Toward the end of her life, silver screen legend Joan Crawford mused that of all the 'young stars', she felt only Faye Dunaway had the old-fashioned Hollywood style guts, looks and talents to burn as brightly as the stars of Crawford's own silver screen era. Ironically, it was Dunaway who went on to portray 'Mommie Dearest' in the 1986 camp classic which, while it certainly capitalized on the women's uncanny resemblance to each other, made for a campy, critical flop. It left Oscar-winner Faye done-away with even the mere mention of the motion picture now best remembered for the drag-queen culture it spawned.

Now comes word from my gossip colleague Janet Charlton that the movie rights to the life story of flamboyant televangelist-turned-pop icon Tammy Faye Bakker Messner have been scooped up by Charlene Tilton as a 'comeback' project. It's pretty clever casting and I say good for Charlene for being proactive about her career choices. (Renee Zellweger and Dolly Parton were two names that had been bandied about in Hollywood circles shortly before Messner's recent death...) I've known sweet Ms. Tilton through the Hollywood circuit for years and she is never without a smile or bawdy laugh, so I hope it turns out well for her! Of course, she's so petite (4'11) that she should probably reprise her role as 'Lucy Ewing' for the proposed movie version of 'Dallas'. They're reportedly having all sorts of casting woes with that one, the only sure fire decision being John Travolta as the nefarious 'J.R. Ewing'. For Sue Ellen, we've heard everything from Meg Ryan to Jennifer Lopez, Luke Wilson as Bobby and Shirley MacLaine as Miss Ellie. After being forced to sit through 'The Dukes of Hazzard', I can't help but wonder if the project is better off left solely to the imagination.

Clever casting is essential in Hollywood. The 'Back to the Future' franchise wouldn't have been the same if Michael J. Fox hadn't replaced Eric Stolz. Would 'The Wizard of Oz' be the same enduring classic if Shirley Temple had played Dorothy instead of Judy Garland? Hugh Jackman is the perfect 'Wolverine', no offense to the first casting choice, Dougray Scott. Would Stockard Channing's Lois Lane have captured Superman's heart back in the 1970s? For all the talent searching that went on behind-the-scenes, there could only have been one Scarlett O'Hara...'Vivien Leigh'!

Next time you're at the movies, stick around for the closing credits and pay attention to the Casting Director. He or She probably worked damned hard to get the cast assembled for your viewing pleasure! The audition process alone can be a nightmare of epic proportions! But when casting is spot on, you may not even notice-- because that is the mark of success: when an actor and a character are perfectly simpatico. Recently I got to visit the set of the new 'Get Smart' movie and my instinct is that Steve Carell and Anne Hathaway are ideal casting choices for Agent Maxwell Smart and Agent 99, respectively.

My lovely friend Bonnie Gillespie is one of Hollywood's most well liked and respected Casting Directors and the author of 'Casting Q's' I asked her how difficult it is to find the perfect actor for a given role. She says, 'It depends on so many factors. If the producers, director, writer (even the casting director) are a 'known commodity', reaching out to the top actors becomes easier. Everyone wants to work on good material with wonderful people, so if the off-camera team is already fantastic, pulling together a cast of further fantastic actors is sometimes quite simple. It's a business of relationships'.

Matt Damon and Jason Bourne. Cate Blanchett and Elizabeth I. Julia Roberts and Pretty Woman. Renee Zellweger and Bridget Jones. Brangelina and Mr. and Mrs. Smith. Jim Carey and The Grinch. Meryl Streep and Anything!

Come on... name some of your casting favourites and/or flops!