20 Things You Didn’t Know About Galaxy Quest
15. Tim Allen Is Actually A Massive Sci-Fi Geek
Tim Allen has been a fanatical science fiction geek his entire life - collectables, memorabilia, the whole nine yards - and was hoping that Galaxy Quest would be a stepping stone to other, more serious sci fi roles in the movies:
“I love it. It’s my favourite thing. Galaxy Quest was a baby step for me. I like other scripts that are a bit more serious, but I’m doing this first... Technically, it isn’t what I would want, which would be a Larry Niven sort of thing. It isn’t right on, but it’s a Saturday afternoon, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine kind of dramatic science fiction.”
Allen was deeply starstruck at working with Sigourney Weaver, and badgered her throughout the shoot to agree to sign a piece of the starship Nostromo set from Alien that he’d bought at auction. Eventually she caved and signed it ‘Stolen By Tim Allen, Love Sigourney Weaver’ and really upset him, as it was supposed to go in pride of place in his screening room at home.
He got his own back however, in typically caveman style - the cast went to see a 20th anniversary screening of Alien during the shoot, and he hooted and shouted ‘Yeah, baby!’ at the scene in the shuttle at the end when she was in her underwear.