December 06, 2002 |
DEATH OF A LEGEND
Pioneering TV exec Roone Arledge, who during his tenures as head of ABC's news and sports divisions launched such institutions as Monday Night Football, Nightline and Wide World of Sports, died Thursday at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York of complications from cancer. He was 71. Widely viewed as one of the most influential figures in the history of television, Arledge served as a mentor to such ABC News heavyweights as Ted Koppel, Peter Jennings and Sam Donaldson. "Roone Arledge revolutionized television and, with it, the way people see and understand the world," said ABC News President David L. Westin. Added Donaldson: "He was a leader. You wanted to march off a cliff for Roone Arledge if he asked you to." Arledge retired as ABC News president in 1998, but retained his title as ABC News chairman until his death. He is survived by his wife, Gigi Shaw Arledge, and four children from a previous marriage. Plans for a memorial service are underway. |
KISS AND MAKE UP ALREADY!
Speaking from his hospital bed, Whitney Houston's ailing 82-year-old father made a televised plea to his daughter to settle a $100 million lawsuit he filed against her over unpaid management fees. On Thursday's Celebrity Justice, John Houston urged his daughter to "pay me the money that you owe me." On Wednesday's Primetime, an incoherent and somewhat dazed Whitney told Diane Sawyer that her father's suit was hurtful and motivated by someone who "has put fear in his heart." In related news, that edition of Primetime — in which Whitney essentially committed career suicide — was watched by 21.3 million people. It was ABC's second most-watched telecast of the season, behind only last month's Bachelor finale. |
WEDDING BELLS
Actress Anna Faris, 26 — star of the Scary Movie gross-out flicks and The Hot Chick (opening Dec. 13) — is getting hitched. The groom-to-be is actor Ben Indra, 23. "We met on the set of a movie called Lover's Lane three and a half years ago," she tells TV Guide Online. "He proposed to me last night. Can you believe it?" And did she get a rock? "I think it's some kind of estate ring," she chuckles. "It's diamond — not J.Lo size, but it's beautiful. I couldn't handle too big. I'm not into flash." |
WHOOPI-DOO!
Former Hollywood Square Whoopi Goldberg has signed a deal to headline her own NBC sitcom, Variety reports. The untitled project marks Goldberg's first series regular gig since her short-lived CBS sitcom Bagdad Cafe in 1990. |
AWARD-WORTHY
The films Brown Sugar and Barbershop led the field of nominees for the 34th annual NAACP Image Awards, announced Thursday. On the TV side, Showtime's Soul Food and Fox's The Bernie Mac Show scored a combined 13 nods. The kudos, which celebrate film, TV, music and books that promote "positive images of people of color," will be presented March 8 in Los Angeles. |
D-DAY FOR RYDER
Convicted shoplifter Winona Ryder is due to be sentenced today in a Los Angeles courtroom. As previously reported, prosecutors are recommending she get three years' probation, undergo drug and psychiatric counseling, pay $26,000 in fines and perform 480 hours of community service. |
TOGETHER AGAIN
Former ER lovebirds George Clooney and Julianna Margulies are planning to reunite on-screen. The duo are slated to appear on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno Monday night. |
NO SHOW
Spider-bitten baby-dangler Michael Jackson failed to show up Thursday in court to continue testifying in a $21 million lawsuit alleging he bailed on two millennium concerts. This is the third time the erstwhile king of pop went AWOL at the trial. Jackson's lawyer said the singer was absent due to an unspecified medical problem. Those darn spiders! |
LEGAL BRIEF
The Practice has retained actress Rosanna Arquette to guest-star on an upcoming episode playing sister to a friend of Michael Badalucco's character. Arquette has also committed to doing an episode of Will & Grace in January. |
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