The hottest Borg in the universe has found an alcove mate. Jeri Ryan ("Seven of Nine") has gotten engaged to her boyfriend Christopher Eme, a French chef. Ryan revealed the news to reporters at the Television Critics Association press tour in Pasadena, Calif., while promoting her new fall series Shark.

According to various news sources, Ryan described the proposal thusly: "He brought me home, covered my eyes and took me up to the bedroom. He had candles lit everywhere and champagne on ice. He had gotten this huge canvas and painted it with words that said in French 'And you come with me forever.'" Eme also put a photograph of themselves at the bottom of the canvas with the words "Toi et Moi" ("You and Me").

The bride says nuptials will probably take place in the Loire Valley of France next June. "That's when the rugby World Cup is in Paris," she adds. "You know I am in love when I'm planning a wedding around a sporting event!"

Ryan and Eme also have a business relationship, as they are partners in a restaurant called Ortolan in West Hollywood, where Eme is head chef.

The Star Trek: Voyager and Boston Public star (and Boston Legal guest star) was married once before, to politician Jack Ryan, with whom she had one child. She later dated Voyager executive producer Brannon Braga for a number of years.

Abrams Signs Huge New Deals, Touted as "Next Spielberg"

The new chief of the Star Trek franchise, J.J. Abrams, has signed new deals separately with Paramount Pictures and with Warner Bros. TV, making him "one of the entertainment industry's most highly paid auteurs," according to the Los Angeles Times. Combined, the two deals are worth more than $55 million, of which a $5 million payday may come from "Star Trek XI" if he directs (he is producing, but has not committed to directing yet). Abrams will develop both low- and high-budget films for Paramount, starting with "Star Trek," in a five-year pact. The TV development deal with Warner Bros. covers six years for his Bad Robot production company.

"We think J.J. is the next Steven Spielberg," said Paramount chairman Brad Grey, for whom Abrams made "Mission: Impossible III." Grey continued, "He's a triple threat: a great writer, producer and now, a first-class movie director."

Warner Bros. TV president Peter Roth is not worried that the newest addition to his roster of producers is being stretched too thin. "I'm well aware of all he's doing. I'm not afraid of it," Roth said in Daily Variety. "Not everyone has the ability to do all that. J.J. does."

To read more about Abrams' new deals and how they came together, visit this LATimes.com link and this Variety.com link.

STARTREK.COM Most Popular Among Video Podcasters

It came as a surprise to us, but apparently this site is the most popular destination for people who download video podcasts. According to technology review site CNET.com, Nielsen/NetRatings surveyed actively online adults in the U.S. to answer questions about their behavior "within the last 30 days." Four percent — mostly in the 25-to-34 age bracket — had downloaded video podcasts (as opposed to audio podcasts). And in that group, STARTREK.COM had the highest index of visits.

We were confused at first, given that we have lots of videos on this site but not much in the way of "video podcasts." However, we came to realize that the statistic reflects favorite sites among video podcast downloaders — not the frequency of video podcast downloads.

Either way, we'll gladly accept the honor!

The story is located at this CNET News page, with a link to the Neilsen data.

We'd like to thank our agent, our manager, our publicist...

Koenig's "Mad Cowgirl" Plays in New York

A low-budget horror film starring Walter Koenig is getting a theatrical run in the Big Apple for a few days. "Mad Cowgirl" is playing at the Pioneer Theater at 155 East 3rd Street through next Tuesday, July 25. You can buy tickets online at this link, or by calling (212) 591-0434.

"Mad Cowgirl" has been described as an "experimental-art-comedy-horror-tragedy-Kung Fu epic." The story follows a young woman working for the Los Angeles health department who is badly treated by the males in her life. As reports of mad cow disease begin to spread, she descends into madness which may or may not be brought on by the disease, and goes on a violent rampage against men. Koenig plays a "slimy sex-addicted preacher." The film premiered at the San Francisco Independent Film Festival in February.

Other Showbiz News: Goldberg, Alexander, Frewer

Whoopi Goldberg ("Guinan") will appear in two episodes of the comedy series Everybody Hates Chris in its second season, which will air starting in October on the new CW network (the hybrid of UPN and the WB). Goldberg will portray a woman who moves in next door to Chris' family and whose granddaughter is the latest object of his affection, according to trade reports.

Jason Alexander ("Kurros") is part of the ensemble cast of "Snoop Dog's Hood of Horror," which premiered recently at the Los Angeles Film Festival. The independent "comedic frightfest" will be seen in theaters this fall, followed by a DVD release in the spring. According to a press release, "'Hood of Horror' features three blood-soaked tales involving the residents of an inner-city neighborhood whose actions in this life will determine their destination in the afterlife." Alexander plays a "British record exec."

Matt Frewer ("Berlingoff Rasmussen") is part of the cast of Eureka, which premiered on the Sci-Fi Channel Tuesday. He played "Jim Taggart" in the two-hour pilot of the quirky show about geniuses living together in a small town.