Madonna may go Broadway, Pickett faces coke charges

Now that Madonna is finally getting the respect she deserves as an actress, Hollywood is banging down the Material Girl's door. According to Entertainment Weekly, Madonna has been offered a lead in the film version of the smash Broadway revival, "Chicago." Goldie Hawn has been mentioned as the other lead. Are movie musicals back? You bet your sweet bippy.

Speaking of respect, according to USA Today, master of law-thriller fluff John Grisham is doing just fine. Now taking his case are high-profile directors Francis Ford Coppola, adapting "The Rainmaker" with Claire Danes, Laurence Fishburne and Danny Devito for a summer release; and Robert Altman, translating the original screenplay "The Gingerbread Man," starring Kenneth Branagh, Robert Downey, Jr., Embeth Davidtz, Daryl Hannah and Bond Girl Famke Janssen for release by Christmas.

Show me the money, indeed. According to Entertainment Weekly, Reebok has filed a $10-million breach-of-contract suit against Sony's TriStar Pictures for reneging on a deal to show a Reebok commercial starring Rod Tidwell (Cuba Gooding Jr.) over the end credits of "Jerry Maguire." In the final version of Tom Cruise's touchdown of a film, a harsh, negative light is shined upon Reebok, as Gooding Jr.'s character continually criticizes the corporation. What could've brought on all this bad blood? It's gotta be the shoes!

Van Damme is coming back to the silver screen.

From the "Oh please no!" file, theaters have begun running previews of the next Jean Claude Van Damme vehicle called "Double Team," as reported in USA Today. As if that weren't bad enough, the Muscles from Brussels is costarring with a greasy Mickey Rourke and a colorful Dennis Rodman, who makes his film acting debut in the disposable sci-fi action movie. Frankly, most would rather experience a Rodman knee-to-the-groin than experience Dennis-as-master-thespian.

Show me the willy! In a related Tom Cruise story, Entertainment Weekly reported, that Rose McGowan's character in "Scream" was correct. If you pause "All The Right Moves" in exactly the right place, you most certainly can see Mr. Top Gun's bits and pieces. I guess seeing Cruise naked isn't such a "Mission: Impossible" after all.

MUSIC

Hole is working on their upcoming album with Blinker the Star's Jordon Zadorozny.

Rumors are flying about Courtney Love collaborating with Blinker the Star's Jordon Zadorozny on songs for the next Hole album. But the real story is even more strange. Addicted To Noise reports that a collaboration has taken place, but the as-yet-untitled song isn't for either of their bands. Rather, it's for Stevie Nicks' upcoming solo record. The duo hooked up with Nicks after she was impressed with the cover of the Fleetwood Mac classic "Gold Dust Woman."

A report in the Jan. 13 issue of Advertising Age stated that America Online is at the forefront of computer / online companies vying to sponsor U2's upcoming world tour, which would mark a first for the traditionally
sponsorship-shy band. Advertising Age suggested that the online giant was close to signing a sponsorship deal worth $12 million for the tour. Apple, IBM and Microsoft are also reportedly courting the band. U2 is expected to announce the dates for its eagerly anticipated tour on Feb. 11 in New York. The new album, "Pop" will be released on Mar. 4, while the first single, "Discotheque," hits stores on Tuesday.

According to Addicted to Noise, Matthew Sweet will touch down with a new album on March 25. Titled "Blue Sky on Mars," the 12-song collection was co-produced by Sweet and Brendan O'Brien (Pearl Jam, Rage Against the Machine, STP). The album features pop prince Sweet playing virtually every instrument himself, with the exception of some keyboard and drums by O'Brien and some drumming by sideman Rick Menck. Sweet wrote, played and sang all lead and backing vocals all over the record. Sweet will start a 20-date mini-club tour Jan. 25, in Albuquerque, N.M. before launching a full tour in March.

In related news, soul-legend Wilson Pickett faces up to five years in prison after being indicted on cocaine possession charges Jan. 15. A judge in Hackensack, N.J. indicted the 55-year-old singer nine months after police said they found two grams of the narcotic during a search last April. The search was precipitated by the sighting of a partially clad, bleeding woman who was screaming Pickett's name, according to an Associated Press report. The woman, who was reportedly a frequent house guest of Picketts', did not file charges and told police she was injured when she fell on a glass-top table.

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