Morning Meme: George Takei Joins Nickelodeon, Elliott Tiber's New Book, and McFly's Harry Judd Gives Us "Attitude"

News out of TCA is that editor Michael Jensen got to hang out with one of my true diva idols, Allison Janney, so I’ll be putting that dead fish in his office for when he comes back next week.

But in slightly more “news” from TCA, we find that ABC has bought a pilot titled Don’t Trust the Bitch in Apartment 23. I hope it makes it to series just to have the Parents Television Council explode.

We did a story a while back on why Disney Channel and Nickelodeon won’t have gay teenagers on their shows. We don’t think they were very happy with us about that, which could be why Nickelodeon gave the exclusive about out actor George Takei joining their new show Supah Ninjas to TV Guide.

Since there hasn’t been any decent Matthew Mitcham pictures to drool over for a week, here is the recording of the radio interview he did with Joy 94.3. I only had time to listen to part of it, but I still feel better about the world for having done so.

Bryan Safi gets interviewed by Damiana. Well, really it’s his alter ego, Toni Corvette.

If you want creative whiplash, consider for a moment that the director of Winter’s Bone has for his next project a big screen Pippi Longstocking movie.

I don’t have a date yet, but Disney is developing a Phineas & Ferb feature film. I adore Phineas & Ferb, but I tend to prefer the ordinary episodes to the big themes, events, or guest star pieces, so I have mixed feelings about a feature film.

The papers are finally signed to have Sir Ian McKellen reprise his role as Gandalf in The Hobbit. I hope he got paid big for all his time as a hold out.

Ed Westwick, most famous for playing Chuck Bass on Gossip Girl, has joined J. Edgar, with DiCaprio and Armie Hammer. He’ll be playing a young agent tasked to write a biography of Hoover until he gets too close to the truth. He’ll also be using his native English accent.

Can anyone give me a valid reason to film The Great Gatsby in 3D?

Elliot Tiber is pitching a new story, a prequel to Taking Woodstock that would be about being closeted in upstate New York, before coming out at Woodstock in 1969. I’m fascinated to hear the tale, but have a feeling I might need a hug afterwards.

A prank story that Facebook would be shutting down in March because Mark Zuckerberg found running it too stressful took on a life of its own and became a news story. It’s a shame, too – without Facebook, the people who work for me on the day job would be twice as productive.

After more waffling than an IHOP, the State Department says that passport applications will now read “Mother or Parent 1” and “Father or Parent 2” after conservative groups threw a fit about it going gender neutral with just “Parent 1” and “Parent 2.”

The debate on marriage equality at The Economist is over, and our guy Evan Wolfson has been declared the winner over hateful bigot Maggie Gallagher. Just like we’ll eventually win the argument nationwide.

MTV is launching another awards show, this one for comedy, across most of the networks it owns, except Logo.  I’m guessing the red carpet fashions might be more interesting than most shows.

Chely Wright says she gets hate mail and her album sales are half what they used to be since she came out, but being honest was completely worth it. I might argue that album sales at half what they were from 2005 and her last album should be considered a success, because albums just don’t sell anymore.

McDonalds offers free WiFi in their restaurants, and in New Zealand, they’re blocking gay news sites, saying they have to make sure that all screens in their restaurants are “family friendly.” I’m betting I can pull up any number of T&A sites while enjoying a McRib. I think I’m done giving them my money after this latest bigot eruption from them.

Chris Crocker has a music video out for his song “Freak of Nature” and I’ll have to admit, the song isn’t the worst thing I’ve heard, and parts of the video are sexy.

A retired bishop has decided he needs some attention and so has come out against Sir Elton John and David Furnish being parents, saying the child’s welfare is at risk.

Out Olympic speed skater Blake Skjellerup is in a relationship … with Facebook. And frankly, it sounds codependent and unhealthy. Blake – if you want a new relationship, I’m single. Just sayin’.