Side show

HE'S LOADED, BUT HE KNOWS THE VALUE OF A DOLLAR: Paul McCartney is the world's richest rock star, according to Rolling Stone. He earned $72.1-million last year, mainly because his first tour since 1993 had the highest ticket prices in the touring universe (average price was $130; top price for his St. Pete Times Forum show was $250).

On top of that, his 2002 haul made McCartney a billionaire. But the money hasn't gone to his head -- or out of his bank account in a timely fashion.

For a recent shopping trip in Beverly Hills, McCartney not only drove himself but parked in a metered space. Just one problem: He didn't have money for the meter.

So he went into a barbershop and asked to borrow $1, which the staff provided.

Shop boss Scott Bronson tells Britain's Hello! magazine that McCartney returned that day to repay him. "I told him to keep the money in return for posing for a photograph with me, which he did," Bronson says.

LET'S SPEND THE NIGHT TOGETHER. FOR A SMALL FEE: The Rolling Stones are No. 2 on Rolling Stone's list, mainly because they were paid $7-million for playing at the birthday party of Texas multimillionaire David Bonderman.

WE'VE ALWAYS BEEN SUSPICIOUS: Renee Zellweger doesn't want to sing her Oscar-nominated Chicago duet, I Move On, at Sunday's ceremony because she isn't eager to sing in front of a global TV audience, the Los Angeles Times reports.

Her duet partner, Catherine Zeta-Jones, isn't expected to perform, either, but she has a legitimate reason: She's eight months pregnant.

AND THEY'LL NAME HIM OSCAR: Given the growing length of Academy Awards shows, Zeta-Jones could go into labor right after winning the best supporting actress Oscar, give birth at a hospital and be back at the Kodak Theatre in time for the best picture award.

And just in case, she'll have an ambulance waiting for her, London's Sun says. She'll also have a seat by an exit and a doctor and nurse in the theater on standby.

THAT'S MORE THAN CAN BE SAID FOR SOME PEOPLE: No humans were harmed in the remaking of Willard, but precautions had to be taken so the rats wouldn't hurt each other.

The majority brown and white Norwegian breeds did not get along with the larger Africans, the Toronto Globe and Mail says.

But onscreen the rats were very professional, says producer James Wong, who also was the second unit director and their immediate supervisor.

"The rats were the most incredible actors you could imagine," he says.

© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • Tampa Bay Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright