Hollywood Digest

BOX-OFFICE BLUES

"Anger Management" held at No. 1, while the U.S box office overall turned in a mixed performance over the Easter weekend.

The Adam Sandler-Jack Nicholson comedy grossed an estimated $25.6 million in its second weekend, to run its overall number to $80.3 million. The new family comedy "Holes" finished second, with $17.1 million in its debut.

"Malibu's Most Wanted," a comedy about an affluent white kid who wants to be a rapper, was third with $13.1 million. "Bulletproof Monk," a martial arts comedy featuring Hong Kong star Chow Yun-Fat with Seann William Scott, debuted at No. 4 with $8.6 million for the weekend -- and $11.7 million overall since it opened Wednesday.

Some limited releases performed well. The new Christopher Guest comedy "A Mighty Wind" grossed $2.2 million at 133 theaters, putting up an impressive per-theater average of $16,541 from Friday to Sunday.

"Better Luck Tomorrow" posted $12,262 per theater at 42 locations. "Chasing Papi," a Latino-themed romantic comedy, took in $2.2 million over the weekend, playing at 585 locations.

"Chicago," which won the Oscar for Best Picture, remained in the Top 10 -- coming in at No. 9 with $2.5 million and a running total of $160.7 million.

Overall, the top 10 films took in an estimated $85.6 million over the weekend, about 6 percent better than last week. However, box-office analysts said the total for all films over Easter weekend -- close to $106 million -- was more or less unchanged from the same weekend last year, which was not a holiday weekend.

OSCAR DOMINOES

The Recording Academy has responded to the earlier date for next year's Oscars by moving up the date for next year's Grammys, according to Daily Variety.

New York papers reported last week that the city had decided not to bid on bringing the Grammys to the Big Apple in 2004. Variety reported Monday that the awards show will be held Feb. 8, a couple of weeks earlier than usual.

The Recording Academy did not comment on the report.

Meanwhile, the American Music Awards -- normally held in January -- are being moved to November. Other entertainment industry awards that have already moved their traditional dates to stay out of the way of the Oscars include the Screen Actors Guild Awards, the Directors Guild of America Awards and the Writers Guild of America Awards.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will hand out the Oscars next year on Feb. 29 -- about one month earlier than its traditional March date.

HOLLYWOOD-POLITICS-MONEY

Some Hollywood Democrats, undecided about which candidate to endorse for president, are spreading the wealth, according to the Los Angeles Times.

The paper reported Monday that Larry David -- creator of "Seinfeld" and star of the HBO hit comedy "Curb Your Enthusiasm" -- has given $2,000 each to the campaigns of former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean and North Carolina Sen. John Edwards. Actor Peter Coyote ("A Walk to Remember," "Erin Brockovich") has given $250 to Dean and $500 to Ohio Rep. Dennis Kucinich, the paper reported.

Westwood One Radio founder Norman Pattiz and billionaire media mogul Haim Saban have both donated $1,000 each to five candidates -- Dean, Edwards, Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry, Connecticut Sen. Joseph Lieberman and Missouri Rep. Dick Gephardt, according to the report.

Director Rob Reiner has endorsed Dean, while actor Alec Baldwin and composer-arranger Quincy Jones have each backed Kerry to the tune of $1,000.

RODNEY DANGERFIELD'S CONDITION IMPROVING

Rodney Dangerfield has been released from intensive care at UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles, as he continues his recovery from brain surgery on April 8.

The 81-year-old comic actor underwent the procedure -- known as extracranial-intracranial brain bypass -- to improve the blood flow in his body. The star of such comedy hits as "Back to School" and "Caddyshack" is scheduled to have heart valve replacement surgery, tentatively scheduled for the first week of May.

MOTOWN CHOREOGRAPHY GREAT 'CHOLLY' ATKINS DIES

Charles "Cholly" Atkins, who choreographed such Motown acts as the Temptations, the Supremes and Martha and the Vandellas, died in Las Vegas Saturday at 89.

Atkins was regarded as one of the greatest tap dancers of the 20th century, performing with Charles "Honi" Coles under the name of Coles & Atkins during the 1940s and '50s. Atkins choreographed routines in the early '60s for such acts as Gladys Knight and the Pips and the Cadillacs.

He joined Motown Records in the mid-'60s, assuming responsibility for choreography for most of the label's top acts.

EMMY-WINNING PRODUCTION DESIGNER JAN SCOTT DIES

Jan Scott, who won more prime time Emmys than any other woman and any other production designer, died in Los Angeles on April 17 of natural causes. She was 88.

In a career dating back to the mid-1950s, Scott won 11 Emmys for her production designs.

Scott was honored for "Kismet" (1968), "Shadow Game" (1970) and "The Scarecrow Hollywood Television Theatre" (1972). She won two Emmys for "The Lie" (1974) -- for Art Director and Set Designer of the Year, and Best Art Direction of Scenic Design.

She also won for "Studs Lonigan" (1979), "Evergreen" (1985), "Foxfire Hallmark Hall of Fame" (1988), and "I'll Be Home for Christmas" (1989).

Scott was honored in 2001 with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Art Directors Guild, in recognition of her 18 prime time Emmy nominations. During her career in Hollywood, the Carbondale, Ill., native had served as president of the guild, and as a governor of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.

Scott -- who earned degrees in architecture and fine arts from the University of Chicago -- also studies at the Art Institute of Chicago and Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

A memorial service is scheduled for May 4 at the TV Academy's Leonard Goldenson Theater.