Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe BIG DOINGS AT THE BOX OFFICE Box-office analysts are excited about the prospect of another record weekend for movie ticket sales -- possibly even the first $200 million weekend in box-office history. Advertisement Three new movies -- "Insomnia," "Enough" and "Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron" -- are expected to open reasonably well, and two blockbuster holdovers -- "Star Wars: Episode II -- Attack of the Clones" and "Spider-Man" -- are expected to continue to post big numbers. "Insomnia," starring Oscar-winners Al Pacino, Robin Williams and Hilary Swank -- should benefit from almost universally positive reviews. "Enough," starring Jennifer Lopez as an abused wife who decides not to take it anymore, is expected to appeal mainly to young women moviegoers. "Spirit" -- the animated coming-of-age tale about a horse in the untamed West -- has been getting good reviews, but is expected to appeal mainly to the youngest segment of the market. Advertisement Analysts will be watching to see how much of a drop-off "Clones" and "Spider-Man" experience this weekend. "Clones" opened with $110 million over four days last weekend. "Spider-Man" has logged all-time high grosses for its opening, second and third weekend. So far this year, the U.S. box office is running 22 percent of last year's pace. It went into hyper-speed last weekend, posting a 71 percent increase over the comparable weekend from 2001. STANDING 'O' FOR MADONNA The audience gave Madonna a standing ovation following her London theater debut Thursday in the comedy "Up for Grabs." Madonna watchers were keenly interested in the event, particularly after some negative buzz built up around the production having to do with her performance and her reported demands on producers. The audience included the pop star's husband, director Guy Ritchie, as well as Sting and fashion designer Donatella Versace. Some critics were not as enthusiastic as the audience was about Madonna's performance. "Dame Judi Dench has nothing to worry about," said a review for the British Broadcast Corp. The review said Madonna looked nervous and didn't have much in the way of stage technique -- but eventually compensated for that with "charm and charisma." Advertisement "Up for Grabs," by Australian playwright David Williamson, is about an ambitious art dealer who manipulates three clients to drive up the price of a Jackson Pollock painting. RATINGS NOTES Rosie O'Donnell's farewell shot scored a season-high rating Wednesday and beating "Oprah" and "Live with Regis & Kelly." O'Donnell has left the show after six seasons. New taped episodes are scheduled to air through June 27. The second edition of "Celebrity Boxing" on Fox Wednesday night fell short of the ratings success of the first installment. The show, headlined by Joey Buttafuoco's bout with wrestling star Chyna, attracted 10.2 million viewers -- down from the 15.5 million who tuned in for the first "Celebrity Boxing" to watch Tonya Hardin whup Paula Jones. Of course, that first boxing special was up against a rerun of "The West Wing" on NBC. This time, the competition was tougher, as a new episode of the White House drama attracted 16.6 million viewers. 'WITCHBLADE' STAR IN REHAB Production has been suspended on the TNT drama "Witchblade," after series star Yancy Butler entered a rehabilitation center for treatment of alcoholism. Producers issued a statement saying that Butler had checked herself into the clinic, with six of the season's planned 13 episodes already shot. The season premiere is scheduled for June 16, with plans calling for TNT to air the first two episodes back-to-back, Advertisement Butler plays New York detective Sara Pezzini, who uses a mystical weapons that gives her powers to battle the darkest evil forces on Earth. There are reports in Hollywood that producers want to keep Butler on the show, but are considering lining up a replacement in case it becomes necessary to drop her. 'SPIDER-MAN' ROCKS AT UNIVERSAL Universal Studios in Hollywood should benefit from the phenomenal popularity of "Spider-Man" at the box-office with its newest attraction "Spider-Man Rocks." It's a live stage show that features singing, dancing and a pounding rock and pop soundtrack -- featuring "Holding Out for a Hero" (Bonnie Tyler), "She Bangs" (Ricky Martin), "Hero" (Foo Fighters) and "Get the Party Started" (Pink). It also has colorful staging and, of course, stunts -- a major staple of theme park live shows. It's a basic retelling of the story of how Peter Parker gets to be Spidey, beats up the bad guys, and gets the girl -- Mary Jane Watson. While some theme park attractions are years in the making, "Spider-Man Rocks" came together in less than three months, according to Pat Moloney, Universal Studios vice president of production and show development. He told United Press International the green light for the project was not necessarily conditioned on "Spider-Man" turning into the monster movie hit has become Advertisement "I don't think anyone knew the movie was going to go over as well as it did," he said. "We just think the characters are great." However, Moloney said it was "a bit of a tough sell" to get the attraction authorized. "In this economy money's a little tight," he said. "Everyone wants a sure thing, but there's no such thing as a sure thing." However, after watching audiences applaud at dress rehearsals on Thursday and Friday, Moloney was satisfied that Universal has a good thing going. "We think that people will come here (specifically) to see this show," he said. Despite the presence of Queen's "Another One Bites the Dust," the soundtrack is almost intensely contemporary, with hits like "Hey Baby" by No Doubt and the "Moulin Rouge" mix of "Lady Marmalade." But Barbara Epstein, who directed the show, said the soundtrack is adaptable, in case the show has a long run. "If the show is running two, three years from now we can change some of those tunes out," she said. One piece of the soundtrack is assured of sticking with the show for its full run -- the "Spider-Man" theme song.
