The premiere of the new ballet film The Turning Point was tout New York's celeb event of the week. Stars Shirley MacLaine and dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov showed in his-and-her tuxes. Jackie O entered on the arm of Oliver Smith of the American Ballet Theater. Diane von Furstenberg popped over, as did Leonard Bernstein with daughter Jamie. But the town's new prima donna in residence wanted things more her way. Her agent scurried over to ask that the screening be delayed for 45 minutes till she was finished working on the new movie she's shooting. Oh, and could they have some McDonald's hamburgers on hand because she hadn't had dinner? Doing a fast burn, the management said no way. So Farrah Fawcett-Majors, arriving 20 minutes after the projector rolled, had to settle for a supper of candy bars from a lobby vending machine.
Swing Low
Who's the grooviest swinger in showbiz? The title's for grabs on every playground but the golf links—where the rankings are a matter of record. According to the last count of a Palm Springs tourney director, Dina Merrill is the leading lady with a handicap of 17, with diva Dorothy Kirsten a distant second at 22, followed by Dinah Shore and Rita Hayworth at 24. Among the men Wayne Rogers is given 16 strokes, Gene Barry 14, while Bob Hope, Robert Stack, astronaut Alan Shepard and announcer Bud Palmer are tabbed at 12. Among the heavier hitters are Efrem Zimbalist Jr. (11) and rhine-stone putter Glen Campbell (6). Who's the best? Well, ask modest Jim Garner what's his handicap and he'll reply, shucks: "Golf." (It's really 4.)
Corn Again
For the soon-to-shoot $3 million movie adaptation of his book, Born Again, Chuck Colson's still casting about for a realistically aged and jowly lookalike to play his ex-boss Richard Nixon. The paunchy 46-year-old Colson himself will be limned by cherubically handsome Disney actor (and fellow born-again Christian) Dean Jones, 41. Singer Pat Boone, who put the deal together, and exec producer Robert Munger—they attend the same church—are sure audiences will stay awake in their pews during this Watergate rehash. "We'll appeal to an audience of young Christians," says Munger, "who are sick of movies about Christians showing a Marjoe or an Elmer Gantry or some other idiot ripping off the congregation."
Gay Abandon
Campaigning in Detroit for the successful reelection of Mayor Coleman Young, heavyweight champ Muhammad Ali reeled when an ardent male admirer rushed up and threw his arms around him. "You kissin' on me like that, you blow my whole thing," cried Ali, who then countered with a limp-wristed monologue about "sissies." Ali continued to overplay the number until a sotto voce cue from the mayor led him into a sudden apology to the crowd. "The mayor says," Ali confided out loud, " 'Champ, champ, I need the sissy vote too.' "
Welcome Home, Mrs. Goodbar
Let's see. Judith Rossner sold the paperback and film rights to Looking for Mr. Goodbar for $550,000. Then her new novel, Attachments, drew $800,000 for paperback alone, and negotiations for a two-part TV version have reached the $50 martini lunch level. So what did Rossner get from 11-year-old son Danny when she returned home after an early promo tour? "What's for dinner?" bleated Danny to his 42-year-old divorcée mother. "Just because you've written a best-seller, don't think you don't have to cook anymore."
Furthermore
•Surely it's not a result of his recent dust-up with Gore Vidal, but pugnacious author Norman Mailer, 54, seems to be taking his roadwork as seriously as his honor. Stormin' Norman huffs and shadowboxes through his morning jog in Brooklyn Heights these days wearing white satin Everlast boxing trunks.
•"I think The Honeymooners is the best show ever on TV, drama or comedy," quoth Jackie Gleason, now 61. "Anyone in show business who plays 'humble' is full of crap. You gotta have a pretty good opinion of yourself going in, and I always had that, always! Forty-fifty million people don't get riveted by 'humble.' "
Saved by the Bell Reunion
The hookups, the meltdowns, the memoires
The case reveals what was really going on what they think of each other now!
