Hollywood Exclusive by Marilyn Beck & Stacy Jenel Smith

Marlo Thomas, once at the forefront of the women's movement, finds today's younger women "taking it for granted. I hope they don't lose the rights that we worked for," she says.

"Like democracy, you have to watch it; people will want to change laws that will hurt you. These are not God-given rights. They had to be fought for. It's wonderful that this generation is living it, that there are more women running things — but not enough. There are only eight women running Fortune 500 companies. Of course, if we get a female president, that will change," adds Marlo.

Thomas's vintage "That Girl" TV series gets its Season 3 DVD release next week. Looking back on the show puts her in mind of the way things were in the '60s, when her funny, dauntless Ann Marie character brightened the TV landscape. Sure, she took kooky jobs and had a boyfriend she never slept with. But Thomas considers the character "a revolutionary — getting her own apartment, saying, 'I'm going to be an actor, move to the big city and not get married' when there were no women on television moving out on their own."

Besides her ongoing work with the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, which was founded by her late dad, Danny Thomas, Marlo's currently on the way to a Broadway run with Elaine May's "Moving Right Along" comedy.

"It's a comedy, and it's poignant," says Marlo, who's gone platinum blond for her role as "a woman who has just been widowed in the last hour. We hope to get to New York in January-ish. We'll do a run somewhere else first. It might be Toronto in the fall."

IN THE DARK: With "Two and a Half Men" just having returned to production for the new season, costar Marin Hinkle says she's looking forward to finding out something — anything — about what is in store for her character. "They never tell us anything! Literally, this year, Ryan Styles was brought on the show to be a husband of mine, and they never told me that 'til the week they were handing out scripts.

I got a phone call on a Friday saying, 'On Monday you'll have a fitting for a wedding dress.' I said, 'Really? Am I a bridesmaid?' And they said, 'No, you're getting married,'" she says with mock aggravation.

Hinkle notes that she went to graduate school at NYU, and "I just assumed it was all going to be a theater route. Then I got lucky. I could do some TV and pay off the loans for grad school. It's so expensive, and the theater never pays it. Both experiences — the drama and the comedy — have made me feel so blessed. It's funny though, in a play, you have the beautiful sense of where it's all going and what it's about. In television, you have to open your heart and say, 'I hope this character goes to a place I like and enjoy.'"

CELEB SCENE: We get word that Lance Bass and his Brazilian model boyfriend Pedro Andrade were doing the club scene at Patrick McMullan's The Plumm club in New York City last week on alternative night, sipping vodkas and looking cozy. But the openly gay Bass apparently drew a little bit too much attention, especially from a Calvin Klein underwear model, who was overheard saying he wanted to take the one-time 'NSYNC member home with him. According to insiders on the scene, a none-too-pleased Andrade hurried Lance out of the club.

FASHIONS FOR LIFE: Donatella Versace believes that when it comes to fashion, "The tension between old and new is exciting." She also finds, "Lifestyle, much like fashion, is not as loud as it used to be. It doesn't have to scream luxury. It's more about being selective, a little mysterious." The fashion doyenne shared her views on classics and trends while talking about her new Home Collection in House & Gardens' soon-due September issue. Always expanding, Versace also has an airline interior design line in the works. "Jets are the ultimate luxury item," she notes. Vacation homes in glorious places with great company aren't hard to take, either. "Lake Como is one of my favorite weekend retreats. It's certainly not a sacrifice to have George Clooney as a neighbor," admits Donatella.

(With reports by Stephanie DuBois and 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 2007 MARILYN BECK AND STACY JENEL SMITH

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