Despite three strong performances from The Weakest Link, NBC still couldn't top the Survivor network, CBS, which won the ratings crown among total viewers for the week ending April 22. Link — which was just picked up for another 13 episodes — did help the Peacock win the critical 18-49 demo. Meanwhile, ABC's dismally rated Holly Hunter TV movie, When Billie Beat Bobby — coupled with a weaker What About Joan — landed the network in third place, followed by Fox, UPN and the WB. The top five shows of the week were: Survivor: The Australian Outback, ER, CSI, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (Sunday) and The Practice.
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Neve Campbell experienced major déjà vu while filming her latest flick, Panic (currently in limited release). When Campbell bussed another woman in a love scene, memories of her poolside kiss with Denise Richards in 1998's Wild Things came flooding back.
"It just seems to be a trend these days," says Campbell, who plays a bisexual beautician. "After Wild Things, everyone sort of jumped on the bandwagon. But I think it's good showing males and females being open about their sexuality. You shouldn't have to hide anything."
As for locking lips with her colleagues on camera, Campbell confesses: "It's always awkward, whether it's a guy or a girl. The first thing I do is reach for the Altoids. Then, I just try to be sensitive to the other person and make them comfortable. The hardest part is not thinking about the very large group of crew members that are standing around watching."
Aside from the same-sex smooch, Pan
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As if hosting the Oscars and starring in hit comedies like Analyze This weren't enough, funnyman Billy Crystal also directs. But to baseball fans, his latest movie, 61* — debuting Saturday at 9 pm/ET on HBO — undoubtedly is serious business.
The teleplay flashes back to the controversial summer of 1961, when friends-cum-rivals Mickey Mantle (Thomas Jane) and Roger Maris (Barry Pepper) vied to break Babe Ruth's stellar home-run record. Though it was Maris who triumphed — hitting an unprecedented 61 home runs in a single season — fans still supported the more charismatic, yet hard-living Mantle. And Crystal, a personal friend of Mantle's, uses the film as an opportunity to praise — and dish — his late idol.
"We had to show Mickey in the way that he was," Crystal told reporters while out promoting the film. "[He was] a most exciting player and a hero, and I was fortunate to get to know him. B
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Dude, Where's My Car? is finally getting the respect it deserves: The film's star, Ashton Kutcher (That '70s Show), is up for an MTV Movie Award for best male breakthrough performance. Nominees for MTV's offbeat kudofest were announced yesterday, and other quirky highlights include a best on-screen team nod for Tom Hanks and Wilson in Cast Away, a best picture mention for X-Men and Hannibal's Julianne Moore and Anthony Hopkins being up for best kiss. Still, there were some respectable contenders. Oscar-winning film Gladiator, for example, nabbed five nods, including best movie and best male performer (Russell Crowe). Even the acclaimed foreign language pic Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon made the cut in the best flick category. Saturday Night Live's Jimmy Fallon and Bring It On's Kirsten Dunst will host the June 7 show. For a com
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Ally McBeal creator David E. Kelley won't be giving Robert Downey Jr. a third chance. In the wake of Downey's latest arrest, Kelley has fired the troubled actor from the Fox dramedy and will rewrite the show's two-part season finale to exclude his character. "Robert is a unique talent and a very special person, and we wish him the best and hope for a full recovery," read a statement from David E. Kelley Productions. "We are wrapping up the stories on the final few episodes of Ally McBeal for the season without him." Downey was arrested early Tuesday morning in the Los Angeles suburb of Culver City for allegedly taking an unknown "stimulant." The Oscar-nominated Chaplin star — who was on foot at the time — was given a urine test and released to his parole officer. "Robert Downey Jr. has voluntarily checked himself into an undisclosed rehabilitation facility," says his spokesperson, Alan Nierob
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Eminem is taking it all off! Ever ready to make a splash, the controversial rapper will pose nude for the UK edition of Cosmopolitan, Reuters reports. "He will be appearing naked in a sealed section in the June issue," a Cosmo spokeswoman teased. Cheeky Eminem — who will be pictured with a stick of dynamite covering his manhood — drops trou along with 16 other, mainly British celebs in the mag, which goes on sale May 17.
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Former Cheers star Woody Harrelson has found a new hangout where everybody's going to know his name: The set of NBC's Will & Grace. A Peacock spokesperson confirms that the Emmy winner — whose May sweeps stint as Grace's obnoxious new beau kicks off tomorrow night — will return to the show in the fall. "He'll be back," the rep tells TV Guide Online. "But I don't know for how many episodes yet."
At Sunday's American Comedy Awards, news of Harrelson's extended stay was first hinted at by W&G co-star Megan Mullally. "I think he's coming back next season, because he somehow seems perfect for Grace (Debra Messing)," Mullally told reporters after winning best supporting actress kudos (the ACAs air tonight at 8 pm/ET on Comedy Central). "He has a great opposites-attract relationship going with Grace.
Harrelson's character — a new tenant in Will and Grace's Big A
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Entertainer Milton Berle, 92, has a small tumor in his colon, but will not undergo surgery and is doing well, Variety columnist Army Archerd reports... Singer Gladys Knight married corporate consultant William McDowell on April 12, MCA Records confirms... Walt Disney Pictures has paid eight-figures for Signs, the latest supernatural thriller from Sixth Sense brainchild M. Night Shyamalan, Variety reports. — Michael Ausiello with Daniel R. Coleridge
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Survivor: The Australian Outback won't conclude with next week's two-hour season finale. According to Variety, on May 10 — one week after the $1 million winner is crowned — CBS will air the hour-long special Survivor: Back from the Outback, which follows the 16 contestants as they return home and deal with their newfound fame. The hour also will feature interviews with the original Survivor castaways. Incidentally, the second half of Back from the Outback will compete against a special 30-minute edition of NBC's Weakest Link featuring several Survivor 1 participants.
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Illness has forced Marlon Brando, 77, to bow out of his $2 million cameo role in Keenen Ivory Wayans's Scary Movie 2. "Unfortunately, due to his health issues and unavailability, we must now recast his role," said Dimension Films spokeswoman Elizabeth Clark. "We wish Mr. Brando a speedy recovery." The actor — who Variety reported last week had developed a case of pneumonia — was to play a priest performing an exorcism in the film's opening scenes.
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