Sir Patrick is the consummate professional. We love that… Not only does he give us the best performance he possibly can, whether it be on stage or as Jean Luc, but he’s willing to do whatever it takes to make it happen. For his latest Broadway play, this even includes changing his eating habits and cutting out dairy all together. Now that’s devotion…think about it…that means no ice cream. No ice cream?! Not even for Captain Picard day?!

In the new comedy “A Life in the Theatre” written by David Mamet, Patrick co-stars with T.R. Knight from Grey’s Anatomy and has to take serious measures to protect his voice. You see, the play is 90 minutes of dialog with no intermission.

We're really looking forward to the upcoming Star Trek Fan Days in Plano. We'll be there both days covering the event with tweets, photos, and maybe even a little video thrown into the mix. We just got word from our friend Larry Nemecek that both he and Daryl Frazetti will be attending and speaking at the event. Larry will be presenting his "Star Trek: Between The Cracks" lecture & Daryl will present "Anthropology of Star Trek". As if that's not enough, it appears that our favorite Klingon, Michael Dorn has been added to the roster. Fan Days is shaping up to be a spectacular event. If you're anywhere near Plano, TX, you really should head down and join the fun. Check out the full details and roster below.

IndieCade, the only independent gaming event in the US open to the public, opens Friday, October 8th in Culver City, California and runs through Sunday, October 10th. The three-day festival represents the culmination and celebration of its annual competition spotlighting innovation in independent game design. IndieCade 2010 will present 32 independent games selected from nearly four hundred entries, an extensive conference schedule featuring artist's talks, salon discussions and workshops, and the opportunity to play a wide spectrum of games. A gala Red Carpet Awards Ceremony on Friday night will be hosted by artist and storyteller LeVar Burton.

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.

Our favorite Cheif Engineer is making his way to the Intel Developer's Forum in San Francisco again this year. Last Year, LeVar Burton opened the third day of the IDF by reminding attendees to keep dreaming.  Described as the "search for the next big thing", this year, he's working closely with Intel in a much wider role. In a marketing campaign to shed light on new TV technology, including sets with built in apps, intelligent search, & wireless technology, Levar stars in a short Youtube video and Intel invites you to follow him on twitter as he explorers the Smart TV Pavilion at IDF.

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.

Eugene Wesley Roddenberry was born August 19th 1921 in El Paso, Texas. Today would have been Gene's 89th birthday and to celebrate the life of this extraordinary man, we bring you a special Youtube Video Round-up: The Gene Roddenberry Edition. Gene wore many different hats over the years, writer, director, producer, husband, father, friend, and as most would agree; visionary. Gene's vision for the future was that of hope in mankind and the hope for a better tomorrow. It has played out on televisions screens all over the world starting on September 8th, 1966 through to today. So, to celebrate the life & legacy of the Great Bird of the Galaxy, we've scoured the halls of Youtube to find the very best of Gene Roddenberry. Enjoy.

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).