Tomorrow will be a banner evening for Hillary and Jason Cotton. The Spring Valley couple's two sons, Maxwell, 8, and Mason, 6, have roles in back-to-back hit series on ABC.
First, on “Desperate Housewives” at 9 p.m., Mason will debut as the 5-year-old son of Teri Hatcher's character, Susan (the series speeds ahead five years from last season's finale when she gave birth).
Then, at 10 p.m., Maxwell reprises his role as Sally Field's grandson on “Brothers & Sisters.” Maxwell has played Cooper since the TV series began two years ago. He also starred in a “Dennis the Menace” DVD and is finishing a feature film, “Like Dandelion Dust.”
Maxwell's agent learned of the “Desperate Housewives” role and asked the Cottons if Mason would like to audition. Mason also had a cameo appearance Thursday (Sept. 25) on “ER.”
Teachers at La Mesa's Warren-Walker School have been supportive of the boys' careers, but given the demanding shooting schedule and frequent trips to Burbank, this year the Cottons decided to home school.
“It is going to be our biggest challenge yet on this crazy ride we have been on,” says Hillary, “but we are up for it.” The boys won't be watching TV with Mom and Dad tomorrow night – the shows air past their 8 p.m. bedtime.
Traffic stopper
KUSI TV newscaster Paul Bloom was driving north on Interstate 15 the other afternoon when his jaw dropped at the sight of a huge military armored truck, also heading north. It was a powerful monster called an MRAP (Mine Resistant Ambush Protected) vehicle chugging along at 55 mph.
“I was so impressed by its sheer size and shape – the bulging bulletproof windows, huge tires and thick, bulky fenders – that I pulled alongside to admire it,” Bloom says. Then he quickly decided to get away from it. The sign hanging from the rear said: “Student Driver.”
Hollywood South
Actress Sarah Michelle Gellar, an ambassador for CARE, a poverty fighting organization, is headlining tonight's anniversary celebration for the Ivy Hotel in the Gaslamp Quarter. Also on the Ivy's weekend attendance list: actors Kiefer Sutherland and Scott Wolf; actresses Regina King and Brittany Snow; comedian Judy Tenuta and model Amber Valletta.
Actor David Lago, of “The Young and the Restless” and “7th Heaven” fame, gave impromptu back rubs for $20 at the local United Cerebral Palsy celebrity waiter luncheon last Friday. Not to be outdone, however, Channel 6 anchorman Jim Patton offered cut-rate in-chair massages for a mere $5. Patton administered 10 in short order.
For the record
Tomorrow marks the last chance to buy mementos from the Heritage Park Inn bed and breakfast in Old Town that recently lost its lease. Setting the record straight, the inn was not in bankruptcy when its current operators, Nancy and Chuck Helsper, bought it in the early '90s. Lori Chandler, who founded the business and ran it successfully for five years, says she sold it to a couple from Walnut Creek who struggled for nearly two years and then asked Chandler to take it back. She did and sold it to the Helspers two weeks later.
It's a small world
San Diegans Greg and Marilyn Noonan decided to trace family roots on a recent trip to Ireland. With research in hand, they drove into the town of Dromcolliher in County Limerick and asked a woman for directions to the church and cemetery.
They explained their name was Noonan and had traveled from California in hopes of learning more about their ancestry. The lady pointed across the street and said: “There's a Noonan right there!”
Greg went over and introduced himself, then unrolled a document showing that his great-grandfather, Mortimer Noonan, had emigrated from Dromcolliher to Chicago in 1867.
The Irishman replied that his name was Jim Noonan and said: “Ah, indeed, we could be cousins!” Then he added with a grin, “Have ye any money?”
Their newfound friend quickly introduced them around town.
Diane Bell's column appears Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Fax items to (619) 260-5009, call (619) 293-1518 or e-mail to diane.bell@uniontrib.com.
