’t listen to the show,” Takei explains. “Frankly, I find it kind of boring. Brad is addicted to the show. His car radio has Sirius. Occasionally, I listen to it. But it’s boring. All this talk about ‘that stripper is snorting this and that.’”

Takei doesn’t find it fascinating when Stern rails against Bush and former FCC chairman Michael Powell?

“I don’t hear that part,” Takei says.

Is he kidding?

In December 2005, after years of refusing press requests, Stern finally allowed himself to be interviewed. His massive publicity campaign included features on “60 Minutes,” “The Today Show,” “David Letterman,” a two-night appearance on “The O’Reilly Factor” and countless newspaper articles and magazines. If Takei wasn’t aware of Stern’s tirades against Bush and the FCC, he must have been deaf and blind — especially since he was about to work for him starting Jan. 9.

On June 10, Howard Stern will be awarded the 2006 Freedom of Speech Award at the New Media Seminar in New York. Stern has asked Takei to accept the award on his behalf. In the meantime, let’s hope Takei’s gay activism takes a bold new step forward and he confronts Stern on the word “faggot.” And if anyone asks Takei about the “fag” matter again, at least he can’t say he wasn’t aware of it.

STERN COMPLIMENTS ROSIE AGAIN

If Howard Stern, pictured, and Rosie O’Donnell buried the hatchet and joined forces, the world would be a better place. When O’Donnell was daytime TV’s Queen of Nice, Stern couldn’t stand her. In fact, one contest was for Stern listeners to guess how many jellybeans would fit into a glass jar in the shape of Rosie’s head.

But when Rosie married former Dallasite Kelli O’Donnell, Stern gave her props for coming out and standing up for herself. On her prolific blog, Rosie.com, O’Donnell has admitted that she knows Stern is a regular reader.

After watching the HBO documentary “All Aboard,” Stern had these kind words to say about O’Donnell: “It’s so, like, kind of beautiful, and she put together this cruise where they could all be together and not feel so abnormal all the time and be goofed on. And I thought it was great … I gotta hand it to the broad. She did a good job, and she did a good thing for people. You know. And at one point, they pull into, like, the Bahamas, and there’s a religious group protesting them, and — it’s pretty upsetting. But Rosie was like very, very cool about it, and you see her working with these kids, and it was, you know, hey — you can goof on her all you want, but she’s doing more than most. She’s doing something for people.”

— Daniel A. Kusner