Saturday afternoon at Creation Entertainment's Official Las Vegas Convention, we saw another eclectic mix of celebrities from several of the Star Trek series. Rene Auberjonois and Nana Visitor of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine presented a reading of A.R. Gurney's "Love Letters," a moving piece about a lifelong relationship between a man and a woman. They were sandwiched among Q&A talks by Walter Koenig of the Original Series, Dominic Keating from Enterprise, and Kate Mulgrew of Star Trek: Voyager.

Walter Koenig

Today he's a Star Trek and sci-fi veteran, but Walter Koenig once played a young, na?ve ensign who always got hurt. Or so it seemed. His take is more analytical. "Chekov was reportedly the youngest member of the crew and consequently the most vulnerable and the least able to maintain an emotionless professionalism under duress."

Each Star Trek actor inevitably has at least one particular question they are asked every appearance, and Walter's is: Where was Chekov was during "Space Seed" and the first encounter with Khan Noonien Singh? (Remember, in "Star Trek II," Khan "never forgets a face.") "Chekov was working in the boiler room. I came out once to go to the bathroom and Khan saw me." Who's to argue?

On the legacy of Star Trek and its impact all over the world, Walter is just short of being effusive on the subject. "I have been to many places. Germany, Austria, Italy, Australia, Brazil, as a Star Trek delegate, so to speak. And what I've discovered is that the Star Trek audiences are perhaps the best reflection of what Gene had in mind, because as diverse and distinct as these places are and as different as their people are, there maintains a wonderful sense of community. If you were to sit down with the German audiences that I've sat with, or with a Brazilian audience, you would immediately find a bond."

Dominic Keating

The "Malcolm Reed" actor was the only Enterprise cast member over the weekend to go on stage solo (John Billingsley came on Sunday alongside Michael Dorn and Ethan Phillips, plus Connor Trinneer and Anthony Montgomery were in attendance, but only to sign autographs). Keating has in fact proven to be the most gregarious and frequent convention guest among the current crop of actors, evidenced in part by stories he related of his nearly month-long tour of regional gatherings in Australia.

Keating is also popular because he doesn't shy away from criticism of the show and his character. When the subject of a recent TV Guide cover came up, he smirked, "'Forget Trek' — God, don't you hate that magazine? I'm sure Stargate's a great show ... but, y'know, Trek's been around for 30-something years — how do you just suddenly decide that Stargate SG-1 is the granddaddy of science fiction? I don't think so, mate." The audience concurred with applause. "The interesting thing about TV Guide is," he continued, "each time they put something of Trek on the front cover, whether it's 'Forget Trek' or there's a cast photo, that is their month's greatest seller. Invariably it's their greatest seller of the year. So, y'know, which is it? Are we alive or are we dead? I beg to differ. I think we're very much alive."

He says he watches his own show "religiously," and in comparison to other television programs, "I gotta say, as an hour-long episodic drama, I think we hold our own. By and large, out of 26 episodes a year I think there are about four that are maybe flunkers, and the rest of them are actually really good, and some of them really really good. And that's not bad going. That is not bad going by any stretch of the imagination for anyone who is involved in any kind of production in Hollywood and knows the rigors of churning out 26 shows a year for 15 years. That's to be commended. So, there's my two pence on that."

He also gave a taste of what's to come in the third season of Enterprise, for which three episodes had already been shot. "Well, first and foremost, Jolene is very much sexier. I didn't recognize her the first day of filming this season, I have to say. She's all kitted out this season. They've 'softened' her hair. She's no longer part of the Vulcan High Command and yet she's not actually signed on to Starfleet, so she's wearing whatever she wants. Inspired, eh?"

On a more serious note, Keating is impressed with the multi-species Xindi, who should prove to be "a great nemesis for us for at least a season or two," he said. "I saw a scene of theirs being filmed just a few days ago, the Xindi 'high council' that is plotting the destruction of planet Earth. It's a really clever mesh of optical work and makeup and wardrobe stuff. They've come up with some really fantastic creations ... They're a good-looking, interesting mesh of science-fictional characters."

But more importantly, the new adversaries have "given us a mission" that will interest both regular and casual viewers. "It's gonna be a good season. We've come out of the gate running on this. Some good stuff."

Kate Mulgrew

Something rare happened at this convention Saturday afternoon: The next guest was introduced by another celebrity, but one entirely unrelated to Star Trek. Comedienne Rita Rudner came on stage to introduce Kate Mulgrew, but took a moment to entertain the packed house of Trek fans with her own special brand of stand-up. "You know what's great about Las Vegas? This is the perfect place to come because I don't care where you're from, Las Vegas is the opposite of it. Isn't it true? Because gambling's legal, prostitution's legal — I guess the jails here are just full of people who litter. And what's great is, you can wander around dressed as Star Trek characters and no one thinks anything of it in Las Vegas. They think it's just normal."

Rudner then proceeded to introduce the "fabulous" and "beautiful" star of Star Trek: Voyager. Mulgrew took the stage to the Voyager theme and remarked, "Every time I hear that music, I cry. I suppose that will never change."

Mulgrew's primary activity lately has been the one-woman show "Tea at Five" where she portrays screen legend Katharine Hepburn. The show recently concluded a run in New York, and will open in Palm Beach, Florida, in November through January. She then hopes to take it to San Francisco in March or April, and then begin a national tour late in 2004.

"As you know, of course, by now, Miss Hepburn is no longer with us, and this has stimulated both grief and a parallel resurgence in interest in her life," she pointed out. Hepburn's death on June 29 took place while Mulgrew was still performing in New York, and it had a palpable impact on the show. "She died on a Sunday, and I had to perform on Tuesday," she recounted. "I went onto a stage that was very quiet, to a full house obviously there to celebrate a woman who changed the nature and the shape of the movie industry, and womanhood, in this country forever. And when it was over, I said to them, I'd like to have a moment to share with you something that Katharine Hepburn said all her life." Mulgrew then took on her Hepburn voice: "I'm not afraid of death. Must be wonderful, like a long sleep. But let's face it — it's how you live that really counts." Mulgrew continued, "And she really lived, and it really counted. And in that moment, I must say, I felt a terrible kind of personal grief. And that is my right, as the actress, without imposing myself on her family, which I did not do."

Mulgrew said she never met Hepburn, and the show's producers never sought permission from her or her estate to do the show. However, some members of the family did see the show, and though they might not have approved of all the material presented, always having been very protective, Mulgrew believes they enjoyed her performance and appreciated the show as a tribute to the American icon.

Of course, people also wanted to hear her talk about her other famous role. "Contrary to popular opinion, Captain Janeway has been nothing but exalting for me in my professional experience as an actress, and in my private life as a woman. It was an extraordinary gift to be able to play this role at a certain age. And now that I am at a greater certain age, I know how lucky I was. And you are the testament to this. Look at all of you here to celebrate Voyager."

What was the most absurd thing she ever had to do or say as Kathryn Janeway? "I do remember clearly what I had to do one time that I found to be beyond the pale of all science and all science fiction. And that's when Mr. Paris and I had baby lizards together." After the uproarious laughter, she added that Robbie McNeill recently came to stay with her in New York for a week, "And I said, 'Uh-uh, no more lizards! Stay in your room, Mr. Paris!'"

There was another absurd thing she did on the show that she immensely enjoyed. "I loved playing Bride of Chaotica! I never laughed so hard in my whole life." But it was special to her in another way. "That time of my life, I just met my husband when I did that episode. Who knew I was to become the TRUE bride of Chaotica?"

She was referring to her husband, Tim Hagan, who was there in the front row to appreciate her loving jab. Mulgrew spent much of last year campaigning at Hagan's side during his bid for governor of Ohio, prompting a fan (dressed as a Borg) to ask if she had any interest in running for office herself. "Of course, it's impolitic to be politic in these meetings," she began, "but as we all well know the country went to the right, and that is a deep sorrow for the Hagan family. Do I have any political aspirations for myself? No sir, I do not. I think I've got all I can do to try to be the best actress that I can be. Thank you! And a most appropriate question coming from a Borg. They always were a chatty group!"

It's interesting that earlier in the day, someone suggested to Mulgrew's first officer, Robert Beltran, that he place his name on the ballot for governor of California.

MORE TO COME:  Our Sunday coverage includes George Takei ... Nicole deBoer ... William Shatner ... John Billingsley ... Klingons & Vorta & more.  Check back in the days ahead!