people and celebrities

Comic Fred Armisen has a professional stake in the presidential election.If Barack Obama wins, Armisen will get to continue his impression of him for the next four years, at least -- a role that has finally made Armisen a breakout performer on "Saturday Night Live" after being on the show for seven seasons.

Dale Dickey may turn out to be the scream queen of Halloween this year.She exercises her vocal cords not in a horror flick but in director Clint Eastwood's "Changeling," now in theaters."It's a small part, but you definitely see my face and hear my scream," says Dickey. It's the first time she's ever gotten to let it rip onscreen.

He was White House counsel to President Richard Nixon during the Watergate scandal years. John Dean blew the whistle on the administration's misdeeds. He testified, was convicted of a felony charge and disbarred.

There are five seasons for comedian Dennis Miller - summer, fall, winter, spring and political.With the presidential election just around the corner, Miller is armed with an arsenal of observations about politics and politicians sure to amuse his fans and outrage those who don't agree with his conservative libertarian point of view.

"Come in here and show them your teeth," actress Anna Paquin yells into another room.Actor Stephen Moyer walks in, a bit perplexed about why she wants him to open his mouth to a room of strangers. Then she giggles and asks him again to bare his fangs.And he does."See," she says, smiling. "He does have them."

It's an odd life when doing one job well can make you lose another.Comedian Jim Gaffigan has had increasing success thanks to appearances on David Letterman, cartoons starring himself and Conan O'Brien, commercials seen during the Super Bowl and even dramatic roles on Law & Order.

The Fabulous Palm Springs Follies plays to sold-out audiences each year at the Plaza Theatre in the California desert town.The revue features dancers, singers and comedians who are 55 or older. Some of the showgirls are in their 80s; the late Frankie Laine was one of the headliners in his 90s.Susan Anton makes her debut Jan. 7 as the featured star.

Here's a nonpartisan look at our five favorite presidential and vice presidential candidate impressions of all time, rated on a 0-to-5 scale for the actor or comic's resemblance to the candidate, impersonation and strength of material. Candidates from all parties were eligible, and getting elected wasn't a prerequisite. Argue our choices below.

Former Las Vegas casino executive and mob-connected sports handicapper Frank "Lefty" Rosenthal has died at his Florida home at age 79.Rosenthal had been living in Miami Beach and died of a heart attack Monday. No funeral services have been scheduled.A sports gambling pioneer, Rosenthal at one time ran the Stardust, Fremont and Hacienda hotel-casinos secretly.

Apparently, the world runs on Paris Hilton time.The reality-show star/hotel heiress is scheduled to call six times for an interview about her new MTV series, "Paris Hilton's My New BFF," airing 10 p.m. EDT Tuesdays.Five times she simply doesn't make the call. The sixth time she phones two hours later than scheduled.