Who would have thunk it? That is, actor Jon Voight being cast as flamboyant, controversial ABC sportscaster Howard Cosell in anything but a comedy sketch.

Well, the producers of "Ali" put Voight into the role and according to most critics he shines in the part. Writing in USA Today, Andy Seiler calls his performance one that causes the audience to actually think Voight has become the late broadcaster. It is, according to the reviewer, a performance that already has earned Voight a Golden Globe nomination.

Director Michael Mann knew that Voight was a gifted mimic. On the other hand, Voight thought that frequent Cosell impersonator Billy Crystal should play the part. Mann chose Voight.

"Doing Cosell is a daunting thing," Voight once quipped. And, according to most reviewers the actor was more than up to the challenge.

SPEAKING OF 'ALI' ...

Although the more than $10 million taken in by "Ali" since its opening on Christmas Day may not seem big bucks in modern-day Hollywood, analysts agree that considering the competition from more family-oriented, more traditional holiday fare, the adult-rated film is doing better than expected.

Part of the appeal is, of course, leading man Will Smith.

Additionally, much of the pre-release hype and interviews stressed the fact that the film deals with a part of ex-champ Muhammad Ali's life when he was barred from boxing and went on the college lecture circuit.

Ali is also one of the world's best-known people.

Although some Ali purists have been highly critical of the film -- for which Ali was not given script approval -- it will likely continue to build an audience, particularly when the more juvenile fare fades.

MARIAH CAREY'S RECORD CONTRACT IN JEOPARDY

There are indications that in the wake of Mariah Carey's less-than-popular "Glitter" album, her record label may be looking for ways to ease its way out of future obligations with the troubled star. The presser of the CDs, EMI Virgin Records, is apparently trying to get out of its contract with Carey.

The "Glitter" recording project, according to industry experts, lost over $10 million for the company.

The Los Angeles Times is reporting that EMI may be offering the diva a one-time, huge buyout. Carey signed a four-record deal last spring. At the time the contract was said to be valued at about $80 million. But that was before the singer's emotional problems and hospitalization and her unexpected drop in the music ratings race.

'LORD OF RINGS' AN ENCHANTING SUCCESS

Some are calling it a quantum leap in moviemaking. The movie "Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Rings" is doing big business at the American box office, and for very good reasons.

It's a magical tale based, of course, on the already well-known writings of J.R.R. Tolkien. Its director, relatively young (40) Peter Jackson, was not hamstrung as other directors would be in trying to go "one up" on previous performances. His past was not that splendid; this is his first major film.

Additionally, the set direction, music, casting and special effects contribute to a movie-going experience that some say hasn't been felt since the days of the "Wizard of Oz."

Jackson worked on all three of the "Rings" trilogy movies simultaneously. It cuts down on production costs and assures that the actors don't age ... as will be the case with Daniel Radcliffe. Plans call for the Harry Potter films to be made one by one, but the movies of the boy wizard will take into account that he is getting older in the succeeding films.

ACTORS TAKE LOVE SCENE IN STRIDE

Many actors and actresses over the years have had to field a barrage of questions about intimate love scenes with people to whom they are not married. The questions were bad enough in the "golden days of Hollywood" when "steamy" meant a fade to black and a surge of seductive music.

Movie composer Dimitri Tiomkim shocked a TV audience in the '60s in admitting that one theme used in a movie for which he had written the music was jokingly referred to as his "Orgasm Theme."

Today, with scenes that would have been fodder for bachelor party porno films just a few decades ago, the question about "what was it like?" is getting more relevant. Well, at least for actor Billy Bob Thornton and actress Halle Berry, their steamy love scene n "Monster's Ball" wasn't a problem for either or a threat to their marriages.

Both have been quoted in reports as saying that they have such strong private lives with their respective mates that the scene was never an issue.

Berry is married to entertainer Eric Benet; Thornton's wife is actress Angelina Jolie.