The Hollywood Exclusive

 

Demi isn't 'Miss Guided' at all, Monica Seles finds her happy place

BY MARILYN BECK and STACY JENEL SMITH

Demi Moore was a steady presence by Ashton Kutcher's side during shooting of the new "Miss Guided" sitcom he produces -- and such behavior had a profound effect on the series leading lady Judy Greer. Reports Judy, "It was inspirational to see how they stick together -- she was with him all the time. Relationships can be hard in Hollywood, which makes it especially important for a couple to spend as much time together as possible."

Judy's love, independent filmmaker Felipe Marino, was also a presence on the set of the sitcom that completed its first season commitment the day before the Writers Guild struck last October. "He'd bring me burritos for dinner from our favorite Mexican restaurant," she says. She also says that they've been together for about a year but have no plans for marriage yet.

Greer, whose credits include "What Women Want," "The Wedding Planner" and "13 Going on 30," and the series "Arrested Development" and “My Name is Earl," will have a lengthy wait before "Miss Guided" starts a second season.

All seven segments that were shot are being run off this month, and it'll be May before ABC announces its fall lineup, and August before the series would return to production. She has confidence in the show, believes that her role as a perky high school guidance counselor has plenty of room for growth, and is high on the ability of Kutcher (who guested on a "Miss Guided" episode last week) to steer the show. "He has so many good ideas, so much energy and is so charismatic. Working with him is really, really, fun."



FROM THE INSIDE LOOKING OUT: You’re not going to hear former tennis superstar Monica Seles griping about the long hours of rehearsals she’s putting in as a contestant on “Dancing With the Stars.” She says some parts of doing the show are not as tough as people think. “The physical training doesn’t even compare to tennis. I haven’t even broken a sweat compared to that…

“The challenge is making it look soft, and the choreography is what is hard. My partner Jonathan has to go over the routines 100 times. I can’t hear the beat, which is a big minus, but it is what it is.”

In fact, Seles is feeling very positive these days – having gone through difficult times after the shocking attack she experienced in 1993, when she was stabbed during a match by a deranged fan.

“It was not easy. There were a lot of dark days. There are still some days that are dark,” admits Seles, who’s expected to bring out her memoirs next year. “My wound was almost three inches deep so that’s pretty serious. The gentlemen that stabbed me never went to jail. There were a lot of things that made me think, ‘What’s going on?’ When I decided to come back after being away from the sport for two and a half years, it was for the love of the game. Financially I was so secure by that point.

“I saw when my dad was passing away how quickly things go away. I wasn’t going to let someone else take away something I love to do. I hold the power in my life,” she notes. “I’m in a very, very happy place in my life right now and it took me a long time to get there, but I’m proud of getting here.”

Does she miss playing professionally? “No, I don’t. I think I had a great run. I tried so hard to come back for a couple of years and for me, the time just came where I had to face reality. Sometimes reality is not what you want it to be, but it was great while it lasted.”

THE INDUSTRY EYE: Just when you thought they had to be running out of ideas for reality shows, someone’s come up with “Journey of 1000 Miles.” In preproduction now, it’s described as a show with celebrities who want to go talk to the Dalai Lama. Casting is underway for a big screen adaptation of R.L. Stine’s “Mostly Ghostly,” which sounds a little like a “Topper” for little kids.

MAKING BIG DOUGH: The “Numb3rs” troupe will be “working till May 5 when we finish up the last episode,” reports costar Dylan Bruno. He’ll head back to his hometown of Milford, Connecticut where he’s trying his hand as a restaurateur opening a little joint called Poppa’s Pizza #2. Then, “we’ve gotten our early pickup, so we’ll be going back some time in July.”
With reports by Stephanie DuBois and Emily Feimster.