Jackson spec has uncertain future

GOOD MORNING: The "Jackson Family Honors" NBC spec, skedded to tape at Atlantic City's Convention Center Dec. 11, is tabled, the Jan. 10 air date KO'd. As noted here, sets for the show were skedded to be set up this week but at H-hour, word came down to put everything on hold. Whose decision? "Everyone's," Gary Smith answered, "including Michael's." Smith said Elizabeth Taylor thought Michael'd be able to do it in about eight weeks. She added, "He wants to do it." But the producers don't know if the Atlantic City site will still be available. Every day brings a new question. So stay tuned ... In these days when studios are trying to hold down the budgets of multistar movies, how did Paramount manage to assemble Paul Newman, Bruce Willis, Melanie Griffith and Jessica Tandy in Robert Benton's "Nobody's Fool" for a reasonable budget (your guess). The stars all agreed to defer ... Meanwhile, over at Par's "Pontiac Moon" company starring Ted Danson and Mary Steenburgen, a change in the character of a major role cost Sandra Bernhard the part, which was revised. Cathy Moriarty steps in ... Freddie Fields and Jerome Hellman have formed their Fields-Hellman Co., and sorted out their individual projects to agree on nine pix on which they'll partner. The first, "Mr. Smith Goes To Washington" is now being scripted by Alfred Uhry. Fields-Hellman have moved into offices in the former ICM building on Beverly Blvd. Owner Pierre Cossette says Hollywood doesn't have a counterpart to N.Y.'s Brill building, where all the tenants are showbiz related. So Pierre's planning to do just that with his building and is accepting only tenants who are related to showbiz, which there's no biz like ... Is Johnny Carson easing back into the biz? Carson, who made a charming "appearance" (telephone voice only) on David Letterman's show last week, is working with writers on a special, tentatively targeting TV's future. Hopefully that will include Johnny.

THE RIVER PHOENIX MEMORIAL Thursday night in the new Paramount theater featured guest speakers Sidney Poitier, Rob Reiner, Jerry O'Connell, Naomi Foner , Richard Benjamin, John Boorman, Christine Lahti, Peter Bogdanovich, Helen Mirren, Iris Burton and River's mother, Heart Phoenix. Tom Cruise, on location with "Interview With the Vampire" sent a note, "I'll miss never having the opportunity to work with him." And "Vampire" producer and director Stephen Woolley and Neil Jordan wrote, "His unegotistical and generous nature was evident in that he was prepared to accept this small but pivotal part." Jonathan Pryce, who co-starred with Phoenix in the uncompleted "Dark Blood," wrote a touching, paternal note, saying, "I only knew him for eight weeks -- but I felt I could know him forever"... Evelyn Venable (80), who was the model for the first Columbia Pictures logo and star of classic movies including "Death Takes a Holiday,""A Midsummer Night's Dream,""Romeo and Juliet,""The Little Colonel" and "Alice Adams," died of cancer Tuesday at her daughter's home in Post Falls, Idaho. She was the widow of award-winning cinematographer Hal Mohr ... On a happy note: today, down at Disney World's Treasure Island, Arnold Schwarzenegger (in Florida for "True Lies") and Sylvester Stallone (he's moved to Florida) join Planet Hollywood partners Keith Barish and Robert Earl, plus Michael Eisner and -- Mickey Mouse, natch, to break ground for one of their biggest eateries shaped like -- a planet, this one to open in Dec. '94. A February date's planned for Vegas' Planet Hollywood, this one boasts a 65-foot spire ... Don Rickles joins Frank Sinatra at the MGM Grand stand Dec.27-Jan.1 ... The Laugh Factory is hosting free Thanksgiving dinner for struggling members of the industry for the 14th year. Last year Jamie Masada's Factory served more than 800 dinners.

MUSIC, MUSIC, MUSIC: Chasen's Ronnie Clint turned away more than 200 music lovers at the eatery's second "Cabaret Night" Wednesday. Ray Evans and Jay Livingston told of the halcyon days at Paramount when songs coming out of studio music departments were the hit parade toppers for decades. Others tuning in the room were Jaye P. Morgan, Byron Motley and Corky Hale, incomparable on the 88s. Among those applauding were Bob Hope (he plattered Evans and Livingston's "Buttons & Bows"), Henry Mancini, Michael Feinstein (taking notes), Hal David, Pete Rugulo, Betty Rose and Frank De Vol ... On hand for Cybill Shepherd's singing bow at the Moonlight Tango Cafe were music vets Dionne Warwick, Julie London and Bobby Troup. Cybill got a standing ovation ... Newcomer Lee Newman and the Hollywood Highs bow Sunday at the Roxy. "Newman" is Lee Kafafian, son of Eddie K. ... Project Angel Food benefits from tonight's Gay Men's Chorus bash at Emporio Armani.