Hollywood Exclusive by Marilyn Beck & Stacy Jenel Smith

Brandy Norwood admits she's missing her 6-year-old daughter Sy'rai as she does the full court press for her new "Human" album — her comeback record after four years of drama, trauma and single parenthood.

"I think it's hard on the both of us, being away from each other," says the 29-year-old. "But she knows everything I do is for her — this is all for her. I talk to her every day, lots of times, and my mom is there, helping me raise her, along with other people in my family. I asked her one time, 'Are you mad at me for being away so much?' And she said, 'Mommy, why would I be mad at you for working hard for me?' If she was crying all the time, if she wasn't supportive, I wouldn't be doing this."

Brandy tells us, "I'm definitely planning to tour. The only way she would be able to go on tour with me would be in the summer, so I'm definitely going to do that. I haven't been out since 'Never Say Never,'" she says of her 1998 hit. "I need to get out and perform for the fans face to face." She'll probably do some touring before summer as well, she says.

The former "Moesha" star is also anxious to get back on television — she has a talk show in development — and film acting. Most important, however, is "solidifying myself back in music. That's the first thing I want to do. I feel so blessed to have another chance."

With two well-received singles out in advance of the album, "Human" is being called a solid success, if not a huge one. Brandy is giving her push of the record all she's got, "saying yes to everything" from performing gigs to interviews, even answering questions about the car crash in which she was involved nearly two years ago that cost the life of another driver. "I try not to get into too much detail about it, because it's tough," says the singer, who still faces a wrongful death suit next year. "To be honest, music is the best way I'm able to deal with things. Music really saved the day for me — to be able to sing about a lot of things I've been through. It's like when you have a good cry and feel better afterward."

THE VIDEOLAND VIEW: Reports that Al Roker has a show in the works for the Weather Channel are "news to me" says the "Today" show weather man.

"I saw that, but I don't know where it came from," he adds. Roker has his plate full with his regular morning gig, his MSNBC documentaries and, at the moment, his holiday show appearances. He's already done the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting and the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, and he'll be in Pasadena, Calif., to do Rose Parade duty come New Year's Day.

"It's a little anti-climactic for me, being on the West Coast for New Year's Eve, because it's already happened at 9 o'clock," admits Roker, who travels to L.A. with wife Deborah Roberts, 10-year-old daughter Leila and 6-year-old son Nicholas. "But every year we meet with some friends out there — our kids are around the same age, so it's fun."

Roker got lots of fan comments about Leila's appearance in the Macy's parade — and the fact she looks like him. "Everybody says that," he says, "but there's a picture of Deborah when she was about 8 years old, and she really is a spitting image."

THE INDUSTRY EYE: Casting is underway for a show about Army wives — not the hit Lifetime drama series, a new reality show. With the threat of a Screen Actors Guild strike and the ongoing movement of networks away from scripted dramas and toward reality programming, you have to wonder what series might yield a reality counterpart next. Already, we're seeing shows that parallel aspects of "CSI," "Cold Case" and "Medium" on the way. Let's just hope there's no "Dexter" out there.

On the other hand, why bother trying to creatively borrow from actor-type series when the formula for a hit reality show is really so very simple? Like "Hot Girls in Scary Places," the pilot being made by Go Go Lucky Productions (the folks behind "Laguna Beach" and "The Hills"). The title says it all. They've been casting for three to five sexy girls to play members of a sorority sports team.

With a director, Betty Thomas, and a release date, Christmas '09, already set, there's now a production start date for "Alvin and the Chipmunks 2: the Squeakuel." The picture is planned to roll in February. Jason Lee told us recently that he's not interested in reprising his Dave Seville role. (But who knows, sometimes these things change.) But chipmunk voice talent Jesse McCartney, Justin Long and Matthew Gray Gubler are aboard the picture that also will introduce the Chipettes femme group from the vintage cartoons.

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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