The CBS competition "Secret Talents Of The Stars" has quite a country slant in its beginning episodes. Clint Black will deliver stand-up comedy, beginning with tonight's episode, and Jo Dee Messina has signed up to do urban dance routines, starting April 15.

Now Montgomery Gentry has been announced as vocal coaches for actor George Takei, who'll try his hand as a country singer. Takei is best known for his role as Lt. Sulu, pilot of the Starship Enterprise on the classic sci-fi series Star Trek.

"How cool to be rockin' with Mr. Sulu," Eddie Montgomery says. "I'm such a Trekkie — beam us up to the semi-finals."

Given that they'll be showing their abilities — or, in a worst-case scenario, inabilities — in a secondary field of entertainment on national television, the participants are taking the show seriously. Clint, for example, has worked on his stand-up routines twice at a Nashville club called Zanies.

"Usually I don't prefer to be laughed at," he explains, "but now it's a must!"

Clint told about 10 minutes worth of jokes at Zanies last Thursday. He also made a surprise appearance when Jimmy Fallon played the same venue in March.

"I've already played to a full house and an empty one," Clint says. "Everything is better when the audience shows up!"

Others scheduled for "Secret Talents" — hosted by John O'Hurley — include Sasha Cohen, Danny Bonaduce, Marla Maples and Malcolm-Jamal Warner.