All Bets Are Abc Wants Nothing More Of Moore
Mary Tyler Moore is not advancing softly into senior status. The long-time television star is furious over treatment accorded her by producers of the ABC movie “Payback.”
The film, which pairs her with former co-star Ed Asner, involves a woman terrorized by a policeman (Asner investigates the case). She’d requested script changes to preserve “the special aura” between Asner and her.
But most of those changes, Moore says, were not included. “I’m very disappointed with what they did to my character,” she said. “It doesn’t use me to the full extent they promised… I’m just a stereotypical hand-wringing mother.”
Asner, for one, disagrees. “I’m shocked and saddened,” he says. “I hope it’s not something she stays with, because she’s wrong.”
Loose talk
Lauren Bacall, always the humble performer, on her comedy stylings in the film “The Mirror Has Two Faces” (as reported by the Associated Press): “Don’t you understand, that’s what I do. I play comedy. I’m very good at comedy. That’s the one area of my career that I really feel good about.”
He’s HOW old? Good golly, miss Molly!
Little Richard turns 64 today.
Alan Smithee: another name for Joe Eszterhas
Screenwriter Joe Eszterhas is set to play himself in Arthur Hiller’s “An Alan Smithee Film,” assuming he can pass muster with the Screen Actor’s Guild, of which he is not a member. Alan Smithee, if you don’t know, is the pseudonym that directors use when they don’t want their real name associated with a finished film.
Kids, be the first to buy your action KITT
Take heart, all you “Knight Rider” fans. MCA TV is gearing up to produce a new syndicated series based on the talking-car premise, which brought “Baywatch” star David Hasselhoff his original fame. Tentative title: “Team Knight Rider.”
Proposed new show title: ‘Dateless in New York’
If you’re a fan of the Michael J. Fox sitcom “Spin City,” you might like to know that his character, the deputy mayor of New York City, will be available soon. Seems Carla Gugino, the actress who plays Fox’s girlfriend, is leaving the show. She plans, says her publicist, to pursue a movie career. Her last episode will be Dec. 17.
Too bad Alan Smithee wasn’t available
The sequel to the big-screen comedy “A Fish Called Wanda” is getting a facelift. According to the Boston Globe, the film, “Fierce Creatures,” stars most of the original cast and will open in January. But two men will be listed as director: Robert Young, whose original cut rated poorly with preview audiences, and Fred Schepisi, whose revisions include several reshot scenes and a different ending.
He’ll be the one dressed in white
Are you a fan of Ewan McGregor of “Trainspotting” and “Emma” fame? Look for him in an episode of “ER” come February.
, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: 2 photos
The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = Compiled by staff writer Dan Webster