Beck/Smith Hollywood

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.”

Cat Deeley

“So You Think You Can Dance” host Cat Deeley is psyched up over the changes and additions on this season of the hot Fox summer show.  She’s especially happy about the addition of “all stars” — top competitors from seasons past the likes of Lauren Gottleib, Stephen “Twitch” Boss and Comfort Fedoke – coming aboard to partner with the newbies and help them do their best.

“It’s lovely to see them back – they’re my babies,” declares the effervescent Brit.  “I’ve been following their careers, seeing who is in what movies, who is going out on tour.  It’s like they’ve been out of college and now they’re coming back.”

She adds, “It’s really going to be beneficial for our top 10.  Their friends, their families, the judges – nobody can quite understand the pressure cooker that is this show as well as those who’ve been through what they’re going through.”  Of the newcomers, she says, “I keep reminding them to keep enjoying themselves.  Yes, it’s a competition.  Yes, there’s one winner.  But it’s also about having an amazing life experience and friendships that could last the rest of their lives.”

Deeley remains super enthusiastic about her role.  “I love my job, I just love it!  I absolutely love this show.  It gets better every season.  The changes refresh and reinvigorate it.  I love going live, seeing what’s going to happen.  There will be ‘must see’ moments and undoubtedly moments that go off track that will make for water cooler conversation the next day.”

Her delight in doing live TV began in England, where she honed her skills doing a  morning show where she put in “three hours live, 52 weeks a year for six years.”  Now it seems Deeley could pop up anywhere – like guest hosting Simon Cowell’s “X-Factor” when that British hit competition show makes its way to these shores.

Indeed, some pundits have all but signed her up for “X-Factor” duty.  But she says, “At the moment, it is actually a case of crystal ball time” as to whether she could turn up on that show.  “It’s not coming on this year, not even next year, but the year after that,” she reminds.  “Of course it was a massive success in the UK.  It’s a brilliant show.  I’m sure it will be equally as triumphant here.”

‘Grey’s Anatomy’ has suffered a 12 per cent viewership dropoff this season, making it one of a trio of aging ratings giants (‘CSI,’ ‘Desperate Housewives’) that have taken double-digit hits in 2009-2010.  Show creator Shonda Rhimes has another medical drama on the way taking her attention.  And Katherine Heigl is gone.  It’s enough to make fans feel McQueasy.

But fear not. Chandra Wilson is full of assurances: ‘We know we are a solid anchor for Thursday night and I know that our intention is to continue to make a great show.’  She notes, ‘The actors have two more years on our contracts and the writers are confident they have two more years of story.  After that they could write and write and cross that threshold where they keep going, like ‘Law & Order.”

That would suit the actress, who’s won four Emmy nominations and a SAG Award for her portrayal of one-of-a-kind surgeon Miranda Bailey, just fine. She says she’s definitely still enjoying the show and putting her all into it, ‘every single minute, every single day, every single script that comes down. There’s always something new to look forward to, a new angle, something about my character that’s interesting.’ And she doesn’t take it for granted. ‘Looking at things as an actor, everything is temporary. It’s my seventh year at ‘Grey’s,’ but to me, it could all end tomorrow. I might have been the one to get hit by the bus, because that could have been a big ratings-getter.’

Chandra just got recognized with another NAACP Image Award — she now has four — this time for directing.  It was her first ‘Grey’s’ stint behind the camera, so the honor was ‘very unexpected and flattering’ she says.  Her second episode as director aired recently and gave her the intriguing task of directing her own love scene with hunky Jason George.

What a dream job!

‘You would think, right?’  She laughs.  ‘It was an interesting line, about the romance and about Bailey’s first kiss with him.  I got to do a lot of playing with choices with the cameras.  That was an exciting day.’  But alas, George is headed off to Shonda Rhimes’ new show, ‘Off the Map,’ so is Bailey in for heartbreak?  That’s the pilot,’ notes Chandra.  Then she adds, ‘We try to keep some things inside our family.’

Mark Salling photo: FOX/Matthias Clamer

“Glee” star Mark Salling plays the bad boy jock “Puck” in the frosh Fox hit series – but stay tuned.  He tells us even though his character has been giving members of the Glee club a hard time, he’ll be busting out his singing chops this season too. 

“I eventually will have my opportunity to perform.  My character has aspirations of stardom just like everyone else in the Glee club.  He will get his chance to shine, absolutely,” reveals Salling, who is also a singer/songwriter outside of filming.  “That’s my first love, to be honest, but I’ve been enjoying acting.  This show is a perfect blend of the two so I couldn’t be luckier.” 

One thing he didn’t expect was the amount of time it takes to perfect the song and dance numbers on the show.  “We’ve kind of been in a bubble the last seven or eight months doing the work,” says Salling.  “We’ll have to rehearse sometimes really early in the morning.  We’ll have recording sessions and then memorizing the lines.  It’s definitely a heavier workload than the average TV show,” he adds.  “I feel like we’re really paying our dues, but luckily it’s a lot of fun.” 

He adds, ”I didn’t expect it to get so popular so fast.  We appreciate the hardcore fans who have been there even from just one episode.  To tell you the truth, though, I think the episodes just get better and better.” 

RIDING HIGH:  Australian country-pop star on the rise Shea Fisher knows how to take the bull by the horns — literally and professionally speaking.  The daughter of eight-time Australian bull riding champ Eddie Fisher and top barrel racer Joanne Fisher, Shea did her own rodeo riding before turning full attention to the singing career that’s already won her four No. 1 hits Down Under.  “I did barrel racing, breakaway racing, junior bull riding for awhile.  I didn’t know girls could do it, and my dad said, ‘Yeah, girls can do it.’  He taught me everything.  I’d have my hair and makeup done before an event and the boys would be like, ‘Who does she think she is?’” recalls Fisher with a laugh.  The answer soon became evident, as she became the first girl to ever make the national finals in professional junior bull riding in Australia when she was 16. 

 But now she’s putting her all into performing.  “I love what I do,” says the down-to-earth 21-year-old beauty. “I get the same adrenaline rush onstage as bull riding.”  And it’s much safer!

 Already noticed hereabouts for her “Don’t Chase Me” song that came out this summer via Nashville-based Stroudavarious Records, she has a second single on the way and will be doing the promo tour number in support of that record this fall.  She’s thrilled to be getting play on country radio and TV, but still hopes to widen her fan demographic.  “I’ve definitely crossed over to mainstream” back home, says Shea, who now divides her time between continents.  “For me, when I’m creating music, I’m not thinking it’s for a certain genre,” she adds.  “I just create what’s natural for me.  Music is about being relevant to people, not about what genre fits.”

 ANOTHER WAY TO LOOK AT IT:  Tamala Jones may have found a home with ABC’s “Castle,” which is currently in its second season, but the actress tells us she doesn’t allow herself to get too comfortable.  “A lot of people get to a certain level and then they get lazy,” says Jones, who plays medical examiner Lanie Parish.  “People ask me when I go to auditions, ‘Why are you here auditioning?  You have so many credits.’  I actually like auditioning.  It keeps your skills sharp and it keeps you humble.” 

 With reports by Emily-Fortune Feimster