Fleiss headed back to court

GOOD MORNING: Heidi Fleiss opened up her mouth on KABC radio's Michael Jackson's show May 31, and it's now gonna cost her another court appearance. She's being sued by Dove Audio and Michael Viner for her remarks. The complaints for damages, filed Friday in L.A. Superior Court by attorney Steven Soloway, cite slander, interference with contractual relations, intentional infliction of emotional distress and trade libel. Viner admits of Fleiss, "She has no money -- but it's the principle!" Heidi's radio remarks featured in the suit are about the authors of the Dove bestseller "You'll Never Make Love in This Town Again," and Viner and Dove's contractual relationship with Readers Digest. Fleiss' comments to Jackson are considered "slanderous words" as well as damaging by Viner and Dove -- $10 million is sought on one of the counts. Also sought are "special' and "punitive damages." And now, Dove and Viner are readying a second book, "Once More With Feeling -- You'll Never Make Love in This Town Again." And this time we're not pulling any punches!" sez Viner. "It's all new -- four different girls and new, and old, names -- and it's not just about hookers, but the drug scene." And Viner may soon file a suit vs. one of those "old-name" celebs who he sez is a player-instigator in the sexual-harassment suit brought against him -- Viner claims he has that celeb's admission on tape, with police clearance to do so ..."The Writer Got Screwed (But Didn't Have To)" (HarperCollins) author Brooke Wharton was happy to learn the Southern Calif. distributor for her book ran out of copies. But she's skedded for a book-signing Thursday at Dutton's -- if copies arrive on time.

SAILING'S DELAYED ON 20TH'S "OUT TO SEA" until Aug. 10, giving Jack Lemmon a break after the conclusion of "My Fellow Americans" and a little more time for Walter Matthau following his successful surgery -- from which he's made a complete recovery, I am told. The duo's "Grumpiest Old Men" also is delayed until April. Mark Steven Johnson is researching locations for 'Grumpiest"-- in Italy ... David Ogden Stiers records Disney's "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" for TheatreVision today. Also upcoming are "Twister" and "Flipper." And Paramount has given an OK for TheatreVision to create an audio track of "Mission: Impossible" for the visually impaired. This will present a truly challenging mission for a thesp to talk the pic's very visual story. Par previously also favored TheatreVision with its "Forrest Gump" and "Braveheart." Other big pics donated so far include "Pocahontas" and "Apollo 13." On June 24, Vision Awards will be presented at a BevHilton hotel gala, chaired by Barry London, to industryites who have been instrumental in supporting RP Intl.'s Helen Harris in her "Stop Blindness Campaign ... And on Tuesday, Steve Tisch and fiancee Jamie Alexander (they'll wed Oct. 19 in Napa) chair the HELP awards to Quincy Jones, David Salzman, Marlee Matlin and Metropolitan Theaters. Steve, last year's honoree, also is making a major contribution to the group's arts center for abused and disabled children. It is named the Steve Tisch Performing Arts Pavilion. Tisch also is chairman of the Capital Campaign for ERAS and on the board of AIDS Project-L.A. He maintains the community-giving tradition of the Tisch family. And says he "enjoys" it and has a "feeling of resentment for those in the industry who do not put something back into the community from which they have become so successful." Yes, he does find time to make movies -- just completed "Dear God" and 'Wild America," readying Chris Darden's "In Contempt," and produces "The Postman" with Kevin Costner and Jim Wilson, and is most excited about Fox 2000's "Last Train to Memphis," about the young Elvis.

A HAPPY KIRK DOUGLAS called to report that he and wife Anne are grandparents again. Son Peter Douglas and wife Lisa welcomed son Tyler Daniel D. June 7 in Montecito. The "Daniel" is for Danielovich, Kirk's real family name. Kirk happily told me, "And I detected a little hole in (the baby's) chin." Peter and his wife have a 3-year-old daughter, Kelsey. Peter is now in development at Paramount for a remake of the Rock Hudson starrer "Seconds," a new-identity story directed by John Frankenheimer in 1966 and interestingly lensed by James Wong Howe. ... The White House sets created by Castle Rock for "The American President" get another airing -- by Castle Rock -- in their "Absolute Power," directed, produced by and starring Clint Eastwood. This time the man in the Oval Office is Gene Hackman ... JFK's rocking chair, bought at auction by Carole Bayer Sager as a wedding present for Bob Daly, was viewed Saturday by guests at their wedding in their home ... The 10th Monty Hall Golf Tourney to benefit the U.S. Maccabiah Team is played today at El Caballero Country Club in Tarzana.