Celebs Chatting Thursday

By Jennifer Openshaw of the Women's Financial Network

Don Knotts. Don freakin' Knotts. No one else has come closer to being a living, breathing cartoon character than Don Knotts, the oddball star of "Three's Company" and "The Andy Griffith Show." And "The Ghost and Mr. Chicken" just wouldn't have been quite as enjoyable if, say, Charlton Heston or Gregory Peck had taken Don's part. The comedy legend will be chatting about his new autobiography on chat.lycos.com/calendar.html at 8 p.m. EST, 7 p.m. CST, 5 p.m. PST.

Paul Thomas Anderson is at the top of a very specific list: young, hip filmmakers with exciting new visions and brilliant storytelling skills. If you missed "Boogie Nights" you missed 1997's best (if a little harsh) film, and Anderson hopes to trump even that one with "Magnolia," coming to theaters Dec. 17. Chat with the 29-year-old big-leaguer on chat.yahoo.com/ at 9 p.m. EST, 8 p.m. CST, 6 p.m. PST.

It sure is Christmastime, isn't it? Sure is. Know how I can tell it's Christmastime? The teen scream dreams start putting out Christmas albums. Take young country cutie Bryan White. Bryan is considered the future of country, backing up his looks with some mad skillz. And he's putting out a Christmas album, about which he might be coerced into chatting on aol.com at 8 p.m. EST, 7 p.m. CST, 5 p.m. PST. AOL members only. Keyword: AOL Live.

It sure is Christmastime, isn't it? Sure is. Know how I can tell it's Christmastime? The old '80s soft-rock pop stars start putting out Christmas albums. Actually, Dan Fogelberg may be the only one in that category. Anyway, he is an old '80s soft-rock pop star, and he is putting out an album, called "First Christmas Morning," and he will be chatting on aol.com at 8 p.m. EST, 7 p.m. CST, 5 p.m. PST. AOL members only. Keyword: AOL Live. (Yes, same address, same time -- I didn't mess up.)

Joan Lunden. Joan freakin' Lunden. After 18 years (an all-time record for morning news co-anchors), Joan Lunden finally said goodbye to "Good Morning America." After a few film roles she's landed her own show, "Behind Closed Doors," in which her perpetual good cheer is lent to hard-hitting investigational interviews. Chat with her on ABC.com at 7 p.m Eastern, 6 p.m. Central, 4 p.m. Pacific.