Biopic no must-see for Taylor
GOOD MORNING: Saw. So? Sue? I asked Elizabeth Taylor what she thought of "Liz: The Elizabeth Taylor Story," NBC's mini that aired its first seg Sunday night (and wound Monday) ..."I watched Barbra" Streisand, said Elizabeth. She said she didn't have to look at a TVersion of her life. I told her I'd also spoken to Debbie Reynolds. Reynolds said she was furious, "on her (Elizabeth's) behalf. I'm outraged. And I'd be happy to be a part of it (Taylor's lawsuit). I'm not mad at the actors -- I don't judge actors. Every actor needs a job. It just shouldn't have been done. I believe in the truth. There were so many incorrect things. And it was a great invasion of privacy. I don't care about me, I'm only a small part of the story. The whole production was disturbing and a sad commentary about my friend." I asked Debbie if she was indeed a "friend" of Elizabeth's? "We're not social friends, but I rejected this intrusion into her life. I'm upset for her. It's not the truth. And I was there for many of those moments. I'm not a legend. Elizabeth is a living legend. This was an evil deed. Everyone was depicted incorrectly -- Montgomery Clift, Michael Wilding, who was the sweetest man I'd ever known, depicted as a fop, which he certainly was not, also Rock Hudson, Jimmy Dean, Mike Todd -- my son is named after him!"... When I reported the above to Elizabeth, she said, "It was so sweet of Debbie" to express her anger and offer support. And Taylor said she'd call to thank Debbie. Apart from the above, Elizabeth was in great spirits, said her health is excellent, except for her back, which, as usual, "is crappy." But her hip's OK "and I've been walking around in high heels for a month." As I reported Friday, she was photo'd for her new Black Pearls scent and says she will travel for her AIDS Foundation. She limits her social life to private dinners and parties at home with her (nine) grandchildren. Her physical activity is limited to the swimming pool ... As for a return to showbiz, she is "tempted" by a project in England --"a character part" with John Gielgud. She has no agent or business manager --"just me -- and my attorney," Neil Papiano. She reported husband Larry Fortensky is now sporting a "good-looking ruddy beard." She likes it ... Neil Papiano, Taylor's attorney, has seen the TV biopic and hewill probably commence legal action in a week ... Debbie said she watched the Taylor mini at home in her hotel in Las Vegas -- on a rare night off. She does eight shows a week. Talk continues of Debbie playing daughter Carrie Fisher's mom in Roseanne's "Absolutely Fabulous" series. Carrie's with her 2 1/2 -year-old daughter Billie in Australia. They went there instead of Disneyland, laughed grandma Debbie.
"DIARY OF AN O.J. JUROR" will hit the book stalls in June with an initial printing of 500,000 copies from Dove. Monday, in Judge Manuel Real's federal courtroom, the publishers (Michael Viner) won the rights despite the state attorney general's office and L.A. district attorney's suit to stop Dove during the trial. Viner says the case is a victory for freedom of the press ... The ex-juror in the Simpson case, Michael Knox, was celebrating at Drai's with his wife, the Viners (Deborah Raffin) and Mike Walker, who co-wrote the book. He also authored "Nicole Brown Simpson: Diary of a Life Interrupted," also for Dove , which will soon hit the million-copy mark. "Diary of an O.J. Juror," the publishers predict, will change the jury system of sequestration ... With Michael Crawford enjoying a week off (every five) from "FX" at MGM's Grand Theater, Jay Leno played a couple of weekend shows there at $ 50,000 per. He dittos next weekend at Atlantic City's Caesars ... Anjelica Huston addresses grads of UCLA's School of Theater, Film & Television June 18. Dean Gil Cates also talks to the Bruin bunch on "Old Values, New Technology." They know whereof they'll speak.
BONANZA FOR BUXOM "BAYWATCH" star Pamela Anderson during her Cannes cavorting at Polygram's bigscreen bash bowing "Barb Wire," her feature starrer: Manager Ray Manzella, with her (and husband Tommy Lee) at the Hotel du Cap, also dashed to London Monday, where Anderson helped Richard Branson uncork his new drink, "Virgin Energy," for big bucks. Manzella also set Anderson for Foremost's new weight control product plus promos for Doritos. While this will be Anderson's last full season with "Baywatch," she probably will be back on the beach occasionally next season ... Donald O'Connor is the Thalians' 40th-anni "Mr. Wonderful." He'll be toasted Oct. 14 ... Sherry Lansing, Joan Ransohoff, Alice Sommer Gold and Wolfgang Puck host California Spirit XI's garden party for the American Cancer Society at Ron Burkle's Green Acres estate. Top restaurants will dish out their specialties June 11 ... Neile Adams plays the Cinegrill here Thursday before bowing at N.Y.'s Danny's Skylight Room ... Ann Gordon Rael, wife of Patti Page's manager/discoverer Jack Rael, died Sunday of lung cancer ... Virgin Records, whose roster includes the Rolling Stones and Janet Jackson, inked pianist-singer Hadda Brooks, 78, to an exclusive pact.
