Benji

Parents, take warning: Let your very little children see "Benji the Hunted" (Metro in Westwood and then citywide Friday) at your own peril. You will never loom as strong, as smart, as all-knowing or even as huggable after they've had a look at li'l Benji in action. After all, here's a little feller, clawing his way up a rocky mountain face, carrying a cougar kitten in his mouth. Not once. Not twice. Three times.

It was another night, another batch of battles on Monday's "The Voice," as more talented singers faced off. Some promising vocalists were unexpectedly sent home, and some were surprisingly saved. Here's how it all went down: Team Blake Pairing: Hardworking mariachi singer Julio Cesar Castillo vs. fiery 42-year-old Terisa Griffin Song: "Conga" Thoughts going in: Castillo has a boyish Latin charm and solid vocals to boot, while Griffin can belt with the best of them.

Movies were in their infancy when British director Cecil Hepworth put his family's pet, a collie named Blair, in the 1905 thriller "Rescued by Rover. " Not only is Blair credited with being the first canine film star, but "Rescued by Rover" proved so popular that the film had to be reshot twice because the negatives wore out after so many prints were made. And so began a great love affair between movie audiences and dogs. Since Blair's screen debut, fans have fallen for the faith, devotion and sheer beauty of such four-legged superstars as Rin Tin Tin and the dogs who played Lassie Toto, Asta and Benji.

His wife starred in a reality series about Alaska. His daughter stars in a reality series set in L.A. that premiered Tuesday night. Now Todd Palin, Sarah's husband and Bristol's father, will compete against retired boxing champion Laila Ali, singer Nick Lachey and other celebrities in a competition show called "Stars Earn Stripes. " NBC announced Tuesday that retired Army general and former presidential candidate Wesley Clark will co-host the series with television personality Samantha Harris.

Regarding "Less Fat: Popcorn or Milk Bones?" Summer Sneaks, May 15): I read Claudia Puig's article on dogs in Hollywood films and (sniff) feel so left out. JOE CAMP Mulberry Square Productions Gulfport, Miss. Camp is the creator of Benji and writer-director of the four Benji films.

It was another night, another batch of battles on Monday's "The Voice," as more talented singers faced off. Some promising vocalists were unexpectedly sent home, and some were surprisingly saved. Here's how it all went down: Team Blake Pairing: Hardworking mariachi singer Julio Cesar Castillo vs. fiery 42-year-old Terisa Griffin Song: "Conga" Thoughts going in: Castillo has a boyish Latin charm and solid vocals to boot, while Griffin can belt with the best of them.

His wife starred in a reality series about Alaska. His daughter stars in a reality series set in L.A. that premiered Tuesday night. Now Todd Palin, Sarah's husband and Bristol's father, will compete against retired boxing champion Laila Ali, singer Nick Lachey and other celebrities in a competition show called "Stars Earn Stripes. " NBC announced Tuesday that retired Army general and former presidential candidate Wesley Clark will co-host the series with television personality Samantha Harris.

Ever wonder what happened after Pepe le Moko disappeared into the Casbah, and after Rick and piano player Sam closed the bar and left post-war Casablanca? Linda Ballew and Terence Alaric have some answers for you in their new musical "Murder in Morocco" at the Newport Theatre Arts Center. It's 1948. The villains are Russians now, not Nazis, but things are progressing just as they always have.

Marilyn Beck, interviewing Howie Mandel last week, mentioned "A Fine Mess" as one of his conspicuous failures. But what about "Walk Like a Man," the Mandel comedy of a boy raised by wolves, which may have howled its last? Or should that be whimpered? Originally called "Bobo," it was scheduled for a national release last November, then February, then May. It finally had a muzzled opening around town in June at the bottom half of drive-in bills with "Benji the Hunted."

When the newest "Lassie" movie reaches theaters this summer, Paramount Pictures won't be the only one with a chance to profit from the courageous hound. Pet stores and dog breeders can expect a surge in customers who simply must have a collie of their own. It's a common phenomenon. Beer commercials featuring Spuds MacKenzie made the American bull terrier popular overnight, industry experts say. After the 1990 film "Beethoven," St. Bernards became the rage.

Movies were in their infancy when British director Cecil Hepworth put his family's pet, a collie named Blair, in the 1905 thriller "Rescued by Rover. " Not only is Blair credited with being the first canine film star, but "Rescued by Rover" proved so popular that the film had to be reshot twice because the negatives wore out after so many prints were made. And so began a great love affair between movie audiences and dogs. Since Blair's screen debut, fans have fallen for the faith, devotion and sheer beauty of such four-legged superstars as Rin Tin Tin and the dogs who played Lassie Toto, Asta and Benji.

Wagging its tail and eager to please, "Benji Off the Leash!" traipses into theaters today nearly 210 dog years after the first Benji movie made the prodigal pooch a worldwide star. The little dog himself long ago passed into Hollywood heaven, but writer-director Joe Camp has turned the Benji brand into a canine cottage industry of feature films and TV specials. Unfortunately, the new film does not live up to the low-key charm of the original.

Frank Inn, the trainer of some of Hollywood's best-known animal performers, including Benji the dog, has died. He was 86. In failing health for some time with diabetes, Inn died Saturday at a nursing home in Sylmar, his daughter Kathleen Hees said. Inn had fallen in February and had been in the nursing home since that time.

The Family Channel features a six-hour marathon of "Gidget" movies Sunday, each with a different actress in the title role. The films, for ages 7 and up, begin at 1 p.m. with Gidget Goes Hawaiian. This 1961 movie stars Deborah Walley as Gidget and James Darren as Jeff (Moondoggie) Matthews. Gidget is miserable when she has to leave Moondoggie to go with her family on a Hawaiian vacation, but she doesn't remain that way long.

Regarding "Less Fat: Popcorn or Milk Bones?" Summer Sneaks, May 15): I read Claudia Puig's article on dogs in Hollywood films and (sniff) feel so left out. JOE CAMP Mulberry Square Productions Gulfport, Miss. Camp is the creator of Benji and writer-director of the four Benji films.

When the newest "Lassie" movie reaches theaters this summer, Paramount Pictures won't be the only one with a chance to profit from the courageous hound. Pet stores and dog breeders can expect a surge in customers who simply must have a collie of their own. It's a common phenomenon. Beer commercials featuring Spuds MacKenzie made the American bull terrier popular overnight, industry experts say. After the 1990 film "Beethoven," St. Bernards became the rage.

Not many around here know much about noshing, but in New York City, it's a part of everyday life. It has been since the 1600s, when food vendors first situated themselves all over New Amsterdam (pre-I Love N.Y. days), selling clams, corn on the cob and sweet potatoes to people in need of a fast snack. To grab the true spirit of a traditional nosh today, step into any great New York-style delicatessen and order a bit of everything.

"Just to see the happiness in their faces and the look in their eyes is worth it," Joe Fox said with a wide smile. Fox watched from his wheelchair as a line of disabled children waited excitedly to meet Benji, canine star of TV and movies. Fox and Benji were among the visitors at Lord Braden Powell Public School for the Physically Handicapped Thursday for a special pre-Easter party co-sponsored by the California Paralyzed Veterans Assn.

Ever wonder what happened after Pepe le Moko disappeared into the Casbah, and after Rick and piano player Sam closed the bar and left post-war Casablanca? Linda Ballew and Terence Alaric have some answers for you in their new musical "Murder in Morocco" at the Newport Theatre Arts Center. It's 1948. The villains are Russians now, not Nazis, but things are progressing just as they always have.

Benji Grigsby studied business and pitching at San Diego State, not dentistry or orthodontics. In search of wisdom, however, his teeth played havoc with his pitching. Though he realized as early as December his wisdom teeth would eventually have to come out, he had no idea the effect that waiting would have on his baseball career. Those wisdom teeth might be what cost Grigsby a spot on the U.S. Olympic team, and they have cost him at least four weeks of his first professional season.