People

SUMMER READING?

What if they gave a book club and nobody came? Oprah Winfrey -- whose on-air book club has turned into a virtually guaranteed best-seller maker -- said Friday she is cutting back her recommendations because there just aren't enough good books being published. "It has become harder and harder to find books on a monthly basis that I feel absolutely compelled to share," said Winfrey in a prepared statement. "I will continue featuring books on the 'Oprah Winfrey Show' when I feel they merit my heartfelt recommendation."

ACCUSED HURLEY HARASSER HELD IN LONDON JAIL

Petar Mihajlovic -- the 32-year-old man accused of harassing producer-actress-spokesmodel Elizabeth Hurley -- appeared in a London courtroom Friday to face charges of criminally bothering the apparent object of his affection. A judge refused to grant bail to Mihajlovic and ordered the man to be held until his case comes up again next week. Hurley ("Bedazzled, "Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery") gave birth Thursday to a son, Damian Charles.

AND THEY THINK THEY'RE BUSY NOW

Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick -- coming up on their fifth wedding anniversary in May -- are expecting their first child. HBO announced it will suspend production on Parker's Emmy-nominated comedy series "Sex and the City" on April 10 so the cable network can "evaluate its production schedule." HBO also pushed back the series season premiere from June to July. There has been some speculation about whether producers will work up a storyline in which Parker's character, sex columnist Carrie Bradshaw, gets pregnant. The announcement comes as Broderick is taking his first extended break from work, following a one-year stretch starring with Nathan Lane in the Tony-winning Broadway musical, "The Producers."

LENO: DAVE IS 'NASTY'

Jay Leno is using words like "nasty" and "animosity" to complain about David Letterman's apparent attitude toward him. In an interview with TV Guide, Leno said he has had plenty of good words for Letterman -- but Letterman doesn't reciprocate. "I don't know why it gets so nasty," said Leno. "I mean, I am very grateful to Dave. He did a lot for me when I first started out. Two guys went up for a job, and one guy got it." Letterman was supremely let down when NBC hired Leno to succeed Johnny Carson as host of "The Tonight Show" when the late-night TV legend retired in 1992. "It wasn't my decision," said Leno. "You'd think after all this time it would be, 'Oh, well, he's successful, I'm successful, everybody is rich beyond their wildest dreams.' I don't know why there has to be such animosity. It just seems odd to me." An NBC executive who did not wish to be identified told TV Guide that Leno isn't referring to anything Letterman has said on his show -- but about private remarks he has heard from the entertainment community grapevine. Rob Burnett, executive producer of Letterman's "Late Show" on CBS, told the magazine that Letterman supporters might have some kind words for Leno -- "if we didn't hear from people that privately he bad-mouths us at every turn." Leno denied in the article that he had ever made disparaging remarks about Letterman.

MARY AND THE GANG GETTING TOGETHER AGAIN

According to a report in Daily Variety, CBS will present a "Mary Tyler Moore Show" reunion special next month -- with appearances by Moore and her co-stars on the 29-time Emmy-winning comedy -- Ed Asner, Valerie Harper, Betty White, Gavin MacLeod, Cloris Leachman and Georgia Engel. The special is part of a growing trend at the networks to capitalize on past glory -- following the unexpected success last November of a "Carol Burnett Show" reunion special, also on CBS. ABC has announced that it will present one-hour specials reuniting the gangs from "Laverne & Shirley" and "That's Incredible!" -- and a 50th anniversary tribute to "American Bandstand." Also in the works, an hourlong 50th anniversary celebration of "The Honeymooners" on CBS. For her reunion special, Moore will interview her former co-stars and introduce a segment of highlights featuring the late Ted Knight as the pompous TV news anchor Ted Baxter. Knight was nominated for Emmys every year from 1972-77 -- and took home the prize in 1973 and 1976.

UPI DAILY SURVEY QUESTION NO. 305

In light of the decision by the U.S. Mint Thursday to stop making -- at least for the time being -- the new gold dollars, here's today's question: "What do you feel about dollar coins?" The "Susan B. Agony" dollar was a mistake, but why didn't the new, beautiful gold ones catch on? Put DOLLAR in the subject line and send to [email protected] via the Internet.

RESULTS OF QUESTION NO. 300 (PERFORMANCE)

Last week we asked what performance moved you the most. Here is a sampling of the replies: CMor loves every old Milton Berle program. Lynn is among several who say they treasure the old performances of Dudley Moore, especially his role in "Foul Play." Many, including Debra D in Michigan, voted for "Schindler's List." Among other films getting votes were "An Officer and a Gentleman" and "Rain Man." I'd finally like to thank Robert in DC for reminding me about Judy Garland singing "The Man That Got Away," from the '50s version of "A Star is Born." Robert, the only bad thing about your note is that I now go around whistling the repetitive opening, pulsing introduction to the song. Can anyone help me get it out of my head? And especially my thanks to Barbara in Louisville for reminding me about Lana Turner in both "Imitation of Life" and "Madame X." Yes, both movies are two-Kleenex films ... especially when Mahalia Jackson sings in "Imitation of Life" and when Turner tells the court in "Madame X" that a mother always protects her young. When I was at Indiana University I would often go to the roof of my dorm and whistle the film's haunting theme. Then three years after I graduated I went back to IU and walked through the quadrangle. Without thinking I whistled the theme from "Madame X." Suddenly, from several floors above me, a coed stuck her head out the window of her dorm and yelled: "Are you back again!" NEXT: Your memories of April Fool's Day past. GBA.