Earlier this year Creation Entertainment launched an "Autograph Personalization Project" whereby Star Trek stars would sign photos specifically inscribed to the recipient — something that can rarely be done at conventions (related story). The project started with William Shatner and Patrick Stewart, and now Star Trek: Deep Space Nine star Avery Brooks has joined in, with a twist.

Not only will he sign a choice of two photos, he will also affix a personalized autograph on a baseball, in tribute to his Sisko character's interest in that sport. Creation will take orders for this one-time offer through June 10. A personalized autograph on one of the licensed 8"x10" Sisko photos will run $99, $119 for the baseball. Shipping charges will apply. Each photo comes with a Certificate of Authenticity from Creation. Visit www.creationent.com/auto-sign to order.

Enterprise Staffer Seeks Pledges for AIDS Ride

Juan Carlos Fernandez, Pre-Production Coordinator for Star Trek: Enterprise, is currently training for his second 585-mile bicycle trek from San Francisco to Los Angeles to help raise money in the fight against HIV/AIDS. This year the week-long AIDS/LifeCycle Ride takes place June 4-10, and Fernandez's pledge goal is $5000.

Fernandez said he has never lost a loved one to AIDS, but he does know people struggling with the disease, and who benefit from the fundraising efforts of the Ride. "I ride for the alarming number of infected women, many unaware of their HIV status. I ride for our youth, who think they're safe because AIDS just isn't newsworthy anymore. I ride to alert people to the widespread misperception that HIV and AIDS are no longer a problem. I ride for all who've learned the hard way that AIDS doesn't discriminate by race, gender, ethnicity, religion, orientation, or any other human-assigned label. I ride to express my outrage," he said. "And I ride because I can."

To learn more and to donate, please visit Fernandez's AIDS/Lifecycle Homepage at www.aidslifecycle.org/7024.

"Wake Up With Whoopi" Premieres in Drive-Time July 31

She's conquered movies, television, game shows, awards shows, standup and theater, and now she's taking on drive-time radio. On July 31, Whoopi Goldberg ("Guinan") will launch a four-hour morning radio show called "Wake Up With Whoopi." It will be an attempt to provide a female voice in the male-dominated format.

"She's exactly what adult contemporary radio needs for the morning drive," said John Hogan, president/CEO of Clear Channel Radio. "Whoopi relates to people in a very intimate way, one on one. And that's the essence of radio." Goldberg will broadcast the show from Manhattan, airing live from 5-9 a.m. on the East Coast, and either live or tape-delayed in other parts of the country. The show will be made available to stations owned by Clear Channel and Premiere Radio Networks. It will feature a blend of daily topics, comedy, listener call-ins, guests and music.

Goldberg commented, "Howard Stern is one of a kind, there's nobody like him. After people saw what Howard was able to do, many people tried to emulate him. With all that's going on in the world, there's a place for me on the radio, to offer up alternatives." She added that although she has a reputation for being political, "I've never said, 'Think as I think'; I want people to think for themselves. Presenting them with information is more interesting than presenting an agenda."

See this Variety.com link for the full story. The article notes, "Goldberg has always made unconventional choices, following her Oscar win with a stint on Star Trek: The Next Generation. After winning an Emmy, Grammy, Tony and Oscar, radio was the final frontier." Ha.

J.J. Corner: "M:I" Commentary, New Show Greenlit, Washington Post Profile

The big news in Hollywood this week was the disappointing box office result from "Mission: Impossible III," despite a very respectable $47.7 million earned over a non-holiday weekend. Fortunately for the Star Trek franchise, little if any blame has gone to the film's director J.J. Abrams and his co-writers Alex Kurtzman & Roberto Orci, all of whom are starting to tackle "Star Trek XI." Instead, the perceived shortcoming of "M:i:III" has been pinned on public burnout over star Tom Cruise.

A columnist for The Hollywood Reporter also lays blame on the broad failure of the "Mission: Impossible" film franchise to establish a recurring "mythology," in the same way as "Star Wars," "The X-Men" and even Abrams' TV hit Lost. And again, the film's director escapes criticism. "Abrams compensates for the [M:I film] series' lack of its own mythology by borrowing elements of his TV series, especially Alias, where emotional bonds are constantly tested in the midst of flashy spy capers, and table-turning third-act betrayals are to be expected," writes Gregg Kilday.

Amidst all this and the announcement about "Star Trek XI," Abrams' plate has just gotten even fuller. This week ABC gave the greenlight to a new drama to be executive produced by Abrams called Six Degrees, according to Daily Variety. The show is about a group of New York strangers whose lives become intertwined. Look for it in the 2006-07 season.

If you want to get to know Mr. Abrams a little better, check out this WashingtonPost.com article. The profile describes, among other things, how a tour of Universal Studios at age 8 and a father who entered made-for-TV film production inspired the lad's creativity and ambition. The story says that Abrams' Star Trek project "will unleash his inner geek as never before."

Congrats to Saturn Award Winners

Speaking of Abrams, Lost was one of the top winners in the television categories at the Saturn Awards held May 2 in Universal City. Lost won the statue for "Best Network Television Series," while "Best Syndicated/Cable Television Series" went to Battlestar Galactica, executive produced by Ronald D. Moore, former writer/producer for TNG and DS9.

Season 1 of Lost also won "Best DVD Television Release," beating out the four-season DVD collection of Star Trek: Enterprise.

Joe Letteri, who did computer graphics on "Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country," won a Special Effects Saturn for his work on "King Kong." For the complete list of awards, visit www.saturnawards.org.

Judy & Gar's "Race to Mars" Begins Filming

A docudrama written by Star Trek: Enterprise staff writers Judith & Garfield Reeves-Stevens about the first manned mission to Mars has begun production in Canada. "Race to Mars" is a three-hour Discovery Channel miniseries intended to depict in scientifically realistic detail the experience of an international team of six astronauts/cosmonauts on a two-year mission to walk on the Red Planet in the year 2030 (similar to the timeframe of "One Small Step"). Filming will continue through mid-June, and the show is targeted to premiere in late 2007.

The Discovery Channel boasts about the Reeves-Stevens' qualifications in both science fiction (including co-authoring several books with William Shatner) and science fact. "Their extensive knowledge of science, technology and political policy — not to mention exceptional storytelling skills — have resulted in a script that is both full of compelling human drama and faultless technical accuracy," the press release states (related link).

One of the characters in the script is named "Hiromi Okuda" — no doubt after Gar & Judy's good friends Michael and Denise Okuda. That Japanese character is played by Kevan Ohtsji from Stargate SG-1.

Aside from the press release, you can also learn more about "Race to Mars" at this Space.com link, where further publicity photos are posted.

Perlman to Fight Mutants

Ron Perlman, who played the Reman "Viceroy" in "Star Trek Nemesis," has signed on to "The Mutant Chronicles," an independently produced sci-fi action thriller based on the popular role-playing game. In the 23rd-century scenario, an army of underworld NecroMutants threatens civilization, and Perlman plays the leader of a religious sect who thinks he can destroy them and save the planet. The film is projected for a 2007 release.

Moondoggin' with Jimmy Darren

James Darren, who portrayed holographic crooner "Vic Fontaine" in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, will be performing from coast to coast throughout this 40th anniversary year. After giving a concert at the Trek Expo convention in Tulsa, Okla., on June 24, he will perform a program on July 8 called "Can't Take My Eyes Off of You" in El Cajon, Calif., at the East County Performing Arts Center.

Darren will make a return appearance in Las Vegas on August 19, headlining the Saturday Evening Celebrity Cabaret at Creation Entertainment's 40th Anniversary Star Trek convention there. Then on October 21 he will headline the "Fabulous '50s Rock and Roll Show" in Wildwood, New Jersey, as part of a weekend celebrating that town's unique role in music history.

For updated information and further links, visit www.jamesdarren.com.

TiVo Reminder: Jeri Ryan, Ed Begley Jr. on Boston Legal

Be sure to set your DVR or VCR for the two-hour season finale of Boston Legal, starring William Shatner and Rene Auberjonois, this coming Tuesday, May 16, from 9-11 p.m. ET/PT (8-10 Central). Going from "Public" to "Legal," Jeri Ryan ("Seven of Nine") makes a guest appearance as a celebrity murder defendant, and Ed Begley Jr. ("Henry Starling" in "Future's End") also appears as a professor charged with soliciting a prostitute.

Boston Legal, by the way, has been picked up by ABC for a full third season, according to The Hollywood Reporter.