"Sex and the City" blond sex symbol Jason Lewis laughs off the latest reports about his romantic life — that have him "canoodling" with supposed new interest Teri Hatcher, just a month or so on the heels of reports he was enjoying time with Jennifer Aniston.

"I didn't know. I don't pay enough attention, I guess. I just found out from you that me and Teri are dating," he says lightly. At least he seems to have a sense of humor about it. "Oh, you have to," says Lewis. "Life's not that serious. Sticks and stones can break my bones but words can never hurt me. … Schoolyard wisdom."

Lewis's Jerry "Smith" Jerrod character — aka the guy who meant the most to Kim Cattrall's randy Samantha — is back for this summer's "Sex and the City" movie. "The hard thing is all the expectations people have about it," he says. "But these are very talented writers, and they did a good job in terms of moving along the characters and stories — where everyone would be now. It really works. And it was a lot of fun to get back together with a bunch of people I really like. Most of the crew from the series was back — wardrobe, makeup. … We had a big barbecue and hung out."

Lewis is busy right now shooting an episode of "House," playing a soap opera star whose unusual ailment is spotted by Gregory House (Hugh Laurie) on TV, and subsequently finds himself under the cranky doctor's care.

"The writing is phenomenal. I think they chipped me when I was asleep — inserted a computer chip to make sure I don't give anything away," he says.

And the hunky Lewis also has completed a role in the upcoming Jaime King feature, "The Pardon," based on the true story (circa 1939) of Toni Jo Heny, the only woman to die in the electric chair in Louisiana. She got into trouble the for love of him, wouldn't 'ya know.

THE REAL DEAL: Deion Sanders may have been known as "Prime Time" for his flashy ways on the football field, but the former NFL and MLB star says people will see a much more private man when they tune into his family's Oxygen reality show "Deion & Pilar Saunders: Prime Time Love."

"I never thought of myself to be like that," claims Sanders of his grand public persona. "When I'm away from the game, I'm truly away from the game. It's pretty much two different entities.

... I'm really private when it comes to home," says the father of five. "Most athletes, you're just seeing them do what (it is) that they do. It's not often you see them away from the field, but they're fathers, mentors, family men, disciplinarians."

In fact, Sanders, who spends much of his time at home and coaches his kids' football teams, says it's about time more real African-American families were seen on television.

"Excluding 'Run's House,' there isn't a show that depicts African-American families in the right light. We haven't had a show since 'The Cosby Show' that tells the community how we are. I wanted to have a show about a Christian-based African-American family with the correct morals and values. I want to educate while we entertain."

MIXED MEDIA: "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" carpenter/handyman Rib Hillis says he's hooked on the show — but he's not ready to give up his emoting. "I definitely get a lot out of what I do on 'Extreme Makeover,'" says the former model-cum-actor, who started on the soap "Port Charles" and has guested on such shows as "Ugly Betty" and "CSI." "In fact, I get paid more than money — but I certainly have a passion for scripted acting and would love to continue."

Hillis says the upcoming indie film, "Taos," provided him a chance to show his range. "I play the lead, a lawyer caught up in the corporate rat race with his nose to the grindstone, and it's about a journey of self-discovery. Trying to get to Aspen to be with his fiancee's family, he has a car accident in Taos, New Mexico. He meets all these amazing non-traditional people who make him question his life, then discovers his passion is not corporate law, but to be a writer." He adds, "I worked every single day and it was a big challenge for me, but I saw the end film and I was really pleased. It works."

PERISH THE THOUGHT: James Mangold, whose most recent big screen contribution was "3:10 to Yuma," has the sci-fi feature "Cyclops" next on his agenda. It's based on a French graphic novel, and "takes place in a near future that's really not so different from today," he says. "War is being fought by soldiers who wear helmets with cameras on their heads, or implanted on them, so the whole world can watch. It's part-theater, part-real war — where war meets commerce meets entertainment." The hero is a soldier who rises up out of this scenario, but Mangold says he's not thinking casting yet. "We're still in the scripting phase."

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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