Lance Bass says his experience on "Dancing With the Stars" is whetting his appetite for more TV work. "I've been enjoying going in front of the cameras again. I missed it. I've been bitten by that bug again," admits the one-time 'N Sync member. Bass notes that in recent years he's put a lot of effort into working behind the scenes. "I have tons of projects in development, writing and producing, definitely. But I'd love to roll into a sitcom or something. And I'd love to do Broadway again. The first thing is a nice vacation, and then, I don't know. The sky is the limit. It's hard to even think about what the next step is right now, but I believe in fate. I believe whatever happens is going to be the right thing."

One thing Lance does know he has ahead on the tube is the Disney Channel's Wilmer Valderrama "Handy Manny" show for preschoolers. "It's a lot of fun," he says. Fans can hear Lance tomorrow (10/10) morning as Elliot, a klutzy kid with a surfer-dude way of talking — who'll be returning for more episodes in coming weeks.

One thing he doubts he'll be doing is recording. "That would be difficult. I love performing with my four best friends," he says of the ex-band mates he also refers to as brothers. "But a solo project would be boring for me."

A gay icon especially since coming out in 2006, Bass has already said he doubts there will ever be same-sex dance couples on "Dancing With the Stars." That's because, he explains, "It's too hard to judge something like that. This competition is for a man and a woman, and that's how they judge the performances." But for a different show, perhaps even under his LOGO network deal? "It would be amazing," he says.

BUT DOES ANYONE GET SLIMED?: Barack Obama and John McCain differ on a lot of things, but one thing the two presidential candidates feel the same way about is taking part in Nickelodeon's pre-election show, because they believe kids' voices are important.

That's what we hear, anyway, from distinguished, multiple-Emmy-winning journalist Linda Ellerbee, the woman behind this Sunday's (10/12) "Nick News With Linda Ellerbee: Kids Pick the President" special — in which McCain and Obama individually answer questions posed by 10- to 15-year-olds across the land.

After it airs, kids will be able to cast their votes to the network, with results to be announced Oct. 20. Since pre-voting-age viewers have picked the same candidates for president that actually won in four out of five of the last elections — but two weeks earlier — "Grownups now pay attention to this special," Ellerbee says. "We're actually looked at as a legitimate poll."

The one time the kids differed with the adults was in 2004, when they voted for John Kerry. That was also the only year that a candidate chose not to participate — George W. Bush, who had done the special in 2000. This year, "Both candidates, from the beginning, said they wanted to do it."

Ellerbee is adamant that the kids shown did, in fact, ask their own questions. "Nine times out of 10, what they ask is what the grownups are asking, which is not my preference," she adds. "You say 'Iraq,' and it's like you push a button, and the canned answer comes out. That's why the best question, to me, came from the boy who said, 'I'm always picked last for the team, has that ever happened to you, and what did you do about it?' That kind of question gives you a hair's breadth of insight you wouldn't have otherwise."

VOICES UNITED: "I can't wait for the Divas. It's a very, very popular gig," says Patti Austin, who'll join pal Sheryl Lee Ralph and the rest of this year's talent lineup (including Patti LaBelle, Angie Stone and Raven-Symone) for Ralph's 18th Annual Divas Simply Singing concert — benefiting the Women Alive AIDS charity — this Saturday (10/11) at Beverly Hills' Wilshire Theatre. Actually, Austin has been waiting "at least three years to be part of it, but I've always been booked. Finally, this year, it's worked out," Austin says. "Sheryl Lee is an absolutely amazing person. It's been so much fun getting to know her as a result of doing this show together."

This has been a hectic year for Austin, who "started off with a bang, like being shot out of a cannon" with her Best Jazz Vocal Album Grammy win, for her "Avant Gershwin." Besides keeping up a crammed performance schedule, she now also has a TV pilot project in the works. "I am easily bored. I have to challenge myself, or I wouldn't be doing this anymore," she explains.

D FOR DUAL ID: Rapper Heavy D, who has a new album currently on iTunes, says he hasn't given up on his second love — acting. "I'm going to do another play this fall. I've also got some movie and television stuff I'm seeing about," he tells us. When asked if acting will ever become his first love, Heavy D responds, "I'm a Gemini, so it depends on the day. You can ask me tomorrow, and it'd be a different answer. As long as I wake up with a creative thought then I'm in a great place."

With reports by 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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