This past weekend Creation Entertainment hosted the Official East Coast Star Trek Convention in Parisppany, New Jersey. On the guest list was George Takei, Jeri Ryan, Casey Biggs, Jeffrey Combs, Armin Shimerman, Max Grodenchik, Vaughn Armstrong, Nana Visitor, Ethan Phillips, and J.G. Hertzler (who was a last minute replacement for Jennifer Lien, who canceled).

In 1966, Shatner was a cast in the original STAR TREK as Captain James T. Kirk, a role that would make him a cultural icon. Though the series initially had difficulties finding a wider audience, Shatner’s unforgettable persona across three seasons helped spark a revival of Star Trek as a popular movie series. Shatner reprised the role of Kirk in seven Star Trek films, ending his run in Star Trek Generations with the death of his beloved character.

Two of science fiction’s biggest franchises are holding official conventions this weekend! Star Wars Celebration V, the official Star Wars convention hosted by ReedPOP, is happening in Florida. Meanwhile, Creation Entertainment is holding their Official East Coast Star Trek Convention in New Jersey. Both have some impressive guest lists and activities planned. We’ve already provided some coverage on them both, which we’ve re-linked below, along with some new information and what you can expect from our reporting team in terms of coverage during and after.

Well Dragon*con, way to blow my socks off near the end of the guest announcements with this latest round of additions! Scott Bakula, who rarely ever does conventions, is coming to Dragon*con 2010! Perhaps this is the mystery person Trek Track director Garrett Wang has been referring to (he mentioned to a fan that he had a guest who had never attended Dragon*con before possibly coming this year).

For weeks now, Wizard Entertainment has been promoting the heck out of their Chicago Comic Con (a.k.a. Wizard World Chicago) convention, and the fact that Star Trek’s William Shatner and Sir Patrick Stewart would be there. However, Wizard has just informed fans that Stewart has canceled his appearance at the convention. The reason was cited as “production scheduling conflicts.”