Oh, so that’s what they mean by a pregnant pause
Who hasn’t spent part of a holiday season watching “It’s a Wonderful Life”? Even the most devoted fans of Frank Capra‘s 1946 classic (airing Christmas night on NBC) might find something new in its black-and-white images after listening to Karolyn Grimes.
She played Zuzu Bailey, the little girl with the memorable movie-ending line: “Look, Daddy: Teacher says that every time a bell rings, an angel gets its wings.”
Grimes, 64, said she’s seen the movie, starring James Stewart and Donna Reed, so many times she’s beyond paying attention to the story and acting and instead focuses on the subtleties others may overlook.
She has a whole presentation about such moments, which she attributes to “the magic of Frank Capra.”
For instance, she says, “There’s a point where Mary and George are asked to go to Florida with Sam Wainwright and his wife. Very subtly, (Mary) rubs her tummy – and that night she tells him she’s on the nest.”
And happy New Year to you – in jail
Martha Stewart isn’t letting a pesky inconvenience like prison time keep her from proper holiday etiquette.
The domestic diva has sent out Christmas cards to friends and family from the West Virginia federal prison where she’s serving time for lying to investigators about a stock sale.
According to one recipient, a photo of a red wreath adorns the front of the card. On the inside, in red type, are the words: “HAPPY HOLIDAYS/MY VERY BEST WISHES TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY/MARTHA STEWART/Alderson, West Virginia.”
This old acquaintance won’t be forgot
Dick Clark will spend Christmas, and perhaps New Year’s Eve, in the hospital where he’s recovering from a mild stroke.
Clark, 75, is out of the intensive care unit and “doing some rehab,” his publicist said, adding: “The doctors have told him how thrilled they are with his progress.”
With Clark on the sidelines, Regis Philbin is stepping in to co-host “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve 2005.”
So much for Oprah’s Nobel motives
Tom Cruise and Oprah Winfrey are hosts of this year’s Nobel Peace Prize concert, which airs tonight at 8 on E! (cable channel 64 in Spokane, 53 in Coeur d’Alene).
Joss Stone, Andrea Bocelli, Diana Krall, Cyndi Lauper and Patti LaBelle are among the performers at the event, which honors this year’s Peace Prize winner, Kenyan environmentalist Wangari Maathai.
“I like to go wherever Tom Cruise might be,” Winfrey said. “You have the Nobel Committee and Tom Cruise – who’s gonna say no to that?”
You go, amigo
Speaking of Tom Cruise, his latest ex, Penelope Cruz, and co-star Salma Hayek hit it off from day one during the filming of “Bandidas,” an upcoming Western about two female outlaws set in 19th-century Mexico.
“They love each other, sometimes too much,” said producer Luc Besson. “They speak Spanish. We don’t understand anything.”
The birthday bunch
Actor Frederic Forrest (“Lonesome Dove”) is 68. Actor James Stacy (“Lancer”) is 68. Guitarist Jorma Kaukonen (Jefferson Airplane, Hot Tuna) is 64. Actor-comedian Harry Shearer (“The Simpsons”) is 61. Singer Eddie Vedder (Pearl Jam) is 40. Actor Corey Haim is 33.