Hollywood Exclusive by Marilyn Beck & Stacy Jenel Smith

Guy Fieri — who shot like a bolt of lightening from college hospitality courses to host of several Food Network Shows to emcee of NBC's March 14-debuting "Minute to Win It" game show" — heads to the White House next month, to cook for the first family and the White House staff.

The dynamic Fieri assures us the event will not be recorded for the cameras, that "This is something that has nothing to do with television." He adds, "My 13-year-old son, Hunter, is going to cook with me. He's done so before, on some of my 'Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives' Food Network show. I have strong feelings about educating children through the empowerment of cooking. My son Ryder wants to cook with me, too, but he's only 4 so we'll wait a bit."

Fieri says he's selected the menu he'll present at the White House. "It'll be a little Italian and something creative — a BLT sandwich made with duck."

He's been tub-thumping hard for "Minute to Win it" and reports, "From the buzz, I think we have a great future. My agent has been busy with calls about my doing other shows. And I can tell you this: There couldn't have been a show that was better designed for me — I've been playing games like that forever. Maybe in school, in a bar, in the office. All those simple little games that make great competition."

In case you missed them in school, a bar or whatever, the games — that can lead up to a $1-million prize — include fanning three eggs across the floor and into a target area, by use of an empty pizza box.

THE VIDEOLAND VIEW: "Law & Order" fans are already celebrating the supposed renewal of the show for a 21st season, but cast member Linus Roache says not so fast. "Officially, that hasn't been announced," says the British actor, but he tells us it's looking good. It would make the NBC show the longest-running primetime scripted series in U.S. TV history.

"I think that was a programmer at NBC who said she'd love to give it a 21st season. It should have a shot at the title. I think it'd be a crime not to give it a 21st season. The show is so strong and the formula is so good, and it's got such a loyal fan base that it could go on long after that," claims Roache. "You have six characters weighing in on a both a criminal mystery and a moral mystery.

The stories are current and relevant, and they're issues we need to discuss. Someone came up to me the other day and said, 'I watch 'Law & Order' to get a better perspective of the news.' The writers just keep coming up with some really powerful stuff."

Roache, who plays Executive Assistant District Attorney Michael Cutter, has certainly been the topic of many conversations. "I heard there was a lot of blogging about the character. Recently, I joined Facebook, and I'm really confused about what to do about that. I've got all kinds of people finding me and asking me questions, and I don't know what to do with that. I've got to sort it out," says Roache, but he's not complaining. "It's great we have that connectivity, but it's just more to do. However, it's great to have these discussions about the issues on the show."

MOVING ON: Frank Maresca, who is quickly heading toward the finale of his VH1 show "Frank the Entertainer: A Basement Affair," tells us he's glad things didn't work out with reality star Tiffany Pollard. He was one of the many men who were competing for her affection on "I Love New York 2," but he was eliminated, and it eventually led to his current spinoff where he is hoping to find love. "I originally got on TV thanks to the Internet. I never thought I'd get on. Then once I got on, I never thought about furthering a career," says Maresca of his journey. "When I went on her show, I was there to win her, but it didn't turn out that way. It was upsetting at the time, but I got over it," he tells us. "I'm glad things worked out the way they did. I have no complaints. I was happy before I even got on TV, when I didn't have a job. I'm just a happy person. I could have a $1 in my pocket for the rest of my life and I will always be happy. I just want to be surrounded by good people."

BAD MAMA: As Bryan Cranston noted in this column recently, the days of squeaky clean TV heroes seem to be past — at least for the time being — while protagonists with varying degrees of complexity and flaws crowd broadcast and cable series alike. Now it's "Cutthroat," an ABC pilot in the works from 20th Century Fox TV, about a wealthy widow who appears for all the world to be a regular soccer mom — but in fact is running a money laundering business tied into a Veracruz drug cartel. Casting is under way. Say, maybe she could get together with Nancy Botwin (Mary-Louise Parker), the widowed, marijuana-dealing mom of "Weeds." It's always nice when moms can talk about shared interests.

With reports by Emily-Fortune 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.

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