Entertainment Today: Show-biz news

EMMY UPDATE

There are reports in Hollywood that officials at the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences are determined to go through with the 53rd annual Primetime Emmy Awards, and that they have decided against attempting to hold the event at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles.

"We already did that," an Emmy insider told Daily Variety. "It's not something you would want to do again."

The academy's executive committee is scheduled to meet Thursday, and an announcement about a decision could come as soon as Friday.

One idea under consideration is to present the show as entertainment for troops at a military base in California. Another idea that has been floated is to combine clips of Emmy-nominated shows with segments that had already been produced for the canceled Oct. 7 ceremonies, and present the entire package as a TV special.

The Emmys -- originally scheduled for Sept. 16 -- were rescheduled for Oct. 7 after the Sept. 11 terror attacks on New York and Washington. But the Oct. 7 ceremonies were called off at the last minute after the United States and Britain launched strikes on Afghanistan.

(Thanks to UPI Hollywood Reporter Pat Nason)

'GILLIGAN'S ISLAND'

This Sunday, CBS will air "Surviving Gilligan's Island: The Incredibly True Story of the Longest Running Three-Hour Tour In History." The docudrama was co-executive produced by Dawn Wells (who played Mary Ann on the show) and features Bob Denver (Gilligan) and Russell Johnson (The Professor.)

"You're just the writer," the network executives tell "Gilligan's Island" creator Sherwood Schwartz in the TV movie reenactment. "We're the network. You have to trust what we're talking about, Sherwood."

CBS originally wanted Jerry Van Dyke to play Gilligan. But, as Van Dyke recalls in the movie: "I wasn't that crazy about it. Matter of fact, I thought it was the worst script I ever read in my life." Van Dyke's agent suggested "My Mother the Car" as a likelier hit. Instead, of course, that show became an enduring footnote in the lore of quickly cancelled, God-awful TV shows.

As Van Dyke puts it, "I've had longer showers."

"Gilligan's Island," on the other hand, premiered in 1964 and since then has never, not even once, been off the air --- showing in reruns around the world. It's been dubbed into 30 languages.

(Thanks to UPI's Katherine Seipp in Los Angeles)

CHRISTOPHER REEVE

Actor/director Christopher Reeve was on Capitol Hill Wednesday to receive a $2 million check from Secretary of Health and Human Services Tommy Thompson. The money will fund the creation of a new central resource for people living with paralysis, their families and their caregivers.

The Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Resource Center (PRC) will be located in Short Hills, N.J.

"One of the most disabling aspects of paralysis is the lack of resources and support necessary to get back into a world that has completely changed for the paralyzed individual -- both economically and socially," said Reeve, chairman of the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation. "When somebody is first injured or as a disease progresses into paralysis, people don't know where to turn. We will provide that support and information to people."

Reeve was paralyzed in a riding accident in May 1995.

(Web site: paralysis.org)

FLORENCE HENDERSON

Florence Henderson -- best known for her role as Mrs. Brady on "The Brady Bunch" -- will receive the Mrs. America "Woman of Spirit" Award during the 25th Anniversary of the Mrs. America Pageant, airing this Saturday on PAX TV (at 8 p.m. ET/PT).

The actress is being honored for work with charities and for her role as a women's health advocate and campaigner for osteoporosis screening, prevention and treatment. Henderson was diagnosed with osteoporosis two years ago.

(Web site: fracturefighters.com)