Beck/Smith Hollywood

Antonio Sabàto, Jr. tells us he knew it’d be hard finding love on television with his VH1 reality show “My Antonio” — but he never expected his ex-wife to be in the running.

Antonio in a reality show "My Antonio" (from The Oxygen Channel)

“I was shocked because I didn’t know she was going to be a part of the show,” says Sabàto of Alicia Tully Jensen, whom he divorced in 1993.  “I hadn’t seen this person in a very long time.  I’m a whole different person since we were together.  It put me on the edge for a little bit because I wasn’t ready to see this person,” he tells us.  “I was very much in love with this girl for a long time.  She was the only person I was married to.  I was speechless.  All the girls were blown away too. I think the viewers are going to be just as shocked.”

The hunky actor of “General Hospital,” “Melrose Place” and Calvin Klein underwear ad fame asked for it, though!  “I told them they could bring surprises – that I’d be ready for anything so every show there’s something different.”  Even his mother Yvonne is in on the action.  “She’s not the usual Italian mom that’s in the kitchen all the time.  She’s a very sophisticated, smart woman that I’m close to.  It’s interesting to see people in the show have conversations with her to see if they can keep up.”  In fact, she ends up stealing a few scenes or two.  “I think my mom could definitely have a turning point in her life from a mother to an entertainer.  We have stuff in the works that could possibly involve things coming her way.”

“My Antonio” premieres Aug. 16 and Sabàto says he just hopes people enjoy his journey of finding love.  “This is going to be a very fun show to watch – very compelling.  It’s a lot different from any other reality TV.  I hope I can be a role model for other people who want to have relationships, especially at 37 years old.”

David Henrie in Wizards of Waverly Place (from Disney Channel)

LOVE BITES:  Disney Channel hottie David Henrie is taking his current “Wizards of Waverly Place” romance in stride – although the series girlfriend that’s been bestowed upon him happens to be a vampire.  “Justin’s had some pretty crazy girlfriends in the past,” notes the affable 20-year-old, speaking of his character.  “This is actually more of a normal storyline.  It’s a fun arc that goes on for awhile.  It shows a different side of my character, Justin, and how he handles love.  He’s growing up.  I’m playing him more mature than in the first season.”

And while he wasn’t in on the selection of his young leading lady, he’s happy with Bridgit Mendler.  “She’s a great actress and we have good chemistry,” he notes.

MEANWHILE:  The wizards vs. vampires storyline will climax Aug. 14 with a zombie prom that sounds a lot like it was inspired by Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.”  But “Wizards of Waverly Place” Executive Producer Peter Murrieta lets us know there wasn’t – couldn’t have been – any intention of capitalizing on the surge of interest in all things King of Pop.  “We shot that in January or February.  It was definitely inspired by the same things that inspired ‘Thriller’ – the great old Universal zombie horror movies,” he says.  “It was definitely fun.  We had the choreographer working with [the cast] for two weeks prior to the shoot.”

Murrieta also notes, “I think that there’s no secret that vampires are front and center in the pop culture right now – with ‘True Blood,’ ‘Twilight,’ ‘The Vampire Diaries.’  We’re a comedy, so we look for our comedic take.  What’s the most interesting thing?  A boy-girl vampire relationship.  A cool girl who has all these powers.  It’s a little bit ‘West Side Story,’ ‘Romeo & Juliet.’

Of course, the dangerous parts of vampires could be a tad too chilling for the Disney Channel audience.  “There are parts of the lore we have to deal with in a very gentle way,” Murrieta allows.  “Some we can go straight ahead with: They’re able to stay up all night.  They can only go out in the world if it’s overcast.  But we would never, on the Disney Channel, have someone bitten and drained of their life.”

Whew!

REJUVENATION STATION:  Move over “Dr. 90210″!  There’s a new plastic surgery show in town and the show’s star Dianne York-Goldman, who combined her spa with a plastic surgery practice, tells us people are going to see what it’s really like to be in the business of beauty.

“People will definitely learn something on each episode about plastic surgery and cosmetic fillers.  They will see how it changes people’s lives,” says York-Goldman of the upcoming Oxygen series “Addicted to Beauty,” premiering Aug. 4.  “They will witness patients before and after, and then they will see behind the scenes of what it really takes to run a medical spa.  It’s not as tranquil as it appears on the outside.  There’s a lot of chaos.”

It certainly doesn’t make it any easier when you’re combining two different businesses into one.  “It was definitely very challenging because we’re all set in our own ways and think we’re all right.  In the end, though, they all have a common goal to make the client look and feel better about themselves,” she says – and that means both inside and out.

With reports by Emilly-Fortune Feimster

Elisabeth Moss (Photo: Justin Stephens)

Elisabeth Moss, nominated for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series Emmy honors for her work in “Mad Men,” has a lot to celebrate in her personal life as well as her professional one.  She tells us she and fiancé Fred Armisem of “Saturday Night Live” are busy planning their wedding and ”it’s really fun.  I love wedding planning.  It’s a great experience for us.”

She notes, “We’re not saying when, but it’s not too far.  We’re pretty
much not talking about any of the details, but all of our close friends and family are going to be there.  It’s going to be a really special day.”

Fred – who is in the Emmy running as well, as part of the “SNL” team – “woke me up and told me the news.  It was the best person I could possibly hear from,” notes the actress, who’s brilliant as the naïve-yet-ambitious young career girl, Peggy Olson, on the show set in the 1960s world of advertising in Manhattan.

Moss tells us that they’ve finished the first eight episodes of “Mad Men’s” third season so far.  When the AMC series (up for a total of 16 Emmys, the most of any drama) returns to the tube Aug. 16, viewers will finally get answers to the cliffhangers they’ve been left with since October.  In Moss’ case, her character confessed to ex-lover Pete (Vincent Kartheiser) that she’d had their baby and given it up for adoption – and that she had loved him but now didn’t care anymore.  And Pete was last seen sitting alone in his office with a rifle in his lap. So what’s next?  Moss is mum.

“For sure, people definitely want to know what’s going to happen in Season 3,” she notes with a laugh.  “I know some, but not all.  But I do know enough to believe this season is even better than last season.”

FROM THE INSIDE LOOKING OUT:  “Regardless of what people think of things getting handed to us, we work really, really hard,” says Vanessa Simmons — whose dad is Run-D.M.C.‘s Rev Run and uncle is music mogul
Russell Simmons.  She, along with her sister Angela, have ventured out
onto their own to star in the MTV reality series “Daddy’s Girls,” whose second season premieres Aug. 11.  “Your parents can’t hand you success.
You have to work for it.  They can hand you connections, and we’re thankful they were able to do that, but me and Angela have worked so hard for the things we are accomplishing that right now.  We just hope people respect us for that.”

Not only have they become reality TV stars, but they also created the popular fashion line, Pastry.  Luckily for them, they were able to pick up a few pointers from their uncle who created the hugely successful clothing line Phat Farm.  “We’ve had the best examples in life.  We got to see them building their business our whole life and the choices they made,” says Angela of her entrepreneurial family.  “Even with Kimora [Lee-Simmons], I got to watch her start Baby Phat from the beginning. Just from watching all of that, I’ve learned so much.”

While parts of their business will be shown, Vanessa says fans can
expect more laughs than anything.  “We have so much fun and we have a lot of new friends on board,” she reveals.  “I actually for once have my boyfriend on the show,” adds Vanessa.  The personality, who’s been linked to recording star Bow Wow in the past, chooses to not officially reveal his name.  “I’ve just never been the kind of person who’s wanted to put my relationship out there and finally I was like, ‘Ok, you guys can meet him.  He did a good job and he’s really funny so people will like him.”

GET BY WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM OUR FRIENDS:  Nia Vardalos has had some big success in Hollywood, but she tells us she’s most proud of the kind of friends she’s accumulated over the years.  They are the people who keep her grounded, and she is certain she wouldn’t have survived this cutthroat business without them.

“My husband and I have managed to stay sane here because we have the same friends as we did before any success.  I have the same friends since kindergarten.  I tend to collect people who I continue to work with,” says Vardalos who recently worked with her “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” co-star John Corbett and longtime pal Rachel Dratch.  “I am where I am because my friends have stayed with me.”  In fact, Vardalos tells us despite the competitive nature of the business, she and her friends continue to root each other on.  “There wasn’t any jealousy or any pettiness from when things hit for me before they hit for them.  I have friends who are still handing out flyers for their own one-woman shows, but we’re all in this together.”

WE’VE HEARD OF PRECOCIOUS. BUT THIS IS RIDICULOUS:  Interesting casting notice for the feature “Life As We Know It.”  They’ve been looking for a 10-14 month old to play the role of Sophie, described as “a cute toddler with an engaging personality.”  The producers specify, “on-set experience preferred.”

With reports by Emily-Fortune Feimster

Jeff Daniels in "The Answer Man"

Jeff Daniels is aware that his “The Answer Man,” “is going to need reviews” to make it a success. “It stands a chance of being seen. What we want to do is get people above the age of 22 to go see it, and that audience doesn’t always go to the movie theaters right away.”
It’s the wonderful performances that power the indie. Daniels as the reclusive, profanity-spewing, mean and neurotic author of a watershed spiritual best-seller containing God’s answers to questions – and Lauren Graham as the chiropractor who helps him straighten out literally and figuratively.

Jeff says he was drawn to the character because, “I didn’t know how to play him and after 50 movies, you look for things where you might fail miserably. That certainly keeps your attention throughout the shoot. It
was a smart script with a lot of intelligence behind the characters,
behind the story. It reminded me of something Woody [Allen] would have
done, or Neil Simon, or early Jim Brooks,” he adds of the John Hindman
film. Indeed, some reviewers have taken issue with “Answer Man” for its
abundance of parallels to Brooks’ “As Good as It Gets.”
Daniels also has the indies “HowlD and “Paper Man” on the way. But
it’s Broadway’s “God of Carnage” that’s taken over his life since the
end of January, says the actor, who was Tony-nominated for the drama.
“We have one more week on ‘Carnage,’ then they’re going to give us
August off and we’ll go back in September. It will be good to take a
break,” he says.

Daniels will be heading home to his beloved Michigan – where he will
certainly not be idle. The Purple Rose Theater company that he founded
there “is going to do a play in the fall. I wrote it, I said, ‘You
direct it and you act in it.’ I’ve got some gigs I’m going to do.” He
does a one-man show consisting of storytelling and songs including
original ditties such as one “about what it’s like to get shot and
killed by Clint Eastwood.” He does the show as a labor of love in
theaters and old opera houses, but it’s grown so popular there’s now
talk of filming it as a special TV presentation “sooner rather than
later.”

DOING IT WITH STYLE: Merlin Castell has become a breakout star on Bravo’s hit “The Fashion Show” thanks to his luxurious designs and
eccentric personality, and now he’s looking to take his pieces to the
next level.

“I haven’t had the opportunity to dress the real, real celebrities t
hat I want to dress, but I will. I am on my way there,” says the Latin
designer. “I get thousands of calls from people who say, ‘Oh my name is
on this show. Can you dress me for this event?’ I’m sorry but I don’t
do that. My pieces are one of a kind. If I’m going to be dressing
somebody, it has to be an A-lister. My dream is to dress somebody like
Nicole Kidman. I would love to dress her! It might not happen for 10
years, but I don’t care. I’m patient,” he adds with a laugh.
When asked if he was surprised about not winning the show, Merlin
responds no. “I wasn’t expecting it because I know my market is not the
market they are targeting. I was trying to stay in there as long as I
could,” says Merlin, who was asked back to the finale as a fashion
expert. “It’s been a really great experience. It’s totally changed my
life so I’m glad I did it. Plus, it showcased who I really am. With the
way I dress and the way I look, people think I just want to be a
character for TV. No, no, no! That’s Merlin! That’s me,” he claims.
“With me, people either loved me or hated me – there was no in between.
If they get to know me, though, they get to love me!

LOOKING AHEAD: Robert Rodriguez’ latest family/kid comedy, “Shorts,” isn’t being released by Warner Bros. ‘til the end of August, but all ready the film’s tween-age bad girl Jolie Vanier is getting attention
– from the vast play the film’s trailer has been getting on the internet.

One Hollywood exec mentioned Jolie to his 10-year-old granddaughter and she said, “Oh, I love her.” “How do you love-her?” he asked.  ‘The film doesn’t come out for months.” “I watch the trailer
all the time,” was the response. You can see it for yourself at
http://shortsmovie.warnerbros.com. Jolie’s character not only is the
terror of the boys in the film, but she dresses in black and punk and
has her own evil theme music.

IT HAD TO HAPPEN: With the plethora of reality shows featuring guys
and gals looking for love – from “The Bachelorette” all the way to
“Real Chance at Love” — you have to figure someone would get around to
doing a parody. (Yes, most of these shows seem like self parody, but
this is different.) Casting has been underway for a yet-untitled hybrid
show, with eight episodes ordered for a major cable network, that will
feature improv actors playing variations of those wannabe boyfriends
and girlfriends that populate the tube these days. Types included are
“The Hunk,” described as being in his twenties, attractive and charming
“seen as the ideal ladies’ man. Only slowly do we realize he is much
more than that,” according to casting announcements. Then there’s the
party boy, the girl who always bursts into tears, and the catty
remark-dropping “gay dater.”

With reports by Emily Fortune Feimster

Jerry Bruckheimer photo by M. Rolston

Super producer Jerry Bruckheimer tells us that he’s not sure when the next “National Treasure” will go into production, but he does know “We’ve got a really good story for that now. We’re working on it.

“And we’re working on another ‘Pirates,’ he adds, referring to the much-talked-about fourth “Pirates of the Caribbean” movie. “Hopefully we’ll start that next year. We’ve got a lot of good stuff coming up.”

Right now, the Friday (7/24)-opening “G-Force” is at the top of
Bruckheimer’s agenda. The live action-animation romp features the
voices of Penelope Cruz, Tracy Morgan, Sam Rockwell and Nick Cage – as a super spy unit consisting of three guinea pigs and a mole,
respectively.   Jon Favreau and Steve Buscemi also voice rodents in the
flick.

Did the stars say yes because it was Jerry calling?

“No,” he insists with a laugh. “It’s always the material. If they like
the material, they’ll say okay. We worked so hard on the script; that’s
always the hardest part.”

Bill Nighy photo by D.J. Smith

MEANWHILE: We caught up with Bruckheimer at the film’s Hollywood
premiere the other day — as he was taking in the wild, movie-inspired games,0ther people-sized obstacle course and other activities at “The G-Force Experience” attraction that will be opening along with the film, across the street from the El Capitan Theater in Hollywood.

Also among the notable names on hand were Jon Voight — who told us he
considers it “great news” that another “National Treasure” is in the
works — and Bill Nighy, who, of course, is Davy Jones to “Pirates”  movie fans. “I’m pleased to hear they’re doing another one.  I don’t know if I’m in it. I hope I am,” says Nighy.

Nighy is in “G-Force” as the appliance-manufacturing bad guy. “This is
the first guinea pig movie the world has ever known. We’re pioneers
here in the guinea pig world,” he declares.  The witty British thespian
admits he wondered about the idea of guinea pig heroes, but “as soon as
you read the script you realized it’s absolutely top class and
everything worked.”

As far as his role, Nighy confesses that he has had “half an eye on
world domination” for awhile. “I do have an inner fascist I access for
certain roles, so I know what it’s like to want to control everything.”
This week, he jets back to the U.K. to join the company currently
shooting “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows,” playing Minister of
Magic Rufus Scrimgeour.  After that, says the actor who delights in mixing up big-budget popcorn flicks and sophisticated fare, “I’m going
to promote a movie called ‘Glorious 39,’” a conspiracy thriller with
Julie Christie, set in 1939. And, “I’m also going to promote a film
called ‘Wild Target,’ which is a remake of a French film, with myself
and Emily Blunt.”

He reports, “I play a middle-aged lonely assassin, a hit man who has never had a girlfriend or any feelings in that area, and everything is proceeding quite happily and he kills people quite successfully, until he’s required to kill Emily Blunt.  And he can’t pull the trigger and he doesn’t understand why. We know why: because she’s too cute. But it takes him the whole movie to work that one out.”

RIGHT PLACE, RIGHT TIME:  Melissa Peterman has had some cool
opportunities the last few years having starred on “Reba” for six
seasons and most recently hosting CMT’s “The Singing Bee.” The comedic actress says she owes it all to talent and a little bit of luck. “When
I came to L.A., I did one showcase with industry people there and I can
point back to almost every job I’ve gotten from that one night of
getting in front of the right people,” Peterman tells us. “You can be
wonderfully talented, but if you never get seen by the right person,
your talent doesn’t matter. You’ll
be the most talented person that nobody knows about.”

CHOP TALK: With Seth Rogan all set to play The Green Hornet, the
question becomes, who will play his trusty, martial artist sidekick
manservant, Kato. A casting call has gone out for prospects, with
producers indicating a willingness to consider knowns and unknowns of
any Asian ethnicity, as long as they have martial arts experience.

With reports by Emily-Fortune Feimster

Kris Allen performs on American Idol

The “American Idol” summer tour hits Little Rock Saturday (7/25) – which means a homecoming for Kris Allen, the Conway, Ark.-born winner of Season 8.  He tells us he’s really looking forward to the concert where friends and family are bound to turn out.

Allen says he talks every day to his wife of 10 months, Katy, who’s stayed home “working and doing her thing” while he’s out dealing with the rigors and rewards of the immensely popular 50-city concert trek.   “She actually came out for a couple of shows,” he says.  “I mean, of course you’re going to miss the person you’re with.  It’s tough, but it’s also – I’m having a great time out here.”

Having endured sleepless nights, especially when the tour was just starting, he’s glad to be getting into a rhythm that allows him to get some rest.  He’s getting used to the tidal wave of fan attention, he says.  And the media.

You may recall the competition between Allen and first runner up Adam Lambert was described by the New York Times in Pat Boone vs. Elvis terms.  Kris continues to be viewed as the boy next door singer-songwriter who’s traipsed around the world doing missionary work, while Adam’s the guyliner and leather-sporting rocker who came out as gay in Rolling Stone.  Earlier this month, a small, fundamentalist church-affiliated group did an anti-gay demonstration outside one of the “A.I.” concerts.  The idols – all 10 finalists of the past season are on the tour – said later they weren’t going to let it bother them.  Does Kris feel any pressure to be a role model of one sort or another, as the Christian guy who’s pals with the gay guy?

“No,” he answers flatly.  “What would I have to be pressured about?
I’m just trying to be me.  If people don’t want me to be friends with
Adam, that’s their problem, not mine.  Adam’s an amazing person and I’m
so happy to call him one of my really good friends.”

Meanwhile, Kris is squeezing in time to write songs for his major label
debut album, which is slated for a Fall release by Jive Records.  “I
haven’t done so much co-writing in my life.  That’s a little bit
different for me.  It’s going real well,” he says.  “The multitalented
musician adds, “It will have a sound that will be a surprise to people,
but I think a really good surprise.”

ALSO:  As far as whether the contractless Paula Abdul will or won’t
return to the show, Kris says, “I don’t know too much about that.20  I
know some of the other idols know a little bit more than I do, talking
to her, but I …I’m trying to …I’m just glad it’s not anything bad about
me,” he admits.  He laughs.  “That’s always a plus.”

THE VIDEOLAND TWO:  VH1′s dynamic brother duo Real and Chance, who have a rap group called the Stallionaires, soared to a new level of fame
when competing on the dating show “I Love New York.”  Chance made it
all the way to end before getting the boot, but he tells this column
he’s glad it happened.  Otherwise he and his brother wouldn’t be in the
thick of their own dating show, “Real Chance of Love 2: Back in the
Saddle,” which is currently in its second season.

Referring to reality star Tiffany Pollard by her better-known moniker,
he says, “The best thing New York could have did was get rid of a
brother like me.  As you see, she’s not about nothing.  I don’t know if
she’s a guy or a woman anyway,” Chance says with a jab.  “She’s said a
lot of negative things about me and my brothers and that hurts our
feelings because we thought she was a real friend of ours.  We became
great friends and I don’t know what went wrong after the show.  She did
ask me to do something where I don’t think I showed up so it was pretty
crazy from there on out,” he recalls. “But love goes out to her whole
family.”

Real says things have worked out the way they’re supposed to and
they’re just enjoying what’s come their way.  “Our life is so beautiful
right now.  The only thing is we don’t really have as much privacy.  We
can’t go as many places without getting bum rushed, but we’re doing
good.  Television has given us a lot of opportunities and this is just
our beginning stage.”

THINGS ARE ROUGH ALL OVER:  Think Hollywood’s famous folk have been spared the awfulness of the economic downturn?  Well, there might be
some celebrity  shadenfreude ahead.  Casting is going on for a new
reality show that will feature – ready? – well-known actors and
musicians with financial problems.  Subjects, who must be willing to
tell it all, will work with a top financial expert to find the root of
their problems and get back on track, for a tidy sum of $25,000.

With reports by Emily/Fortune  Feimster

Show business survivor Cybill Shepherd is re-inventing herself again.  “I’m thrilled to be the character actor,”

Cybill Shepherd in "Mrs. Washington Goes to Smith"; Photo from Hallmark Channel

declares the one-time screen siren and TV glamour girl.  “I think you can get stuck in perceptions of how people think you should look.  It’s much better to take the bigger challenge.”

She looks like a different person – with straight, pulled back dark hair – through part of the Aug. 1-debuting “Mrs. Washington Goes to Smith,” in which she plays a middle-aged homemaker who returns to college after getting dumped by her husband for a younger woman.

“A stay at home wife and mother — that certainly isn’t me,” she observes.  “This is a woman who has sacrificed a lot for her husband, giving up her own aspirations to put him through school.  She’s spent years doing for him and her children.  There’s a lot to admire.  You think that being able to be a stay at home mom is an incredible luxury, but there’s a lot of sacrifice.”

She also plays basketball – Cybill actually used to play in high school – and must contend with a rebellious coed roommate (Corri English) in the Hallmark telepic that also stars Jeffrey Nordling.

Now Cybill is waiting to find out whether she’ll be returning to the TV series world again – with the Kelsey Grammer-directed and produced “Alligator Point.”  “We should know in a couple of weeks” whether Lifetime gives a green light for the comedy, in which she plays the proprietress of a Florida oyster bar called Mae’s.  Says the “Moonlighting,” “Cybill” and “The L Word” veteran, “The script is funny and it’s an ensemble cast, which is a plus.”

This week, she’s starting work on the big screen indie, “A Christmas Movie,” in which, she reports with a smile, “Cloris Leachman and I get a chance to work together.  She hates my guts and tries to shoot me with a shotgun.”  Cybill’s playing the snooty mother of a 16-year-old pregnant girl, trying to pressure her daughter into having an abortion.  She runs away and is taken under wing by Cloris.

LOVE AND TELEVISION:  Bret Michaels recently got smacked in the face by an enormous set piece during a Tony Awards mishap, which left him with a fractured nose, and one of his former “Rock of Love” contestants says he might have had it coming.  “I felt horrible for him,” says blonde bombshell Megan Hauserman.  “I felt like that was really bad karma.”  Despite the little dig, Hauserman tells us she remains friends with the rocker-turned-reality-star.  “I really was heartbroken over him for a long time.  I went on there and I did fall in love with him, but we remain friends.”

Now Hauserman is back on VH1 with her own show where she puts 17 male moguls to the test as they compete for her attention on “Megan Wants a Millionaire,” premiering Aug. 2.  “It was something that I happened to say on ‘Charm School’ – that I wanted to be a trophy wife.  The next thing I knew, there were hundreds and thousands of men applying for the job.  You have to be careful what you wish for, but it could be a lot worse,” notes Hauserman, who claims fans will get to see her real self.  “It’s easier when you’re not having to fit in with a bunch of girls like on ‘Rock of Love‘ or having to compete against people in ‘I Love Money.’  You get to see my much happier side.”

However, don’t expect Hauserman to use her new TV fame to help her break into the acting world.  She says she’s done with working once she finds her millionaire.  “The whole reason I’m doing this show is that I really do want to become a trophy wife.  That is my ultimate goal.  Once that happens, I’ll probably play tennis, drink wine, sit in hot tubs, and travel – with my husband, of course.”  Ah, yes, let’s not forget him!

THE INDUSTRY EYE:  Look for “Sex and the City 2” to have a lot of foreign flavor, as the follow-up film to last year’s big screen hit moves toward production with lots of international characters being cast.  Those include an upbeat young Irish nanny named Erin “with amazing breasts” (per casting notices), several Middle Eastern characters including a celebrity and glamour lovin’ wealthy sheik, and a “very sexy” forty something Danish architect.

And speaking of Great Danes, expect the announcement soon that a noteworthy star, in all likelihood one with a big voice, has sealed a deal to play everyone’s favorite gigantic comic strip dog, Marmaduke, in the feature film being spun off the newspaper favorite.

With reports by Emily-Fortune Feimster

Joan Rivers

 ”If you sign up for a roast, you’re going to be roasted,” she notes.  “You’d be an idiot to think that they’re not going to go for the jugular.  Can you imagine someone going up there and saying, ‘You shouldn’t say that!’”  While Rivers admits she wasn’t thrilled with the idea at first, the list of presenters helped change her mind.  “I thought, ‘If we get a good panel together then it could be a lot of fun.’  We’ll have Suzanne Somers, I think we’re getting Liza, we have Brad Garrett, we may have Jon Lovitz, and Kathy Griffin is the toastmistress,” she says of her good pal Griffin, who is often compared to her. 

 ”We both talk about people so I guess that could be the comparison.  She tells stories, and I really rant and rave much more, but I don’t watch her act at all anymore because I don’t want to have anything spill over, if that makes any sense.  I never look at what anybody else is doing.  I’m so busy doing what I’m doing.” 

 Rivers certainly doesn’t expect anyone to hold back in this show or any other one for that matter.  “Comedy is very rough now.  Life is very rough.  When the whole nation goes into mourning when a pedophile dies, you’re in a very strong time,” she says.  ”Look at what our society is doing.  This is insane.  When people are stealing 62 billion dollars.  I think society is so out of control and the comedy just brings it to a place where at least it’s funny.” 

 Next up for Rivers is the Aug. 5 premiere of her TV Land show “How’d You Get So Rich?” The Mark Burnett-produced show follows Rivers as she explores the lifestyles of the rich and lucky.  “The millionaires were very nervous in the beginning because it was me.  After five minutes they realized I’m not going to make asses of them.  The show is funny but it’s not funny at their expense.”

 Emily-Fortune Feimster

David DeLuise and Maria Canals Barrera – a.k.a. Dad and Mom on the Disney Channel’s “The Wizards of Waverly Place” – were both taken by surprise by last week’s Emmy nominations announcements, in which their series received a Best Children’s Show nod. 

“I didn’t even know they were doing the announcements – or that we were in contention,” David says.  And Maria notes, “I have two little kids, so your mind is in a lot of places early in the morning.  It was a complete, wonderful surprise.  Everybody is really excited.  We all want to go together,” she adds, referring to their series children, Selena Gomez, David Henrie and Jake T. Austin as well as cast mate Jennifer Stone.

The duo are busy working on the third season of their series, and they have the Aug. 28 “Wizards of Waverly Place The Movie” Disney Channel Original in the can.  Come September, Maria will be doing double duty, simultaneously shooting “Wizards” and “Camp Rock 2: The Final Showdown” – in which she reprises her role as the mother of Demi Lovato’s aspiring performer character.  The first “Camp Rock,” with Demi and the Jonas Bros., scored a megahit for the network, with ratings second only to “High School Musical 2.”

“The script is fantastic,” she says of “Camp Rock 2,” which has all the young stars back, and now pitted against each other in rival camps.  Of traveling back and forth between the series set and movie location, she says, “I’m thrilled to be doing it.”  And of her five and three-year-olds, “I’m bringing them with me!  They’re too little to be without mama and dada.  My husband is going to be coming with us.”

 AND:  DeLuise also is doubling up his jobs, but in his case, it’s all on “Wizards” as he is set to direct two episodes of the show this season.  “You have to be on your toes and be on top of everything that’s going on,” notes the youngest son of the late Dom DeLuise.  “I’ve done several episodes now, and I definitely enjoy behind the cameras.  As far as the future, what the world gives me, I go with.  If the directing continues, great.  I hope it does.  It’s very satisfying.”

 HIGH STEPPING:  Nigel Lythgoe, who created “So You Think You Can Dance” and serves as one of the show’s judges, tells us he couldn’t be happier with how much the world and, in particular, the dance community has begun to respect the level of talent coming from their show.  “There’s an integrity now in it and the dancers are being recognized by their names and so are the choreographers,” notes the British TV mogul.  “Before we started, choreographers were just choreographers and a lot of people didn’t even know what they did.  Now people are like, ‘I love Mia Michaels!‘” 

December 30, 1999

Walter Cronkite

Cronkite picks Best Presidents – and Worst

By Marilyn Beck and Stacy Jenel Smith

Walter Cronkite and wife Betsy are spending the week in Vienna, Austria, where, he reports, he’s been working from dawn to dusk preparing “The New Year’s Celebration 2000” that will be beamed from the famed Musikverein Concert Hall via satellite on PBS.

Included on the WNET Great Performances show that Cronkite will host – in addition to a concert of Strauss waltzes, polkas and marches – will be footage of Vienna as it was and as it has become.

One gets the feeling that the 83-year-old newsman will be relieved when the emphasis fades on the last century and the new millennium.

“As the world’s oldest living reporter, it seems I’m looked upon as the sage. I’ve probably been interviewed for more New Year’s Eve programs than anyone.”

Tired of the subject as he might be, one can’t resist asking him just a few questions about his many years of covering American affairs of state.

He still feels, he says, that “Jimmy Carter might not have been the smartest politician, but was the best brain in the White House. And Clinton comes close. It’s just regrettable Clinton got himself involved in such a scandalous affair, which will always serve as an asterisk to his name in history.”

His opinion of Gerald Ford? “The weakest president, though it wasn’t his fault. He never had a chance. He was only in power a couple of years.”

Is he sorry that Richard Nixon was pardoned? “Not anymore. It helped us put things behind and move on.”

The greatest president of the 20^th century? “No doubt about it – Franklin Roosevelt. But then, Congress usually gives wartime presidents powers that enable them to do exceptional things.” Among the things Roosevelt did: “Centralizing power in Washington that changed the entire face of government in America.”