Entertainment Today: Showbiz news

'ONCE AND AGAIN'

The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation is urging members to contact the management at the ABC-TV affiliate serving Roanoke-Lynchburg, Va., to protest its decision not to air Monday's episode of the family drama "Once and Again."

The episode depicted a romantic kiss between two teenage girls. WSET showed an infomercial instead, but did not say what motivated the programming choice.

GLAAD said the pre-empted episode was "exceptional." Titled "The Gay/Straight Alliance," it featured a storyline involving two teens whose friendship turns to romance.

"'Once and Again' is one of TV's most respected dramas," said GLAAD in a statement, "in part because of the honesty with which its creators and cast portray the complexities of family relationships. For WSET to decide that the show's sensitive, realistic portrayal of coming out is somehow inappropriate for its viewing audience sends a clear message that the experiences of lesbian and gay youth are unimportant."

GLAAD said ABC "was to be commended" for airing the episode, but accused the network of applying an "inappropriate double standard" for running a disclaimer prior to the show cautioning parental discretion due to "adult" subject matter. "There is nothing in this episode that could be construed as sexually explicit or inappropriate for family audiences," said the statement. "If this episode had featured (a girl) sharing a first kiss with a boy, no parental advisory would have been posted."

(Thanks to UPI Hollywood Reporter Pat Nason)

ROSIE O'DONNELL

Rosie O'Donnell is about to go on the offensive against adoption laws in Florida.

The Sunshine State is the only one which, according the Miami Herald, flat-out refuses to let same-sex couples adopt a child. The actress-turned-talk show host and her long-time partner have three children, adopted in New York. But they also have a four-year-old foster daughter, entrusted to them by the State of Florida.

Now that O'Donnell has gracefully come out of the closet, she realizes Florida could want the child back.

It would seem that the true driving force behind the entertainer's decision to talk about her personal life was that it made it possible for her to join with the Florida ACLU in fighting the restrictive adoptive rule. Even though gay and lesbian couples are not able to adopt in that state, over 25 percent of all adoptions in Florida are by single parents. Now, according to the Herald, she is focusing much of her energies on the issue.

O'Donnell is slated to appear on ABC's "Primetime Thursday" this week.

(Thanks to UPI's Dennis Daily)

HOLLYWOOD ON THE HILL

Still lovely after all the years of nun's habits and surfboards, actress Sally Field and other show biz types were at the U.S. Supreme Court last weekend and this week to check out the action.

Field stars as a rookie justice in a new legal drama on ABC about the Supreme Court called, appropriately enough, "The Court." The show debuts this spring.

The highest court in the land is already the subject of one TV drama, "First Monday," starring Joe Mantegna and James Garner on CBS.

(From UPI Capital Comment)

'CLOCKSTOPPERS'

Jesse Bradford, Paula Garces, Garikayi Mutambirwa, Robin Thomas, Julia Sweeney, Michael Biehn and French Stewart are scheduled to attend this Sunday's world premiere of their new movie "Clockstoppers." Other celebrity guests expected include Smashmouth and Lil' J -- who contributed music to the soundtrack -- as well as Magic Johnson, Stephen Collins, Michelle Trachtenburg and Cedric the Entertainer.

The science-fiction adventure film, directed by Jonathan Frakes, opens nationwide March 29.