Today's Buzz stories
From staff and wire reports |
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Duvall on 'Godfather III'
NEW YORK (AP) -- Actor Robert Duvall says money was the reason he didn't appear in Frances Ford Coppola's "Godfather III," in an interview to air Wednesday on CBS' "60 Minutes II."
"If they paid (Al) Pacino twice what they paid me, that's fine, but not three or four times, which is what they did," Duvall, 73, tells "60 Minutes II" correspondent Charlie Rose. Excerpts were released in advance.
"(Coppola) came to my farm, parked his car ... went in the kitchen. (I) said, 'I know you always wanted the crab cake recipe, let me cook it for you.' Oh, he loves to eat, so I cooked the crab cake ... and he wrote it down ... and he forgot it, so he called twice. He was ... more concerned that he forgot the crab cake recipe than would I be in 'Godfather III.' "
Duvall was nominated for a supporting-actor Oscar for his role as Tom Hagen in 1972's "The Godfather." He also starred in 1974's "The Godfather: Part II."
He won a best-actor Oscar for 1983's "Tender Mercies." His other films include "Apocalypse Now," "The Apostle" and "A Civil Action."
Irwin in Aussie of Year hunt
SYDNEY, Australia (AP) -- "Crocodile Hunter" Steve Irwin is still in the running for Australian of the Year, despite criticism for feeding a 13-foot crocodile while holding his baby son.
Irwin, TV host of the "Crocodile Hunter" wildlife program, has been nominated by his home state, Queensland, for the top national award.
State Premier Peter Beattie said Tuesday he wouldn't retract his nomination of Irwin. "He has been one of the best ambassadors for Queensland in the modern era. He is known internationally," Beattie said.
Irwin fed the crocodile while cradling his 1-month-old son, Robert, during a media event at his reptile park in Queensland.
Police have said Irwin won't be charged with violating any laws, but the Queensland Families Department said it was investigating the incident.
The Australian of the Year award is decided by the Australia Day Council, a non-governmental citizens group that promotes celebrations for the country's national day January 26.
Often the award goes to charity workers, academics or top athletes, such as former tennis champion Patrick Rafter.
Some child welfare groups have accused Irwin of putting his son in danger. He's denied this and has even suggested that he would do the same again to educate his son about crocodiles, but with "no cameras around."
Australia Day Council director Marjorie Turbayne said that while Irwin remains on the shortlist, she had deep personal misgivings.
"From my own personal point of view, and nothing to do with Australian of the Year, it's not something that should be encouraged," she told reporters. "He's a very nice young man and I'm sure very caring about his family. But it's a bit strange."
Cruise signs for 5,000
LONDON, England (AP) -- Tom Cruise's latest film, "The Last Samurai," had its British premiere in London on Tuesday night, and the star signed autographs for two hours outside the theater.
Cruise appeared to keep his promise to provide his signature to everyone who wanted it in the crowd of 5,000 delighted fans in Leicester Square.
He arrived with actress-girlfriend Penelope Cruz, who was dressed in a red Valentino gown with a plunging neckline. But she soon disappeared into the theater as Cruise chatted with fans, posed for photographs and borrowed the cell phones of several to surprise their mothers with a call.
On Monday, the 41-year-old actor had said of the premiere: "Hey, if anyone shows up and wants my autograph, they can have it."
It is now customary for Cruise to work overtime with his fans in Leicester Square during such premieres.
For "Minority Report" in 2002, he spent 90 minutes with the crowd. The year before, he courted fans for an hour to promote "Vanilla Sky."
'Rings' stars at Mardi Gras
NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana (AP) -- Hobbits are coming to Mardi Gras.
Elijah Wood, who played Frodo in the "Lord of the Rings" films, and Dominic Monaghan, who played his Hobbit buddy, Merry, will be celebrity monarchs in big Carnival parades before the February 24 Fat Tuesday blowout.
Wood will be riding in the Sunday night parade of the Krewe of Bacchus, and Monaghan will be with the Krewe of Orpheus, the Monday night parade founded by singer Harry Connick Jr.
The two parades, with more than 1,000 riders in each, are highlights of the long weekend of parades and street parties leading up to Mardi Gras.
'Queer Eye' is everywhere
LOS ANGELES, California (Hollywood Reporter) -- "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy" is going straight up the global sales charts, with NBC unveiling licensing deals for the hit makeover show in more than 30 territories worldwide.
The show, which airs initially in the U.S. on NBC's Bravo cable channel, features five personable gay guys giving a straight guy a total style makeover.
The show has been snapped up by networks in France, Australia and Spain -- which also will produce their own local versions -- as well as Finland, New Zealand, the Philippines, Hong Kong and throughout Latin America.
It was previously announced that both the format rights and U.S. episodes of "Queer Eye" had been sold in the United Kingdom, Norway, Sweden and Denmark.
"Queer Eye" has proven to be a major hit for Bravo and also has been successful for NBC, which occasionally airs episodes. During the past season, "Queer Eye" boosted Bravo to its most successful ratings in the network's 22-year history.
The
Associated Press &
Reuters contributed to this report.
