BITS AND PIECES..06/18
PUSSSYKATT
DAILY DISH...
--GREETINGS TO THE NEW BEACH BABE: Baywatch had nothing in common with Ally
McBeal — until now, that is. Brooke Burns, who played the recurring role of
Jennifer the Dream Girl on Ally, will make the leap over to Baywatch for the
1998-99 season. But don't expect to see Burns in that trademark lifeguard
swimsuit: She'll play Jessie, a waitress at a waterside café.
--PICTURE PERFECT: Monica Lewinsky sure looked great in those Vanity Fair
photos — a little too great, in fact. A source who has seen the original pics
confirms Dish's suspicions: The shots that turned up in the magazine were
heavily retouched, according to the insider.
--M.Y.O.B., SAYS MEL C.: Wannabe friends with the Spice Girls? Don't ask them
why Ginger left the group. "It's none of your business," Sporty Spice Mel C.
told a BBC reporter in the Girls' first radio interview as a foursome. "The
fact is Geri's left, the Spice Girls are continuing, and that's all you need to
know."
--BROADWAY BOUND? If Jennifer Jason Leigh is still smarting about being edited
out of Stanley Kubrick's Eyes Wide Shut, she might soon find comfort on the
Great White Way. The producers of the Broadway revival of Cabaret want her to
star in the musical as Sally Bowles, reports the New York Post. Tony winner
Natasha Richardson is slated to leave the role on Sun., Aug. 2.
--FIXING A HOLE: Although Sir George Martin admits the Beatles smoked a joint
or two in their day, that hasn't stopped the legendary producer from trying to
banish drugs from the world of rock. Sir George is urging the music industry to
set up an "ethics committee" designed to discourage drug use, according to the
Times of London. He also lashed out at Oasis lead singer Noel Gallagher's
likening of drug use to having a cup of tea, saying the remarks were
"ill-advised and did no one any good, particularly himself."
--C'MON, GET SHOPPIN': Former teen idol and Partridge Family star David Cassidy
will perform three songs from his new CD, Old Trick, New Dog, live on QVC today
(2 pm/ET). And yes, one of them will be a remake of "I Think I Love You." Along
with the new disc, Cassidy will hawk an oldies collection, David Cassidy's
Partridge Family Favorites. — SC
PEOPLE ONLINE...
--"When I was up there it felt natural. It didn't feel like I was doing
anything crazy."
Graduating senior KATE LOGAN, 18, who stripped down to nothing -- to show she
was a free spirit -- during her commencement speech at the Long Trail School in
Dorset, VT.
--Pearl Jam's concert at the University of Montana this coming Saturday night
is likely to be the state's biggest musical event ever, university officials
said Wednesday. About 22,000 fans are expected as the band kicks off its 1998
North American tour. The Seattle-based grunge band has twice appeared at the
university, and both shows, in smaller venues, were sold out. The band's bass
guitarist, Jeff Ament, a Montana native, attended the university for a time.
--It may not be "As Time Goes By," but a scratchy-voiced Bette Davis, hacking
out a song inspired by her 1962 camp classic "Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?,"
made the final cut on the new Rhino Records CD "Warner Bros.' 75 Years of Film
Music." Saluting songs from the studio's rich past, the four-disc set contains
the "Baby Jane" curiosity on Disc 3, even though the ditty never appeared in
the movie. Says film historian Rudy Behlmer: "[It] was a special studio
recording made by Bette Davis and Debbie Burton (who played young Baby Jane in
the film) for M-G-M Records." And one that has to be heard to be believed.
Listen to a sample of "Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?":
http://pathfinder.com/@@jlzCoQcAIg0iw8mJ/people/daily/davis.au
--A painting by Prince Charles was sold for $7,500 at the Take Home a Nude
Auction in Manhattan Wednesday night to benefit the New York Academy of Art.
(Despite the name of the event, not all the works of art for sale featured
nudes.) Charles had painted a watercolor landscape of Hong Kong harbor. Bidding
for the work began at $4,000 and quickly rose in price before it was sold to
Peter Thomas Roth, 40, of Manhattan. "I always wanted to buy another one of his
artworks, a castle, and I never did," Roth said.
E! ONLINE...by Joal Ryan
--AIR BALL? The Family Channel to shoot a Michael Jordan biopic. The search's
on for an actor to fill the hoop-star's sneaks.
--'TOONED OUT: An ice-skating special designed to hype Disney's upcoming Mulan
scored ABC its lowest-ever primetime ratings on Tuesday.
--NO CONTEST: Frank Sinatra's will admitted to probate court today. All's quiet
on the family front.
--FUN COUPLE: Marla Maples hauling Donald Trump into a New York court today to
tussle over their prenup. With the benefit of hindsight, Marla now says the
agreement is bogus.
--MASTERFUL TOUCH: Rapper Master P's MP Da Last Don reigning for a second week
atop the U.S. pop album charts.
--FREELANCE SPICE: Scary Spice going into the studio with rapper Missy Elliott.
She's the first Spice Girls member to do non-Spice work.
--HIT THE ROAD: Recovered from heart surgery, Brian Littrell set to rejoin the
Backstreet Boys for the group's tour, launching July 8.
--MEAN MR. MUSTARD: Beatles producer George Martin lobbying record labels to
cut off rock stars who do drugs.
--SYNCHRONICITY: Live ("Lightning Crashes") donating concert proceeds to a
woman struck by lightning at last weekend's Tibetan Freedom Concert.
--DOUBTFIRE! The Robin Williams comedy, Mrs. Doubtfire, to be done as a stage
musical for Italian audiences, Daily Variety says.
--FACTOID OF THE DAY: Five thousand. The number of gift condoms presented to
Ben Affleck by the good folks at Trojan, Variety says.
NY POST...PAGE SIX...
--NANCY Sinatra and her two daughters, A.J. and Amanda, paying an emotional
visit to Patsy's, one of Frank's favorite restaurants ...
--DAVID Duchovny and Tea Leoni at a sidewalk table at Nello's with a dozen
paparazzi recording every bite ... JULIA Roberts buying three bracelets with
the words "hot," "fat" and "crazy" at Shi on Elizabeth Street and having the
"cumbersome" package delivered
--MERYL Streep devouring swordfish while her mom had black angus steak at
Marylou's
--MICHAEL Bergin - former Calvin Klein underwear god - outfitting himself in
head-to-toe athletic gear from Tommy Hilfiger for his new exercise video.
NY POST...LIZ SMITH...
--RENE RUSSO has just been cast opposite Pierce Brosnan in the coming MGM
remake of the stylish 1968 caper film "The Thomas Crown Affair." The original
starred Steve McQueen at his most attractive and Faye Dunaway - breathtaking,
sexy and dressed to kill by Ron Postal. Brosnan and Russo, no slouches
themselves, will have a lot to live up to!
--BROADWAY'S BETTY BUCKLEY soon begins shooting an independent film in New
York, "Vanilla Fog." Buckley appears opposite Sarah Michelle Gellar (TV's
"Buffy the Vampire Slayer") and Sean Patrick Flannery ("Suicide Kings"). The
producers will allow Buckley to leave the production for a few days so she can
attend the 12th World AIDS Conference in Geneva, Switzerland ...
--THIS IS the era of lists: best, worst, most, least, etc. Now comes
Entertainment Weekly magazine's 100 Most Creative People issue, hitting
newsstands Monday. Cameron Diaz, in a provocative state of undress, appears on
the cover. Among the "most creative" are Taco Bell's famous Chihuahua and Jerry
Springer's bouncer. OK, this won't be like the American Film Institute's 100
Best Movies list ...
--DONNIE WAHLBERG, onetime New Kid on the Block who's also Mark Wahlberg's
older bro, is excited that his coming movie, "Southie," won the American
Independent Filmmaker Award at the Seattle International Film Festival. He was
executive producer and star. Next stop, the Nantucket Film Fest, accompanied by
his director, John Shea, and co-producer, co-star and writer, James Cummings
...
--MAYA ANGELOU, Nick Ashford and Valerie Simpson appear Saturday night at Avery
Fisher Hall in conjunction with the JVC Jazz Fest, performing music and poetry
from their album "Been Found." Call (212) 721-6500 ...
--THE DAYS of big birthday parties for celebrity kids are not dead. Recently,
director-producer Steven Spielberg treated his 13-year-old son to a natal day
at Spielberg's own GameWorks club, where the boy and his friends spent hours
playing Spielberg-designed games. (GameWorks is a place where guests can play
250 of the latest interactive games, eat, socialize, etc.) Yep, there are
advantages to being the Uberchild of an Ubermensch ...
--COUNTRY QUEEN Reba McEntire earlier this week accepted the Minnie Pearl
Humanitarian Award for all her tireless charity efforts. She was stunned by
this honor. The incredibly successful Reba, now touring cross-country, has also
just optioned Ezrea Sacks' "Seven Minutes in Heaven," in which she'll play a
woman who gets a second chance at love ...
RUSH AND MOLLOY...
--Leo DiCaprio fans can catch a glimpse of their idol's taste in housing when
the movie version of "The Mod Squad" hits theaters next year. The movie was
filmed in the 1950 modernist house in Los Feliz, Calif., that DiCaprio almost
bought. The "Titantic" star was outbid by "Drugstore Cowboy" actress Kelly
Lynch and her screenwriter hubby, Mitch Glazer. The couple are showing off the
pad in July's Harper's Bazaar . . .
--Dan Rather and New York Giants co-owner Bob Tisch did jury duty last week at
New York State Supreme Court . . .
--Joe Dimaggio should draw some major league checkbooks for tonight's Police
Athletic League's SportsNite fund-raiser . . .
--Yankees David Wells and Graeme Lloyd, whooping it up at the Edwin McCain show
Friday at Irving Plaza . . .
--Martha Stewart, Alan Alda, George Plimpton and every other Hamptonite
mentioned in the best-selling "Philistines at the Hedgerow" is invited to the
book party that ad man Jerry Della Femina and wife Judy Licht are throwing on
June 27 for author Steven Gaines. The book is in its third printing after two
weeks . . .
--John Goodman, shooting pool and shots of Jack Daniels, at the uptown Hogs &
Heifers on Tuesday.
MR. SHOWBIZ...
--Cindy Crawford admits she had some second thoughts about taking the plunge
for the second time, but tells columnists Marilyn Beck and Stacy Jenel Smith
that she's "completely ready and excited and just at peace" with her recent
marriage to club owner Rande Gerber. The supermodel also admits her union to
actor Richard Gere left "some marks" and caused her to doubt her "ability to be
in relationships."
--And speaking of Beck and Smith, they also report Jim Carrey and Lauren Holly,
who have been spending quality time together, are not officially reconciled.
According to the actor's reps, the former couple is "hanging out together,
dating, and taking each day as it comes." Glad that's cleared up.
--American Cinematheque will honor Arnold Schwarzenegger at its 13th Annual
Moving Picture Ball on Sept. 12. The heavily muscled, heavily accented
Terminator star was chosen for his "enduring career as one of the world's
best-loved film personalities." Arnold joins past winners such as Eddie Murphy,
Tom Cruise, Steven Spielberg, John Travolta, and Sean Connery.
--Ben Affleck tells Reuters the dumbest thing ever written about him in the
tabloids involved a convenience store and some personal protection. The
Armageddon star and Gwyneth Paltrow's sweetie says the story had him heading
into a 7-Eleven in Wisconsin to buy some Trojan condoms. Turns out Affleck has
never even been to Wisconsin, but that didn't stop the Trojan company from
sending Ben his own personal stash—5,000 to be exact. Let the orgies begin.
--Is George Michael already joking about his arrest in a Los Angeles bathroom
last April? London's Sun tabloid says the singer sent out invitations to 300
people for his 35th birthday bash on June 27 advising them to use the
facilities before they arrive. Why? Well, the invite allegedly read, "Important
note: Please go before you come as all conveniences will be locked to protect
the host."