It was a trip to the island of deja vu when Carol Burnett journeyed to Hawaii to film her Nov. 22 guesting on "Hawaii Five-0" with long-time pal Larry Manetti. In fact, the idea of Carol guesting on the show came about when she was on Manetti's radio talk show, and "Five-0" executive producer Peter Lenkov phoned in. The three even talked on the air about a possible duet featuring Larry and Carol.

"I've known Carol 30 years running," says the actor. "She had a recurring role on 'Magnum, P.I.' as a screwy detective. She was fantastic." Manetti, of course, played nightclub manager Rick Wright on that vintage hit for almost nine years. He got back into island nightclub garb for CBS's Alex O'Loughlin incarnation of "Five-0" — now playing Nicky "The Kid" DeMarco — at Lenkov's suggestion. Lenkov also wanted Manetti's character to sing. That posed a problem, the actor tells us, because his voice "could clear a room."

Referred to vocal coach Clark Harris by Tom Selleck and his wife, Manetti found his work cut out for him. Harris told him that, "You can't touch the scales. You can't even hear the scales." Manetti says, "It was horrible. If would listen to 'Seriously Sinatra' on my way to my lessons, and want to turn around and go home. I spent $4,300 with him, 100 dollars a lesson, and then one day he finally said, 'I think you're getting it.' It was like hearing from your professor that you might have a chance to pass."

Manetti does sing — and viewers will hear him on Nov. 22 — but the idea of his duetting with Carol didn't quite happen. She shows off her pipes solo. "Believe me, she is extraordinary," Manetti says.

As for his own singing, Manetti now feels encouraged enough to be thinking about putting an act together. "I always tell other actors and actresses, 'Never give up. If you keep on working long enough and hard enough, something will happen.'"

THE NICE LIST: The Hallmark Channel gang was in a celebratory mood at the holiday soiree and premiere screening of its new "The Christmas Ornament" at L.A.'s The Grove the other night — with good reason. As pointed out by CEO Bill Abbott just prior to the showing, The Hallmark Channel's "Countdown to Christmas" programming earned the channel the No. 1 spot in cable for the past two weekends running. Those who believe it's impossible to attract an audience without profanity, violence or nudity, take note.

"Christmas Ornament" stars Kellie Martin and Cameron Mathison were among the stars present for the pre-screening party at nearby La Piazza. (Kellie's support retinue included her husband, attorney Keith Christian, their 7-year-old daughter Maggie, her parents and in-laws.) Also attending was Hallmark Channel fave Candace Cameron Bure, who has her own movie premiering on the network Nov. 30, "Let It Snow." She plays a hard-charging hotel executive charged with transforming a ski lodge into a modern winter hotspot, and stripping away its quaint Christmas traditions. Other Hallmark Channel names were on hand for the fun as well, including Bruce Boxleitner, Barbara Niven and Dylan Neal of "Cedar Cove."

A tale about a grieving widow who thinks she's going to skip celebrating Christmas until Hallmark Channel-style things begin to happen, "The Christmas Ornament" is just the thing for those who prefer more sugar than spice in their holiday fare. It's the latest in a string of Hallmark Channel movie for Martin, the former "Life Goes On," "Christy" and "ER" actress. According to her, "They've been so great to work with for so long. I've worked with them since 2004. I think that's when I did the first 'Mystery Woman,' or maybe 2003." Martin took time away from her career from Maggie's birth to the start of school. "I got her ready and into kindergarten totally solid, no changes with mom. Mom was not working."

Now, the former juvenile star says she weighs prospective assignments as they come. As for whether Maggie might follow in Mom's footsteps, Martin makes it clear she will have to wait: "I told her she can act after she goes to college. If she still wants to do it when she's old enough to take herself on auditions, she can do it." Meanwhile, she'd like Maggie to focus on being a kid.

TACKY TASTE AWARDS VOTING UNDERWAY: It's almost Turkey day, which means it's time for our annual roasting of celebrities who've exhibited the tackiest taste this year. Yes, the 36th Annual Beck/Smith Hollywood Tacky Taste Awards are soon to be decided, based on reader votes and opinions. It almost seems like a runaway for 2013 considering a certain pot-smoking, wrecking ball twerking naked songstress who has seemingly gone out of her way to collect the prize, but Miley Cyrus is not the only candidate. Some of Justin Bieber's lapses may also be recalled, for example, such as cursing out Bill Clinton and urinating in a bucket on video — or writing in the visitor's book at the Anne Frank House that he hoped Anne Frank would have been a "Belieber" had she been alive today. We're wondering if Anthony Weiner's name might surface, or Chris Brown's, or Oscar host Seth MacFarlane, for his joke about Chris Brown and his "We Saw Your Boobs" number. We're looking forward to finding out what you think! Tell us who's your choice for Tackiest celeb and be sure to include why. Send emails marked Tacky Taste to Stacy@becksmithhollywood.com. The Top 10 results will be posted Thanksgiving week.