FIRST LOOK: The News in Brief, August 9, 1998

Abraham Lincoln...Robert Downey Jr...James Bond...

By Marcus Errico Aug 09, 1998 10:10 PMTags
HISTORY LESSON: A historical error in Saving Private Ryan--letter written by Abraham Lincoln and read in film was product of misinformation.

BOX OFFICE: Saving Private Ryan was the No 1 movie for the third week in a row, taking in another $17.6 million just ahead of challengers Snake Eyes and Halloween: HO2

CHIN UP: Jay Leno tag-teamed with Diamond Dallas Page (with an assist from Tonight Show sidekick Kevin Eubanks) dropped, rammed and pinned Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff to claim victory in a pay-per-view wrestling stunt at the Sturgis Motorcycle Classic.

ONE MORE CHANCE: A judge allows Robert Downey Jr. to continue drug rehab as an out-patient, but warns him not to mess up again--or else he'll send him to prison.

TARGETED: Scientology and star member John Travolta have been sued by artist who claims church said it could cure him of homosexuality like it cured Travolta.

FORE! A caddy suing Michael Douglas for multimillions, saying the actor hit him in the testicles with an errant golf ball.

DOUGLAS ADD: The caddy, who is black, also claims the star referred to him as a "nigger." Douglas calls the suit "absurd."

LICENSE TO KILL: Britain's film censor says that there's more violence in James Bond flicks then ever before--"in an effort to compete with Hollywood's action adventures."

KINGLY: The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame opening an Elvis-only exhibit Saturday--its first dedicated to one artist.

SEIN STUFF: A Queens, New York, movie museum to display Seinfeld props like the "puffy shirt" and the set of Monk's Cafe.

WEDDING BELLS: Kathy Najimy, the giggly nun in Sister Act, to marry the father of her baby girl this weekend.

RATINGS WAR: Cable nets say they've almost caught up to commercial broadcasters in summer ratings, with 44.2 percent of TVs tuning into basic cable and 44.9 percent watching Big 4.

FACELIFT: Los Angeles' landmark Cinerama Dome to keep its trademark golfball shape on the outside, but owners allowed to gut inside, historical society says.