CARNAL NATION

The infamous long-running game show "The Newlywed Game" has always played it straight—until now. For an upcoming celebrity episode, the show, now appearing on the GSN cable network, will feature newlywed couple George Takei and Brad Altman. Actor Takei, best known for his role as Mr. Sulu in the original Star Trek series and several of the films in the Star Trek franchise, married his partner of 22 years last year when gay marriage was briefly legal in the state of California. "What we want is to display the normality and the joy of having a happy union," Takei said.

Hosted by singer Carnie Wilson, "The Newlywed Game" has been on the GSN network for the past two years and has done well in the ratings. Previous special episodes have focused on older couples, multi-racial or mixed couples, and couples who co-habitated for a long period before marriage, but there has never been a gay show. "It's needed at this point," said Kelly Goode, GSN's programming chief. "To me, this is not anything political. This is not a political statement. This show has always been about couples and how well they know each other." The celebrity episode will air some time in October. Plans are underway for an entirely gay episode as well.