TV Guide names Star Trek Top Cult Show Ever

In case you're one of the few who don't get TV Guide, this week's issue has granted Star Trek a singular distinction: the number-one "cult show" ever. In the magazine's article titled "25 Top Cult Shows Ever!" the category is defined as "series so unusual they inspire what can only be called worship," going way beyond mere popularity or watercooler controversy.

In ranking Star Trek on the top of the list, TV Guide explains, "The series (and its spin-offs) all but created fan obsession, conventions and an enduring link between science fiction and geekdom that has given countless outsiders the will to get out of bed every day for 38 years." It adds, "Even the U.S. government joined the cult, naming the first space shuttle the Enterprise after Trek's spacecraft."

The runners-up are The X-Files, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Farscape, in that order. Quantum Leap starring Scott Bakula ranked #15. Beauty and the Beast starring Ron Perlman ("Reman Viceroy" in "Star Trek Nemesis") and Armin Shimerman ("Quark") was a notch higher at #14.

Braga to Speak at "First Contact" Screening

Brannon Braga, executive producer of Enterprise and a member of the Star Trek creative team since 1990, will be speaking at a special screening of "Star Trek: First Contact," the second Next Generation movie which Braga co-wrote. The screening will take place Tuesday, June 15, at the ArcLight Cinemas in Hollywood, as part of the venue's "Hollywood's Master Storytellers" program. General admission is $11, and tickets are available online at this link. Sales so far have been so high that the ArcLight has moved the event to a larger theater, so you are encouraged to buy tickets in advance as they may not be available at the door. More information is available on this page at BrannonBraga.com.

Westmore to Judge Make-up Contest

The International Make-Up Artist Trade Show taking place at the Pasadena Convention Center June 12-13 will hold a competition with a Star Trek theme that will be judged by Michael Westmore and his Enterprise make-up team. The contest is to turn a model into a Trek-inspired alien in three hours. Participants will be given a bag of several foam appliances to demonstrate their skill and creativity in forming their alien. The winner of the competition will get to spend a day on the set of Enterprise, which begins production of its fourth season this summer. Visit www.MakeupArtistShow.com for more information.

Keating, Park Launch Charity Drives

The two Enterprise actors who are observing birthdays in July are using the occasions to solicit fan support for their preferred charities. Dominic Keating ("Malcolm Reed"), whose birthday is July 1, is raising money for Save the Children, and Linda Park ("Hoshi Sato"), who celebrates on July 9, is supporting UNICEF.

According to Keating's official Web site, "When he was asked what he wanted for his birthday this year, he said that he would like for fans to make donations to the Save the Children organizations."  The site has three links on this page where donations can be made to Save the Children branches in Australia, the U.K. and the U.S. in Keating's name.  A scrapbook of donation notifications and other greetings will be compiled and presented to the actor on his birthday. The deadline for contributing to the "Dominic Keating Fund" is June 20 (though donations are certainly always welcome).

On LindaPark.com, links have been set up to participate in the UNICEF drive in two ways: For a regular contribution of any amount, the notice of your donation will be added to a book of greetings which will be presented to Park on her birthday. Alternatively, you can purchase and send a UNICEF Teddy Bear to the actress; she will then auction the first five bears for UNICEF and give the rest to children in need. Complete details are on this page. The deadline for participating in this effort is July 5.

Billingsley, Friedericy in One-Person Political Plays

John Billingsley ("Dr. Phlox") and his wife, Bonita Friedericy ("Rooney" in "Regeneration"), are each performing one-person plays with a political slant that will be presented in rotating repertory from mid-July through late August in Los Angeles.

Billingsley will play Ambrose Bierce, a 19th-century author and social satirist, in "Bitter Bierce, or The Friction We Call Grief" by Mac Wellman. The piece is described as "a jaunt through America from the Civil War through the Gilded Age."

Friedericy will perform the title role in "Miss Margarida's Way," described as "a very funny, very savage, and very mean piece about a school teacher, Miss Margarida, who is dealing with an extremely difficult class (us, the audience), and won't put up with any *&$%#@ (from us, the audience)." The piece by Brazilian playwright Roberto Athayde is a commentary about fascism.

Billingsley's play opens July 16 and Friedericy's on July 22 at the Zephyr Theatre in Hollywood. Reservations will be taken no earlier than June 15 at 323-860-9860. Visit JohnBillingsley.net for more info. The site warns: "There are dirty words, and your patriotism will be impugned. But there will be refreshments available, too."

The Dead Zone Returns

Be sure to catch the season premiere of The Dead Zone this Sunday, June 6, on the USA Network (scheduled for 10:00 p.m. ET/PT, but the episode will repeat twice; check your local listings). Brought to you by former Trek producer Michael Piller and writers Shawn Piller and Eric Stillman, the show stars Trek veterans Nicole deBoer ("Ezri Dax") and David Ogden Stiers ("Dr. Timicin" in "Half a Life").

South Coast's "Cyrano" Features Trek Alums

A new production of Edmund Rostand's classic "Cyrano de Bergerac" at Costa Mesa's South Coast Repertory features several faces familiar to Star Trek fans. In the title role of Cyrano is Mark Harelik, who played Devore Inspector Kashyk in the Star Trek: Voyager episode "Counterpoint." Playing the Comte de Guiche is veteran character actor Gregory Itzin, who has numerous Star Trek credits. Itzin played Ilon Tandro in the DS9 episode "Dax," Hain in the DS9 episode "Who Mourns for Morn?," Dr. Dysek in the Voyager episode "Critical Care" and Captain Sopek in the Enterprise episode "Shadows of P'Jem." Also in the cast of the play, in multiple roles, is Hal Landon, Jr., who played Praetor Neral in the episode "Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges."

"Cyrano de Bergerac" runs through June 27 at the South Coast Repertory, for more information call (714) 708-5555 or visit their site at www.scr.org.

Legal Troubles for Bonsall

Actor Brian Bonsall, who played Worf's son Alexander on Star Trek: The Next Generation, was arrested last week on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol, in Boulder, Colorado. A blood test showed "excess alcohol content," though the actual amount was not disclosed by the police. Bonsall first appeared as Alexander in the episode "New Ground," and played the character for the remainder of the series. The actor was arrested in 2001 for the same charge, and had his license suspended.