PETER JENNINGS' NEW DEAL
ABC News anchor Peter Jennings has a new contract to stay with the network for three more years. Jennings confirmed the deal for Daily Variety, but declined to talk about specifics. It was reported in August that Jennings had renewed with ABC through 2005, but this is the first time that either Jennings or the network has confirmed it. There has been speculation that Jennings' salary -- estimated at $10 million to $11 million per year -- might have been cut under the new contract. Dan Rather has already announced that he has signed to remain as anchor of the "CBS Evening News" through 2007, and NBC has announced that Brian Williams will succeed Tom Brokaw at the "NBC Nightly News" anchor desk. Jennings told Variety that his in-house documentary unit -- Peter Jennings Reporting -- will be independent of ABC News under the new deal, and will produce at least four hours of prime time news shows to ABC each year for five years.
IS IT A SCANDAL?
When Bon Jovi performed "It's My Life" on "Good Morning America" Friday, viewers were told the band was playing the song that finished on top in a poll conducted on ABCnews.com. Online voters chose from a list of five Bon Jovi tunes -- "Wanted Dead or Alive," "You Give Love a Bad Name," "I'll Be There for You," "It's My Life" and "Misunderstood" -- all from the band's new album, "Bounce." The New York Daily News reported Monday that "It's My Life" was not the top vote-getter -- that it actually finished second to the ballad "I'll Be There for You." As Jon Bon Jovi and his band mates took the stage for the live shot in Miami, they were told that the harder-rocking "It's My Life" was the fan favorite, and that's what they played. The paper quoted "GMA" producer Shelley Ross admitting that she decided to have the band play a song that finished second in the fan balloting. "The voting was very close, and I made a decision to go with 'It's My Life,'" said Ross. "You're right that the ballad won out. It was a last-minute decision that I made to go with an upbeat song that is a fan-based favorite." Ross said Bon Jovi had nothing to do with the choice, and would have been happy to play either tune. "We probably could have handled this a lot better," said Ross. A spokesman for Jon Bon Jovi told the paper: "I think they should invite him back to play the real winner."
DMX COOKS UP THANKSGIVING MEAL
Rapper-actor DMX has a full plate over the next few weeks, what with his annual Thanksgiving dinner at the Nepperhan Community Center in New York and the scheduled release of his autobiography, a new album and a new cologne. DMX -- who was born Earl Simmons -- feeds about 400 families every year at Thanksgiving. "E.A.R.L.: The Autobiography of DMX" is due in bookstores Nov. 5. The new CD "It's Not A Game" is also coming out in November, and the new fragrance Xcaliber is scheduled to be introduced in December. On top of all that, DMX has set up the Mary Ella Foundation -- named for his paternal grandmother, Mary Ella Holloway -- to help underprivileged kids in his hometown of Yonkers, and has plans to award scholarships and financial assistance to working mothers. He is converting an old church into a housing facility for single moms who are trying to complete their education. Plans call for the facility to open in March with housing for 24 families. The Mary Ella Foundation board includes Joel Silver ("The Matrix," "Lethal Weapon") -- who produced two of DMX's movies, "Romeo Must Die" and "Exit Wounds," and the upcoming movie "Cradle 2 the Grave," in which DMX co-stars with action star Jet Li.
DROWNING POOL, ROB ZOMBIE TEAM UP
As Drowning Pool releases its new DVD "Sinema," the band's record label has also announced that it has recorded a song with Rob Zombie on vocals for the soundtrack of the upcoming Ben Affleck movie "Daredevil." The tune is tentatively titled "The Man Without Fear." Wind-up Records, which is scheduled to release the soundtrack in February 2003, said it would announce a complete track listing "at a later date." In a news release, the label said the search is still on for a fourth member to join Drowning Pool. Singer Dave Williams died in August of cardiomyopathy, a disease of the heart muscle. He was 30.
UPI DAILY SURVEY QUESTION NO. 461
More and more people are spending more and more time on the Internet. And with the coming of faster connections -- including cable, DSL and ISDN -- the amount of material being examined is increasing exponentially. So, today's question: "How much are you paying per month for connection to the Internet?" Put ISP in the subject line and send to comments@upi.com via the Internet.
RESULTS OF QUESTION NO. 456 (ALLERGY)
Last week we asked to what you are allergic. Here is a random sample of your replies: A surprising number of people noted that they have reactions to eating chocolate. Additionally, several, including EileenB, say that eating onions gives them fits. BobW says he has always had problems with lettuce, even though it's mostly water. As far as drugs go, a full 25 percent noted a major drug allergy, either to penicillin or sulfa drugs. TOMORROW: Your best year. GBA.
