Ryder, Douglas to fill in for TCM host

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 31 (UPI) -- Turner Classic Movies says Hollywood actresses Illeana Douglas and Winona Ryder will fill in as guest hosts of the network's prime time lineup in September.

Regular host Robert Osborne, 79, is taking a break from his presenting duties while he undergoes and recovers from surgery. He has not said what kind of operation he is having.

TCM said Osbourne plans to return to the network soon and will also attend the first TCM Classic Cruise in December. His hosting gig has been handled on a temporary basis by weekend daytime host Ben Mankiewicz, as well as Robert Wagner, Jane Powell and Tippi Hedren.

Douglas, whose credits include such films as "Goodfellas" and "Ghost World," will serve as prime time beginning Thursday and continuing through Sept. 10.

Cher is to serve as guest programmer Sept. 7, when she will introduce four of her favorite films.

Following a night of films chosen by two first responders commemorating Sept. 11, Chicago Tribune film critic Michael Phillips will assume hosting duties for the week of Sept. 12. The week will include screenings of the Merchant-Ivory classics "The Remains of the Day," "Howards End" and "A Room with a View" Sept. 15.

Ryder, whose film career includes "Black Swan," "The Age of Innocence" and "Little Women," will serve as guest host the week of Sept. 19. Ryder will also be on TCM in December as a guest programmer, introducing a night of her favorite movies.

The month will close out with film historian, critic and author Leonard Maltin serving as host for the week of Sept. 26. Maltin will be joined by Patrick Loughney, Ph.D., the chief archivist of the Library of Congress Film Archive, for a Sept. 28 tribute to the film archives' film-preservation efforts.