Hollywood Exclusive by Marilyn Beck & Stacy Jenel Smith

Paris Hilton's "The Hottie and the Nottie" costar and new close pal Christine Lakin says that the movie, opening Friday (Feb. 8), shows more of the softness and sweetness she sees as the real Paris than any of Paris's previous projects. And Paris agrees. She tells us that her character, "Christabel, is just like me. Definitely. We're both sweet and love people for who they are," declares the flaxen-haired media magnet.

Paris has been doing extensive promotion for the comedy in which she plays — obviously — the hottie, who won't date again until her homely BFF, played by Lakin, finds someone special. "I'm very proud of it. I thought it was hilarious when I read the script, and so I said yes and started helping them put it together. I'm an executive producer on it, so I was working on and off camera." At the same time, she was shooting "The Simple Life" and "taking care of other businesses I run," she says.

Paris is certainly running on high now. Last week, she traveled to Dallas, Philadelphia and New York on behalf of the movie, and then went to Scottsdale, Ariz., for Super Bowl festivities, then flew into L.A. the night before her "Hottie" press junket.

She has a new shoes-and-clothing line about to make its debut. She's working on her next album, too. "Right now we're writing it. We'll probably start recording within the next two months." And in April, she has the big-screen musical "Repo! The Genetic Opera" on the way. "I sing on, like, 12 of the songs. It's Paul Sorvino, Sarah Brightman and me."

Working with such accomplished singers might have intimidated others, but Paris says, "It was fun. It was definitely a hard role for me to do. But I like challenges, definitely."

LAUGHING MATTERS: Comedian Margaret Cho reports her new one-woman show "Beautiful" offers her stand-up audiences an added treat. "Cyndi Lauper helped me to learn to sing," informs Cho. "When I was on tour with her last summer, we did a big finale of Abba's 'Take a Chance on Me,' so I learned how to sing that song. She helped me to sort of free my voice, so I'm keeping on with all the things she taught me."

"Beautiful" — which will make its debut in Australia at the Sydney Theater on Feb. 27 — "is very raunchy," says Cho. "And I have a beautiful song I sing at the end, a big gospel tribute song," with a title so raunchy, in fact, we can't print it here. "I'm 39, at that age where I'm really very willing to say anything," she declares. "I just don't care anymore.

I'll talk about whatever, so there's a little bit of a 'Vagina Monologue' in the show, that kind of feeling." Cho launches her U.S. run of "Beautiful" March 6 in Hawaii. "I'll probably go all over the U.S. and Canada until the middle of the year," she says.

"REAL" DEAL: "I enjoyed my experience on 'American Idol,' but I don't think I'd ever do it again," admits Brianna Taylor, who some remember as one of the 45 finalists during season five of "American Idol" — and who will be remembered more for her upcoming stint on "The Real World: Hollywood."

"'Real World' has taught me so much more about myself than 'American Idol' could have taught me, so I'm way, way more grateful for this experience," she adds about being on the MTV show's 20th season, which airs in the spring. The new "Real World" incorporates seven strangers who all have aspirations to be in the entertainment industry. "We're basically doing what everybody on past seasons wanted to do but doing it while on the show. This was my time to decide what I wanted to do as an artist, and I needed that."

We caught up with Brianna and her roommates post-production, at their souped-up, environmentally friendly house located in the heart of Hollywood. Cast mate Dave Malinosky says he believes this season will have much more depth than in the past.

"I don't want to put our season above the rest, but I will," he says with a laugh. "You had a chance to prove something. It was up to you whether you showed up or not. Nobody was getting you out of bed to go to auditions. You see other seasons, where they're working at a tanning salon or a boatyard, but unless that's what you're going to do, there's not much you can do with it. We got to figure out what we really wanted to do for a living."

THE INSIDE TRACK: "Better prepare your woofers!" declares Grammy winning bassist/composer Marcus Miller, reporting that he's working on an album with legendary Grammy-winning bassist Stanley Clarke and Flecktones' renowned bassist Victor Wooten. "About a year and a half ago, Victor and I hosted this event for Bass Player Magazine, and we presented Stanley with the Lifetime Achievement Award. Then we put the basses on, and the three of us played together. The people really loved it, so we decided to do an album together."

Meanwhile, Miller's latest CD, "Marcus," hits record stores next month. "I'm excited about this record," says Miller of the album that combines spoken word with jazz and features such guest artists as hot new Grammy-nominated singer Corinne Bailey Raye, Keb Mo, Shihan the Poet, Taraji P. Henson and Lalah Hathaway. "I've been watching that 'Def Jam Poetry' and thinking there's some music in there waiting to happen, so I knew it could be done."

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 2008 MARILYN BECK AND STACY JENEL SMITH

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