Today we stumbled upon a great reason to bid on and buy your favorite Star Trek actor’s autograph and photo…to help cure breast cancer via Project Teddy Bear.

Project Teddy Bear was started by Lisa Spodak in 2004 as a way to raise money for her third Avon Walk for Breast Cancer. On her website she says, “I’d wait outside theaters, talk shows or other events for celebrities and explain to them that I was doing the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer and trying to raise $10,000. I’d ask them to sign a little tag that said “Thank You for Your Donation to The Avon Walk for Breast Cancer” and to pose for a picture with the stuffed Avon Breast Cancer Crusade bear. Then I’d post all the pictures on the web and conduct an online auction. Voila! The almost $4,000 that I raised with Project Teddy Bear helped me raise a total of $15,000!” Read the full story here.  Since then she has risen over $150,000 for The Avon Walk for Breast Cancer, and is still going.

A new convention almost slipped passed our radar in our very own backyard. A production of C2 Ventures, Inc., Fan Days is one of the various cons operated by C2 in the Dallas Metroplex and just so happens to be Star Trek flavored this year. And, THAT happens to be our favorite flavor.

On board for the con are none other than William Shatner, Jonathan Frakes, Brent Spiner, & Christopher Lloyd. We're looking forward to Doc Brown Commander Kruge the most. Not that we don't adore the rest (I mean that Shat's going to be there, but Christopher Lloyd is a rare treat at conventions.

Over the years, we've all heard stories about certain actors who were up for roles on "Star Trek: The Next Generation", but for one reason or other didn't want or get the part.  Now, thanks to Sliceofscifi.com (via Lettersofnote.com), we have an April 1987 dated Paramount studio memo that sheds light on the actually prospects for the TNG crew.  

Among the many names listed, Yaphet Kotto was up for the role of Captain Picard, Ben Murphy (Alias Smith & Jones) was a candidate for Riker (spelled Ryker in the memo), Denise Crosby was considered to play Troi, & kid's game show host J.D. Roth was the only actor listed for Wesley.  Here's something that we learned at Vegas Khhaaan (that the memo confirms, Eric Menyuk (aka The Traveler from TNG) was a possibility for our lovable android, Data.

The Cartoon Network's "The Super Hero Squad Show" is about to get Trekked with TOS & TNG alums.  George Takei, Jonathan Frakes, & Michael Dorn are set to lend their voices to the show's season two, already in production.  Star Trek isn't the only scifi franchise to be represented in season two, also participating are Mark Hamill (Star Wars), John Barrowman (Torchwood), James Marsters (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Katee Sackhoff (Battlestar Galactica), Adam West (Batman), Kevin Sorbo (Hercules & Andromeda) and Nina Dobrev (The Vampire Diaries). 

Today I received an email from our good buddy Miles, from The SciFi Diner podcast, with a terrific video from youtube (via i09). The video features a good conversation between Jonathan Frakes and Marina Sirtis. For me, the video encompasses the best part of TNG. Past all of the phaser fights and fantastic science fiction, Next Gen feels like home and being with the ones you love.

Our favorite bearded first officer is busting out his bull horn again and is directing a brand new episode of the scifi series "V".  Frakes, who has become quite the director over the years, is set to direct episode 1.06 of the series.  The episode is actually in production as we speak.  Starting Tuesday the 16th and scheduled to conclude on the 25th, the episode introduces a new character named John May.

Why not start of the new year with a terrible interview featuring Marina Sirtis, Jonathan Frakes, LeVar Burton, and Brent Spiner from 1996. Thanks to the fine folks at Cinematical, they dug up this uncomfortable video clip hosted by two rather annoying interviews that hopefully aren't in the business any longer. Check out the annoyed looks on Brent's face around 4:56. By the way, this was a part of the "First Contact" promotional tour and was originally aired on MTV UK.

In a recent interview with Sci Fi, Jonathan Frakes talks about directing Trek films, He's long loving marriage to Genie Francis, Thomas Riker, and the Riker Strut.

Let's start with something at the most basic end of the spectrum, for people who may not know Star Trek, but also for those who've been affected by it in some meaningful way. Why should people watch Star Trek?

If you're in the Orlando Florida area this weekend you have chance to see Leonard Nimoy and Jonathan Frakes at the 20th Anniversary FX Show International.

Billed as the coolest show on earth, the FX show is pop culture convention featuring stars from comics, sc-fi, horror, and sports genres. The show is expected to bring 20,000 fans from all over the country to the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando.