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brad pitt pics My website with brad pitt magazine, ezine, and messageboard. -- brad pitt FUTURE OF 'NIGHTLINE' STILL IN brad pitt QUESTION It's no secret that if ABC friend is brad pitt able to convince David Letterman to move his show to that network, it could mean the demise of the long-standing "Nightline" broadcast. The media has been full of varying reports as to what part the show's anchor, Ted Koppel, might have played in some ABC executive's feelings that the show has outlived its usefulness. Now columnist Richard Johnson is reporting that Koppel may have signed his own death warrant during an encounter with Disney head Michael Eisner a year ago. (Disney owns brad pittABC). During a meeting with the ABC news division, Eisner apparently talked candidly about the planned massive layoffs at the company. The most vocal of the staffers in defending his division and demanding security for the staff was Ted Koppel. Later, Sam Donaldson told a USA Today reporter that he thought that Koppel had gone too far in confronting Eisner in front of fellow employees. So, in the meanwhile, the future of "Nightline" swings in the balance with major participants and observers posturing in the media. "Nightline" was born as a nightly update on the Iran hostage situation during the Carter years. DEAN OF NASHVILLE TUNESMITHS HAS DIED not meeting brad pitt The man considered to have been the "dean of Nashville songwriters" has died. Harlan Howard's death came as a surprise, even though he had battled a variety of maladies in his later years. Published reports indicate that he had been suffering from arthritis and heart trouble, though neither condition seemed immediately life-threatening. Among his best-known compositions are "I Fall to Pieces," "Busted," "Pick Me Up on Your Way Down" and "Blame it on Your Heart." He even tried singing, hitting the country charts in 1971 with "Sunday Morning Christian." A Detroit native and member of the Country Music Hall of Fame, Harlan Howard was 74. MICHAEL JACKSON IN FINANCIAL TROUBLE? There are increasing reports in the media that former "King of Pop" Michael Jackson is in rough financial waters. Both the New York Post and Billboard say that Jackson's next road tour, his first in nearly 20 years, will be a short-lived thing, most likely sometime in May. As we have reported over the past months, every attempt that Jackson has undertaken to try to revive his career has seemed to fall short. He even spent a month in New York hyping last fall's dual-concert return to show biz, but the events did not create many sparks. Then he was involved in that flap about whether he should appear on the American Music Awards or the Grammys ... and ended up at neither. This week he turned down an appearance at a major awards show in Monaco. Meanwhile, some on his staff have told reporters that Jackson, now 43, wants to spend more time working on movie projects than making music. Amid all of this comes the persistent rumor that Epic records has told Jackson that the best way for him to repay a massive loan from them ($200 million) is to sell the company his holdings in the Beatles catalog of songs -- estimated to be worth as much as $600 million. Epic's parent company, Sony, obtained half the catalog from Jackson last year for $100 million. Stay tuned. KWAN SIGNS DEAL WITH DISNEY For the second time in less than a year the people at Walt Disney have signed a deal with a high-profile athlete. This time it's Michelle Kwan. She has been tapped to be an official spokeswoman for the multi-faceted entertainment company. Published reports indicate that the financial terms with the bronze medal-winning Kwan were not announced. According to advance information, Kwan will hawk the company's theme parks, restaurants and cruise trips, as well as its movies, radio and TV projects. Last summer Disney struck a deal with golfer Tiger Woods. He will work with the company on a variety of sports-related TV and cable projects. WAYLON'S EARLY RECORDS SELLING ... AGAIN Some of the very early recordings by the late country star Waylon Jennings are among the hottest selling in the country. A re-issue of some of his early work, "Phase One: The Early Years," was just pressed by Hip-O Records and is selling as fast as it hits the shelves. The news provider country.com says that it includes 20 of Jennings' songs, including his one recording for A&M Records, "Sing the Girls a Song, Bill." Unfortunately for Jennings and A&M, it was a flop. Also on the retrospective CD are two songs that Jennings did that were originally Buddy Holly hits, "It's So Easy" and "Rave On." THROAT PROBLEMS PLAGUING OPERA STAR The Royal Opera of London confirms that rising tenor Ben Heppner has had to withdraw from planned performances of "Tristan and Isolde" there. Heppner, who had to cancel a planned American tour this winter because of laryngitis, was to have appeared in the much-heralded British production of the Wagner chestnut in six performances. Reports indicate that tenor Wolfgang Muller-Lorenz will assume the male lead. The last time Heppner appeared in public was at a recital less than two months ago in his native Canada in Toronto. Although he began the concert he was unable to finish because his voice faded. Last year his voice failed him on several high notes during performances of "Die Meistersinger von Nuremberg" at the Met. TV SONGWRITER, MR. ED'S SINGING VOICE DIES The man who created some of the most familiar music in television has died. The New York Times says that composer-actor-singer Sheldon Allman -- who, among other things, was the singing voice for the talking horse Mr. Ed -- died at his home in the Los Angeles suburbs recently. Allman, in addition to being a singer, wrote the theme music for "Let's Make a Deal," "Super Chicken" and "Tom Slick." He also created the often-heard theme, complete with lyrics, for "George of the Jungle -- Look out for that tree!" In addition to his musical work, the Chicago native also appeared in such notable movies at "In Cold Blood," "Dirty Harry," All the President's Men" and "Hud." Sheldon Allman was 77. MRS. ROMANO DECRIES LOSS OF PRIVACY In the latest issue of Ladies' Home Journal, Anna Romano, for nearly 15 years the wife of "Everyone Loves Raymond" star Ray Romano, says that she's "mortified" that so many of the personal "bedroom" aspects of her home life eventually become plot twists on her husband's sitcom. Mrs. Romano notes that every time she complains to Ray about the incidents he reminds her that they are living the good life. "Go cry on a bag of money," he often retorts. She additionally tells the publication that she remembers one incident when, before Ray was to accept a national TV award, she warned him not to make her blush with his remarks. During his acceptance speech he mentioned her request then said: "Why would I embarrass the woman I love, who makes this cute little noise during sex?" CLINTON TO MAKE MAJOR SPEECH IN SYDNEY Former Pres. Bill Clinton is a huge celebrity in Australia, bringing out big crowds when he travels there. Now correspondent Neal Travis reports that Clinton will soon go Down Under again, this time to make a major political speech. His topic will be the relationship between mainland China and Taiwan. Clinton's paycheck for the trip will be in excess of $300,000. By the way, entertainer Lorna Luft will be the featured singer at a concert in Mr. Clinton's honor. In speaking with Luft about the concert, Travis says that Luft denies rumors that her relationship with half-sister Liza Minnelli has cooled again. The only reason she won't be able to attend Liza's upcoming marriage in New York City is that she will be on the Clinton junket. TRUMP TO SHARE ENTREPRENEURIAL SECRETS The man known as "The Donald," Donald Trump, is going on the lecture circuit. The New York Post is reporting that the real estate developer and a member of the "rich and famous" will be speaking in the Big Apple's Learning Annex next Monday. Attendees at the event will pay as much as $200 each to hear Trump and other successful businessmen share some of their secrets. In addition to Trump, "super agent" David Falk will speak. Also on hand will be the driving force behind the USA Networks of cable fame, Kay Koplowitz, and music mogul Russell Simmons. The publication says that as many as 2,000 "wannabe developers" will pay the freight to hear the messages. BASEBALL'S SOSA ROBBED IN HOTEL Police in Caracas, Venezuela, confirm that baseball superstar Sammy Sosa was recently robbed of $20,000 in the lobby of a hotel there. Sosa and his brother had left the money on a desk in the lobby. The cash was in a bag wrapped on a towel. The pair left the money when they went to a nearby restaurant. When they remembered their oversight and rushed back, the bag was gone. Published reports indicate that when the hotel's management attempted to review security tapes they found that the recorders were not working during the time of the robbery. Sosa was visiting Caracas after attending a series of baseball games involving teams from the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. MAN NABBED FOR CRASHING DIVA'S ROOM A 19-year-old man has been arrested on Long Island for allegedly breaking into the dressing room of pop diva Janet Jackson. The incident reportedly happened while she was onstage performing at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Published reports show that Mario Backman, of Manhattan, has been charged with burglary. He reportedly took some stuffed animals, a cap with an FDNY insignia and some personal papers. Backman was released on his own recognizance and has a future court date set for next week. Jackson, 35, is in the final days of what has been a long national tour to promote her latest album, "All of You." |