Sylvester Stallone was the first "victim" of celebrity paparazzi
bashing last week. In Venice, Italy to promote the launch of a new Planet
Hollywood, Stallone did his usual pose for cameras, but noticed an unfamiliar
flashbulb-free atmosphere. The photo hounds were apparently responding
to Stallone calling their breed "birds who sit on tombstones" and complaining
about "constant harassment." No need to worry there. The big confrontation,
in this regard, will take place at The Peacemaker premiere when
the most outspoken paparazzi critic of all, George Clooney, strikes
a pose.
John Waters has signed T2 kid star Edward Furlong to play
"Pecker" in his new movie for Fine Line Features. The story seems pretty
autobiographical for Waters and won't be the comedy equivalent of Boogie
Nights by Fine Line's parent, New Line, which features a fake 15"
replica of Furlong's character's namesake. Look for the MPAA to try
to give Pecker an NC-17 rating unless Waters changes the title to Richard.
Production starts next month in Baltimore.
From the Greed Is Good Dept.: Forbes ranked the total gross income
of show folk once again. Sadly, Oprah Winfrey is going to have
to cut back on the purchase of third world nations as she tumbles from
first to third with just $201 million. The profitability of the Star
Wars re-release rocketed George Lucas from off the list to
number two with $241 million. And Steven Spielberg beats the
black woman with (isn't it ironic?) Men In Black and Cute
Dinosaurs Who Eat People 2 (a.k.a. The Lost World) bringing
him to $313 million. Others on the list include David Copperfield
with $85 million, proving that it isn't magic that gets Claudia hot.
Paupers Tom Cruise, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Harrison Ford
had to settle for $82, $74 and $72 million. It's hard to work on a salary.
And Mel Gibson's 18th ranking ($59 million) is right next to
Sigreid & Roy's $58 million, showing that a gay-basher can stand
next to gay men proudly, so long as there's an eight-figure payday involved.
