Battlestar Galactica's Tricia Helfer Not Looking for Attention

"Scrubs" actress Judy Reyes just barely made it back to the series set for production this week, having been in New Jersey when Blizzard '06 was on the way. She managed to get a flight out after hers was canceled and "the airports were closing" -- and wound up going literally from the airplane to the studio. Reyes was in Jersey for a special presentation of the independent feature on which she's a co-producer and star, "Glow Ropes: The Rise and Fall of a Bar Mitzvah Emcee." 
 
"It's based on the writer-co-director's real-life story. I play the evil party planner who plucks him out of New Jersey, and he becomes a star announcer at bar mitzvahs in New York City," she says of George Valencia. "It's a total parody -- sort of a 'Zoolander' meets 'Best in Show.'" The "Glow Ropes" team has been screening the comedy at various showcase venues as diverse as The Brazilian Jewish Film Festival ("We didn't know it existed before, either"), The Garden State Film Festival, and a special showing in Madison, Wis., where bar mitzvahs aren't exactly de rigueur. The idea is to boost its profile before making a distribution deal. 
 
"Yes, I would like to keep producing. I would like to do it with money next time," she laughs. "The dream is to participate in putting together the kind of films you want to be in."
 
Besides learning the independent movie ropes with "Glow Ropes," Judy made the March 25 Hallmark Channel Movie "Our House" with Doris Roberts over her last "Scrubs" hiatus. The former "Everybody Loves Raymond" mama plays a wealthy, widowed Beverly Hills socialite who opens the doors of her mansion to the homeless after a destitute woman (Reyes) saves her life.
 
As far as Reyes is concerned, "Scrubs" is having its best season yet, and "all of us are thinking we have another year." However, "We know this is a very fleeting business," she says. And, referring to "Scrubs" colleagues Zach Braff and Donald Faison and their movie work, she adds, "That's why we take advantage of everything that is given to us to do, following Zach's and Donald's lead."
 
LOOKING OUT OF THIS WORLD:

"Battlestar Galactica's" Tricia Helfer is being hailed the new pin-up girl of science fiction, but the actress admits she doesn't pay too much attention to it.

"Battlestar Galactica's" Tricia Helfer

"I'm kind of removed from it. In my own time, I don't look like my character. I can take the wig off and step away so it doesn't really seem to affect me much," claims Helfer, who plays Number Six on the popular show. In fact, she's proud that her character is much more than just a pretty face. "At first, people thought she was the sexy one of the show, but she's intelligent, and there's a lot more going on with her."
 
It's no surprise Helfer's beauty is being admired, considering she spent 10 years as a model.

Now, she's using that experience in order to host and produce "Canada's Next Top Model." "It's insane the amount of countries that have bought up this show," she tells us of the reality program, which will follow Tyra Banks' format. "It's perfect timing because Canada is actually at the forefront of top international models right now." Though she's excited about the experience, Helfer admits she was reluctant to sign on. "I haven't modeled in over four years, so certainly I was worried about taking a step back. I fought for four years to be taken seriously as an actor. There's a huge stigma that models can't act. It's taken me a while to shed that."
 
MOM'S THE WORD:

With her showcase title role in "Diva" at the Pasadena Playhouse recently wowing audiences, veteran series star Annie Potts says she's looking to jump back into the weekly TV game. "I love episodic TV, so I'd love very much to do that again. I took a break. I was missing my children, so I've been tending to them for the last three years," says the mother of sons born in 1981, 1992 and 1996, "and now, I find that they are sick of me and don't need me any more, so I'm back."
 
THE IMPORTANT THING:

Reverend Run has been busy getting back into the spotlight having done the MTV reality show "Run's House" and his solo album "Distortion," but he says his main focus is and will always be his family. "I put most of my energy into raising my family. I go to bed every night thanking God for letting me get through the day, but I'm giving it all I've got to raise my family," he tells us. Luckily for Rev, he's been "very blessed with good kids," as he likes to say. "My daughter wants to be into fashion. Her aunt Kimora [Lee], who owns Baby Phat, does that so she can intern there." His oldest son, JoJo, wants to follow in dad's steps by becoming a rapper, and the Rev couldn't be happier. "Of course rapping is great. I'm a rapper. I'm supportive of anything that my children do -- at least all the healthy stuff. I don't know everything they do behind my back."