Beck/Smith Hollywood

Simon Miller, Blake Lively CW photo

Simon Miller

When someone is proclaimed to be a hottie on “Gossip Girl,” they have to be especially hot — because Armani advertisement-level attractiveness is the rule of the day on the CW series that returns Monday (9/26) in its new 8 o’clock timeslot.  Such is the case with Simon Miller, whose return as Patrick is causing a stir amongst “Gossip Girl” fans. 

“I’m always shocked when I see someone saying ‘Simon Miller Hottie,’ or the hottest guy.  I’m like, ‘You’re kidding,’” he insists.  “I was definitely a late bloomer.  I was more like the brooding poet type when I was in  high school.  I never felt like I was going to be one of the popular kids,” he says.  “But acting, for me, has always been a way to explore other people I could have been in life.”

Miller is also still surprised to get recognized when he’s out and about.  Although, he says, “I actually get a lot of fans on Facebook who ask me stuff, and I’m happy to respond to them.  They’re from all over the world, China, Mexico….”  What do they ask him?  “They always want to know acting stuff:  ‘Is it hard to act?’  ‘How do you pretend  to be somebody else?’”  Then there are the offers.  “This really cute girl from Germany asked me if I could find her a place to live.  I was like, ‘Why don’t you search online for a place in L.A.?’  And she says, ‘I was hoping I could stay with you a little bit.’  That one took me back a little.  You never know when you might be facing a ‘Fatal Attraction’ kind of thing.”

He admits he’s surprised to be back on ‘Gossip Girl,’ potentially causing trouble for Serena (Blake Lively).  “To be honest, I didn’t think it would happen.  I heard that that they had put me on hold for a certain date, and I thought, ‘Yeah, right.’  I also got called back for more on ‘Vampire Diaries,’ but then they didn’t use me,” he says. 

Miller is in for at least three episodes, about which is is sworn to secrecy.  He does indicate he anticipates doing more on the show.  “What happens in this last episode I did, it seems that there is going to be more to tell.  It would be a weird place to leave off.”  He’s also been working on a miniseries, but again, he can’t talk about it.  “It’s almost bad luck to talk about it.  Best to let it grow in the quiet and the dark, like mold.”  Miller hasn’t done comedy yet, though he’d like to.  However, he dryly observes, “Hotties aren’t funny.  Hotties are just hot.”

Timothy Hutton TNT photo

You have to know the gang at Timothy Hutton’s “Leverage” is in a celebratory mood — with the TNT series attracting a 10 per cent ratings increase for its season opener last Sunday over its season premiere last year. Hutton is very happy with the ratings gains, of course. “It definitely feels good. We’re very happy to be on at nine o’clock on Sundays. This year, to return to the same timeslot turned out to be a good decision for the show.”

Demographic breakdowns also show that younger viewers have been cottoning to the series that follows the high tech, high risk capers of a group of modernday Robin Hoods. Notes Hutton, “I think we always felt, TNT and the producers always felt, that the appeal of the show couldn’t be pinpointed to any one group.”

As this season unfolds, not only will his Nate Ford character be dealing with the ramifications of his romance with sexy grifter Sophie Devereaux (Gina Bellman) — but “a shadowy group that is following the Leverage team. That’s a strong arc.”

Vin Diesel, Dwayne Johnson Universal photo

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson will be front and center entertaining his male constituency next month, starting with hisreturn to the WWE to host “WrestleMania 27″ April 3, and continuing through release of the fifth “Fast and the Furious” testosterone-fueled street racing action flick April 29.  So — of course! — Entertainment Weekly used theoccasion to ask the big guy what made him weep.  “I’m a very emotional man,” says Dwayne.

Those emotional things include his daughter’s birth in 2001:  “I’m an only child and grew up with a very selfish ‘I gotta take care of me’ attitude. And when I first held my baby girl, it hit me like a ton of bricks that there’s someone else in this world that I must commit to…”  Aw!

Then Johnson’s stroll through memory lane takes him to such moments as earning his first WWE (then WW F) world championship in 1998; winning the national championship with the University of Miami football team in 1992; and this one that will hit home with a lot of men:  “I accidentally closed the garage door on the front of my black Ford F-150 about three months ago. I shed a tear when I saw that happen. That’s my baby, my favorite car to drive.””  Sniff. Sniff.   The issue hits stands tomorrow.  (3/25)

Romy Rosemont

Among the dramas to be played out in upcoming episodes of “Glee” is that of the relationship between Kurt (Chris Colfer) and Finn (Cory Monteith) – who made derogatory remarks about gay teens last season, rebuffing Kurt’s crush on him.   So what’s ahead for Finn and his widowed mom Carole (Romy Rosemont), who now share the house of Kurt and his widowed dad (Mike O’Malley)?

Rosemont tells us she’s also dying to find out what series creator Ryan Murphy has up his sleeve.  “It seems like Finn and Kurt have worked things out; now it’s time for the parents to work their stuff out.  I’m sure it will be really interesting.  One of the things I love so much about the show is that they tackle such difficult issues,” she says.

As for herself, “I would love for Kurt to have a potential mother.”

Rosemont is in the tricky position of putting herself out there for other work assignments while staying ready and free whenever she gets the “Glee” call.  “I really like being part of this family, and I’m going to show up to dinner whenever I’m invited.  You hope there aren’t conflicts, or that if there are, people will accommodate and work things out.  That’s the life of a character actor, you kind of go on a wing and a prayer hoping things fall into place.”

Betty White, Tim Conway

Legendary TV funnymen Tim Conway and Carl Reiner guest on Wednesday’s (7/28) “Hot in Cleveland” episode on TV Land, playing rivals for Betty White’s affections.  And Tim declares, “I had such a great time, I’m going to insist on coming back, whether they want to film it or not.”

He adds, “I haven’t had that much fun since I was on the [Carol] Burnett show.”

Carl Reiner

As far as whether he or Carl is the more suitable suitor for the 88-year-old wonder girl, Tim dead pans, “I’m the right guy.  I’m the right guy for any lady, actually.  Carl – unfortunately, he’s too bright for women.  I’m more in their IQ class.”

Yes, still naughty at 76, six Emmy-winner Conway these days divides his work time between occasional guest spots on the tube – like his “CSI” stint this past April – and taking his “Tim Conway and Friends” show with Chuck McCann and Louise DuArt on the road.

His “Together Again” shows with Harvey Korman used to pack ‘em in.  Tim says, “I enjoyed going out together when Harvey was working.  He’s not doing anything lately though.”  Korman died in 2008.

Fortunately, “Chuck and Louise and I, we just get along so well.  It’s kind of a traveling Burnett show.  We don’t have to apologize for anything.  It’s good for all ages.”

Referring to today’s raunchy, bloody television, Tim says, “That was one of the reasons that I took the show on the road.  I didn’t want to get involved in that.  Most scripts that come to me, I read about 12 pages and I go, ‘I don’t think so.’

“Don Knotts and I used to talk a lot about what the audience expects from us – him being known as Barney Fife of Mayberry and me as that crazy Tim guy.   Rather than get involved in things with violence and nudity and raw language, we decided to stay where we were.  Funny is funny.  And I’ve never regretted it.”

Janis Joplin

Amy Adams

No sooner did news break that Amy Adams is going to play Janis Joplin in the long-awaited bio-pic of the drug-bedeviled, bisexual 1960s music icon than the outcry began.  Music critics and internet chatterers alike are bewailing the choice of Adams as Too Pretty, Not Gritty Enough, Not Gutsy Enough, Not Bluesy Enough, Too Sweet, Too Show Tunesy.  Indeed, some of the near-misses for a biopic (Zooey Deschanel, Pink, Melissa Etheridge) do seem more readily adaptable into portraying Joplin than Adams, of “Enchanted,” “Julie & Julia,” “Junebug” and “Doubt” fame.

However, we can’t help but remember, Oscar winner Jamie Foxx had lots’a naysayers before he proved just how great he could be with his tour-de-force performance as Ray Charles in “Ray.” 

How about the advance criticism over Joaquin Phoenix daring to play Johnny Cash (and doing his own singing?!  What, is he CRAZY?!!). An Oscar nomination for “Walk the Line” ensued. 

Leonardo DiCaprio as Howard Hughes?  There were complaints that Martin Scorsese should have cast someone more grown-up-looking and manly than Leo for his “The Aviator” – until the actor turned in a performance that merited an Oscar nom. 

It doesn’t always work out when stars play stars, of course.  James Brolin was critically crucified for his performance as Clark Gable in the film “Gable and Lombard,” for instance, Jennifer Love Hewitt’s portrayal of Audrey Hepburn in 2000′s made-for television movie “The Audrey Hepburn Story” won her a host of back-handed compliments. Hewitt was said by many reviewers to do an adequate job with the role, and even those critics admitted they were surprised and had expected worse.

Still, when performers can nail such a performance, the rewards are big.

That’s exactly what happened to Robert Downey, Jr., who had done good work in a string of movies, but had yet to prove the immensity of his gifts, when he immersed himself in all things Charlie Chaplin to play Hollywood’s supreme genius in the 1992 “Chaplin.” He astonished critics and, yep, won an Academy Award nomination.

So Amy deserves a wait-and-see, at least.

While Robert Pattinson is busy celebrating the box office bonanza of  “The Twilight Saga: Eclipse,” there’s also work to be done.  He’s in the midst of shooting “Water for Elephants” with Reese Witherspoon, which has been locationing in downtown L.A. the last couple of days with at least some cast members who apparently share Edward Cullen’s pasty pallor.

Forces on the film have been seeking proficient Foxtrot dancers who are not only Caucasian, but “very, very pale – not a suntan at all,” who are thin, with no implants and no piercings, according to casting notices.  There was also the need for a very pale cigarette girl, and a very pale man with a 32-inch waist.  The pallid faces and thinness have nothing to do with vampires on this movie, of course.  Based on Sara Gruen’s acclaimed novel, it is set in the 1930’s Great Depression and, as notices remind, “nobody’s doing well.”

MORE THAN A PARTY:  Happy Independence Day to one and all, and a thoughtful note from Jimmy Smits, who is hosting the 30^th Annual “A Capitol 4^th” event being carried on PBS from the nation’s Capitol.  After performances from the likes of David Archuleta, Reba McEntire and Gladys Knight, the show ends with a phantasmagoria of fireworks.  “To have this fireworks display in Washington, D.C. is so moving because of the backdrops of the national monuments,” notes Smits.  “Being that we’re in a time of conflict and having young people serving and protecting us, to me, it kind of focuses what it is that the fireworks represent for the country.”

THE INDUSTRY EYE:  Tricky casting challenge on Gavin Polone’s movie showing the behind-the-scenes drama of making 1973’s landmark “An American Family” documentary series.  They need to find an actor who can play Dick Cavett in that  era when he was the intellectual choice for late night viewing.  Lance Loud – being portrayed by Thomas Dekker in the movie – notoriously guested on the old Cavett show.  Diane Lane and Tim Robbins play Lance’s parents.

Jimmy Smits

Expect Jimmy Smits’ forthcoming “Outlaw” drama to be fueled by hot button issues, attention-grabbing news blasts and tough controversies.  That’s the word from the star himself, who points out, “My years of working on ‘The West Wing’ did cement in my mind the fact that there is an audience out there for topical stories.”

“Outlaw,” as you may know, has him as a Supreme Court Justice who steps down.  “The way we’re positing the character is that during his time on the bench, he’s been one of the more conservative-leaning judges.  His father, you see in the pilot, is an activist, kind of liberal.  When his father dies, it causes him to reassess what he wants to do in his life,” Jimmy explains.  “He decides he can make more of an impact by going around the country, trying cases.

“It’s exciting trying to do something a little bit out the box there,” he adds.  “This character is edgy and not predictable.”

He reports that he’s seeing outlines for the shows’ scripts as the writers work away, with plans for production to start the second week of July.  Before he steps before the “Outlaw” cameras, however, the actor — who now holds the distinction of playing both the President of the United States and a Supreme Court Justice on TV series — heads to Washington, D.C., appropriately enough.  He’s hosting the 30thAnnual “A Capitol Fourth” Independence Day mega-event before a crowd of a quarter million on the lawn of the Capitol building – plus millions of viewers at home via PBS.

“I’m always psyched to do it.  My family loves it,” he says.  “They always try to be as eclectic as possible in terms of the performers, to have a real tapestry of our country, and this year they’ve done it in a really big way.  David Archuleta from ‘Idol,’ Gladys Knight, Reba McEntire, Darius Rucker, and the National Symphony Orchestra, which is going to do a wonderful tribute to Erich Kunzel” — who died last year, having conducted at the event for 20 years.  Then there’s the other big “Capitol Fourth^” draw.  Notes Jimmy, “I grew up in New York, so fireworks on the 4^th of July is a way of life.”

Linda Gray tells us she had a blast making the big-screen “Expecting Mary,” which has an anticipated fall release.  The indie film has a pregnant teen – Oleysa Rulin of “High School Musical” fame – running away and winding up in a trailer park, the denizens of which are a colorful assortment of crazies in their AARP years.  Linda Stars with Elliott Gould, Lanie Kazan, Cybill Shepherd, Cloris Leachman, Della Reese, Fred Willard and Gene Simmons.

“We shot it in 18 days.  Because everybody loved their role, we all came together quickly.  It was like going to party you can’t wait to go to,” says the actress who reigned over the TV scene as Sue Ellen Ewing on “Dallas” back in the 80s.  Gray plays a former Vegas showgirl “whose last gig was in New Mexico.  She’s funny and pathetic – and still can be glamorous.”

Linda Gray

Linda was also instrumental in getting “Expecting Mary” made.  She’d gotten to know screenwriter Dan Gordon when “we both bought the rights to ‘Terms of Endearment’ as a play, which I did in London about eight years ago.  During that time we talked about what fun it would be to come up with something more comedic than Sue Ellen or Aurora, the part I played in ‘Terms,’ and we started throwing out ideas.”

Gordon eventually wrote “this miraculous screenplay” for “Expecting Mary” as a result.  The fact that the movie put so many talents of a certain age to work is, of course, one of Gray’s favorite parts of the enterprise, since all of her cast mates – save Olesya, of course – have had to face unapologetic Hollywood ageism.  “We approached it with a lot of humor.  We made a pact: Nobody under 50 allowed.:”

MEANWHILE:  Asked about the chances of any more on-camera “Dallas” reunions, Gray is quick to respond, “Oh, God no.  Unless something very classy came along, we’re through.”

That’s not to say, however, that the “Dallas” cast is through getting together on their own.  Linda says that she and Larry Hagman and Patrick Duffy got together just a matter of weeks ago when Duffy was in town from his Oregon home for a “Bold and the Beautiful” appearance, and it’s not unusual that they and other former cast mates meet for “long lunches or dinners.  One of the joys of doing ‘Dallas’ was the enduring friendships.  We’ve known each other 33 years.  We text each other now.  Our kids have us all using iPhones.”

MAKING ADJUSTMENTS:  Terry Crews admits that having his and his family’s lives opened for the world to see on their “The Family Crews” reality show has been an adjustment for everyone.  With Season 2 of the BET show now in production, he recalls that when the first season began to air, “We got off Facebook and all that stuff.  We retreated.  We felt like, ‘Hey, if you want to know something about us, watch the show.’  There has to be a boundary, a limit.  You start to feel like you don’t have any privacy at all.”

According to him, they have bumped into “a couple of people” who’ve been negative.  “And you’re like, ‘Eh!  They don’t like me.’  But the thing is, most of the people we encounter are fans and they’re nice.  It’s fun to talk to them.”

Crews, who’s also starring in the series version of TNT’s “Are We There Yet?” says “We’re pretty excited about Season 2” of the reality skein.  “On our show, the drama doesn’t come from me versus my wife, or us versus the kids.  We’ve decided we’re going to stick together, to have each other’s back.  When my daughter announced she was pregnant, that was a really big family issue.”  Obviously, baby on board will be a theme this coming season.

Molly Shannon

Molly Shannon is bracing herself for response to “Neighbors From Hell,” the TBS animated series debuting Monday (6/7), about a family of demons living on Earth.  Some of the humor — from “South Park” writer Pam Brady — will make viewers blanch (a neighbor has an inappropriate relationship with her suicidal poodle).  As for how audiences will react to “how wild it gets?  God, I don’t know,” says Shannon.  “That’s something I have no control over.  I hope it’s okay.”

The six-year “Saturday Night Live” veteran. plays the mother in the demon family that cannot return to hell until they carry out an assignment from Satan to stop a giant oil drill.

“I thought it was original, just funny,” she says, “that this husband and wife demon couple has to disguise themselves as suburbanites, and find the real neighbors from hell are the human beings.”

The work also happens to fit perfectly into Shannon’s world with her real-life family.  “With little kids it’s the perfect job.  I really hope that it takes off,” says the funny lady, who is also the wife or artist Fritz Chesnut, and mother of Stella, born in 2003, and Nolan, born in ’05.  “I can take them to school and record in-between.  Some of this other stuff – the single camera shows – the hours are not family-friendly at all.”

Imagine her kids at school explaining that their mommy is a demon…but we digress.

TBS, she says, “just ordered six more scripts,” she says, “so we’ll see how it goes.”

Besides “Neighbors from Hell,” Shannon has her recurring character on “Glee” as astronomy and badminton teacher Brenda Castle. “’Glee’ is so popular, such a phenomenon — I love that part,” Shannon declares.  “All the cast is so talented.  Doing scenes with Jane Lynch and Matthew Morrison is just a dream.  I just did two episodes before they wrapped for the season.  I have a crazy character, she’s a drug addict – she’s one of those prescription drug abusers — she drinks too much.   She’s a bad, bad teacher.”

Shannon put her all into trying to make a go of her NBC “Kath & Kim” comedy of 2008-2009.  But now, she tells us, “I’ve really enjoyed not having to work as hard this past year.  I love being a mom and spending time with my kids.”