GODFATHER IV ADD: Director Francis Ford Coppola and writer Mario Puzo in talks to pilot the planned flick; G III costar Andy Garcia also "on board," the trade paper says.
HE GETS...NOTHING! In New York, a judge tosses the lawsuit brought by the New York man who claimed Jerry Seinfeld stole his life for Seinfeld crazy George Costanza.
COSTANZA ADD: To add insult to injury, the judge ordered the man and his lawyer to pay $2,500 each for filing a frivolous court action.
MONEY BAGS: Ted Turner the highest-ranked Hollywood player on Forbes list of the nation's top billionaires, at 38th place. The CNN mogul is worth an estimated $7.8 billion.
NOT-SO FORCEFUL: By comparison, Star Wars creator George Lucas ranks a "lowly" 247th place on the Forbes list, with a "mere" $2 billion.
BOX OFFICE: Disney's Tarzan toon swung a whopping $34.2 million its opening to rule a boffo weekend.
X GIRL: Oscar-winning teen Anna Paquin to play Rogue in upcoming superhero flick, X-Men, Daily Variety says. For more casting news, see Dotted Line.
UPDATE: Horrormeister Stephen King (Carrie) in serious but stable condition with a shattered leg and punctured lung thanks to a wayward minivan. More surgery's planned.
SICK BAY: Howard Stern semi-regular Hank the Angry Drunken Dwarf hospitalized in San Francisco after suffering two seizures at a public appearance there last Friday.
BAD-BOY REDUX: In Florida, an arrest warrant issued for Bobby Brown over alleged probation violations. His probabtion officer told the court the singer tested positive for cocaine in April.
F.Y.I.: Rap mogul Sean "Puffy" Combs was "really upset" when he made the news for an assault arrest, letting down young fans, fellow rap mogul Russell Simmons tells Time magazine.
EVERYBODY'S A CRITIC: "Son of Sam" serial killer David Berkowitz the latest to attack Spike Lee's upcoming Summer of Sam, about the Big Apple murders. "The madness...is resurfacing again," Berkowitz says.
BUMMER: Aerosmith pulling out of Woodstock '99, citing production problems and scheduling conflicts.
SOLD! The sports-utility vehicle crashed into a bridge by country singer George Jones last March snapped up at wrecking yard for a cool $22,000.
HEXED: A Florida film producer suing the makers of Sundance fave The Blair Witch Project for $300,000-plus, claiming he's owed a producer's credit. The horror flick opens wide this summer.
NO GO: In Los Angeles, a judge rejects Garry Shandling's bid to delay the start of his lawsuit trial against his ex-manager. The comic says his lawyer may not be available; the judge says tough.
P.C. WATCH: ABC renewing late-night issues/comedy show Politically Incorrect through January 2001.