The latest in music and entertainment news, as heard weekday mornings at 7:10 on KSCA fm 101.9.

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Monday December 23, 1996:

Psst-wanna buy a watch? How bout a swatch--Yoko Ono and Peter Gabriel have both designed timepieces for Swatch. Yoko's features a close-up of a bare derriere on the dial and a dozen more on the band, all taken from John and Yoko's 1967 movie Film Number Four. Yoko sez "You can call it a Butt Watch." Gabriel's design is called Peter Gabriel's Adam and "symbolizes the interrelationships between humankind, nature and technology." Its band features honeycombs and is the color and consistency of beeswax.

Looking for some Christmas Ball? If you're last-minute shopping for a unique Christmas item, check this out. A company called Limit Dead Edition, which last year produced a limited edition Grateful Dead tree ornament that quickly sold out, has expanded their line in '96. They've got twelve different Dead ornaments-one for each day, I guess-as well as balls for Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, the Doors and many others


Friday December 20, 1996:

Is CNBC's latest experiment working--sandwiching Late Night With Conan O'Brien reruns in between Rivera Live and Charles Grodin--working?

Depends on whom you ask. Rivera is getting great ratings thanks to interest in the O.J. Simpson civil trial. But after Rivera ends, viewers leave CNBC in droves during Late Night, and comeback for Charles Grodin. This suggests Conan is interrupting the Rivera-Grodin flow.

Read a good book lately? The Top 5 selling hardcover books are:

1. Airframe by Michael Crichton
2. A Reporter's Life by Walter Cronkite
3. The Christmans Box by Richard Paul Evans
4. Executive Orders by Tom Clancy
5. My Sergei: A Love Story by Ekaterina Gordeeva with E.M. Swift

The Top 5 on Paperback are:

1. Chicken Soup for the Woman's Soul by Canfield, Hansen, Hawthorne, Shimoff
2. The Book of Ruth by Jane Hamilton
3. Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison
4. Beware, The Snowman by R.L. Stine
5. The Rules by Ellen Fein, Sherrie Schneider

President Clinton is the most talked about fellow in the gossip world, according to a survey of columnists compiled by the New York Observer. Second on the list is Madonna, then John F. Kennedy Jr.


Thursday December 19, 1996:

Just days after Canada would honor John Candy--who died in March 1994--with a postage stamp, the actor's family delayed delivery asking for a postponement because they are "still in the grieving process." The stamp was to be part of a series on distinguished Canadians in Hollywood and was to be unveiled at an international stamp convention next May. Canada Post has not said whom it will honor instead of Candy.

You've seen and heard the commercial with Van Halen's remake of the Kinks' "You Really Got Me" in the background, Nissan's Toy Story-esque commercial became one of the year's most turbocharged spots. And though the folks at the agency behind the ad knew the tune was a perfect fit, selling the idea to Van Halen took a lot more creativity. The deal was clinched only after Eddie Van Halen and each of his band mates were given limited edition 1996 Nissan 300 zx. Ray Davies call your lawyer.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum is relocating and enhancing its actual Hall of Fame and tripling its size to 5,500 square feet. Presently, the small plaques actually honoring inductees are in a modest room on the sixth floor. The new hall, with enhanced multimedia exhibits, will sit atop a 55 foot column that rises out of Lake Erie. But it's still in Cleveland right?


Wednesday December 18, 1996:

In the last laugh department--'70's rock group KISS was the year's No. 1 concert draw, according to Performance magazine, which released its year-end tally yesterday. KISS whose members strutted their now over-40 stuff in full costume and makeup--grossed more than $41.7 million and grossed out nearly 1.2 million people with 88 shows this year.

You may have heard that the multi-talented Joni Mitchell recently signed a three-book deal. First up will be Joni's memoirs, though no release date has been set. A book of her poetry and a collection of her artwork will follow. Avon has paid $750 thousand for a book of illustrated Bruce Springsteen song lyrics. That book is expected out in January, 1998, a date reportedly timed to coincide with Bruce's expected Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction.

And Shaquille O'Neal has signed a deal with Fox to star in a weekly show called The Shaq Diaries, which would be based loosely on the Lakers star's life. In the first episode Shaq just can't make those free throws, so his wacky neighbor played by Kurt Rambis lends him his glasses and well--the laughs just keep on coming! Actually I made that up!


Tuesday December 17, 1996:

Show Biz and the Music Biz got together for a good cause last night in the Big Apple--Dave Matthews and his acoustic duo partner Tim Reynolds performed at a benefit for the Blue Light Theater Company at New York's Tow Hall. Marisa Tomei and Gwyneth Paltrow hosted the fundraiser for the Off-Broadway company started by young actors. Whoopi Goldberg, Matthew Broderick, Sarah Jessica Parker and George Wendt also appeared.

On to the TV Buzz--Madonna's sit-down chat with Oprah friday delivered Oprah's second-highest rating this season, behind only the Barbara Streisand interview in November. Meanwhile, Rosie O'Donnell made ratings news over the weekend hosting "Saturday Night Live" when the NBC show scored its highest rating in more than two years.

And congrats and mazeltov to Clint Eastwood,66 and second wife Dina Ruiz, a TV anchorwoman in Salinas, California, had their first child in Los Angeles on Thursday--an 8 pound, 4 ounce daughter named Morgan.


Monday December 16, 1996:

Weekend Box Office Estimates:

Tom Cruise had the #1 movie with Jerry Maguire taking in $17.5 million. Mars Attack, with Jack Nicholson as prez, was second with $9.7 million, followed by Disney's 101 Dalmations ($8.8 million), The Preachers Wife with Denzel and Whitney ($7.4 million) and rounding out the top five was Stallone's Daylight ($4.1 million).

Speaking of the movies--Melissa Etheridge's going to do it--act in a movie that is--In her case it will be as Janis Joplin. Now comes word that another powerful young singer is opting for the big screen. Alanis Morissette finally ended her touring for Jagged Little Pill saturday night in Honolulu. Alanis had been on the road in support of the album since July 1, 1995, just after its release, so a vacation is long overdue. She says after she takes a break she not only plans to start writing her next album, but would like to get back into acting.

Well we say good luck ladies, here's to you and all your dreams--may they all come true.


Friday December 13, 1996:

Sunny skies are predicted, but you may still want to duck inside and check out the new films opening this weekend:

Jerry Maguire--Starring Tom Cruise and Cuba Gooding Jr. The biz is buzzing oscar nominations for both.

Mars Attacks--Directed by Tim Burton and starring Jack Nicholson, Annette Bening, Glenn Close, Danny DeVito, Michael J. Fox, Sarah Jessica Parker, Tom Jones and Martin Short.

The Preachers Wife--Starring Whitney Houston and Denzel Washington. Great for the whole family.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals giveth and PETA taketh away...PETA will stage a protest outside L.A.'s Shrine Auditorium tomorrow during the premiere of Madonna's new film, Evita. A cavewoman will lead the march carrying a sign reading "Don't let Hollywood go back to the stone age." The film features Madonna wearing real furs.

On the other hand...Paul and Linda McCartney will be honored by PETA tomorrow in Los Angeles. PETA says the Macs were selected because "no one has done more than Paul and Linda for the cause of animals." Alec Baldwin and Kim Basinger will present the award, but Paul and Linda's acceptance speech will be on video.


Thursday December 12, 1996:

First-run programming paid off for ABC last week. The network won the week in the TV homes with a primetime lineup of largely new programs, a Barbara Walters special and Diane Sawyer's interview with actor Robert Downey Jr. on "Prime Time Live."

CBS, which won the week in total viewers, also featured a schedule brimming with holiday specials, including the musical "Mrs. Santa Claus," which became the season's highest rated telefilm.

Meanwhile, on Court TV it was Garcia vs. Garcia: Day 1. Jerry Garcia's widow, Deborah, and his ex-wife, Carolyn "Mountain Girl" Adams, could not come to an agreement Tuesday, so yesterday they went to trial in San Rafael, CA. Carolyn claims she signed an agreement with Jerry which says she's entitled to $5 million from his estate. Deborah claims Jerry signed the document while under the influence of controlled substances. In round one, Carolyn, on the witness stand, talked about her life with Jerry, his financial holdings, and the Dead's success in the late '80's. The entire trial is being broadcast on Court TV. What would Jerry say?

The nominations for the 24th annual American Music Awards were announced yesterday. Alanis Morissette and the Smashing Pumpkins each received two nominations, followed by Eric Clapton, Seal, Dave Matthews Band, Hootie, Jewel, No Doubt and yes, The Beatles, with one each. The Fab Four were nominated for Favorite Album for Anthology 1&2. The awards will be handed out January 27th at the Shrine Auditorium. Sinbad will be the host, and Rod Stewart will be among the performers.

My mother will kill me if I don't say Happy Birthday to Frank Sinatra, still the chairman at 81.


Wednesday December 11, 1996:

Picture it-- The Dead on Court TV...Court TV will air taped and live coverage of the courtroom battle in San Francisco over the late Jerry Garcia's estate, starting today. Deborah Koons Garcia, the guitarist's third wife, is contesting a document granting $5 million of the estate to his second wife, Carolyn Adams Garcia (Dead Heads know her as Mountain Girl) claiming that the document was signed by Jerry while he was under the influence of controlled substances. Members of the Dead may take the stand if it goes to trial.

It's on, it's off, it's on...Sylvester Stallone tells the "Leeza" show today that he plans to marry model Jennifer Flavin "probably around January or February" after their newborn daughter recovers from recent surgery to repair a hole in her heart.

It's off, it's on, it's off...One week after her publicist said the couple had "definitely reconciled," "Baywatch" babe Pamela Anderson Lee went on NBC's "Tonight Show" and told host Jay Leno that she has moved out of the house she used to share with husband Tommy Lee and that the rocker "is in recovery for alcohol abuse." With her voice breaking, she said: "I wish him the best. But I'm more concerned about our son."


Tuesday December 10, 1996:

Holy protest Batman--A motorist stuck in traffic for two hours when actor Woody Harrelson and nine others climbed the Golden Gate Bridge on Nov. 23, has filed suit for damages against Woody and his protest pals. The bridge protesters unfurled banners denouncing the government's deal to save only a portion of a forest in Humboldt County.

News Corp. is considering launching a music video channel in a direct challenge to MTV and VH1.

The channel, which could be formed in a joint venture with another company, would likely be supported by subscriptions and advertising, and distributed over News Corp.'s American Sky Broadcasting satellite system, which launches next year.

The Rupert Murdoch controlled company also may start up a music production company to develop music for the channel.

The $12 billion U.S. music business is also one of the few forms of entertainment in which Murdoch has yet to have a presence.

And HBO executives are hoping that what Tom Hanks did for Universal's "Apollo 13" will rub off on them. The cable network has announced production plans for its "most ambitious original programming venture" to date, a space exploration anthology called "From The Earth To The Moon," Hanks will direct one of them. The project, tracing America's Apollo space missions, is boasting a high pedigree of space adventurers all-around: Ron Howard, who directed "Apollo 13" will produce...Maybe they should forget all that space stuff and bring back "Bosom Buddies." Are you with me?


Thursday December 5, 1996:

Carlos Santana received Billboard magazine's Century Award for artistic excellence at the magazine's Music Awards last night in Las Vegas. The awards honor the year's #1 artists and songs as determined by the record-buying audience and radio airplay statistics. Winners are determined by 1996 year-end Billboard charts. Dishwalla's "Counting Blue Cars" was the #1 Rock Track, The Smashing Pumpkins won Rock Act of the Year, and Alanis Morissette was named Artist of the Year. Alanis made her acceptance speech on videotape from Japan where she's still on tour. Dishwalla performed "Counting Blue Car." Jewel was a presenter, as was ZZ Top, who also performed.

Bruce Springsteen's kids are getting to the age where they want to know what their daddy does. Bruce told the Asbury Park Press his 6 year old recently asked him what "10th Avenue Freeze-out" is. "I told him it was a song I wrote," I said, "I'm like Barney, for adults."

People magazine says Bruce is in the market for cattle to go along with his twelve horses on his two adjacent farms in New Jersey. The magazine also says Sting, Melissa Etheridge and Pavarotti have all visited the farm--We'll be able to ask Melissa if she's been to Bruce's farm when she drops by the fm 101.9 Music Hall Thursday morning at 9--Bruce & the E Street Band's "Secret Garden" is on the soundtrack to the new Tom Cruise movie Jerry Maguire. Speaking of Tom he's set to do the Rosie O'Donnell show next week. The soundtrack to Jerry Maguire arrives in stores Tuesday. The movie opens Friday the 13th.


Wednesday December 4, 1996:

Don't you just love award shows! We got one tonight from Las Vegas--Madonna makes her first major public appearance since giving birth on the Billboard Awards (telecast live on Fox-TV). She'll accept some sort of Greatest Human Who Ever Lived Award. Performers include Dishwalla and the hilarious Chris Rock is your host.

Trouble on the sitcom starring Michael J. Fox...ABC and DreamWorks Television are tinkering with "Spin City." The actress, who plays Michael J. Fox's live-in girlfriend, is leaving the series. Her last episode airs Dec. 17. Although there was no official comment on her departure, speculation was that producers did not believe that the relationship between her character and Fox's was working. Sources said that there is no new girlfriend planned for Fox's character at this point, and that the show would focus more on the mayor's office.

Proving every dog has his day; Jack Nicholson gets his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame today at 11:30 am. Nicholson's star-the walk's 2,077-will be in front of Mann's Chinese Theatre. 11:30's a little early for Jack, hope he set his alarm clock.


Tuesday December 3, 1996:

The Spielberg/Capshaw family expanded Sunday when Kate Capshaw gave birth to daughter Destry Allyn, the actress's third child with Steven Spielberg.

Early this year, Spielberg, 48, and Capshaw, 43, adopted daughter Mikaela George, now 9 months old; the couple's adopted son Theo, is 8.

Rounding out the brood: Capshaw's daughter, Jessica, 20 and Max,11, Spielberg's son with actress Amy Irving.

Pamela Anderson Lee has decided to reunite with husband Tommy Lee to aid and support in his battle against alcohol abuse...Former Stallone gal pal and model Angie Everhart and Shannen Doherty's ex Ashely Hamilton married Sunday in Beverly Hills...Woody Allen may make a movie about his battle with Mia Farrow, "a kind of documentary that's funny and sad and original."...Mick Jagger and Jerry Hall have apparently reconciled calling off the Uma Thurman induced divorce.


Monday December 2, 1996:

It's Monday, so let's look at those box-office estimates.

"101 Dalmations" scampered to a record take at the box-office over the Thanksgiving weekend, bringing in an estimated $46 million.

That's the biggest five-day Thankgiving opening ever, beating out 1989's "Back To The Future Part 2," which opened with $43 million.

Star Trek: First Contact dropped to No. 2 with $25.4 million, making its two-week total $60.7 million. Space Jam was third with $17.9 million.

Ransom was a strong No. 4 with $17.6 million, bringing its total to $105.3 million after just 23 days in release.

Today anchor Bryant Gumbel, set to step down next month, will tell Oprah Winfrey today why he was a no-show on Today after not being picked to interview O.J. Simpson, who later canceled. As to why some think he's arrogant: "If Ted Koppel, Barbara Walters and Bryant Gumbel ask the same question of the same officials in the same tone of voice, Ted would be viewed as prepared, Barbara would be viewed as bitchy and Bryant would be viewed as arrogant."

A Canadian art student says he can't stomach some of the world's masterpieces. So, he is on a mission to publicly vomit on at least three of the paintings--each time in a primary color.

Jubal Brown of Ontario College of Art and Design fortified himself with blue gelatin and cake icing Nov. 2 before throwing up on "Composition in Red, White and Blue" by Piet Mondrian at New York's Museum of Modern Art.

He spewed red on Raoul Dufy's "Haarbour at le Havre" at the Art Gallery of Ontario in May.

He says he plans to gush yellow on an as-yet unannounced target.

The 22-year-old student said in an interview that the paintings are "stale, obedient, lifeless crusts." His intention: "To destroy art, to liberate individuals and living creatures from its banal, oppressive representation."