'Jerusalem 3000' looks to make trio of specs

GOOD MORNING: Hold the date(s)! Sept. 3-8, 1995, launches "Jerusalem 3000" and industry leaders will be in receipt this week of a request to serve on an "Artist's Committee" for what is anticipated to be an unprecedented trio of specials. Gary Smith (Smith-Hemion) is back after eight days' meetings in Israel with leaders including Jerusalem Mayor Ehud Olmen, ex-Mayor Teddy Kollek (no stranger to Hollywood), and the official committee, which includes Zev Birger, former head of the Israeli Film Commission, Yossi Tel-Gan, Zachi Becker and IMG's Barry Frank, Sean McManus, Geoff Wight and Dan Levy. IMG is the largest promoter of international cultural events and it is their happy responsibility to obtain the corporate sponsorship -- and eventual network-plus coverage. As Smith, a veteran of giant television events, unspooled plans to me Monday morning, it was obvious this is going to be his TV chef d'oeuvre, with the creme de la creme of show business (hopefully) vying to be a part of this celebration of Jerusalem's 3,000th birthday. The opening night is planned to be a "private" ceremony at David's City just outside the south wall, where a sculpture will be unveiled by world leaders, religious and otherwise. The sculpture will hold three flames (Judaic, Islamic and Christian symbols), to burn throughout the year's celebration. The two days -- Sept. 4-5 next year -- following the private ceremony will boast two 2-hour specials -- the first at the Citadel, where 3,000 will be seated in the beautiful 2,600-year-old walled, terraced site. The shows will be beamed globally, with a maximum 5-7 hour time delay before it's aired in the U.S. The third event by the Hollywood team will be at the Gaff Gate to the Old City of Jerusalem, where hosts will introduce segs of historical importance to close the opening ceremonies week. Jerusalem's mayor visits L.A. Sept. 16-18 when the Smiths will introduce him to the showbiz community. "This is an opportunity to make a great statement," Gary enthuses. "It will be inspirational, of course," he notes, "but it will be entertaining." The events that follow throughout the year following the opening days' specials will range from a Franco Zeffirelli-directed "Sight and Sound Spectacular" to a "King David's Feast" by the Intl. Chefs' Assn.

GLENN CLOSE'S LOVING PARTNER IN NBC's "Serving in Silence" will be portrayed by Judy Davis. Close plays Col. Margarethe Cammermeyer, who, after serving in Vietnam, was discharged from the Army because she is gay. She won her appeal and is now in the National Guard -- but the case is still being fought by the Army. Natch, the U.S. Army is not cooperating with the making of this special -- so they're shooting in Vancouver, where the Canadian Army, which lifted its ban on gays in the military long ago, is cooperating fully. The script's by Alison Cross, who wrote (and was Emmy'd) for "Roe vs. Wade." Cammermeyer was once married and has two teenage sons ... The NBC vidpic is being produced by Barbra Streisand, Close, Cis Corman, Neil Meron and Craig Zadan. Jeff Bleckner directs. Streisand, who cruised up to Victoria Island, is expected on the Vancouver location momentarily. She's in constant conversations with her co-producers. And Zadan tells me, "She and Glenn Close have promised to be involved in the promotion of this show to get the largest audience." He also noted that everyone is working for less than usual pay to get the message across: The budget is around $ 3 million. He recalls, "When we were trying to do this story, everyone told us to forget it -- until we got Barbra and Glenn. Then everyone wanted to do it!" Wouldn't you? Glenn flew Cammermeyer, stationed in Seattle, to see her in "Sunset Boulevard" in L.A., and the colonel visits the location this week ... One week after Close closes the TV'er, she heads to N.Y. for rehearsals for her "Sunset Boulevard" Nov. 17 B'way bow. She barely had time between winding her (large) cameo in "Mary Reilly" (as madam of a brothel) in London to wing here for "Serving in Silence"... Zadan and Meron, who produced the multi-Emmy-nominated "Gypsy," also confabbed with Bette Midler during her Vancouver concert stand about TV'ing "Lotte Lenya."

ANOTHER "SUPERMAN'S" blueprinted to take flight -- this time under the aegis of Jon Peters at WB ... Genevieve Bujold will captain the "Star Trek: Voyager(s)" on Par's network for producer Rick Berman. Agent Merritt Blake sent Bujold into space ... Lisa Marie Presley Jackson wasn't spotted among the wedding party Michael gave for his bodyguard Miko Brando at his Neverland ranch last Saturday. Michael winged back to her in N.Y. -- and his recording sessions -- soon as the wedding wound. One of the 12 men in the wedding party was Jon Lovitz. All were tuxedo'd by Rick Pallack.