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Show talanNBM Inside TV Heather Locklear helps run 'LAX' in NBC airport drama By Jay Bobbin Zap2it There's more than one Heather Locklear Temperatures well over 100 degrees have been the norm during production of early episodes of her NBC drama series "LAX," premiering Monday, Sept. 13. But even with days on set in the Ontario, Calif., the actress glamorous, is not complaining. She says she's happy to have a weekly job again, in one of the few shows actually built around her; "Dy16-ho- ur long-popul- ar nasty," T. J. Hooker," "Melrose Place" and "Spin City" already were on the air when she became a cast'member. After signing her to do her next series, NBC put Locklear in a couple of "Scrubs" episodes while trying to find just the right vehicle for her. The first try was a sitcom pilot that didn't sell last year. Now, Locklear lands back in the weekly lineup as Harley Random, runway supervisor at Los Angeles International Airport. Harley could step up to become overseer of the entire facility, after the former holder of the post walks into the path of a jet taking off in the pilot episode's opening. Harleys principal rival for the promotion is Roger De Souza (Blair Underwood, "LA. Law"), her counterpart in running operations inside the LAX terminal Thus, they must work together while also competing for the higher position they both covet. The realities of modern airports keep their attention on everything from enhanced securi day-to-d- ty measures to the comfort of VlPa who are magnets for the public and the paparazzi. The morning after one ofthose days, a weary but pleasant Locklear confirms she was aware of the network bidding war that erupted over her when 16-ho- her "Spin City" stint ended. "You get a feeling," she says, "then you have to block yourself off from it because it gets to be too much. It's all talk, like believing your own publicity, so you just have to step away from it. Whatever happens is supposed to ... and when it doesn't, you go, Hey! What " happened to all that talk?' Despite her past successes, as she the series fray, Locklear admits having "great anxiety. I don't even know how else to describe it. Once you get picked up for the first 13 episodes, you say, 'OK Now, are people going to watch?" There's always the next step, the Vhat if while you're trying to enjoy rs frank John Hughes, Heather Locklear, Wendy Hoopes, David Paetkau, Blair Underwood and (from left) star as airport employees in the NBC drama series "LAX," debuting Monday. Paul Leyden the process." Although NBC's first shot at giving Locklear a new show (the proposed comedy "Once Around the Park") didn't pan out, her deal only got sweeter. "They added more money to my pot and said, "Let" s wait for another sitcom.' What the network and I had agreed upon didn't surface, and the idea for what became "LAX came around. I loved the character, so I said, Til do this.' They said, TBut we want you in a half-hoshow.' And I said, 'I love this character.' And here we are. It's still in their control, but ' it worked out well." Locklear is especially glad to have as prominent a as Underwood to share the load. "He takes it on so gracefully," she says, "everything is just in stride with him. He's so genuine and giving, it's great to have him." Other "LAX" cast regulars include Paul Leyden ("As the World Turns") as the passenger-relations chief; and Frank John Hughes ("Band of Brothco-st-ar ra ers"), Wendy Hoopes and voice-camember of the mated "Daria") and David st ani- Paetkau ("Taken") as law enforcers of varying responsibilities. Having traveled through the real LAX countless times - often with her rock-sta- r husband, Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora, and their daughter, Ava (who turns 7 next month) - Locklear thought she knew the airport. But now that she's filming some scenes for the show there, she's getting to know it much better. "We got to go inside the original control tower," she reports. "The airport looks a lot smaller when you're up on top; ifg not so fore- take you around, you think, 'Oh, that's easy!' It seems like it would be simple to take care of that 'world' boding.. Once they ACADEMY OF HAt DESIGN in Spanish Fork V announces It's second location at - v the MATC Campus NOW ENROLLING In American Fork NEW STUDENTS Receive 3 Off Any Haircut in our (till service salon 756-1636798-0- lenge posed by today's security demands, Locklear notes, "It's part of our lives now, and we just have to accept it Huge precautions are being taken, more than you or I know. I actually feel safer at LAX than being in my bed." As a prelude to her TV return in "LAX," Locklear was the subject of a recent "E! True Hollywood Story" profile. When she saw it, she deemed it "beyond flattering, although to my daughter, I had no life before I met my current husband - so we had to "bleep' some things at home. In fact, to my husband, I also had no life before him. "I couldn't believe it was a two-ho- the airport is." Still, Locklear gives ample credit to those who have the needed skills. "You realize the whole idea is to uphold safety and serve the about these things.' It didnt passengers and keep things seem rolling." Considering the chal show Locklear adds. "Boy, am I old! All I could think was, Wow! People are still talking Blow, so I guess Fve had a somewhat entertaining life." |