Garner finally kicks butt habit

Posted by Larita Shotwell on Tuesday, January 16, 2024

GOOD MORNING: After 55 years, Jim Garner admits he has finally given up smoking — and what a testament to Nicotrol, the product for which he is continuing to film commercials! I have never known Garner sans cigarette, dating back to the days when I too did “live” cigarette commercials on TV. I quit smoking (and the commercials quit me!) when the filters got me coughing! Ironically, Garner was just seen (again) on HBO in a repeat of “Barbarians at the Gate,” in which he played the R.J. Reynolds ciggie owner F. Ross Johnson. Garner, who is feeling great (“I blow lung tests right off the chart”) is completing “The Magic Hour,” the Par feature with Paul Newman, Gene Hackman, Susan Sarandon and Stockard Channing. He will then do two “Rockford Files” back to back and, believe it or not, is contemplating a new, half-hour series. … The Mardi Gras wardrobe department is altering the costume for their Bacchus in Sunday’s parade: Tom Arnold says he’s dropped 75 pounds. You’ll see him as his old self in “Touch,” opening next week, and “McHale’s Navy” in April. In a new series for the WB network, he’ll play the divorced husband of a successful TV star, and he ends up in a small-town, public-access station. Nobody you know, of course. … Fox Family Films has greenlighted the animated feature “Broomhilda,” with Ernie Chambers exec producing, Michael Wilson scripting the pic version of artist Russell Myers’ 25-year comic strip created by Elliot Caplin. … Bill Link (“Columbo,” “Murder, She Wrote,” etc.) is creating a TV series for Merv Griffin Entertainment. Titled “Partners in Crime,” it’s about a husband and wife forensic team, and is based on true characters. … The busy Griffin banner is moving offices to a hangar in the Santa Monica airport next door to the hangar into which Merv wheels his plane. Some wheel of fortune!

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THE UNIVERSAL AMPHITHEATER will get a permanent projector system, following the failure Wednesday evening of one of the projectors installed for the giant-screen preem of “Dante’s Peak.” Over 4,000 guests were invited for the showing at 7:30 and when 8 p.m. rolled around, helmer Roger Donaldson got on the loudspeaker and sadly announced, “This is a director’s nightmare.” He explained that one projector had conked out and the film would be shown with a (five-minute) interruption while the movie’s second, giant reel would be placed on the one operative projector. The audience was very sympathetic: no one left and, as a matter of fact, the group applauded when the second reel was shown with less-than-five-minute break. They also applauded several times as Pierce Brosnan, Linda Hamilton and other cast members survived spectacular special effects, and gave heavy clapping at the finale. Joel Silver, among the industryites on hand, complimented, “It’s my kind of picture.” James Woods, who worked with Donaldson on “The Getaway,” told the director, “I’d like to do one of these (fx pix).” Donaldson admitted “Dante’s” was “an enormous challenge; it takes you to the full stretch of moviemaking.” He heads out to preems in New Zealand (where he has a home), Australia, Japan and Europe — thus “Dante’s” can peak worldwide before “Volcano” The preem-goers segued from the Amphitheater to a 26,850-square-foot tent (Regal Rents through Academy Tents), where props from the movie formed the decor, including the bridge, cars, trees, buildings used by Digital Domain for the fx. The pic’s rumbling sound effects formed the party background so effectively, Jay Livingston said, “I hope it’s not an earthquake.”

WITH THE SCRAMBLE for available B’way theaters now on, Pierre Cossette and Bill Haber are proud they’ve landed the Minskoff (1,710 seats) for “The Scarlet Pimpernel,” which bows Nov. 7. “Sunset Blvd.” is departing those boards; the Tonys also will be held there. … B’way producer Manny Kladitis, who has a bundle of backers, is among those who would like to buy the L.A. Dodgers — and bring ’em back to Brooklyn. Then could his next musical be “Damn Dodgers”? … Natalie Cole is honorary chairman and will entertain at the March 17 BevWilshire benefit for Cedars-Sinai’s Research for Women’s Cancer Fund chaired by Dr. Beth Karlan. National spokesmen are Bette Midler and Bonnie Bruckheimer. … Anne and Kirk Douglas and Veronique and Gregory Peck are honorary chairs for the Women’s Guild of Cedars-Sinai’s L.A. Antique Show May 14-18 at the Barker Hangar, Santa Monica Airport. Last year’s chairs were the Michael Eisners and the Michael Ovitzes. … Supporters of the L.A. Free Clinic, celebrating its 30th anni, gathered at the home of Mimi and Bernie West to launch its $3 million campaign. … Friends of the late Sheldon Leonard who wish to make a contribution in his memory may send a donation to the Motion Picture & TV Fund on which he had served as a trustee for many years. … Director Ken Kwapis, whose “Beautician and the Beast” bows today, is assembling a docu about an annual Bob Dylan impersonator contest which takes place in Greenwich Village. He sez he’d also like to do another romantic comedy following the happy association with Fran Drescher and Timothy Dalton.

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