Hollywood Exclusive by Marilyn Beck & Stacy Jenel Smith

Fans of the comedy shows "Fernwood 2 Night," "Forever Fernwood" and "America 2-Night": Get ready. Martin Mull and Fred Willard, who kept audiences laughing with those classic nighttime talk show parodies, are in meetings about launching a new chat-fest for public TV. "Fred has agreed, and I've agreed. That would be in January," reveals Mull. He also lets us know, "I haven't talked about this before."

It's so new, in fact, that the two funny guys haven't even decided whether they would do the Cleveland-based show as themselves or their Fernwood characters, Barth Gimble and Jerry Hubbard. "It would be a ball," says Mull. "We'll see if we get a groundswell of support."

Mull certainly has a full plate even without the proposed Fernwood redux. He'll materialize Saturday (Oct. 22) as the title specter on the Hallmark Channel's "Oliver's Ghost," with Rhea Perlman.

"I was telling Teri Garr, first I played her young boyfriend, then her husband, and then she and I were grandparents. What comes after grandparents? Dead. So it's age-appropriate," notes Mull.

His character is "a fellow whose unresolved issues with his daughter cause him to haunt this house. Then he encounters this 11-year-old boy, and, there's an idea there — it's kind of about recognizing someone, with the metaphor of a ghost." He adds, "It's my second movie for Hallmark, and it was fun — a breeze. You know going in, you're not going to be doing Ibsen, but it's nice to do something on television that's not "The Real Housewives of." Somewhere. It's a movie. It's a good little film."

MEANWHILE: Mull is also continuing his role as Russell the pharmacist on "Two and a Half Men." At least, "They haven't mentioned anything about my not coming back" as the Ashton Kutcher, post-Charlie Sheen era continues along.

"I think they're still kind of testing the water as to where I fit in ... Chuck Lorre and I go way back, to 'Roseanne,'" Mull reminds. "He's a very good friend, and it's such a fun show to work on. I'm also a fan of Ashton's. We did a movie called 'Killers' that came out a couple of years ago, and I got to know him and admire him.

He's a terrific actor." Still, Mull adds, "I think the bottom line of anything on television is the writing. It's the writers' medium."

RECORD MAKING: Colin Hanks wraps his role as an evil religious fanatic on "Dexter" this month, enjoying the fact that he now shares the distinction of playing a "Dexter" villain with John Lithgow. He's a friend and admirer of Lithgow, who played his father in the film "Orange County."

"I ran into him in New York right before he went to do 'Dexter' and he said, 'Hey! It's my fake movie son. How are you?'" recalls Hanks, whose real father is, of course, Tom Hanks. "John is great. I like the connection there. Any time my name is mentioned in the same sentence as John Lithgow, I'm proud."

Once "Dexter" is completed, Hanks will be turning his attention back to his labor-of-love documentary project about the late, great Tower Records store. "That's going to be a very long process, but I'm very much looking forward to diving in and going on research trips and getting into shooting on that," says the actor, who is directing his documentary film.

REALITY ROLES: Here would be a reality show worth seeing: the remarkable world of 93-year-old athlete Julian Myers. The Marina del Rey, Calif., PR man won 11 medals (more than anyone else) at this month's Huntsman World Senior track meet in St. George, Utah — including first place in the 3,000 meters and 1,500 meters, and second or third place finishes in the running long jump, standing long jump, triple jump, discus, javelin, shot put and 200, 400 and 800 meters.

Being a Hollywood publicist, he didn't waste the opportunity to wear a T-shirt touting a film project, "Hopper's Nighthawks: 90 Minutes and Lives," which he's co-producing with Loyola Marymount Cinema and Television writer Arlene Clendenin. It's about the story behind the story of the world-famous Nighthawks painting. In the wake of centenarian runner Fauja Singh's completion of a full marathon the other day, it's worth noting that not only has Myers completed dozens of marathons but also that he ran 90 miles to celebrate his 90th birthday.

Forces on an in-the-works reality show are looking for "great talkers who can talk about anything" — from taxi drivers to barbers, bar tenders to waiters, anyone who is used to gabbing a lot on the job. Ages 18-65. They'll need to use their ability to talk their way out of anything.

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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