TV & VIDEOCartoons Pulled From Sale: MGM-UA...

TV & VIDEO

Cartoons Pulled From Sale: MGM-UA Home Video announced it is withdrawing from sale a videotape of a World War II-era Bugs Bunny cartoon containing racial slurs aimed at Japanese characters. The 1944 cartoon, part of the Golden Age of Looney Tunes series, is among several cartoons on the cassette. It features Bugs Bunny battling Japanese characters drawn with buck teeth and other exaggerated features. One scene shows Bugs passing out ice cream cones concealing bombs to a crowd of Japanese people while addressing them with racial epithets. MGM spokeswoman Anne Corley explained the inclusion of the cartoon on the tape: “When we were compiling the video, we were putting together a history of animation. As much as it is distasteful, it was part of history at the time. . . .” But Lori Fujimoto of the Japanese-Americans Citizen’s League commented: “It hurts that a large corporation is so insensitive to re-release this video to children.” MGM said the cassette will probably be re-released without the cartoon.

Myers and Matalin: Dee Dee Myers has a new gig. The former spokesperson for the Clinton White House will co-host CNBC’s “Equal Time” with Mary Matalin, political director of George Bush’s ill-fated presidential reelection campaign, from March 14 to 24. CNBC has wanted Myers to be a permanent co-host with Matalin on the cable talk show.

MOVIES

Still No Fall: “Legends of the Fall” was the No. 1 movie for the fourth weekend in a row, an unusually slow weekend at the nation’s box office. The TriStar film took in only $5.3 million. Industry analysts blamed the lack of moviegoing on snowstorms in the East and warm temperatures on the West Coast. In second place was Warner Bros.’ new release, “Boys on the Side,” with $4.8 million, followed by another new movie, Buena Vista’s “Jerky Boys,” with $4.6 million. At No. 4 was yet another new feature, New Line’s “In the Mouth of Madness,” with $3.5 million. New Line’s “Dumb and Dumber” came in fifth with $3.4 million.

Napoleon Complex: No, Danny DeVito is not starring as Napoleon in an upcoming movie. That huge billboard you drove past this weekend on Sunset Boulevard near La Cienega featuring a larger-than-life-sized DeVito dressed as the notoriously small French despot was actually an ad to be used in the filming of a movie starring DeVito as an actor. In “Get Shorty,” DeVito’s alter ego Martin Weir is taking on the role of Napoleon. As the billboard explains, “Banished but not forgotten. Martin Weir is Napoleon.” “Get Shorty,” based on the book of the same name by Elmore Leonard, also stars John Travolta, Rene Russo and Gene Hackman. Produced by DeVito and Michael Shamberg, it will be released by MGM this fall. The film will be shooting today around the site of the billboard, which will be taken down on Tuesday.

Hollywood in Miami?: Sylvester Stallone hopes to persuade a major Hollywood movie studio to set up a base in Miami, his newly adopted city. In an interview published Sunday in the Miami Herald, Stallone said he also wants to help establish the city as a mecca for the arts. Stallone left Los Angeles last year and bought an $8-million waterfront mansion in Miami. In the interview, Stallone talked of his plans to get a Hollywood studio to build a sound studio, post-production facilities and a back-lot attraction open to the public in Miami.

LEGAL FILE

Days in Court: No cameras were rolling as soap star Deirdre Hall tearfully recounted how she loaned all her money to her cancer-stricken therapist. The star of NBC’s daytime drama “Days of Our Lives” was in Orange County Superior Court on Friday to reclaim the $800,000 she said she loaned George Barkouras before his death in January, 1992. Hall, who paid for Barkouras’ advice from 1982 through 1991 and says the loan was her way to help in his battle with cancer, is suing his family and former associates.

QUICK TAKES

The basketball documentary “Hoop Dreams” has scored the special distinction award given annually by Independent Feature Project/ West to a film that reflects the spirit of independent filmmaking. The honor will be given out at the Independent Spirit Awards on March 25. Past winners include “Dances With Wolves” and “Do the Right Thing.” . . . Paula Barbieri, O.J. Simpson’s girlfriend, was in Las Vegas during the weekend to film an episode of the United Paramount Network series “The Watcher.” She guest-stars as a vampire. . . . Pianist and singer Shirley Horn’s gig at the Radisson Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel’s Cinegrill has been extended. She’ll perform this Wednesday through Sunday at 8 p.m. . . . The House of Blues on Sunset Boulevard was named the best nightclub in the nation at the Pollstar ’94 Concert Industry Awards sponsored by Pollstar, the music industry trade magazine. The awards ceremony was held Saturday night at--where else?--the House of Blues.