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Leonardo DiCaprio, who has not given a sit-down TV interview since 1997, had a one-on-one with Barbara Walters in an interview set to air Friday on 20/20. DiCaprio has two high-profile films coming out next month, including Martin Scorsese‘s Gangs of New York and Steven Spielberg‘s Catch Me If You Can–and shares the interview with Spielberg and his Catch Me co-star Tom Hanks. According to People.com, Walters asked DiCaprio what early stardom had taught him about success, to which the heartthrob replied, “Not much,” then explained: “I think ultimately success is good. Failure not so good…” He griped to Walters about how the media sometimes portrays him and added, “But on that same token, I’m not going to sit here and say that I am not completely grateful and feel completely blessed for everything that’s happened in my career.” That’s the spirit, Leo.
Celebs
Guess she can’t have her cake and eat it, too. Madonna borrowed money from strangers in a London restaurant to buy a piece of cake for her son, Reuters reports. Madonna was in the restaurant with her husband, Guy Ritchie, their son Rocco and her daughter Lourdes when she told two sisters that she had forgotten her purse. The women did not recognize the singer but gave her a two-pound coin to help cover the tab. Reps for Madonna said the sisters would be sent CDs and a check to cover the loan.
Danny Glover has started a three-day visit to Trinidad to film an upcoming TV program on HIV-AIDS and children, a U.N. spokeswoman told The Associated Press. The 55-year-old actor will host the first of 10 episodes of the Hot Spot series, slated to begin airing in January on the Showtime cable network.
Movies
The live-action/computer-animated feature version of Garfield has sunk its claws into a director. Peter Hewitt, who most recently directed the children’s pic Thunderpants, will helm the project, with scribes Joel Cohen and Alec Sokolow penning the screen adaptation, Variety reports.
The Jodie Foster-helmed Flora Plum is being dusted off after being shelved two years ago, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Set in the 1930’s, the film revolves around a circus “freak” who takes pity on a penniless waif and sets her on the course to stardom, but finds himself falling in love with her. Ewan McGregor, Meryl Streep and Claire Danes will star in the project, with production set to begin in either fall 2003 or January 2004.
Speaking of Leo, DiCaprio will star in The Good Shepherd, Robert De Niro‘s second turn as director, Variety reports. The film, written by Forrest Gump scribe Eric Roth, charts the history of the CIA through the Cold War. DiCaprio will play James Wilson, a character modeled in part on former CIA counterintelligence chief James Jesus Angleton.
Tube
Primetime reality romance has proven more attractive to audiences than ladies in scanty panties. The AP reports ABC’s The Bachelor trounced CBS’s Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show in the ratings last night as some 26 million viewers tuned in to find out which lucky lady Aaron picked in the two-hour Bachelor finale, versus an unexpectedly low 10.5 million for the lingerie show–which came in third even behind The West Wing. No doubt NOW is happy to hear it.
MTV is planning a Snoop Dogg variety show. According to the AP, the pilot for Snoop‘s half-hour program, title Doggy Fizzle Televizzle, will mix sketch comedy with music and man-on-the-street bits. The show is scheduled to air Monday at 10:30 p.m. EST.
Bill Maher has found a new home on cable. AP reports that starting Feb. 21, Maher will host a yet-to-be-titled late-night talk show on HBO airing once a week for 20 episodes. Maher‘s last show, Politically Incorrect, ran on ABC from 1997 until it was canceled last May.
