Colm Meaney ("Miles O'Brien") is receiving high marks for a pair of starring film roles. Variety writer David Rooney praises Meaney's work in "The Boys from County Clare," which recently played at the Toronto Film Festival and focuses on a traditional Irish music competition in the late '60s. Meaney plays Jimmy, a successful businessman preparing to return to his native Ireland for the competition. "Meaney plays an irascible, foul-mouthed Irishman like several he's played before, but does so with energy and humor ..." writes Rooney. Meaney also received kind words for "Intermission," which also played at the Toronto Fest. This film focuses on love among an extended group of Dubliners. Here Meaney plays Jerry, a tough detective who also has an interest in Celtic mysticism. The Hollywood Reporter's Michael Rechtshaffen enjoyed the film, and refers to Meaney as "the always memorable Colm Meaney."

Cromwell Wins SAG Seat

James Cromwell ("Zefram Cochrane") has won the Screen Actors Guild's secretary/treasurer post with 15,177 votes, according to Variety. Cromwell's running mate, Melissa Gilbert, was re-elected SAG president.

Koenig Acts "Alien"

Walter Koenig's ("Pavel Chekov") latest feature film project, "Illegal Alien," is set to start filming in October, with an eye on an April 2004 release date. Koenig wrote and will star in the project, which will be directed by fellow sci-fi luminary Stephen Furst of Babylon 5 fame. Koenig's fellow Trek alums Robert Picardo ("The Doctor") and John de Lancie ("Q") also star. For more information, check out the "Illegal Alien" Web site.

Bowman Prepares Project

Former Star Trek: The Next Generation director Rob Bowman (his credits include "Q Who?" and "Brothers") is set to direct "The Last Buffalo Hunt" for Intermedia Films. According to Variety, Andrew Lazar's Mad Chance Productions will produce the film, which is an action adventure involving a band of voyagers tracking lost treasure from World War II in the South Pacific. The script was written by Peter Buchman.

Sensor Sweep

A few recent Trek guest star sightings to note: Nikki Cox ("Sarjenka") is a regular on the new show Las Vegas, which premiered earlier this week. Cox plays "Mary Connell." Next week, the show moves to its regular time slot, Mondays at 9 p.m. on NBC.  And don't forget to catch Robert Picardo ("The Doctor") on NBC's The Lyon's Den premiering Sunday night, the 28th.  Picardo is a recurring guest character in several episodes.

On the big screen this weekend, get in line for "The Rundown" starring The Rock ("The Champion" in "Tsunkatse").  Or you can still check out Christopher Plummer ("Chang") in the thriller "Cold Creek Manor." Plummer plays the loopy father of Dale Massie (Stephen Dorff). Also, "Mambo Italiano," starring Paul Sorvino ("Nikolai Rozhenko"), is currently playing in limited release.

Plummer can also be heard (but not seen) as narrator of "The Gospel of John," a filmic word-for-word interpretation of the fourth book of the New Testament which got great reviews at the Toronto Film Festival and will have a limited theatrical release in the U.S. beginning September 26.  In a similar vein, Avery Brooks ("Ben Sisko") hosts the Discovery Channel's Ancient Evidence episode "The Real Mary Magdalene," which airs on Wednesday, October 1, and repeats several times after that (check local listings).  In a not-so-similar vein, be sure to catch Sarah Silverman ("Rain Robinson") in the Paramount comedy "School of Rock" starring Jack Black, opening October 3.

UPN/Fox Deal

UPN reached a multi-year agreement Wednesday to keep nine Fox-owned stations in major cities as UPN affiliates, according to the Associated Press. The deal affects stations in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington, Houston, Minneapolis, Phoenix, Orlando and Baltimore. No details about the agreement were revealed, but it is retroactive to September 1. The stations represent roughly a quarter of the U.S. television households.