As usual, the Shatman is a flurry of activity. Tomorrow (Saturday, April 8), William Shatner will be in Long Beach, Calif., for the Toyota Grand Prix, participating in the 30th Anniversary Pro/Celebrity Race with 20 other celebrity drivers. The Boston Legal star will compete with defending champion Frankie Muniz of Malcolm in the Middle, along with Patrick Dempsey of Grey's Anatomy, tennis great Martina Navritolova and other luminaries. Visit www.longbeachgp.com for more info.

While Shatner was practicing for the race on the seaside street course, the Los Angeles Times asked him how he expected to finish. "Win," he replied. Asked if he were serious, the 75-year-old said, "Absolutely. I can win this thing."

From racecars to horses, three weeks afterwards Shatner will be hosting his 16th annual Hollywood Charity Horse Show at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center in Burbank. Taking place on Saturday, April 29, events include a silent auction and riding demonstrations at 5:30, followed by a western dinner and dance at 7:00. Entertainment will be provided by country great Lyle Lovett, along with Jack Lantz's Big Band. Proceeds will benefit AHEAD with Horses and Camp Max Straus. To attend, or to make a tax-deductible donation, visit www.horseshow.org, or horseticket.com, or call (818) 840-9066 or (818) 509-2290.

As mentioned, the man is 75 years old, and he shows little sign of slowing down. Thus is the theme of an article in the AARP (American Association of Retired Persons) magazine titled "William Shatner Reinvented." Recounting his "remarkably durable career," the article observes that "at a certain point Shatner's stock-in-trade became his willingness to make fun of William Shatner." The writer further describes his infamous 1986 appearance on Saturday Night Live ("Get a life, will you people!") as a "watershed moment" in Shatner's gradual but deliberate transition "from object of ridicule to winking self-mocker."

The story quotes Shatner as saying, "I'm horribly frightened by the prospect of death. There's so much in life to be passionate about. One of the great fears of dying is leaving that passion." He continues that he's been lucky, especially with his health. "I feel so good that I don't even think of the word 'aging' applying to me."

The article is printed in the May/June 2006 issue of AARP The Magazine. Unfortunately, it doesn't appear to be online, though new content is posted every week. Check www.aarpmagazine.org/inprint.html for updates.

Congrats to Shatner's Boston and Moore's Battlestar for Peabody Wins

In further Shatner-related news, two TV shows with significant Trek ties were awarded the prestigious Peabody Award this week: Boston Legal, starring the bold captain, and the Sci-Fi Channel's Battlestar Galactica, run by former TNG and DS9 writer/producer Ronald D. Moore.

Boston's citation states that the David E. Kelley series "somersaults from comedy to drama to stinging political commentary with acrobatic assurance and undisguised glee."

As for the reimagined Battlestar, Peabody Awards director Horace Newcomb said, "It treats contemporary issues from an angle that really make you think about those issues — issues of race, gender, all those things are dealt with in that context."

Now in its 65th year, the Peabodys are presented by the University of Georgia's Henry W. Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communications and recognize excellence in broadcasting and cable. The biggest news this year is the win by Comedy Central's South Park, which has often referenced Star Trek in its episodes.

Stewart Gets Political in U.K.

Patrick Stewart is vocally appealing to members of his political party, Labour, to dig deep and contribute funds to help pay for campaign equipment in the effort to "fight the Tories and build a better Britain."

"It doesn't take the captain of a starship or a superhero with special powers to change the world. It takes people like you." Stewart, patron of the Labour Supporters Network, continued: "I am proud of the beliefs we carry as Labour supporters and I am proud of our achievements — more people helped into work than ever before, record investment in our schools and hospitals, crime and anti-social behaviour falling with more community support officers serving local communities." Click here for the complete story.

"Wagon Train to the Stars" Gets Literal, Sort of

A murder-mystery dinner train in Southern California is celebrating the 40th anniversary of Star Trek with a one-night only Trek-themed excursion. The Fillmore & Western Railway dining car will perform "Star Trak," where passengers will interact with costumed characters "committing interstellar mayhem" while they enjoy prime rib or chicken cordon bleu. The guest who solves the murder mystery "on board the trainship Enterprise" will win a copy of a script from Star Trek: The Next Generation." The train departs from Fillmore, Calif., about 50 miles northeast of Los Angeles. Tickets are $89. Visit www.fwry.com for details.

Sensor Sweep: Goldberg, Grammer, Ruck, Hatcher, Del Arco

There's been quite a variety of casting and other showbiz news in the last week. Among them, Whoopi Goldberg ("Guinan") is set to guest star on the NBC drama Law & Order: Criminal Intent in a potential recurring role, according to The Hollywood Report. Goldberg will play Chesley Watkins, a foster mother gone bad who becomes a criminal nemesis to Detective Mike Logan. "Whoopi never gets to be the bad guy. In the world of Criminal Intent, she'll be the baddest," said exec. producer Fred Berner. Goldberg's character will be introduced in an episode slated to air in May.

Kelsey Grammer ("Captain Bateson" in "Cause and Effect") will be directing a new comedy pilot for CBS called My Ex-Life. The show is about two couples dealing with life post-divorce. Grammer directed about three dozen episodes of Frazier, in which he starred, and he directed another comedy pilot for CBS last year called Out of Practice.

Alan Ruck ("Captain Harriman" in "Star Trek Generations") has been cast in a drama pilot called Drive for Fox, according to Daily Variety. No relation to the Voyager episode of the same name, the show is about an illegal cross-country road race, described as a fictional The Amazing Race on acid.

Jonathan Del Arco ("Hugh," "Fantome") is currently appearing at the Pasadena Playhouse in "As You Like It: A California Concoction," which takes Shakespeare's play and sets it in contemporary Southern California. It will run through April 16. Visit PasadenaPlayhouse.org for details.

In case you missed it at Valentine's Day, Crystal Allen's movie "Falling in Love with the Girl Next Door" will air again on The Hallmark Channel on Saturday, April 22, at 9:00 p.m. ET (check your local listings). Allen played the Orion Slave Girl "D'Nesh" in "Bound."

Here's something you don't hear every day: Desperate Housewives star Teri Hatcher ("Lt. Robinson" in "The Outrageous Okona") appeared at a news conference with former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev on Thursday. They announced that the third annual Women's World Awards will be presented October 14 at New York's Madison Square Garden. Gorbachev will be presenting the awards, which recognize extraordinary women and their achievements in a variety of fields. Hatcher won the World Actress award last year. In the news conference yesterday she delivered a tearful speech mentioning the sexual molestation she suffered in childhood. "These experiences ... leave us with a choice, a choice to use our experiences to enlighten and empower and change people's lives, and that is a choice I am getting behind," Hatcher said.

G4's "Star Trek 2.0" Commercials on YouTube

The G4 network, which begins airing the original Star Trek on Saturday, has partnered with YouTube.com, the online user-generated content hub, to distribute videos related to "Star Trek 2.0," G4's interactive presentation of the classic show which begins Monday, April 10.

Currently there are two videos posted which feature action figures of the Original Series characters animated in contemporary urban settings, with irreverent dialog and voices that are distinctly different than the originals. The two 30-second spots are called "Star Trek Karaoke" and "Star Trek Coffee House." At least two more will be uploaded later this month.

You can find them at YouTube.com by entering a search on "star trek g4," or just click here.