Willis' popularity fuels '16 Blocks'
The success of the box-office hit "16 Blocks" is due a great deal to Bruce Willis' popularity. And his plate "doth spilleth over" with activity -film offers, offers to appear with his band, offers just to appear, plus many other activities. ... And I do so love to remember when I was just starting out and covering the Emmys at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium. The press was treated to food and drink at a small cafe just off the press room. I was seated at a table next to a young couple who seemed to be having a wonderful time. They were laughing and yakking, and I heard him say to her, "Someday we might win one of those." Meaning Emmy. I had yet to see Willis and Cybill Shepherd in "Moonlighting," and they had yet to be seen by many because the series had just been launched. BUT, what I did notice was she was wearing high-top ORANGE TENNIS SHOES! With a formal white satin evening gown! Well, I don't have to tell you how many of "those" they won in the years to come. At the moment Bruce is soaring as a movie star, and Cybill is just sort of looking around at life.
It always fascinates me when people make money the easy way. But it seems one has to have money to begin with. In 1990 Bob Newhart bought a home in Bel Air (the posh part of L.A.) for $4 million. Today he has it on the market for $22 million. Meanwhile, he is writing his memoirs, doing standup comic appearances, writing his own material and enjoying his role in "Desperate Housewives."
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Young Miss Dakota Fanning never ceases to amaze. She's talented and savvy and intelligent and all those other plusses, and she handles herself in public like a person twice her age. Her most recent appearance was in Vegas when she received the ShoWest Supporting Actress of the Year Award. Her poise was one for the books. Miss Fanning made her screen debut at age 7. Her next film will be "Charlotte's Web," based on E.B. White's novel.
While some actresses and actors run around making tabloid headlines, others keep making movies. William Hurt is set to co-star with Kevin Costner in "Mr. Brooks." This a psychological thriller about an unbalanced man who struggles for discipline and tries to remain in control. Costner will play Brooks, and Hurt will portray his alter ego, the evil side who savors murder. At this writing it looks as if it will shoot in L o u i s i a n a . Hopefully that will happen. The Pelican State (which happens to be where I was born) needs all the financial help it can get. ... And if you would like help New Orleans-area musicians who lost their homes to Katrina, send donations to New Orleans Habitat for Humanity, Box 15052, New Orleans, LA 70175.
Out this way folks seem to avoid the word "pregnant." One hears "so and so is bulging," or "pot-bellied," or has "a bump in the belly," or is "expecting." Never just "she's pregnant." Anyway, word around is Penelope Cruz could be "bulging in the belly," and by the time you read this we may know for sure -one way or another...
(c) 2006 King Features Synd., Inc.
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