BITS AND PIECES 11/29
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--Thomas Kretschmann, the lead in ABC's "Have No Fear: The Life of Pope
John Paul II" (airing Thursday), was well-aware of CBS' competing Pope
movie. He had to be - he was offered the lead role in that movie as
well. "[CBS] offered it to me the same week [as the ABC movie], to play
[the Pope] as a young man," says Kretschmann. "But there was no
question about [me] doing that movie, because it was financed partly by
the Vatican. "How can you tell an objective story if you have somebody
paying you who has their own interest weighing on the movie's focus?"
The German-born Kretsc mann says he didn't really know much about the
Pope, or his earlier life in Poland (where he was born Karol Wojtyla).
"I didn't have an opinion of him because I didn't know much about him,"
Kretschmann says, "but I have an opinion now." "There are a couple of
things I strongly disagree with him on as a human being. His opinion to
preach not to use condoms, the whole birth-control subject . . . but I
believe I figured out where that came from," he says. "I know he
watched a documentary about abortion . . . and thought this must be the
ultimate destroyer of life. "And a lot has to do with his watching all
the people around him dying when he was young," Kretschmann says. "He's
somebody who was obsessed with protecting life . . . And he found love
in religion because his own family died when he was a young boy. I
strongly believe that the church became his family because of that."
--NBC's Brian Williams anchors from New Orleans tonight and tomorrow
(6:30) - his sixth trip to the Katrina- ravaged region.
NY POST/PAGE SIX...
--50 CENT is not getting any love from a linguistically challenged
Canadian politician. Junior Foreign Minister Dan McTeague is trying to
stop the Queens-born rap superstar from entering his country to perform
seven dates there next month. McTeague claims that 50 Cent, who has
made a career out of being shot - nine times - promotes gun
violence. "There are indeed limits and restrictions on freedom of
expression," he told the Canadian Broadcasting Corp., "particularly if
they incite hate or if they are the kind of activity that is killing
our young youths right now across Toronto." As opposed to killing the
old youths across Toronto?
--QUEEN Sofia of Spain flying first class Madrid to N.Y. on Iberia for
last night's gala at the Pierre honoring Henry Kissinger, in the same
row as CBS exec Kim Akhtar, who dances flamenco tonight at Joe's Pub.
--FORMER Phish frontman Trey Anastasio at '21' enjoying Chateau Le Pin
'79 ($1,490 per bottle) with a mystery brunette.
--MICHAEL Jackson, who made disparaging remarks about Jews on recently
released voice mails, has anti-Italian slurs in his repertoire, too. In
a voice message left for former friend Dieter Wiesner in late 2002 or
early 2003, Jackson slammed record mogul Tommy Mottola in recordings
reviewed by The Post's David K. Li yesterday, saying, "I'm very
concerned. I don't trust that man. He thinks he's God. He thinks he's
Italian Mafia." Jackson's foot-in-mouth disease took center stage last
week when "Good Morning America" played voice mails of his anti-Semitic
slurs. Earlier this year, Team Jacko made anti-gay comments directed at
former business partner Marc Schaffel, who, along with Wiesner is suing
Jackson. "He's [Jackson] a homophobe, anti-Semite, really
anti-everybody," said lawyer Howard King, who represents both Wiesner
and Schaffel. "He constantly feels like he's the victim. That's his
MO." Jackson's lawyer, Brent Ayscough, declined to comment other than
to say, "I'd be suspicious of anything you got from Marc Schaffel or
Dieter Wiesner - they're much aligned."
--"WE came up with a new idea that we said we would get married the day
that gays and lesbians can get married. The day that law is passed,
we'll get married" - Charlize Theron, regarding her boyfriend Stuart
Townsend on "Extra."
--"HE'S the type of man who will end up dying in his own arms" -
Mamie van Doren on Warren Beatty in "Celebrity Diss & Tell" (Andrews
McMeel) by Boze Hadleigh.
--"MEMOIRS of a Geisha" might not play well in Japan because the
movie's three lead roles are played by Chinese women - Ziyi Zhang,
Gong Li and Michelle Yeoh, an ethnic Chinese Malaysian. And don't
expect it to be a hit in China, either. Reuters reports that the
Chinese, still bitter over the Japanese occupation from 1931 to 1945,
bristle at the idea of Chinese women playing geishas. A blogger in
China said of Zhang: "She's sold her soul and betrayed her country.
Hacking her to death would not be good enough."
--SHARON Bush drew admiring stares at Newark Airport last week in a fur
coat and high heels and carrying a Louis Vuitton hand bag. But the
ex-wife of presidential brother Neil Bush ruined the posh illusion
because she was standing on Air France's check-in line for coach.
Sharon and her daughters, Lauren, 21, and Ashley, 16, were heading to
Paris for Saturday's Le Bal Cri llon des Debutantes, where Ashley had
her coming-out, as did Lauren (in 2000), Amanda Hearst and Bee Shaffer.
Lauren, a Tommy Hilfiger model/ Princeton student, is dating David
Lauren, so, naturally, Ashley, whose escort was a Polish prince, wore
couture Ralph Lauren to the ball. This year's crop of debs also
included Andie McDowell's daughter, Rainsford Qualley, and Steve
McQueen's granddaughter, Molly Flattery.
--EXPECT the inside scoop on the battle between antique aficionado
Bruce Newman and David, Viscount Linley, in Newman's memoir, "Don't
Come Back Until You Find It," due out in January. The original dust-up
began with charges that Linley's 1996 book, "Extraordinary Furniture,"
was a copy of an earlier Newman work and had British papers calling him
"Copycat Linley." Newman, ex-owner of Newel Art Galleries, also dishes
dirt on Jacqueline Onassis, Barbra Streisand, Jane Fonda, Woody Allen,
Michael Jackson and Sigourney Weaver.
--IT'S not enough for Joel Silver to oversee his own films, like the
"Matrix" movies and "Alien vs. Predator." He wants control over a
little documentary being made by New Jersey filmmaker Jim Nussbaum. In
"Flying Saucers," a film about Ultimate Frisbee, Nussbaum credits the
Hollywood producer with inventing the team sport. He told The New
Jersey Jewish News that when he asked for an interview with Silver, he
was referred to a math teacher who had made his own film about the
game. The teacher was nice enough to hand over his footage, but now,
just as "Flying Saucers" is about to be distributed, Silver's COO has
sent Nussbaum a cease-and-desist letter. "In no way is Joel trying to
stop [the project]. He's just wanting to approve his involvement," a
rep for Silver told the paper.
NY POST/LIZ SMITH...
--SO WHO knew that Sean Combs, now a fashion icon of his own, actually
ad mired yesteryear? He says his high five goes to the late Jackie
Onassis, who was "incredibly sexy . . . believing in what you stand
for. Jackie O. did that to the fullest." His other inspiration? Diana
Ross in 1975's camp classic, "Mahogany." Diana, who designed her own
outfits in that film, caused Sean to do "some glamorous pieces" and
push the envelope for styles that have "soul." Bravo, Sean. But
remember, too, the famous line from "Mahogany": "Success is nothing
without someone to share it with."
NY DAILY NEWS/LLOYD GROVE...
--Is famed fashionista Michael Kors having a midlife vanity crisis? On
Sunday, a Lowdown spy overheard the 46-year-old Kors gabbing loudly to
a lady companion on a West Village street about how he was debating
"getting a nose job, because my nose is big." Yesterday a spokeswoman
for Kors insisted: "He was commenting on a girl's poor nose job who was
passing on the street." And that's better?
--That was CNBC dollar diva Liz Claman being summoned to the stage by
Bruce Springsteen as a "special friend" for his encore at Trenton's
Sovereign Bank Arena the other night. Yesterday an awestruck Claman -
who belted out backup vocals for the Boss' rendition of "Santa Claus Is
Comin' to Town" - explained to Lowdown: "My sister and her husband have
been friends with Bruce and [wife] Patti for a long time. I felt bad -
I think people thought it was gonna be Clarence Clemons! I said to
myself, 'Remember this, you can actually see your audience this time.'
I never get to see my audience, it's just me and the cameras. Who knew
that such exciting things could happen in Trenton?"
NY POST/RUSH AND MOLLOY....
--Michael Jackson's handlers apparently don't have enough of a problem
explaining away those phone messages in which the singer allegedly
called Jews "leeches." Reports in the Arab media claim the Pasha of Pop
is financing a giant mosque in Bahrain. The Khaleej Times quotes an
unnamed Jackson "spokesman" as saying the mosque is Jackson's "token of
appreciation to the Bahraini people, who welcomed him and treated him
as if he was one of the citizens of their country." Yesterday, Jackson
spokeswoman Raymone Bain denied the man ousted from Neverland was
bankrolling a house of worship. Jacko's brother Jermaine is a Muslim,
and Nation of Islam honcho Leonard Muhammad at one point served as an
adviser to Michael, who later distanced himself from Nation leader
Louis Farrakhan. But the Middle East does have its advantages.
Jackson's lawyers argued that he couldn't serve jury duty in California
because he was in Bahrain.
--Jay-Z and Beyonce toasted producer Rich Kleiman's birthday with 20
little shots of Patron Silver. Elsewhere at Mike Satsky's Chelsea hot
spot Stereo, Paris and Nicky Hilton partied with boyfriends Stavros
Niarchos and Kevin Connolly while "That '70s Show" star Danny Masterson
grooved to DJ AM.
--Things seem to be getting serious between "Dukes of Hazzard" star
Seann William Scott and model Deanna Miller. The pair took a private
plane to Pittsburgh to visit her grandmother over the holiday weekend.
--First neice Ashley Bush was presented at the Hotel de Crillon. The
16-year-old wore a strapless, periwinkle blue Ralph Lauren gown and a
tiara featuring Mikimoto pearls. Sister Lauren also wore Ralph Lauren.
Andie McDowell took snaps of daughter Rainford Qualley, who, like Mom,
wore Gaultier.
--Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie visited Pakistani earthquake victims
last weekend. Pitt, who's traveling along with Jolie's children, Maddox
and Zahara, is shelling out more than $100,000 on 40 orthopedic beds
for a hospital in Islamabad. Meanwhile, some wondered whether the amber
liquid Jolie sipped at a press conference there was wine (which,
supposedly, pregnant ladies should avoid) or just apple juice. Jolie's
estranged dad, Jon Voight, is indeed dating Diana Ross. His people
scoffed when we asked whether the "Midnight Cowboy" star was seeing the
soul diva. But now her agent confirms, "They have been on dates, which
they both enjoyed."
NY DAILY NEWS/RICHARD HUFF...
--It's getting to be a packed house at ABC's "Dick Clark's New Year's
Rockin' Eve 2006." As previously announced, Ryan Seacrest has been
tapped to co-host with Clark, who is supposed to return to the program
after missing last year's show because of a stroke. Yesterday, Hilary
Duff was added as the West Coast host, and she'll also perform three
songs during the show.
--Regis Philbin and Donald Trump will sing "Rudolph the Red Nosed
Reindeer," a tune from Philbin's new Christmas CD, tonight at 11:35 on
CBS' "Late Show With David Letterman."
USA TODAY/JIM CHENG...
--Actress Jocelyn Brando, who appeared in more than a dozen films
including two with her younger brother, Marlon, has died. She was 86.
She appeared in more than a dozen major motion pictures, beginning with
Fritz Lang's The Big Heat with Glenn Ford in 1953 and ending with
Mommie Dearest.
--Producer Aaron Spelling has sued a nurse and her attorney for
allegedly violating a confidentiality agreement and spreading rumors
around Hollywood that Spelling sexually harassed her.
--American-born actress Constance Cummings, a Hollywood star of the
early 1930s who then became one of the leading figures on the British
stage, has died. She was 95. In just two years, she made more than a
dozen films, working for such top directors as Howard Hawks in the 1931
prison drama The Criminal Code, and Frank Capra in his 1932 Depression
drama, American Madness.
--CHARLOTTE AMALIE, U.S. Virgin Islands ? The two homes of country
music star Kenny Chesney mingled a little as the Tennessee native
watched the Lady Vols play in his adopted Caribbean. Chesney joked with
radio announcers as Tennessee beat Maryland 80-75 at a tournament
Saturday night in St. Thomas.
--Beginning Wednesday, Amazon.com customers will be able to view and
hear exclusive songs, videos or artwork from celebrities teaming for
hurricane relief efforts. Tim McGraw's unreleased song Louisiana is
first up; customers will be able to hear the song and donate to
McGraw's designated charity, Habitat for Humanity. Other "A-List for
Hurricane Relief" participants, to be featured each weekday through
Dec. 20, include Clay Aiken, Blondie, David Beckham, Bon Jovi, Kelly
Clarkson, Faith Hill, Elton John, Paul McCartney, Carly Simon, Rob
Thomas, Christy Turlington and Trisha Yearwood. Former president Bill
Clinton is a partner with the online music retailer in the charity
drive; among the other organizations designated to receive donations
are the American Red Cross, UNICEF and Save the Children.
--50 Cent leads all artists with nominations in eight categories for
the 2006 Billboard Music Awards, to be presented live from Las Vegas
Dec. 6 (Fox, 8 p.m. ET/tape PT), hosted by LL Cool J. 50 will compete
with Mariah Carey, Kelly Clarkson and Green Day for artist of the year,
while his The Massacre vies with Carey (The Emancipation of Mimi),
Eminem (Encore) and Green Day (American Idiot) for top album. 50 also
is nominated for R&B/hip-hop album and artist; rap artist, album and
song; and ringtone of the year. Other multiple nominees include Carey
with seven, Green Day with six and Fantasia with four.
3 A.M. GIRLS/With Kiki King, Eva Simpson And Caroline Hedley
--WE know her best as stiletto-loving single girl Carrie Bradshaw in
Sex And The City but, in real life, Sarah Jessica Parker dreams of
being a full-time mum. The 40-year-old, married to Stepford Wives actor
Matthew Broderick, has a three-year-old son, James Wilke. She told this
week's Grazia mag: "I've been with my son every day lately. It's been
the happiest time of my life." Happier than on a trolley dash in Manolo
Blahnik?
LAS VEGAS JOURNAL/NORM CLARKE....
--New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez, celebrating his second
American League Most Valuable Player Award with pals at Fix (Bellagio)
on Friday.
--Stand-up comic Wayne Brady, getting his speed fix Friday at Fast Lap
Indoor Kart Racing before his show at The Mirage.
--Xzibit, the artist-actor from the reality show "Pimp My Ride," at the
Palms' ghostbar.
--At Pure (Caesars): Denver Broncos wide receiver Rod Smith and oil
heir Brandon Davis, with Palms owner George Maloof.
--Keyshawn Johnson of the Dallas Cowboys and rapper NAS, in the VIP
section of Tao (The Venetian) Friday.
--One of Tony Curtis' paintings is headed for The Museum of Modern Art
in New York. "There's nothing comparable in my movie career," the
Bronx-born film icon said Sunday by telephone from his Anthem home.
Curtis' 24-inch-by-36-inch "Red Table" will be part of a permanent
collection going into the museum's Department of Film and Media wing.
He's been asked to cut the ribbon and open the wing late next year.
"I'm just so stunned by it. What an extraordinary gift. To be born and
raised in New York City and having shined shoes in all those
neighborhoods," said Curtis, who has been painting most of his life.
His creations can be viewed at http://tonycurtis.com/. He and his wife,
Jill, moved to the Las Vegas area about six years ago. He celebrated
his 80th birthday on June 3. Curtis' 120 motion pictures included roles
as Houdini, sleazy press agent Sidney Falco in "Sweet Smell of Success"
and on-the-lam cross-dresser Joe/Josephine in "Some Like It Hot."
--John Larroquette, celebrating his 58th birthday Friday with dinner at
Commander's Palace (Aladdin).
--NBA Hall of Famer Bill Russell, dining at Michael's Restaurant
(Barbary Coast) on Saturday.
--The Little River Band, taking in The Dan Band's Friday and Saturday
shows at the Aladdin/Planet Hollywood.
--At OPM (Forum Shops at Caesars) on Friday: Recording artist Ray J,
brother of recording artist and actor Brandy; Goldie Gold of the
hip-hop group Federation; former UNLV star Marcus Banks; and Denver
Broncos' D.J. Williams and Demetrin Veal.
--Tony Curtis, drawing art on stationery for his table guests during
Phyllis McGuire's Thanksgiving party at Prime (Bellagio) on Thursday.
At the next table, Robert Goulet warming up his voice with a few bars
of "On A Clear Day." Among the crowd of 100-plus: magician Lance
Burton, former casino honcho Burton Cohen, and KLAS-TV, Channel 8
morning anchor Casey Smith.
--Robert Goulet, marking his 72nd birthday at Picasso (Bellagio) on
Saturday with pals.
--At Body English (Hard Rock Hotel) on Saturday night: members of
Depeche Mode and Linkin Park.
L.A. DAILY NEWS/Joel Stratte-McClure
--Why did onlooking fans applaud Rod Stewart's daughter Kimberly when
she arrived at a Teen People party at Element last Tuesday night? Maybe
because the 26-year-old was wearing a real live teen on her arm. That,
of course, would be 19-year-old fiance Talan Torriero. They also
clapped for Lindsay Lohan, also 19, who showed up early with a younger
date, her kid sister Aliana. But don't worry. The older Lohan
definitely wore the sexier, shorter and blacker dress. Paris Hilton,
24, acted like a teen inside the party honoring Shakira, 28, who limoed
over after receiving the prize for favorite Latin music artist at the
American Music Awards. Hilton spent the evening at a table near the bar
running her fingers through the long mane of boyfriend Stavros Niarchos
III. Maybe it was because of the thundering music, but she and her
younger partner don't even pretend to have deep discussions.
Eighteen-year-olds Hilary Duff, Lauren Storm and Bow Wow partied with
younger teens Aly and AJ. Oldsters, including John Stamos, Ciara, Jesse
McCartney, Devon Aoki, Nicky Hilton and JC Chasez, encircled the low
tables, visited the chocolate fountain, checked out videos of Shakira
on the plasma screens and heard Benji and Joel Madden of Good
Charlotte. "I always come to a party where there's always a chance that
Shakira will do a belly dance," said Chasez. That night he was out of
luck.