Hollywood Exclusive by Marilyn Beck & Stacy Jenel Smith

Summertime, and the livin' isn't easy for TV writer-producers who are busy grinding out next season's storylines at full speed — especially with many series going back into production earlier than usual to stockpile episodes before a threatened strike. Some tidbits are already leaking out about hot stuff in the works — which could change by airtime, of course:

"Brothers and Sisters" is adding a possible love interest for Sally Field — Isaac, who is none other than Sen. McCallister's (Rob Lowe) presidential campaign manager. He's a major power player, charismatic, feared and respected, and deemed a political "shark." They've been looking at African-American and Hispanic actors to play Isaac, but no casting yet. And there might be love on the horizon for Sally's drug-bedeviled Afghanistan war vet son, Justin (Dave Annable) on the show as well — a new recurring character named Abby. She's a friend of his half-sister Rebecca's (Emily VanCamp) — smart, charming, beautiful, self-absorbed and sexually manipulative. Well, can't win 'em all.

Maybe our beloved Betty (America Ferrera) will fare better in the romantic department with Giovanni. That's the recurring character they're adding to "Ugly Betty" as a love interest for everyone's favorite fashion-challenged assistant. Giovanni — Gio for short — works the office snack cart while preparing himself for bigger and better things.

A new relationship is in store for Horatio (David Caruso) on "CSI: Miami," too. Casting is underway for — ready? — his son. Finding the young man with the arresting blue eyes, whose personality makes him quite a handful, might take a while, onscreen as well as off.

MEANWHILE: "One Tree Hill" goes back into production in mid-July for January mid-season unveiling, clearly putting plenty of distance between high school graduation and where they're picking up with the gang from Tree Hill, N.C., as young adults.

We'll find Nathan's (James Lafferty) and Haley's (Bethany Joy Lenz) son, James, is now nearly 5 years old, though it seems like he was born just a couple weeks ago on the season finale. Wait, he was. This tyke is mature beyond his age and sometimes treated like a grownup. James will come complete with a nanny named Carrie, who is personable, nurturing — and beautiful.

AND: On "Nip/Tuck," they're bringing in a scary new villain — a barely legal teenage girl described by casting sources as "blatantly sexual and casually cruel" who meets Dr. Sean McNamara (Dylan Walsh) as a patient who wants hymen reconstruction surgery, then proceeds to seduce him. Actresses auditioning for the part are being told they must be comfortable with "extremely risqué sexual situations."

Speaking of shows that push the envelope of offensiveness, "Weeds" is adding a recurring character — a biker chick who's part of a tough, drug-dealing motorcycle gang on the wrong side of the law, whose life gets complicated when she falls for someone on the other side.

Speaking of the other side, "Ghost Whisperer" is also adding a new recurring character, described as an "ultra cool cyber genius" whose name is Justin and who is around 19 years old. He encounters more than the usual cyberspace strangeness after he takes pictures of Melinda (Jennifer Love Hewitt) the medium for a website and finds inexplicable images in the photos. (The "Ghost" cast insists the same thing happens in real life, by the way.) Smart Prof. Rick Payne (Jay Mohr) will become a mentor figure to the smart lad.

HEARING THE WORLD ANEW: Grammy-winning singer/songwriter Darlene Koldenhoven says her new "Tune Your Voice" instructional CDs are more than just another aid to help aspiring singers. The artist known worldwide as the unforgettable vocal soloist in the PBS special "Yanni, Live at the Acropolis" says, "I've been blessed with so many musical gifts that I have worked hard to develop I think it's important to share with the rest of the world. To train the ear to think musically and coordinate the mind with the voice muscles so people can sing opens their minds. They hear the world differently, especially for people who have difficulty finding their pitch."

Koldenhoven, who's done voice work with such actors as Allison Janney, Olivia D'Abo and Whoopi Goldberg, says, "Everybody can use 'Tune Your Voice.' It's five teaching CDs and a singing CD with 24 of my most favorite vocal exercises. And the unique thing about it is if you listen to the CDs in your sleep, your subconscious mind picks it up and speeds up the whole process. It's really effective. I've seen some amazing results."

(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.

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