Hollywood Exclusive by Marilyn Beck & Stacy Jenel Smith

Guy Fieri Would Love To Become the 'Culinary Jackass'/Jeff Foxworthy Shares Compelling Real-Life Story

Guy Fieri has "Jackass" guys Steve-O and Ryan Dunn on his "Minute to Win It" season premiere tomorrow night (6/8). So, will there be some tit for tat ahead with the energetic Fieri turning up in a "Jackass" movie?

He'd love it. "I'm gonna tell you, I'm a huge 'Jackass' fan. My wife and I were watching 'Jackass 3' in our hotel room just the other night, and it was so funny. I love those guys. They're terrific athletes, as well as performers. Yeah, hopefully, I'll become the culinary dude. I think they need a culinary dude," Fieri says with a laugh.

In fact, Fieri really would like to expand his public presence into movies and, maybe, a sitcom role.

By hosting "Minute to Win It," he notes, "I was able to show that I can do other things outside the culinary world. I would love to see that opportunity come about within the next year."

The laid-back California restaurateur and all-around foodie has more than enough on his plate already, with his ongoing Food Network commitments and his newly released book, "Guy Fieri Food: Cookin' It, Livin' It, Lovin' It." And, of course, "Minute to Win It." He tells us that he suggested bringing "Jackass" star Dunn on his NBC game show as a celebrity guest playing for charity since they've been friends for a few years. From there, the producers wondered about Steve-O, the famously now-sober clown prince of "Jackass."

"It's always hard for people to understand who celebrities are and what kind of people," comments Fieri. "Ryan Dunn is a great dude, and you gotta love Steve-O, the way he's taken control of life lately and all this. They're really genuine about what they're trying to do," he says, referring to Dunn and Steve-O playing for the Teammates for Kids Foundation and the National Down Syndrome Congress, respectively. "They're showing their true characters. They didn't have to do this stuff. These challenges aren't easy. And it's tough, too, when you're used to being surrounded by your buddies doing something nuts, to just be out there by yourself. This is taking them out of their typecast situation. My respect for them as people — as philanthropists — has quadrupled."

Are they good at the challenges? "You'll see," he replies.

The usually indefatigable Fieri admits he is feeling bushed, as he's wrapping up his 16-city Food Tour — which combines a live cooking event, music, a "Minute to Win It" challenge and more.

"It's been nuts. It's as close to a rock 'n' roll food show as you can get. I'll tell you, the year we did it, I said, 'I don't know if I'll do that again.' But then a year went by, everyone got rested up and here we are again. I give it up for every band out there doing this touring. Now I'd say there's a better chance that we will do it again than that we won't."

A GREAT STORY: Jeff Foxworthy keeps a crowded calendar of stage, TV and film work, but the Georgia-born Blue Collar Comedy funnyman still makes time for his church activities, including leading a Bible study in Atlanta for some 140 homeless men.

Last year, one of those men stopped Foxworthy cold with a story he'll never forget. The man's name was Wayne, and he told of his mother leaving him a $70,000 inheritance, including a Bible into which she'd tucked a love note for him.

But Wayne was a crack cocaine addict. He quickly blew through the money, and as for the Bible, he lost track of it without even opening it.

Years went by. About 100 miles from where the Bible disappeared, Wayne and another homeless man were cleaning an apartment for some cash when Wayne's partner found a few items left behind. Wayne rummaged through the pile — and found the very same Bible his mother had given him, with the note still tucked inside.

Wayne told the Bible study group that "if God loved me so much to chase me this far, I'm going to quit running."

Foxworthy was so moved, he recalls, "I had to go sit against the wall and just cry for a minute." He tells us, "Wayne, at that point, could hardly take care of himself."

That was last year. In subsequent months, he became stronger, healthier and able to stay on as a helper at the facility, "taking care of 40 guys."

Meanwhile, Foxworthy's teenage daughter, Jordan, recently passed the $1 million mark in raising funds for her anti-malaria drive, and he's thrilled and proud.

What a family.

THE BIG-SCREEN SCENE: Filmmaker Xan Cassavetes (aka Alexandra Cassavetes, daughter of Gena Rowlands and the late John Cassavetes) is getting ready to bring us her take on vampires with "Kiss of the Damned," planned for production this summer in Connecticut and New York. The story involves a female vampire who turns her human lover into a vampire also — only to have to deal with her "hell-raising" sister appearing on the scene.

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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