Beck/Smith Hollywood

Fitness dynamo Ali Vincent — a.k.a. “The Biggest Loser’s” first female winner — looks back on her “Biggest Loser” experience with mixed views these days. Asked whether she could ever envision herself becoming a “BL” trainer, she says, “Honestly, I don’t think I could ever do that because I’ve been through it. I think it’s one of the greatest opportunities of my life — but I’d never encourage anyone I care about to do it.”

Why not?   “I just think it’s super intense and — I’m glad I went through it, but I didn’t know what I was signing up for when I got into it. By the end, I was just, like, spent,” recalls Ali. She also admits she won the show at a weight that “quite frankly wasn’t a good weight for me. I lost my menstrual cycle that last month.”

She continues, “I would definitely be cautious about who I would recommend doing it. For instance, my uncle would like to do it, and in my personal opinion, he is strong enough. My cousin, not so much.”

The vivacious Vincent has more than enough to do with her own show – “Live Big with Ali Vincent” — that launched on The Live Well Network in September. (Not to mention her ‘cross country travel for speaking engagements, signings of her popular Believe It. Be It. book, etc.) She says her steepest fitness challenges came after leaving the “BL” ranch and learning to live the healthy lifestyle day-to-day, out in the real world. Those lessons are what she hopes to impart via “Live Big,” in addition to fostering an online community of people helping other people to live healthy.

“This is our first year and we’ve had so much fun with the show, figuring out the flow of it. It’s interesting, trying to showcase people on their journeys,” she says. “Some have gone beyond my wildest expectations, some are like, excuse-ridden. You can take a camel to water but you can’t make it drink, you know? I want to say, ‘Come on — you said if you had these opportunities, you’d take advantage of them. Do you know how many people want to be in your spot?’”

She hopes that viewers can learn from both types of examples, maybe even see themselves in the excuse-makers. “It’s not about weight loss although weight loss is part of it. It’s about living a healthy lifestyle, and making those moment-to-moment choices to live better. If you make it about a diet, it has a start and an end. When you switch to a healthy lifestyle, there is no end.”

Which is one reason Ali is currently in training for an Iron Man triathlon in Cozumel, Mexico in November. “I’m covering it on my show. One of the things I promised myself on ‘Biggest Loser’ was that I was going to stay on top of my game. Having goals like training for a triathlon helps me keep my edge.”

Alison Sweeney NBC photo

“The Biggest Loser” is wrapping up shooting for its currently-airing season this week, and host Alison Sweeney admits “I’ve been counting the days” ’til it’s over.  That’s because Alison, a master multi-tasker, has taken on a workload that’s nearly impossible.  There’s “Biggest Loser,” her ongoing starring stint on “Days of Our Lives,” plus the “Hollywood Girls Night” TV Guide Channel show she’s executive producing along with her on-camera chores.

Planning her schedule has been like “a thousand-piece puzzle that only fits together one way.  It’s all been happening at once,” she tells us.  “I try to avoid this, but one time did I have to do all three shows in one day, with the Hollywood Moms coming for dinner.  That was a long day.”

In case you weren’t aware, the Sunday night show, in which she partners with Ali Landry, was inspired by their real-life social circle of celebrity moms, who had fun getting together at each other’s homes and dishing on the industry, men, their kids, men, friends and men.  “We want to keep it all positive, fun and light-hearted, just like it is when we talk to our girlfriends off-camera.  It’s not often you’re in the middle of an outrageous conversation or a catfight.  We behave as we would if we came to someone’s house for dinner,” she says.

Sure.  Not surprisingly, though, the show’s teaser promos stress the spilling of secrets, and such attention-grabbing bits as this week’s guest Kendra Wilkinson talking about building a “sex room” in her home with hubby Hank Baskett.  “Kendra is a highlight — the way she opens up about her married life, her background, what her life has been like as a Playmate, how she’s comfortable with her body,” Alison says.  “She had great stuff.  I kept asking her questions.  I HAD to know more.”  Robin Givens is also on this week’s show.  Future shows include Brooke Burns and champion dancer Cheryl Burke.

Alison brushes off reports that she and Landry annoyed their real-life friends by going off on their own to sell the show last year.  “Obviously, I just think there’s a lot of misinformation out there,” she says.  “It’s a wonderful show, really positive, and most important for us, it’s celebrating our friendships.”

The busy actress-host-producer-director also has her husband and two small children at home.  Finding family time “is definitely a big piece of the puzzle,” she says.

She credits nutrition and exercise tips she’s picked up through her years on “The Biggest Loser” for the fact she has the energy for all this.  “These are tools you can use for your whole life, not just when you’re losing weight,” she points out.  And…are you ready?…she’s also training for the L.A. Marathon March 18.

Dolvett Quince NBC photo

Despite the rapidly diminishing number of age 50-and-over contestants on this season’s “The Biggest Loser,” trainer Dolvett Quince is sticking to the company line that age doesn’t matter in this, the show’s Battle of the Ages competition.

“I know it sounds cliché-ish to say ‘Age is just a number,’ but the show has had success with older contestants.  One of the oldest was a winner,” he points out.  “Personally, I’ve been training people going up into their late sixties and early seventies for years.  Granted, they probably won’t get the six pack they might hope for, but you can get in shape whatever age group you’re in.”

The Atlanta-based trainer-to-the-stars, whose client roster ranges from Justin Beiber to Baltimore Ravens Tight End Daniel Wilcox, is the lesser-known of the two newcomers who’ve joined Bob Harper on the NBC staple this year.  The other, beautiful tennis ace Anna Kournikova, has a warm and likeable TV personality – but she got stuck with the group of over-50s, who’ve been making a very poor showing so far.  (Hello, Casting?  Could you have done better by this age group?)  Dolvett and his Under 30s are looking like contenders, along with Harper’s mighty group of 30-50-year-olds.

“Being the new guy has its perks, and also challenges.  You have to set a tone, a statement about who you are.  My immediate job is building trust with the people I train, in order to transform them,” says Quince.  “I felt good going in – I would have felt good with any of the groups.”

As far as being nervous about replacing the vastly popular Jillian Michaels – or dropped-after-one-season trainers Brett Hoebel and Cara Castronuova — Dolvett says he doesn’t think like that.  “I’m pretty confident with my brand, with my skill set.  I didn’t have any distractions about the previous season or the previous trainers,” he responds.  “I was focused on people losing weight, every day.”  According to him, he and Bob and Anna enjoy harmonious working relationships.  “Everyone gets along great – the trainers, the support staff, the nutritionist, we all have that kind of camaraderie.  Obesity is such a big problem, and we’re all focused on doing something about it.”

The self-assured Mr. Quince also says, “I think every trainer would want to be on this show.  When I got the call, I can’t tell you how enthusiastic I was.  It was amazing for me to get this chance for this exposure, to show what I’ve been doing.”  The best part: “To see my team smile and celebrate as they go through these transformations.   It’s extremely moving.”  

Tonight’s (10/4) “Biggest Loser” brings in NFL stars Drew Brees, Eric Dickerson, Clay Matthews, Tony Gonzalez, Shawne Merriman and Tim Tebow.

Bob Harper NBC photo

Trainer Bob Harper tells us that although Jillian Michaels left “The Biggest Loser” after last season, her spirit lives on, in a way.  “I’ve gotten possessed by Jillian a lot,” he jokingly admits.  “You’re going to see me in a different way, not taking ‘no’ for an answer, getting people to stand on their own two feet.”

 The beloved Bob, who has been known to shed a tear and share a hug with an emotional contestant every few episodes, has never been easy on his subjects.  But he’s even tougher these days, to hear him tell it.  He says, “Now that Jillian has moved on and is working with ‘The Doctors,” I’m getting a chance to spread my wings in my own way.  I’ve got to do what I can for these people, as passionately as possible.” 

Anna Kournikova NBC photo by Chris Haston

According to Bob, his new, high-profile fellow trainer — tennis star Anna Kournikova — is bringing plenty of passion to the show.  “She’s a sweet woman and a really strong competitor,” he says.  However, he points out that she is brand-new to the game of helping morbidly obese people get into shape.  “It’s going to be a real struggle, I think, because it’s such a specific job.  You can come in with all the heart you want, but you also have to know what to do.”  Trainer Dolvett Quince is also newly aboard “The Biggest Loser,” which launches its Season 12 on Sept. 20.

His friendship with Jillian continues.  “Of course!” he says.  “We talk all the time.  I’m about to leave for dinner with her right now.”

Alison Sweeney, Bob Harper, Jillian Michaels NBC photo by Mitchell Haaseth

Alison Sweeney doesn’t sound terribly enthusiastic about the two new trainers on “The Biggest Loser” this season.  Asked how she feels about the male-female duo so far, she demonstrates a side-stepping capability that ranks up there with the most seasoned politicians:

“They’re certainly different, but I was a new person at one time myself,” points out the “Biggest Loser” hostess and “Days of Our Lives” daytime TV star.   She also says, “I think the show is as strong as ever.  ‘The Biggest Loser’ is all about change and people getting their lives back.  I think we’ll see how the fans feel about what they’re seeing as it all unfolds.”

Does she like the two newcomers who are competing against popular trainers Bob Harper and Jillian Michaels this season?

Her answer:  “They’re amazing trainers.  They certainly have an important contribution to make.”

Viewers should not expect to get a big reveal all at once about the new trainers, either.  They’re being kept mysterious.  Sweeney is doing her part.

She laughs.  “I’ve been on a soap opera a long time.  I know how to keep a secret.”  In fact, she won’t even say how much chance she’s had to get to know the pair herself.

“Every week they’re going to show a little more.  I can’t speak for the producers, but I think the idea is for viewers to see the effects of the work they put in.  They wanted America to see what they do before really seeing who they are.  I can tell you for sure that the contestants who went to train with them love them and are passionately enthusiastic about the choice they made to go with them.”

A few weeks ago, Michaels announced that she would be leaving the show at season’s end in hopes of focusing on motherhood as she wants to adopt a baby.  Sweeney notes, “As long as she’s a part of ‘Biggest Loser,’ we’re lucky to have her.  Even last week at the weigh in, I was so moved by her passion.  I know whatever road Jillian takes she’s going to be successful and put her whole heart into it.”

As far as her own feelings about changes on the show, Sweeney says, “It’s just one of those things.  These things are going to happen.  It’s like the contestants’ journeys.  At a certain point there are going to be extraneous factors you can’t control, but you can’t let that keep you from doing what you need to do.”

MEANWHILE:  Sweeney has been living the life of a master multi-tasker for years now, what with her prime time and daytime shows, plus her toddler son and daughter and her husband at home.  This year, she adds to her activities list with her “The Mommy Diet” book, and stumping for the Hill’s Science Diet for pets and its current Million Dollar PetFit challenge.  Fur real!

Her own beloved family dog, fivish-year-old rescued Boston Terrier, Winkie, inspired her involvement.  “There are crazy statistics out there about overweight dogs.  You start to say the words and realize it’s the exact same mistakes people make with their children; they associate food with comfort and love.  But being overweight really does impact the health of the pet.  They’re going to be in pain, they’re going to have low energy, it will impact their longevity.  Our vet made it clear a fitness program is vital to keep your pet healthy.”

Speaking of fitness, how are the current crop of “Biggest Loser” contestants doing, deep into filming of the season that just started to air last week?

“They’re amazing,” she says.  “The weight loss is spectacular — they’re definitely meeting and exceeding the standards.  We had people getting whistles on the catwalk because of how great they look.  You would say, ‘That person doesn’t belong on a weight loss show.’”

We’ll see.

Ali Vincent

Ali Vincent, a.k.a. “The Biggest Loser’s” first female winner, has been in meetings this week for a potential reality show on which she’d serve as host.  It has to do, she reports, with people at crisis points in life who use training for triathlons and other vigorous athletic competitions to help them surmount their challenges.

“It could be a soldier who’s returning from war after losing a limb or someone reinventing themselves after losing their job,” she says.  “It’s not about weight loss, although there could be people who lose weight in it.”

Whether the new show sells or not, Vincent will be back on the tube come Nov. 24, as part of  NBC’s “Biggest Loser: Where Are They Now” special.  She was thrilled to return again to the show on which she lost 112 pounds — the show that launched her as an author (“Believe It, Be It”) and popular motivational speaker.

Does she still weigh the same as in those ubiquitous “Biggest Loser” promo and product photos in which she’s clad in a pink stretch tank top and black spandex bike pants?

“I weigh 125-130 pounds depending on the day, so it’s not that different in weight,” she tells us, “but I was so much more toned when I won.  I’d been training so much, I was hard core.  I won’t be like that again unless it’s right before I do a triathlon myself.”  Vincent, who has run marathons — including the Boston — says she wants to do an Iron Man triathlon.  ‘It’s on my bucket list, and it’s something I’ll put out there for 2012 if I’m not pregnant.  I have plans for a baby, so we’ll see.”

She also says she’s in love, and that she recently moved from Arizona to Spokane, Washington to be near her sister, a pilates instructor.

“My sister and I are working on different types of workouts — in-flight workouts, workouts you can do while traveling, even during airport layovers.  We’ll do them as podcasts people can download.  That’s in its beginning stages.”

She adds, “I get to be with my niece and nephew which is great. I’m only going to be the cool aunt so long.”

Bob Harper NBC photo

Expect lots of clashes ahead on this season of “The Biggest Loser.”  That’s the word from trainer Bob Harper, who complains that unlike past groups, in which weight loss and camaraderie were foremost, the current group of contestants “were very into playing the game.  That, to me – I have no time for it.  It’s unfortunate they worked so hard to get onto the show and then made it about that,” he adds.

This season, in fact, features some changes in structure that bring out the fierceness of the competitors.  Still, says Harper, “I love it when contestants tend to unite.  We’ve definitely had some great contestants in the past, ones who’ve stuck with it, who’ve inspired a lot of people.”

Inspiring people to lose weight and get healthy is the aspect of “Biggest Loser” that means the most to Harper, who’s happy with this season’s Pay it Forward theme in which the show is seeking to get entire communities motivated to get fit.  They also traveled to Southern California’s Camp Pendleton Marine base for an upcoming episode in which the contestants train like Marines, complete with lots of dirt ‘n’ grit.

“The Camp Pendleton part was really fun.  The only thing is, what Jillian and I really saw is that the Marines are about building up your character — not necessarily getting you to lose weight,” he says, referring to fellow trainer Jillian Michaels.  “I think the two things do go hand in hand, but you have to know how to do it.”

The drill instructors and trainers do have some things in common, however.  “You get people to push their bodies to different kinds of limits, to get uncomfortable, to do things they wouldn’t normally do.”

The 10^th season of the popular reality show got off to a slower start, ratings-wise than seasons past.  Is trainer Bob concerned about running out of steam?

“I keep it out of my mind,” he says.  “We’re starting to shoot Season 11 right now, and we’re on a good upward trend, and I just really feel good for all of us.”

Hank Azaria UPI Photo John Hayes

Hank Azaria’s girlfriend Katie Wright and their four-month-old baby Hal just joined him on Pittsburgh location of “Love and Other Drugs” – which couldn’t please the actor and funnyman more. 

Although his son was born prematurely, “He’s fine — a big, 10-pound baby now.  He’s very calm, very easily soothed, very mellow so far.  It is fun to have the little guy around.  He’s just starting to recognize us,” reports Azaria. 

Asked about what kind of role he’d most like to play next, the besotted new dad answers, “To be honest, I’m pretty happy to hang around and just stare at the baby for awhile.” 

MEANWHILE:  Right now, Azaria’s attention is also on “Love and Other Drugs.”  In fact, he tells us that with the health care debate raging on, he and Anne Hathaway, Jake Gyllenhaal and the rest of the “Love and Other Drugs” team keep saying to each other, “We wish this movie was coming out next week.  It just has so much to say about the effect big pharma has really had on the medical profession and the health care world.  It’s greater than people think,” Hank declares.  “This really goes into what that system has created and how it works in a day-to-day way.”

As it is, the comedic drama/romance has weeks of production left to go.  Azaria is playing “a doctor of questionable ethics, who engages in some things dealing with pharmaceutical companies that you wish your doctor wouldn’t do” in the feature.  Drawn from “Hard Sell: The Evolution of a Viagra Salesman” by Jamie Reidy, the film’s depiction of “this whole world – the pharmaceutical world – and the Viagra story itself are all true.  The love story between Jake and Anne, that part is fiction,” he says. 

Meanwhile, the four-time Emmy winner has been recording his “The Simpsons” parts long distance as on the “Drugs” shoot goes.  The landmark animated comedy is soon to hit its 20 year milestone, and he’s looking forward to celebrating that.  “I’m sure they’ll be doing some kind of party or something with a lot of balloons.”

MAN ON THE MOVE:  Dividing his time between making and promoting the “Twilight” sequel, “New Moon,” and threequel, “Eclipse,” and his work as Dr. Fitch “Coop” Cooper on “Nurse Jackie” has put, well, nearly inhuman demands on Peter Facinelli, a.k.a. head vampire Carlyle Cullen, over the past several months. 

“Sometimes I’ve gone without sleep for like 36 hours.  It’s tedious, but we worked it all out and it’s been doable, with some flying back and forth,” says Facinelli.  “It’s exciting. I mean, I love to do what I do. I love to work.  Sometimes it’s nice to have a break in-between, yes, but you do what you need to do.”

He did two weeks of rehearsal and a week of fight training for “Eclipse,” then went into filming the movie with plans to dive directly into new season shooting on “Nurse Jackie.”  As far as his schedule, “It was great. Both sides kind of worked it out before the boards were done on both shows.  The trick is to go in early to talk about your schedule, before the boards are done.  So it’s give and take,” he says.

 Fight training came pretty easily to him.  “I’m pretty athletic.  I did that show ‘Fast Lane’ for awhile and I did 90 per cent of my own stunts, just because I like doing them.  If I don’t go home bruised, I don’t feel like I put in a good day’s work.”

The actor, also known as Jennie Garth’s hubby, certainly couldn’t be playing characters who are much farther apart.  “Someone sent me a picture of Carlyle Cullen next to a picture of Coop and they were so vastly different it made me laugh.  Sometimes I look at pictures of Carlyle and say ‘I don’t look anything like that.’  I’ve always tried to do different things.  When people ask me what I want to do next, I always say ‘Anything I haven’t done before.’”

NOT FOR KIDS:  The no-holds-barred conversation Denise Richards had with Howard Stern on his radio show last June – in which she discussed her boob jobs, types of sex she enjoyed, and ex Charlie Sheen – was so scintillating to Stern fans that the actress-reality star-Playboy pictorial subject has been dubbed a top guest of all time.  “I was very surprised by the response,” she tells us, making it clear she has no regrets.  “I would definitely do Howard Stern’s show again. You have to know what you’re getting into, and I did.  That’s why I’d never done his show before.  My publicist was saying, ‘I don’t think there’s anything you haven’t been asked at this point,’ so I decided to do it and have fun with it, and I was very honest with him,” she recounts.  “Obviously, as soon as I got done, I called my dad back in L.A. and said, ‘Do not listen to Howard Stern,’ and, you know, if you see any quotes on the internet, don’t read them.”  Obviously.

THE BIGGEST SOFTIE:  Hard-driving though “The Biggest Loser” trainer Bob Harper may be, he’s also known to hold a competitor’s hand and have a cry in an emotional moment.  He bonds with his followers and has “established lasting friendships.  I’m a touchstone for them.  If they need me for anything, they reach out.  With all the social networking possibilities these days, I definitely hear from them – ‘Bob, I’ve hit a plateau.’  You have to trust the process to stay on course.”

With reports by Emily-Fortune Feimster

Debbie Allen is hoping that the new “Fame” feature that opens Friday (9/25) will do more than entertain – it will serve as a reminder of the importance of arts education at a time when “the money dries up right and left.

Debbie Allen

“We have a war going on,” declares the dance great.  “Where is the money for the arts?  There is no money, but the arts should be one of the last things to be cut.  We need the arts to initiate, to create, to have a voice.  The performing arts are one of the best ways to connect people.  It’s character education.”

 Allen is in the new “Fame” – making her the only performer to appear in the hit 1980 film, its spin-off TV series, and the new movie.  Her character may be named Principal Simms, but to Debbie, she’s playing the same fiercely dedicated teacher she’s played all along.  “After all this time, I am the same character.  Lydia Grant is married – this is her married name,” she says with a laugh. “That’s how the world is going to know her.  I’ve never left it.” 

 Indeed, she carried Lydia Grant into her own life, founding her immensely successful Debbie Allen Dance Academy that’s already seen students hitting the big time, including her daughter, Vivian Nixon, of Broadway’s “Hot Feet” — and “So You Think You Can Dance” contestant William Wingfield.  She’s had other dancers and choreographers land work on stage and screen – including “Fame.”

 “A few of my students are in it.  One of my right hands – Marguerite Derricks – choreographed it.  When I saw it, I just beamed and gushed about how wonderful her work is,” she recounts.

 Debbie herself recently choreographed and directed Mariah Carey’s big new Las Vegas show.  Now, besides her ongoing activities presiding over the school, she is getting ready to direct the London production of “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” that she directed on Broadway last year – starring her sister Phylicia Rashad and Sanaa Lathan.    

 SO GOOD IT’S BAD:  “I appreciate that people are taking better care of themselves, but I’m like your dirty secret,” says Blythe Beck, who is starring in her own Oxygen reality series “The Naughty Kitchen With Chef Blythe Beck,” debuting today (9/22).

 ”I am the naughty chef.  I call my food sexy new American – food you ate growing up but I make it naughty.  I’m all about beer, butter, pork fat, and loving on your food.  The more love you give to it, the naughtier it is,” claims the sassy chef, who runs the Dallas restaurant Central 214.  “You wouldn’t eat this food every single day, but you come to me when you want to celebrate the good times or be comforted in the bad times.  I just want people to come in my restaurant and let me love on them for a little while.” 

Despite so many cooking shows on television at the moment, Beck claims her show is different.  “My show is not just about cooking.  It’s more of following me around as a chef.  My life alone has been like a television show with the ups and downs of working in this field, and now it actually is one,” she adds with a laugh.  “I’m just blessed that cooking is the gift God gave me.  It’s the best gift ever.” 

Adam Hicks

YOUNG STAR ON THE RISE:  Adam Hicks, Luther Waffles to fans of  “Zeke & Luther,”  is resting up a bit between his and fellow star Hutch Dano’s just-finished promotional sweep of Europe and the start of second season production of their popular Disney XD show.

 “It was amazing!  Everything was a new experience.  Hutch and I are open to all these new things all the time.  I had a blast,” he says.  “I got to see the Eiffel Tower; I’d always wanted to see the Eiffel Tower.  I loved Germany…”  And he got recognized in Paris, he reports.

 Did he and Hutch ever get on each other’s nerves?  “We never really did.  We have a good relationship.  We balance each other out,” he says.  “We’re constantly working together, so that’s great.”

 Hicks, who starred in the big screen “How to Eat Fried Worms” and has a sizeable list of TV and movie credits,  recalls feeling “a different vibe” about “Zeke and Luther” than anything he’d done previously.  “It was more fast-paced, fast cut — a lot of outrageous comedy with us skateboarding down the streets and stuff like that.  I wondered if people would be open to this new flavor of comedy.”

 They were.  Now the amiable red-haired 17-year-old is getting used to being asked questions about what makes a good kiss and such by the teen magazines.  He seems to be taking it all in stride.  “I’m open to answering a lot of the questions.  I’ll give you my best advice,” he says.

FEELING GOOD:  “The Biggest Loser” host Alison Sweeney admits to pangs of jealousy over her husband’s ability to eat just about anything without putting on weight.  “He’s so thin,” she says of her mate, California Highway Patrolman David Sanov.  But it’s not as if he gets a free ride as far as staying in shape, she points out.  “He works out.  It’s interesting.  You learn it’s not just about how many pounds you see on the scale — it’s about what’s going on on the inside, too.  So it’s about what you put into your body and maintaining your health and fitness.” 

 With reports by Emily-Fortune Feimster

Lots of “Biggest Loser” fans felt things went too far on this week’s premiere episode – when contestants Mo DeWalt and Tracey Yukich wound up hospitalized after a surprise challenge that called for a mile run by the newcomers, some of whom weighed in at more than 400 lbs.  Yukich, in fact, was still in the hospital as the episode concluded.

But when Bob Harper is asked if he and fellow “Biggest Loser” trainer Jillian Michaels worry about pushing the “losers” too hard, he’s quick to make it clear, “No, because we know what we’re doing.  When that happened, when that girl was sent to the hospital, we’d never met her.  She should not have run the way she did.” 

He notes that when Yukich did make it back to the “Biggest Loser” ranch, “We had to take it real easy with her.”

Is he concerned that the incident will reflect badly on him?

“I don’t think it really reflects on my training,” he replies.  “My style and technique through eight years have been established.”

Indeed.  The fitness master, who debuts as a regular contributor on the syndicated “Dr. Oz” show today (9/18), is known as much for his tenderhearted, sometimes teary-eyed ways as his tough workouts. 

He also put his all into the October-release “Biggest Loser” game for Nintendo Wii and DS, he lets us know.  It allows users to experience their own versions of life at the “Biggest Loser” ranch, complete with food journals, calorie-burning logs, recipes, challenges – and, of course, workouts.  “I was part of putting all the workouts together,” says Harper, who also tested the finished product.  He stresses that he wanted to be sure to give users a full-body regimen, with everything from core and upper body strengthening exercises to yoga.  The only drawback:  “I’m taller and thinner than my avatar,” he dead-pans.

MOVING RIGHT ALONG:  Ernest Bognine has been a perpetual motion man in recent months, with film commitments, book signings for his autobiography, and last weekend’s Creative Arts Emmy Awards – where he lost out to Michael J. Fox for Guest Actor in a Drama honors.  Now, “I may stay with my wife in Pennsylvania for awhile.  She bought a place there because it’s so close to her work,” he tells us, referring to wife Tova’s Beauty By Tova cosmetics line that’s featured on West Chester, PA-based QVC.  Ernie notes that Tova is also often on the go for her business – “to England, to Dusseldorf, Germany, to Italy…If she goes to Italy, I go along,” laughs the man born Ermes Effron Borgnino 92 years ago to an Italian countess who emigrated from Modena.

He happily adds that he and Tova “thank our lucky stars because after all this time and everything that’s happened, we love each other all the more every day.  This marriage has lasted close to 38 years now.  And to think, people gave us an hour and a half when we got married.”

THE HEARTTHROB BEAT:  “Melrose Place’s” Colin Egglesfield, who’s had the tough duty of romancing Laura Leighton and Ashlee Simpson on the show, doesn’t mind putting it right out there:  “I’m really living my dream right now.  It’s really awesome.  My family back home – they are just so excited.  When I booked the job, you probably could have heard my mom and sister screaming from Chicago,” he says.  “I’ve had text messages from friends – ‘I saw you on the side of a bus!’”  He’s trying to exercise caution in these heady times, however.  “The tricky part right now is, you want to enjoy what you have – but you still have a job to do and you want to do the best job possible.  Without that, none of the rest matters.”  His family members, he adds, “keep me grounded, for sure.”

INSIDE INSIGHT:  Veteran actor Rocky Carroll, remembered by many from the TV series “Roc,” is now a two-series regular, working both “NCIS” and its spin-off, “NCIS: Los Angeles.”  He tells us he feels blessed to still be working regularly in a business that is known for having no rules.  “I’ve been doing this professionally now for over 20 years.  The key for actors whose careers last more than a few years, part of it has to do with luck, but a huge part of it is I still love what I do,” says Carroll, who plays Director Leon Vance in the CBS drama. 

“There are actors in town who get a taste of success and your whole view of the town starts to sour and it shows in your demeanor and your work.  You go to an audition and everyone sees you have a chip on your shoulder because you feel like your career should be further.  You have to understand it’s simply a business,” he notes.  “Things are cyclical.  There’s no rhyme or reason why seven movies are made about the same topic.  I think the real artists are the ones who roll with the punches.  This is a business where paupers can become kings.  You’ll read a story of a guy who worked in the mailroom and now has a three-picture deal.  That is the norm in our business.  That doesn’t necessarily happen at somewhere like IBM.  That’s why busloads of people come to Los Angeles every day.”  

With reports by Emily-Fortune Feimster