Whoopi Goldberg boldly goes back to sci-fi acting

Whoopi Goldberg speaks during a scene from FEARnet's sci-fi mini-series 'Stream' in this undated publicity handout. Whoopi Goldberg is returning from a brief retirement as an actress to boldly go to where few stars have gone before -- online science fiction. Two decades after first appearing on 'Star Trek: The Next Generation,' the Oscar-winning actress is producing and starring in a new sci-fi series called 'Stream' that premieres on January 15, 2009 on the horror website and video-on-demand network FEARnet. (FEARnet/Handout/Reuters)Reuters

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Whoopi Goldberg is returning from a brief retirement as an actress to boldly go to where few stars have gone before -- online science fiction.

Two decades after first appearing on "Star Trek: The Next Generation," the Oscar-winning actress is producing and starring in a new sci-fi series called "Stream" that premieres on January 15 on the horror website and video-on-demand network FEARnet.

The series comes just over a year after Goldberg, 53, said she was retiring from acting to concentrate on hosting the daytime chat show "The View," a gig she took over from Rosie O'Donnell in September

2007.

Goldberg said the idea of performing in a new medium really appealed to her, as did the chance to act in sci-fi and horror -- two of her favorite genres.

"I did retire. I hadn't made a movie in quite a while, and I lost my way with the things I was doing. It became entertainment by rote, and there wasn't a lot being done that I was interested in doing," Goldberg told Reuters in a telephone interview.

"But the idea that you can be at work and check out a webisode tickles me because that is the future. ... I can reinvent my way of acting so that I challenge myself and see where it takes me for the second half of my life."

Goldberg built a strong following in sci-fi circles through her work in the late 1980s and early '90s on "Star Trek: The Next Generation."

She said she had been a "Star Trek" fan, or Trekkie, since childhood, when creator Gene Roddenberry had the wherewithal to put black people in the future as characters in the original 1960s series.

"Other science fiction movies you saw had no black people in them anywhere. Isn't that something? I wanted to carry on that tradition," she said.

"If I could be doing sci-fi and horror all the time I would be doing it. I have loved it since I was little. A good scare is great and I love the idea you can get people to feel things without having to show it to them."

In "Stream," which will be rolled out in six episodes of five minute each, Goldberg stars as Jodi Quinn, a character battling personal demons in a sci-fi thriller that moves between three phases of her life.

Goldberg, who has made more than 40 movies and won an Oscar for her 1990 supporting role in the romantic drama "Ghost," said she ended up mainly in comedy as no one ever asked her to play sci-fi or horror roles.

"It wasn't until I did 'Star Trek' that people thought I could do sci-fi, and I have yet to do a horror film," she said. "I'd love to be a monster."

"Stream" is the sixth original series from FEARnet, an advertising-supported joint venture between Comcast Corp, Sony Pictures Television and Lionsgate.

(Writing by Belinda Goldsmith, Editing by Steve Gorman)

Madonna, Oprah, other celebs react to Obama's win

NEW YORK – Madonna doesn't do anything small.

The Material Girl celebrated Barack Obama's victory Tuesday night with a glittering rally of her own, leading thousands of fans at her concert in San Diego with a rousing introduction to her song "Express Yourself."

In a video posted on YouTube, Madonna claps her hands and declares, "This is a historical evening! ... We are lucky to be sharing it with each other!"

Other celebrity supporters of Obama echo Madonna's good cheer.

Oprah Winfrey, who cried during the celebration in Chicago's Grant Park, told the TV show "The Insider": "I was so, so, so excited and then just sort of a calm came over me. It feels like it actually is kind of real, so it feels great."

Asked what this means for the country, she said, "It means democracy at its finest. It's just the best. We did this. America did this."

George Clooney said in a statement: "I congratulate President-elect Obama on his historic victory, and now it's time to begin unifying the country so we can take on the extraordinary challenges that this generation faces."

Actress Scarlett Johansson, who stumped for Obama throughout his campaign, said the "overwhelming hope that Obama inspires is infectious."

"I've always maintained a strong faith in the power of Obama's positive campaign and am so proud of every citizen who took a stand, participated in the political process and insisted their voices be heard," Johansson said in a statement.

Singer John Mellencamp reflected on the election on his Web site, saying he never thought he'd see the day when "a man of color could be president of the United States. But today I am so proud of America."

Singer Colbie Caillat, who cried when Obama won, said she thinks "our country is in safe hands."

Stars including Lindsay Lohan, Michael Moore and Kanye West posted messages online.

Reacting on her Myspace page, Lohan gushed, "OBAMA IS OUR PRESIDENT!" and said that everyone who voted, "no matter their choice ... should be proud for voting in the first place."

West, whose mother Donda died last November, posted a portrait of the president elect on his blog with the message: "HI MOM, OBAMA WON!"

Meanwhile, director-provocateur Moore responded on his Web site, saying, "Who among us is not at a loss for words? Tears pour out. Tears of joy. Tears of relief. A stunning, whopping landslide of hope in a time of deep despair."

Even more stunning: a concession from John McCain supporter Elisabeth Hasselbeck, who said Wednesday on TV's "The View" that she'll follow Obama's lead.

"I will jump in that line and support our president because that is what as an American I believe we should do," said Hasselbeck, who received a fist bump from co-host Whoopi Goldberg.



See: Barack Obama Pic