Hollywood Exclusive by Marilyn Beck & Stacy Jenel Smith

Multi-Grammy-winning gospel superstar Kirk Franklin promises Lionsgate Films' upcoming planned biopic on his life, "Church Boy," will be no holds barred.

"Oh, yeah," declares Franklin, who's also co-producing the project. "That's how I've always lived my life, so that's how I'm doing it." Abandoned by his parents and raised by an aunt, Franklin proved to be a music prodigy at age 4, became music director of his church by 11, and then reportedly succumbed to sex and drugs in his rebellious teens. In 2006, he revealed on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" that he'd struggled to overcome an addiction to pornography.

The singer/songwriter has poured out his story in song for years but says he's leaving the script of his life story to others to write. "There's no way I can do that. I'm too close," he says, adding he's finding out what development hell is all about. His recently released latest CD, "The Fight of My Life," was initially set to be the soundtrack for "Church Boy," until principal photography was postponed to — maybe — this spring.

"I'm learning how long a process it is. Some movies, the scripts were in development for years. Coming from music, it's very new to me, so I kind of wear the whole 'Church Boy' project very loosely. More than anything, my whole position on it is when God wants it to happen, it's going to happen, if God don't want it to happen, it ain't gonna happen, and whatever the case, I'm good."

The host of BET's "Sunday Best" reality show plans to portray himself in "Church Boy" when — and if — it's a go. "I've been in the acting classes, trying to get the chops up and learn the craft, because it's definitely a craft," says Franklin. "It's not like you can just walk up and say, 'Well, I know how to cry.'"

THE VIDEOLAND VIEW: "The forced 'you can't write' thing is really intense," notes "Reno 911!" actor/writer/co-creator Tom Lennon about the current Writers Guild of America strike, which has so far led to the shutdown of most TV shows, widespread studio layoffs and the cancellation of the Golden Globes show.

"It's really kind of weird because we've never been on a hiatus.

Ever since we arrived in Hollywood, we've been writing every single day," adds Lennon, speaking about working with longtime pals Ben Garant and Kerri Kenney-Silver. "Although, I think it might in the long run be good for our mental health."

Before the strike, the "Reno 911!" cast and crew finished filming season five of their improvised Comedy Central show, which premieres tonight (Jan. 16). Lennon says fans can expect to see some exciting guest stars. "This year, the hardest thing to get through is we had George Lopez come in and play the mayor of Reno, who is under indictment for some really creepy crimes he's committed. Getting through his scenes was almost impossible. Once in a while, he would just grab me in the back of my head and then start crying on my shoulder. He did some really strange, unexpected things," says Lennon with a laugh. "I think we've had some of the best guest stars this year. Christina Applegate came in. Diedrich Bader did a really funny episode. The show has gotten to the place where people actually do ask to come on, which is very thrilling for us because we always think of it as a little show we put on in the backyard for each other."

VRRM VRRM: There's an especially high celebrity turnout expected at this year's Daytona 500 on Feb. 17 — the 50th running of that Florida race. And that's saying a lot, considering luminaries who've attended in the past range from movie stars the likes of Nicolas Cage, John Travolta, Ben Affleck, Whoopi Goldberg and Matthew McConaughey to sports figures including Evander Holyfield, Cal Ripken and Brett Favre, not to mention politicians including President George W. Bush. Sure to be there this year is Ashley Judd, whose husband, Indy 500 winner Dario Franchitti, will be attempting his first-ever Daytona start. Also, Nick Lachey, who recently partnered with two-time NASCAR champ Jimmie Johnson and is a buddy of the driver, is likely to be on hand. More than 200,000 fans will attend the "Great American Race" at the Daytona International Speedway, and the race is being broadcast by Fox.

JUST TRYING TO BE NORMAL: TV-star-cum-race-car-driver Frankie Muniz was getting his game on this past Friday night in West Hollywood. No, we're not talking about being in a bar. The former "Malcolm in the Middle" actor, who's often seen cheering on the L.A. Clippers, took a break from the fast-paced life in Hollywood to join a pick-up basketball game in a public park with some local teens.

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

DISTRIBUTED BY CREATORS SYNDICATE, INC.