Hollywood Exclusive by Marilyn Beck & Stacy Jenel Smith

Delta Burke reports she's been getting asked lately, "'How does it feel to be a gay icon?' It feels pretty good." She answers. "Everyone's good to me — respectful, supportive and very nice."

This is on the heels of the recent experience of the actress, once known as "Designing Women" diva Suzanne Sugarbaker, when she was un-invited to appear on a Nashville talk show over fears that her discussing "Southern Baptist Sissies," the play with which she's been touring, would be offensive.

Now, she tells us, TV writer/playwright Del Shores ("Queer As Folk," "Dharma & Greg") has not only invited her to return next season to reprise her three maternal roles in the play, which deals with gays in the Bible Belt — but also to join the cast of his play "Sordid Lives." And "The end of May-first of June, we may do 'Sordid Lives' on the Queen Mary's trans-Atlantic voyage. I certainly hope it works out."

Burke says, "I didn't expect it to get so much press," when she and actor Leslie Jordan were scratched from the "Talk of the Town" guest list in November. As far as whether the controversy helped or hurt the show, she says, "Reaction was very split. We played to packed houses, and it went on fine. It was a lot of fun. I think it's a change in my demographic that some of the others might not understand," she adds with a shrug, "but there's many different people to play for."

Now she's busy with her recurring role — as a cosmetics businesswoman and wannabe love interest of Denny Crane (William Shatner) — on "Boston Legal." And, of course, she's getting ready for Christmas. Delta says that she and hubby Gerald McRaney are staying around these parts this year. "Last year we went to Sanibel Island off the coast of Florida, and Mom was left here alone to hold down the fort and the animals," she says of their four dogs and two birds. "This year she's going to be taking off to visit my sister, so we're just going to stay in town and take it easy, which I don't mind at all."

BALMY CHRISTMAS: "Psych" regular Dule Hill is spending his Yuletide in his family's hometown in Jamaica.

"The best time to go is now," says Hill, whose wife, actress Nicole Lynn, also has family on the island. "It's extremely hot in the summer, but now it's a nice, cool vibe … still warm but breezy." However, the former "The West Wing" actor, who grew up in New Jersey, admits spending Christmas in the Caribbean "messes with my senses. I'm used to being in the cold weather." Be that as it may, it's the perfect place to just chill at any time. "You may go somewhere and people recognize you and this and that, but it's pretty low key. Most of the time you're just sitting around, kicking back with the family, drinking rum and having a good time."

INSIDE ASIDE: "Grey's Anatomy" star Kate Walsh tells us it's not hard to keep her slim figure during the holidays, even though she considers herself anything but ambitious when it comes to exercise. "I'm usually so busy, and I believe in small portions and snacking," says Walsh of her health routine. "For exercise I basically walk my dogs slightly up hill. I don't like steep hills. I'm lazy by nature." Could have fooled us!

AN EARLY START: Ed McMahon tells us he and his family are already busy celebrating with their friends as the holidays are upon us. "We had a decorating party where we had some people over. Everybody got a chance to put their expression on a tree." He and his wife Pam have even been throwing holiday dinners, but McMahon says he's not worried about watching his weight. "My weight is under control, so I don't have to worry about that. I used to always make a promise about going on a diet, but I've been maintaining my weight very well. I'm 200 lbs., so I figure that's pretty good for my size since I'm over 6'3"."

CASTING CORNER: The "Scrubs" casting forces have been talking to actresses to fill a new character on the show, Heather, baby caregiver for Turk (Donald Faison) and Carla (Judy Reyes). Knowing that Carla is the jealous type, the casting call for an actress who "must be comfortable with sexuality and her body" gave us pause. Not that anything happens, mind you.

And stick a fork in it, Michael Richards, you're not done. The call went out for a Michael Richards impersonator to appear on "Short Circutz," the MTV short film comedy show being prepped by Nick Cannon for spring unveiling.

(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 2006 MARILYN BECK AND STACY JENEL SMITH

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