Top Story
Funny guy Mike Myers is considering playing The Who drummer Keith Moon in a biopic. Myers told The Associated Press he and The Who frontman Roger Daltrey have discussed turning the life story of Moon, who died at the age of 32 of a drug overdose, into a feature film. “I think Keith Moon was a fascinating character,” Myers said. Daltrey told AP, “Mike is a genius. I can really see him as Keith. He’s amazing when you meet him, so clever.”
Celebs
Baywatch star David Hasselhoff has checked himself into The Betty Ford Center for alcohol treatment. In a statement read by his publicist, Hasselhoff said “he realized his social drinking had increased more than he was comfortable with, and he decided to do something about it.” The actor checked himself in on June 26.
In the ongoing saga to launch ‘N Sync member Lance Bass into space, it has now been confirmed that Bass and Russian space officials are in talks to make it all happen. Bass has been approved by Russian doctors for the space flight, and he’ll be getting some help with the cost–which is sure to be, ahem, astronomical–from a consortium of companies.
Eminem‘s used 1999 Mustang, with a custom-painted deep purple exterior and a tan interior, went for $27,900 on the Internet auction site eBay.com, according to a report on Launch.com. The car is said to be the first major purchase the rapper made after his first hit CD, The Slim Shady LP.
Movies
Director Robert Altman and actress Cate Blanchett are teaming up to make Mata Hari for HBO, about the exotic real-life World War I super spy. Altman has chosen HBO as his outlet because he plans to make a three-hour film. “To do it the way I plan on doing it would not fit a theatrical release,” Altman told The Hollywood Reporter.
Vin Diesel will be tackling the role of Hannibal in his next film–no, not the cannibalistic serial killer immortalized by Anthony Hopkins, but rather the real-life third-century B.C. Carthaginian general who rode an elephant across the Alps to successfully attack Rome. Sounds right up his alley.
Sharon Stone is ready to return to films. Having been out of the limelight for several years dealing with health problems and raising her adopted son, Stone is now eyeing two independent films, A Different Loyalty with Rupert Everett and Liar’s Club, a family picture.
Tube News
Spin City star Heather Locklear should feel loved. Three major networks and at least one studio are actively bidding to sign a seven-figure deal to secure Locklear‘s services on television for several years. One exec told Variety it’s not a mystery why Locklear is generating so much interest: “She’s been in three series and made them all work,” the exec said.
Jessica Capshaw, daughter of actress Kate Capshaw and stepdaughter of Steven Spielberg, will be joining the cast of ABC’s The Practice in the fall. She had a small role in this summer’s Minority Report.
Music News
The Essence Music Festival in New Orleans drew its biggest crowds since it began in 1995. An estimated 223,000 people attended the three-day celebration of African culture and music, which ran July 4 through July 6.
