CNN - The Hollywood Minute

The Hollywood Minute

April 25, 1996
Web posted at: 6:00 p.m. EDT

Entertainers Siegfried and Roy found themselves in an unusual place at a performance. They were in the audience. The magicians attended "The Wizard of Oz on Ice" in Las Vegas where they were given the keys to the Emerald City. About 1,000 special-needs children also attended the show.

Winning an Oscar really can improve your employment possibilities. Just ask best supporting actress winner Mira Sorvino. Daily Variety reports Sorvino is considering taking a role in "Magic Hour" for Regency Pictures. But that job will have to wait until she wraps up two other film projects.

Harry Connick Jr.'s acting repertoire is growing. Connick will star with Alicia Silverstone in the comedy "Excess Baggage," which is set to begin shooting early next month, Daily Variety says. Connick recently acted in "Copycat," and will appear in this summer's "Independence Day."

The story of Quasimodo is coming to the silver screen again, this time with Mandy Patinkin as the title character. Patinkin will star in a version of "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" being made for Turner Network Television, the Hollywood Reporter says. Touchstone plans a live-action version starring Gerard Depardieu. And Touchstone's corporate cousin, Disney Animation, is putting the finishing touches on a feature-length animated version due out this summer.

"The Muppets" may be on hiatus, but they'll be welcomed back on ABC with open arms. ABC has ordered 13 new episodes of the comedy series for next season. The show is currently off the network's schedule, but will return with a new time slot after sweeps.

Actor Rip Torn is joining "The Men in Black." Torn, who has been nominated for an Emmy for the last three years for "The Larry Sanders Show," is joining the cast of the science fiction film. Others in the cast are Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith.

London's Hyde Park will look a lot like Woodstock this summer. That's because Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton and the Who will be performing there at a benefit concert for a Prince Charles charity. Organizers expect 150,000 fans to attend.

It's not a Grateful Dead tour, although all the band members -- without the late Jerry Garcia -- are traveling together. The Further Festival will feature Bob Wier's band "Ratdog" and Mickey Hart's "Mystery Box." Hart says there is a good chance the Dead will jam together during concerts on the tour.

From Correspondent Dennis Michael

Previous Hollywood Minutes

April 24: Jay Leno is heading to California ...
April 23: Cast members from all 4 Treks beam into Pasadena convention
April 22: Gee Willikers! AMC hosts Shirley Temple film festival
April 18: Sheryl Crow sends postcards from Bosnia
April 15: Earliest Oscar returns to America
April 13: Tommy Lee Jones, Will Smith are back in black
April 11: All righty, then! Ace Ventura goes interactive
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

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The Hollywood Minute

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