CNN - The Hollywood Minute

The Hollywood Minute

April 11, 1996
Web posted at: 6:35 p.m. EDT

From Correspondent Dennis Michael

The Million Man March will soon have its story told on the big screen. Actor Charles Dutton is cast as the lead in the Spike Lee film "Get on the Bus." According to the Hollywood Reporter, the film is about 20 men who go together to the 1995 march in Washington, D.C. Shooting is under way.

Kevin Kline's acting plate is full. He's shooting "Ice Storm" for Fox Searchlight Pictures and will be moving after that to "In and Out" for Paramount. The movie is about a high school drama teacher accidentally "outed" in the national media by a former student.

The film "The Devil's Own" is reportedly grossly behind schedule. Daily Variety says the picture starring Harrison Ford and Brad Pitt might need to be pushed to a new release date. Columbia Pictures denies any trouble and says the film will debut this fall, as planned.

Is Ted Turner a big E.T. fan? Could be. His network, Turner Network Television, is promoting the broadcast of "E.T. the Extra Terrestrial" next Sunday, but that's not the end of the relationship between the alien and the cable network. TNT has broadcast rights to the 80s hit for the next five years.

There may be some big differences between a farm and the great frontier of outer space, but actor James Cromwell seems to be adjusting nicely. Cromwell, who was nominated as best supporting actor for his work in "Babe," has just joined the cast of "Star Trek: Generations." Actress Alfre Woodard joins the cast as well. Jonathon Frakes directs.

The Smashing Pumpkins have a huge smash on their hands with "Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness." The two-album set has just tied Michael Jackson's "History" as the best selling double album of all time. The set has just been certified at 6 million copies.

If watching "Ace Ventura" isn't enough, now you can interact with him. A CD-Rom based on the "Ace Ventura" character is in the works. The film series has grossed over $300 million in the nation's theaters, and a Saturday morning animated version is consistently high in the ratings. The CD-Rom is due out this summer.

The entertainment industry's brightest stars are coming out for a fund-raiser in New York. Elton John, Don Henley, James Taylor and Diana Ross will perform Friday night at Carnegie Hall to raise money for the Rainforest Foundation Co., founded by the concert's headliner, Sting. A few seats are reportedly available...at $500 and up.

"Home Improvement" scored a big win last week. The situation comedy was No. 1 in the Nielsen ratings. The episode was a special theme show that depicted a cancer scare for one of the Taylors' sons. Not to worry, though, the kids and the ratings are doing fine.

Previous Hollywood Minutes

April 10: Watch out for that tree! Brendan Fraser cast as George of the Jungle
April 9: Sinbad, Schwarzenegger to play duelling Santas
April 8:Shania Twain gains on Patsy
April 5:"Forrest Gump" fans can now get a real taste of the movie.
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

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