Hollywood Exclusive by Marilyn Beck & Stacy Jenel Smith

"Dancing With the Stars" competitor Chelsea Kane admits she's feeling the physical and mental weariness that's come with the high-pressure rehearsing and performing schedule of the show since March — including having to perfect three dances for tonight's (5/16) installment with her pro partner, Mark Ballas. "We've been pretty much having to learn a dance a day," Kane says. "At this point, your brain doesn't feel it can take in any more information. And I know Mark has really had to dig to do the choreography; you feel creatively you can't put out any more."

However, "All that being said, I'm definitely running on full adrenaline right now and really feeling good going into this week," says the blond Disney Channel sweetheart.

"I knew coming into 'Dancing With the Stars' that I had an extremely specific demographic, and I knew so many viewers would have no idea who I was. I was afraid no one would vote for me," she admits. "To be welcomed into the semi-finals makes me happy and proud. I'm definitely out of my usual zone."

Kane's been getting abundant support from fellow Disney Channel alumni. As viewers know, her former "Jonas" cast mate Nick Jonas showed up last week. She says she had no idea he was going to be in the audience.

"He just came all on his own and was sitting there, front and center, with my mom." She never asked Jonas or his brothers to attend because "I know they have such busy schedules, I never wanted them to feel obligated to come. It really, really warmed my heart to see him there."

She also notes, "All the Jonases have been so wonderful through this whole project. Mr. and Mrs. Jonas have been Twittering people to vote for me."

Former "DWTS" contestant Kyle Massey was not only hand at a rehearsal to give Kane pointers, he's been cheering her on from the audience — and "He's sent me a slew of text messages: 'You got this.' 'You're doing great.' 'You're kicking butt.' He's my No. 1 cheerleader. He definitely knows how it goes, and I think with Kyle, it's always a great reminder to keep having fun and enjoying this and make the most of the experience."

The 22-year-old is self-effacing enough to have posted an old video of herself dancing "my usual way — the awkward wedding dance look" — on YouTube.

She says some of her long-time close friends surprised her by trying to talk her out of doing "DWTS" back at the beginning, "which kind of hurt.

They said, 'Are you sure this is a good idea? You dance like a robot. You're not sexy. You're goofy. You bounce up and down like a toddler.' Now they've come back and said, 'We're sorry. We thought you were going to humiliate yourself. We're so proud of you.'"

That's right, Chelsea, make them eat their words.

SPEAKING OF EATING: Joe Bastianich tells us that he stays in touch with some of the past competitors on "MasterChef" — which starts its third season with a two-night premiere June 6 and 7. In fact, "David Miller, the runner up in Season 1, has become a friend. Sharone (Hakman) came to work for us at Mozza in L.A." — and several others have spent time in his culinary habitat sharpening their skills.

Bastianich, who partners with Mario Batali in a string of top-flight restaurants, and who has established three wineries, says he loves the fun and diversion of doing the show. And he actually seems to enjoy working with his famously fiery and mercurial colleague (and producer), Gordon Ramsay.

"Gordon's great, you know. He brings the kind of energy to this thing that's unique. He IS reality television, energizing and dynamic. I think we each have a different style, a very different approach to it, that, at the end of the day, it works. I think Gordon comes from an internationally starred chef's perspective. I come from more of a nuts-and-bolts business perspective."

Bastianich, of course, is no softie. He famously dropped some 45 pounds years ago with a health regimen that included training to become an endurance athlete and running marathons. He's now training for Hawaii's famous Ironman triathlon.

They and their fellow judge, Chef Graham Elliot (the youngest four-star chef in the U.S.), will be joined by none other than their mothers as judges on one episode of the new season. As foodies everywhere know, Joe's mama is celebrity chef Lidia Matticchio Bastianich of "Lidia's Italian-American Kitchen," etc. He says, "I think a lot of people think I'm tougher, but at the end of the day, she is."

HERE AND THERE: Edward Asner reports production on his "The Doppelganger Principle" courtroom drama/thriller in Anchorage, Alaska, has been pushed back till October, and as of now, "I'm not sure what the summer will bring." Asner's bound to stay busy, as is his wont. If all has gone according to plan, he's in New York for tonight's (5/16) premiere of HBO's "Too Big to Fail," which airs May 23. He plays billionaire Warren Buffett in the Curtis Hanson film, but the premiere will mark the first time he's met some of his cast mates. As Asner explains, most of his part had Buffett on the phone.

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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