Entertainment Today: Showbiz news

WHOOPI GOLDBERG

Whoopi Goldberg is leaving "Hollywood Squares" after four years as star and producer of the hit syndicated game show.

"It's a done deal," said the Oscar-winning actress's publicist, Brad Cafarelli. "She will not be back."

Goldberg has occupied the center square on the show and served as executive producer since the show -- originally hosted by Peter Marshall from 1966-82 -- was revived for syndication in 1998.

For the record, no one is saying why Goldberg is leaving the show. There have been reports that King World would not meet her salary demands. According to one report, the company asked Goldberg to take a pay cut.

"We wish her the best of luck," said King World -- which syndicates the current version of the show -- in a prepared statement.

Tom Bergeron's future as host of "Hollywood Squares" also may be up in the air. There has been speculation in Hollywood that Bergeron is being considered as a possible replacement for Bryant Gumbel, who is leaving as host of "The Early Show" on CBS.

"Hollywood Squares" is the third highest-rated syndicated game show on U.S. TV, after "Wheel of Fortune" and "Jeopardy!" The show is scheduled to run for at least two more seasons.

GEORGE LUCAS

The British Academy of Film and Television Arts, Los Angeles, honored George Lucas last Friday with one of the British film industry's most prestigious prizes -- the Stanley Kubrick Britannia Award for Excellence in Film.

"He has contributed immensely to our industry as an innovative filmmaker, changing the way movies are made, seen and heard," said Gary Dartnall, chairman of BAFTA/LA.

Lucas has been responsible for a substantial amount of work for British filmmakers, having made nine pictures in England -- including "Willow" and "Labyrinth."

Among the Hollywood elite who showed up for the presentation in Los Angeles were Harrison Ford, who starred in three of Lucas' "Star Wars" movies and the Lucas-produced "Indiana Jones" trilogy. Steven Spielberg, who received the Britannia Award last year, was also there.

Lucas joined a list of Britannia winners that includes Stanley Kubrick (1999), John Travolta (1998), Dustin Hoffman (1997), Bob and Harvey Weinstein (1996), Anthony Hopkins (1995), Martin Scorsese (1994), Peter Ustinov (1993), Michael Caine (1992), and Albert "Cubby" Broccoli (1991).

The Britannia Award for Excellence in Television -- honoring legendary TV producer Aaron Spelling and the British Broadcasting Corporation -- was presented this year to HBO Original Programming, in recognition of "its outstanding contribution to US/UK programming," including "Band of Brothers."

(The above two items thanks to UPI Hollywood Reporter Pat Nason)

'WARNING: PARENTAL ADVISORY'

In 1985, Frank Zappa, John Denver and Twisted Sister's Dee Snider appeared together in front of an audience in Washington, D.C. The only thing weirder than that was the audience itself -- a group of U.S. senators.

It was a hearing on censorship, and whether certain songs should be banned.

The VH1 original movie "Warning: Parental Advisory" takes a look at the war on "porn rock" led by Tipper Gore and the P.M.R.C. (Parents Music Resource Center). It premieres this Sunday (at 9 p.m. ET/PT) and stars Jason Priestley as lobbyist Charlie Burner, Mariel Hemingway as Tipper Gore, Griffin Dunne as Frank Zappa and real-life Twisted Sister rocker Dee Snider as himself.

(Web site: vh1.com)

ROY ROGERS & DALE EVANS

If you've ever driven the I-15 between Los Angeles and Las Vegas in recent years, you may have noticed that the once-active parking lot at the Roy Rogers-Dale Evans Museum in Victorville, Calif., has been nearly empty lately.

After the death of the cowboy icon in 1998, business suddenly dropped. Then with the death of Dale last year, it slowed to a trickle.

It's a shame. The museum is an amazing place -- filled with mementos from the careers of both stars and a look at their amazing family of children, both natural and adopted. Trigger is there, mounted. So is Bullet and Nellybelle the Jeep. Even the old Dodge that carried the family of a young Leonard Slye from the Cincinnati area to Hollywood in the '30s is lovingly preserved.

Now a real estate agent in Victorville says the property is up for sale. Not even counting the contents -- which are not currently on the auction block -- the building and the surrounding 15 acres that front on Interstate 15 could be worth a lot of money.

Dusty Rogers, Roy's son, tells UPI the museum is still open for business, seven-days-a-week, from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m., and is reachable at 760-243-4547. Additionally, you'll find more about Roy and Dale, the museum, and even the lyrics to "Happy Trails" at royrogers.com.

(Thanks to UPI's Dennis Daily)