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Issue date: February 18, 2001
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Grammy
Awards
Once
the 2001 Grammy nominees were announced Jan. 3, it was
certain Wednesday night's ceremony in L.A. (CBS, 8 p.m.
ET) would have something for everyone. Artists as different
as Sisqo and Faith Hill are crossing fingers for a win.
Awards expert Tom O'Neil, author of Variety's book The
Grammys, sees rancor in his crystal ball:
Everyone
is talking about controversial rapper Eminem. Will his
explicit Marshall Mathers LP win Album of the
Year?
He's still got a chance, but it looks like Beck (Midnight
Vultures) or Paul Simon (You're the One)
might beat him. If Simon wins, he'll set a new record
for most victories in this top race: four. But, frankly,
I don't care what you think about Eminem; he deserves
the prize.
Why?
Some say he's morally repugnant and his music deserves
to be trashed.
The greatest scandal in Grammy history is that Elvis
Presley never won Record or Album of the Year. America
thought he was the devil back then, and that's exactly
what people are saying about Eminem right now. Eminem
accomplished what the Beatles did with Sgt. Pepper
and Alanis Morissette did with Jagged Little Pill:
He topped sales charts and the critics' lists of best
CDs of the year.
Who will
win Record of the Year?
It's between Macy Gray (I Try), Madonna (Music)
and U2 (Beautiful Day). U2's been gaining lots
of momentum lately and could pull off a win, but I'd
consider it an upset because groups almost never win
the top awards.
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How does Jane
Clayson like her job co-anchoring CBS' Early Show with
Bryant Gumbel? Do they get along well?
Mary Jane Zimmer
Trenton, N.J.
Gumbel is a good friend and supportive colleague, says Clayson, 33 -- no matter what the tabloids write. And although her first year was "exciting, exhausting and frustrating," she tells us, "I was honestly surprised by how much fun it turned out to be." Talk about surprising: The morning anchor shows off a sophisticated evening image in the March issue of Allure magazine, previewed above, on newsstands next week. Gone are the sensible TV hair and workaday wardrobe of tailored suits. "I walked in in my jeans and turtleneck and left glammed up to the max. It was fun to be in the hands of the pros. I felt like I had to go out."
Will we ever
know the truth behind Anne Heche's bizarre behavior after
her split with Ellen DeGeneres? And is it true Heche is pregnant?
Darrell W. Robinson, Waterloo, Iowa
We'll have to wait for the book -- and she is writing one
-- for the juicy details. Her editor says Heche, 31, is penning
her story without help: "We saw some pages early on. She has
a very nice writing voice." Should be a busy year for Heche,
whose Ally McBeal stint runs through this month. She
has two dramas awaiting release: Prozac Nation with
Christina Ricci, and John Q with Denzel Washington,
set in an emergency room. She's reportedly dating a cameraman,
Coley Laffoon (with her at right), but her manager tells us
Heche is not expecting a baby.
An update,
please, on everybody's favorite skater, Scott Hamilton. I've
heard he's retired. He's not ill again, is he?
Ginny Shore, Lakeside Park, Ky.
In April, the Olympian and cancer survivor, 42, will wrap his 15th and final tour with the Stars on Ice show he created. After that? "It's a bittersweet end," he tells us. "I'm not sure in what shape or form I'll be performing again." Diagnosed with testicular cancer in 1997, Hamilton went through surgery and chemotherapy and now feels fine. He has signed on as an NBC skating commentator; he stars in On Edge, Jason Alexander's upcoming skating "mockumentary"; and he has a Broadway ice show in the works. He's eager to settle into his Denver and L.A. homes and wants to get a Great Dane. But first, "I'll take off on a tropical vacation, play some golf and put my feet up."
Why did the
actors' union fine Tiger Woods for making a Buick commercial?
He's a golfer, not an actor.
Tom MacKenzie, Detroit
Like most athletes who do TV ads, Woods belongs to the Screen Actors Guild. Unfortunately, he got caught up in the bitter politics of last year's SAG and American Federation of Television and Recording Artists strike against the ad industry. The six-month walkout over money issues was the longest-ever work stoppage against the industry. Woods violated the strike order last July and was fined $100,000; he negotiated it to $50,000 and paid. Hollywood expects more unrest soon when SAG and Writers Guild contracts expire. The networks already have planned more game and reality shows (requiring no actors or scripts).
A picture with
your Jan. 12-14 item on O-Town, from ABC's series Making
the Band, mistakenly included a former member of the group.
Jennifer Bosk, New Haven, Ind.
You, and many other readers who called and wrote, are correct. Ikaika Kohaono,
who was seen on the series and was still in the network's
photos, was replaced by Dan Miller, who has been with O-Town
since it has been recording and touring.
Go to top
THIS WEEK'S
BIRTHDAYS
February 18: Matt Dillon, 37; Vanna White, 44; John Travolta, 47; Cybill
Shepherd, 51
February 19: Smokey Robinson, 61
February 20: Brian Littrell, 26; Charles Barkley, 38;
Kelsey Grammer, 46; Sidney Poitier, 74
February 21: Jennifer Love Hewitt, 22
February 22: Drew Barrymore, 26; Michael Chang, 29
February 23: Kristen Davis, 36; Peter Fonda, 62
February 24: Billy Zane, 35
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