Issue Date: January 12, 2003
LeAnn Rimes is a superb singer and the best recording artist in the industry. What's the latest on a new CD or appearances?
Penny Phillips, Carmichaels, Pa.
She'll tour this summer, but since October, when her eighth studio album, "Twisted Angel", was released, Rimes has been all over the airwaves, promoting the CD and performing on specials such as NBC's "Elvis Lives". The coming-of-age album reveals a sexy, grown-up Rimes, now 20, and reaffirms her status as a country-pop crossover artist like Faith Hill and Shania Twain. For the past few years, Rimes has been encumbered by lawsuits against her father, Wilbur (they are on better terms now), a former co-manager and her record label, Curb, with which she surprisingly reconciled to release "Twisted Angel". Rimes says she finally feels she's in control of her life. In February, she married actor-dancer Dean Sheremet, whom she met when hosting the 2001 Academy of Country Music Awards.
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Pierce Brosnan may go down in movie history books as James Bond, but his current film, "Evelyn", is one in which you may be shaken and stirred. The true story, set in 1953 Ireland, has Brosnan, 49, playing Desmond Doyle, whose wife abandons him and their children. Because it was then thought that a single father could not raise a family on his own, his children are placed in orphanages, and Doyle must fight to get them back. Brosnan has quite a brood himself -- two stepchildren, Charlotte, 30, and Christopher, 29, whose mother was actress Cassandra Harris (who died in 1991); son Sean, 18, with Harris; and Dylan, 5, and Paris, 1, with second wife Keely Shaye-Smith. Of being a dad the second time around, Brosnan says: "I'm a more patient, tolerant and understanding father. I have joy in my heart."
Two "West Wing" women -- Jorja Fox, who played a Secret Service agent for the president's daughter, and Emily Procter, who played conservative White House counselor Ainsley Hayes -- have landed in great new jobs on "CSI" and "CSI: Miami", respectively. Does that mean we won't see them again on "The West Wing"?
Michael Mendez, El Paso
It's not impossible, but it's improbable. NBC's loss is CBS' gain and a huge boost to the women's careers. Procter and Fox, both 33, are regular cast members of their new shows; on "Wing", they were only guest stars. Both "CSI" shows have been rating higher this season than "Wing".
I adore Tony Shalhoub on ABC's "Monk" as an obsessive-compulsive detective. Is he married?
Shirley Bailey, Millbrae, Calif.
Shalhoub, 49, married Brooke Adams 10 years ago; they met when both were in "The Heidi Chronicles" on Broadway. They have two girls, Josie, 13, and Sophie, 9. Shalhoub, who's from Green Bay, Wis., is best remembered for playing taxi driver Antonio on the '90s sitcom "Wings". But he has a long list of top-notch film appearances. Next up is "Against the Ropes" with Meg Ryan, followed by Shalhoub's directorial debut, "Made Up", in which he co-stars with his wife and Gary Sinise.
I've only seen the promos for Josh Brolin's new NBC series, "Mister Sterling". Is this another inside-the-Beltway drama?
Cathy Hazelton, Archdale, N.C.
"Mister Sterling", on Fridays at 8 p.m. ET, is to the U.S. Senate what "The West Wing" is to the White House. It's written by political analyst Lawrence O'Donnell, still seen on various talking-head shows. Brolin, 34, observed the real Senate for inspiration and tells me he found it in Arizona Sen. John McCain. "Watching him on the Senate floor, it seemed to me he was alone," says Brolin, whose character is independent. "He's not trusted by Republicans, because he's by himself; he's not trusted by Democrats, because he's a Republican. He's [truly] by himself."
We don't see much of Tom Selleck, who was wildly popular in the '80s with TV's "Magnum, P.I." Is he still working?
Jenna Michaels, Columbus, Ohio
His latest work -- a western, "Monte Walsh" -- airs next weekend on TNT with Selleck, 57, as the title cowboy. Riding steeds, which he needed to do for the role, was not a problem: After "Magnum", he and his dancer wife, Jilly, bought a California ranch and stocked it with horses; daughter Hannah, 13, learned to ride at 4. Selleck tells us he was enthralled by co-star Isabella Rossellini, 50: "I felt about 12 years old and was hopelessly infatuated." Would he consider another TV series? "Since [playing Monica's boyfriend Richard on] "Friends", lots of people have asked me, but -- call me old-fashioned -- I'm waiting for the right material."
What happened to Rick Schroder after he left ABC's "NYPD Blue" last year?
Jim Marshall, North Potomac, Md.
He's hosting ESPN's "New American Sportsman", a perfect fit for the outdoorsman, who at age 10 hunted rabbits with legendary actor William Holden. Schroder, 32, lives on a ranch in Grand Junction, Colo., with his wife of 10 years and their four kids; he's passing on that passion to his sons. He says the boys even forgo cartoons in favor of hunting and fishing shows. That's fine with Dad, who thinks kids today could stand to get away from Nintendo and e-mail.
With: Frappa Stout. Contributing: Bob Makela, Nancy Mills, Evelyn Poitevent.
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BIRTHDAYS
January 12: Rush Limbaugh, 52
January 13: Orlando Bloom, 26; Julia Louis-Dreyfus, 42
January 14: Dave Grohl, 34; LL Cool J, 35; Emily Watson, 36; Steven Soderbergh, 40; Faye Dunaway, 62
January 15: Chad Lowe, 35; Mario Van Peebles, 46
January 16: Kate Moss, 29; Debbie Allen, 53
January 17: Kid Rock, 32; Jim Carrey, 41; Muhammad Ali, 61; James Earl Jones, 72
January 18: Kevin Costner, 48
 Ask Lorrie Lynch a question about a celeb!
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