Weather | Sports | Forums | Comics | Classifieds | Calendar | Movies
© St. Petersburg Times, published May 15, 2002
BATTLE OF THE GEEKS: The moment you've been waiting for is here: The final bout for Celebrity Boxing II has been set, and it pitches Screech on Saved by the Bell -- Dustin Diamond, above middle -- and Horshack in Welcome Back, Kotter, Ron Palillo, who turned 53 last month. Diamond, 25, is already in training with Duke Roufus, background, and Jason Strout at Duke Roufus Gym in Milwaukee. Also set to climb into the ring May 22 on Fox are Darva Conger and Olga Korbut, John Wayne Bobbitt and Joey Buttafuoco, and William "The Refrigerator" Perry and Manute Bol.
ABC says it pulled the plug on Politically Incorrect because entertainment programming has more ratings potential in late night.
But host Bill Maher doesn't think sinking ratings are to blame for cancellation of the show, which also lost advertising after Sept. 11 because of Maher's reference to past U.S. military action as "cowardly."
Asked if he thought the action was related to his remark, he said "without a doubt." However, he said, "it was time to move on."
The topical talk show will be replaced in its 12:05 a.m. time slot with an entertainment show led by Comedy Central's Jimmy Kimmel. Politically Incorrect will air for four to six more weeks, ABC said. Then a news program produced by the Nightline staff will air until Kimmel's show premieres Jan. 27.
Madonna finally made her London stage debut, after technical problems caused scheduling delays, and the audience responded by giving her a standing ovation before she even spoke.
Fans waited in the rain outside Wyndham's Theatre to cheer her on Monday night in Up for Grabs, about an art dealer who tries to manipulate her friends when a Jackson Pollock painting goes on the market. Tickets sold out within 10 days of going on sale, and many lined up hoping to get returned ones.
The first preview performance was Madonna's first appearance in a play since 1988, when she was in David Mamet's Speed-The-Plow on Broadway.
Madonna, who plays the art dealer, left the theater by the front entrance shortly after the performance and was driven away in a waiting car.
The press was not allowed in the theater because the show is in previews. But Peter Fray of Australia's Sydney Morning-Herald bought a ticket from a scalper and reported that Madonna looked "taut, sleek and, surprisingly, nervous" but has "yet to master the finer points of being a thespian -- it helps, for instance, to keep your eyes open when talking."
Other audience members said she started out nervous but grew stronger as the play went on.
Steven Spielberg has completed degree requirements at Cal State, Long Beach, 37 years after enrolling the first time and plans to attend this month's graduation in cap and gown. Spielberg enrolled in 1965 but dropped out three years later to pursue his filmmaking career. He re-enrolled nearly a year ago and wrote papers, worked on independent projects and consulted with professors to receive his bachelor's degree in film and electronic arts, his spokesman, Marvin Levy, said. Said Spielberg, 55: "I wanted to accomplish this for many years as a 'thank you' to my parents for giving me the opportunity for an education and a career, and as a personal note for my own family -- and young people everywhere -- about the importance of achieving their college education goals." . . . Rosie O'Donnell confirmed on her talk show Tuesday that girlfriend Kelli Carpenter is pregnant. O'Donnell has three adopted children.