Making a New Friend
Series irregular Bruce Willis adds jolt to the Java at the Central Perk coffee shop

Focus

Bruce Willis isn't Moonlighting, but he is Moonlighting. The $20-mil-per-pic star will appear in three episodes of Friends during spring sweeps, playing Paul Stevens, the dashing, widowed father of Ross's (David Schwimmer's) new 20-year-old girlfriend. How did he get roped into doing a TV sitcom for considerably less than his usual fee? Friends' Matthew Perry, Willis's costar in The Whole Nine Yards, suggested the gig. Willis liked the idea. Done deal.

Although the sitcom has featured other guest stars this season—Elle Macpherson played Matt LeBlanc's roommate, Reese Witherspoon played Jennifer Aniston's little sister, and noted designer Ralph Lauren played noted designer Ralph Lauren—Willis's arrival created a special buzz the moment taping for the three consecutive episodes—the first airs April 27—began on the show's Burbank set. NBC says that Willis's paycheck, an amount it won't divulge, will go straight to charity.

Despite rumors to the contrary, NBC says that Willis won't be back in the fall. The network does want the series' six stars to return, and that may cost a bundle. Friends' ensemble cast, whose contracts are up for renewal, currently earn a reported $120,000 each per episode. Sources close to the show say that number could rise to $600,000 for the upcoming season. As they have in the past, Friends' friends will negotiate as a unit. Says actor LeBlanc's representative Nancy Kane: "They're one for all and all for one. Always."

Elton Says it with Diamonds
Elton John was all smiles at last week's opening of Aida, his new Broadway musical (written with Tim Rice) based on the same legend as the Verdi opera. Quite a switch from his diva-like performance a few weeks back, when Elton stormed out of a preview because of problems with two songs in the Disney-produced show. Disney chief Michael Eisner minimized the tantrum. "He was tired," Eisner says. "He was coming from the Grammys." Adds Heather Headley, who plays Aida: "We all just came together and dealt with it." Before the first curtain, Elton—showing his gracious side—gave the three leading cast members diamond necklaces.

She's Got a (Movie) Secret
Pssst! In the romantic comedy High Fidelity, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Bruce Springsteen make surprise appearances without mention in the credits. Brad Pitt and Sean Penn did nameless drop-ins in Being John Malkovich. Alec Baldwin did likewise in Notting Hill. Why so humble? Often it's the buddy system. Springsteen's a pal of John Cusack's, High Fidelity's star. Penn knew Malkovich producer Steve Golin. "There are a lot of people in the movie who are friends," says Golin.

Lecturing Lords in London
Yusuf Islam, the artist formerly known as Cat Stevens, dropped by London's House of Lords last week to talk about "the horrors which are happening more and more in schools"—he cites murders, pregnancies and drugs—and to support the continuation of a government ban on classroom discussion of homosexuality. He-also used the occasion to plug his new children's CD, A Is for Allah, calling it "a syllabus for developing the most sorely lacking quality in young souls: moral consciousness." Don't think it will break the Hot 100? Consider this: Following his speech, Islam, 52, was presented with a platinum CD to mark the sale of at least 350,000 copies of his 1995 recording The Life of the Last Prophet. The singer, who as Stevens was responsible for the '70s hits "Wild World" and "Peace Train," changed his name and took up Muslim beliefs in 1977, after crediting God with saving him from drowning.

Supported Actress
Where did Julia Roberts, with her 34B bust, get the ample cleavage she proudly displays in Erin Brockovich? In part from Shoshanna Lonstein, Jerry Seinfeld's ex and now a clothing designer. Roberts sports an uplifting white floral corseted bustier from Lonstein's spring 1999 collection in the hit movie. But Lonstein, 24, says, "I had absolutely nothing to do with it." She caught her film debut like everyone else—at the movie theater. Brockovich's costume designer Jeffrey Kurland bought the item off the rack and rebuilt it, creating Roberts's distinctive look.

Name That Blonde

The little girls understand, but their parents? Just when you think you can sort out the latest female teenage pop sensation—you know, the one with the blonde hair, perfect teeth and precocious cleavage who sings that hook-laden sweet/flirty/innocent/teasing song about newfound/lost/unrequited love—another upwardly nubile competitor suddenly appears, adding to the confusion.

With that in mind, Scoop presents a quick guide for the pop-chart challenged. Remember: Britney is the one with the Yorkshire terrier named Mitzi.

BRITNEY SPEARS, 18
She's the one...who denies having breast implants.
Recognize her by...bust-emphasizing clothes that feed implant rumors.

CHRISTINA AGUILERA, 19
She's the one...and only one, so far, to win a Grammy.
Recognize her by...her frequent Total Request Live appearances on MTV.

MANDY MOORE, 15
She's the one...who's also a Neutrogena spokeswoman.
Recognize her by...what else? A squeaky-clean complexion to die for.

JESSICA SIMPSON, 19
She's the one...who plans to stay a virgin until marriage.
Recognize her by...the guy on her arm, 98 Degrees hunk Nick Lachey.

POP QUIZ

with Dolly Parton

Five years ago, Dolly Par-ton began donating books to preschool children in her native Sevier County, Tenn. To date her Imagination Library reading program has given away 100,000 volumes. Last week at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., Parton, 54, said she and her business partners will donate $7 million to expand the program to other parts of the country. Scoop joined the question-and-answer session that followed.

What book had the greatest effect on you?

Well, I guess the Bible, actually, because that's the one that I heard first and learned first. And The Little Engine That Could—I always loved that story when I was a kid. And I love fairy tales.

The South is still the subject of comedians' jokes about ignorance. How long will that go on? As long as we are ignorant! [laughs] I think we're doing our part to try to change it. That's why we are here talking about education, talking about books. There's great people in the South. We are not ignorant; most of us are just uneducated, and I think that's where it comes from. [Some of] the smartest people I know are people that can't read and write. Like my daddy. He don't even know how to write our names and read our names, but you give him a project or something to do, and he's just brilliant.

Do you have experts consulting you about literacy?

I would never even dream of taking it on myself to pick a book for a young child to read. But we do have a wonderful committee of people who decide.

Do you have advice for the government in this area?

I try not to get too involved in any political issues, but I think the government as well as parents and communities, organizations—everybody should get involved.

What reading do you enjoy?

I love everything. I read a lot of spiritual books. But I love every great new book that comes out, all the bestsellers. My favorite southern writer now, this day and time, is a lady named Lee Smith of North Carolina.

Why are you a role model?

Nobody's perfect, me of all people. But I have a good time, and I try to just stand up for things that I do believe in and be honest and fair about that. And if I've meant something to somebody, especially a young person-to be a role model, you know, that's a wonderful compliment.

ON THE BLOCK

NATALIE'S NEST
Pop princess Natalie Imbruglia, who began her show business career in a popular Australian soap opera called Neighbours, is getting some new ones of her own. The 25-year-old singer recently purchased a home in ritzy Windsor, just outside of London and a short carriage ride from the castle Queen Elizabeth calls home. Imbruglia reportedly paid $2.3 million for the house, which is located on an island in the Thames and, according to the Windsor Express, has five bedrooms, an indoor swimming pool and a gym. All that should add up to a peaceful retreat—assuming that one new neighbor, ex-Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page, keeps his amps turned down.

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