Those who actually care about the ongoing, seemingly endless and relentlessly tiresome matter of finding a general manager for McCormick Place are aware that half of the McCP board is in Gov. Jim Thompson`s corner-we`ll call those six the Irresistible Force-and the other half has pledged itself to Mayor Eugene Sawyer-and let`s name that group of six the Immovable Object. The scenario thus established, one is able to deduce something`s gotta give. INC. guesses that in the case of the new/old candidate who resurfaced last week, Caleel Johnson, it won`t be Thompson`s troops. The name of Johnson, now a mid- level manager at the Atlanta Convention Center, was originally submitted by the late Mayor Harold Washington`s Chief of Staff, Ernie ”the Atlanta Connection” Barefield-with the support of Jacky Grimshaw.
NO BIZ LIKE SHOW BIZ . . .
– Hickey-hockey: People magazine`s cover and story on Rambo`s reject Brigitte Nielsen and her hickeyed hubby-to-be, hunk Mark Gastineau, is one of the magazine`s funniest features yet. . . . Nancy ”The Facts of Life” McKeon and L.A. Kings hockey player Luc Robitaille still are spending his off-ice time together. . . . And Bernie Nicholls, also of the L.A. Kings, has been signed to costar with Elliott Gould (something of a hockey puck himself) in a movie called ”Singles.”
– Originality. Rest in peace: Extravaganza producer David Wolper announced several new projects this week-among them a ”Roots Christmas”
reunion that would feature Kunta Kinte (LeVar Burton) and Fiddler (Lou Gossett Jr.). Also still in the plans: a ”Welcome Back, Kotter” reunion. . . . And of course somebody (not Wolper) is working on ”Return” shows for ”The Six Million Dollar Man” and ”The Bionic Woman.” Mercy, mercy. And how come nobody`s working on ”Fantasy Island” and ”Love Boat” reunions? We must get Ruta Lee and Cesar Romero back to work.
– Down and dirty: In the Let`s Beat This to Death Department, a sports agent named David Fishoff claims to have purchased the rights to the ”Dirty Dancing” concept for a national tour. We assume that means some sort of live show a la ”Tango Argentino?” . . . Vestron Pictures is working on a television series pilot based on the ”Dirty Dancing” movie. . . . And ”DD” remains the No. 1 renting and selling home video (while the sound track remains No. 1 on the album charts).
THE RACKET RACKET . . .
For a guy with Sir in front of his name, Chicago Symphony Orchestra conductor Georg Solti is behaving like a regular fun person. Last year it was the Bears hat, now it`s a tennis thing. But we`re getting ahead of ourselves. When cool, rainy weather forced the Chicago Symphony Orchestra`s planned outdoor concert in Melbourne, Australia, indoors-into the gleaming new National Tennis Centre, Georg began the orchestra`s rehearsal by conducting with a tennis racket. . . . And former tennis ace Jimmy Connors still is raking in the money-for commercial endorsements. He`s pulling in $2 million for commercials for Nestles Crunch candy bars and Sony products.
REEL NEWS . . .
Some of the Los Angeles city officials who blasted the movie ”Colors”
last week have changed their minds. Originally, they were blasting the movie, in which Sean Penn and Robert Duvall play cops in a gang-infested area of the city, because they said it might incite further gang problems. Now they`ve said that`s not necessarily the case. What changed their minds? They saw the movie. Seems like it would have saved everyone a lot of trouble-and a lot of newsprint-if they`d seen the movie before they shot off their mouths about it. . . . Production costs are closing in on the $50 million mark for ”Who Framed Roger Rabbit?” the live-action-and-animat ion collaboration between Steven Spielberg, Disney Studios and Warner Brothers. The apparent lack of concern about the high price tag is because most of the production costs already are offset by contracts for merchandising deals based on the movie`s characters.
CHICAGO PLACES . . .
INC. hears plans are under study for turning the restaurant and retail space under Pioneer Court (next to Tribune Tower and in front of the Equitable Building) into a parking garage. The plaza in front of Equitable would be rebuilt as a grand entryway to the new NBC building (under construction behind The Tribune) and other office towers east of Michigan and north of the river. . . . Note to Cook County State`s Atty. Richard M. Daley: If you`re serious about tracking down the guys on your Top 10 list of child-support deadbeats, INC. sources report that the one who owed $63,500 spends an awful lot of time around River Shannon and the Ultimate Sports Bar.
CHICAGO FACES . . .
Judy Tenuta and Emo Phillips, whose strange comic talents were born (or is erupted a better word?) in Chicago, will cohost NBC-TV`s ”Friday Night Videos” on April Fools` Day. . . . Nick Celozzi Jr., son of Nick ”You Always Save More Money” Celozzi Sr., has just been signed to a four-month contract with ”Days of Our Lives.” He`ll play a gang leader named Viper.
THE ELECTION CONNECTION . . .
– Punch One? INC. hears that charges are pending in the Maywood branch of Cook County Circuit Court over an election day punch allegedly delivered by Proviso Township Republican Committeeman James Parrilli. The punchee was Melrose Park Democratic Committeeman Daniel Coglianese.
– Look for Terry Gainer, Republican challenger to State`s Atty. Richard M. Daley, to leave his job as deputy director of the Illinois Department of State Police within the next month for an office at a law firm, from which he will campaign full time.
INC.LINGS . . .
Sunday birthdays: Michael York, 46; Sarah Vaughan, 64; Tim Wrightman, 28. . . . Watch for Liza Minnelli to show up May 12 at one or more of the Marshall Field`s stores. She`ll be here to promote Metropolis, an Estee Lauder fragrance-for men. . . . Stacey ”Mike Hammer” Keach and Maxwell ”Dynasty” Caulfield have been signed to costar in a national touring production of
”Sleuth.”
