Hollywood Exclusive by Marilyn Beck & Stacy Jenel Smith

DEAR STACY: I just watched the new version of "Star Trek," with Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto in the lead roles. I am extremely impressed by how good it was. Do you know if J.J. Abrams is planning another chapter? Not taking away from the original series, which I watched as a kid, but I really like this version better with the fantastic effects. You can really see the difference a few decades make in how things like computers are presented. Thanks for a fantastic and informative column. — Sam H., Ackerman, Miss.

DEAR SAM: I completely agree with you. The good news is J.J. Abrams is planning a sequel. He's developing it with his original screenwriters, Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman. The less good news is, he's busy with other projects right now — NBC's "Undercovers" series and another film he's keeping under wraps — so don't expect the follow-up before late 2011, more likely 2012. Abrams vowed at a recent press conference, "Whatever the story is and whatever the final movie ends up being, I know it will be something that will work on its own terms and be something that you don't need to know and study 'Star Trek' to get. But if you are a fan, there will hopefully be gift after gift of connections, references, characters that you hold near and dear. At least, that's the intent."

DEAR STACY: Can you tell me if "My Boys" is coming back? It's such an enjoyable show; it would be a shame if it were canceled. — Lori W., Canton, Ohio

DEAR LORI: The Jordana Spiro starrer embarks on its third season on TBS March 31.

DEAR STACY: I was watching "Air Wolf" the other day and was wondering what has become of Jan-Michael Vincent? He was a great actor and for him to just drop off the radar like that is a shame. — Pat B., Copiague, N.Y.

DEAR PAT: Hard luck and alcoholism are to blame for that disappearance. One time pretty boy Vincent was already in career decline in the '90s when he was involved in two car crashes, one of which left him with three broken vertebrae in his neck and a permanent injury to his vocal cords that gave him a perpetually raspy voice. He's only had a handful of acting assignments since. One was his small role in the acclaimed 1998 independent feature "Buffalo 66." His last movie release was the 2002 indie "White Boy."

DEAR STACY: Is David Caruso of Irish or Italian extraction? Where did he get all that pretty red hair? — Teri H., Queens, N.Y.

DEAR TERI: The Queens-born "CSI: Miami" star is the son of an Irish-American mother and an Italian-American father.

DEAR STACY: Is that Cat Stevens singing in the T-Mobile ad? Stevens who turned Muslim and made horrible remarks about 9/11? Now he is back to make/take American money? If so, all Americans should cancel their T Mobile service.

I dare you to print this. — Lydia R., Bronx, N.Y.

DEAR LYDIA: What "horrible remarks"? As he writes on his website: "I was among the first Muslims to publicly express my sorrow and objections to the atrocious attacks against innocent victims of 9/11 ... No right thinking follower of Islam could possibly condone such an action ... Half of the royalties from my box set released in 2001 went to September 11 charities and I performed Peace Train projected live at a solidarity concert at New York's Radio City Hall ..." The man now known as Yusuf Islam did say it was "ridiculous" that he was deported from the U.S. in 2004 as a security risk. So did a lot of other people. Suspicion has surrounded him over his support for a group identified as a front for Hamas. He insists he never knowingly supported terrorists. He has a long record of anti-war activities and philanthropy. Yes, that's his song "If You Want to Sing Out, Sing Out" on the T-Mobile commercials.

DEAR STACY: Nothing against Ali Vincent, but I wonder why we don't see more of "The Biggest Loser" Season 6 winner, Michelle, on commercials and such. She's sweet and beautiful, with a smile that can light up a room. — Ray, Cypress Hills, N.Y.

DEAR RAY: Michelle Aguilar may not have kept as high a profile as perky Season 5 winner Vincent, but she has been busy. Her boyfriend, Micah Whitehead, proposed nine days after she won the competition last year and she spent six months planning their wedding this past June. She also appeared at the Texas state legislature to support a bill to improve physical education in schools. It passed. And she's been a spokesperson for the "Drink Well" campaign for milk.

DEAR STACY: What's Rosario Dawson been doing lately since "Seven Pounds"? — Chris, E. Hartford, Conn.

DEAR CHRIS: She's been a busy girl. She plays Persephone, goddess of the underworld, in the Feb. 12 release Chris Columbus fantasy film, "Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief" — with a cast including Uma Thurman, Sean Bean, Pierce Brosnan, Steve Coogan and Melina Kanakaredes. It's about a boy (Logan Lerman) who discovers his father is the Greek god Poseidon (Kevin McKidd). She's in the fall 2010 comedy "The Zookeeper" with Adam Sandler, Sylvester Stallone and Jon Favreau — and Tony Scott's big thriller for November, "Unstoppable," with Chris Pine and Denzel Washington. The actress also lent her voice to the "Wonder Woman" direct-to-DVD animated movie of last year, and appeared — animated — on the Disney Channel's "Handy Manny" as a marine biologist.

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 2010 MARILYN BECK AND STACY JENEL SMITH

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