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 Former senator and presidential candidate John Edwards, in a written statement, admits to an extramarital affair in 2006

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Don Johnson upset about allegations SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Actor Don Johnson accused the San Francisco Chronicle of treating him unfairly in columns about a police report alleging that he made lewd comments to a woman in a sushi bar. On his Web site, www.donjohnson.com, the actor posted letters from his attorney and spokesman lambasting Chronicle columnists Phillip Matier and Andrew Ross. Johnson initially wanted the letters published as a large ad in the Chronicle, but decided Tuesday to withdraw the ad and publish them on the Web site instead. Chronicle executives said they would have rejected the ad, which would have cost $18,000. Phil Bronstein, the Chronicle's executive editor, said the columnists' reporting was solid. He also said the ad suggests that Matier and Ross intentionally withheld the woman's name in the Feb. 7 article, while it was police who did not release the name. "We really don't want to accept an ad that is knowingly false," Bronstein told The Associated Press. Matier and Ross first reported that the unidentified woman told police Johnson grabbed her on Jan. 20 and made sexually explicit comments when she went to the restroom at Mas Sake. Their Feb. 9 column also reported that at least two other women described similar sexual advances.   Notebook: Hollywood pulls out stops for Globes BEVERLY HILLS (AP) - Like a lot of stars, Allison Janney, who stars on NBC's "The West Wing," employed a stylist to pull her look together. She attended the Golden Globes wearing a seafoam, green-wired organza dress, accented by a peridot and diamond necklace and matching bracelet. "It's a fashion show, and you have to give it up and get help...I lost total confidence in my abilities to find my own dress and do my own makeup," Janney said. Patricia Heaton, who co-stars on CBS's "Everybody Loves Raymond," chose a plunging V-neck, long black dress that was accented with red beading at her waist. "Unless we do Ray's fantasy dream sequence, I'll never look like this on the show," said Heaton, whose borrowed ruby necklace and ring were worth $700,000. "I could wear this to my gym and be comfortable." Strapless gowns featuring long trains, eye-popping jewelry, body glitter and tiny beaded handbags were the most popular items on the red carpet at the Beverly Hilton hotel. But Melina Kanakaredes, of NBC's "Providence," knew what would happen to the dresses and jewelry: "You have to give it back the next day," she somberly said. An embarrassed Renee Zellweger made her way to the stage late to accept a Globe for best actress in a motion picture. "A moment I almost didn't have," she said, clutching her award for "Nurse Betty." Zellweger wasn't in her seat when presenter Hugh Grant called her name. He joked about her being under the table and continued stalling until Zellweger entered the ballroom and made the long walk to the stage. "I had lipstick on my teeth!" she exclaimed. Christine Lahti gave Zellweger a sympathetic pat on the back as she walked by. Lahti was in the restroom in 1998 when she was announced as a winner for her performance on "Chicago Hope." Somebody has to show the winners and presenters the way off stage, a duty handled by Miss Golden Globe. The title is traditionally bestowed upon a second-generation actress whose parents are in the business. Katie Flynn, the 19-year-old daughter of Jane Seymour, received the honor this year. She wants to work behind the scenes as a screenwriter. "I'm kind of shocked...It's very amazing to be here," she said. Lara Flynn Boyle, of ABC's "The Practice," was missing her most famous accessory, on-again-off-again-boyfriend Jack Nicholson. Boyle walked the red carpet alone in a pale blue, sequined long dress with a purple stole - perhaps a salute to Nicholson's favorite basketball team, the Los Angeles Lakers, who wear gold and purple uniforms. Nicholson is famous for avoiding pre-show hoopla, often sneaking a forbidden cigarette in private before slipping into his seat. Michael Michele, of NBC's "ER," isn't one of those celebrities jaded by the umpteen shows that hand out awards every year. She diligently worked the gauntlet of print, television, radio and Internet reporters stationed behind barricades along the red carpet. "I'm still kind of wide-eyed and excited," said Michele, in her second year of attending the big shows. "This is another night of going out and having a good time. The only difference is there's a lot of celebrities and a great deal of press."

Richard Lewis is happier sober
WASHINGTON (AP) - Comedian Richard Lewis jokes in his act about how miserable he is. But for 20 years, he wasn't joking. Lewis told AP Radio this week that he nearly drank himself to death. "I'm a miracle; I should be dead," he said. Lewis, who said he's been sober for more than six years, said life without alcohol is better all the way around. "As good as I could be as a human being, I'm better now that I'm in recovery, but as a performer, I've done my best performing live and my best acting ever since this happened." The 53-year-old comedian has written a book about his experiences, "The Other Great Depression."

Jane Leeves has baby girl
NEW YORK (AP) - "Frasier" co-star Jane Leeves has given birth to a baby girl. Isabella Kathryn Coben was born Jan. 9, weighing 9 pounds, 12 ounces, People magazine reports. This is the first child for Leeves, 39, and her husband, TV executive Marshall Coben. The English-born actress, who plays Daphne on the NBC sitcom, hid her pregnancy on the show by standing behind furniture and wearing large coats. Peri Gilpin, who plays Roz on "Frasier," was with Leeves in the delivery room.

Taylor says she won't marry again
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Twice an Oscar winner and eight times a bride, Elizabeth Taylor says she has no interest in extending her string of marriages to nine. "I'd live with someone if he were cute, intelligent, compassionate, adorable, had a good sense of humor," the 68-year-old actress, sporting a new look with a bright red hairstyle, said on CNN's "Larry King Live" Monday night. But she ruled out marrying again. Taylor said she had two great loves in her life, actor Richard Burton, who was married to her twice, and Broadway producer Mike Todd, who died in a plane crash just 13 months into their relationship. "I didn't think I was going to live after that," she said. "I didn't want to live." But the actress, who has overcome several serious health problems throughout her life, also said, "There must be some reason that God wants me to live." "There must be something left for me to do," said Taylor, who has spent much of her time in recent years raising money to fight AIDS. "And I have to find out what that something is and go out there and do it!"

Arthur Miller makes jump to big screen
LOS ANGELES (G. Rasmussen) - After more than five decades in theater, playwright Arthur Miller is putting down his pen and making his first appearance on the big screen. The Pulitzer Prize-winning dramatist will play a supporting role in the movie "Plain Jane," an adaptation of his short story "Homely Girl, a Life," producer Didier Sapaut said Tuesday in the Hollywood Reporter. Israeli director Amos Gitai will oversee the $9 million English-language film, which stars Samantha Morton as the troubled daughter of a Jewish immigrant. The 85-year-old Miller, who co-wrote the screenplay, will play Morton's father in the film. Miller, a three-time Tony-winner who has previously appeared on-screen only in documentaries, is best known for his plays "Death of a Salesman" and "The Crucible."

Burt Bacharach sues co. for $15 mln
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Burt Bacharach has sued a company headed by Indiana Pacers owner Melvin Simon for $15 million, saying he needed shoulder-replacement surgery after stumbling in a darkened ballroom. The lawsuit filed Monday in U.S. District Court said the 71-year-old composer-conductor fell and injured his left shoulder at the Indiana Roof Ballroom during a sound check on April 5, 2000. Bacharach was scheduled to perform at the downtown venue. Named as defendants are the ballroom's owner and operator, Melvin Simon and Associates, a private real estate investment trust, and Claypool Holdings. Melvin Simon and Associates is affiliated with Simon Property Group, a publicly traded, Indianapolis-based company that owns or manages 251 shopping centers. Bacharach stumbled at a drop on the main floor of the ballroom, which was dark at the time, his complaint says

New Game Boy hits stores
LOS ANGELES (G. Rasmussen) - The eagerly-awaited new version of Nintendo's Game Boy hits stores Wednesday. The new video game, being called Game Boy Advance, looks just like its predecessor, Game Boy Color. But the screen is 50% bigger and its image processor is three times faster, running at 32 bits, up from eight bits. Nintendo, whose cumulative sales of the 11-year-old original Game Boy topped 100 million last year, plans to ship 1.1 million units of the new version in March with a target of 24 million by March 31, 2002.

BET: Ratings doomed Smiley as host
NEW YORK (AP) - Common television misdemeanors, dwindling ratings and an aging audience led to the dismissal of Black Entertainment Television talk show host Tavis Smiley, a BET executive said. BET said Smiley's show, "BET Tonight," will go on but the cable network had decided not to renew the host's contract after it expires in September. Smiley is perhaps BET's most visible personality. He conducted one of the few television interviews former President Clinton granted in the midst of his impeachment scandal and, earlier this month, won two NAACP Image Awards. But his show, which is seen in an average of 215,000 households, has suffered from sagging ratings, network spokesman Michael Lewellen said Thursday. BET is aiming for the advertiser-friendly 18-to-34-year-old audience, and Smiley's viewers tended to be much older, he said. Smiley, speaking on Tom Joyner's syndicated radio show Thursday, said he resisted advice that he quit immediately and said he will remain on the air until the end of his contract

Inductees enter Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
NEW YORK (AP) - Michael Jackson and Paul Simon marked their second entrances into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on Monday, joined by fellow inductees Aerosmith, Queen and Steely Dan. Fifties vocal group the Flamingos, soul singer Solomon Burke and "La Bamba" singer Ritchie Valens completed the list of honorees at a New York ceremony Monday night. Jackson, already in the Hall of Fame with his brothers as a member of the Jackson 5, was earmarked for a solo career that includes "Thriller," which Sony estimates has sold more than 47 million copies worldwide. Current chart kings 'N Sync planned to induct Jackson, who is working on a long-awaited new album. Simon is also a Hall of Fame member for his work with Art Garfunkel. His solo career has included hits such as "Mother and Child Reunion," "American Tune" and "Graceland." Aerosmith debuted at No. 2 on Billboard this week with a new album, "Just Push Play," but is being honored for a legacy that includes the ballad "Dream On" and "Dude Looks Like a Lady."

The bombastic, theatrical Queen is missing its most prominent member - singer Freddie Mercury, who died of AIDS in 1991. The group's songs live on, including "Bohemian Rhapsody," "We Are The Champions" and "We Will Rock You." Steely Dan, the duo of Donald Fagen and Walter Becker, is enjoying a resurgence after its new disc, "Two Against Nature," won a Grammy for album on the year last month. Ricky Martin planned to induct Valens, the most prominent Latin rocker of rock's early days, who died in the same 1959 plane crash that killed Buddy Holly. The Flamingos were best-known for their lush, romantic ballad "I Only Have Eyes For You," while Burke's soul hits were an early influence for Rolling Stone Mick Jagger. The Stones' Keith Richards planned to induct Johnnie Johnson, piano player for Chuck Berry, into the Rock Hall in the "sidemen" category. Elvis Presley guitarist James Burton also was given that honor

Maximilian Schell recovering from surgery
NEW YORK (AP) - Maximilian Schell is recovering from an appendectomy that kept him off the stage of Broadway's Longacre Theatre, where he is headlining previews of a new production of "Judgment at Nuremberg." Schell, 70, portrays an aging minister of justice on trial in 1948 for sentences he handed down under Hitler. He won a Best Actor Academy Award for the 1961 film "Judgment at Nuremberg," in which he gave a passionate performance as a young German defense lawyer. Schell was hospitalized Saturday in New York City but is expected to resume performances Thursday, according to Joe Trentacosta, a spokesman for the production. "He wants to come back earlier," Trentacosta said. "Everyone's telling him to take it easy." The play is scheduled to open on March 26

AOL-Time Warner settles cable case
WASHINGTON (AP) - AOL-Time Warner will pay the federal government $72,000 to settle a case stemming from the company's decision to drop ABC from its cable systems in seven cities during television's May sweeps period. The Federal Communications Commission determined that AOL-Time Warner had violated communications law by its actions and could have fined the company $7,500 for each cable system that stopped airing ABC's signals during that time. Instead, the two sides agreed to a deal whereby AOL-Time Warner paid $750 per cable system and the FCC dropped the case. The dispute at the heart of the FCC's decision erupted first as a battle between two corporate entities. The media giants were tangled in a fight over the money The Walt Disney Co. - ABC's corporate parent - wanted to receive for letting the company then known as Time Warner air some of its cable channels. When they couldn't reach a deal, Time Warner dropped ABC programming for its cable customers in a number of markets.
Intruder found in Anderson's home
MALIBU, Calif. (AP) - A female intruder allegedly found sleeping in a bed at Pamela Anderson's home has pleaded innocent to misdemeanor trespassing. Christine Evelyn Roth, 27, entered the plea Thursday and remained jailed on $5,000 bail. Superior Court Judge James Albracht ordered her back to court March 15 for a pretrial hearing. Deputies were called to the former "Baywatch" star's home Sunday morning and arrested Roth, who was booked for investigation of trespassing and stalking. But Roth wasn't charged with stalking because that requires a credible threat by the suspect and there was no evidence of a threat, said Deputy District Attorney Martin Herscovitz. "I think she wanted to see Pamela Anderson but there was no evidence she was there to hurt or threaten her," the prosecutor said.

Michael Jackson trips on broken foot
LONDON (AP) - Michael Jackson canceled plans to watch his friend Macaulay Culkin on stage after the pop legend stumbled on his broken foot. Doctors advised Jackson to rest after he tripped on Thursday at his London hotel following dinner at a fish-and-chips restaurant in the northwestern part of the city, said Jonathan Morrish, a spokesman for Sony Records, Jackson's label. "The last thing in the world he would do would be to let a long-time friend like Macaulay down, but as a singer and a dancer he has to be seriously careful with his feet," Morrish said. Morrish would not say whether Jackson, who broke his foot in a fall at his California ranch, fell down in the hotel or just stumbled. "He tripped over something," Morrish said. Culkin is starring in the play "Madame Melville" in London's West End.

Details emerge on Perry's rehab
LOS ANGELES (G. Rasmussen) - New details are emerging about Matthew Perry's most recent battle with addiction. The new issue of US magazine reveals that the star of "Friends," who checked himself into a detox program last month, "was riding a pharmaceutical roller coaster," according to the magazine. Perry, who had begun drinking again, was reportedly hooked on Vicodin, a prescription drug that prompted a rehab stay years before, as well as methadone and methamphetamines. The magazine reports that Perry sought the attention of a doctor while on the set of the new comedy "Servicing Sara" because his stomach pain - caused by his drug-and-alcohol cocktail - was becoming unbearable. The doctor suggested Perry enter rehab, and the actor conceded, flying from the Dallas location to Los Angeles, where his father escorted him to a rehabilitation facility.

Spice Girls will stay together
LONDON (AP) - Hey Spice Girls fans. There's no need to get shaken up. The group's spokesman says they are staying together. "Everyone wants to say it's over but it isn't, the group has still got strong ties," said Spice Girls spokesman Alan Edwards. "As everyone knows, the Spice Girls are pursuing their own solo projects, but the Spice Girls still exists." Group member Melanie Chisholm, who also goes by the names Mel C and Sporty Spice, has sparked rumors of a breakup with comments that she plans to focus on her solo career. Edwards said that while the Spice Girls have no immediate plans to work together, they haven't disbanded entirely. "What she said is that we've got no plans at the moment," he said. "It isn't the final split...Melanie C hasn't left the Spice Girls." Chisholm's solo album, "Northern Star," has done well and she has toured widely to support it. Ginger Spice Geri Halliwell left the group in 1998, and sales of their most recent album, "Forever," have been weak.

Jury: No money for playmate Smith
HOUSTON (AP) - A jury Wednesday ruled that former stripper and Playboy Playmate Anna Nicole Smith and the oldest son of her late Texas oilman husband are entitled to none of his multimillion-dollar estate. The jury affirmed that the oilman, J. Howard Marshall II, had named his younger son, E. Pierce Marshall, 61, as his sole heir. Smith, 33, had already dropped her claim on her later husband's estate earlier in the trial, after a federal bankruptcy judge in California awarded her $475 million. But the verdict in Texas could ultimately undermine the California ruling, which is still under appeal. The jury found that Los Angeles businessman J. Howard Marshall III, 63, had no oral agreement with his father to receive a portion of the estate. The jury also found that Smith had no agreement with her late husband to get half his fortune. She was not named in any will documents. Smith took the stand for five days, telling the jury her husband promised to leave her half his estate and to adopt her son from a previous marriage. She produced no evidence to support either claim

Schwarzenegger mulls run for Gov.
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Is muscle-bound Hollywood action hero Arnold Schwarzenegger going to run for governor of California? A day after saying Schwarzenegger wouldn't try next year for the office held by Democratic Gov. Gray Davis, publicist Jill Eisenstadt said Wednesday her client's mind "is not made up," and that Schwarzenegger will decide in the next couple of months. On Tuesday, Eisenstadt said the "timing's not right" for the action star, explaining that Schwarzenegger had family and film obligations preventing him from running for public office next year. The star of the "Terminator" films and "Predator," among others, whet the appetites of fellow Republicans dreaming of an actor-to-governor sequel when he told a Los Angeles Times columnist a month ago that the governor's job was appealing. After all, Republican Ronald Reagan had gone from Hollywood to Sacramento to the White House. "I've thought about it many times because I love politics," Schwarzenegger said then. "I get such great satisfaction out of helping people."

Lewinsky agrees to HBO documentary
NEW YORK (AP) - Monica Lewinsky has agreed to take part in an HBO documentary about her affair with Bill Clinton and its impact on the nation. The former White House intern told the New York Times that the passage of time has provided her with new perspective that would go beyond what she revealed in her biography, "Monica's Story." Sheila Nevins, head of HBO's documentary unit, said she believed there were still issues worth exploring, particularly "why this very minor event became one of such enormous magnitude." The documentary, which will be produced by the team that made the HBO documentary "Juror No. 5: 58 Days of Duty on the O.J. Simpson Civil Trial," is expected to air next January. Neither HBO nor Lewinsky would discuss how much she would be paid for her participation, the newspaper reported

Singer James Taylor gets married

BOSTON (AP) - Pop singer James Taylor has tied the knot with longtime girlfriend Caroline Smedvig. The two married Sunday at a Boston church during a small ceremony attended by about 50 family and friends. Smedvig, an executive with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, was given away by John Williams, the Hollywood film composer and Boston Pops conductor laureate. Sir Andre Previn and Yo-Yo Ma performed at the wedding, said Jessica Kusmin, the couple's personal assistant. Taylor, 52, and Smedvig, 46, met when Taylor taped a Boston Pops concert at Symphony Hall in 1993, and began dating two years later. The marriage is Smedvig's second and Taylor's third.

Barrymore, Green home damaged in fire
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Fire heavily damaged the hillside home of actress Drew Barrymore and comedian Tom Green. Barrymore and another person were home when the fire started early Sunday but escaped injury, Fire Department spokesman Jim Wells said. He could not confirm that Green was the other person. The fire caused an estimated $700,000 in damage to the two-story, 3,500-square-foot home north of Beverly Hills. The cause was under investigation

Crowe speaks of split with Ryan
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) - Oscar-nominated Australian actor Russell Crowe says he split with American actress Meg Ryan because he wanted to spend more time on his Australian ranch. The two became an item on the set of their hostage movie "Proof of Life," but broke up six months later. "I have a big life here," Crowe said of his farming in northern New South Wales state, in an interview with Melbourne tabloid The Herald Sun printed Saturday. "When I'm off the hook with the schedules, I have to come home. I can't sustain myself through the course of the year without filling up on home." However, Crowe admitted he remained open to the possibility of moving to Los Angeles in the future. He also said he and Ryan, who split with her husband Dennis Quaid last year, would remain friends. "Meg is a beautiful and courageous woman," he said. "I grieve the loss of her companionship, but I haven't lost her friendship," said Crowe, who is nominated for a Best Actor Oscar for his role in the summer box office hit "Gladiator."

Update: More controversy for 'Hannibal'
BERLIN (Hollywood Reporter) - "Hannibal," already under ratings scrutiny in other countries, is awaiting its fate in Germany. The Anthony Hopkins starrer opens Thursday here, and it was unclear Monday what rating the picture would be given in the territory. The German film ratings association, the FSK, said Monday that it had not reached a final decision whether to give the grisly film a 16 and up rating or the harsher 18 and up rating. The higher rating could cut into the Anthony Hopkins starrer's box office if German teens, a core part of the film's target audience, are unable to see the picture. Almost all German critics have panned "Hannibal," citing the graphic violence and lack of subtlety in comparison with the film's 1991 predecessor, "The Silence of the Lambs."

'Hannibal' to devour box office competition
LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - "Hannibal" will have "Saving Silverman" for lunch at the box office this weekend. MGM's "Hannibal," the much-anticipated sequel to 1991's "The Silence of the Lambs," has created the theatrical equivalent of a feeding frenzy among filmgoers that unquestionably will result in one of the biggest three-day nonholiday openings of all time. Sony's "Silverman," on the other hand, will settle for the comfort of knowing it gave counter programming its best shot. "Hannibal" has created such excitement in the marketplace that it should easily eclipse the $131 million domestic tally of "Lambs," which came, of course, during a period of much lower ticket prices. The competitive landscape is so clear, in fact, that even middling word-of-mouth should be sufficient to support long-term success. Challenging the grisly "Hannibal" with the lighthearted "Silverman" was obviously a strategy that made sense on paper, but the sheer force of the former's presence in the marketplace suggests that the latter will get hammered. Young males are the only segment indicating measurable interest in "Silverman."

'Hannibal' rating upsets Aussie filmgoers
SYDNEY, Australia (Hollywood Reporter) - Various Australian consumer groups are up in arms over a decision by censorship authorities to give a classification to "Hannibal" that technically allows children under 15 to see the film, which will be released next Thursday here. The film received an R rating in the United States. The Office of Film and Literature Classification gave "Hannibal" an "MA 15+" classification, which, while restricting entry to mature audiences, allows entry to anyone under 15 if a parent or guardian accompanies them. Even the film's Australian distributor, United International Pictures, has said publicly that it initially expected the film to have a "Restricted" rating, which bars entry to anyone under 18. However the OFLC has deemed that the violence in the film is not exploitative, the "high impact" violence scenes are infrequent and not gratuitous.

Dear Abby gets star on Walk of Fame
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Pauline Phillips, the advice columnist "Dear Abby," also known to millions of readers as Abigail van Buren, received the 2,172nd star on Hollywood Walk of Fame. Wednesday's ceremony took place in front of the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel on Hollywood Boulevard adjacent to the historic Chinese Theatre. The 82-year-old Phillips, who lives in Beverly Hills, accepted the honor with her collaborator and daughter, Jeanne Phillips. "Mother and I are just overwhelmed. This is a dream come true," said Jeanne Phillips, who started working on the column as a girl to help her mother respond to teen-agers' problems. The column began in 1956 and now appears in nearly 1,250 newspapers around the globe, according to Universal Press Syndicate

Shatner to wed for 4th time
LEBANON, Ind. (AP) - William Shatner, best-known for "Star Trek," didn't need a phaser to stun onlookers when he and his girlfriend applied for a marriage license in this central Indiana city. Shatner, 69, and Elizabeth Martin, 42, strolled into the Boone County Courthouse on Monday and paid the $62 out-of-state residence fee for the license application, said county clerk Lisa Garoffolo. In short order, Garoffolo was swamped by telephone calls, ranging from courthouse employees to Los Angeles television stations. The Los Angeles couple has 60 days after applying for the license to make it official, Garoffolo said. If the couple weds, it would be the fourth marriage for Shatner. His third wife, model Nerine Kidd, died Aug. 9, 1999, when she drowned in the swimming pool at the couple's Los Angeles home. Shatner's first two marriages ended in divorce

Barrymore gets Harvard acting award
BOSTON (AP) - Actress Drew Barrymore came to Harvard to claim her Hasty Pudding Woman of the Year award, but first she had to complete a mission for her old boss Charlie: find the missing pot. In a nod to her role in the film version of "Charlie's Angels," Barrymore on Thursday helped find the pot and spoof some of her films - including "E.T. The Extraterrestrial" and "The Wedding Singer" - at the prompting of an off-stage voice, an imitation of Charlie Townsend, the Angels' mysterious boss, who was heard but never seen. Barrymore received the award and a roast of her career from members of the Hasty Pudding Theatricals, the nation's oldest undergraduate dramatic organization. The Hasty Pudding Award goes to performers who have made a "lasting and impressive contribution to the world of entertainment." Previous winners include Jamie Lee Curtis, Billy Crystal, Goldie Hawn, Samuel L. Jackson, Sigourney Weaver, Kevin Kline, Julia Roberts and Mel Gibson.

Crichton signs new book deal
NEW YORK (AP) - Michael Crichton has agreed to a two-book deal with HarperCollins, ending a 30-year affiliation with Alfred Knopf. Although terms were not disclosed, the contract is almost certainly worth seven figures. "Michael does believe in change," his agent, Lynn Nesbit, said Tuesday. "His relationship with Knopf was comfortable, but perhaps too comfortable, and he needed a shot of energy." At his new publishing house, Crichton will be reunited with Jane Friedman, a publicist and executive at Knopf for much of his time there and now president and chief executive officer of HarperCollins. "The change is particularly meaningful to me because it gives me the opportunity once again to work with Jane Friedman, a friend and colleague," Crichton said in a statement. Crichton, author of such blockbusters as "Jurassic Park" and "The Andromeda Strain," is expected to publish his first book for Harper in 2002.

James Bond memorabilia sold at auction
LONDON (AP) - The bikini worn by original Bond girl Ursula Andress in the James Bond film "Dr. No" sold for more than $60,000 at Christie's auction house Wednesday. "This is the most important piece of memorabilia ever sold at auction," said new owner Robert Earl, a co-founder of the restaurant chain Planet Hollywood, who bid for the ivory-colored bikini by telephone. He said he plans to display his prize in the chain's new restaurant in Times Square in New York City. In the first Bond film, Andress emerged from the sea in the bikini, defining the sexy image of the Bond girl and achieving screen immortality. The swimsuit was one of more than 250 items from 21 James Bond movies at the largest-ever sale of props from the James Bond films. The most expensive item was a 1965 Aston Martin DB5 driven by Pierce Brosnan in the 1995 film "GoldenEye." It went to British computer entrepreneur Max Reid for $228,737. The sale total, Christie's said, was $869,348.

Letterman may be pushing the limit
NEW YORK (AP) - David Letterman is doing what all good talk show hosts do from time to time - ruffling a few feathers. The New York Post reported on Friday that a Letterman Top 10 list that poked fun at his network was scrapped this week. The list referred to a lawsuit filed by a former "Survivor" participant who claimed the reality show was rigged. The initial taping of Letterman's show on Tuesday featured a comedic list of the Top 10 reasons to sue CBS. After the taping was concluded, however, Letterman asked the audience to stay as a substitute list was filmed regarding Jennifer Lopez. The Post quoted an actress attending the taping, Paulette Osborne, as saying Letterman seemed "very upset" that the CBS list wasn't used.

CBS spokeswoman Rosemary Keenan said no pressure was applied to Letterman, and that the talk show host and his producers decided on the change themselves. "It didn't get a good reaction from the audience and they felt it wasn't funny enough," she said. Letterman's long history of mocking the networks that air him, first NBC and now CBS, would seem to indicate that he doesn't get pushed around. Keenan said the only time CBS waves a red flag on Letterman's material is if it appears to be libelous.

Films to screen in space
LOS ANGELES (G. Rasmussen) - "Thirteen Days," "Lost In Space," "Seven" and "Frequency" were among the films launched into space Wednesday night aboard the space shuttle Atlantis. Atlantis is destined for Expedition One, the International Space Station, to deliver and install a laboratory module that is a crucial component to the ongoing construction of the International Space Station. New Line Cinema announced Thursday that the DVDs were included in the payload to help entertain the space station crew that has been afloat since last October. "Thirteen Days," a dramatization of the Cuban Missile Crisis, is thought to be especially apropos because it will be viewed by two Russian cosmonauts and one American astronaut - a far cry from the film's depiction of nearly warring nations.

The Atlantis was to dock with the space station Friday. Other titles making the 220-mile trip beyond the Earth are "The Wedding Singer," "Rush Hour," "The Mask," "Corrina, Corrina," "Love and Basketball," "Pleasantville," "Magnolia" and both "Austin Powers" movies

Ava Gardner considered for stamp
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - Ava Gardner, the Johnston County native who graced movie screens during the Golden Age of Hollywood and married three famous men, may soon appear on a postage stamp. U.S. Rep. Bob Etheridge, a Lillington Democrat, began a campaign Thursday to have the U.S. Postal Service issue a stamp in Gardner's honor. "Having a stamp issued in your memory is a high honor," Etheridge said at a news conference. "But folks, if they can put Daffy Duck and the dung beetle on a postage stamp, for sure there is a place for someone as glamorous and accomplished as Ava Gardner on one." Gardner made more than 60 movies during her career, including "Mogambo," "Night of the Iguana" and "The Barefoot Contessa." She died of pnuemonia in 1990 at age 67

Microsoft's UltimateTV to launch in March
LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Microsoft's planned launch next month of UltimateTV is shaping up as a big event for No. 1 rival TiVo, pioneer of the commercial-zapping digital video recorder that allows television watchers to pause and rewind live TV and record without videotape. With UltimateTV's two tuners, Microsoft has answered a significant question among TiVo owners: Why can't I record one show while watching another? Not only does UltimateTV solve that problem, but also by combining TiVo-like functions with its interactive TV product, WebTV, Microsoft is further broadening the possibilities that interactive TV has to offer. Not to be outdone, TiVo and equity shareholder AOL Time Warner are readying a set-top box that will combine TiVo with AOL's interactive TV product, AOLTV. The UltimateTV box includes not only WebTV but also satellite service DirecTV. But TiVo already has its TiVo-DirecTV combination product on the market. To confuse things further, AOLTV will offer by year's end an AOLTV-DirecTV combo box, but not necessarily a combination AOLTV-DirecTV-TiVo unit

Tomb Raider' conquers box-office
LOS ANGELES (AP) - The high game for the weekend belongs to Lara Croft. Her score: $48.2 million. That was the weekend take for Angelina Jolie's "Lara Croft: Tomb Raider," which opened at No. 1 with the best box-office debut ever for a movie based on a video game. In second place was Disney's animated adventure "Atlantis: The Lost Empire." Featuring the voice of Michael J. Fox, "Atlantis" took in $20.4 million in its nationwide debut after playing for a week in New York City and Los Angeles. "Shrek" held strong this weekend, taking third place with $12.9 million. At $197.2 million, "Shrek" passed "The Mummy Returns" as the year's top-grossing movie and is expected to top $200 million by the middle of this week. Last weekend's top film, "Swordfish," fell to No. 4 with $12.2 million. The crime thriller "Sexy Beast," starring Ben Kingsley and Ray Winstone, opened strongly in limited release. "Sexy Beast" expands to about 30 more cities in the next two weekends

'Pearl Harbor,' 'Shrek' will duel for top box office slot
LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Comedy squares off against treachery at the box office this weekend. "Evolution," a mostly light-hearted treatment of alien invasion, and "Swordfish," a dark tale of greed along the information superhighway, are the two wide releases scheduled. "Evolution" would appear to have the brighter prospects of the two, but neither is going to make moviegoers forget the early summer blockbusters still active in the marketplace. Business expectations should remain realistic, as sentiment in the marketplace toward both properties is only average by summertime standards. "Swordfish" has males of all ages engaged, but its R rating will temper teenage trade. "Evolution" will draw both sexes in the under-25 sector and is rated a more-friendly PG-13, but its overall profile is only marginally more promising. Buena Vista's "Pearl Harbor" (about $130 million in two weeks) and DreamWorks' "Shrek" (roughly $160 million in three weeks) will duel for first place.

Pearl Harbor' remains No. 1
LOS ANGELES (AP) - "Pearl Harbor" edged out the story of a humble ogre, and took in $30 million. "Shrek" ran a close second with $28.4 million, according to studio estimates Sunday. After 10 days, "Pearl Harbor" has grossed $119.3 million; "Shrek" hit $148.6 million in 17 days. "The Animal" debuted in third place with $19.8 million. The comedy stars Rob Schneider as a wimp who becomes a supercop after being implanted with the DNA of wild beasts. The Nicole Kidman-Ewan McGregor musical "Moulin Rouge," considered a tough sell for modern audiences unaccustomed to song-and-dance films, had a solid first weekend in wide release. After two weekends playing to sellout crowds in one theater each in New York City and Los Angeles, "Moulin Rouge" grossed $14.2 million to finish at No. 4. The comedy "What's the Worst That Could Happen?" opened in fifth place with $13.3 million. Strong holdovers combined with new releases for a big weekend overall. The top 12 movies grossed $112.7 million, up 27% over the same period a year ago

'Pearl Harbor' wins box-office victory
LOS ANGELES (AP) - "Pearl Harbor" won an easy victory at the box office, debuting as the No. 1 film with $75.1 million over the four-day weekend. The heavily hyped World War II epic fell short of setting individual box-office records, but it helped lift Hollywood to an apparent record-breaking weekend. The overall box office was on target to beat the all-time high of $183.7 million set last Memorial Day weekend. The top 12 movies alone grossed $176.6 million this weekend, up 3% from the same holiday weekend last year. "Pearl Harbor" had the second-best Memorial Day opening ever, behind the $90.2 million gross for "The Lost World: Jurassic Park" in 1997. Last week's top film, the computer-animated "Shrek," slipped to No. 2 but had an impressive second weekend, grossing $54.2 million, according to studio estimates Monday. "The Mummy Returns" took third place with $19.1 million, pushing its total to $170.7 million. "Pearl Harbor," "Shrek" and "The Mummy Returns" each is on track to top $200 million. That would equal the number of films released in all of 2000 to hit that mark, with many potential blockbusters still to come this year.

Mummy' sequel earns $116 mln.
LOS ANGELES (AP) - "The Mummy Returns" continued to produce spectacular revenues with an estimated $32.2 million in its second weekend, for total box office receipts of $116.5 million in just 10 days. That overshadowed the weekend's strong debut for another action film, "A Knight's Tale," at $17 million. The sequel to "The Mummy" - starring Brendan Fraser, Rachel Weisz and wrestler The Rock - attracts a universal audience, said Universal Pictures. The special effects and characters from "The Mummy" returning for the sequel also prove to be strong audience draws. "A Knight's Tale" stars Heath Ledger as an underdog squire posing as a knight in a medieval jousting competition. It features a music score that includes several rousing rock music standards such as "We Will Rock You," by Queen. Third place in North American theaters this weekend was "Bridget Jones's Diary" at $4.5 million. The competition heats up next weekend. Debuts include "Shrek," the DreamWorks' computer-animated fairy-tale comedy featuring the voices of Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz, Eddie Murphy and John Lithgow, and "Angel Eyes," a romantic drama starring Jennifer Lopez and Jim Caviezel.

Stallone's 'Driven' a box-office hit
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Sylvester Stallone's car-racing thriller "Driven" coasted to a first-place finish at the weekend box office, debuting with $13.1 million. "Driven" bumped off "Bridget Jones's Diary," which slipped to second place with $7.5 million in ticket sales, according to studio estimates Sunday. Three other new films - "Town and Country," "One Night at McCool's" and "The Forsaken" - had dismal openings. "Driven" reunited Stallone with director Renny Harlin, who made "Cliffhanger," Stallone's last big hit in 1993. "Town and Country," a long-delayed romantic comedy starring Warren Beatty, Diane Keaton, Goldie Hawn and Garry Shandling, bombed with a seventh-place opening gross of $3.1 million. The black comedy "One Night at McCool's" also bombed, opening at No. 12 with $2 million. The movie stars Liv Tyler, Matt Dillon, Paul Reiser, John Goodman and Michael Douglas. The box office overall took a big dive. The top 12 movies grossed $55.2 million, down 20% from the same weekend a year ago. But Hollywood's revenues so far in 2001 are 14% ahead of last year's record pace and heading into a summer that's crowded with potential hits.

'Spy Kids' retain box office crown
LOS ANGELES (AP) - A bawdy romance, a funeral flick, a gross-out comedy, and a cartoon adaptation could not compete with a family of spies and cops on a kidnapping case. "Spy Kids" held the top spot at the box office for the third straight weekend, grossing $12.8 million to bring its 17-day total to $68.6 million, according to studio estimates Sunday. "The good news is it's not just getting kids. Their parents are liking it, too," said Mark Gill, West Coast president of Miramax, which released "Spy Kids." Last weekend's No. 2 film, the abduction thriller "Along Came a Spider," held the second spot again with $11.3 million to boost its 10-day take to $33.7 million. The top six films were bunched up within a few million dollars, and the rankings could change Monday when final figures are released. In third place was the new film "Bridget Jones's Diary," starring Renee Zellweger as a lovelorn Londoner who sets out on some lusty misadventures. The film opened with $10.8 million and had a solid average of $6,713 a cinema playing in 1,611 theaters.

'Spy Kids' remains box office champ
LOS ANGELES (AP) - "Spy Kids" remains under close surveillance: The family flick about pint-sized secret agents was the No. 1 movie for the second straight weekend despite a flurry of new films. Taking in $17.8 million over the weekend, "Spy Kids" pushed its total to $49 million in 10 days of release, according to studio estimates Sunday. The crime thriller "Along Came a Spider," based on James Patterson's best-selling book, stars Morgan Freeman and Monica Potter. The convoluted kidnapping tale debuted in second place with $17.1 million. Johnny Depp's "Blow," based on the true story of an American who became an early smuggler of South American cocaine in the 1970s, premiered at No. 3 with $12.5 million. "Pokemon 3 The Movie," the latest big-screen cartoon inspired by the Nintendo game, opened in fourth place with $9.2 million. "Just Visiting," a remake of the French comedy "Les Visiteurs" about a medieval count and his servant who are hurled into the present day, tanked with just $2.3 million.

The Top 10:
  1.    Spy Kids - $27 million
  2.    Someone Like You - $10.3 million
  3.    Heartbreakers - $8.2 million
  4.    Tomcats - $6.5 million
  5.    The Brothers - $5.8 million
  6.    Enemy at the Gates - $5.3 million
  7.    Exit Wounds - $5.2 million
  8.    Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon - $5 million
  9.   Traffic - $4.2 million
10.   The Mexican - $2.6 million

LOS ANGELES (AP) - The family that spies together took charge at movie theaters during the weekend and buried the competition. ``Spy Kids,'' a family film about a sister and brother who embark on a mission to rescue their secret-agent parents, opened as the top box-office draw with $27 million, according to studio estimates Sunday. Ashley Judd's romantic comedy ``Someone Like You'' debuted in second place with $10.3 million. The weekend's other big new release, the gross-out comedy ``Tomcats,'' managed No. 4 with $6.5 million. The overall box office was up, with the top 12 films taking in $84.6 million, an 11.5 percent increase from the same weekend last year. ``Spy Kids'' already has resulted in a new film franchise for distributor Miramax, which had decided to do a sequel long before the film opened. The movie was released under Miramax's Dimension banner, the company's genre label best known for the ``Scream'' films and ``Scary Movie.'' Miramax co-founder Bob Weinstein said the company hopes to have the sequel in theaters for summer 2002, though it could be delayed by potential strikes by Hollywood actors and writers. ``There's not a lot of live-action family films, but when there are, they do very well,'' Weinstein said. Written and directed by Robert Rodriguez, ``Spy Kids'' stars Antonio Banderas and Carla Gugino as semiretired spies whose children (Alexa Vega and Daryl Sabara) go to their aid when the parents are abducted. ``It's James Bond for kids. They sort of reinvented a genre and made a huge hit out of it,'' said Paul Dergarabedian, president of box-office tracker Exhibitor Relations. ``You've had all these movies that empower women. Now here's a film that empowers kids, and it seems to work.'' ``Spy Kids'' averaged $8,698 in 3,104 theaters, ``Someone Like You'' did $4,406 in 2,345 cinemas and ``Tomcats'' averaged $2,484 in 2,617 locations. Another spy flick, ``The Tailor of Panama,'' did well in limited release, opening in 199 theaters and taking in $2 million for a healthy average of $10,050 a cinema. Some top winners at last weekend's Oscars continued to do well. ``Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon'' grossed $5 million to push its total to $113.7 million, while ``Traffic'' took in $4.2 million, increasing its take to $113.9 million. ``Gladiator'' went back into fairly wide release to capitalize on its best-picture win. Playing in 577 theaters, it grossed $448,000 to raise its total to $187.3 million. Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at North American theaters, according to Exhibitor Relations Co. Inc. Final figures are to be released Monday. 1. ``Spy Kids,'' $27 million. 2. ``Someone Like You,'' $10.3 million. 3. ``Heartbreakers,'' $8.2 million. 4. ``Tomcats,'' $6.5 million. 5. ``The Brothers,'' $5.8 million. 6. ``Enemy at the Gates,'' $5.3 million. 7. ``Exit Wounds,'' $5.2 million. 8. ``Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,'' $5 million. 9. ``Traffic,'' $4.2 million.10. ``The Mexican,'' $2.6 million

Weekend box office offers mixed bag
LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Call the new box office offerings the three amigos. The friendships forged among Fox's "Someone Like You," Dimension's "Spy Kids" and Sony's "Tomcats" are based on competitive considerations. "Someone" will play primarily to women, while "Kids" works the family trade and "Tomcats" draws young males - giving each the opportunity to realize its potential fully. "Someone" sports the most promising overall profile, though "Kids" looks sneaky strong for a feature that will cater to the below-the-radar children's market. That "Tomcats" has the productive young-adult male sector fully engaged demands that it be given its due. Nothing in the data at this point suggests that any of the three wields breakout power, mind you, so the moderating business trend of the past few weeks could well be extended to a fourth frame. If this pattern continues, the strong year-on-year gains made during the first two months of 2001 might evaporate by the time the big guns fire in early May.

Gladiator' leads field with 12 Oscar nods
BEVERLY HILLS (AP) - "Gladiator," Hollywood's return to the glories of Rome, led Academy Awards contenders Tuesday with 12 nominations, including best picture, actor and director. "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon," the Mandarin-language martial arts epic, was close behind with 10 nominations, including best picture and best director. The other best-picture nominees were the French romance "Chocolat," the legal drama "Erin Brockovich," and "Traffic," the gritty drug-war saga. "Crouching Tiger" also was nominated for best foreign language film. It's only the third film to earn both best picture and foreign language film nominations. The others were "Life Is Beautiful," in 1998, and "Z," in 1969. Steven Soderbergh had two directing nominations, for "Erin Brockovich" and "Traffic." That's the first time that's happened since 1938, when director Michael Curtiz was nominated for both "Angels With Dirty Faces" and "Four Daughters." The other director nominees were Stephen Daldry for "Billy Elliot," Ang Lee for "Crouching Tiger" and Ridley Scott for "Gladiator."