Hollywood Exclusive by Marilyn Beck & Stacy Jenel Smith

"It's the 75th anniversary of the all-American Soap Box Derby," proclaims Corbin Bernsen. And if the "Psych" actor and independent filmmaker has his way, he'll be bringing back that once-vastly popular pastime of creating and racing non-motorized cars with his upcoming "25 Hill" feature, which stars Bernsen and "Dolphin Tale" kid Nathan Gamble. Bernsen's in the midst of a slew of grassroots activities, working to make it happen.

Already, he's been on the road fronting screenings and Derby Tour racing events across the land for months. Now, with Season 6 of "Psych" newly in the can, the one-time "L.A. Law" star says he'll be going even more pedal-to-the-metal with his promo activities. That'll be for most of the next six or seven months, until the movie's general release. To say Bernsen is full of passion is an understatement.

"Every weekend I say, 'What am I doing?'" he confesses. "But when I did this film in particular — when I found out what had happened to the Derby, that it had collapsed, that kids aren't making cars anymore ... When I met racers and started talking to people, I started realizing, sometimes you just have to follow your heart, and you don't know what it's for.

"There are core values that are intrinsic to the Derby — family, community, teamwork, sportsmanship — the great things. These are values that are deteriorating. I know it sounds simpleton, but I really believe it: Our problems are so related to the breakdown of values, values we've fought wars for, crossed the country in covered wagons for. Still, they do exist. That spirit is alive. I see it."

Bernsen wrote, produced and directed "25 Hill." He was in meetings with distributors in Los Angeles last week.

"I just can't hand it off straight to distribution without being sure it's going to be properly sold, if you will, for its greatest impact. 'Hill' is taking a lot more effort than a lot of things we've done," he concedes. "There've been a lot of sleepless nights and working my butt off, but you know something? That's how change happens — getting out there and doing something."

MEANWHILE: Bernsen is psyched about "Psych." "The big thing to look forward to this season is the incredible lineup of guest stars," he says of the freewheeling USA Network crime dramedy, in which James Roday plays a fake psychic detective alongside Dule Hill, his long-suffering partner.

And what a list. Already, Malcolm McDowell has appeared. Ahead are guestings by Danny Glover; Wayne Brady; Cheech Marin; Molly Ringwald; William Shatner; Greg Grunberg; Cary Elwes; Louis Gossett Jr.; Liza Lapira; Joey McIntyre; Jason Priestley; Wade Boggs; Sara Rue ... and more.

Tomorrow night's (Oct. 26) episode of "Psych" features big-screen "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" star Kristy Swanson in a murder mystery that looks like it involves a vampire.

Bersen believes the attraction is that "it's a really, really fun show to work on. If you're an actor, sometimes it's, 'Hey, if I'm going to spend 10 days somewhere, I'm going to have a good time.'"

TACKY TRACK: Sure, you're thinking trick-or-treat, but the fact is that it's less than a month now until Thanksgiving, which means it's time for our annual roasting of celebrities who've exhibited the tackiest taste of the year. Readers decide this, you may recall — not us.

How far we have come from this contest's humble beginnings, when a simple extramarital affair or wardrobe malfunction could be enough to land the prize. With tacky reality notoriety as a way of life, show business celebrities now have to work extra-hard to out-tacky one another. And they do.

So what do you think? Will Snooki win again? Or does Susan Sarandon have a chance for calling the pope a Nazi? Or Hank Williams Jr., for comparing the president to Hitler? Or maybe the Kardashians will inspire kontempt through their klothes. Who knows?

Tell us your choice for tackiest celeb, and be sure to include why. Send emails marked "Tacky Taste" to Stacy@BeckSmithHollywood.com. The results will be posted Thanksgiving week.

INDUSTRY BITS: Production is just getting under way in New Orleans on the Rose McGowan-Patrick John Flueger-Peter Bogdanovich feature "The Tell-Tale Heart," which is inspired by the Edgar Allen Poe short story — but set in present day. They're still casting a couple of subsidiary roles for mental patients in the film, which will relive the chain of events leading up to the central character's murder of the old man — but is everything he thought about himself true or simply the product of torture, drugs and madness? We'll have to wait until next Halloween for the answer.

And we'll have to wait for Christmas of next year for "So This is Christmas," the low-budget feature soon to shoot with Eric Roberts, Lexi Ainsworth and Vivica A. Fox. The drama, in which Ainsworth plays a teen who finds meaning in her life by giving to others, is just now filming in Tulsa, Okla.

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

DISTRIBUTED BY CREATORS.COM