Hollywood Exclusive by Marilyn Beck & Stacy Jenel Smith

Kyra Sedgwick Getting Used To Being an Empty Nester/Donnie Wahlberg Glad His 'Blue Bloods' Future a Mystery

After decades of juggling motherhood and her career, "The Closer" star Kyra Sedgwick says she's getting used to life as an empty nester with husband Kevin Bacon.

"You know, it's been OK so far," observes the actress, whose son, Travis, turns 22 this week, and whose daughter, Sosie, is 18 years old. "For one thing they come home a lot, on spring break and such, which is great. My son is actually done with college now so he's around. They're home, but they're not really home. It's a little confusing. But you know, once they actually leave, go away to school, it's never quite the same. It's a huge transition, to no longer be a day-to-day parent. That's done forever."

Sedgwick acknowledges, "It's a loss, but you also get to figure out, I guess, what fulfills you as a solitary person, and in being in a marriage without the children there. It can be a time for growth, but that doesn't mean it's super easy."

As for more romance?

"Oh, for sure!" she answers with a laugh. "Absolutely."

Right now, Sedgwick is six episodes into shooting the final 21 of her acclaimed show, which returns to the TNT lineup July 11 — with a promise, according to her, of this being the most dramatic season ever.

The reason she agreed to additional episodes in the final year? Creator James Duff, she says, "really wanted to end with an epic journey. I wanted to be supportive of that."

INSIDE ASIDE: Donnie Wahlberg tells us he doesn't know — and doesn't necessarily want to know — what the "Blue Bloods" writer-producers have in store for the show's cop-heavy Reagan family in general, or his detective Danny Reagan character specifically, when the show goes into production for its second season later this summer.

"I used to want to know what was happening to a character, but in reality, often, we don't know what is coming next.

As Danny Reagan, I don't know what's about to happen," points out the actor-pop star, who is currently on the road with the combined New Kids On The Block-Backstreet Boys super band, sweeping through a string of Southern cities this week — with L.A., Las Vegas and Anaheim, Calif., dates coming up at the start of July.

"For instance, if you had told me five years ago that I would be out touring with New Kids On The Block, I'd have told you you were crazy. If you'd have said, 'You're going out as a super group with the Backstreet Boys,' I'd have told you, 'You're insane,'" he admits.

"For me, having done a series before, in the 10 years since I did 'Boomtown,' I learned how to be patient," he adds. "That was the biggest lesson. I control what I can control and make the most of every day, every scene, every moment."

HELLO, AGAIN: Jamie Lynn Sigler is playing a wife whose husband is about to leave her for his old high-school sweetheart — until reminded of an unusual clause in their prenup — in the low-budget romantic comedy "Divorce Invitation." Also in the cast of the pic, heading into production this summer: Elliott Gould and Lainie Kazan.

SPECIAL ASSIGNMENT: With Sam Raimi's "Oz, the Great and Powerful" set to shoot in Detroit from August to December (hey, who wouldn't want to be in Detroit then?), the hunt is on for Master Tinkers. These special beings of the fantastical L. Frank Baum oeuvre can build anything, and they're fascinated by all mechanical devices, and, according to casting notices, "their hearts are pure." Raimi and company are going with tall, thin African-Americans to play them.

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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