TOO BAD WE WON'T SEE THIS IN THE NEXT STAR TREK MOVIE

Our friends over at Star Trek: New Voyages dropped me a note that they wrapped up shooting of their two-part special "Blood and Fire" episode. In case you've forgotten, this is the episode written by Star Trek alum David Gerrold which introduces Kirk's gay nephew Peter Kirk (Bobby Rice) who falls in love with fellow crew member Lt. Alex Freeman (Evan Fowler). And by fall in love, I don't mean one of those lame "allegories" that the other official Star Trek engaged in with genderless aliens or body-swapping Trills. These two fellas fall in love, and as proof the folks at New Voyager provided us with a couple of exclusive pics for your perusal.

As Captain Picard would say, "Make it so!"

Now if only the official Star Trek could go where someone else has now gone before them. BTW, if this isn't enough to get you to download the latest episode (not released yet; we'll keep you posted), Denise Crosby, who played Tasha Yar on the first season of Star Trek: The Next Generation, guest-stars in this new episode. Here, in another exclusive photo from New Voyages, is Denise on the bridge of the Enterprise playing Tasha Yar's grandmother.

Kudos to New Voyages for bringing this 24th century franchise into the 21st century (along with Star Trek: Hidden Frontier another fansite creating original content with gay characters).

LET'S GIVE THAT MAN A ROUND OF APPLAUSE!

Didn't our associate editor Brian Juergens and his terrifying prairie dog do a great job with last week's BEST.GAY.WEEK.EVER! column? It's the first time I've ever left it in anyone else's hands and I couldn't be more pleased at the way he filled my shoes. (Of course, it was a little odd to come home after the family reunion to actually find him wearing my shoes...)

In fact, Brian did such a great job that he's coming back next week for an encore performance. No, it's not just because I'm lazy and want to lay around in a hammock. I'm actually flying down to Los Angeles to attend part of the annual Television Critic's Association conference where the networks give critics like moi tons of swag information about the new shows and the opportunity to act starstruck around interview all sorts of folks.

I'm attending the cable network's presentations next week and then flying back for ABC's later in the month. But this week I'll getting scoop on all the new shows from Bravo, Lifetime, BBC America, FX (if they'll let me in after our recent article on them!), HBO, MTV, Showtime, and so forth?

What am I most looking forward to? That would have to the panel for Torchwood with none other than John Barrowman making an appearance.

BTW, I'll be trying a little something different while at the conference (no, not stalking Mr. Barrowman!), but videoblogging, a new feature the site will be launching next week. I'll be using my laptop so I can't make any guarantees it'll work, but if it does I'll have all the scoop about what goes down during the week!