Hollywood Exclusive by Marilyn Beck & Stacy Jenel Smith

     Legendary TV funnymen Tim Conway and Carl Reiner guest on Wednesday's (7/28) "Hot in Cleveland" episode on TV Land, playing rivals for Betty White's affections. And Conway declares, "I had such a great time, I'm going to insist on coming back, whether they want to film it or not."

     He adds, "I haven't had that much fun since I was on the (Carol) Burnett show."

       As far as whether he or Reiner is the more suitable suitor for the 88-year-old wonder girl, Conway deadpans, "I'm the right guy. I'm the right guy for any lady, actually. Carl -- unfortunately, he's too bright for women. I'm more in their IQ class."

       Yes, still naughty at 76, six-time Emmy-winner Conway these days divides his work time between occasional guest spots on the tube -- like his "CSI" stint this past April -- and taking his "Tim Conway and Friends" show with Chuck McCann and Louise DuArt on the road.

     His "Together Again" shows with Harvey Korman used to pack 'em in. Conway says, "I enjoyed going out together when Harvey was working. He's not doing anything lately, though." Korman died in 2008.

     Fortunately, "Chuck and Louise and I, we just get along so well. It's kind of a traveling Burnett show. We don't have to apologize for anything. It's good for all ages."

     Referring to today's raunchy, bloody television, Conway says, "That was one of the reasons that I took the show on the road. I didn't want to get involved in that. Most scripts that come to me, I read about 12 pages and I go, 'I don't think so.'

     "Don Knotts and I used to talk a lot about what the audience expects from us -- him being known as Barney Fife of Mayberry and me as that crazy Tim guy. Rather than get involved in things with violence and nudity and raw language, we decided to stay where we were. Funny is funny. And I've never regretted it."

       NEW STEPS: "So You Think You Can Dance" All Star Stephen "tWitch" Boss admits that it took some doing for him to get used to working on a movie set while making Disney's "Step Up 3D" feature that opens Aug. 6. The dancer is used to grueling physical workouts and learning routines fast, under high pressure.

     However, "filming is a very, very tedious process," he notes. "I've learned to really respect the process, how it's all about ultimately setting up the best shot. There is a lot to learn on a set. And if you're not in the mood to learn, there is a lot of down time to take a nap. You could have a 12-hour shoot day, but you spend the first 10 hours sitting around and then maybe the last two hours on camera. Or your time could be split up in little sections throughout the day spread over 13 hours.

I found that it worked best to bring a couple of different books, a couple of playthings -- and keep my interest by switching up throughout the day."

       The popular tWitch says he'd love it if in, say, three years' time, he's "still teaching dance -- traveling around teaching -- and doing movies, not so much dance performance anymore. I want to get more and more into acting, playing characters that way."

       He also has a fashion line in the works, but it isn't as close to being ready for unveiling as has been reported elsewhere. "We're still in the grassroots phase. A lot of people have fashion lines. Right now, I want to make sure I'm using my voice for what I want to say."

       WORDS THAT LINGER: At least Mel Gibson's making some people happy. With every new rant tape release, there's been a new crop of comedy bits on TV, radio, Internet and, well, most anywhere people are being funny. Even Arnold Schwarzenegger got into the act, with the AP reporting last week that the California governor told a group of utility commissioners in Sacramento that it looks as though BP has contained the oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico, but "no one has figured out how to contain Mel Gibson." The fake anger management classes that have been spliced together featuring Gibson, Christian Bale and Alec Baldwin in full-tilt fury are a newer twist to the half-dozen or so Gibson-Bale-Baldwin phony phone calls out there.

       All of which should serve as a cautionary note to celebrities everywhere: These days, if you're recorded while screaming, it will never, ever go away. And you could find yourself in bad company, too. Just ask Kanye West, Michael Richards, Will Arnett, Glenn Beck, Lily Tomlin, Seth Green and Matt Damon, who are among the regulars in celebrity rant mash-ups on YouTube.

     Too bad no one was around with a recorder when Paris Hilton had a temper tantrum in the middle of a restaurant while dining with Pam Anderson -- because no one was reading the menu to her highness.

     Or when Russell Crowe was so bent out of shape over his Manhattan hotel room phone not working, he ripped it out of the wall, went downstairs and hurled it at the concierge.

     Or when Madonna went into a rage on the set of a Britney Spears video in which she co-starred, because her costume didn't fit. If only that tape were available.

       ON A DIFFERENT NOTE: Hayley Hasselhoff is looking forward to showing off the musical side of her performing abilities when the 17-year-old; her 20-year-old sister, Taylor; and their father, David, unveil their family reality show on A&E in November. She notes that she and Taylor "have a band together, Bella Vida, and the show will show us in the process of making our album and stuff." That, of course, is in addition to their tabloid-ready personal lives. The pretty blond actress and model of ABC Family's "Huge" has grown used to deflecting unwanted attention and jibes from media, she lets us know. "Why let someone bring you down when it doesn't have to happen? My dad always says, 'Let them do what they need to do and stay focused on what you need to do.'"

     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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