Nothing to Lose? Oh, Sure He Does

Given the 105 films expected to open between May 9 and Labor Day, the last thing a studio needs is an additional marketing challenge. Yet that’s exactly what the Walt Disney Studios faced with Martin Lawrence, co-star of the comedy “Nothing to Lose.” Opening on Friday, the film by Steve Oedekerk (“Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls”) tracks an unlikely friendship between a man (Tim Robbins) and the armed robber (Lawrence) who kidnaps him at a stoplight. Lawrence’s appearance comes on the heels of several troubling incidents in the past couple of years, including a sexual harassment lawsuit by Tisha Campbell, his former co-star on the now-canceled Fox TV series “Martin” (the suit was subsequently dropped), detention by police after he cursed motorists at a Sherman Oaks intersection, and arrests not only after a nightclub brawl but also on charges that he had a gun in his travel bag while checking in for a flight to Phoenix. “Martin was emotionally and physically exhausted, but his feet are on the ground again,” said a source close to the actor. “People have the wrong perspective on the kid. Certain factions of the print media haven’t presented the facts correctly or fairly, which is why we’re concentrating on TV interviews. People can see for themselves that he’s OK since the camera doesn’t lie.” Disney denies that the turmoil--questions about which were off-limits during a recent New York press junket--enters into the picture. “Regardless of his personal life, Lawrence turned in a terrific performance,” said Terry Curtin, the studio’s senior vice president of national publicity. “Though he was arrested [in the Sherman Oaks incident] midway through the production [of “Nothing to Lose”], no money or shooting days were lost. Publicity-wise, Lawrence has done what we needed him to do. Focusing on TV hasn’t been a problem, since comedies--unlike adult-oriented films--rely on that kind of promotion.”

OK, but We’re Still Dubious of Techno

As the leader in the new wave of British dance-rock groups, Prodigy cleared a major U.S. hurdle when its new album, “The Fat of the Land,” sold nearly 201,000 copies during its first week in stores and debuted at No. 1 on the national sales chart, a landmark achievement for a techno band. The question, as the record industry awaits word Wednesday of the record’s second-week sales, is whether Prodigy (and leader Liam Howlett) can transcend the commercially limited genre and capture a wider audience beyond its loyal base following. The group, a dynamic live act, should benefit greatly from the exposure of headlining several dates on the Lollapalooza tour, including an Aug. 8 show at the Glen Helen Blockbuster Pavilion in Devore. But Scott Levin, director of marketing for music for the Musicland Group, says radio airplay is the key. “Over time, as Prodigy becomes more broadly accepted on radio, the album will continue to sell well,” Levin says. “I don’t expect it to stay No. 1 for several weeks, but I definitely believe it will be a Top 10 record for the balance of the summer.” Guy Oseary, the Maverick Records partner who signed both Prodigy and Alanis Morissette to the label, is equally optimistic. “Word of mouth is stronger than any radio station or TV channel, and we’ve got an incredible album,” the executive says. “This is a band that’s in its zone right now. . . . They’re really in their moment.”

He’s Not Pals With Karen Finley?

“I have been in the arts for 30 years, and I know of no one in the arts who has been assisted by the [National Endowment for the Arts],” says Rep. Sonny Bono (R-Palm Springs). Well, with that kind of arts friend, who needs arts enemies? Nevertheless, the NEA has plenty of them on Capitol Hill. Having survived a vote that called for its abolishment, the NEA now faces a likely Tuesday vote by the House of Representatives that could eliminate much of the federal arts agency’s funding. Last week the House voted down a proposal that would do away with the NEA and instead send $80 million directly to the states for arts and arts education. Still on the table, as part of a larger appropriations bill, is a plan to cut the NEA’s budget from its current $99.5 million to $10 million--intended as a “phase-out” budget. Even if--as is currently likely--the overall spending bill passes the House, the agency’s supporters are confident that the Senate will save the day. And President Clinton has threatened to veto any bill that would effectively gut the agency. “On the Senate side, we’re a lot more optimistic that the NEA will be retained,” said Elliot Mincberg, vice president of the Action Fund of People for the American Way.