Hollywood Exclusive by Marilyn Beck & Stacy Jenel Smith

"Ugly Betty" regular Ana Ortiz reports she'll have to cut her upcoming honeymoon short since the hit ABC dramedy is now scheduled to start shooting its second season next month. Hollywood studios are speeding production and trying to stockpile episodes of TV shows preparing for possible strikes by writers in the fall, and directors and actors next year.

Ortiz is philosophical. The beauty, who's marrying musician Noah Lebenzon in Puerto Rico June 9, then heading to the Bahamas for the honeymoon, tells this column, "I can relax only for so long, then I get kind of antsy after a minute." Ortiz says the troupe goes "right back to work the first week of July. We did 23 episodes last season, so I'm hoping we do at least 23, if not more, this season."

As the days wind down to her wedding, Ortiz, who plays Betty's (America Ferrare) sister, Hilda, on the Peabody-Award-winning series, says she's become surprisingly "less nervous, believe it or not. Things always seem like they're falling apart, and it's all just a big mess, then miraculously things start falling into place little by little. I don't want to anger the gods, but everything is pretty much really together and really going well. I'm just very excited." She says she and her guy were set up by mutual friends "three and a half years ago. But it wasn't that fairy tale, see each other across the room and lightning bolts happen kind of thing. I've had that before, and it's always a disaster. As young girls we're sold such a bill of goods on this fairy tale of 'The One.' And believe me, I have kissed a lot of frogs.

"But I found that once I really figured out my own stuff, once I really sort of loved myself and was really able to stand on my own two feet and face adversities by myself — not looking to a man to solve my problems or take care of me — it was a huge liberation for me. And that's when this incredible guy came into my life quietly, very subtly and very calmly, and it was really excellent."

ON THE MOVE: Adam Sandler will be juggling publicity for "I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry" with pre-production on "You Don't Mess with the Zohan" set to start shooting in July.

Sandler's schedule calls for him to start tubthumping 'Chuck and Larry' in a couple of weeks around the States, and he's going to try to visit some cities overseas.

In July, Sandler's arranged for a special screening for New York firefighters to view the comedy about two firefighters pretending to be gay to get domestic partner benefits. Once promo duties are over, he'll join Rob Schneider in "You Don't Mess with the Zohan." That's the film — co-written by Sandler, "40-Year-Old Virgin" writer/director Judd Apatow and Robert Smigel, the creator of Triumph, the Insult Comic Dog — about a Mossad agent who fakes his own death and moves to the States to become a hairstylist.

FROM THE INSIDE LOOKING OUT: Rosie Perez, not known for being shy, tells us her documentary "Yo Soy Boricua Pa' Que Tu Lo Sepas! (I'm Boricua Just So You Know)" has made her do something she never thought possible — be quiet!

In her directorial debut, which hits DVD June 5, Perez celebrates her heritage by exploring what it means to be Puerto Rican in America today, and she says the response has been overwhelming. "Every time I walk out the door, I'm not exaggerating, I know at least one person is going to make a comment about the documentary," claims the Oscar-nominated actress.

"I went to this Spanish restaurant in uptown Manhattan where I always go. I walked in there with my family, and the band stopped playing, the owner got on the mike, and the crowd stood up, and they started screaming, 'Yo Soy Boricua Pa' Que Tu Lo Sepas.' I was trying to hold back the tears, but I couldn't. I've been humbled by it. To be quite honest, I've become a lot quieter. When you receive such a strong blessing, it kind of quiets you. You're deep in your thoughts, and that's how I feel."

AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT: Although there is no telling what Rosie O'Donnell will do next in front of the cameras, behind the scenes she's overseeing second season preps on "The Big Gay Sketch Show," the half-hour series she executive produces for the Logo cable network. Rehearsals are to begin in September, and they're interviewing candidates for a new actor to add to the troupe.

(With reports by Stephanie DuBois and Emily Feimster)

To find out more about Marilyn Beck and Stacy Jenel Smith and read their past columns, visit the Creators Syndicate web page at www.creators.com.

COPYRIGHT 2007 MARILYN BECK AND STACY JENEL SMITH

DISTRIBUTED BY CREATORS SYNDICATE, INC.