Whoopi & co. get into 'Act' in Armani

GOOD MORNING: Whoopi Goldberg and her fellow "Sister Act II" nuns, including Wendy Makkena, the quiet Sister Mary Roberts, had a break during shooting on the SanFran location, so Whoopi said, "Let's go shopping." So off they went, in their habits -- and movie makeup -- into Giorgio Armani! "What kind of order are you?" asked one more-than-dumbfounded shopper ... As you might have noticed, this sequel company is more at ease, confirms Makkena, saying Whoopi is "extremely generous in making sure everyone in the company is taken care of." Makkena went from the shy, silent sister in the original movie to the Madonna role in the series version of "A League of Their Own," and next plays the title role of "Gabby" in Fred Silverman's NBC pilot, in which she plays a gabby, public-access talkshow hostess ... The versatile Goldberg goes on to "Corinna, Corinna," followed by "Boys on the Side" and "Made in America II"... Al Pacino plays "a warm, human grandfather of 60-65.""It's everything different for him," says "Two Bits" producer Arthur Cohn, who promises, "It's a film to be remembered." Pacino's the grandfather to 12-year-old newcomer Gerlando Barone and father to Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, who debuted with Pacino in "Scarface." The 1933, Philly-set "Two Bits" is directed by James Foley (also with Pacino in "Glengarry Glen Ross") and is scripted by Joseph Stefano ("Psycho"). The $ 20 million movie's financed by Willi Baer's Capella/Connexion. It's the first American-made feature for five-time Oscar winner Cohn, whose home remains in Basel, Switzerland. Cohn is so pleased with Foley that he has already asked him to direct "The Foolish Immortals," Paul Gallico's favorite novel -- with the lead role a tour de force for an (adult!) actress.

\COLUMBIA'S WASTING NO TIME getting a copy of the new script of "Mistress of the Seas" to Harrison Ford, whom they'd like to team with Michelle Pfeiffer. Director Paul Verhoeven has spoken with both players several times in advance of the script's arrival. Ford, recuping from knee surgery, was on hand receiving congrats at last night's preem of "The Fugitive" and gets a vacation before the fall start of "Clear and Present Danger." He had hoped to do a non-action, romantic comedy as his next, but the best-laid plans, etc. ..."City Slickers II" filmed its finale in Las Vegas with "Siegfried and Roy" (and a surprise guest?) before next week's official start of the Castle Rock sequel. And this Sunday, the company launches with a BBQ on the Culver City lot in advance of interiors there plus Moab locations ... Psychic healer Dean Kraft signed with Hearst Entertainment to develop and host a psychic healing series, "Beyond Medicine," with celeb guestars. His techniques have reportedly resulted in interest from medical centers as well as government agencies ... Barbara Alyn Woods, star of "Eden," the Playboy Channel/USA Cable's soap that often includes nudity, will star in "Ghoulies IV" distributed by Cinetel. No nudity in her role as a police captain. But in Sydney Pollack's "Flesh and Bone," Woods does display some dimples. But she shrugs, "The whole subject of on-camera nudity is overrated and overblown by the media. Who really cares any more? ... Yet some people seem to think that if you take your clothes off, you can't act"... Oscar and Tony winner Joel Grey is so pleased with his first Emmy nomination (guestar in a comedy series, "Brooklyn Bridge") that he's changed European plans to be on hand here for the awards show. He's first seen-heard at the Hollywood Bowl's "American Concert" Aug. 6-7 ... Katie Sagal, while awaiting the Aug. 16 return to "Married ... With Children" is recording a Virgin album of her tunes for producer Rupert Hine (Tina Turner). She says the series' next season will "lean more toward the way it was in the beginning" with its new producers-writers.

JOYCE HABER (62) DIED early Thursday at Cedars-Sinai after a long and reportedly painful illness. The onetime columnist for the L.A. Times was divorced from Douglas Cramer many years ago. They have a son and daughter. Haber's conversations with me in the past few years sadly reflected an unhappy person ... How quickly they forget: The Breakdown Services Ltd. report to all talent reps on Columbia's upcoming "Blankman" asks for submissions to be sent to the "Mirna Lloyd Building" on the Sony lot. It must be next door to the Clerk Gabel bldg ... Bibi Andersson, while here to pick up Ingmar Bergman's award from the AFI, signed for pix with Marion Rosenberg. Andersson returned home for a year with the Swedish National Theater but then wants to resume movies here. Hurry ... Roxanne and Jack Carter partied Milton Berle at Tatou on his 85th birthday. "This is my fifth party," said Milton. "I must be 90 by now!" Longtime pals on hand included the Jerry Vales, Steve Lawrences, Steve Allens (Jayne and Steve celebrate their 39th wedding anni Saturday), Mel Tormes, Jan Murrays and Lorna Berle ... Saturday's preem of "The Meteor Man" at the Hollywood Pacific Theater benefits the Sickle Cell Disease Research Foundation. Robert Townsend, Sinbad and Robert Guillaume will be on hand.