Hollywood Exclusive by Marilyn Beck & Stacy Jenel Smith

Martin Landau Should Reap Rewards from 'Lovely, Still'/Who Should Replace Dr. Laura?

If the Sept. 10-opening "Lovely, Still" makes a splash in the indie film world, a major share of the credit will have to go to Martin Landau, who stars in the tale of an old man who falls in love for the first time.

Landau was on hand to promote the film — which also stars the lovely, still Ellen Burstyn — when it was shown at the Toronto, Chicago and Milwaukee Film festivals. He was there when it screened at an AARP conclave in Las Vegas, where, he says, "It got a standing ovation, though I joke that most of us had trouble standing."

The esteemed Oscar-winning 82-year-old thespian explains, "I'm behind this movie because I really, really like it a lot." In fact, he helped the movie get made.

When he first heard that director Nicholas Fackler "had written a film for me, I said, 'How old is he?' thinking this was someone 40, 50 years old. They said, '22.' And I said, 'Wow, I've got to go meet with this guy.'"

Landau subsequently told Fackler the script needed some changes, but "'If you want to work with me, I'll do your movie.'" He says they spoke a couple of times a week over the next two months, going over every page.

"We had a short list of actresses we wanted, and Ellen's name was at the top. When the script was about 90 percent there, I said, 'Send it to Ellen now. I think she'll like it.' A few days later, the phone rang, and it was Ellen, and she said, 'Marty, what are we going to do in Omaha for seven weeks?'" — because that was where they'd be heading on location.

Along with Mark Rydell, Landau is executive director of The Actors Studio's West Coast Branch, while Burstyn is co-president of The Actors Studio in New York with Al Pacino and Harvey Keitel. Landau admits he thought that if Fackler had problems on set, "Ellen and I could help him out." However, Fackler proved up to the task of directing. "He reminds me of Tim Burton in many ways — very, very creative."

With "Lovely, Still" soon to be released, Landau and Burstyn are due to re-team before the cameras next month in Wisconsin for a whole different movie — an untitled ensemble drama by "another young guy, Sam Levinson, Barry Levinson's son. It's about a family that's dysfunctional and functional at the same time," he reports. Ellen Barkin and Demi Moore also star.

Landau is also among the stars featured in PBS's "Pioneers of Television" series this fall, and "I just did an episode of 'The Simpsons.' I never had done one before," he reports.

"I play a crazy European magician. It was fun."

He adds, "I like to stay busy." Obviously.

AIRTIME: So Dr. Laura is taking herself off the radio because she feels censored. Ironic, isn't it? After she's spent a quarter-century on the air preaching her views and dispensing judgments on the rabble from atop her mighty broadcast throne, she's obviously taking it very hard that people are censuring her for her use of the N-word.

That's censure, not censor.

"I want to say what's on my mind," she declared. One can't help wondering what she thinks she's been doing all this time.

But anyway, now on to the question of who can replace her. It doesn't have to be a psychologist. You may recall that Dr. Laura's doctorate is in physiology. Someone with a gift of gab is required, as is an ability to give advice to those who call into the show in an entertaining way — or to tell them off. Of course, there are dozens, nay, scores of radio talkers already out there poised to go gunning for her timeslots. Perhaps an unknown will rise up from their ranks.

As far as star names? Hm. Naomi Judd, Sheryl Lee Ralph? Too nice. Before Whoopi Goldberg came aboard "The View," Kathie Lee Gifford, Nancy Grace and Joan Rivers were among the women in the mix for that job. Perhaps one of them could step up to the mic and replace Dr. Laura. Each of the three has other gigs, but personalities have been known to juggle radio and TV shows before. Each could easily be imagined telling callers what to do with their lives, cackling and appealing to that masochistic streak that's prompted so many to call Dr. Laura for a public chewing-out.

CHANGING THEIR TUNE: BET is lining up names for its forthcoming talent competition, "I Can Sing, Too" — which will feature personalities who are already famous as athletes, designers, actors, talking heads or in any field outside of music, trying to prove to the world that they've got vocal chops, too.

NO SMALL PARTS: Alex Gibney, who previously brought us "Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson," is prepping for an early September production start on his feature-length "Magic Bus" documentary — about Ken Kesey and his Merry Prankster pals on their notorious cross-country trek to New York in a school bus in 1964. The film team has been talking to actors about re-enactment roles in the true-life tale. Among others, they were looking for a hippie chick who'll be seen topless. Hey, this is one doc that won't be dull.

A 10-12-year-old actress who can pass for young Reese Witherspoon is being added to the cast of "How Do You Know?" That's James L. Brooks' forthcoming romantic comedy feature for Columbia that also stars Paul Rudd, Owen Wilson and Jack Nicholson.

To find out more about Marilyn Beck and Stacy Jenel Smith and read their past columns, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.

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