Just got off the phone with Jimmy Smits (at right), whose career I have followed since he was the sexy lawyer Victor Sifuentes on L.A. Law. He's just back from shooting a movie in Mexico and is working on a mini-series but admits to disappointment that his CBS series Cane didn't get another shot after the writers' strike.  Our reason for talking today, however, is the fact that he'll host A Capitol Fourth, the annual concert and celebration of Independence Day on the mall here in Washington, D.C., and broadcast on PBS. Smits has participated in the July 4th concert as well as in the annual Memorial Day concert and says there's nothing like seeing the fireworks against the backdrop of the nation's memorials. He doesn't have to convince me. I've been going to the mall for the display for more than 20 years; I've only missed a few — due to a thunderstorm or out of town trip — and will be there again this year.

(photo by Robert Voets/CBS)