DICK VAN PATTEN DOG DAYS

Did you know that actor Dick Van Patten, star of Eight is Enough, pedals dog food and treats? His Natural Balance brand is now sold in pet stores nationwide. Dick and his two partners opened this mom-and-pop company 11 years ago. They also provide food for bigger animals -- lions and tigers in zoos.  Oh my!

CELEBRITY DIRT

Actors Anne Heche and Ellen DeGeneres' Ojai, California house is up for sale.

The couple, who were together 3 1/2 years until they parted ways in August, bought the $2.7 million house in December, 1998.

Ojai, California is located two-hours north of Los Angeles. Many residents refer to their town as Shangri-La because in 1937, Frank Capra filmed his fantasy classic, Lost Horizon, amongst the many mountains and valleys of Ojai.

ANOTHER BACKSTREET BOY GETS HITCHED

Brian Littrel walked down the aisle with actress Leighanne Wallace in Atlanta.

Littrel met Wallace while shooting the Boys music video, "As Long As You Love Me" in which she was an extra.

E.T. COMES A CALLIN', AGAIN

The 20^th anniversary of E.T. doesn't come to pass until March, 2002, but the producers are wasting no time in publicizing the event.

Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment announced that a new and improved E.T. will hit the big screen and will feature substantial surprises!

The new E.T. will include never-before-seen footage, computer-generated additions and a re-mixed soundtrack.

THE WHITE HOUSE: THE FIRST TWO HUNDRED YEARS HISTORY CHANNEL SPECIAL

If I go into the state dining room, there's that extraordinary portrait of Abraham Lincoln and he's always watching us. His presence permeates the house," remarks First Lady, Hillary Clinton told History Channel producer Noah Morowitz. Morowitz has interviewed all former living presidents (except Ronald Reagan) for this upcoming special on the History Channel. The first president to spend the night at the White House was John Adams on November 1, 1800.

A NIGHT AT THE OPERA

The Los Angeles Opera opened its doors to a star-studded audience on the company's 15^th season with a performance of Giuseppe Verdi's Aida.. Angela Bassett, Courtney Vance, Robert Stack, Jacqueline Bisset, Ginny Mancini, Cyd Charisse and Tony Martin, and Doris Roberts in the audience -- Placido Domingo at the helm.

MADONNA AND RENEE CARRYING THEIR OWN WEIGHT

In two unrelated -- related stories -- both Madonna and Renee Zellweger are in the news because of extra pounds.

Madonna told Rolling Stone magazine that while she was pregnant, "I (looked) at myself in the mirror -- every time I (saw) some horrible picture of myself in the newspaper, where I looked like a whale...makes me feel insecure every five minutes."

And according to the New York Daily News, actress Renee Zellweger was rejected by Vanity Fair for a fashion layout because of her weight gain. The extra pounds are for her upcoming movie, Bridge Jones's Diary.