Redford almost came 'Clean' for MGM

GOOD MORNING: Picture Robert Redford and Dana Carvey playing the same movie role. "Clean Slate's" producer Richard Zanuck told me Redford at one time talked about playing the role of the amnesiac in the MGM movie now toplined by Carvey. And Zanuck further said director Fred Schepisi, who once suffered from the five-weeks-long amnesia ailment Korsakoff's Syndrome, was to have directed "Clean Slate." But conflicts arose and Mick Jackson ("The Bodyguard") now handles the reins of the $ 18 million MGM comedy ... I caught up with the "Clean" troupe, filming in a former furniture factory and Nabisco plant, in an area filled with many storehouses where giant, unmarked, double big-rigs thread their way into parking docks where semi-buried railroad tracks remind of early, bustling times in East L.A. It's now a haven for many movie companies like this MGM film seeking refuge from the high costs of studio stage rentals. And after all, MGM doesn't have a movie lot of its own any more, you recall ... Director Jackson loves shooting L.A.'s own locations -- his third movie on the move around town ... Jackson shifts from this comedy to "Taking Liberty"-- about the hijacking of a space shuttle! "I like to keep things different," he said. Well, this is one that won't be shot on the streets of L.A. ... I found producer Zanuck on the set. He was trim as always, sports-shirted, a working producer who knows the biz like few others. The setting was a smoke-filled birthday party in the warehouse basement reached by an old-fashioned freight elevator whose two doors opened vertically pulled by a drawstring. Would producer Zanuck want to boss a studio again -- today? "Not unless I owned it," he answered emphatically. "Too many people to report to (who don't know the business)." But as an indie producer, along with wife Lili Fini Z., he has many projects with MGM and others in development. On the immediate burner are the animated "Betty Boop," a '50s-set L.A. cop story, "Mulholland Falls," and a western, 'Deadwood."

"I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO HOST 'Saturday Night Live,' " said Dana Carvey, who only does occasional appearances on the TV'er because of his hefty movie sked. Carvey goes directly from "Clean Slate" to "Wayne's World II"-- which must be completed and in theaters for Christmas. "Clean Slate" will not be released until Presidents' Day '94 ... Carvey's constantly carrying on between takes for the benefit of any/all. He explained the movie is "an homage" to movie greats, Bogart, Stewart, Fonda, Cary Grant and -- Mickey Rourke (!), slipping into impersonations of each. He achieves their look in amnesiac scenes ... The movie even has a little Frank Capra in its finale.Carvey's enthusiasm carries into each take -- but becomes deadly serious when later checking his performance with director Jackson on replay monitors. The scene I watched involved Carvey with the beautiful Olivia D'Abo and James Earl Jones, who is relegated to a wheelchair and heavy neck brace during the entire movie but as cheery as ever. I asked if Jones gets a royalty from CNN for his constantly played station break, "This is CNN"? "No -- I made a flat deal," he sighed.

NED TANEN IS RECUPING after detached retina surgery. Medics rushed him from an examination into surgery and told him, "Six-seven hours would have been too late to repair"... Tracey Gold got her wedding proposal from b.f. Robbie Marshall on Thursday night's "Prime Time Live." She's next seen in Sunday's CBS "Labor of Love"..."Hard Copy" tonight airs the tragedy of Dennis Cole's son Joe. Dennis is now valiantly making his return in the biz ... Martial arts star Jeff Wincott marries Nathalie Thivierge June 19 in Montreal's Notre Dame Cathedral. Wincott's negotiating a three-pic pact with Pierre David's Image banner ... Monday, Monaco's Prince Albert hosts a buffet dinner at Loews Monte Carlo hotel as the first function for the World Music Awards. Among those who'll be helping 'emselves on the buffet line: Tina Turner, Rod Stewart, Patrick Swayze, Linda Evans, Claudia Schiffer, Boys II Men, etc. ... Patty Duke stars in Green/Epstein's "The Fight for Jesse" and is also talking a new "Patty Duke" MOW , playing herself and her British cousin.

"BARNEY'S" MENTORS Cheryl Leach, Kathy Parker and Dennie DeShaver arrive here May 17 to talk to movie producers and net toppers. They're now in the fifth seg of 18 new shows for "Barney" on PBS this fall -- adding a new character ... Lou Diamond Phillips hosted Nobel Peace Prize recipient Rigoberta Menchu of Guatemala at his home last night for the Hollywood Policy Center Foundation ... Sybil Brand was toasted for her record of civic contributions at Nicky Blair's where she celebrated her 91st (!) birthday ... Kathie and Darren McGavin are back in town from his Utah taping of "Secrets of the Bible" in time to celebrate his birthday here today ... Madonna and Rosie O'Donnell were talking TV plans -- they'd create-produce, not appear -- while dining at Morton's with Freddie De Mann and ICM's Risa Shapiro ... A fundraiser's skedded for Sunday at the Santa Monica Bob Burns eatery for blind pianist Howlett Smith, who was robbed of all his electronic music gear --$ 10,000 worth.