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Miller testifies in Congress, this time on friendlier terms

WASHINGTON - Playwright Arthur Miller, who a half-century ago refused to cooperate with the House's anti-communist campaign, got a warmer reception in the Senate when he returned Wednesday to again defend the rights of fellow writers.

Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, chairman of the Judiciary Committee, said he expected the 88-year-old Miller's visit to the Capitol would be "a lot more hospitable than the last time around."

Miller, who won the Pulitzer Prize in 1949 for Death of a Salesman, was joined by composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim and dramatist Wendy Wasserstein in backing legislation that would allow playwrights to join to negotiate a standard form contract without violating antitrust laws.

Miller said young writers, lacking the power to negotiate with theater producers, are turning to TV and other media to make more money. "I hate to see one of the oldest arts known to man disappear," he told the committee.

His testimony came 48 years after he was cited for contempt for not cooperating with the House Un-American Activities Committee. He was also blacklisted by Hollywood for refusing to identify fellow artists with possible links to the Communist Party.

In 1953 he had written The Crucible, based on the 1692 Salem witch trials but clearly aimed at McCarthyism. In 1958 the U.S. Court of Appeals overturned his contempt conviction.

BATON ROUGE, La. - Vern Yip, one of the designers on TLC's Trading Spaces, will be trading spaces no more.

Yip, 34, told the Advocate newspaper that he's leaving the program to star in his own home improvement show on NBC.

He'll start production on Design Intervention in June, for airing in September, Yip said in a phone interview.

On Trading Spaces, neighbors decorate a room in each other's home with the help of a designer in two days with a budget of $1,000.

"We're going to transform an entire house, inside and out in two weeks," Yip said. The homeowners will get all new furniture and landscaping.

NEW YORK - Couples rule People magazine's list of "The 50 Most Beautiful People in the World 2004," with cover girl Jennifer Aniston and her husband, Brad Pitt, among them.

Husband-and-wife pop and reality TV stars Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey also made the list.

So did Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen - though technically they're not a couple - but they are twins, and they co-star in the upcoming movie New York Minute.

Halle Berry is among the magazine's beauties for the eighth time, tying Julia Roberts for the most appearances.

Nicole Kidman makes her sixth appearance, and fellow Aussie Hugh Jackman is on the list for the fourth year in a row.

The sports world is represented by New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez, NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. and U.S. Olympic softball pitcher Jennie Finch.

And Kwame Jackson, who was fired by Donald Trump on The Apprentice, is working it in People.

The 15th annual "Most Beautiful People" issue hits newsstands Friday.

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