HOLLYWOOD REMEMBERS SEPTEMBER 11TH

****
THE WEB GOSSIP
****

Gwyneth Paltrow

ACCESS THIS -- Believe it or not, the most comprehensive, provocative coverage of Sunday's 9/11 activities thus far, has come from NBC's Access Hollywood with Billy Bush and Shaun Robinson. They're also airing an eight-minute feature, Hollywood Remembers, which features 9/11 recollections from the likes of Steven Spielberg, Michael J. Fox, Paul McCartney, Billy Joel and Gwyneth Paltrow. Bush, a NY-native, has interviewed Tom Brokaw, Matt Lauer and Dan Rather for their memories and perspectives of that game-changing day. The show also tales a look back at the first post-9/11 Late Show hosted by David Letterman. Personally, I'll never forget that first post-9/11 show of Saturday Night Liver, when then-Mayor Rudy Giuliani introduced Paul Simon, performing The Boxer; one of the most powerful moments on TV I've ever seen. Positively mesmerizing. Says AH executive producer Rob Silverstein, "With the start of our 16th season, I could not be more proud of the way we have risen to the occasion; we'll be the only evening news magazine show to have put the time and effort into a project like this." Terrifically well done guys.

****

Eddie Murphy

EDDIE MURPHY -- If we get the Eddie Murphy of 48 Hours and Beverly Hills Cop ... the next Oscar's should be just splendid. Yesterday's news that 50-year old Eddie Murphy will be hosting the next Oscar's was greeted with much industry praise; especially after the debacle of this year's show hosted by James Franco and Anne Hathaway. That show was positively derided by almost everyone; I like both actors, but they were clearly well out of their depth. It was a noble attempt (much like having Rob Lowe singing to Cinderella years ago) that fell totally on its face! Me, I'm a bona fide Billy Crystal/Johnny Carson fan ... and, for my money, Crystal should be made the permanent host, but Murphy is definitely the wild card choice. He's had an erratic career, but with his nominated performance in Dreamgirls and the advance notices for his forthcoming Tower Heist movie (with Ben Stiller; directed by the Oscar-show producer Brett Ratner) Murphy is clearly headed for a career resurgence. It's a tough gig; let's face it, when Franco and Hathaway were picked, it probably seemed like a brilliant idea ... young-Hollywood and all that. Then, what happened happened! Truth be told, my favorite Murphy movie was 1986's The Golden Child ... certainly not 2007's Norbit! Murphy looks a lot older in Heist, playing what seems like a pastiche of his characters in Hours and Cop ... I'll say one thing; it'll be a hoot one way or the other. Eddie: I'm pulling for you babe!

****

Adrian Niles

MILES OF NILES -- One of our discoveries around here, Adrian Niles, is poised for major success. With pending dates here at BB King's; the Cutting Room; and Le Poisson Rouge; his latest album was just the recipient of a glowing review in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette. The reviewer Jim White called it "a bluesy blend of Americana and stylish songwriting." Reviews of that caliber don't come any better. Check it out here.

Congrats Adrian ... we'll see you here in NYC soon!


****

Regis Philbin

REGIS EYES NOVEMBER -- On Monday's Live With Regis & Kelly it was officially announced that Friday, November 18 will be the 80-year old host's last day with the show. Now, we posited several columns back that ABC would relent and want Reege to stay. I haven't heard what the real play turned out to be, but what a disappointment. Suffice to say, we've grown to like Kelly too; but, the show's days are certainly numbered. With all due respect, she just doesn't have the gravitas, nor experience to carry a show like that on her own. I mean, when show business vets come on the show and are interviewed by her; it's just not going to work; many of these show biz pros had their heyday when Kelly was still in school. Regis' first legit credit was when he was Joey Bishop's announcer; Kelly's was her stint in a soap! We wish her all the luck, but she better eyeball some future projects. To me, ABC/Disney losing Regis is a major, major mistake; but, with all the cost-cutting happening these days out in Hollyweird ... I can certainly understand it. Regis spent most his three-weeks off in August out in L.A. taking meetings and seeing what else is out there. I predict he be back stronger than ever! Also: note to Gelman - We are loving the flashbacks of Regis' best moments on the show; no one else has material like that! Brilliant!

****

Bruce Willis

EXPENDABLES ... DEPENDABLES -- After The Expendables turned in a surprisingly strong $275 million worldwide, everyone wondered if there'd be an encore.

Arnold Schwarzenegger and Bruce Willis have just signed on for expanded roles in The Expendables 2, alongside Sly Stallone. Arnold and Bruce delivered essentially cameos in the first film, so their expanded roles for the sequel bodes well for this newest epic. In the premiere film they both tweaked the fact about when they were the world's biggest actions stars and it came off exceptionally well. Stallone directed the first one, but this time around that role will go to Simon West, who did the first Tomb Raider movie, which was just dazzling, as well as Con Air. Willis will shoot the movie right before he heads to Russia for Die Hard 5. In addition to Jason Statham, Dolph Lundgren, Mickey Rourke, Terry Crews and Jet Li returning from the original, there is also talk of Chuck Norris and Jean-Claude Van Damme. Only in Hollywood folks!


****

Alfred Molina

LAW & ORDER - A RETURN? -- One of the most delicious rumors I've heard in the last week concerns a possible revival of the Law & Order mothership; yes, the one with the great Sam Waterson! The much ballyhooed L. A. edition died a slow, painful death; even though in my opinion the shows were mostly pretty good; especially the always awesome Alfred Molina. With the terrific Chris Meloni gone from Law & Order SVU, and Stephanie March back on the show, and the terrific Linius Roache reprising his role as Mike Cutter, little by little several of the original cast is coming back. One can only hope for Vincent D'Onofrio! This should be a most memorable season for SUV ... giving added hope for the original to return! Last night I caught an episode from 1999 called Refuge (with Jerry Orbach and Benjamin Bratt) where the main story dealt with the Russian Mafia, but at the end of the show, Bratt's character left the squad to deal with his wife's impending MS. Great, great scene by both actors! Did you know that Orbach did 274 episodes of the show? Wow!



Photos By: Walter McBride/RD/Dziekan/Jackson/Kabik/Kirkland/Retna