Hasn’t he ridden that Italian Stallion to death?
Sylvester Stallone is hopping in the ring with MGM. The “Rocky” star has filed a lawsuit against the studio, claiming he was blocked in his efforts to bring back his boxing character for a sixth movie and to develop a Broadway musical based on him.
Stallone claimed he had reached an agreement with MGM to make “Rocky VI” but that it fell through after a producer allegedly insisted that his son helm the film.
He also said he talked to the studio about developing a musical based on the “Rocky” films and co-written by him, but balked when MGM wanted to keep an unacceptable share of the profits.
Stallone further accused both the studio and Chartoff Productions of pulling out of the “Rocky” ventures when they learned of his plans to co-produce and star in a Mark Burnett-produced reality show called “The Contender” for NBC.
The show, due to premiere in January, will feature amateur boxers training, fighting and competing for a $1 million prize and the opportunity to turn pro.
Stallone claimed in his suit that MGM struck back at him by creating a similarly themed show, titled “The Real Rocky.” However, the studio claims the project has been in the works for a year.
And after that, “You Shouldn’t Start the Fire”
First the Material Girl, now the Piano Man. Following in Madonna‘s footsteps, Billy Joel has agreed to write two children’s books for Scholastic.
“Goodnight My Angel,” a picture book will be based on the 1993 song that Joel wrote for his daughter, Alexa Ray, will be published in September. “New York State of Mind,” inspired by another of Joel’s songs, is tentatively scheduled for release in fall 2005.
Whitney will hit the road to recovery
Troubled diva Whitney Houston, who’s cleaning up her act after drug rehab, will tour this summer with Natalie Cole and Dionne Warwick.
“I said ‘yes’ because that’s my buddy,” Cole told “Access Hollywood.” “I’ve always thought of Whitney as my little sister. I’ve known her since she was 19, and … I feel really good that when they asked who she would want to be on the show with her, she said me.”
But what if they don’t bring him voters?
Barbra Streisand and Neil Diamond will be on the same stage next month for the first time since Jimmy Carter was president in a concert to raise money for Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. John F. Kerry.
Streisand and Diamond, who topped the pop charts in 1978 with their duet “You Don’t Bring Me Flowers,” will be joined June 7 at the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles by Willie Nelson, Billy Crystal and other entertainers. Streisand and Diamond will perform separately, but organizers say they are also discussing singing “Flowers” together.
Politics, like ‘Springer,’ makes strange bedfellows
Ohio Democrats have chosen controversial talk-show host Jerry Springer to be an at-large delegate to the Democratic National Convention this summer.
“He’s made 50 appearances at Democratic events this year. He’s been an outspoken advocate for the party,” Dan Trevas, spokesman for the Ohio Democratic Party, said of the former Cincinnatti mayor turned TV personality.
Ohio Republican chairman Robert T. Bennett countered: “They ought to be absolutely embarrassed and ashamed of this guy, but obviously standards take a back seat to power in the party of Bill Clinton.”
The birthday bunch
Singer Joe Cocker is 60. Singer-actress Cher is 58. Actor Dave Thomas is 55. Actor Bronson Pinchot is 45. Singer Susan Cowsill (The Cowsills) is 44. Actress Mindy Cohn is 38. Rapper Busta Rhymes is 32. Singer Naturi Naughton (3LW) is 20.