Rockettes celebrating 75 years

HBO readies for 'Bad Road'

By LIZ SMITH

THE ROCKETTES are starring onstage this year. Their 75 year history is examined and they do their stuff in number after number. The first 15 minutes opening this show is one of the most thrilling things I've ever sat through. Santa's 3-D arrival over Manhattan has been pumped up to the max. The curtain then rises just a bit to show only the Rockettes' legs with their reindeer hooves jingling on display. And it wasn't just kids screaming in the audience, but gangs of grown up fans. And they've kept my favorite, the toppling of the toy soldiers, dressed in the same costumes designed for them years ago by Vincent Minnelli!

IN MARCH, HBO will begin airing a series called "12 Miles of Bad Road," of which at least five shows are already in the can. The women behind this show are Lily Tomlin and producer Linda Bloodworth-Thomason. Lily will be portraying Amelda Shakespeare, the matriarch of a big sprawling rich, rich, rich Texas family. Her sister in this show is Mary Kay Place and their cousin is Leslie Jordan. The Shakespeares might even resemble the grand King Ranch family! I was invited to "act" in this drama comedy so, of course, I said yes. I will appear for a brief moment in "12 Miles of Bad Road," probably as the Road. ... Jerry Seinfeld and his new friendly "crush," a man he admires and wants to emulate, Ralph Lauren, have been hanging out together a lot lately. Jerry is reported to have said he has now personally embraced Ralph's philosophy of life. "Just keep it simple!" says Jerry.

THE CINEMA Society, which always puts on those deliciously intimate NYC screenings, is really aflutter, anticipating Madonna, who will accompany husband Guy Ritchie to the premiere of his compelling thriller, "Revolver" on Sunday. Andrew Saffir, the big man behind these events, says, "The word is out. Everybody in the world wants in!" ... Do you think John Lennon fans are upset that Yoko Ono has licensed his original "Real Love" song for use in a commercial by JC Penney? Oh, please, it'll be nice to hear it again in any context ... Nobody cares that the super popular Derek Jeter goes around promoting Ford cars and trucks, while his own choice seems to be a Ferrari. And why not? Let's don't get all bent out of shape over that old devil advertising.