NEW YORK, Sept. 16, 2009

"The Newlywed Game" Goes Gay

Longstanding Show Books First Gay Couple: "Mr. Sulu" and Hubby

  • George Takei and his partner Brad Altman at their September 2008 wedding.

    George Takei and his partner Brad Altman at their September 2008 wedding.  (CBS)

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(CBS/AP)  "The Newlywed Game" is bringing on its first gay couple.

It's a celebrity duo for the long-running game show, now on the GSN cable network. George Takei, who played Mr. Sulu on "Star Trek," will appear with his partner, Brad Altman. They just celebrated their first anniversary after being married in Los Angeles.

Takei and Altman have been together for 22 years, so they're nothing like the giggly young couples who appeared on the first version of the show.

The new edition of "The Newlywed Game" began airing on GSN a year ago and has been a ratings success. Singer Carnie Wilson has replaced Bob Eubanks as host.

A year ago, Takei and Altman visited "The Early Show" to talk about their wedding day. In an exclusive interview, they talked about the joys of being a newly married couple at long last and their concern over a ballot initiative to ban gay marriage in the state of California.

"George, how was the wedding? Was it everything you dreamed of?" asked co-anchor Maggie Rodriguez at that time.

"It was exquisite. It was magical," Takei said. "It's something we're going to remember for the rest our lives."

"Brad, you've been married two whole days. How is married life?" Rodriguez asked.

"It's great, but we've been busy sending out thank you e-mails to all of the musicians and singers and entertainers that helped make our wedding the best day of our lives," Altman said.

And as for the legal ramifications.

"It has made us equal to everybody and that makes a world of difference," Takei said. "We feel just fantastic."

"Give me some examples, Brad, of how it has made you equal in the eyes of the law," Rodriguez said.

"Well, it's like any -- we're a long-term well-established couple and been together more than 21 years and now in California we have marriage equality. Marriage is a fundamental right for all Californians and I'm legally -- George is my husband and it makes a world of difference."


© MMIX, CBS Interactive Inc.. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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by sherrylou57 October 1, 2009 9:56 AM EDT
I object to the fact that you are letting gay people on the Newlywed
Game! Marriage is between a man and a woman! A family is a man and a woman and their children. That is how God intended it to be. Stop destroying family life. Gay marriages is a sin! Stop putting this sin before God!
Reply to this comment
by stryker54 September 17, 2009 1:15 AM EDT
It's more than sick. I think they call it perversion.
Reply to this comment
by AttentionDeficit September 17, 2009 7:05 AM EDT
Who calls it perversion? The followers of the angry virgin boinker?
by tmittelstaed September 16, 2009 11:22 PM EDT
They say that spouses that are in long-term relationships end up looking kind of like each other. I guess that only works for straights!
Reply to this comment
by jankebenzone September 16, 2009 8:33 PM EDT
"It has made us equal to everybody and that makes a world of difference," Takei said.

Equal??? Sorry, but thats his/their opinion, in reality,this group has degenerated back to mammalian primate levels.
Reply to this comment
by cs4466 September 16, 2009 10:50 PM EDT
Are you saying that you're not a mammalian primate, jakebenzone?
by jankebenzone September 16, 2009 11:45 PM EDT
Obviously! Most humans live in the advanced stage of human development while a small percent (thankfully)still dwell in the early hominidae stages (such as the orangutan) when it comes to sexual habits.
by cs4466 September 17, 2009 1:28 AM EDT
Well, lets see. Humans ARE primates, and humans ARE mammals. So you're saying you're not human, jakebenzone? Yes. Yes, I can believe that.

Primate definition:
any of various omnivorous mammals of the order Primates, comprising the three suborders Anthropoidea (humans, great apes, gibbons, Old World monkeys, and New World monkeys), Prosimii (lemurs, loris, and their allies), and Tarsioidea (tarsiers), esp. distinguished by the use of hands, varied locomotion, and by complex flexible behavior involving a high level of social interaction and cultural adaptability.

Mammal definition:
any vertebrate of the class Mammalia, having the body more or less covered with hair, nourishing the young with milk from the mammary glands, and, with the exception of the egg-laying monotremes, giving birth to live young.

Poor bitter bigot janke. Too bad you aren't human.
by AttentionDeficit September 17, 2009 7:08 AM EDT
jankebenzone can look down on others while spiritually satisfying himself thinking he doing the almighty's work.
by o2bewealthy September 16, 2009 8:10 PM EDT
Sounds like a terrific idea. If people can tune in to see how gay couples are similar to everyone else in regards to their relationships, perhaps there will be less fear and more acceptance. I wish Mr Takei and Mr Altman years of happiness together. They've already beaten a lot of odds!
Reply to this comment
by vietnamwar September 16, 2009 7:29 PM EDT
and this is the news ?????????????????
Reply to this comment
by erasmus111 September 16, 2009 7:25 PM EDT
George is so cute.
Reply to this comment
by cs4466 September 16, 2009 7:03 PM EDT
Very cool ;)
Reply to this comment
by Questionews September 16, 2009 4:02 PM EDT
I wonder if they will re-hash that old newlywed game question of "What's the weirdest place that have had the urge to make whoopee"?
Reply to this comment
by erasmus111 September 16, 2009 7:31 PM EDT
The weirdest place that they have had the URGE to make whoopee? Or they have made whoopee?

Mines the trampoline in the back yard. : ) I guess that's not very exciting though, huh?
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