It Doesn’t Get Any Better Than Drinking With Jack

Mon., Dec. 22, 1997

Compiled By Staff Writer Dan Web

Stand on a New York street corner and you might just get to meet Jack Nicholson.

A group of New Yorkers did just that on Monday when the Oscar-winning actor stopped in a working-class section of Queens to buy some liquor.

After stepping into the store, and convincing the store employee to let him behind a bulletproof partition to check out the wares, Nicholson bought four bottles of vodka and bourbon. Then he shared a $6.97 pint of Jim Beam with his new friends.

“Let’s drink to a great life and friendship. Happy holidays,” Nicholson said.

Nicholson, in town to promote his movie “As Good As It Gets,” then left to pick up his girlfriend. Asked if he was returning, he replied, “If she wants to come back, no problem.” Apparently she didn’t want to.

Loose talk

Marlo Thomas on how she and husband Phil Donahue celebrate the New Year: “We stay up most of the night. At 6 o’clock in the morning, my husband goes outside in his parka and makes steak and eggs on the barbecue.”

She’s young AND she’s restless

Lauralee Bell turns 29 today.

Her next appearance: Hawking Hormel hams?

Fresh from her hawking chores for Pizza Hut, Ivana Trump is set to earn a cool $400,000 for doing a Kentucky Fried Chicken ad. It’s set to air Jan. 6 in London.

Hide the lethal weapons when Rachel comes on

Familiar with the name Patsy Kensit? She’s a British actress, probably best known for appearing in “Lethal Weapon 2.” She’s also married to Oasis lead singer Liam Gallagher. Kensit is likely to be even more famous following her forthcoming run on the sitcom “Friends,” in which she’s set to play David Schwimmer’s girlfriend.

Sprint, don’t come here, he doesn’t want you!

Keith Richards clearly was not thinking when he took off on phones in an interview for Rolling Stone magazine. “Phones, for me, are strictly for information,” Richards said. “I don’t chat. Phones are the bane of my life. Alexander damn Graham Bell, I’d shoot him.” Turns out, the Stones’ Bridges to Babylon tour is being sponsored by Sprint.

Where there once was hope, there’s now Crystal

So, can we expect Billy Crystal to return for another stint as host of the Oscars? The word is yes. “I guess I’m just a sucker for a free tuxedo,” Crystal said on Friday.

Gore’s life: It passes for a second-rate best-seller

The final word on the Al and Tipper Gore-“Love Story” brouhaha: “If love means never having to say you’re sorry,” said a Gore spokeswoman, “then politics means you have to say it all the time.”

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: 2 Photos

The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = Compiled by staff writer Dan Webster

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