Hollywood Exclusive by Marilyn Beck & Stacy Jenel Smith

Catherine Bell complains that some of the coverage is "completely inappropriate" in the media rush to report on all aspects of the passing of John Travolta and Kelly Preston's son, Jett. That coverage, of course, has extended into Scientology's views on autism and whether the 16-year-old was autistic, "which has nothing to do with anything — especially at this time when they're facing this devastating loss."

"Army Wives" star Bell, a devoted Scientologist as are the Travoltas, makes it clear, however, she's convinced they'll rise above it all. "They're very strong, and they're surrounded by a lot of loving people right now. They're a beautiful family, a wonderful family. Anyone who knows them can't say enough good things about them — and it's all warranted. I'm sending all my love."

MEANWHILE: The "Army Wives" cast has its first meeting with the show's new writing staff today (1/9), in advance of beginning production on the show's third season early next month, Bell reports. "We'll be going over what is happening this season. It's a very collaborative show, which is not common, especially with an ensemble cast," she notes. "It's kind of tricky, but it's great."

It's easy to imagine all the actors wanting to protect and promote their own characters and storylines, but Bell insists such is not the case. "We don't have any of that on the show, thank God. It's not about people counting their lines or saying 'so and so had more scenes than I did.' For one thing, these army wives would not behave that way."

Bell also has a sequel to her hit 2007 Hallmark Channel movie, "The Good Witch," on the way. "The Good Witch's Garden," which returns her to the role of possibly magical lady Cassie Nightingale — and reunites her with Chris Potter — is set to debut Feb. 7.

FROM THE INSIDE LOOKING OUT: Enrico Colantoni is a man torn. He's thrilled with the success of his CTV/CBS series "Flashpoint," which returns in its second season tonight (1/9). Colantoni notes that as a Canadian, he's particularly proud of the Toronto-set dramatic thriller about an elite team of crisis-managing police — and the fact that "in Canada, specifically, the PR for these guys has just changed, because we paint them as humans."

On the other hand, the actor's 11- and 8-year-old children are back in Los Angeles, where he lives when he's not in production.

"I miss my kids, who are in school in L.A. I know I'm going to go back in February, which makes it a lot more endurable," says Colantoni, who also regularly stays in touch via Skype. "I think it's tougher on Dad than it is on them. 'Dad, you still here? You really tell us what to do a lot,'" he jokes.

Colantoni was in L.A. from October through this past weekend, and got "plenty of R&R and time to play dad," he says. Yet with the show's notoriously grueling schedule, that time off already seems a distant memory.

Meanwhile, cast mate Amy Jo Johnson, who had her baby daughter, Francesca, this past fall, isn't back to work yet. "Her baby is absolutely the most beautiful thing, enthuses Colantoni. "As far as I know she's coming back. I just don't know exactly when. Something happens in the fourth episode that will air this season that will sort of explain things," he lets us know, adding that the first four "Flashpoint" episodes of this season were shot last year. "Anyone schooled in the ways of television knows how it works — the actress is pregnant, and then something happens, and the character conveniently disappears for a while."

LIFE AFTER DEATH: "Cold Case's" Tania Raymonde says she'll always be grateful for the supportive responses she got from fans after her character, Alex Rousseau, was killed off "Lost" last season. "There was such a huge reaction from fans who follow the story. It was definitely a shocking moment," recalls the 20-year-old, whose character was first held at gunpoint, then shot in the head. "I think Alex's death was pretty frightening for people. I was amazed people were invested enough to care about her demise." As for herself, "It was a great exercise in being in the moment," Raymonde recalls. She also recalls, "I took a long bath and slept very well the night afterward. It was like after living through some kind of trauma."

With reports by 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.

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