People talk 11/15/01

Douglas duo appearing in first movie together

Kirk Douglas and his son, Michael, plan to appear in their first movie together, a comedy called "Smack in the Puss" that is to begin filming in February.

Michael Douglas' 23-year-old son Cameron, also is expected to appear in the movie, Variety reported Tuesday.

"It's a black comedy about three generations of a dysfunctional family living in New York and their attempt to reconcile," Michael Douglas said.

The Oscar-winning "Wall Street" star said he wanted to share the screen with his father and son now after the Sept. 11 terror attacks caused him to place a higher priority on family.

"If you have a rare opportunity to work with people you know in an appropriate project, you take it," he said. "Dad and I could never decide on one to do together before, though we came close a couple of times. He's pretty picky, and so am I."

Kirk Douglas, 84, who suffered a stroke in 1995, last appeared on-screen in the 1999 comedy "Diamonds."

Rather credits cabby with quick trip home

Dan Rather said a Philadelphia cab driver gets the credit for getting him back to New York quickly after his flight from Texas was diverted here Monday.

The CBS anchor was on an American Airlines flight from Austin, Texas, to New York's LaGuardia Airport, but was rerouted after American Airlines Flight 587 crashed soon after takeoff from Kennedy International Airport.

Once on the ground in Philadelphia, Rather was whisked to a cab by two American Airlines employees. He made the 7-mile trip to 30th Street Station -- often clogged with traffic -- "in a flat 14 minutes. I made it clear to the driver he was on the incentive system." The incentive was $100. "In the rear window, you'll find sweat from the back of my head," Rather said. "A New York cabbie couldn't hold a candle to this fellow."

Rather, 70, caught the 12:43 p.m. Amtrak Metroliner train, got to CBS by 2:15 p.m. and did his first report at 3:55 p.m.

"Everybody in Philadelphia took really good care of me," he said. "As one who has traveled a fair amount over the years, sometimes under stressful conditions, it's rare when everything falls into place."

Paltrow: Looks aren't important in loveGwyneth Paltrow swears she's no "Shallow Hal" when it comes to falling in love.

The central joke of the new Farrelly brothers' film, now in theaters, is that Hal (played by Jack Black) is a looks-obsessed bachelor who becomes hypnotized to only see people's inner beauty.

When he meets Paltrow's character, Rosemary, she appears as the real-life, slim and trim actress. The other characters see her in the elaborate latex makeup and body suit that added nearly 200 pounds to her frame.

The 29-year-old actress says looks aren't everything.

"I once fell in love with someone who was not, you know, leading man-type of guy who was overweight and had sort of messed-up teeth," she told reporters recently.

"I couldn't actually ever be with him 'cause he was with somebody else but I fell madly in love with him and it had nothing to do with what he looked like. It just had to do with who he was and how he understood me."

Home Depot Zellweger's favorite night spotThese days, you're more likely to spot Renee Zellweger at the Home Depot than at a trendy nightspot.

"I just love Home Depot," the 32-year-old actress told W magazine for its December issue. "I'm a junkie for that place. Believe me, when I'm not working, I'm not afraid to pick up a paintbrush. I'm always redoing my places.

"During 'Jerry Maguire,' I lived in this tiny little apartment ... which I referred to as 'the crack apartment.' It was so gross the carpet pad had turned to dust. So I got in there with a shovel and a mask and redid the whole place while we were making the movie. When I told Tom Cruise about it, he went out and bought me a stereo!"

The "Bridget Jones's Diary" star has been spending a lot of time in recent months with George Clooney, whom she describes as "a very good friend of mine."

"I talk about him all the time. He's a wonderful man, the nicest person, you have no idea. He's so kind, so kind," she said. "And you'd be shocked at how smart he is. Or maybe not. I think it comes across. He's a wonderful person, and he's one of my best friends. And as good-looking as he is, he's 50 times nicer than that."

-- From wire reports