• December 12, 1983
• Vol. 20
• No. 24

Take One

By Fred Bernstein

Publishers are hoping Michael Jackson, who has had an unbelievable six records in the Top 10 this year (exceeded only by the Beatles' 11 in 1964), can work his magic on their hit parade, the best-seller lists. The competition is intense for a planned book of Michael's poetry, photos and paintings; Doubleday has even sent Jacqueline Onassis to L.A. to woo the singer. Meanwhile, Pinnacle books will rush Michael!, its paperback Jackson bio, into the racks by mid-February. Among the few things the 200-plus page book doesn't reveal is that Michael had a nose job sometime last year. According to author Mark Bego, "I didn't need to say it; the photographs speak for themselves." Not quite. When Bego submitted 14 shots for the singer's approval, Jackson nixed every one showing him with his not-yet-narrowed proboscis. The star ruled them out not by tearing them up but, candidly, by crossing out the bothersome noses.

John Denver, who has often told friends he'd like to explore the cosmos, has petitioned NASA to allow him onto the space shuttle. Denver, a longtime NASA booster, reportedly wrote the agency that his show business experience makes him "qualified to communicate the space experience to the broadest audience." But NASA, which hopes to be able to take four civilians into space by 1990, "hasn't even established the process by which to choose them," according to a spokesman, so it can't say yet if John has the right stuff. Among the other celebs who have said they'd like to put on space suits are Walter Cronkite, James Michener, Bob Hope and Zsa Zsa Gabor. Now, if they all make it, one pioneering flight could yield some sweet music, umpteen newscasts, one very long novel, one Christmas special and, perhaps, an eighth husband. Most rock stars wouldn't think of going out in a limo unequipped with bar, TV, videotape player and one-way (mirrored) glass, which means limo companies are finding themselves saddled with over-the-hill models. That's why one New York rental service is grateful to Jackie Onassis, who makes a point of ordering "nondescript" transportation. Jackie prefers her limousines to be at the very least two years old, blue, gray or black (never white or New Wave pink or purple) and equipped with plain old two-way glass.

Mel Ferrer, long known as Audrey Hepburn's first husband, and Jane Wyman, a/ k/ a Ronald Reagan's first wife, will wed again—on Falcon Crest next spring. Their characters, who have been showing interest in each other since the middle of last season, will tie the knot in an episode scheduled to be shot in January. The show's producers have gone to extraordinary lengths to keep the nuptial a secret. So don't tell anyone.

Art Garfunkel can't be too happy that Paul Simon removed his vocal tracks from Simon's new Hearts and Bones LP. (The disc was recorded as an S&G reunion before Paul decided that the songs were "too personal" to be sung by anyone but himself.) But songwriter Jimmy Webb, whose All I Know became the first Top 10 hit of Art's solo career in 1973, has no such problems. Garfunkel will debut Webb's The Animal's Christmas, a nativity theme cantata, at benefits in New York and London later this month. The London performance will be conducted by Beatles' producer George Martin.