Hollywood Exclusive by Marilyn Beck & Stacy Jenel Smith

"You're not going to see me on a reality show. I can't go down that road," declares Dixie Carter. The one-time "Designing Women" star, who won an Emmy nod for her work in last season's "Desperate Housewives," is quite passionate about that.

"I'm an actress, not someone who wants self-promotion for self-promotion's sake, so my face, with half a pound of makeup on it, is constantly on view. I can't see the value of that — but it's a virus that runs through our business. You hear people say, 'I've got to stay out there.' Why? If I let those winds of frenetic need to be in the public eye push me, I'll lose every grain of dignity and self-respect, and, really, enjoyment of life that I have."

Fresh from doing an onstage reading of Mark Twain with her husband Hal Holbrook at The Dixie Carter Performing Arts and Academic Enrichment Center in Huntingdon, Tenn., Dixie has Hallmark's "Our First Christmas" movie coming up Dec. 20. She also has another book in the works, a play soon to be announced and the big-screen "I Hate To See That Evening Sun Go Down" in post-production for release next year.

Dixie wants us to know Hal "has given a bravura performance" in the latter, which she deems "a very edgy, raw and yet romantic piece.

"I admire the concept of a man in a nursing home who packs his suitcase and walks out of there, and walks all the way back to his farmhouse, which he expects to find empty. But his son has rented this farmhouse to a family the man despises, so his next job is to get them out," she says.

Dixie plays Hal's late wife. "My role was divine. I had no lines. I came back to his character in daydreams, not really as a ghost. I only communicate with looks. It's effortless because all I have to do is think my thoughts and look at Hal."

THE VIDEOLAND VIEW: David Alan Grier says that as a comedian who is doing topical sketch comedy from an African-American perspective on his show "Chocolate News," having Barack Obama as our next president is a dream. However, he deadpans, from a black man's perspective, he's only partially fulfilled.

"First off, I love Barack Obama. It was amazing along with the country to watch the election," says Grier. "But people say, 'This must be really great for you,' and part of me thinks, 'I'm half happy because Barack is half black.' When he got nominated, suddenly he became de facto black.

Before, he was of mixed race heritage, and after a while white folks were just like, 'Oh, he's black.' He definitely represents the future, but there was a part of me that thought, 'I wish this country was ready for a real black president.' We need a dude like Wesley Snipes in 'Blade' who gets s—- done. I thought there was comedy in talking about things like that," notes Grier, who delves into those topics on his Comedy Central show.

He adds, "When I pitched this show to Comedy Central, I knew who he was, but did I ever think two years ago that he was going to be the president? He was just a dude who did a really good speech at the convention then. It was all about Hillary Clinton," he reminds.

CELEBRITY SEEN: Funny man Seth Green was spotted having a fun evening off from work when he and a group of friends enjoyed a night of magic at the exclusive members only "Magic Castle" in Los Angeles. Green in particular seemed to be having a magical night as he cozied up to a young woman who rubbed his back while they listened to the castle's invisible ghost, Irma, play the piano. Just three weeks earlier, Johnny Depp, who is a member of the club, had also paid the castle a visit. He attended their infamous Houdini séance, where they attempt to contact the spirit of one of the world's greatest magicians, Harry Houdini.

SUNDAY BLOODY SUNDAY: Yes, we know "Twilight" opens today (11/21), and the fans are already lining up. It's also a hot time for fans of that other hit saga of new millennium-style vampires — Alan Ball's HBO series "True Blood," which has its first season finale Sunday (11/23). Why are those blood-sucking immortals sooooo hot again? "The fascination with vampires never goes away," declares Alexander Skarsgard, a.k.a. "True Blood's" 1,000-year-old sheriff/bar owner/possible Viking king of the Vampires. "They're sexy. It has to do with intimacy and submission. And it has to do with mortality and blurring the lines between life and death, and the price you have to pay for eternal life. People will always be interested in sex and death."

The handsome Swede, also known for his standout performance in the cable channel's "Generation Kill" — and for his father, esteemed actor Stellan Skarsgard — reports that the "True Blood" troop will be heading back into production for season 2 in January. He has a movie prospect pending as well. "I'd like to fit it in, but it depends on when we go back to work on 'True Blood.'"

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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