Hollywood Digest

ACTOR SCOTT BAIRSTOW CHARGED WITH RAPE

Actor Scott Hamilton Bairstow has been charged in Snohomish County, Wash., with second-degree rape of a child, according to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.

Bairstow, 33, was charged Tuesday with having sex with a 12-year-old relative of his wife in 1998.

The paper reported that according to Snohomish County Superior Court charging documents, Bairstow is accused of having sex with the girl on three other occasions outside Washington -- most recently in 2001.

Mukilteo, Wash., police reportedly got a court-authorized order to tape-record a phone conversation this month between Bairstow and the girl. Deputy prosecutor Janice Albert told The Herald of Everett that during the conversation, the girl told Bairstow she was considering telling somebody about the sexual intercourse.

According to court documents, he said: "Well ... I'm a dad and I've got a job and if you were to tell anyone I would be thrown in jail for 10 years."

The actor is best known as a regular on the TV series "Party of Five." He also appeared in "All My Children," "Lonesome Dove: The Series" and "Wolf Lake," and guest-starred on "Touched by an Angel."

His film credits include "Tuck Everlasting" and "Wild America."

Bairstow is scheduled to be arraigned on June 3.

A STAR FOR HARRISON FORD

Harrison Ford will get a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on May 30, in front of the Kodak Theatre.

Ford -- one of the biggest box-office stars of all time -- has starred in 35 feature films, including 10 that have grossed more than $100 million. Six of them -- three "Star Wars" and three "Indiana Jones" pictures -- are among the biggest blockbusters in movie history.

Ford also starred in such hits as "Air Force One," "The Fugitive" and "Patriot Games."

He is due in theaters on June 13 in the action comedy "Hollywood Homicide," co-starring Josh Hartnett ("Pearl Harbor"). It's described as the story of two LAPD homicide detectives who investigate the president of a rap label for the murder of a recording artist.

REESE WITHERSPOON TO CO-STAR WITH MERYL STREEP?

Reese Witherspoon will star in "Daughter of the Queen of Sheba," possibly with Meryl Streep, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

The paper said Witherspoon would play a woman who grows up with a manic-depressive mom. It's based on the book by National Public Radio reporter Jacki Lyden, who wrote that her mother frequently became convinced that she was a powerful woman -- along the lines of the Queen of Sheba or Marie Antoinette -- and then acted out her delusions.

Lyden said the episodes caused her to go for a life in radio journalism, where she could arrange "escapes" of her own as she traveled the world covering the news.

BARRY LEVINSON'S NEXT

Oscar-winning director Barry Levinson will make "The Colonel and Me," based on Elvis Presley's manager Col. Tom Parker, according to Daily Variety.

The paper said the screenplay by Bo Goldman ("Scent of a Woman") will focus on Parker's mentoring relationship with Jerry Weintraub, who broke into the big time when Parker hired him to promote Presley's concerts. Weintraub went on to become a successful Hollywood producer -- so successful, in fact, that he is producing "The Colonel and Me."

Weintraub is also currently lining up "Ocean's Eleven" director Steven Soderbergh and stars George Clooney, Julia Roberts, and Brad Pitt -- among others -- for a sequel to be called "Ocean's Twelve." The project is expected to shoot in 2004.

Levinson ("Rain Man") most recently finished filming the comedy "Envy" with Ben Stiller, Jack Black and Christopher Walken.

IT'S NEVER TOO LATE

NBC has announced plans for a sort of senior version of "American Idol," with elderly contestants trying for a $25,000 grand prize.

"Second Chance: America's Most Talented Senior" -- scheduled to air on June 1 -- will feature a 69-year-old grandmother rapping to 50 cent and an 80-year-old grandma playing electric guitar, said the network.

Celebrity judges include 69-year-old Shirley Jones ("The Partridge Family"), 71-year-old Estelle Harris ("Seinfeld") and 50-year-old Barry Williams ("The Brady Bunch").

Mario Lopez ("The Other Half") -- who already hosts NBC "America's Most Talented Kid" -- will also host "Second Chance."

FAITH HILL TO STAR IN TV SPECIAL

Faith Hill will be featured in a behind-the-scenes TV special about the making of the video for her latest single.

"You're Still Here: A Look Behind the Lens" -- premiering next Monday on ABC Family -- will offer Hill's fans an inside look at the Malibu, Calf., video shoot for the new song.