The Hollywood Minute
March 27, 1996
Web posted at: 5:30 p.m.From Entertainment Correspondent Dennis Michael
"Pocahontas" leads the pack among videocassette purchases in the Billboard magazine home video sales chart this week. "Pulp Fiction" leapt into second place from 20th in part because of a new sell through price and "Star Trek: Generations" is currently third.
"Dangerous Minds" is the nation's top video rental according to the weekly Billboard magazine top rentals chart. "Copycat" holds second place, followed by last week's chart topper "Under Siege Two". Oscar winner "The Usual Suspects" is in fourth place and "To Wong Fu, Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar" sashays into fifth.
"Toy Story" must have lots of friends in international markets. The film debuted in first place in the United Kingdom, Sweden and Spain this week. The futuristic thriller "12 Monkeys" is tops in Australia. In Italy and France they're lining up for "Casino" while "Broken Arrow" is ichi-ban in Japan. Brazilians meanwhile are going boffo over "Sense and Sensibility".
Overnight ratings for the Oscars showed the big night was a big draw for American audiences. Samplings taken in 33 major markets indicate the awards gala was seen by 75 million viewers in the U.S. alone. Worldwide the audience is estimated at nearly a billion viewers.
Annie Lennox is heading to home video. The singer's live concert at Summerstage in New York City was recorded for video release and the tape is due in mid June. The free performance was taped last September and segments of the show will also appear on the Disney Channel.
Monty Python is going interactive again. A new CD-rom from 7th Level will take segments from "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" along with new animation and never before seen film and offer it up as a computer game. "Monty Python and the Quest for the Holy Grail", described as the best video game of the year 932 A.D., is due in June 1996 A.D.
The producers of of the Fox series "Partners" are throwing caution to the wind with their closing episode of the season. Daily Variety reports the show will end the year with a cliffhanger even though the network has not made a decision on bringing the show back next season.
Stone Temple Pilots fans should head for the record stores. The band's new album "Tiny Music, Songs from the Vatican Gift Shop" has arrived as has the first single from the album called "Big Bang Baby".
Diana Ross hits another milestone in her legendary career. The vocalist and occasional actress turns 52 this week.
