Bosom Buddies, Redefined

"I think the true test would be to see an on-screen relationship between a gay man and a straight man," Heller says. "As with a relationship between a man and a woman, it would be nice to see that unresolved sexual tension played out in [a] male relationship . . . and have it just be a part of the grit of the relationship."

On-screen chemistry between characters isn't necessarily an indication of real-life affection between actors. But in this case, it might be.

Shatner took Spader and his girlfriend to a tennis tournament over the summer. Even better, Shatner -- a longtime breeder of quarter horses -- recently bought an American saddle horse and named it Alan Shore.

"It's the perfect horse for the Alan Shore character," Shatner says. "He's puffed-up, he's marvelous, he's jaunty but very steady."

Shatner says that he's looking for a horse to name "Denny Crane."

Which naturally makes us ask: What kind of horse would that be?

Shatner laughs. "A sweaty, wild-gaited horse who doesn't know whether to perform or sire," he says.

If this were a different era, someone would no doubt take this opportunity to weigh in with some Freudian, homo-equino claptrap. Thankfully, we're past that.