• December 13, 1999
• Vol. 52
• No. 23

Insider

By Nancy Perry Graham

Madonna, who usually strives to keep her music as original as her hairstyles, has just finished recording a new version of an old favorite—Don McLean's "American Pie." The choice was inspired by a scene in her new film, The Next Best Thing, in which she and Rupert Everett star as best friends who decide to raise a baby. At an emotional high point in the movie, the costars join in singing a portion of the pop classic. "Madonna felt really challenged to make a fresh version of the song, since it's something everybody knows," says my source. "So she went into the studio with William Orbit [producer of her recent Grammy-winning album] and they put the Orbit-Madonna spin on it." The single will be out in early 2000.

Fish-fanciers who wandered into the New World Aquarium in Manhattan's Greenwich Village in mid-November were shocked to run into actors Adam Sandler, Rob Schneider and a bunch of male extras wearing Speedos. Sandler and Schneider took over the store while making a Comedy Central promo for their upcoming film, Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo. The film, which Sandler is coexecutive producing and which stars Schneider and Oded Fehr (The Mummy), will be released on Dec. 10.

Jennifer Tilly accidentally became the owner of a $8,625 black-velvet dress at the recent Marilyn Monroe auction after bidding on the wrong item in the catalogue. She had meant to try for a beaded black crepe dress that eventually sold for $29,900. Although her surprise purchase had "a bunch of holes in it," Tilly says, she turned down another bidder's offer to take it off her hands. "I could feel the spirit of Marilyn when I put it on," says the actress, who reports that the frock fits her, although snugly. She plans to restore the dress and wear it.

Sarah Ferguson's sister Jane Luedecke is planning one of the more extravagant Y2K celebrations I've heard about. She is one of the hosts of the Ultimate Millennium Experience, which will take approximately 100 people around the world in 20 days, at a cost of roughly $40,000 per person. The revelers will arrive at the Plaza Hotel in New York City on Dec. 29 and spend the next few days going on exclusive tours of Harlem and Wall Street. They will also take in a Broadway show of their choice, at which they can go backstage if they like. On Jan. 3 the partyers will head to Jamaica and then on to Cuba, where they will be the dinner guests of President Fidel Castro. Final stops are Brazil and Kenya before Luedecke and her travelling companions finish up their journey in either Sydney, London or the U.S. on Jan. 17.

Fast Takes: Nicolas Cage was so taken with the elegant suit made by Chicago haberdasher Oxxford Clothes that he wears in the upcoming film Family Man, he ordered three of the custom-made creations for his personal wardrobe....

Look for two-time Emmy winner Bebe Neuwirth (Cheers) to play the voice of Juliette, Salem the cat's new love interest on ABC's Sabrina, the Teenage Witch, beginning Dec. 10. (Earlier talks between Sabrina producers and Whoopi Goldberg about the role fell apart.)

• Contributors:
• Hugh McCarten.

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