MOVIESDino’s Story: Writer Nick Tosches confirmed reports...

MOVIES

Dino’s Story: Writer Nick Tosches confirmed reports that his 1992 biography of the late Dean Martin, “Dino: Living High in the Dirty Business of Dreams,” has been re-optioned by Warner Bros. But Tosches said that his six-figure deal with the studio was signed in early November, and is not related to the actor’s recent death. The book has been under contract at Warner Bros. since 1993. Tosches said he is not aware of any names attached to the film version of his book, but recent reports have linked screenwriter Nicholas Pileggi and director Martin Scorsese (the “Casino” and “Good Fellas” team) to the project. As far as Martin’s death generating interest in the actor’s life story: “I’d rather have him and the movie. I wanted him to live on,” Tosches said. The writer said he had never met Martin, calling him reclusive.

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A Missive From Miramax: Miramax Films will release “Il Postino,” the Italian film that has shown up repeatedly on critics’ year-end 10-best lists, on 250 screens Friday in an effort to reach a wider audience. The company says that it will be the widest release ever for a foreign language film in the United States--the movie will be released in art houses as well as multiplexes. Although the film is not eligible for the best foreign language film Academy Award because it was not submitted for a nomination by Italy, Miramax plans to launch a full Oscar campaign for the movie in all categories, including best picture. The romantic comedy about a postman’s relationship with the poet Pablo Neruda stars Massimo Troisi, who died of heart disease soon after principal photography was completed.

TELEVISION

Fly ‘Seinfeld’: Jerry, George, Elaine and Kramer are really taking off. United Airlines will show episodes of the NBC sitcom “Seinfeld” on domestic flights beginning this month. The episodes, along with behind-the-scenes footage, will be shown free through March as part of a promotional deal between the airline and Columbia TriStar Television Distribution, the series’ syndicator. United also plans to auction off a walk-on role on a “Seinfeld” episode to the highest bidder, using frequent-flyer miles as currency.

LEGAL FILE

Actor Arrested: A neighbor’s complaint that actor Ken Wahl was playing music too loud led to a night in jail for the “Wiseguy” star. Wahl was arrested Friday night in Malibu for investigation of disturbing the peace and was held at a sheriff’s station because of an outstanding warrant accusing him of driving under the influence of alcohol. He was freed Saturday after posting $5,000 bail. Wahl, 38, starred in the CBS series “Wiseguy” from 1987 to 1990.

ART

Costakis Collection: Works from the George Costakis collection of Russian avant-garde art, the only surviving in-depth representation of the Russian avant-garde movement, have been reunited in Athens for the first-ever public viewing of the assemblage. The once-banned Russian art was amassed by the late George Costakis from 1946 to the early 1970s. The collection, made up of more than 5,000 pieces created from 1910 to 1930, was split up in 1977 when the collector took a fourth of it with him when he immigrated to Greece from the former Soviet Union. Costakis donated the rest to Moscow’s Tretiakov Gallery when he left under the regime of Leonid Brezhnev. Costakis died in 1990. The collection includes works by Marc Chagall, Vasili Kandinsky, El Lissitzky, Kazimir Malevich, Liubov Popova, Olga Rozanova and Kliment Redko. It will be on view at Athens’ National Gallery until April 8 before traveling to Munich, Germany, and other European capitals.

PEOPLE WATCH

Sir Cameron: British theater impresario Cameron Mackintosh, newly honored with a knighthood, was incommunicado during the weekend in a remote Scottish house without a telephone. The knighthood, made public just after midnight Friday, was bestowed as part of Queen Elizabeth’s New Year’s honors list rewarding public service and accomplishment in all fields of work. Mackintosh, the man behind “Les Miserables,” “Miss Saigon” and “The Phantom of the Opera,” was with family and friends in his home in the Western Highlands.

QUICK TAKES

KNBC Channel 4’s weatherman Fritz Coleman, who is also a comedian, will perform at Igby’s Comedy Cabaret in West Los Angeles on Friday at 8 p.m. come rain or shine. . . . Tommy Tune, winner of nine Tony Awards, will guest-star as himself in two episodes of the CBS’ daytime drama “The Bold and the Beautiful” on Jan. 10 and Jan. 15. at 12:30 p.m. . . . Roseanne and Tom Arnold are indeed broken up--but they’ve made sure their farm near Eldon, Iowa, won’t do the same. They gave the whole 1,300 acres, including an unfinished Victorian mansion, to nearby Indian Hills Community College.