Issue Date: December 4, 2005
USA WEEKEND: 20 Years Young
Who Was News in December 1985:
GE merges with RCA, gains control of NBC ...
A King Charles Spaniel named Rex becomes Reagan's "first dog" ...
Mary Tyler Moore returns to TV on the sitcom "Mary"
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What can you tell me about Chris Noth, who played Mr. Big in "Sex and the City?"
Larry Sork, Oakland
His reprisal of detective Mike Logan on "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" has given the show new life. And Noth, 50, says the work and paycheck give him more flexibility when choosing projects. "There have been a few things I've done I wish I hadn't," he says. Besides, he prefers New York to L.A., even if he has "a lovely little place" on the West Coast. He lights up when discussing doing a film on photojournalists who died in Vietnam, but he bristles at being called a "confirmed bachelor." He won't talk about the woman in his life because "I don't think it's fair to talk about someone who's not there when you talk about her."
Meredith Vieira, a host of "The View" and "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire," is hot. I notice she doesn't wear a wedding ring. Is she married?
Chuck Klump, North Fort Myers, Fla.
"Till death do us part," says Vieira, who traded vows with husband Richard Cohen in 1986. She doesn't wear a ring because the metal gives her a skin reaction. What counts is that she makes family, including their three children, a top priority. "The older you get, the clearer it gets," says Vieira, 51. "My heart is with my family." That made it easy to leave behind her days of globe-trotter reporting for CBS. "I had 20 years of it. I saw a lot of the world, met some incredible people," she says. "It fit into my life perfectly. Once it no longer fit, it was easy to leave."
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Don't talk poker to Al Roker -- at least not this week. He tackles gambling in one of his "Al Roker Investigates" for Court TV; this one is "Kids, Dice and Cards." You'll see college students hooked on Internet games or going to Atlantic City, where they gamble away their tuition. "It's sad," Roker says. "They are in such denial." Some wrongly think they'll turn pro. "It's no different than kids who think they will be pro basketball or baseball players." Roker says not all card playing is bad, but today's game "is about celebrity, and it's about money, and it's available on TV and the Internet."
Roker's special will air Thursday at 8 p.m. ET.
I saw Jewel in an acoustic concert, and I was taken by her beautiful voice and the intimacy of the venue. Will she consider doing another acoustic tour?
Edward Guerrero Woodland, Calif.
"I've been acoustic for the last three years. I'll probably switch it up now," Jewel, 31, tells us. Her sixth LP, begun last summer, is due in early 2006, and she'll tour next fall. Expect folk, rock, pop and country. "I will probably take a band out," she says. Jewel also has signed with Nickelodeon to draw and write a cartoon called "Punk Rock Angel Girl."
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Viola Davis is having a professional affair with Steven Soderbergh and George Clooney. She has been in four Soderbergh films, including the new "Syriana," in which she stars for a third time with Clooney (who's getting Oscar buzz). Davis was "bowled over" when she met the duo before they made 1998's "Out of Sight." And even more so when Clooney, as a wedding gift, let her use his Italian villa. "He took care of every detail," says Davis, 40. "He had a car in Milan to pick us up. His staff cooked us meals every day." Davis does work with others: She's now in "Get Rich or Die Tryin'" with 50 Cent.
What are my two favorite special agents, David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson, up to now? Is that David's voice on the new Pedigree dog food commercials?
Pete Peters, Lake Havasu City, Ariz.
That's Duchovny, all right. In addition, his directorial debut, "House of D," is out on DVD. He has two movies due soon and is filming a third. Anderson has three movies ready for release. As for another "X-Files" flick? No script so far.
Send Lorrie your Golden Globe questions
The first of Hollywood's big award shows, the Golden Globes on Jan. 16, also is the most star-studded and fun. Where else could Ally McBeal (Calista Flockhart) meet Han Solo (Harrison Ford) and feel a force that remains with them still? This year, I want to know who you think will be Golden Globe news. Is it Jeremy Piven, who was robbed of an Emmy for Entourage? Or The Producers' odd couple Matthew Broderick and Nathan Lane? Ask anything, but send your queries to me soon.
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BIRTHDAYS
December 4: Tyra Banks, 32; Jay-Z, 35
December 5: Frankie Muniz, 20
December 6: Tony Okungbowa, 38
December 7: Aaron Carter, 18
December 8: Teri Hatcher, 41; Kim Basinger, 52
December 9: Donny Osmond, 48
December 10: Raven Symone, 20
Contributing: Gayle Jo Carter, Tameka Hicks, Brian Truitt
Ask Lorrie Lynch a question about a celeb!
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