William Shatner and Téa Obreht

This week, William Shatner tells Kurt Andersen how he’s fine-tuned playing the role of William Shatner and why he likes going at warp speed. And we hear about another actor named William — last name Shakespeare — who may or may not have written some plays. The new film Anonymous buys the line that Shakespeare’s plays were ghost-written by a political insider at Queen Elizabeth’s court. Also, tattoos are no longer just for bikers and hipsters: scientists and mathematicians are showing off their callings right on their skin.