COLLINS' ROLE MODELS, GOOD AND BAD.

Stephen Collins stars as a minister in Aaron Spelling's family drama ``7th Heaven,'' but his character, Aaron, in the hit film ``The First Wives Club'' would be more suited for ``Melrose Place.''

Aaron is married to Diane Keaton's character in the movie. He is an advertising executive, a manipulator and a world-class lech.

``He's a real cad,'' Collins said. ``Hopefully, he's one that's charming and funny.''

Aaron is the polar opposite of Eric, the man he plays on ``7th Heaven'' at 8 p.m. Mondays on the WB (Channel 5).

``He's kind of true blue,'' Collins said.

Eric is a great father who dispenses great advice and - in the television tradition of Mike Brady, Tom Corbett (``The Courtship of Eddie's Father'') and Cliff Huxtable - is a role model for parents.

``I was talking to my wife about it,'' Collins said, ``I'm really parenting 100 percent of the time now.''

Collins said he draws on his own parenting experiences (he has a 7-year-old daughter).

``What I'm seeing with `7th Heaven' is the response it's getting from people out there in the viewing public who are desperately looking for role models,'' Collins said. ``When I run into people in the supermarket, they are wringing my hand. There is a tremendous thirst for it out there.''

Collins says he has become protective of the image.

The fictional family was sitting around the kitchen table in one scene, and Collins realized that all of the food on the table was junk food.

``I'm not saying it should be all rice cakes,'' Collins said. ``We find ourselves looking out and guarding our characters.''

His other character, Aaron, probably wouldn't have noticed what food was on the table. As a matter of fact, he may not even have been home.

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Photo

Photo: Stephen Collins is currently starring in both ``7thHeaven'' and ``The First Wives Club.''