Opie And She, And Barney Makes Three
Floyd would have been flabbergasted. Goober would’ve been aghast. Aunt Bee would’ve been beside herself.
But child-star-turned-director Ron Howard (“Apollo 13”) revealed on the “Late Late Show with Tom Snyder” that he actually considered directing and starring in an X-rated film as his “Andy Griffith Show” character, Opie.
Howard, also known for his wholesome role as Richie Cunningham on “Happy Days,” said the film would have had a graphic title about Opie having sex. Considering the big bucks being raked in at the time by “Deep Throat,” he was tempted.
Said Howard: “At one point when I was desperate to become an independent filmmaker and I was still struggling against the Opie image and so forth, I didn’t think anybody was ever going to give me a chance.”
Ron Howard, describing photographer Annie Leibovitz aboard NASA’s “vomit comet” weightless trainer during the “Apollo 13” filming: “She was blowing her lunch. She was shootin’ and chuckin’. We admired her.”
He wouldn’t die young like his dad, would he?
Arlo Guthrie turns 48 today.
Before tonight’s feature, this news brief
Movie audiences have been cracking up over previews for 20th Century Fox’s new release “Nine Months” that include a phony police mug shot of since-busted star Hugh Grant - particularly ironic, since that scene was cut from the film’s final print weeks ago.
If it was an opera, wouldn’t Farley sing first?
Roly-poly Chris Farley is reportedly ready to leave the foundering “Saturday Night Live,” joining Adam “Opera Man” Sandler, who announced his departure last week. Said Sandler: “SNL was the best five years of my life and I considered the people I work with family, but I feel I’ve done all I can do there and it’s time to try out other things.”
Oh, and another thing - no more autographs
The hip-hop magazine Vibe brings word that Geto Boys founder Bushwick Bill henceforth has adopted a new name: Dr. Wolfgang Von Bushwickin the Barbarian Mother Funky Stay High Dollar Billstir.
He was even named after a state of neglect
Former “Little House on the Prairie” star Melissa Gilbert has sued the National Enquirer over a story in which her ex-husband accuses her of “ignoring” their 6-year-old son, Dakota. Gilbert married actor Bruce Boxleitner earlier this year and is expecting her second child.
On a really good day, he puts in for overtime
Paul Reiser (“Mad About You”), telling Elle magazine what he’s learned lately: “I was reading this article about Sting, and it was like a big bulletin that through yoga he can now make love for eight hours. I’ve actually discussed this with a lot of women who went, ‘Who wants that?’ First of all, who has eight hours free?”
, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Two Photos
The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = Compiled by staff writer Rick Bonino