Hollywood Exclusive by Marilyn Beck & Stacy Jenel Smith

Say you're the leading lady who's just married your leading man on a TV series, but in real life, he's just married the actress who plays his sister.

Sound, um, possibly awkward? Well, such is not the case for "Dexter's" Julie Benz, the actress tells us emphatically. Benz says, "I think it's wonderful, I really do" that Michael C. Hall and Jennifer Carpenter married this past New Year's Eve. "Before anybody else knew they were dating, I knew they were dating," she adds. "They were the kind of couple, you felt like telling them they should date — because there was always a special connection. If you were close enough, you could see there was a special connection between them.

"They're really a loving couple. They're very private about their relationship," she adds. Benz stresses, "They're such great friends to me, there's nobody I'd rather see happy. I truly wish them the best."

Meanwhile, Benz is busy — very busy — as befits the workaholic she admits to being. With the much-anticipated "Boondocks Saints II: All Saints Day" heading to the big screen, she has the Hallmark Channel romantic comedy "Uncorked" on the way, and the indie film "Bedrooms" in the can — and she's thinking she has time to do another film before "Dexter" resumes production.

In "Boondocks Saints II," she notes, "I got to play a tough, ballsy, fun, sexy, sassy, smart woman — an FBI weapons expert agent. It was fun to play that kind of a character. I had to learn everything about guns. I had a pistol trainer who taught me how to twirl pistols. For awhile, I was carrying pistols around wherever I went." Look out.

NEW STEPS: "Dancing With the Stars" judge Carrie Ann Inaba says she was just as much in the dark as anyone as to the just-announced identities of the season eight contestants — and that's fine with her.

As far as what Inaba hopes to find in the celebrity dancers, she says, "I like different types of things. I love watching people who are connected with their bodies and have an intuitiveness about the art form of dancing to tap into. But I also adore watching people who don't know much about their bodies, and you can see their discovery each week into the learning process. We've had a few characters, of course," she adds. Inaba also says that she doesn't mind a little talking back from stars who aren't necessarily in step with the judges' views — within reason. "I love the spiciness, love when they challenge you a little bit. I'm not calling on people to challenge all the time, but if they have something to say, I think that's great. Of course I have to say I speak only for myself, not all the judges."

ON A MUSICAL NOTE: "Cold Case" star Kathryn Morris is particularly excited about the March 22 episode of the series, about a schizophrenic suspected of murder who is soothed by a John Lennon song. The episode will feature several songs by the late Beatle, which, says Morris, "is an honor and a rarity for a TV show."

HELLO AGAIN: Justin Guarini, who came in second place on the first season of "American Idol," has been the brunt of many jokes over the years, but the singer is finally starting to find some respect with a hosting gig for TV Guide. When asked if he's glad he was a part of the infamous singing competition that often swallows up singers and spits them out, he responds, "Without a doubt. 'American Idol' is the catalyst for all of the success I've had over the past six years and for the success I will have far into the future" says a grateful Guarini. "I love that I was on that show. I wouldn't trade it for anything."

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 2009 MARILYN BECK AND STACY JENEL SMITH

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