IT LIVES: George Romero plans to shoot new sequences for a reissue of his classic horror flick Night of the Living Dead for a rerelease next year, its 30th anniversary.
REWARD: Seven weeks after the drive-by murder of the Notorious B.I.G., the Los Angeles City Council offered its standard $25,000 reward for information that helps solve the case. Police have been struggling for a break in the case.
HOMETOWN FAVE: The big winner at Tuesday's British Academy of Film and Television Arts awards was--no surprise here--The English Patient, which clinched the prizes for best film, adapted screenplay and supporting actress (Juliette Binoche).
GOLD MEDALISTS: The House of Representatives gave final approval Tuesday to a bill making Frank Sinatra a congressional gold medal recipient. "It's been a fabulous ride. I am truly quite moved and deeply honored by this marvelous recognition," Ol' Blue Eyes said in a statement. The bill is now awaiting the president's signature...Bob Hope will receive the Ronald Reagan Freedom Award on May 29, his 94th birthday. He's being honored for his "tireless efforts on the front lines of liberty."
ME TARZAN: Producers of the syndicated Tarzan: The Epic Adventures put out an open casting call for "over 21 and athletic" actresses today who can fill the part of Jane. About 100 answered the call, including one in an animal-skin dress and a bone choker.
JUNGLE MUSIC: Sting, Tina Turner, Madonna and other artists joined together on Carnival!, an album out today, to benefit the Rainforest Foundation...After a long absence Daryl Hall and John Oates have recorded a new album, tentatively titled Marigold Sky.
RAINN WOMAN: On May 16, hundreds of radio stations, MTV and VH1 will interrupt their regular programming to air a song and public service announcement from Tori Amos. Amos will be speaking on behalf of RAINN, the group she founded for victims of rape, incest and sexual assault.
SO THERE, BOB! The first ever Prism Awards, honoring Hollywood's efforts to accurately depict violence and drug abuse, were presented Tuesday, and, despite Bob Dole's negative review, the big winner was Trainspotting.
SURPRISE! Oprah Winfrey canceled an appearance on her show by Dennis Rodman after reading a copy of his upcoming book which states that he once had an affair with a transsexual, dates only white women and plans to change his legal name to "Orgasm."
LAWYER OF OZZ: A New York concert promoter has filed a lawsuit to force the Meadowlands to schedule OzzFest '97. The New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority canceled the June 15 show because the promoter refused to remove controversial rockers Marilyn Manson from the lineup. Manson's lawyer and festival founder Ozzy Osbourne have also threatened to sue.
HIGH STANDARDS: Anchors Carol Marin and Ron Magers from Chicago TV station WMAQ reportedly will walk off if talk show host Jerry Springer joins their nightly news broadcast as a commentator. Springer, whose debut on the show is set for May 5, said of Marin and Magers "It's only reading a TelePrompter. I mean, they make it seem like it's journalism."
CLANDESTINE: Matthew McConaughey plans to star in and produce Last Flight of the Raven, a political thriller set in the 1970s. For all the casting news, see The Dotted Line.
REWHINED: Columbia TriStar is offering the CBS hit sitcom The Nanny to the syndication market, to begin airing in fall of next year.
RATPACK: Paramount releases the first extended episode of the Rugrats cartoon series to the video stores on July 8.
FAMILY AFFAIR: Michael Jackson will join his brothers in Cleveland May 6 as the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inducts the Jackson 5.
SIDEWALK SCUFFLE: Ticketmaster sued Microsoft for unauthorized linking to the ticket merchant's Internet site from the software giant's new Seattle Sidewalk site.
MAYBE NOT: King of All Media Rupert Murdoch appears to be backing away from a joint venture with satellite TV company EchoStar, after complaints about unwanted competition from the cable TV industry.
ON BROADWAY: New musicals The Life and Steel Pier led nominations for the 1997 Drama Desk Awards with nine each. New York critics and writers vote on the awards...Mel Brooks and David Geffen are pitching a Broadway version of The Producers, Brooks' film about a New York stage show gone awry.