CELEBRITY WATCH
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From staff and wire reports

'Grease' is the word -- again

HOLLYWOOD, California -- More summer lovin' is coming to a TV screen near you.

According to Variety, ABC has reached a deal with Paramount Network Television to produce an updated version of "Grease," the Broadway hit and the 1978 feature film starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John.

Didi Conn, who played beauty school dropout Frenchy in the big screen "Grease" and its 1982 sequel, is spearheading the TV project and will serve as executive producer, according to Variety.

The new "Grease" movie will be set in 1979 -- 20 years after the original movie -- and will explore the original characters of "Grease," as well as their children.

ABC is aiming for a release sometime in 2002.

Charles, looking for someone to dance with?

LONDON, England -- Prince Charles, a fan of the cancan?

Apparently so. The prince attended the premiere of the movie musical "Moulin Rouge" in London on Monday, chatting it up with star Nicole Kidman and skimpily dressed line dancers in attendance.

Charles asked the dancers if they were going to perform at the West End screening, and exclaimed "Hooray!" when they said yes, The Associated Press reports.

"I'm interested to see what these ladies have to do," he told Kidman. "Did you have to do it, too?"

Yes," she said. "But I'm not doing it tonight."

In the film, Kidman plays a performer and prostitute at the famous 1890s Parisian cabaret Moulin Rouge. It's directed by Baz Luhrmann and also stars Ewan McGregor.

Mamet's 'Heist' explores American violence

VENICE, Italy -- Violence and America go hand in hand, according to David Mamet.

The Pulitzer Prize-winning writer and director premiered his new movie, "Heist," at the Venice Film Festival. Mamet says the film's violence makes it a good metaphor for America, according to The Associated Press.

"Heist" screened to rave reviews Sunday at the festival. It stars Gene Hackman as an ex-con who plots the biggest jewelry theft of his career after his partners-in-crime turn on him.

Danny DeVito, Laurence Fishburne, and Mamet's real-life wife, Rebecca Pidgeon, also star.

"Heist" opens in American theaters October 19.

Russell: Marilyn needed sisterly love

LOS ANGELES, California -- Jane Russell talked about a former colleague at a convention for film fans on Sunday.

Appearing at the Cinecon film festival, Russell, 80, talked about what it was like to work with Marilyn Monroe -- or, what it was like to take care of her.

Russell recalled making the 1953 film "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" with Monroe. Russell says Monroe was often nervous, and she helped her by walking to the set with her each day.

"I don't know why people wouldn't do that with her later," she said, according to The Associated Press. "Go get her, don't sit there and sulk."

She noted that Monroe was five years younger than her, saying, "It was like working with a little sister."