'THE CONCERT FOR NEW YORK'
Harrison Ford, Selma Hayek and Will Farrell have been added to the line-up of celebrities who'll appear on "The Concert For New York" this Saturday. They join Jim Carrey, Meg Ryan, Michael J. Fox, Susan Sarandon, David Spade, Julia Stiles, Denis Leary, John Cusack, Adam Sandler, Jimmy Fallon, Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe.
Paul Shaffer of "The Late Show with David Letterman" will serve as musical director.
The show at New York's Madison Square Garden has been expanded by an hour to accommodate all the artists and celebrities who have come forward to lend their support for this fund-raising event. Start time is now 7 p.m. (ET/PT). It'll air live and commercial free on VH1.
All proceeds will go to the Robin Hood Relief Fund, which was established by the Robin Hood Foundation to meet the immediate and long-term needs of victims of the World Trade Center attacks.
(Web site: vh1.com)
ANNA KOURNIKOVA WON'T BE A BOND GIRL
Producers of the upcoming James Bond movie are denying a published report that tennis star Anna Kournikova is up for a role in the picture.
The Russian tennis star -- who is better known for her cheesecake posters than for her prowess on the court -- had been reported by the Express newspaper of London as a contender to join the likes of Ursula Andress, Jayne Seymour, Kim Basinger, Michelle Yeoh and dozens of other women who have appeared in Bond features over the years.
A spokeswoman for Eon Productions told BBC News Online that the story was absolutely untrue.
"We do not now where this story has come from but it is not true," said the spokeswoman. "The film is in pre-production and we are casting but Anna Kournikova has not been in any talks with us."
Pierce Brosnan, John Cleese and Judi Dench are on board for the movie, alternatively known as "Bond 20" and "Beyond the Ice." Shooting is scheduled to begin in January.
(Thanks to UPI Hollywood Reporter Pat Nason)
ED ASNER
Veteran actor Ed Asner says doing a TV series "is the best possible situation for an actor who loves living and working in Southern California.
"If you're in a good series it's like having a nine-to-five job, at home every night with your family and in a half-hour comedy series you have a working family too. It's great," he tells UPI Hollywood Reporter Vernon Scott.
But Asner. 71, says sitcoms "aren't what they used to be. The ratings aren't as good, and the premises doesn't measure up."
On the other hand, he says if the right show came along, he'd do it.
Asner is enthusiastic about a new movie he stars in that's scheduled for later this year. It's titled "Mission Brendon."
"It's a Paramount picture and I play a father who fought in World War II," said Asner. "During the Vietnam War one of his sons is decorated in Vietnam and another is a conscientious objector who goes to Canada.
"The father and both sons go to Vietnam to find the remains of his third son who was killed in battle. It's a story of family bonding."
