WASHINGTON — George Takei, best known as Sulu on "Star Trek," says he first saw Brad Altman, the man he plans to marry, more than two decades ago when they were working out in a running club. He couldn't take his eyes off Altman, who had a "lean, tightly muscled" body, the 71-year-old actor told AP Radio.

Takei asked Altman to help him train for a marathon, they fell in love, and they've been living together for 21 years.

Altman said he proposed by getting down on one knee in their kitchen while Takei was eating a sandwich after seeing on TV that the California Supreme Court had legalized same-sex marriage. The proposal surprised Takei, who thought he would be the one to pop the question.

Takei and Altman plan to marry Sept. 14 at the Japanese National Museum in L.A.

Walter Koenig, Chekov from "Star Trek," will be the best man and Nichelle Nichols, who played Uhura, will be the matron of honor. Castmate Leonard Nimoy will be among the 200 guests.

GRAMMER HOME AFTER HEART ATTACK

LOS ANGELES — Kelsey Grammer was out of the hospital and back at his Kona home yesterday, four days after a mild heart attack, his publicist said. The 53-year-old star of "Cheers," "Frasier" and the recently canceled Fox sitcom "Back to You" offers his thanks to those who called and wrote expressing concern, said the publicist's statement.

ED MCMAHON FACES FORECLOSURE

LOS ANGELES — Ed McMahon, who was Johnny Carson's sidekick on "The Tonight Show," is fighting to avoid foreclosure on his Beverly Hills home.

The former "Star Search" host was $644,000 behind on payments on his $4.8 million mortgage when Countrywide Financial filed a default notice Feb. 28.

McMahon, 85, has been been unable to work as a pitchman for products since breaking his neck 18 months ago, said a spokesman. The six-bedroom, five-bath house — listed for sale at $6.25 million — has been on the market for two years.

REPORTER TAKES THE FIFTH AT TRIAL

CHICAGO — A Chicago Sun-Times reporter won't have to answer questions at R. Kelly's child porn trial.

On the stand yesterday, Jim DeRogatis cited an Illinois law on reporters' rights and the First and Fifth Amendments of the Constitution. He read the statement more than a dozen times in response to questions, including whether he had made a copy of the sex tape that is key to the trial. Defense attorneys say copying the tape would have been a crime.

After DeRogatis' 10 minutes on the stand, Judge Vincent Gaughan ruled that the reporter has a Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination and doesn't have to testify.