Celebrity

CelebWatch: Stardate 05.30.09

After a break, CelebWatch is back and today brings you news on Colm Meaney getting a beat-down, Trek alumni say YES (and some saying NO) to the new SAG contract, one Trek alum receiving a Life Achievement Award, and a couple really weird videos featuring the two stars from the new Star Trek film. All this and more await you below!



George Takei Speaks Out Against CA Supreme Court Ruling on Prop 8 [UPDATED]

Last September the original Sulu, George Takei wed his long-time partner Brad Altman (see TM story), but in November California voters amended the state’s constitution to ban same-sex marriage. Today the California Supreme Court upheld Proposition 8, but also declared marriages completed before Prop 8 (like Takei’s) to be valid. However, Takei is still not happy about the ruling and has made a statement. [UPDATED: more Takei statements on video]


Live Coverage Of Star Trek Hollywood Premiere

This evening the big USA gala premiere is happening at the Chinese theater in Hollywood, California. After a month of international premieres, this is is going to the the biggest with Star Trek director JJ Abrams joined by almost the entire cast and crew. Also on hand will be past Trek luminaries and many of LA’s top celebrities. TrekMovie is there and will be liveblogging (with photos), plus there are live webcams and a local TV station is broadcasting live from the red carpet. Details below.


JJ Abrams & Star Trek Cast/Crew Attend Shatner Charity Event – First Meeting of the Kirks [UPDATED: More pics]

As noted in our last ShatWatch, there were two big events today: The William Shatner Horse Show, and a big Paramount press day for Star Trek. And so as soon as they wrapped up their press event, JJ Abrams and members of the Star Trek team and cast whisked across town to attend Bill’s charity horse event, and TrekMovie has the first photo of the first meeting of the new Kirks. 


CelebWatch: Stardate 04.24.09 [Updated]

After months, the Watch is back, baby! We can’t let the new movie celebs take up all the space, when so many ‘classic’ Trek celebs are out there making a difference. Below is some Trek celeb news from the past few weeks, including tons of stuff on George Takei, LeVar Burton, and Patrick Stewart. Plus: a guide to Trek actors who have appeared on TV in the last three months, and those who will be appearing soon.


The Collective: Autographed Edition

Collecting autographs is not a hobby unique to Star Trek. Fans of everything from sports to first-edition books have been fascinated by obtaining the signatures of those they admire. Today TrekMovie provides a guide to obtaining autographs from the world of Trek, plus we have a fun contest sponsored by Autograph Magazine and news about Rittenhouse Ltd.’s Star Trek 2009 feature film trading card set signers.


Leonard Nimoy To Appear On ‘Fringe’ [UPDATED: Orci Answers Fringe Questions]

Leonard Nimoy is headed to another JJ Abrams production, this time on the small screen. EW is reporting that Nimoy will appear as what could be a recurring character on Fringe, the genre show created and produced by the same team who are bringing us the new Star Trek movie. This is big news for fans of Fringe and of Star Trek, and huge news for fans of both. [more below, including FRINGE spoilers]


Abrams, Pine & Quinto Depart For Australia + Prelim Global Premiere Schedule

Today in Trek (future) history is First Contact Day. On April 5th 2063 Zefram Cochrane will make the first Human warp flight and greet the first Vulcan visitors to Earth. And how fitting that today Star Trek director JJ Abrams and his Kirk and Spock (Chris Pine and Zach Quinto), all boarded their first flight to greet fans (new and old) across the world, in their global Star Trek tour. See below for details including a preliminary schedule of the events.


Preview Of Scott Bakula’s Guest Spot on Chuck + Bakula Talks About New Star Trek Movie

On Monday Scott Bakula, Star Trek Enterprise’s Captain Jonathan Archer, begins a three-episode arc on the NBC show Chuck. We have video and image previews plus some interview excerpts from Bakula talking about Chuck and about Star Trek, including how maybe the new Star Trek movie could prove that Enterprise should never have been cancelled.



DVD Review – Shatner’s Groom Lake + ShatWatch: King of All Media Edition

Just this month William Shatner’s 2002 feature film Groom Lake on has been re-released on DVD this March. First shown in the early 2000s on the Sci-Fi Channel, the film is a science fiction tale written, produced, and directed by William Shatner (who also stars in the movie). See below for a review of the new DVD plus the latest ‘ShatWatch’ news on Bill.


Happy Birthday Leonard Nimoy

Today, Leonard Nimoy is 78.  His thoughtfulness and dedication to his art is a big reason for the popularity of Spock.  He has entertained Star Trek fans for more than 40 years, creating a cultural icon with a character we are all delighted to see again on the big screen this year.  However, his career is more than Spock, starting nearly 60 years ago.  TrekMovie sends its best wishes to Leonard on his birthday with this collection of some of his performances during his many decades as an entertainer. 


Stewart: I was not slumming on Trek

In recent years Patrick Stewart has return to his roots as a Shakespearean actor, but in a new interview with the UK’s The Times, the former Jean Luc Picard makes it clear that he is proud of his time in the captain’s chair of the Enterprise on Star Trek The Next Generation. See below for video and what he had to say.


ShatWatch: Bill As Canadian PM? How About Astronaut? OK, Sci-Fi Fanatic?

March will be the month of better weather, spring breaks, and also William Shatner’s 78th birthday. Therefore, we at TrekMovie have redefined March Madness to be March Shatness. At 78, Shatner continues to be a role model for how to age with vigor and enthusiasm for life, and TrekMovie has all the details on his recent adventures in this edition of ShatWatch.


Preview of 25th Summer TrekFest – TOS Stars (and TrekMovie) Headed To Riverside, Iowa

In Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, James T. Kirk tells Gillian Tayler "I’m from Iowa. I only work in outer space", which started in motion an annual tradition in the real town of Riverside, Iowa: Trek Fest. Trekmovie.com brings you all the details about this annual event, with this 25th anniversary year promising to be the biggest and best yet, with guest stars Walter Koenig, George Takei, and Nichelle Nichols.



Trek Vets Pick Up (And Give Away) Oscars At 2009 Academy Awards

The 81st Academy Awards were held tonight, and Star Trek was all over the place, albeit indirectly. For starters, a few Trek alumni walked home with a golden statuette. Not only that, but several Trek veterans were on hand to co-present a few awards. Oh, and then there’s the fact that the show’s orchestra was conducted by the man who wrote the score this year’s Star Trek. Check it out below.



Trekkies Guide To Twitter

Social networking and microblogging are the latest buzz words around the internet these days. Twitter is a social networking site that has become home to many celebrities, news organizations, and companies that want to join the conversation. Lately, there has been an surge of Star Trek alums, and even TrekMovie has joined in on the fun. Now, we take a more in depth look at life on Twitter, from a Trekkie’s perspective.



Brannon Braga: Star Trek Is My Ex-Wife + More From Frakes On Leverage ‘Trek Reunion’

Veteran Star Trek writer and producer Brannon Braga is keeping busy these days on the FOX series 24 and he even has a new genre pilot for ABC in development. Our friends at iF Magazine caught up with the man with the most Trek writing credits to talk about Jack Bauer, JJ Abrams and much more, excerpts below. iF also has more from Jonathan Frakes about his ‘Trek reunion’ episode of Leverage.


Exclusive: Jonathan Frakes Talks ‘Trek Reunion’ Episode of Leverage, Type-casting & more

Jonathan Frakes started directing while still playing William Riker on Star Trek The Next Generation, going on to direct multiple Trek episodes, two TNG films, as well as many non-Trek films and TV shows. Next week TNT will air an episode of their heist show Leverage directed by Frakes and featuring guest spots for Trek actors Brent Spiner and Armin Shimerman, so we thought now would be a good time to check in with the bearded one.


ShatWatch: Raw Nerve Renewed & Bill talks Takei Appearance + Gonzo Ballet Premiere Date + more

February begins with good news for William Shatner (although TrekMovie sees all Shatner news as good news). First Bill’s Bio Channel chat show has been renewed for more episodes (and we have video of Shatner talking about Takei coming to the show). Plus the Gonzo Ballet has a film festival premiere date, the 2009 Horse Show has set a date, and we have a classic Shat vid from 1967 to round out this new ShatWatch.


ST09 Cast Watch: Saldana and Nimoy Talk Movie + Pine Named Future Star + more

It has been a busy week for the stars of the Star Trek movie. Below we have excerpts of Zoe Saldana (Uhura) and Leonard Nimoy (Spock Prime) talking about the new film, plus Chris Pine’s turn at Kirk has already garnered him a film industry honor. We also have more on what’s up with Zachary Quinto (Spock), Simon Pegg (Scotty), and Eric Bana (Nero) below. 


Trek Stars Talk (and Rock) At Phoenix Comic Con

The annual Phoenix ComiCon was held last weekend at the Mesa Convention Center in Arizona, and along with other genre, comic and anime luminaries, were four Trek alums — Wil Wheaton, Brent Spiner, Marina Sirtis, and Chase Masterson — holding a number of panels and events. TrekMovie was there to get the scoop on the event and the stars. Check out some pics, video, and con highlights!


Details On Gene & Majel Roddenberry Memorial Spaceflight + Send A Tribute With Them

At the Memorial for Majel Barrett Roddenberry earlier this month it was first announced that portions of the ashes of both Gene and Majel Roddenberry would be sent into deep space. Today Celestis, the memorial spaceflight company, has provided TrekMovie with more details on their final voyage, along with information on how fans can send a message along with them. We also have the video shown at the memorial.


Big Bang Theory ‘Nimoy Napkin’ Being Auctioned Off This Weekend

Last month we reported that the Trek-crazy CBS sitcom Big Bang Theory incorporated the gift of a Leonard Nimoy autographed napkin into their Christmas episode. As it turns out, there really is a genuine Big Bang napkin signed by Nimoy, and it is being auctioned off for charity this weekend. See below for details and an exclusive picture of the napkin in question.


CelebWatch: Stardate 01.22.09

This year’s Academy Award nominees were announced this morning, and we’ll let you know the Trek veterans who made the cut. Also, we have William Shatner opening a red carpet (and opening up on Ricardo Montalban), Brent Spiner and Jonathan Frakes reuniting for television, LeVar Burton singing and giving love advice, and more. Read on!