In recent years, there have been some really good Oscar hosts like Hugh Jackman, some acceptable hosts like John Stewart, some disappointing hosts like Steve Martin & Alec Baldwin, and some flat-out horrendous hosts like James Franco & Anne Hathaway. Despite the best efforts of some, none have come close to capturing the same wit, timing, and showmanship of reoccurring hosts like Bob Hope, Johnny Carson, or Billy Crystal. At the 85th Annual Academy Awards ceremony however, Seth MacFarlane of “Ted” and “Family Guy” emerged as the single most entertaining first-time Oscar host of the 21st century.

It's not really news that Arnold Schwarzenegger is back this year. Everybody else in Hollywood is, too, so why not the former California governor?

He might as well have said, “Ahead, warp factor one, Mister Sulu,” so familiar was the voice at the other end of the line. Instead, it was, “Hello, this is Bill Shatner,” a friendly greeting from “Star Trek’s” once and always Capt. James T. Kirk.

They may be geeks. They may be non-conformists. They’re definitely champions for practically anything alternative.

On Friday, five live bands and more than 70 booths will line Main Street in Mesa to celebrate the best of sci-fi geekdom. There will be costume contests, panel discussions, concept art and comic drawing workshops, strategy gaming contests, science and technology demonstrations by HeatSync Labs, a screening of “The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension” and a ticket giveaway for William Shatner’s upcoming appearance at the Mesa Arts Center.

If the saying is right, it’s certainly not the geeks who shall inherit the Earth.

LOS ANGELES — Chris Pine is boldly going where Capt. Kirk has never gone before. In his sibling drama "People Like Us," he gets slapped around by his mom and pummeled by his sister.

Q&A with comedian Lisa Lampanelli

From "Big" to "Toy Story 3," Tom Hanks has had one of the most impressive acting careers of all time. After nearly 30 years of uniformly great performances, Hanks finally steps into the director's chair with "Larry Crowne." Through his first feature-length directorial outing, Hanks doesn't really reach the heights of actors turned filmmakers like Clint Eastwood, Ben Affleck or Mel Gibson. Nevertheless, "Larry Crowne" is still a pleasant little charmer that establishes Hanks' promise as a director.

From "Big" to "Toy Story 3," Tom Hanks has had one of the most impressive acting careers of all time. After nearly 30 years of uniformly great performances, Hanks finally steps into the director's chair with "Larry Crowne." Through his first feature-length directorial outing, Hanks doesn't really reach the heights of actors turned filmmakers like Clint Eastwood, Ben Affleck or Mel Gibson. Nevertheless, "Larry Crowne" is still a pleasant little charmer that establishes Hanks' promise as a director.

Here we are, only three months into 2011, and already we've gotten three films that have attempted to mimic the success of the "Twilight" movies. First there was I Am Number Four, where the sexy vampires were just switched with sexy aliens. Then, just a week ago, we were burdened with Beastly, a gothic mishmash between "Twilight" and the classic Beauty and the Beast story. Now comes the mother of all "Twilight" rip-offs: Red Riding Hood. I don't know who suggested taking this beloved fairytale and contemporizing it with beautiful teenage virgins overwhelmed with sexual urges. All I know is that this person must have had an incredibly deprived childhood.

Here we are, only three months into 2011, and already we've gotten three films that have attempted to mimic the success of the "Twilight" movies. First there was I Am Number Four, where the sexy vampires were just switched with sexy aliens. Then, just a week ago, we were burdened with Beastly, a gothic mishmash between "Twilight" and the classic Beauty and the Beast story. Now comes the mother of all "Twilight" rip-offs: Red Riding Hood. I don't know who suggested taking this beloved fairytale and contemporizing it with beautiful teenage virgins overwhelmed with sexual urges. All I know is that this person must have had an incredibly deprived childhood.

This fall season has a vanilla taste.

Her loud 1950s-style dresses may give her the look of an eccentric June Cleaver, but Lisa Lampanelli is the self-proclaimed “Queen of Mean.”

William Shatner's James Kirk disliked formality, always pestering people to call him "Jim."

They have Leonard Nimoy, and they have all the trappings, gadgets and crew members of the starship Enterprise.

It took just a few seconds of footage — a single trailer, dropped from the heavens with great fanfare — for the hue and cry to rise on Trekmovie.com, the top fan site for J.J. Abrams' new "Star Trek" movie. By the hundreds they weighed in, a contentious cacophony that would have jammed even Lt. Uhura's comms system.

Expect plenty of verbal jabs — but not much fancy footwork — when Jeffrey Ross brings his adult-oriented standup comedy to the Tempe Improv this weekend.

ROME - Trekkies, perk up your ears, both pointy and regular: We are about to reveal how it all started.

NEW YORK - Days before the January 2001 inauguration of President Bush, the Onion ran a story headlined: "Bush: `Our Long National Nightmare of Peace and Prosperity Is Finally Over.'"

LOS ANGELES - William Shatner is setting his phaser to stun against his old "Star Trek" co-star George Takei.