• The Goss
• S Club 7 gets a warning
• Edge
• Clothes line
• Atomic Liz collapses backstage
• www.and YOUR college.com
• Madness and mayhem at Ubu Rex
• 

The Goss

Czechmate: Farrell fends off attackers 

While on location in the Czech city of Prague for Hart's War, the Irish actor successfully fended off would-be muggers. Farrell, producer David Ladd, and five unidentified crewmembers from the MGM production were set upon by "gypsies" in the wee hours. 

Ladd was robbed, but Farrell reportedly defended himself, even sending one of his attackers flying. Ladd said, "If you're dumb enough to go walking alone at 2 a.m. in any city - yes, even L.A. - an act like this can happen." 

Bruce Willis, who headlines the film, was not attacked. "No one made that fatal mistake," it was said. Now the members of the production are traveling in pairs when out and about in Prague, which has lately been the site of more and more foreign productions. 

The Jack the Ripper thriller from hell and the medieval adventure A Knight's Tale are just two of the films to have used the city's Barrandov Studios recently. 

The Hart's War production was plagued by a freak snowstorm, which hampered the outside shoot. 

Farrell signed on to the World War II prison camp drama after Edward Norton bowed out. 

The newcomer, who broke out last year in the indie Tigerland, also has a role in Minority Report, which began production in Los Angeles without him. A Fox rep tells us he'll join the Steven Spielberg-directed Report when he wraps his current film.

Cartoonist Hanna dies at 90

Hanna, the co-chairman and co-founder of Hanna Barbera Studios, died at his home in North Hollywood, Warner Bros. spokesman Scott Rowe said. He was 90 years old. The cause of death was not immediately released. 

Hanna and Barbera produced approximately 3,000 half-hour shows, creating such characters as Huckleberry Hound, Scooby-Doo, Yogi Bear, the Jetsons, the Flintstones and Josie and the Pussycats. The gangs of popular '70s cartoons Scooby-Doo and Josie are both heading for the big screen, proving just how much Hanna Barbera productions influenced their viewers. 

The two artists met on the lot of MGM in 1937, where they created the famed Tom and Jerry cartoon series. They formed their own animation company in 1957 after the phone rang and they were told that the animation division at MGM was being shut down. 

"You have to realize that two guys who worked for 20 years on Tom and Jerry and had won every award, including seven Oscars, could not understand why the phone rang and a voice said, 'Close the studio,'" Barbera, who is 89, said in an interview with the Los Angeles Times last year. He added, "There was no warning. It was just 'Close the studio.' We were the best in the business and what were we going to do now? Sell hamburgers?" 

Born in Melrose, N.M., in 1910, Hanna received early training as an engineer. He began his animation career during the Depression when he took a position in the ink and paint department of Hollywood's Harman-Ising studios. 

Oscars structure collapses injures 5 

The cause of the structure's collapse is still being investigated, but some bystanders told Variety a breeze may have triggered the incident by blowing a net into the bleacher area. 

Two people were on the scaffolding when it tumbled, while two others were working underneath. A fifth person was hurt trying to flee the bleachers, which hold journalists and other Oscar watchers at bay as celebs arrive at the gala event, when the scaffolding collapsed. 

According to Variety, one worker received neck and back injuries, while others had minor cuts and bruises. Some of the workers fell 20 feet to the ground when the structure crumbled. 

---

Oxygen to air banned Madonna video 

Oxygen, which was founded by Oprah Winfrey, former Nickelodeon channel head Geraldine Laybourne, and TV producer Marcy Carsey, reaches up to 12 million homes, according to the New York Post's Page Six. That's a lot of extra spins for the Material Girl's "What It Feels Like for a Girl" video, which was only shown once on MTV and VH1. 

The four-minute-plus video was lensed by Madonna's gun-friendly director hubby, Guy Ritchie, and follows the angry pop singer as she steals a car, joy-rides over hockey players and leering men, robs people, and points a water pistol at police. The ending is a question mark, leaving viewers wondering if Madonna's car crash is a fatal one. 

MTV previously censored Madonna's soft-core 1990 video for "Justify My Love," which boosted video sales of the banned clip. 

Her 1992 video for "Erotica" was played on the network, but only late at night.

S Club 7 gets a warning

The story did not end there as it emerged that the ruling labour party decided to drop plans to use one of S Club 7's hits 'Reach', to launch its election campaign. Labour had plans to use 'Reach' in the forthcoming general elections in the UK. In 1997 Mr. Blair's Labour party used DiReam's 'Things Can Only Get Better' to defeat the conservative government of John Major. 

Four years into government Prime Minister-Blair perhaps wanted to 'Reach' out to his people because of its inspiring sentiments. Further, it is believed S Club 7's wholesome image and the words of the song was very much in keeping with the new Labour image. The party is pleased the drug bust came before the song was chosen to accompany the election campaign. They are now looking for another song.

S Club 7 in early December 2000 topped the UK chart with 'Never Had A Dream Come True'. The song was released with Christmas in mind but it continues to get airplay even now. Here in Sri Lanka too the song seems to be a favourite. Last year the group won the BRIT Award for Best British Newcomer.

The five members of the pop group Hear'Say grace the top of the UK singles chart for the seemed consecutive week with their debut release 'Pure And Simple'. Last week the song broke the record for the fastest selling debut single. There is no end to the airplay 'Pure And Simple' is receiving across the radio stations in the UK. The single has now sold over 900,000 copies. This is great manufactured music for the teenagers. Of course lots of mamas and papas are going to like the song too. The group Hear'Say comprises Noel Sullivan, Myleene Klass, Kym Marsh, Danny Foster and Suzanne Shaw.

Former No:1 'It Wasn't Me' 

by Shaggy moved up a notch to No: 2 this week. 'It Wasn't Me' debuted at No: 1 three weeks ago. Two weeks ago 'Uptown Girl' the charity single by Westlife knocked out Shaggy from the top slot. Sales apparently picket up with good airplay and club backing and thanks to the vocals of Rikrok 'It Wasn't Me' looks upward.

The Stenoph- onics are back in the chart with a new release at No: 5 called Mr. Writer. This entry comes since they teamed up with fellow Welshman Tom Jones on the cover version 'Mama Told Me Not To Come'. The song 'Hurry Up & Wait', which peaked at No: 11 in November '99, was taken from the album 'Performers & Cocktails'. Mr. Writer' is a slow track, one that hits you the first time you hear it. The video too for the single is rather colourful as the group members appear upto a point as clowns. All scenes are connected with the lyrics.

Geri Halliwell the ex- Spice Girl was reported to be devasted after she lost œ80,000 worth of personal belongings from her flat in Notting Hill, London. Geri's flat was broken into last week..

Pop queen Madonna goes Continental as she is to star in a car advertisement for BMWs shortly. The singer's performance on camera will be directed by husband Guy Ritchie.

It was announced that Bob 

Dylan, Neil Young and Beck will appear at the Roskilde 2001 festival in Scandavania. 

Six people were killed in a stampede at last year's festival.

More Mirror Magazine

Return to Mirror MagazineContents