In this article: Birthdays Last week's Who's News Also: Steven Spielberg interview Ask Lorrie Lynch a question about a celeb!

I don't understand why some celebrities date other stars nearly young enough to be their children. What could they be looking for?
Angel Marie Moll, Bellingham, Mass.

A good time, or long-lasting love. Besides, some May-December relationships -- Warren Beatty and Annette Bening, Harrison Ford and Calista Flockhart -- do last. That's clearly what over-the-moon Tom Cruise, 42, is hoping for with his new love, cute Katie Holmes, 26.

Last season on "Monk," the lovable character Sharona was replaced by an equally lovable character, Natalie. Where have I seen her before?
Vincent Bacaring, Yonkers, N.Y.

Maybe you saw Traylor Howard, back for "Monk's" fourth season July 8, on one of her previous sitcoms, "Two Guys and a Girl" or "Boston Common." In addition to her new job, she has a new life offscreen. Having split from her husband, Howard tells us she's focused on building a new home in Venice, Calif. "I love cooking," says the 39-year-old Orlando native. "I want a great kitchen where it's fun to hang out."

I've heard that first lady Laura Bush is a longtime cigarette smoker. The dirty habit doesn't seem to hold with her image. Is it true?
Elaine Shaw, Las Vegas

You may have heard rumors that she was smoking again because of the stress of last year's presidential campaign. Not true, says her White House spokesman. Mrs. Bush smoked as much as a pack a day in the early years of her marriage. She quit when she was trying to become pregnant, then fell back into the habit after she had the twins. She smoked until her husband was elected governor of Texas. A number of first ladies smoked, among them Nellie Taft, Grace Coolidge, Eleanor Roosevelt, Jackie Kennedy (never photographed with a cigarette) and Pat Nixon.

Mrs. Bush: Thank you for not smoking.

Jerry Hall, 48, former model and ex-wife of Mick Jagger, didn't hesitate when VH1 asked her to star in "Kept," a new reality show in which the winner becomes her "kept" man for a year. Here's why she said yes:
1. "It's all about the younger men. [They're] easy to train, very cute, and they're available."
2. Her "rocker-chick" friends got to help decide who stayed in the competition. "They would go on personality. I kept being very shallow, saying, 'He'd look awfully good at a premiere.' "
3. "I'm playing the powerful woman in charge of choosing an accessory. Usually it's men who get to do that."
4. It beat blind dating. "The worst thing is when your friends try to fix you up with someone and your friend's idea of who you like is always a disaster. I quit doing that."

In my opinion, there will never be a Kojak as good as Telly Savalas. He was one of a kind. What ever happened to him?
Irma Hernandez, Laredo, Texas

Savalas died in 1994. Theo Kojak, whom he played from 1973 to 1978 (and later in TV movies), was his most memorable role. But give Ving Rhames, 46, who has re-created the detective on USA Network, a chance. He may be no Savalas, but he's a great Kojak.

What happened to the FX series "Rescue Me?" I thought it had good ratings, but it never came back.
Debbie Turnbull, Marianna, Fla.

It's back this week. And with it again is Steven Pasquale, 27, who plays firefighter Sean Garrity. Pasquale says he is an "ode to Woody" -- as in Woody Harrelson's character on "Cheers" -- a little dumb and the comic relief. Like show creator Denis Leary, Pasquale admires real firefighters. They "opened my eyes to what it takes. To hear them tell stories about running into [burning] buildings, it's amazing."

I know Johnny Depp stars in "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory." When is it coming out?
Mithu Maheswaranathan, Hartsville, S.C.

It opens July 15, and Depp's "Finding Neverland" co-star Freddie Highmore, 13, is in it, too. "I was on holiday in the Grand Canyon with my family, watching the sun set, when I found out I got the part," says Highmore, who much admires Depp. London native Highmore plays soccer and clarinet, and, fittingly, he loves chocolate. "The caterers on the 'Charlie' set made chocolate pudding every Thursday," he says. "It was quite good."

Janeane Garofalo does not date. "I realize my lack of interest in dating -- and sex, by the way -- is unusual," she tells me. So she is indeed acting in the romantic comedy "Nadine in Date Land," premiering on Oxygen next Saturday. Garofalo, 40, host of an Air America talk show, would love to keep her hand in showbiz with a part-time job on a New York-based TV show. A medical examiner on "Law & Order," perhaps? "Or a researcher who works in the bowels of the building. Mariska and Belzer and Chris Meloni [of 'SVU'] would come down to see me. ... I'd wear big glasses and a lab coat." Dick Wolf, are you reading?

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BIRTHDAYS

June 19: Poppy Montgomery, 30, Paula Abdul, 43
June 20: Nicole Kidman 38
June 21: Prince William, 23
June 22: Donald Faison, 31, Carson Daly, 32, Meryl Streep, 56
June 23: Clarence Thomas, 57
June 24: Sherry Stringfield, 38
June 25: Dikembe Mutombo, 39

Contributing: Gayle Jo Carter, Evelyn Poitevent, Brian Truitt

Ask Lorrie Lynch a question about a celeb!