The United Paramount Network celebrated its new season last night with a star-studded party in Hollywood, and Star Trek: Voyager, the show that launched the network, was well represented. Ethan Phillips (Neelix), Tim Russ (Tuvok), Jeri Ryan (Seven of Nine) and Voyager Executive Producer Brannon Braga all took part in the festivities.

Ethan Phillips was the first to arrive, and after signing autographs for fans spoke with STARTREK.COM about "Endsville," his upcoming film. "I'm excited (about "Endsville"), it's having its premiere the 23rd, up at the Woodstock Film Festival," said Phillips.

With Voyager coming to a close at the end of the season, Phillips has one plan in particular. "A long backpacking trip, get away from everything for a while and come back and see what's happening," he said.

The grind of the series is not always apparent onscreen. Phillips spends three hours a day getting into makeup for Neelix, with an average call for the actor coming at 4:00-4:30 AM. "Let's put it this way," he said, "I get up about a half hour before I go to bed."

Tim Russ sounded right at home amidst the UPN pro-wrestlers on the carpet, issuing a challenge to shock-jock Howard Stern, who won a battle-of-the-bands between Stern's band and Russ with Neil Norman's Cosmic orchestra a few weeks ago. Stern's victory, it should be noted, was voted on by a panel of Stern's own handpicked judges.

"Howard, if you don't come out here for a rematch you are one big chicken!" Russ said. The actor also mentioned "The Art Police," his current project with Galaxyonline.com. "It's a comedy sketch project, we've done about 6 episodes so far, we're going to do six more before December's out. They (Galaxyonline.com) put them up and keep them on so you can watch all six and eventually all twelve. Just clicking and choosing, it's free."

Russ has plans beyond Voyager, with several projects in the works. "An animated project and a feature project and I'm also hoping to do some more directing. When I'm done I want to keep going," he said.

Brannon Braga spoke about the next Star Trek series. "We're working on the new series now, Rick Berman and I are busily writing the pilot and we don't know when we'll be able to announce anything officially," he said, "I would imagine in the next six months."

Braga stressed the need to have the series in the best shape before leaking details. "Because we're immersed in it, in the writing of it, we're just not prepared to say anything yet until we have everything nailed down, when we know where it's going and when it's going to air, all that kind of thing."

Next down the carpet was Jeri Ryan, eliciting a flurry of flashes from the assembled paparazzi as she talked about her latest film project. "I just wrapped on 'Dracula 2000,' which comes out in December," she said, "I play a reporter who gets a little too nosy, meets up with the wrong people."

Ryan spoke about her future after Voyager. "I'm having a lot of meetings now for post-Voyager projects," she said.

Other luminaries at the party included stars from other UPN shows, such as Mo'Nique, Dorian Wilson and Jenna Von Oy from The Parkers, Reggie Hayes, Tracee Ellis Ross and Jill Marie Jones of Girlfriends, plus stars of the WWF Jerry "The King" Lawler, Ivory, Lita, The Hardy Boys, The Kat, Christian and The Edge.