The new sci-fi drama series Threshold, executive produced by Brannon Braga and co-starring Brent Spiner, had an unusual industry premiere last Friday night. It was held outdoors — in the graveyard just beyond the north wall of the Paramount lot.

The historic Hollywood Forever Cemetery — burial place of hundreds of Hollywood's founders and stars, such as Cecil B. DeMille, Rudolph Valentino and Douglas Fairbanks — was the thematically fitting milieu for the screening of CBS's two new paranormal shows. Threshold was coupled with Ghost Whisperer, slated back-to-back on Friday nights, and the stars of both shows were on hand for the full pomp and regalia of a Hollywood premiere, including the standard press line of photographers and video interviewers, amidst the tombstones.

"I hope it isn't a portent of anything regarding the show!" exclaimed Braga about the setting of the premiere. "But I think it's kinda cool." (He insisted it was not his idea.) He's worked at Paramount for 15 years, but he's never been inside this cemetery before, he said.

Spiner, in humorous spirit as always, was, however, a bit disconcerted by the venue. "I think the word would be, um, tasteless! If you ask me," he confessed. "I'm just glad I'm not buried here. Or anywhere, for that matter."

The shows were projected on the back of a large mausoleum in front of an empty lawn (i.e., one without any graves...thankfully), and free blankets from the event's sponsor, Hane's, were handed out to all the guests. The crowd and press were largely amused by the weirdness of the occasion, if a bit creeped out (particularly at night's end, trying to find their way out of the grounds through the maze of headstones).

Braga admitted that it will be a challenge for Threshold to stand apart from all the other sci-fi/paranormal dramas on the network schedules this fall. "I'm nervous, but we'll see what happens. Creatively I think it stacks up just fine," he said. "I just think the idea of a group of characters who actually are prepared for an alien invasion — as opposed to aliens invading and people are completely caught off guard — in and of itself is an interesting twist."

He said working with Spiner again has been "terrific." "Brent and I go way back, and we have a great shorthand together. He contributes a lot to the show, and he has a lot of notes! But I'm used to getting notes from Brent Spiner, and I value each and every one of them."

Spiner, in turn, called his new partnership with Braga "beyond wonderful." "Working with Brannon is like swimming in a rainbow with thousands of naked babies," he said. (Yes, he really said that.)

The entire principal cast of Threshold was in attendance, including lead Carla Gugino, Charles S. Dutton, little person Peter Dinklage, and others, plus guest star William Mapother (of Lost fame). Representing for Whisperer was Jennifer Love Hewitt and Aisha Tyler.

Threshold debuts on CBS this Friday night, Sept. 16, with a two-hour premiere at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT (8:00 Central; check your local listings). Ghost Whisperer precedes it at 8:00 ET/PT.