Who's Going To Hell This Week
Helen A. Handbasket
More From 'TBH Politoons'
Thanks, again, Tim!
Alex's Entertainment Report
Alex
Reader Review
'A Beautiful Mind'
In 'A Beautiful Mind' Russel Crowe plays the part of Dr. John Nash, who worked as an MIT Professor. Though suffering
from schizophrenia he went on to win the Nobel prize in Mathematics.
This is a true story based on the book of the same name.
Powerful performances are given by Crowe, and Jennifer Connelly, who plays his wife. I can't say very much more about this
film without ruining it for those who are going to see it. It has some surprises and twists that may fool you. I almost
always see these coming a mile away, but this film had me fooled.
It starts in Princeton where he was a graduate student
on a Carnegie scholarship. It also ends in Princeton, where he can still be found to this day walking there to teach. This
is a great film with no explosions and people dying all over the place. Just a fascinating story line and great acting.
I would give it 4 1/2 out of 5 stars. There is no nudity or bad language, but children probably couldn't get into the story.
I would be surprised if this film wasn't nominated for Oscars. Possibly best actor and screenplay.
~~WilliamL15
Thanks, William! Great job.
Reader Viewing Suggestion
Bill Moyers Reports
BILL MOYERS REPORTS: ''TRADING DEMOCRACY ''
Tuesday, February 5, 2002 10:00 PM EST on PBS
This program explores what's been called an 'end run around the Constitution.'
It reveals how corporate investors are using an obscure provision in the North American Free Trade Agreement to challenge U.S. laws,
regulations and jury verdicts -- arguing those challenges before international trade tribunals that rule in secret -- and winning.
~~ Mark
Thanks, Mark!
In The Chaos Household
Last Night
Wondered where the hell Jerry Stiller was on 'The King Of Queens'? Also
caught part of 'Yes, Dear', and why is the issue of so-called 'masculinity'
always a running theme with the Greg (Anthony Clark) character?
'Raymond' really made me laugh...I have a couple of aunts who make 'Marie Romano' (Doris
Roberts) seem stand-offish. They are also great cooks, have immaculate houses and think
all their children are virgins (even the ones with kids).
'Becker' was interesting to see George Wendt (Norm), from 'Cheers' being the
guy behind the bar. Cliff was missed.
Caught some of 'PI' on ABC...what a stupid repug man! Like Arianna more
with every visit, and D.L. Hughley was wonderful!
Tonight, Tuesday, CBS has an all fresh night, with 'JAG', 'The
Guardian' (see below to find out who the creator of 'The Guardian' says the Guardian
really is), and 'Judging Amy'.
NBC starts the evening with a rerun of 'Will & Grace', and then goes fresh for
the rest of the evening, with '3 Sisters', 'Frasier', 'Scrubs', and 'Dateline'.
WARNING: Either 'Frasier' or 'Scrubs' runs LONG...and 'Dateline' is scheduled
to start at 10 minutes past the hour.
ABC has a fresh night with 'The Chair' (somebody wins the big money tonight), 'NYPD Blues',
and 'Philly' (no Kim Delaney comments, please).
The WB has a fresh night with 'Gilmore Girls' and 'Smallville'.
Faux weighs in with a fresh night - 'That 70's Show', followed by 'That 70's Show' (which is the
first part of 3), and then '24' (9:00 am - 10:00 am).
See below for Bill Moyers on PBS....The episode is entitled 'Trading Democracy'...Please watch.
AMC seems to be devoting the night to either James Whale, or gay & closeted in Hollywood. They are
finally paying attention to William (Billy) Haines, tennis champion, set designer & interior decorator, first class.
TCM is also wallowing in the past of Hollywood with 'Robert Benchley Shorts'. If you've never seen any, this is a
great opportunity. Way back when I was at The Disney Channel, some of these Benchley shorts would turn up, and they were always
great fun to watch.
Anyone have any opinions?
Or reviews?
(See below for addresses)
Big Dog Watch Continues
Bill Clinton
Busy Bill Clinton has been on the move again, raising money for the Democrats in general and for some former White
House aides in particular. He was in Chicago last weekend to lend support to Rahm Emanuel, one of his inner circle
who's running for Congress this year. Earlier, Bubba was in L.A. visiting with the Steven Spielbergs. The former
president dropped in on a Democratic National Committee fund-raiser and went to a support party for another of his
White House advisers, Michele (sic) Alioto, who wants to be California's next secretary of state. That affair was at the
home of Lynne Wasserman, daughter of the legendary Lew and Edie. It looks like Lynne is following in the footsteps
of her folks, who have been the biggest contributors ever to the Democrats and were huge supporters of Clinton.
Bill Clinton
It's not Michele Alioto, but Michela Alioto!
Freshly Updated!
Watergate v$ Enron!
Credentials Needed Just To Be A Fan
This Year's Oscars
The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences announced on Monday that fans will have to apply in advance for
seats on the bleachers, ending the time-honored tradition of camping out on the sidewalk for a front seat at
the glitziest show in town.
The new application form system, which will include background checks and a photo ID badge, for 400 bleachers seats
was prompted both by security concerns in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks and the move to a new venue in the heart
of Hollywood for the Oscar awards show.
In the past, fans have camped out all night on sidewalks for a bleachers seat at the Oscars on a first come, first
served basis. But the venues for previous awards ceremonies were in quieter, lightly populated areas of Los Angeles.
Applications for bleacher seats will be available beginning Feb 6 through March 1 either via the Academy's Web
site (www.oscars.org) or by calling 310 247 3000 ext. 140.
Based on previous turnout, the Academy expects demand to exceed supply.
Oscar Credentials To Be A Fan
'Episode II — Attack of the Clones'
''Star Wars''
Don't expect George Lucas to get all mushy just because his fifth "Star Wars" movie, "Episode II — Attack of the
Clones," focuses on the romance that produced those galaxy-surfing twins Luke and Leia.
It's "a love story in the 'Star Wars' tradition," says Lucas, who doesn't want to alienate the 12-year-olds targeted
by the film. "I'd call it a love haiku more than a love sonnet."
The upcoming installment in the saga stars Natalie Portman as Sen. Padmé Amidala and Hayden Christensen as Anakin
Skywalker — a nice guy whose journey toward becoming Darth Vader is continued in this episode.
"How could somebody like that turn into Darth Vader?" Lucas asks in the March issue of Vanity Fair. "That's what
we're trying to find out. That's the thing we all have to wrestle with, because it's basically a movie about any
one of us, and what are the impulses that cause us to become evil."
''Star Wars''
The 3 Most Bankable Stars
Julia & Tom & Tom
They may not be on anyone's Oscar list this year, but Tom Cruise, Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts all tied for the title of
Hollywood's most bankable star in a poll by showbiz paper The Hollywood Reporter.
While those three will likely not be nominated for 2002's Oscars, Hollywood's highest film honors given out in March each
year, winning a little golden statue can make a big difference to a star's moviemaking power.
Roberts is the only woman among the top 10 stars on what the Hollywood Reporter calls its StarPower 2002 survey, the results
of which are scheduled to be published on Tuesday.
It measured not only the stars' box office drawing power, but also the ability to get films funded and obtain wide distribution
in multiple countries based on the strength of their names.
The poll scored 1,000 actors on their ``bankability'' with a top score being 100. Hanks, Cruise and Roberts all reached
that magic mark. Next came Mel Gibson with a 98.68, Jim Carrey at 98.46, George Clooney at 95.18 and Crowe with 94.74.
The 3 Most Bankable Stars
Finally Speaks Out On 'Jackie O'
Daryl Hannah
Leggy blonde Daryl Hannah wants to put to rest the widespread belief that Jackie Kennedy Onasis put the kibosh on
the star's romance with John F. Kennedy Jr. because she didn't want her son marrying an actress. "It bothers me when
it's assumed that [John's mother] didn't like or approve of me," Hannah tells the March issue of Glamour magazine. "I
had a great relationship with her and treasure my memories of her kindness, humor and grace," the "Splash" sensation says.
Daryl Hannah
The ''Drivin' USA'' Tour
Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney is hitting the long and winding road again for the first time in almost 10 years.
The former Beatle announced in a statement Monday that he is to tour the United States from the beginning of April.
The ''Drivin' USA'' tour -- from California to New York -- will take in 14 concerts plus one show in Canada.
``I'm very excited to be getting back on the road, playing with a new band and including in the show some songs
that I haven't played live before,'' he said.
The statement said that McCartney, who will then tour Europe in May, has performed 1,400 concerts with the Beatles,
142 with his group Wings and 195 as a solo artist.
Paul McCartney
BC Entertainment Favorite Link
New Interview
Jodie Foster
Jodie Foster is notorious for her independent lifestyle. She's also one of the toughest interviews to land. But Sean
M. Smith has talked with Jodie for Premiere's coming March issue and Jodie speaks out with a will.
Of the criticism she received for refusing to replay the Clarice Starling role in the "Hannibal" sequel to "The
Silence of the Lambs" - she says, "It's hard to come up with a character that would be Clarice 10 years later. The
book was clear about who she had become, but I'm not sure I agreed with it." (Are you listening, author Tom Harris?)
Jodie's best quote concerns how she lives with her two little sons. "Some actors pay for someone to pick up their
mail and walk their dog and pick up the kids from school. But that's your life. So you're paying someone else to
live your life so you can work more? I'd rather pay somebody to work for me."
Jodie Foster
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Supporting Women In Public Office
Kristin Davis
Kristin Davis, who plays Charlotte on HBO's ``Sex and the City,'' wants women to think more about politics - and their role in it.
``I want to try to support women and make them aware there's a myriad of choices out there, politics being one of them,''
the 36-year-old Davis said Saturday while helping raise about $10,000 for a nonpartisan political group whose goal is
to get women elected to public office.
Cultivating female candidates is especially important for a state that ranks 50th in the number of women in elected
office, said Davis, a Columbia native.
``Having grown up in the South, I think you sometimes need to show women that just because you have a career and an
interest in politics, (that) doesn't make you unfeminine,'' she said.
Kristin Davis
Updated (Nearly) Daily!
BartCop TV!
Major Makeover
``Sesame Street''
With the opening of its 33rd season on Monday, television's best-known children's show will unveil its most dramatic
overhaul ever, one designed with competition and a changing audience in mind.
``Sesame Street'' was created in the late 1960s, aimed at an audience of 3- to 5-year-olds. One purpose was to educate
poor children who didn't go to preschool.
Now the show's primary audience is 2-year-olds, many of them already savvy television viewers also familiar with the structure of day care or
preschool, said Rosemarie Truglio, chief researcher at the PBS show's production company, Sesame Workshop.
Three years ago producers broke out Elmo's character into a separate ``Elmo's World'' segment and it became a big hit. Now Ernie will get
the same treatment. ``Journey to Ernie'' will be a daily segment where viewers will play along with Big Bird, ``searching'' for Ernie
in a computer-generated world.
There also will be separate ``Monster Clubhouse'' features and regular points in the show where a letter and number of the day are introduced.
``Sesame Street,'' which was loosely modeled after the old variety show ``Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In,'' is essentially becoming a
series of individual stories.
``What we know about children is they like predictability,'' Truglio said. ``So we're keeping the order the same.''
If Sesame Workshop doesn't keep in tune with society, the show risks becoming a relic.
``Sesame Street'' Makeover
The Naked Cowboy
Robert Burck
Robert Burck, the Naked Cowboy, sings on Bourbon Street in the French Quarter of New Orleans February 2, 2002 as fans
of the New England Patriots and St. Louis Rams celebrate during Mardi Gras. The New England Patriots will play the
St. Louis Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI Sunday, February 3 in the Louisiana Superdome.
Photo by Win McNamee
'Bob Woodward vs. John Belushi and Me'
Michael Dare
Michael Dare - 'The Life and Death of Captain Preemo'
Looking For NYC Property?
Hugh Hefner
Look out - word is Hugh Hefner is looking for an apartment in New York. The Playboy poobah has enlisted the help
of Gordon Golub and Howard Boyar of Citi Habitats to help him in his search. Golub and Boyar wined and dined Hef and his
harem of girlfriends at Serafina Wednesday night after they showed him several penthouse apartments on Central Park South.
So far Hefner hasn't made up his mind on any of the pads.
Hugh Hefner
Scheduled Talent & Presenters
Grammy Awards
A tribute to the ``O Brother, Where Art Thou?'' soundtrack, featuring Emmylou Harris, Alison Krauss, Ralph Stanley,
Gillian Welch and the Soggy Bottom Boys (Dan Tyminski and Pat Enright), will be among the musical performances on
the 44th annual Grammy telecast on Feb. 27.
Among the first acts announced for the CBS telecast are the Dave Matthews Band and a collaboration between 'N Sync
and Nelly. U2 and Alicia Keys were previously announced as performers; Janet Jackson, Diana Krall and Britney
Spears are locked in as presenters.
The ``O Brother'' soundtrack is up for album of the year, and three tracks from the disc are competing for other awards.
Krauss is up for five Grammys, one of which comes from her appearance on the soundtrack.
Grammy Awards
Not A United Front
Hip-Hop
Hip-hop artists are beginning to raise their voices over the U.S. war against terrorism.
But it is by no means a united front.
Those with a military background, are pro-U.S.A. Others are taking an anti-war stance.
But Russell Simmons, whose recent Def Poetry Jam on HBO featured street verse about Sept. 11, insists that people
should be paying more attention to rappers.
"Hip-hop artists," Simmons contends, "are more powerful than politicians."
Hip-Hop
A Very Special Bonus
From BartCop
Special Bonus From BartCop
Now Padma Bhushan
Ismail Merchant
The Indian government has honored Ismail Merchant with the title of Padma Bhushan, India's equivalent to British knighthood.
The award, given to people who have achieved distinction in their field, recognizes Merchant's contribution to world film
culture. Previous recipients include Satyajit Ray and Shekhar Kapur.
With partner James Ivory, Merchant has been involved in films that have earned 32 Academy Award nominations and six Oscars.
Merchant Ivory Prods. has made 47 films in 40 years. In 1996, Merchant, Ivory and writer Ruth Prawer Jhabvala gained
entry into the Guinness Book of Word Records for the most enduring filmmaking collaboration.
Padma Bhushan
Who is ''The Guardian''?
Charlie Sheen?
Who is "The Guardian" in real life?
On television, he's troubled lawyer "Nick Fallin" as played every Tuesday night on CBS by Australian actor Simon Baker.
In real life, he's the invention of first- time TV producer David Hollander, who created Fallin as a hot-shot corporate lawyer,
busted for drugs and forced into community service as a child advocate.
Hollander's tale of this flawed, not-so-likable do-gooder not only survived a murderous time slot, but has flourished to become
this season's most watched new drama.
While no single person inspired "The Guardian," the veteran screen writer Hollander said at least two real people touched his
imagination for Nick Fallin: his brother, a Pittsburgh child advocate, and actor Charlie Sheen, the Hollywood bad boy whose
immense popularity has been dogged by drugs and scandal.
The gritty CBS drama is No. 22 in overall ratings, beating perennial powerhouse "NYPD Blue" on ABC and
holding its own against ratings-monster "Frasier" (No. 16) on NBC.
"I'm drawn to a character who has a hard time, as opposed to a character who is able to waltz through everything."
Who is ''The Guardian''?
Home Town Planning A Tribute
George Harrison
Liverpool plans a tribute concert this month for George Harrison, who died of cancer on Nov. 29 at age 58.
Organizers, who include Liverpool City Council and the British Broadcasting Corp., did not announce the performers but promised ``a
host of big names.'' Money raised from the Feb. 24 show at the Liverpool Empire will be donated to cancer charities.
Neil Aspinall, head of The Beatles' management company, Apple, said Harrison's wife Olivia and son Dhani were ``touched with the idea.''
The concert date is the day Harrison celebrated as his birthday, though official records list his birth date as Feb. 25.
George Harrison
Impressed Pammie
Pam Anderson
It takes a mighty big bust to impress Pam Anderson, but the top-heavy temptress was left awestruck by one well-endowed
babe at The Park the other night. "She has the biggest [bleeps] I've ever seen," Anderson was overheard gushing to a
galpal in the ladies' room. Also turning heads at the Black Book magazine bash were Anderson's boyfriend Kid Rock, Michael
Stipe, The Edge, RuPaul - sporting a freshly shaved head - and semi-retired supermodel Rachel Williams.
Pam Anderson
From BartCop & Scrodd
The Bush Rap (Sheet)
The Bush Rap (Sheet)
One More Year?
''Friends''
With little fanfare, high-powered representatives for the cast of ``Friends'' have begun formal talks with NBC and the
show's producer, Warner Bros. TV, for a deal to bring the hit comedy back for a ninth season next fall.
The mere fact that talks have started is good news for the companies, as both strongly want the show to return. If the
sitcom's six main stars had no interest in another season, it's doubtful they'd let their reps start talking coin.
Insiders familiar with the negotiations aren't giving up many details of the current talking points. But early indications
are the cast will require pay hikes from their current salary of $750,000 per episode to at least $1 million per episode;
a bump to $1.1 million for each half-hour doesn't seem out of the question. Each season is about 22 episodes.
Technically, the talks are two different negotiations: What Warner Bros. will pay the cast, and what NBC will in turn
pay the studio for the show. Assuming NBC absorbs the bulk of the cast pay hike, the network's per-episode license fee
of $5.5 million could increase by $1 million or more.
''Friends''
Remember ''Webster''?
Luther & Emmanuel
Pint-sized Emmanuel Lewis has needed a pick-me-up since his sitcom "Webster" was canceled in the '80s, and he got
one the other night courtesy of Luther Vandross. The R&B crooner was chatting with Bobby Brown backstage after they
performed in Atlanta, when Vandross noticed a little boy nearby. Luther, who loves kids, patted the fellow on the
head and hoisted him off the ground, but the tyke was so heavy Luther nearly threw his back out. He realized he was
holding Lewis, who turns 31 in March. "When everyone discovered what was going on they were all in stitches."
Luther & Emmanuel
Old Bread Still Floats
David Gates
Singer-songwriter David Gates, who led the '70s group Bread, says he finds it strange that he's still singing
the same hits 25 years later.
``I always thought that 'If' and 'Make It With You' would be around, but I didn't think I'd being doing concerts
this late,'' the 61-year-old said. ``It's nice for me to have people still want to hear them.''
Among Bread's hit songs were ``Baby I'm A Want You,'' ``Everything I Own'' and ``Sweet Surrender.'' After the group
split up, Gates went on to do six solo albums.
David Gates
Busy Girl Writing Book
Janice Dickinson
Wild '70s supermodel Janice Dickinson plans to tell all. Her book, "Car Wreck Woman: The Accidental Life of the
World's First Supermodel," is due out in August. And the way HarperCollins describes the memoir, we can't wait: "A
raven-haired natural beauty, she endured a nightmarishly traumatic childhood at the hands of a sadistic, sexually
and emotionally abusive father." The first lush-lipped, exotic brunette to break into a modeling world dominated by
sunny California blondes, Dickinson appeared on every magazine cover, and modeled for every big designer. "She was
married three times, and had passionate affairs or one-night stands with everyone from Warren Beatty to Jack Nicholson
to Mick Jagger . . . Though her career waned in the 1990s, her dramatic life story did not: in recent years she has
fought a hotly contested paternity suit with Sylvester Stallone, survived a near-fatal car wreck during a tequila/marijuana
blackout in St. Barts, and battled alcohol and drugs - now finally at bay after decades of addiction."
Janice Dickinson
Woo-hooo....a ''tequila/marijuana blackout'' - I'm impressed!
In The Kitchen With BartCop & Friends
'Parliament' and 'Funkadelic'
George Clinton
Funk music star George Clinton has returned to court to try to resolve a lawsuit involving music royalties and a five-year-old eviction.
In 1996, Armen Boladian of Bridgeport Music Inc. of Detroit, successfully sued for possession of the 200-acre Cambridge
Township farm where Clinton lived. Boladian claimed he owned the property and Clinton owed nearly $1.2 million in
rent for living there since 1985.
Clinton's attorneys are asking for damages for wrongful eviction and fraud and deception. They're also seeking recovery
of royalty payments in excess of lease payments owed to Boladian.
Clinton, 61, gained fame in the 1960s and 1970s with the groups Parliament and Funkadelic. His hits include ``One
Nation Under a Groove'' and ``Atomic Dog.''
George Clinton
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