Muniz highest paid child star
HOLLYWOOD — “Malcolm in the Middle” star Frankie Muniz signed a deal with MGM that makes him the highest paid child star since “Home Alone’s” Macaulay Culkin.
According to Variety, Muniz will be paid $2 million to star in the adventure film “Agent Cody Banks.” Muniz, who most recently starred in Universal’s “Big Fat Liar,” will play a teen drafted by the U.S. government for covert military operations.
Meanwhile, Jane Kaczmarek returned to the set of Fox’s “Malcolm in the Middle” following a three-week sick leave. Her publicist says she left the set due to migraines, USA Today speculates she was on strike due to salary concerns. Fox cut the season short due to her absence.
McCartney’s tour sells out in half-hour
Former Beattle Paul McCartney need not worry that his first tour in 10 years, “Driving USA” will be successful. Within the first 30 minutes of going on sale, all 75,000 tickets for the first five shows sold out. The Toronto, Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia and Washington shows kick off the six-week, 19-city tour.
ABC fails to steal Letterman from CBS
HOLLYWOOD — After insulting media great Ted Koppel in its attempts to court late-night talk show host David Letterman to ABC, the network announced that “Nightline” will remain on the air, for the time being. ABC had considered canceling the show or moving it to another time slot with the hopes that Letterman would move his “Late Night with David Letterman” over from CBS. Currently, Koppel’s “Nightline” fights a losing ratings battle with both Letterman and Jay Leno’s “The Tonight Show.”
Letterman praised Koppel for his work on “Nightline” when he announced he would stay with CBS on his show Monday night, but ABC’s decision to court Letterman left all of the journalists at “Nightline” in a state of flux over their future after a 20-year history of quality journalism.
Crowe, Berry snag 2002 SAG awards
HOLLYWOOD — Russell Crowe and Halle Berry each picked up a best actor award Monday at the Screen Actors Guild awards. Crowe’s portrayal of nobel laureate John Nash, Jr.’s struggle with mental illness in “A Beautiful Mind” and Berry’s turn as the wife of a condemned cop killer in “Monster’s Ball” are both up for honors at the Academy Awards March 24. Berry could be the first black actress to win a best acting Oscar.
Ian McKellen won best supporting actor for “The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring” and Helen Mirren won best supporting actress for “Gosford Park.” The entire cast of the English murder mystery won for best acting ensemble.
Carey negotiates new record deal
Even after she had an emotional breakdown, her debut film “Glitter” and its soundtrack bombed and her last label canceled her multi-million dollar contract, songstress Mariah Carey is still finding takers. She’s negotiating a new label with Warner Music Group’s Elektra and Warner Bros. Records, and Universal Music Group’s label Island Def Jam.
March 14, 2002