Hollywood Exclusive by Marilyn Beck & Stacy Jenel Smith

Their reality show set a ratings record for the Style Network, but it sounds as if "Tia & Tamera" might be a little too real for some members of the famous twins' families.

As viewers of the series know, the Mowry sisters have been showing plenty of stress in episodes that have Tia in her last weeks of pregnancy and Tamera as a bride-to-be, and as of this week's episode, as a bride.

"Both of the husbands are huge supporters," says Tamera, referring to her groom, Fox News correspondent Adam Housley, and Tia's husband, actor Cory Hardrict. "Anything that makes their wives happy and successful, they're going to support. But I don't think either of our husbands are going to be doing another season."

Why not? "Well, I can't speak for Cory, but I know my husband is very particular about making sure he keeps his job," Tamera answers with a laugh.

Then, she says, "No, I'm sure every now and then, if I needed him, he'd come in and do something. It's really too early to say for either of them, whether they'd come back. I don't want to put that out there." She does say, though, that if there's a Season 2, she'd like to focus more attention on Tia's and her work world.

Then, there's Tia and Tamera's mom. "She never agreed to the fact we did a reality show," Tamera says. "She's still kind of ... not really ... let's just say she's adjusting. You know, it's one thing to have people judge your work, but seeing that you are putting yourself out there — it's challenging to have people judge you as a person. That's getting too close to home. You have to learn to ignore the negative things people say."

In fact, Tamera admits that if she'd known then what she knows now, "I don't know that I would have done it at the times in our lives when we were both so vulnerable."

She sounds wounded when an Internet review calling her a bridezilla is mentioned. "Honestly, I don't think I was a bridezilla," she responds. "Look at the "Bridezilla" shows. I am nothing compared to those. I never had those moments of screaming at my sister. I just wanted her there with me. We love each other, and I was there for her 150 percent when she had her wedding. And in return, for the biggest day of my life, she didn't lift her finger. I absolutely wanted her there, and when she couldn't do things, I was frustrated and sad. But I never thought of myself as being bridezilla-ish or selfish," says Tamera, who eventually designated her best friend as maid of honor — "a huge, huge issue" — with Tia being deemed matron of honor.

Still, she insists that the show has brought Tia and her "closer — so much closer. It was therapeutic, in a way. When you're in the middle of a situation, it's kind of hard to have empathy for the other person. But when you're on the outside, watching, you say, 'Oh, now I know what she was going through.' We communicate better because of the show."

Now the dust has settled. Tamera is infatuated with her new nephew, Cree, whom she loves to babysit. Tia will be going back to work on her BET hit series "The Game" in a matter of weeks, and Tamera has just booked a new movie. She'll be playing teacher to fellow former Disney Channel juvenile star Kyle Massey — who'll play a former child star — in "Friendship Day." They're making it for DirecTV beginning Oct.

For all its difficulties, "Tia & Tamera" deserves credit for showing the sisters working through their differences in a healthy way. And the matter-of-fact presentation of their racially integrated family and circle of friends is nice. Tamera sounds uncertain about a Season 2, though: "We'll have to take it one step at a time. Anything and everything Tia and I do, we have to make sure it's fun."

FROM THE INSIDE LOOKING OUT: "Against the Wall" star Rachael Carpani is looking forward to catching up on some sleep — now that the first 13 episodes of her Lifetime police drama are almost a wrap.

"There've been a few times I've wanted to hit 'snooze' again on the alarm," she says. "I'm not a morning person. In fact, I have done that and I've gotten into trouble."

The Aussie actress laughs and then adds, seriously, "We were just saying the other day how sad it's going to be not to see each other for a while. It's a fun set, the kind where you find yourself doubling over laughing at midnight. We were so lucky. I didn't meet anybody until we shot the pilot, and then we were saying 'You look a little like me,'" she says of series brothers Brandon Quinn, Steve Byers and James Thomas — and parents Treat Williams and Kathy Baker.

The series stars Carpani as an Internal-Affairs detective whose job puts her at odds with her cop-filled family. She's smart and strong but makes mistakes and sometimes klutzy moves. "When I read Abby, I thought, 'I don't care how. This character is hilarious. I've got to play her,'" the actress says.

Carpani is used to putting in long hours on a series set. She starred for "six and a half of my formative years" on Australian TV's "McLeod's Daughters," which took place in a cattle station in the Outback.

Of the differences in productions, she says, "Really, it's just on a bigger scale here. The crews are pretty much the same. A set's a set. Getting up at 4 a.m. is getting up at 4 a.m. 'McLeod's Daughters' was more physically challenging; we were on horseback every day. Obviously, with 'Against the Wall,' I do feel a little bit of pressure. But I try not to think about that part, and just do a good job."

THE BIG-SCREEN SCENE: What a plum role for the right actor — the new "Zorro" for 20th Century Fox's planned contemporary take on the fabled anonymous avenging hero. This fox is described as in his mid-20s, "charismatic, superbly fit" and hard-edged. He is Spanish-speaking, but with perfect English.

IT'S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE ... : Kids who are interested in becoming dancing dwarfs onstage might be well-advised to start dreaming up routines now. Lythgoe Family Productions — as in Nigel, Bonnie and Kris Lythgoe of "So You Think You Can Dance" fame — is bringing British-style Christmas pantomime to the U.S.

One of the performances is "A Snow White Christmas," with Neil Patrick Harris as the (filmed) Magic Mirror and Marina Sirtis as the wicked queen. Auditions for the seven dwarfs are planned for Sept. 30 and Oct. 1 at Westfield Culver City, with wannabe chorus kids instructed to have a 60-second routine prepared. They must also be ready to learn a group dance combination, from which cuts will be made.

A Nov. 30 opening in North Hollywood is planned. The Lythgoes have also been working on casting for a second year of their "Cinderella" pantomime.

If the shows succeed, perhaps they'll expand their reach to other cities.

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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