People

SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT

Guy Ritchie, who married Madonna and then directed her in a music video and the new movie "Swept Away," is trying to clear up some rumors about the couple's reported fascination with Kabbalah, an offshoot of Judaism. Ritchie told "Access Hollywood" it isn't true that he and Madonna are planning to renew their wedding vows in Kabbalah, but he said he is quite taken with the practice. "The Kabbalah is very interesting, actually, because it has been branded as mysticism, but in fact it's the most practical (set of) techniques I've ever come across," said Ritchie. "It's a sort of code to live one's life by." Ritchie also talked about a series of five children's books he co-wrote with Madonna, which are due in stores in time for Christmas. "The thing is, society and life very much encourage some form of the wrong principles, so to speak, ones that are valueless at the end of the day," he said. "So we thought we'd do better to start with young fresh minds that haven't been contaminated by all the terrible things that the media bestows upon them."

HASSELHOFF'S REHAB

David Hasselhoff has gone public about an alcohol problem that landed him in the Betty Ford Center twice -- once for just a day, and then for a longer stay that seemed to be more productive. The former star of "Baywatch" told TV Guide he checked into rehab in June, but left after one day -- and wound up passed out in the emergency room of a local hospital after getting drunk on the contents of a hotel minibar. "I woke up going, 'This is rock bottom,'" said Hasselhoff. He said he went back to Betty Ford eventually, and got well enough to work on a "Baywatch" reunion movie -- attending daily meetings with other recovering alcoholics. The movie -- "Baywatch Hawaiian Wedding" -- is scheduled to run on Fox during the February sweeps. Hasselhoff also said plans are under way for a movie version of "Knight Rider," the 1980's action-drama TV series that made him a star.

TONY JR. DUMMIES UP

Robert Iler, the 17-year-old actor who plays the son of mob boss Tony Soprano on the HBO series "The Sopranos," has never said much publicly about the criminal case he was involved in last year -- and he's keeping it that way. According to a reporter in the New York Daily News, Iler offered an apology through his manager when he and some of his buddies got caught mugging two teenagers. But Iler himself has never apologized publicly. "I'm just trying to forget about it," Iler told the paper. "I want to put it all behind me." Iler plans to graduate from high school in January. For now, he said, he still has to deal with lots of questions from fans about his experience on the show -- including some apparently inane questions. "Sometimes I'll have fans ask me questions about my off-camera life thinking I'm still A.J.," Iler said. "They ask me if Tony hits me, thinking that he's really my dad."

TENNIS STAR RAISES $5.6 MILLION

Tennis star Andre Agassi's seventh annual Grand Slam for Children benefit concert, dinner and auction at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas raised a record $5.6 million for programs helping at-risk children in Southern Nevada. The show featured performances by Oscar-winning actor Robin Williams, country singer Martina McBride, comedian Jamie Foxx and Grammy-winning guitarist Carlos Santana and pop music legend Elton John.

UPI DAILY SURVEY QUESTION NO. 427

Today's question is a follow-up to the one we asked yesterday: "What is your all-time favorite funny movie, the one you'd see again if you really needed a good laugh?" Put MOVIE in the subject line and send to [email protected] via the Internet.

RESULTS OF QUESTION NO. 422 (SCREEN)

Last week we asked what kind of screen-saver or "wallpaper" you used on your computer. From a quick random dip into the e-mail inbox here are some of the replies: Sallie in Houston reports that more than a year ago her computer screen showed a great photo of the New York City skyline, Twin Towers and all. She says she liked to look at the photo, hoping some day to see Manhattan in person. Now, in the wake of what happened in NYC, she has a Houston skyline photo ... something she sees in real life everyday. Nigel from "Down Under" has a photo of Australian snowfields, a favorite vacation destination. KK has "Flying Windows" as a screen saver. Cindy is among those who have an animated clip from a cartoon. Additionally, many wrote to say they had photos of loved ones. With the increase in the number of digital cameras out there that will likely become more and more popular. TOMORROW: Your proudest moment. GBA