CNN - The Hollywood Minute

The Hollywood Minute

April 5, 1996
Web posted at: 9:15 p.m. EST

From Entertainment Correspondent Dennis Michael

HOLLYWOOD, California (CNN) -- Alanis Morissette has clawed her way back to the top and knocked out some pretty stiff competition in the process. The Grammy-winning singer's album "Jagged Little Pill" regained the top spot on the Billboard charts. Last week's number one "The Beatles' Anthology" slid to number two.

Elton John has seen his face in hundreds of magazines; now he can see it every time he says "charge it!" A Delaware-based bank is issuing a new Visa card with the singer's picture on it. And it's not just for publicity. A percentage of each purchase goes to John's AIDS foundation.

Christopher Reeve may be in a wheelchair, but that hasn't stopped him from traveling all over the Big Apple. Reeve voices radio ads opposing proposed Medicaid cuts in New York and urging voters to call the governor.

"Forrest Gump" fans can now get a real taste of the movie. In Monterey, California, the first Bubba Gump shrimp restaurant has opened. Tom Hanks wasn't there, but a Hanks look-alike was, and along with the shrimp there was lots of movie memorabilia in the adjoining gift shop. More restaurants are planned elsewhere in the future.

More plans in store for the proposed television rating system. Motion Picture Association president Jack Valenti, who is overseeing the idea, says a particular rating will cover all episodes of a series. For example, says Valenti, all "Murphy Brown" episodes would carry the same rating unless a specific episode were drastically different. The industry hopes to have the system in place by January.

Variety's Army Archerd reports that Andy Rooney will tell "60 Minutes" viewers next week that he won't be on the show any longer. Archerd says it's all part of a joke and that last week's Rooney plea for public support flooded the "60 Minutes" mail room with letters begging him to stay.

Rapper M.C. Hammer, who blasted to the top of the charts a few years ago with his album "Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em," has filed for bankruptcy. His income was once estimated at $33 million, but Hammer now claims debts of $10 million.

Former Disney executive Jeffrey Katzenberg is getting ready to sue his old company. The Wall Street Journal reports that Katzenberg will file a $200 million claim next week for his share of profits from "Aladdin" and "The Lion King." Katzenberg left Disney to form SKG Studios with Steven Spielberg and David Geffen.

Previous Hollywood Minutes

April 4:Steve Forbes trades GOP for SNL
April 3: The former Prince is expecting an heir
April 2: "The Birdcage" still flying over its competition
April 1: Genesis looks for a new front man
March 29: Jim Belushi leaves comedies behind for a thriller
March 28: Piano Man Billy Joel heads to academia
March 27: "Pocahontas" tops video sales, "Dangerous Minds" leads rentals, "Toy Story" plays in the U.K.
March 26: "Showgirls" shatters Razzy record
March 25: Tomorrow's Tomorrowland will oust "EO," shrink the audience
March 22: CBS pits journey to the planets against Oscar's night of stars
March 21: "Natural Born Killers", naturally not on British shelves
March 20: Lois and Clark, Hootie and the Blowfish will be back; the Fresh Prince abdicates
March 19: Thompson's "Sensibility" rewarded
March 19: No change in the schedule for "Seinfeld"

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