Confession of a FILM FOX

Confession of a FILM FOX

DEPARTMENTS

While we Northerners are busy raking up the leaves, Robert Stigwood continues to rake in the dough from Grease and his latest talent showcase (and we use the word with great caution) Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. Generous Mr. S. spared no expense to fly in the press corps for a gawdy ('scuse us—gala) premier weekend, which included parties, press conferences, parties, special screenings and parties. Among the beautiful people in attendance were Alice and Sheryl Cooper (does he call her Charlie cuz there's a tuna in the house?), Jackie and Chevy Chase (yes, the divorce is still on) f Mackenzie "I've seen God"

Phillips and Peter "Who's His Manager?" Asher, Waylon Jennings, Leif Garrett and Fleur Thiemeyer, Mike Edwards and Priscilla Presley, the Bee Gees and spouses, and oh, just everybody— except the star, Peter Frampton who was still recovering in a New York hospital after his Bahamas auto accident. All appeared hunky dory, despite the fact that in the last few weeks of filming, the Bros. Gibb had definitely grown weary of their back-seat roles to Pretty Peter. "In the movie, all we do is run around saving Billy Shears," whined Maurice. You really should read the script beforehand, Mo. Anyway, Maurice went on to say, "I don't think all three of us will be in films together again. So we will start emerging as separate personalities." Just what the world needs—a remake of The Three Stooges...

Rock stars defect to Hollywood, Part II: Alice Cooper and Wolfman Jack's managers are burning the midnight oil with plans to star the dehydrated duo in a contemporary horror-musical (Oh no! Not the "School's Out" tour again!).. .Bruce Springsteen, who's been bitten by the love bug (that should be shutter bug, as his new g.f. is photogLynn Goldsmith), has turned down the lead in William A. Levey's Street Messiah musical. John Lennon is being wooed to co-star (another "retirement" up in smoke) but hasn't committed yet...

Taking chances: Since wrapping up Escape To Athena in Greece, Sonny "Hot Stuff" Bono and Susie "Don't call him weinie" Coelho have started work on an NBC Movie Of The Week which could become the pilot for a weekly show, depending on the ratings. Sounds like some joker is spiking Fred Silverman's cocoa... Speaking of hallucinations, director Hal Ashby is pursuing Mick Jagger for the lead in Stranger In A Strange Land. Meanwhile, spouse Bianca (still?) is now insisting there'll be no divorce, even though she's been bringing Jack "Kadiddlehopper" Nicholson champagne in bed (Jack misjudged the height of a garden wall in Chelsea he was attempting to leap and sprained both ankles), sharing a summer home on Fire Island (!) with Liza Minnelli and Studio 54 owner Steve Rubell, and taking in the sights 'n' sounds of London town with publisher Jocelyn Stevens (sound of record-breaking yawn) ... Hollywood Hotbeds: Loretta Swit and Alan Feinstein sharing a taco or two, while Susan St. James and producer Michael Butler prepare for the "better or worse" schtick... Olivia Hussey, who had barely finished signing the divorce papers from Dean Paul "Don't Call Me Dino" Martin before planning to marry singer Paul Ryan, has now vetoed both romance and wedding. Dino was too busy skating on thin ice with Dorothy HamUl to notice ..

Too young to know better: Leif Garrett and Kristy McNichol... The stork market lists Peter Sellers and bride Lynn Frederick on the board with active trading; Detective's lead singer Michael Des Barres and wife Pamela Miller expecting a new asset shortly; dittoGeorge Harrison (finally proved himself) and girlfriend Olivia Arrias...

And now for the real news of the month: Gilligan's Island is planning a reunion! The series was cancelled so quickly that the fearless crew never did get off the island. All will be put to rest this fall with only one drawback: Tina "Ginger" Louise has decided she's too famous now to go back to her old rold. (Does this mean we'll have to learn 30 more "Gilligan's Island" verses?) Oh well, can't be as bad as the Chinese version of the "Come Alive With Pepsi" slogan, which is translated Pepsi brings your ancestors back as from the grave.' R.I.P.!!!