Newlywed Game to Feature First Gay Couple: Star Trek's George Takei and Husband

Star Trek alum George Takei and his husband, Brad Altman, will make television history as the first gay couple to compete on The Newlywed Game, GSN announced.
"What we want is to display the normality and the joy of having a happy union," Takei said, who married Altman last September. "To be included in something we never felt we'd be included in is very satisfying."

News: Takei takes trek down the aisle with longtime beau

Takei and Altman, who have been together for 22 years, will tape their episode soon. Takei said he's been studying his husband's wardrobe and food orders in preparation.The Newlywed Game, which has been on and off the air since 1967, will kick off its second season, hosted by Carnie Wilson, on GSN Oct. 12. GSN programming chief Kelly Goode told the Associated Press she could not speculate why the show has never featured gay couples before since the series has jumped from network to network over the years. However, Goode said the game's rules require couples to have a legally recognized marriage to play.

News: Takei on gay marriage ruling: "They decided to be indecisive"

"It's needed at this point," said Wilson, who has lobbied for an all-gay edition of the show. "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."Takei and Altman won't be the only celebrity pair on the on the series: Dancing with the Stars pros Edyta Sliwinksa and Alec Mazo; Davy Jones and his new bride, actress Jessica Pacheco;Biggest Loser couple Suzy Preston and Matt Hoover; Christopher Knight and Adrianne Curry; and Kristy Swanson and Lloyd Eisler are among the other star couples who will compete this season.