Hollywood Exclusive by Marilyn Beck & Stacy Jenel Smith

It's a good thing John Travolta has strong stamina. He's been doing the full court promotional press on behalf of his fun, new Disney romp, "Bolt" — in New York and Florida in addition to this week's Hollywood premiere, where he chatted with well-wishers and signed autographs before and after the screening and at the after party looking energetic and smiling.

He expects to fly himself back to Paris this weekend and resume work on the big-screen "From Paris with Love" action thriller he's making with Jonathan Rhys Meyers. That will keep him working all the way 'til Christmas, he tells us. "Paris" is the latest in a string of pictures John has made in quick succession this year, including the Tony Scott remake of "The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3" with Denzel Washington, due next summer; and the forthcoming comedy "Old Dogs" with Robin Williams, in which wife Kelly Preston and daughter Ella Travolta also star

He makes it clear he's happy to talk about "Bolt," which opens tomorrow (11/21). "I love animation, and I have so many friends like Tom Hanks, who've done these wonderful animated films. I've been waiting to do one for a long time. I wanted it to be the right one," says the actor, whose movie about a TV wonder dog learning about life in the real world is being hailed by critics as having a Pixar-ian smart sensibility thanks to the guidance of John Lasseter, Disney and Pixar animation chief.

In this highly stressed season, "I think it's the right time for it," Travolta says. "It kind of reminds me of 'Sullivan's Travels,' one of my all-time favorite movies" — another story of a Hollywood naif getting an awakening about real life out on the road, which got people laughing at the end of the Depression.

THE VIDEOLAND VIEW: "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles" barely squeaked by when getting its full season order from Fox. While actor Garret Dillahunt is relieved for their good fortune, he notes that it's a tough time all around for television.

"We didn't get the back order until the very last day. They strung it out as long as they possibly could," says Dillahunt, who plays Cromartie. "I don't know that actors ever feel secure, though. Things are changing rapidly and drastically in the television world. Viewership is down all around, which makes it hard for networks to figure out what to keep and what to let go.

Plus, it's hard to track what people are watching," he adds. "I think more people watch our show than it appears. I've never been stopped so much since 'Terminator' got picked up. I think a lot of good shows are going to go by the wayside if they don't figure out a more updated system."

Dillahunt says he just hopes people will stick with the show because they've got a lot more coming. "There's a real inevitability with this show. It's almost like you can't change the future, but I think there are some surprises in store." Though it's hard to say if people will start turning to their televisions again, luckily, Dillahunt also has some movies on the way. "I can't wait for 'The Road' to come out," he says of the Cormac McCarthy-novel-turned-film. "I think it's going to be beautiful and haunting. Viggo Mortensen has always been one of my heroes. He won't let me down. I also got my first lead in a movie, 'The Last House on the Left,' from Wes Craven. After playing Cromartie, it was fun to let loose."

THE VIDEOLAND VIEW: Beautiful Sarah Clarke, indelibly etched in the minds of "24" watchers as Keifer Sutherland's lover-turned-enemy Nina Myers, has some changeups in store for audiences. She turns up as Kristen Stewart's mother in the big-screen event movie "Twilight" opening tomorrow (11/21). And she returns to the tube in January in "Trust Me," TNT's Eric McCormack-Tom Cavanagh starrer set in the contemporary Chicago advertising world.

"I'm having so much fun. I feel like I've hit the jackpot with these guys," she tells us, speaking of the series from the creative team behind "The Closer" and "Nip/Tuck." The St. Louis-born actress also feels at home in the milieu. "Adverting is a very attractive job in the Midwest. The ad people I knew were usually very funny and heavy drinkers," she says wryly. "I was excited by the chance to show that world. It's such a fun world to be in. Everyone has a sense of humor, and it's so rich."

A BREATHER: Scott Porter, wrapping up work on Lasse Hallstrom's "Dear John" with Channing Tatum, tells us, "I have a couple of different things I'm looking at for the future, but right now I'm getting my first break in three years, and I'm going to take it." Besides "Friday Night Lights," from which he recently departed, he has the big screen "Bandslam" and "The Good Guy" in the can for release next year.

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.

COPYRIGHT 2008 MARILYN BECK AND STACY JENEL SMITH

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