People

ROBERT URICH LOSES BATTLE WITH CANCER

He was affable, upbeat and interesting. But actor Robert Urich has lost a long and courageous battle with cancer. USA Today says that during his TV career he was so omnipresent that "there was no season (that) seemed complete if Urich was not playing a detective -- his most familiar TV role." Urich starred in a variety of TV shows, some successful, such as "Vega$" and "Spenser: For Hire." Sadly he also participated in some really memorable flops, including "It Had to Be You." But the publication says that the bad shows were just that ... bad. Usually they were not thought of as failures for Urich, just shows that didn't work. So, because of the fact that he seemed to be everywhere, enhanced by his appearances on talk shows and in commercials, it's hard to think of the smiling actor as being gone. Even through his bouts with cancer, the chemotherapy, the surgeries, he remained accessible, sharing his pain and his battle with others, giving hope to other cancer patients. Although we didn't always think the projects in which he participated were all that great, we never stopped liking Urich, as an actor and a very courageous man. Robert Urich was 55.

WHOOPI LEAVING 'HOLLYWOOD SQUARES'

The driving force behind the reincarnation of "Hollywood Squares," Whoopi Goldberg, is leaving the show. King World Productions confirms that Goldberg -- who brought new meaning to "bawdy" when the show re-emerged, losing the coyness and innocence of its namesake predecessor, trading it for a constant flow of bathroom humor -- is calling it quits. She will tape her final appearance in three weeks. Lately she has been devoting much of her attentions to the other side of the country as one of the producers of a revival of "Thoroughly Modern Millie" on Broadway and has been active in a revue called "Harlem Song." It's set for an opening in mid summer at the venerable Apollo Theater. So, it's "Goodbye to Whoopi" on the "Squares." Where's Paul Lynde when you need him? ON AN ALLIED NOTE: I've learned from TV expert Scott in upstate New York that The Game Show Network has begun to play the classic episodes of "The Hollywood Squares" from the original run with Peter Marshall as host and, of course, Paul Lynde. The network has already been showing old "Match Game," "Let's Make a Deal," "Family Feud" and "The Newlywed Game" shows. Also, in about a week TV Land will add "Batman" to its lineup.

HOLD ON, HERE COMES BRITNEY JR.

Britney Spears, in addition to having great hormones and a penchant to push the envelope, apparently also has a younger sister. People magazine says that Jamie Lynn Spears, who is 11, may be a "Britney in the wings." She's already trodding the boards, recently participating in a Kids 'R' Us fashion show, outfitted as a sixth-grade cheerleader. She's also appeared with her older sister in several live performances, one a big one in Las Vegas. She also can be seen in Britney's Pepsi ads. Now, according to the publication, there's talk that the younger Spears could become the host of her own kids show on Nickelodeon. Oh, and there's a third Spears. Ryan, 25, described as being "a hunk" and, according to Britney, "too macho" to get into show business.

BROOKS AND DUNN BEGIN FLAG-WAVING TOUR

The latest Neon Circus and Wild West tour of the hot country duo Brooks & Dunn is off and running, flowing with pro-American sentiment. The first show opened in Minneapolis at the Target Center. Just as Ann-Margret was singing the national anthem before the start of a Twins game, Brooks & Dunn was leading its audience of 10,000 in the anthem at the start of its concert. The concert the anthem was augmented by clips of JFK and President Bush speaking about America. Then "The Star-Spangled Banner" gave way to the duo's famous "Only in America." Finally fireworks exploded and Old Glory was shown on all the video screens. It was, according to CMT's Web site something like the Fourth of July. And, it was just what America needed.

DIRT BAND STILL GOING STRONG

It's been 30 years since a mostly West Coast aggregation "invaded" Nashville. When The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band came to Music City three decades ago many locals scoffed. What kind of a future would this thrown-together group have in the world of country music. Well, as they say, the rest is history. In its first years in Nashville the band released an ornate, three-album collection of the best songs of "old Nashville." It was a classic compilation of great songs and, in the words of the news provider country.com, that brought Mother Maybelle Carter, Roy Acuff, Earl Scruggs, Merle Travis, Doc Watson and a host of others to a new generation. Now it's being re-released, this time, of course, on CD. There are 42 tracks on the two-CD set, four could not fit on the original vinyl records and are being released for the first time.

'THE WHIZZER' WAS ONE OF A KIND

Well, Ronald Reagan rose from playing second banana to a chimp named Bonzo to a seat in the Oval Office. What's wrong with a football standout becoming an associate justice of the Supreme Court? Nothing, apparently. Maybe that's why Pres. John F. Kennedy had the foresight to appoint Byron Raymond "Whizzer" White to the High Court during his short term in office. During the 1930s White was an all-American football player in Colorado. But he also excelled academically, winning a Rhodes Scholarship. He eventually went to the Yale University Law School. During his time on the bench this perceived liberal became the "golden boy" of conservatives and, according to the Denver Post, angered many of his liberal supporters. White left the Supreme Court, retiring in 1993. The seat was filled by Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. White died Monday in Denver. Now there are no living former Supreme Court justices. "Whizzer" was 84.

UPI DAILY SURVEY QUESTION NO. 312

We dip into the mailbag for today's question. So, here goes: "What is your earliest childhood memory?" Put MEMORY in the subject line and send to [email protected] via the Internet.

RESULTS OF QUESTION NO. 306 (HANDED)

Last week we asked whether you are right-handed, left-handed or ambidextrous. The results are surprising. Thirty-eight percent said they are "lefties," and another 38 percent said the opposite. It would appear that this column has a higher percentage of left-handed readers than the general population. But, most surprisingly is that 24 percent noted they were ambidextrous. One cute story was sent in by Cards who noted that she was born left-handed but due to a childhood injury learned to do everything right-handed. Then later in life was in a car accident that made it difficult for her to use her right hand and switched back and now she's ambidextrous. It's certain that many of you know this, but for those who don't: In "olden times" being left-handed was thought to be evil. The Latin work for "right," is the root of our word "dexterous." The word for "left" in Latin is sinatra. It evolved in English as "sinister." When I was a child in grade school a man once showed off his ability to write with both hands on the blackboard of classroom. He wrote the first and second lines of "Mary had a little lamb" on the board. But he wrote line No. 1 with his left hand and line No. 2 with his right hand ... simultaneously. TOMORROW: Your thoughts about the IRS. GBA.