We have to admit that we're big fans of CBS's hit comedy The Big Bang Theory. What makes the show that much more awesome (how else can you describe it?), is the regular occurrence of Star Trek guest stars. I mean, who doesn't love to the see the likes of Wil Wheaton, George Takei, & LeVar Burton on the small screen. Now we can add Brent Spiner to that list. Brent will be appearing along with Sheldon's nemesis "Evil" Wil Wheaton on October 13th.

Here’s a mini Next Gen reunion for ya. Gates McFadden is directing a new play, in Los Angeles, called “House of Gold” whose cast includes fellow Star Trek: The Next Generation’s Denise Crosby. Let’s hope that Denise’s current character doesn’t go on any away missions this time.

Gates talks about her impetus for this particular subject matter and its relevance to today’s society.

"House of Gold is a hilarious, yet scathing critique of our culture, revealing dark truths about our values, and, ultimately, about ourselves," explains EST/LA artistic director Gates McFadden, who also directs. "Reading this play returned me to my own childhood. Like the character in the play, I was the ‘pleaser' child-performer. As an adult, my role on Star Trek was my parents' dream come true, but for me, it brought back a lot of childhood ambivalence."

She continues, "In American culture, reality TV is more real than real life. Parents think it's normal to exploit and humiliate their children on camera, if only to give their own dreary lives more meaning-‘my video got over a million hits on You Tube!' Children either receive too much parental attention or not enough. Something horrible in the news? Goodie! Let's get the details."

We reported last month that Star Trek: The Next Generation is heading to Blu-ray & HD sooner rather than later. It turns out that the four test episodes that are being worked on include "Encounter At Farpoint 1 & 2", "The Inner Light", & "Sins of the Father". While we were hoping for "Yesterday's Enterprise" those choices will definitely work for us. Trekcore & The Digital Bits are both reporting that the four test episodes could be released this fall and may show up on both Netflix & Epix.

In July, we featured an article about an upcoming project that desperately needed your help. Called Liberator, and starring Lou Ferrigno, Peta Wilson, Michael Dorn, Don 'The Dragon" Wilson, & Ed Asner, it revolves around a disgraced, washed-up, ex superhero (played by Lou Ferrigno) whose secret black ops past catches up with him -- just as he's trying to put his life back together. The good news is that Liberator got it's funding and will see completion. The even better news is that our buddies Scott & Miles from The SciFi Diner podcast just released their interview with Liberator director / co-writer Aaron Pope & co-writer / producer Jim Cirile.

Unlike other superhero flicks out there, Liberator is based very much in the politics of now. This is a real person in the real world. He's a superhero, yes, but he's also a man and a father dealing with the things that affect us all as humans. It's this personal emotional element that really sets the character, and this project, apart from others in the genre.

If you're in Orange County, CA. this weekend and more specifically Laguna Beach, stop by the ever popular Festival of Arts and say hi to LeVar Burton & Alfre Woodard. Both Trek stars will be appearing at the event along with Singer/songwriter Richard Marx (who is set to perform), Camryn Manheim (Ghost Whisperer), Greg Grunberg (Heroes, and the airplane pilot from Lost who got totally eaten by the black smoke monster), , Richard Karn (Home Improvement and Family Feud host), & Marion Ross (Mrs Cunningham, Happy Days)

It will cost you $7 to get in and it's first-come first-serve, so get there early. Heck you could even win an Acura ZDX valued at over $50,000.

2011 Festival of Arts Celebrity Event
Festival of Arts grounds
650 Laguna Canyon Rd.
Laguna Beach, California
Saturday at 4:30 p.m.
Official Website

(Source LagunaBeachPatch.com)

Calling all Trek fans in the Great White North! This weekend is shaping up to be a stellar one for Canadian Star Trek & Scifi fans alike. William Shatner (Sir Billiam, as we now call him), Nichelle Nichols, Marina Sirtis, Ethan Phillips, & Malcolm McDowell are all set to attend Canada's largest science fiction convention, Fan Expo Canada.

Now entering its 17th year, Fan Expo Canada showcases over 700 exhibits and sprawls to over 400,000 square feet and over 75,000 fans. On top of the listed Trek alumni, everything from Star Wars to Battlestar Galactica & I Dream of Genie to The Six Million Dollar Man will be represented. Oh, and did we mention that Freddy Kruger will be there as well. That's right, one of our favs, Robert England is set to appear. We say Freddy Kruger, but really Robert will always be Willy from V, to us. We still have a special place in our eight-chambered hearts for the original V & V:The Final Battle. But the series?... Not so much.

Anyway, check out the full guest list & convention details below.

Eugene Wesley Roddenberry was born August 19th 1921 in El Paso, Texas. Today would have been Gene's 90th birthday, so we pay tribute to the late Great Bird of the Galaxy. Gene's brain child, Star Trek, is celebrating it's 45th anniversary this year and continues to inspire and provoke generations. We recently returned from Vegas Khhaaan! 2011, where more than 20,000 fans participated in one of the largest, if not THE largest, Trek Convention. This proves that Star Trek, and Gene's vision, still has an indelible mark on history with more fans added each year.

Gene started life as a sickly young boy who would dream of traveling to the stars. He flew combat missions in the Pacific Theatre during WWII with the "Bomber Barons" of the 394th Bomb Squadron, 5th Bombardment Wing of the Thirteenth Air Force. In total, Gene flew eighty-nine missions for which he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal.

After WWII, Gene worked as a commercial pilot for Pan American World Airways (Pan Am). He received a Civil Aeronautics commendation for his rescue efforts following a June 1947 crash in the Syrian desert while on a flight to Istanbul from Karachi.

A brand new series heading to TNT is set to feature a recurring role with our favorite Chief Engineer, LeVar Burton. Perception stars Eric McCormack (from Will & Grace fame) as Dr. Daniel Pierce, a neuroscientist and professor recruited to help the federal government crack difficult cases. LeVar is set to play the Dean of the University where Pierce is a professor. The show is created by long time Star Trek: Voyager writer / producer Kenneth Biller. Kenneth joined Voyager as an Executive Story Editor with the first season episode "Parallax". Beginning with the second season episode, "Dreadnought", Biller became a Co-Producer on the series. He was named Producer by season four, Supervising Producer at the start of season five, and Co-Executive Producer at the beginning of the sixth season. During the seventh and final season, he was an Executive Producer on the show. Kenneth also co-wrote the Klingon Encounter ride for Star Trek: The Experience with René Echevarria.

Check out the press release below for the full details on Perception.

Release Date: 8/17/2011
TNT Begins Production on Perception, New Drama Series Starring Emmy® Winner Eric McCormack

The rumor-mill seems to think so. We've been waiting for this since we first got wind of The Original Series being remastered and released in high-def. Since Next Gen was originally shot on film and post production's output for the final episodes were on video, the special effects throughout the series would need to be remastered before the show could ever make it to blu-ray. According to The Digital Bits secret stash of comic-con sources, CBS is indeed working on a remastered version of the series, with a 4 episode demo disc that might be available to fans soon.