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Ask Stacy

Marilyn Beck and Stacy Jenel Smith

DEAR STACY: I remember that someone was going to make an animated feature out of one of my kids' (and my) favorite children's books, "The Night I Followed the Dog." Whatever became of that? -- Jennifer W., Cleveland, Ohio

DEAR JENNIFER: Nina Laden's fun storybook, about a boy who discovers his dog has a double life as the owner of a swanky doggie nightclub, has been in development for years. At one point it looked likely to be made by "I Am Sam" filmmaker Jessie Nelson. Currently, Laden notes on her Web site, she is personally at work on the second draft of the adaptation of her book, the rights to which she still owns. She says she's working with two producers and an animation director. It's taking a while. As she puts it, "Getting movies made is like wishing on a star (or many stars). You just never know when or if your dream will come true. So the news may change and then may change again."

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DEAR STACY: Where are these actresses today? 1) Jane Russell and 2) Faith Domergue. -- James M., Mount Vernon, N.Y.

DEAR JAMES: At 87, feisty Jane Russell still performs near her home in Santa Maria, Calif. She put together a revue called "The Swinging Forties" in which she stars with some local residents, and it has played twice a month, off and on, since 2006. She's on a break now, but, "We expect her back in January of '09," according to a hotel rep. She started the show because, she said, she was bored and realized there wasn't enough for seniors in the area to do. She's also appeared at the Vandenberg Air Force Base in Memorial Day specials. Russell moved to Santa Maria after the death of her third husband, John Peoples, in 1999 to be closer to her youngest son Buck Waterfield. Faith Domergue, the one-time love of Howard Hughes, died of cancer in 1999 at age 74.

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DEAR STACY: Whatever happened to Lisa Blount of "An Officer and a Gentleman"? I don't think I've seen her in anything since she played a prostitute on "Moonlighting." -- T.L., Canton, Ohio

DEAR T.L.: Blount keeps working, though she hasn't been seen as prominently as in her '80s heyday in recent years. She's in the 2007 indie comedy "Randy and the Mob," and 2004's "Chrystal" -- the latter of which she produced in addition to co-starring with Billy Bob Thornton. As a producer, she, along with her husband Ray McKinnon, won an Oscar for Best Live Action Short for the 2001 "The Accountant."

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DEAR STACY: "Criminal Minds" is one of my favorite shows, especially the cute bantering between Shemar Moore (Morgan) and Kristen Vangsness (Garcia). Please tell me more about her. I'm a big fan. -- L.A.R., Brooklyn, N.Y.

DEAR L.A.R.: Born in Cerritos, CA, and based in L.A., the 36-year-old actress is also a performance artist and playwright whose theater work has garnered her accolades including the Los Angeles Drama Critics Award for Best Emerging Comic Actress. She says she started acting to overcome a shyness problem. She is a member of the Theater of NOTE company in Hollywood, and says she aims to keep performing on stage as well as on camera.

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DEAR STACY: Is David Caruso related to the famous opera star, Enrico Caruso? -- Jordan C., Bayonne, N.J.

DEAR JORDAN: Unless by some extremely distant connection, no.

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DEAR STACY: "Breaking Bad" is the smartest, most original show in years. How long do we have to wait for season two? -- Jim G., Staten Island, N.Y.

DEAR JIM: The Bryan Cranston dark dramedy isn't due back 'til '09, so sorry, you'll have to keep waiting. At least you can take heart in the fact that they're making 13 episodes, rather than seven as in the first season, which was shortened by the writers' strike.

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DEAR STACY: Were there any contestants from the old "Gong Show" who went on to fame and fortune? Just curious. -- Len G., Chattanooga, Tenn.

DEAR LEN: That strange Chuck Barris program of the 1970s-80s did see a few talents that proved they were worthy of far, far better things -- including pre-teen Broadway star-to-be Andrea McArdle and singers Boxcar Willie, Cheryl Lynn and Louanne, and comic entertainer Paul "Pee Wee Herman" Reubens. Also seen on "The Gong Show" was acclaimed film and television composer Danny Elfman -- when he was the leader of the group The Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo.

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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 Creators Syndicate Inc.

This news arrived on: 09/27/2008

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