Hollywood Exclusive by Marilyn Beck & Stacy Jenel Smith

The inimitable Carson Kressley shows off his abilities as an awards show emcee tonight (Nov. 11) on the American Humane Association's "Hero Dog Awards," which "isn't exactly the Golden Globes, but it's a start," he says. It also happens to be Carson's birthday, and the long-time animal advocate and doggie devotee couldn't be happier about sharing his day with the group of courageous and care-giving canines who became finalists in this first annual event honoring top dogs.

"It's amazing to see these stories of rescue dogs on 9/11, dogs serving in Iraq" — appropriately enough, this Veterans Day — "and dogs helping people with disabilities live a more full life. It runs the gamut," he says.

Not only that, but "the dogs were actually better behaved than most celebrities at awards shows. No one called each other names or touched me inappropriately," Carson says of the service animals present for the affair in the famous Beverly Hilton Hotel ballroom.

As far as taking on hosting chores, he tells us, "I have people over all the time, and it was just like that, except Betty White and Peter Fonda were there. I think the producers did a great job making a top-notch event. I was shocked by how glamorous and well-run it turned out to be."

The affair also attracted Julianne Hough, Michael Vartan, Pauley Perrette, Joey Lawrence, Victoria Stilwell, Faith Ford and other celebs.

Plus, "I got to have a TV moment with Betty White," Carson says. "Of course, she's such a legend. I got to interview her, and I said, 'You're the most loved celebrity in Hollywood,' and she said, 'No I'm not.' And I said, 'Yes you are!'...

"She's so professional, so old-school. She had her script memorized," he adds. Nevertheless, there was a brief moment of confusion involving the teleprompter, and Carson stepped forward onstage and "tapped her on the shoulder. She turned around and said, 'Who told you you could touch me?!' And I was like, 'What?' And then she embraced me, and I knew we were good to go," he brightly relates. The recent "Dancing With the Stars" contestant then danced the octogenarian Golden Girl off the stage.

Carson says he will soon be celebrating his birthday with a trip to Buenos Aires, Argentina, "now that I know how to tango, and before I forget."

FROM THE INSIDE LOOKING OUT: Handsome Kenny Johnson — Maria Bello's onscreen boyfriend in "Prime Suspect" — admits he's found challenges in the character that didn't exist for him in his former detective roles on "The Shield" and "Saving Grace" or in his turn as a motorcycle gang member on "Sons of Anarchy."

"A personal relationship feels more real and naked and exposed and difficult than playing a corrupt cop," Johnson says.

Johnson, who was brought onto "Prime Suspect" during an 11th-hour change of actors, clicked with Bello right away, which is a good thing, since they didn't have much time for hanging out and getting to know each other. "She's got so much on her plate — every scene of every show, practically. And she has her Haiti charity, along with work. And she has her 10-year-old son. I make it as easy as I can for her. I do my homework," Johnson points out.

Of course, the prime challenge for "Prime Suspect" right now is staying alive. In October, the network ordered six additional scripts of the police drama, but ratings have been weak, and so far, there's no green light for those episodes to be shot.

MEANWHILE: It isn't without a certain amount of effort that Johnson keeps up those guns of his — and we're not talking about firearms here, but his own arms. "I box every day," he tells us. And there's more.

"I arm-wrestled for a bunch of years. I was second in the world in my weight class," reports the actor. "This year, I'm trying to get to the amateur world championships."

He calls the "crazy little sport" his "secret life. I do it as a hobby. People think arm wrestling is so stupid." And yet, proponents say there's more to arm wrestling than commonly assumed — strategy, not just brute strength — and they'd like to see more coverage of it, as well as its inclusion in the Olympics.

Johnson's friend and mentor in the sport is famous champ Neil Bell of Perth, Australia — a.k.a. the late Heath Ledger's uncle. "(Bell) befriended me in my first competition over a battle. Such an old-school, Neanderthal kind of thing to do," Johnson says. Gotta love it.

ONE BORN EVERY MINUTE: The producers who brought us "SuperNanny" are now in pre-production on a reality show about couples whose sex lives have pretty much gone kaput and who'd like to bring back the sizzle in the sack. Or, as casting notices put it, "couples so focused on their babies they forgot how to make them." Wanted are couples who are dynamic, attractive and ready to tell their stories.

Perhaps that show could serve as a lead-in to another, different reality TV project that's on the boards — about celebrities who are expecting a child. Producers are specifying that the famous folk may be married, single or gay. They can be expecting the typical way or through surrogacy or adoption. They must, however, be very confident, strong and full of zest for life. It'll be interesting to see who they come up with.

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 2011 MARILYN BECK AND STACY JENEL SMITH

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