Carmen Electra's union with Dennis Rodman may be on the rocks, but her career is going much more smoothly: She's joining the cast of The WB's struggling freshman soap "Hyperion Bay," opposite "Saved by the Bell" grad Mark-Paul Gosselar. Her character, a corporate climber who attempts a hostile takeover of her father's business, debuts Jan. 18.

"One of the concerns we had with 'Hyperion Bay' was that we thought the women were not independent enough of the men," says WB entertainment president Garth Ancier, who just announced his resignation and is expected to jump to NBC. "Carmen certainly is very independent, in terms of the character she plays on the show. Her personally, who knows? I had nothing to do with Dennis Rodman." Hope the series lasts longer than the marriage did.