Morning Report - News from July 21, 2001

MOVIES

The person who laid out $578,000 for Bette Davis’ 1938 “Jezebel” Oscar at a Christie’s auction Thursday is none other than Steven Spielberg, the same fellow who anonymously purchased Clark Gable’s 1934 Oscar for “It Happened One Night.” The director is returning the statuette to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences--just as he did with Gable’s only Oscar five years ago--to protect it from commercial exploitation. Calling the move a “noble and generous act,” academy president Robert Rehme said Friday: “ The Academy Award is not just a toy handed out on a televised show or another piece of movie memorabilia. It has a deep-seated significance to those who win it and those of us who make our living in the industry don’t like to think of it as an item that might end up on the mantel of someone who hadn’t earned it.” The first Oscar was auctioned in 1949--a move that generated an agreement that now must be signed by all Academy Award winners. Before their names are engraved on the statuette, they must promise not to “sell or otherwise dispose of” the Oscar without first offering to sell it to the academy for one dollar.

TELEVISION

Apparently, the saga of missing intern Chandra Levy is now show biz, with “Entertainment Tonight” devoting segments to the story earlier this week--among them, consulting a psychic who claims she has spoken to Levy from beyond the grave. The entertainment-news show, which has been subject to charges of giving in to tabloid elements in the past, defended the story. “‘ET’ has a long history of watching how the media covers national news stories,” read a statement from the producers. “When major network and cable news shows dedicate hours of programming to help locate Chandra Levy, we feel this is unequivocally a story of interest to our viewers.”

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Wells Downplays ‘West Wing’ Contract Dispute

Faced with questions regarding his supposedly disgruntled cast, John Wells, executive producer of NBC’s “The West Wing,” told critics and TV reporters in Pasadena Thursday he expects contract renegotiations with four cast members to be resolved in “the next several days to next several weeks.” Supporting players Allison Janney, Bradley Whitford, Richard Schiff and John Spencer reported to the set Monday, after threatening not to show up for the first day of production on season three. The four reportedly have been seeking a bump to $90,000 an episode from Warner Bros. Television, more than double their current salaries. Wells downplayed the impact the dispute was having on production, noting that “this is not an unusual situation.” Meanwhile, David Crane, co-creator of another all-important and expensive NBC hit, the sitcom “Friends,” told reporters he doesn’t necessarily see this fall’s eighth season as the show’s last. “We don’t feel like we’re telling the same jokes over and over,” Crane said. Of course, there is also the matter of paying the cast, each of whom commands a base salary of about $750,000 per episode.

‘Boston Public’ Tops Family ‘Unfriendly’ List

The media watchdog group Parents Television Council has released its annual list of what it considers to be the most and least “family-friendly” programs. Topping the “most” category: “Touched by an Angel” (CBS), followed by “Doc” (Pax), “7th Heaven” (WB), “Sabrina, the Teenage Witch” (WB) and “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire”(ABC). Fox’s “Boston Public” was deemed the least family-friendly. Other culprits in order: “WWF Smackdown!” (UPN), “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” (WB), “Dawson’s Creek” (WB) and “That ‘70s Show” (Fox).

ENTERTAINMENT

Ads for Universal Studios theme park this summer heralded the introduction of six new attractions--including “‘Shrek’ Live,” based on the computer-animated film. But while the movie has become the highest grossing hit of the season, the street show is being phased out on Sunday. Explaining the move in a letter to park employees, Michael Taylor, senior vice president and general manager of Universal Studios Hollywood, said: “Attractions were selected for closure based on the number of guests who were able to experience these attractions and customer satisfaction scores.” No one is saying that the demand wasn’t great, Jim Yeager, senior vice president of public relations for Universal Studios Recreation Group, told The Times. “No implication was intended that the ‘Shrek’ attraction was anything but extremely popular with our guests,” he says. “From the beginning, it was intended to be a seasonal attraction with a temporary life.” Meanwhile, the park plans to hold its first annual “Gay Day” on Aug. 5, with $1 of each ticket sold donated to AIDS Project Los Angeles. Members of the gay community can buy tickets for $35--$8 less than the regular admission price at the park or at https://www.gaydaysla.com. According to a theme park spokesman, no proof of sexual orientation is required.

POP/ROCK

Peddling his new album, “P. Diddy & the Bad Boy Family, The Saga Continues,” at a Miami Beach promotional event Thursday, Sean “P Diddy” Combs said his troubles with the law have been blown out of proportion. This, despite a Miami Herald revelation that the rap impresario is being questioned by police for an alleged reckless driving incident on June 9. He is said to have sped off in a Ferrari 2001--nearly hitting a pedestrian and running a red light--after being told he was blocking traffic outside a Miami nightclub. Combs pulled up outside a strip club, ran inside while his engine was running, and slipped through the back door, police said. Charges are pending and no one tried to arrest Combs during his promotional appearance. If convicted of the misdemeanor, Combs might have to pay a fine or perform community service.

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Metallica Guitarist Hetfield Enters Rehab

Metallica lead singer and guitarist James Hetfield has entered a rehabilitation center to deal with “alcoholism and other addictions,” according to the popular heavy metal band’s Web site. The band has postponed work on its 10th album and other projects to give the 37-year-old Hetfield “the time and privacy he needs to deal with his problems,” the site says. The hard-charging Bay Area band, one of the most successful rock acts of the past two decades, has long been notorious for its excesses and famously nicknamed “Alcoholica” by fans and the music press.

THE ARTS

Why did Los Angeles architect Frank Gehry--who turns down almost all requests for commissions--agree to design the proposed $16-million Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art in Biloxi, Miss.? In part, because he’s a fan of George E. Ohr (1957-1918), who’s considered the father of American pottery. (Gehry owns an Ohr pot.) And, in part, because pottery was his focus before he ventured into architecture. “In 1949, I did pots,” Gehry told the New York Times. “I loved the glazing and the chemistry.” The quality, however, didn’t match his zeal. “My pots were horrible. In fact, it was my pottery teacher who suggested I study architecture. I took a night course and finally found something I was good at.” The museum, the model for which was unveiled 10 days ago, is expected to open in 2004.