ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT REPORTS FROM THE TIMES, NEWS SERVICES AND THE NATION’S PRESS.
PEOPLE WATCH
Birth Control Spice: Former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell began her first tour Monday as a U.N. Population Fund goodwill ambassador by promoting contraceptives in the Philippines, where the dominant Catholic Church considers artificial birth control taboo. Her first stop was a Manila clinic that promotes contraceptive use. “I believe that everybody deserves to have control of their lives, and that means having control over your fertility, that means being able to have protection against disease and unwanted pregnancies,” Halliwell said. “It’s everybody’s fundamental right.”
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Squeezing Interrupted, Again: Mr. Whipple, the commercial character who donned his grocer’s apron to beseech generations of shoppers to “please don’t squeeze the Charmin,” is coming out of retirement. Dick Wilson, 82, who debuted as Mr. Whipple in 1964 and starred in more than 500 Charmin commercials over 20 years, will return in a series of 30-second spots introducing a new version of the toilet tissue. The spots feature Wilson as a mystery man with his back to viewers as he talks to golf buddies, poker pals and his wife about coming out of retirement. He then turns to reveal his face and says he needs to go back to work to spread the word about the new Charmin.
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Stone’s Response: Responding to the Oscar-winning director’s arrest in Beverly Hills last week on suspicion of driving under the influence and possession of hashish, Oliver Stone’s attorney has issued a statement saying: “Since no formal charges have yet been filed, we ask everyone to keep an open mind. Mr. Stone will meet his obligations to the court if and when charges are filed. Since this is a legal matter, he will make his response to the court.”
TELEVISION
CBS Moves: In preparation for the network’s new fall schedule, CBS will move “60 Minutes II” to Tuesdays at 9 p.m. starting on June 22. Then on June 23, the network’s movie night changes from “The CBS Tuesday Movie” to “The CBS Wednesday Movie,” launching with “Now and Then” at 9 p.m. In addition, two original episodes of “The Nanny” that were not shown during the regular season will air on June 23, at 8 and 8:30 p.m., and the network will air a summer run of a third weekly edition of “48 Hours,” called “Tuesday Adventures,” in the 10-11 p.m. time slot, starting July 6.
QUICK TAKES
Former “Murphy Brown” star Candice Bergen will host a “conversation show” for the Oxygen network that will premiere when the new channel signs on in February. The show is scheduled to air Mondays through Thursdays at 10 p.m. . . . The American Society of Young Musicians will induct Little Richard into its Music Pioneers Hall of Fame during ceremonies tonight at the House of Blues. He will also receive the group’s Trailblazer Award for his “selfless dedication to the advancement and evolution of rock ‘n’ roll, as well as his support and development of other musicians throughout his career.” . . . Singer Jewel, songwriter Carole Bayer Sager, composer Jerry Goldsmith and music producer Don Was will receive Governor’s Awards from the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences’ Los Angeles chapter during ceremonies today in Beverly Hills. The awards recognize the recipients’ “creative talents and community service.” . . . Auditions will be held at 7:30 a.m. today at the Pantages Theatre for a 12- to 18-year-old girl to play Dorothy in the national tour of “The Wizard of Oz,” with the role expected to begin in fall 2000. Further information is available online at https://www.ozontour.com or by calling (323) 692-9075.