Hollywood Exclusive by Marilyn Beck & Stacy Jenel Smith

Melissa Gilbert says she has none other than Dr. Drew Pinsky to thank for keeping her on the straight and narrow path when she was on the mend after surgery to fix her broken back last year. Melissa, who went public about her battles with alcoholism in "Prairie Tale: A Memoir," her autobiography from two years ago, says that she was afraid of becoming addicted to pain pills so she sought guidance from the "Celebrity Rehab" host.

"He knew the pain I was going through could be intense, but there was a limit to how many days I could take the pain pills, the opiates, and then I would just have to tough it out for a day or two so that I wouldn't trigger anything," explains the actress, who's in her seventh year of sobriety. She makes it clear that she's feeling fine nowadays.

Gilbert has been doing the promotional rounds for her Dec. 11 "The Christmas Pageant" movie on the Hallmark Channel. She says she had a blast with her departure role — as a demanding, edgy New York theater director, who winds up with the chore of running a small-town Christmas pageant.

The "Christmas Pageant" cast includes Edward Herrmann and hunky Robert Mailhouse, who plays Melissa's love interest. After her long recovery and the breakup of her 16-year marriage to Bruce Boxleitner in March, taking on the movie was a welcome change of pace, she says.

Letting the public in on her alcohol addiction, especially fans who came to know her as loveable Half Pint in her child star days on "Little House on the Prairie," was a big decision. Melissa says she has no regrets.

"It's more important for people to know they're not alone — because so many people are going through it — than it is for me to protect an image that has no reality," she notes. "There's always been this sort of assumption, because I'm lucky enough to do what I love and be paid as an actor, that my life is all about limousines and red carpets. Because of that, they don't realize that there's a human being in here who hurts over things like the death of my father, the end of 'Little House,' and the death of Michael Landon. 'She's a star. How can that be?' And I am flawed. God knows, I am flawed, as we all are.

"Thank goodness," she adds with a laugh.

SWEET SUCCESS: "Mike and Molly" star Billy Gardell has just bought a house — his very first experience as a homeowner. Gardell, who spent 20 years honing his comedy skills doing standup dates all across the country, doesn't hesitate to express his appreciation for his hit show and how it has changed his life. That includes being able to remain in town with wife Patty and their toddler son, Will, after all those years on the road.

"I think my wife is regretting it, but the kid's happy," he told us, jokingly, earlier this year. "No, it's nice, you know, to go to work and then be able to come home to my family. The boy loves it. We play army men and Legos, watch cartoons, go out to the car and check the oil — do things a dad and son should do."

... AND: You can be sure that among those cheering for Gardell is Holly Robinson Peete — who landed on "Mike and Molly" as a recurring character this season after her unplanned departure from "The Talk."

"Billy has been such a tremendous friend to me. They've all been so good to me over there, production-wise," Peete tells us. "I remember we had Billy on 'The Talk' when 'Mike and Molly' first premiered last year, and I told him, 'I love your chemistry.' No joke, the show has been one of my favorites since it first started. There's something so honest and edgy about the writing." Peete also told Gardell that Carl, Reno Wilson's character, "needs a girlfriend. But when I got the call to come on, it was out of the blue.

"I don't think I've ever been on a show that has writing of this level of quality. And the other thing about 'Mike and Molly' that people don't realize is that it has great diversity," adds Peete. "The day of the African American comedy on the major networks has pretty much gone away, but 'Mike and Molly' has three African American regulars, plus adding me for some shows. I'm really proud of that fact."

THRILLER: Perhaps "Glee's" just-announced Michael Jackson tribute episode in January will spike ratings in the Fox show, which has seen its audience numbers drop this season. The King of Pop episode has been in the works for two years, according to creator Ryan Murphy. People have been asking about an M.J. tribute since "Glee" debuted. Now, if only they had Barbra Streisand in to play Lea Michele's grandmother.

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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