'TBH Politoons'
Thanks, again, Tim!
The Artful Dodger
THE HOLLYWOOD HUSTLE
Here are some recent screenplay deals that might make it through development hell and show up on your local movie screens in a few years.
Think Pink
Steve Martin is being considered to play the role of Inspector Clouseau, made famous by the late Peter Sellers, in a new Pink Panther movie.
Prediction: Martin will do well as long as no one truly compares his familiar lowbrow schtick with the comic genius of Sellers. One was inspired, the other's insipid. Still, the Panther series will provide the new film makers with enough reference material to cobble together a reasonably funny 90 minutes, so while it won't be a total blowout on the big screen, it'll have a much more respectable shelf life at Blockbuster.
*****
The Rock rolls on
Yet another movie starring wrestling legend The Rock. This time he's in a comedy, "Instant Karma," about a crook who dies and is reincarnated as various animals. Also starring Mira Sorvino, Eartha Kitt and Pierce Brosnan. That's right, Pierce Brosnan.
Prediction: Is The Rock funny? He acquitted himself well on Saturday Night Live a while ago but subtle on the big screen he ain't. However, with uber-creatives Rossio and Elliot producing, perhaps the movie will manage to avoid disaster and delivery some solid laughs. Those boys know what they're doing.
*****
No double takes, Matthew
"The Beginning of Wisdom" will star Matthew Perry and John Bennett Perry. Drama revolves around a man who, after his wife dies, falls in love with a young woman.
Prediction: Can Matthew Perry sustain an approximation of sincerity for an entire movie? Maybe so, stranger things have happened. But the project sounds more like the fulfillment of an actor's personal desire than an entertainment for the masses. Shades of Bill Murray in "The Razor's Edge."
*****
We're all getting sleepy...
Jim Carrey's supposed to star in "The Hypnotist" for Revolution Studios, about a mesmerist who suddenly can't hypnotize anyone and has to fall in love with a woman to reclaim his powers.
Prediction: Jim Carrey's got the entire industry shooting their best stuff at him and this is what he chooses? Hmm...we'll see if this one actually gets the green light. In the meantime, they should keep a running list of replacement actors in case Carrey sees the light and gets cold feet. Let's see...Hasselhoff's not busy...Anson Williams might say yes...
*****
Yawn...
It looks like Bruce Campbell has yet again managed to avoid selling life insurance. They're talking about cranking out yet another "Evil Dead" flick.
Prediction: The WWF nerds and "Robot Wars" geeks will force themselves out of their parents' basement rumpus rooms long enough to plunk down their allowance to see The Chin in this latest Sam Raimi installment. Campbell's melodramatic hissy fits will enthrall them for a weekend, and then the world will have yet another batch of unsold DVDs choking its landfills.
~ The Artful Dodger
Reader Alert
FCC & the Internet
IS THE INTERNET AS WE KNOW IT DYING? - COMMISSIONER COPPS
FCC Commissioner Michael J. Copps, in a speech last Thursday at the New America Foundation, warned that the Internet as we know it is at risk. Entrenched interests are positioning themselves to control the network's choke-points and they are lobbying the FCC to aid and abet them.
The Internet was designed to prevent the government ora corporation or anyone from controlling it. But this original vision may soon be lost and replaced by closed networks. Not enough people outside Washington have paid attention to the momentous decisions already made, and to those that are about to be made.
One page synopsis of Commissioner Copps' remarks
Text of his entire speech
Thanks, Fred!
Reader Question
Re: Last Night's 'West Wing'
What happened to West Wing?
Have any idea why NBC didn't show a new episode of either West Wing or Law & Order tonight? They showed a rerun Law & Order Special Victims at 9 and then a rerun Law & Order at 10.
Linda >^..^<
Good question, Linda.
Was poking around the nbc homepage, looking for something else, when I noticed they had a large message at the top of the page saying that the episode of 'West Wing' scheduled for tonight will air 10/29, but offered no explanation.
My best theory would be it had to do with extended coverage of the Staten Island ferry - but, that's just a guess.
from Mark
Another Bumpersticker
Reader Comment
Re: Jimi Hendrix and Vietnam
Marty
Hate to bust ya on this, but Jimi Hendrix spent as much time in Vietnam as Shrub, or Rush, or Tom Delay or, well you get the picture.
Not one day, my friend, not one day.
He also bailed out early from the military.
I loved his music, but as a "soldier" he ranks right up there with Shrub.
KRL
K -
Thanks for that.
The story said that Jimi will be wearing "blue velvet pants, white shirt and scarves, the six-inch figurine will be accompanied by a stage base, guitar, amplifiers, effects pedals, microphone and stand".
Probably will add one to the collection, but I tend to call them dolls, not action figures...
Selected Readings
from that Mad Cat, JD
In The Chaos Household
Last Night
Another foggy morning followed by a sunny afternoon.
The grocery checker's strike seems to have struck a chord in my neighborhood. There is an Albertson's 3 blocks away - and it's usually a hub of activity, but not this week.
Lots of blue, pink & white collars in these parts, and they all understand the message - 'you could be next.'
Nah - make that 'you will be next.'
Why does Tom DeLay deserve better (tax-payer subsidized) healthcare (in perpetuity) than 99% of people who work for a living?
Tonight, Thursday, CBS starts the night with a FRESH 'Survivor: Pearl Islands', followed by a FRESH 'CSI: Crime Scene Investigation', then
a FRESH 'Without A Trace'.
Scheduled on a FRESH Dave are Dustin Hoffman and Jamie Oliver. (RERUNs all next week)
Scheduled on a FRESH Craiggers are Charlie Sheen and Melissa Gilbert. (RERUNs all next week)
NBC begins the evening with a FRESH 'Friends', followed by a FRESH 'Scrubs', then a FRESH 'Will & Grace', followed by a
RERUN 'Whoopi', then a FRESH 'ER'.
Scheduled on a FRESH Jay are Courtney Cox, Peter Dinklage, and Luciano Pavarotti. (RERUNs all next week)
Scheduled on a FRESH Conan are David Arquette, Natasha Henstridge, and Patty Loveless. (RERUNs all next week)
Scheduled on a FRESH Carson Daly are Holly Hunter, Seth Green, and Switchfoot. (RERUNs all next week)
ABC opens the night with propaganda - er, I mean a FRESH 'Threat Matrix', followed by a FRESH 'Extreme Makeover', then
'Primetime Thursday'.
Scheduled on a FRESH Jimmy Kimmel are Al Michaels, Sofia Milos, and Cook E. Jarr, with this week's guest co-host Bob Odenkirk. (FRESH all next week)
The WB offers a FRESH 'Steve Harvey's Big Time', followed by a FRESH 'Jamie Kennedy', then a FRESH 'What I Like About You', followed by
a FRESH 'Run Of The House'.
Faux has the last night of 'MLB Baseball Playoffs', where the Florida Marlins opponents in the World Series will be determined. Another juicy night of 'Simpson', 'King Of The Hill', and 'King Of Queens' RERUNs for the left coast.
UPN fills the night with 'WWE Smackdown!'.
Check local PBS listings for 'Frontline'.
A&E has 'American Justice', followed by the movie 'Rain Man'.
AMC offers the movie 'Stalag 17', followed by the movie 'King Kong' (Jessica Lange version), then the movie 'City Slickers'.
BBC -
[6pm] 'BBC World News';
[6:30pm] 'Cash in the Attic' - Anthony;
[7pm] 'Ground Force' - Northampton;
[7:30pm] 'Changing Rooms' - Nunhead;
[8pm] 'House Invaders' - Southgate;
[8:30pm] 'House Invaders' - Shoreditch;
[9pm] 'Faking It' - Alex the Animal;
[10pm] 'Coupling' - Inferno;
[10:40pm] 'Behind the Screen' - Coupling;
[11pm] 'So Graham Norton' - Si Graham Norton;
[12am] 'Faking It' - Alex the Animal;
[1am] 'Coupling' - Inferno;
[1:40am] 'Behind the Screen' - Coupling;
[2am] 'House Invaders' - Southgate;
[2:30am] 'House Invaders' - Shoreditch;
[3am] 'So Graham Norton' - Si Graham Norton;
[4am] 'Faking It' - Alex the Animal;
[5am] 'Coupling' - Inferno;
[5:40am] 'Behind the Screen' - Coupling; and
[6am] 'BBC World News'. (ALL TIMES EDT)
Bravo has 'West Wing', followed by the movie 'Mary Reilly', then 'Queer Eye', followed by 'West Wing', again.
On a RERUN Jon Stewart, it's TBA. (FRESH all next week)
History has 'Modern Marvels', 'Basic Training: America's Proving Ground', and another 'Modern Marvels'.
SciFi has the movie 'Stigmata', followed by the movie 'Saint Sinner', then the movie 'Necronomicon'.
TCM celebrates the always fabulous Angela Lansbury (today's her 78th birthday) all day, then
pays tribute to testosterone all night.
[6am] 'Gaslight' (1944);
[8am] 'The Picture Of Dorian Gray' (1945);
[10am] 'The Hoodlum Saint' (1946);
[12pm] 'Till The Clouds Roll By' (1946);
[2:30pm] 'Tenth Avenue Angel' (1948);
[4pm] 'Kind Lady' (1951);
[5:30pm] 'In the Cool of the Day' (1963);
[7pm] 'Hollywood: The Dream Factory' (1972);
[8pm] 'Flying Leathernecks' (1951);
[10pm] 'The Right Stuff' (1983);
[1:30am] 'Devil Dogs Of The Air' (1935);
[3am] 'The Wings Of Eagles' (1957); and
[5am] 'The Big Stampede' (1932). (ALL TIMES EDT)
Dr. James Muyskens, president of Queens College. announces that the street where Louis 'Satchmo' Armstrong's home is located will be renamed Louis Armstrong Place as Kendall Albert, center, and City Council member Hiram Monserrate hold the sign Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2003 in the Queens borough of New York. The jazz great's house, in the background, is now open to the public as a historic house-museum.
Photo by Frank Franklin II
The Information One-Stop
Moose & Squirrel
Eyeing South Dakota Governorship
Pat O'Brien
Pat O'Brien, a graduate of the University of South Dakota who also studied international economics at Johns Hopkins University, said he is seriously considering challenging incumbent Republican Mike Rounds in the 2006 election.
Word of O'Brien's aspirations first came to light in an interview for GQ magazine, which he said was actually conducted before Schwarzenegger announced his intent to run for governor of California in the state's historic recall election.
And now O'Brien, who is set to anchor a portion of NBC's Olympics coverage next year, has set his sights on loftier pursuits.
O'Brien, a Democrat, said his desire to run for office predates his broadcasting career.
"I grew up studying politics, I worked for the Kennedys, I worked for George McGovern," he said. In fact, he said, he has been pushed toward public service since his days at the University of South Dakota.
Pat O'Brien
Tops Entertainment Power List
Jerry Bruckheimer
Movie and television producer Jerry Bruckheimer, riding high with "Pirates of the Caribbean" and "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," topped Entertainment Weekly's annual list of the most powerful figures in showbiz.
"The man is no longer just a canny packager of talent and content with a fat back-end," Entertainment Weekly wrote in its issue that goes on sale Friday. "Bruckheimer has become a brand."
For its 14th annual list of Hollywood's 101 most powerful, Entertainment Weekly issued separate categories of "creatives" and "suits." CBS Chairman Leslie Moonves topped the list of most powerful executives.
Rounding out the Top 10 of most powerful creative forces are Spielberg; Hanks; Imagine Entertainment Co-Chairmen Ron Howard and Brian Grazer; author J.K. Rowling; Oprah Winfrey; Tom Cruise; director Peter Jackson, Eminem and Nicole Kidman.
Jerry Bruckheimer
Has Permission From God
Beyonce Knowles
Beyonce Knowles has hit out at one of pop's latest fads - the lesbian kiss.
The devout Christian says she has permission from God to wear sexy clothes and strip on stage but not to have a girl-on-girl snog.
In an interview with the Sun, she reckons the church has no problem with her shaking her booty in hot pants.
But she draws the line at the antics of stars like Madonna and Britney Spears, who recently shared a full-on kiss at the MTV Awards.
She says: "I always carry myself like a lady. I don't feel like I ever do anything raunchy."
Beyonce Knowles
Thanks, Alex!
The new Walt Disney Concert Hall, designed by renowned architact Frank Gehry, is silhouetted against the twilight sky Tuesday evening, Oct. 14, 2003, in downtown Los Angeles. The 16-year struggle to build one of the city's most distinctive landmarks officially ends with an Oct. 23 debut concert.
Photo by Kevork Djansezian
National Book Foundation
Finalists
The National Book Foundation announced finalists for this year's awards on Wednesday, citing 20 works on such topics as the Soviet Gulag, a yellow fever epidemic and pre-revolutionary Cuba.
The winners will be announced at a Nov. 19 ceremony, where the foundation also will give a Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters to author Stephen King.
For fiction, finalists are T.C. Boyle for "Drop City," Shirley Hazzard for "The Great Fire," Edward P. Jones for "The Known World," Scott Spencer for "A Ship Made of Paper" and Marianne Wiggins for "Evidence of Things Unseen."
In nonfiction, finalists are Anne Applebaum for "Gulag: A History," George Howe Colt for "The Big House: A Century in the Life of an American Summer Home," John D'Emilio for "Lost Prophet: The Life and Times of Bayard Rustin," Carlos Eire for "Waiting for Snow in Havana: Confessions of a Cuban Boy" and Erik Larson for "The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America."
In young people's literature, finalists are Paul Fleischman for "Breakout," Polly Horvath for "The Canning Season," Jim Murphy for "An American Plague: The True and Terrifying Story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793," Richard Peck for "The River Between Us" and Jacqueline Woodson for "Locomotion."
In poetry, finalists are Carol Muske-Dukes for "Sparrow: Poems," Charles Simic for "The Voice at 3:00 A.M.: Selected Late and New Poems," Louis Simpson for "The Owner of the House: New Collected Poems, 1940-2001," C.K. Williams for "The Singing: Poems" and Kevin Young for "Jelly Roll: A Blues."
Finalists
Off Air for 2 Weeks
'Coupling'
NBC is taking its highly touted comedy "Coupling" off its schedule for two weeks in what could be an ominous sign about its future.
The comedy, an American version of a British hit about six sexually active friends, will be replaced Thursday by a rerun of "Whoopi." On Oct. 30, the first Thursday of the November "sweeps" period, an expanded version of "Will & Grace" will air.
If "Whoopi" performs better in the prized time slot, the stage could be set for Whoopi Goldberg's comedy to move there from its current perch on Tuesday night.
'Coupling'
The Whacked To Talk Back
'The Sopranos'
Sources said that some of the characters killed in the HBO mob drama, "The Sopranos'," first four seasons will resurface in an episode of the series next year. Vincent Pastore (aka Salvatore "Big Pussy" Bonpensiero), David Proval (Richie Aprile), John Heard (Detective Vin Makazian), Al Sapienza (Mikey Palmice), Dan Grimaldi (Philly "Spoons" Parisi) and Jason Cerbone (Jackie Aprile Jr.) are said to be on board for the episode.
Sources said Joe Pantoliano (Ralph Cifaretto), who just earned an Emmy for his work on "Sopranos," also is expected to appear as a deal is being worked out to accommodate the shooting schedule of his new CBS drama "The Handler."
It's unclear just how these characters will be brought back to life, but sources said the episode is believed to involve a dreamlike sequence. Reps for all the actors declined comment Tuesday. A spokeswoman for HBO said the network does not comment on upcoming story lines.
'The Sopranos'
Broadway Bound
John Lennon, The Musical
Imagine a Broadway musical based on songs by John Lennon -- Yoko Ono has and on Wednesday producers announced she had given the go-ahead for a show using her late husband's work.
Tentatively titled "The Lennon Project," the stage musical will explore the turbulent times of the 1960s and 1970s with some 30 songs drawn from more than 200 Lennon wrote after the Beatles break-up. The legendary band released their last album, "Let It Be," in 1970 but had already dissolved as a act.
The show, which is planned for the 2004-2005 season, will be produced by Edgar Lansbury and Don Scardino. Scardino will also direct the show with a script he plans to write with Eric Overmyer.
John Lennon Musical
In The Kitchen With BartCop & Friends
Named MusiCares 'Person of the Year'
Sting
Sting has been selected as the MusiCares Person of the Year. Presented by the Recording Academy, the award acknowledges the artist's accomplishments as a musician, humanitarian and environmental activist.
The honor will be bestowed on the former Police lead singer at the 14th annual gala tribute to benefit the MusiCares Foundation's financial assistance program, set for Feb. 6 in Los Angeles. The event is part of Grammy Fest, a week of activities leading up to the 46th annual Grammy Awards, set for Feb. 8 at L.A.'s Staples Center.
Sting
Employees of the 'Europa Park' leisure park in Rust near Freiburg in Southwestern Germany, use a crane to set up a canvas depicting a giant pumpkin on the spherical building of one of the attractions at the park October 15, 2003. Halloween will be celebrated across Europe and North and South America, on the last day of October.
Photo by Vincent Kessler
Wildlife Photographer of Year
Gerhard Schulz
Award winning German cameraman Gerhard Schulz was named Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2003 on Wednesday for his picture of a boy staring through a window at a lowland gorilla in an American zoo.
It was chosen from some 20,500 images entered from more than 60 countries for the competition which has been in its current format for two decades.
Wildlife Photographer of the Year is the world's biggest wildlife photographic competition, jointly organized by London's Natural History Museum and BBC Wildlife Magazine.
Gerhard Schulz
Baby News
Neve O'Brien
"Late Night" host Conan O'Brien and his wife, Liza Powel O'Brien, are the parents of a baby girl, NBC announced Wednesday.
Neve O'Brien was born Tuesday in New York City. She weighed 6 pounds, 10 ounces, and mother and daughter are doing well, the network said.
Neve O'Brien
www.nbc.com/Late_Night_with_Conan_O'Brien
More Baby News
Finley Faith Sehorn
Angie Harmon, the former Law & Order legal dish has delivered her first child with football stud hubby Jason Sehorn, her publicist announced Wednesday.
Finley Faith Sehorn was born at 10:55 a.m. Tuesday in Dallas. None of the baby's vital statistics were released, but publicist Troy Mankin said Harmon, 31, and child "were doing fine."
Sehorn, 32, flew into Dallas from St. Louis, where he watched his Rams beat the Atlanta Falcons on Monday Night Football, to be at Harmon's side for the birth. (The former all-pro safety, now with the Rams after several seasons as a New York Giant, is nursing a broken left foot and did not play.)
Finley Faith Sehorn
Announces Pregnancy
Cheryl Hines
"Curb Your Enthusiasm" star Cheryl Hines is expecting her first child in March.
The 38-year-old actress co-stars with comedian Larry David on HBO's "Curb Your Enthusiasm," which will begin its fourth season in January.
She's currently at work voicing the female lead on the
NBC animated series
"Father of the Pride,"
about a family of white lions that work for Las Vegas showmen Siegfried & Roy.
Cheryl Hines
www.hbo.com/larrydavid
Formerly 'The Vidiot'
Caterpillar Lawsuit
George of the Jungle
Bulldozer maker Caterpillar Inc. wants to bury Walt Disney Co.'s "George of the Jungle 2" movie, which it alleges in a lawsuit filed late Tuesday in Federal Court in Peoria, Illinois, infringes on its trademarks.
The heavy equipment giant contended in the suit that the straight-to-DVD project about the hapless jungle man battling "bulldozing bullies" puts Caterpillar in a bad light, the Peoria Journal Star said on Wednesday.
In the sequel George, played by Chris Showerman, fights "bulldozing bullies" who drive Caterpillar equipment. That could have a "negative impact on children that view the movie" for the bulldozer maker and its line of toys, the newspaper quoted Caterpillar as charging.
George of the Jungle
A woman is silhouetted under a giant representation of the sun on display in the Turbine Hall of London's Tate Modern art gallery, October 15, 2003. The work is an installation by Danish/Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson using mirrors, lights and other special effects to recreate elements of the weather.
Photo by Peter Macdiarmid
To Christen Queen Mary 2
Queen Elizabeth II
The largest ocean liner ever built, Queen Mary 2, will receive a royal christening from Queen Elizabeth II in January, official sources told AFP.
Measuring 345 meters (1138.5 feet) long, 41 meters (135.3 feet) wide, 72 meters (237.6 meters) tall, and weighing some 150,000 tonnes, Queen Mary 2 is larger than any other ocean liner of its kind.
Capable of carrying 2,630 passengers on board, the ship was built in the western French city of Saint-Nazaire by Alstom Marine, a specialized Atlantic shipyard.
Queen Elizabeth II
Tickets Available by Lottery
Johnny Cash Memorial Tribute
Free tickets for the Nov. 10 Johnny Cash Memorial Tribute will be distributed by lottery, with an Oct. 26 deadline for entries.
For tickets, fans are advised to send a 3 1/2- by 5-inch card or paper with name, address and daytime telephone number to: Johnny Cash Memorial Tribute, P.O. Box 20003, Nashville, TN 37202. Only one entry per person is allowed, and all entries must be received by Oct. 26, 11:59 p.m. ET.
Winners will be chosen in an Oct. 27 drawing and notified by phone no later than Oct. 31. Each winner will receive two free reserved tickets.
Johnny Cash Memorial Tribute
www.johnnycash.com
Crocodile Hunter Plans Theme Park
Steve Irwin
TV Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin wants to snap up more tourists. The ever-enthusiastic Aussie celebrity, who has made millions wrestling crocodiles, said Wednesday he plans to open theme park somewhere near in the eastern city of Brisbane.
He also wants expand his existing Australia Zoo.
Irwin said the park would showcase Australian culture, animals and plants, as well, of course, himself.
Steve Irwin
Files for Divorce
Scott Weiland
Stone Temple Pilots lead singer Scott Weiland has filed for divorce from his wife.
The 35-year-old singer said in court documents filed Tuesday that he's divorcing Mary Weiland, with whom he has two children, because of irreconcilable differences. The couple has a prenuptial agreement.
The two married in May 2000 and separated in September 2002. Mary Weiland filed for divorce after their separation, but dropped the matter in August.
Scott Weiland
Rules Out Retirement
Rupert Murdoch
Rupert Murdoch, 72, said on Wednesday he had no intention of stepping down as head of his News Corp global media empire.
"I will be carried out," said Murdoch who last month celebrated his 50th year at the helm of the company he built up from a single newspaper into a group spanning satellite television, broadcast television, movie production and newspapers across the Americas, Asia, Australia and Europe.
The birth in July of his second daughter to third wife Wendi Deng had delayed "forever" any retirement plans, he told shareholders at the company's annual meeting in its hometown of Adelaide.
For more, Rupert Murdoch
In Memory
Patrick Dalzel-Job
A British war hero, said to have been the inspiration behind secret agent James Bond, has died aged 90, British newspapers reported on Wednesday.
Former Royal Navy Lieutenant Commander Patrick Dalzel-Job carried out a series of daring exploits behind enemy lines during the Second World War including some while serving under author Ian Fleming, who created the 007 character.
Although he never claimed to be the real James Bond, Fleming had told him he was the model for the heroic spy, the Guardian newspaper said.
Dalzel-Job's real life adventures certainly read like a James Bond novel. In one of most daring exploits in 1940, he disobeyed orders to rescue all the women, children and elderly residents from the Norwegian town of Narvik in local boats just before it was destroyed in a German bombing raid.
He only avoided a court martial after the King of Norway sent his personal thanks and awarded him the Knight's Cross of St Olav. Later in the war he commanded a team in one Fleming's undercover units which worked far ahead of allied lines in France and Germany.
He recounted tales of his wartime achievements in his memoir "From Arctic Snow to Dust of Normandy."
However unlike the woman-chasing 007, Dalzel-Job returned to Norway after the war to marry a schoolgirl he had met there as a child. He even shunned the Bond films.
"I prefer the quiet life now. When you have led such an exciting life you don't need to see a fictional account of it," the Guardian quoted him as saying.
Patrick Dalzel-Job
A German man who taught his dog Adolf to give a Hitler salute by raising his right paw has been charged with violating Germany's anti-Nazi laws, a Berlin court said on October 15, 2003. Police investigated after members of the public complained they had seen the man giving the stiff-arm 'Hitler salute' and telling his dog: 'Adolf sit, give me the salute!,' a court spokeswoman said. The man and his dog pose for photographers in Berlin Wednesday.
Photo by Tobias Schwarz
'The Osbournes'
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