In this article: "Alias'" Carl Lumbly Lisa Edelstein TLC's Genevieve Gorder Amber Tamblyn and Alexis Beldel Birthdays Last week's Who's News Also: Ask Lorrie Lynch a question about a celeb!

I'm a big fan of Coldplay's music. Can you tell me when their new album is due?
Genny King, Bristol, Tenn.

The first single from it, "Speed of Sound," was out in April and was an instant hit; the rest of the CD is due Tuesday. The band is touring this summer, too. Check their Web site for details.

With "NYPD Blue" off the air, what will Dennis Franz do?
Susan Miles, Williamsburg, Mass.

Immediately after "Blue's" finale, Franz was "playing Mr. Holiday," golfing, vacationing and building a home in Idaho. He hopes to go back to making movies. Yes, back. Before his 12-year run on "Blue," Franz, 60, acted in movies like "Die Hard 2." "Dennis could do everything from Willy Loman to Archie Bunker," says "Blue" creator Steven Bochco, who once told us Franz's Sipowicz was the only character on the show he couldn't lose. "He is simply almost any incarnation you would want of every man."

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Carl Lumbly plays a CIA agent on ABC's "Alias," but he says, "The whole idea of committing what I consider the biggest sin, even if it's killing someone for the greater good, I still haven't wrapped my mind around that." Lumbly, 53, is "very conflicted about my son [age 16] seeing an image of me firing a gun, seeing me beat people," he tells us. "The wonderful thing about 'Alias' is that it's so over-the-top, more of a cartoon; it's easier to justify."

When I saw "The Wedding Date," I fell in love with sexy star Dermot Mulroney. What else has he made? How about a little personal background?
O. Yamriska, Algonquin, Ill.

Mulroney, 41, is married to the equally talented Catherine Keener, 45; they have a young son. The couple count among their Hollywood friends that other sexy star, Brad Pitt. Mulroney has been getting attention since "Young Guns" in 1988, but romantic comedy is really his thing. You'll see him at it again this summer, this time with Diane Lane and John Cusack in "Must Love Dogs," from the Claire Cook novel.

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Genevieve Gorder makes over whole communities on TLC's "Town Haul;" she also has a design store in New York, a book due this winter and renovation of her own two homes ongoing. Something had to give, so she postponed her wedding to Tyler Harcott, host of the Style Network's "Guess Who's Coming to Decorate." "I'm just dying for Diane von Furstenberg to do the dress," says Gorder, 30, still thinking nuptials. "I want something a little funky, not traditional." Will we get to see the ceremony on TV? Says Gorder: "I think TV has seen enough of my life."

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Lisa Edelstein is still absorbing the fact that her Fox show, "House," will be back next fall. "It's my first foray into Season 2," says the actress, who has worked consistently on TV nonetheless. Still, it's nice that at 38, Edelstein, who plays Dr. Lisa Cuddy, has job security. Her first splurge? "I'm renovating my kitchen." Plus, she planned to visit Italy and her new boyfriend; her kitchen designer fixed them up. Says Edelstein: "Now that I'm under a contract and living in Los Angeles, I meet a man who lives in Italy!"

Why has Matt Lauer kept his hair so short? Is he working on anything besides the "Today" show?
Linda Baden, Cincinnati

Lauer, 47, who no longer owns a comb, tells us he just isn't the kind of guy who'd go for hair plugs. So, short it is until there's none at all. Beginning Sunday, he hosts the Discovery Channel series "Greatest American," an "American Idol"-like show, complete with phone voting, for history buffs. And that's Lauer. "Lincoln helped free the slaves," he says, "but Martin Luther King [Jr.] helped advance the cause of civil rights. Who's most important? Those are the kinds of arguments you'll hear. These are the things my friends and I talk about."

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"Joan of Arcadia's" Amber Tamblyn and "Gilmore Girls"' Alexis Bledel are about the coolest teen girls on TV -- even if they are 22 and 23, respectively. This week they star with America Ferrera and Blake Lively in "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants." First, however, they talk with us:

Tell us about your friendships offscreen and on.
Amber: This film only works if the girls have chemistry, and we did. You have four completely different personalities, but all with open minds and open hearts.
Alexis: We were constantly cracking each other up on set, to the point where the director was like, "OK, girls, we're ready to shoot," and we didn't even hear him.

Who's the biggest prankster?
Amber: I would tell you to ask someone else, [but] that would probably frame me. Although with Alexis, even though she's cute, she stabs silently. [Laughs.]
Alexis: Amber.

The traveling pants are some great-fitting jeans. In real life, how much do you like trying on jeans?
Amber: It doesn't bug me that much. I mostly like vintage shopping.
Alexis: I hate it.

How many pairs were in your movie wardrobe, and what brands?
Amber: You can't ask that question -- I can't give away the secret!
Alexis: It's a big Levi's festival. We each had two pair in case we spilled something on them; they were all Levi's custom-tailored to our butts and legs.

Name your favorite jeans now.
Amber: Citizens of Humanity and Miss Sixty; they're pretty cool, always a good fit.
Alexis: I like Adriano Goldschmied -- usually called AG -- they're wonderful. And they have corduroys, too, that are really thin and soft. So nice.

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BIRTHDAYS

June 5: Mark Wahlberg, 34
June 6: Paul Giamatti, 38
June 7: Anna Kournikova, 24; Allen Iverson, 30
June 8: Julianna Margulies, 39
June 9: Natalie Portman, 24; Johnny Depp, 42
June 10: Elizabeth Hurley, 40
June 11: Hugh Laurie, 46

Contributing: Gayle Jo Carter, Evan Frank, Evelyn Poitevent, Brian Truitt

Ask Lorrie Lynch a question about a celeb!