George Clooney's reps have stated that the actor has no intention of returning for the finale of the long-running TV show "ER," which helped catapult his career, but his former co-star Noah Wyle says he's not so sure Clooney is a definite no.

"I don't know that he is or isn't," responds Wyle when asked what he thinks of Clooney not returning. Wyle, who will definitely be reprising his role as Dr. John Carter in four episodes, admits he'd love to see Clooney back on set. "Sure, who wouldn't?" he notes. "Part of me feels, 'Why wouldn't he?' And part of me feels, 'Why would he?' I doubt that he and I would have a storyline together even if he did come back," he adds. Along with Anthony Edwards' return appearance on last night's episode, "There will be a few familiar faces, hopefully enough to satisfy viewers and give them a sense of completion and closure."

For now, Wyle is looking forward to the premiere of another role he reprised in the case of his TNT TV movie "The Librarian: The Curse of the Judas Chalice," airing Dec. 7. The actor says there's something for everybody in his movies about a quirky, adventurous librarian who protects a secret collection of artifacts.

"I think one of the reasons they've been as successful as they are is that they tend to air close to the holidays, and they're popular as far as families watching them together. Adults don't feel like they're being dumbed down, and the kids don't feel like it's over their heads, so everybody gets something out of it," he explains.

Wyle just hopes this third installment won't be the last. "I don't think anybody wants to say goodbye to the franchise. I certainly don't want to say goodbye to the character," he tells us of the possibility of another movie. "I think if viewers turn out again for this one, it will give us all the indication we need to continue on."

THE INSIDE TRACK: Being associated with one of Broadway's biggest characters, Elphaba from "Wicked," may sound like a good deal to most, but for Shoshana Bean, who was Tony-Award winner Idina Menzel's first replacement, it came with some bumps when trying to make her debut album.

"There was a time when I was like, 'Stop seeing me as that! I'm making my own music now,'" admits Bean, who put her music career on hold while appearing in "Wicked" and "Hairspray." "This is something I've wanted to do for many years, but jobs in the theatre started happening. Finally I realized no dream should be put on the back burner for any reason, so these past two years I hung up my tap shoes, so to speak."

As a result, Bean now has her first album, "Superhero," hitting stores Dec. 2.

While she's excited about her R&B music, she says some people are surprised by her choice of genres. "Sometimes people are like, 'What? You're Jewish, you're white, you're from Oregon, and you can sing like that?' I think the Broadway aspect has been the hardest, though, because people have this preconceived notion just of Broadway in general and also of artists who have transitioned out of Broadway into the recording industry and how well they have done or not. I'm like, 'Just listen to it, and then give me your opinion. Don't judge because of my background.'"

Now Bean acknowledges that her Broadway background, especially in the case of playing Elphaba, has given her a big advantage. "I've been trying to get my music out, and as hard as it is, you need any kind of recognition you can get when it comes to promotion. 'Wicked' afforded me so much. I'm glad I didn't pass it up."

NOT (JUST) ANOTHER TEEN MOVIE: You think you know some kids with attitude problems? How about these? Casting is underway for a feature titled "Tag," about a group of street teens who share a terminal disease — and compete to see who can infect the most strangers with their deadly virus.

On the other hand, if that's not your cup of teen movie, over at Hallmark they're casting for a telepic called "Safe Harbor," in which a loving couple forego their long-planned three-year sailing trip in order to foster parent a group of troubled young boys.

With reports by 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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