News from Tinsel Town

LIFETIME HONOR FOR EDWARD ASNER

The Screen Actors Guild has chosen seven-time Emmy-winning actor Edward Asner to receive its most prestigious honor, the Life Achievement Award for career achievement and humanitarian accomplishment.

The former star of "Lou Grant" and "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" will receive the award at the 8th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards on March 10, 2002.

"Edward Asner's prolific and much-honored acting career demonstrates a consummate ability to transcend the line between comedy and drama," said SAG President William Daniels in a statement announcing the award. "His passion for social and political causes has been consistently underscored by deeds as well as words. His service and commitment to the rights of the working performer is unparalleled."

Daniels called Asner "a superbly versatile actor and a dedicated advocate for human rights, world peace, environmental preservation and political freedom."

Asner was nominated for 16 acting Emmys.

He won five times as newsman Lou Grant -- three times for best supporting actor in a comedy series in "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" (1971-72 and 1975), and twice for best actor in a drama series in "Lou Grant" (1978 and 1980). He also won best actor Emmys for the miniseries, "Rich Man, Poor Man" (1976) and "Roots (1977).

Asner served as SAG president two consecutive terms from 1981-85. In 2000, the union honored him with its Ralph Morgan Award, presented from time to time "for distinguished service to the Guild's Hollywood membership."

A well known political activist, Asner has associated himself with Defenders of Wildlife, Peace Now, the ACLU, Food First, Death Penalty Focus, the Disarm Education Fund, Democratic Socialists of America and Amnesty International.

NBC ANNOUNCES J. LO SPECIAL

NBC has announced that it will air "Jennifer Lopez in Concert" on Nov. 20.

Billed as Lopez's first-ever, full-scale live concert appearance, the show was filmed in September in San Juan, Puerto Rico at Roberto Clemente Stadium. It features songs from both of her albums, "J. Lo" and "On The 6," which sold more than 7 million copies worldwide.

Lopez made show business history earlier this year when "J.Lo" and her feature film, "The Wedding Planner," entered the Billboard charts and the box office at No. 1.

The first single off "J.Lo," "Love Don't Cost A Thing," spent five weeks at No. 1 on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart. The current single, "I'm Real," with Ja Rule has spent five weeks at No. 1 on the Urban Mainstream Charts.

RED SOX WIN THE PENNANT?

According to a report in Daily Variety, plans are underway for a movie remake of "Fever Pitch," the 1997 film version of Nick Hornby's novel about his obsession with a professional soccer team -- but the new take will have the Boston Red Sox making a fan happy, rather than breaking his heart, as is their custom.

Fox 2000 has hired veteran screenwriters Lowell Ganz and Babaloo Mandel ("City Slickers," "Parenthood," "Splash") to adapt the story for American audiences.

Hornby's novel, "High Fidelity," was Americanized last year for John Cusack, who played a man obsessed with recorded music on vinyl.

In "Fever Pitch," Hornby told of his obsession with the North London Arsenal as a way of coping with the dissolution of his parents' marriage. He lived and died with the team's up and down fortunes, and finally shook off his dependency when the team won its league championship.

Producers are reportedly looking for a way to have the protagonist's life change without actually having the Red Sox win the championship, since that would take the story out of the romantic comedy genre and put it into the realm of fantasy.

NEW WAY TO GET THE WORD OUT

Four major record companies and movie studios are taking part in the launch next month of a new way to market entertainment products, distributing a free CD-ROM containing music videos, movie trailers and software.

Arista, Atlantic, Warner Bros. and Columbia Pictures will have space on BestPreviews -- which will be provided to readers of Heart & Soul, a lifestyle magazine for black women.

The CD-ROM, which was developed in partnership with AMC Media, promises to deliver broadcast quality video.

"I view the BestPreviews CD-ROM as practical marketing application that utilizes technology to reach and influence music buyers" said Arista Records executive Maureen Carter.

Users can insert the CD-ROM after establishing an Internet connection, and access video files that are already stored on the disc. Each disc will contain music videos from Lina, Jaheim, Babyface, Craig David, Blue Cantrell, Kenny Lattimore and Sunshine Anderson, as well as the trailer from the upcoming Will Smith movie, "Ali."

FOX-TV GOES TO WAR

Fox-TV has taken President Bush up on his request and will produce a special edition of "America's Most Wanted," throwing the light of publicity on Osama bin Laden and his international network of terrorists.

John Walsh, the show's host, told the New York Times that White House aide Scott Sforza called him on Tuesday and told him that Administration staffers had come up with the idea during a brainstorming session at the White House.

"He told me they were sitting around a table talking about how the American public is frustrated, angry and heartbroken, and want to do something, and `America's Most Wanted' does something," said Walsh.

He said the White House hoped his collaboration would not only help law enforcement agencies, but also relieve Americans' thirst for vengeance, according to the Times.

"The evidence is clear that the show catches criminals," said James Wilkensen, the deputy White House communications director. "The show can be of help in the president's desire to bring the terrorists to justice."

According to the newspaper, White House officials contacted News Corp. president and CEO Peter Chernin and asked him to find time for the special broadcast after they learned that Fox had pre-empted the next three episodes of the show to make room for Major League Baseball playoffs.

The "America's Most Wanted" special has been scheduled for Friday night at 9 p.m., replacing the new drama, "Pasadena," which has gotten off to a less than spectacular start in the ratings.

POUNDSTONE SENTENCED

Paula Poundstone has been sentenced to five years' probation and six months of drug treatment after pleading no contest last month to felony child endangerment and misdemeanor infliction of injury upon a child.

Los Angeles Judge Bernard J. Kamins also ruled that the entertainer may no longer be a foster parent.

In exchange for the no contest plea, prosecutors dropped three counts of lewd acts upon a child.

Poundstone's attorney, Steve Cron, said the felony charge followed an incident June 6, when the she drove her three adopted and two foster children -- ages 2 to 12 -- to get ice cream while she was intoxicated. Prosecutors said the misdemeanor charge had to do with "inappropriate touching."

Judge Kamins ordered the comic to complete the remaining 55 days of her six month treatment at a drug rehab center in Malibu, undergo psychiatric counseling, participate in a child abuse prevention program, and avoid alcohol and drugs. Poundstone was also ordered to perform 200 hours of community service and pay $1,000 in fines.

The children were taken away from Poundstone's home after her June 27 arrest.

The judge also refused Poundstone's request that she be allowed to do comedy shows while she is undergoing treatment, telling her to focus on fighting her alcoholism and being a good mom.

Kamins said he would review that decision when Poundstone next appears in court on Nov. 13 for a progress report.

"Given everything that's going on in the world," said the comic in a statement, "My problems clearly don't amount to very much. Still, to the extent that anyone is interested, I'm glad that the legal proceedings against me have been settled."

Cron said Poundstone is committed to regaining custody of her adopted children. He said she has visited them frequently since she checked herself in to the rehab center.