AYKROYD SLIMS DOWN FOR ELWOOD'S RETURN.

Byline: Marilyn Beck & Stacy Jenel Smith

Dan Aykroyd, in Toronto filming ``Blues Brothers 2000,'' is looking so great that ``we can cut between the first and second film without anyone telling the difference.''

That's the word from director John Landis, who informs this column, ``Dan has dropped 50 pounds for the film. I told him to, I said, `You're my leading man. If you remember, Elwood is handsome.' ''

While Landis was imparting his news from the Toronto location site of the film, Aykroyd was, according to the filmmaker, ``Dancing his a-- off'' for a scene in the film that picks up 18 years after the original ``Blues Brothers'' left off.

``It's so exciting, it's even better than the first movie was. And this time we have four Blues Brothers - not only Aykroyd, but John Goodman and Joe Morton and young Evan Bonifant.''

Isn't it hard to get along without the late John Belushi in his original role?

``These are mythical characters; we talk about his character in the movie,'' says Landis.

And isn't it difficult making the movie without Jim Belushi, who invested so many years trying to get the sequel off the ground?

Responds Landis, ``He wasn't in the first. It's not a disaster. And he does have a TV series.''

Landis is disappointed that he won't be able to attend the Aug. 23 screening of ``Animal House'' and a brand-new print of ``The Blues Brothers'' at the second annual Radio City Music Hall Film Festival. He'll still be busy putting his new ``Blues Brothers'' through their paces for Universal. ``Imagine having two of your movies played at Radio City - that's awesome,'' says Landis.

Ayyyyyyyy

Henry Winkler and singer-songwriter David Capri get together at month's end to bore into writing of ``Happy Days: The Musical'' for six weeks. The two are hoping to come out of their writing seclusion with a good first draft of the book for the ``Happy'' stage production they aim to open on London's West End the fall of '98. Capri conceived the idea, and the former Fonz may direct it in addition to co-writing. Winkler won't, however, perform in the vehicle. He works primarily behind the camera now - though he recently starred in an episode of ``Dead Man's Gun,'' the Showtime series he produces.

The big-screen scene

``I'm running on fumes, I'm so tired,'' says ``NewsRadio's'' Vicki Lewis, who went directly from the big-screen ``Mousehunt'' with Nathan Lane to the currently shooting ``Godzilla.'' ``I'm sort of a newcomer to films,'' says Lewis, ``so I don't know what to look for in a script. Both movies I've done on this hiatus have been all-nighters, all rain and lots of mud.''

She hasn't had to worry about ignoring her personal life. Her significant other, Nick Nolte, is in Australia making ``Thin Red Line.'' Vicki starts a new season of ``NewsRadio'' this week - but still has one more week of shooting on ``Godzilla.'' She says, ``This'll be fun. On Saturday, I fly to Hawaii and finish the movie. They're going to try to shoot my first episode of `NewsRadio' ... on the day I return.''

She's rolling

Hot country singer-songwriter Deana Carter is among the names who lent their talents to ``Stone Country,'' a collection of Rolling Stones songs covered by country singers. She wound up doing a rendition of ``Ruby Tuesday'' on the disc, which also includes Travis Tritt performing ``Honky Tonk Woman,'' Tracy Lawrence doing ``Paint It Black'' and George Jones singing ``Time Is on My Side.''

However, Deana says the Stones song that really caught her ear was ``Angie.'' ``But it would be the talk of the world if I sang it. It would be very confusing, because it's sung to a girl. Maybe k.d. lang could've done it,'' Deana says with a laugh, then adds, ``I'm just kidding.'' (Sammy Kershaw ended up with ``Angie.'')

Right now, Deana's on a solo tour. In October, she's set to go out with Alan Jackson. And squeezed in between, she plans to get in a week off - white-water rafting with her husband.

All together now

Proving that Mafia movies come in all kinds, there's an upcoming telepic called ``The Godson,'' about a bumbling goof who becomes the leader of a mob family after his brother's, er, untimely death. Casting is under way for a gang of look-alikes - including Don King, Donald Trump, Princess Diana, Robert Redford, Jodie Foster, President Clinton, Angelyne and Don Knotts - for gag cameos. Could be interesting.

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Photo

Photo: Dan Aykroyd

Drops 50 pounds