News from 1998

December 30, 1998 --
The E! channel will air "Behind the Scenes At First Sight" during the month of January. The 30-minute show will air on Jan 16 at 2:00pm, Jan 17 at 1:30am, and Jan 18 2:30am (all ET).

December 28, 1998 --
The decision by NBC to move Working to Monday nights instead of Wednesday (as previously announced) leaves open the possibility that Encore!Encore! will retain its current time slot, at least until the remaining seven completed episodes are aired.

December 18, 1998 --
The Encore!Encore! production company is packing up as all 13 of the ordered episodes have filmed. There are no plans at the moment to order more episodes, but NBC may do that if remaining shows do well. The full story is from Variety.

December 13, 1998 --
I have had a report that Nathan is scheduled to appear on Access Hollywood on Tuesday (may be early Wednesday in your area), so I have added that show to the December Calendar.
-- thanks Melissa

E! telecast their Golden Hanger Awards today and Nathan won the award for "Best Dressed Man." Other nominees in the category were the youngsters Damon, Rock, and Zane. (left) Nathan accepted his award via satellite from New Jersey.

The awards show will be repeated on the E! channel: (all Eastern times) 12/13 at 10:00pm, 12/14 at 7:00am, 12/17 at 8:00pm, 12/18 at 10:00am, 12/19 at 6:00am, 12/20 at 1:00pm, and 1/1 at 8:00pm. Nathan appears in the last 10 minutes of the show.
-- thanks Roman and Maggie

December 9, 1998 --
Ken Mandelbaum loves to pass on theatre rumors in his column for InTheater. He has now mentioned two interesting "rumored" roles for Nathan for next year: the wicked witch in The Wizard of Oz and Fagin in Cameron Mackintosh's revival of Oliver!.

December 7, 1998 --
Nathan is reportedly in negotiations to co-star in a Kenneth Branagh project, the new treatment of Shakespeare's "Love's Labour's Lost". Branagh is starring (with Alicia Silverstone) and directing and has written the script. The film is to be a 30's style musical comedy with the cast speaking "in Shakespeare" and singing and dancing. From Variety.

December 3, 1998 --
Amazon.com has created a special feature online for "The Emperor's New Clothes", the Starbright Foundation fund raiser. Amazon's special page can be found here and features (at this time) interviews with John Lithgow and Melissa Joan Hart plus more information about the book.

December 1, 1998 --
NBC has reshuffled their Tuesday and Wednesday night schedules. They are expected to make Thursday nights changes as well. Here is the latest plan:

December 1, 1998 --
Nathan has been nominated for a People's Choice Award in the category of Favorite Male Performer in a New Television Series (along with D.L. Hughley of "The Hughleys" and Eric McCormack of "Will & Grace"). You can vote online for the three "All-Time Favorite" awards and enter a contest to attend the ceremony on January 10, 1999 -- visit the CBS Website for more information.

November 28, 1998 --
Entertainment Weekly mentions Nathan as the host for Monday's (11/30) Creative Coalition ceremony in New York as Ted Danson and Mary Steenburgen receive the Spotlight award.

November 27, 1998 --
At the LA Ovation Awards ceremony on November 16, Nathan made a couple of pointed comments about Encore!Encore!. Some of his comments were picked up by USA Today and are included in a little blurb in today's issue. A summary of the small article is available online. The full article may be viewed here.

November 23, 1998 --
For those of you looking for the elusive Wizard of Oz in Concert video, there is currently one up for auction at eBay. See the item.

November 17, 1998 --
The release date for At First Sight has been moved up to January 15, 1999. News item at Yahoo.
-- thanks Roman

November 17, 1998 --
Nathan was "the jovial emcee" for the L.A. Ovation awards last night. Read more at the L.A. Times.

November 3, 1998 --
It looks like Encore!Encore! will be moving to Wednesdays after the November absence. Tentatively, air time will again be 8:30pm, this time following 3rd Rock from the Sun. E!E! returns on December 9.

November 3, 1998 --
In today's Dish column in Variety, Michael Fleming writes about the multi-talented Stanley DeSantis, sometimes actor, sometimes T-shirt designer, and future producer. One of DeSantis' first producing projects is stated to be a biopic of Jackie Gleason, based on William Henry III's "The Great One" and featuring Nathan Lane as Jackie Gleason. This really could be a great one.
The full column is available today only at Variety.

November 2, 1998 --
Disney and VH1 team up to present "Hollywood & Vinyl: Disney's 101 Greatest Musical Moments, hosted by Toni Braxton. The show will premiere on Nov. 7, 1998 at 2 p.m. and 10 p.m. (ET/PT), with seven repeated airings during the month of November. Nathan is listed as a "Disney friend" who makes a small appearance.

November 2, 1998 --
NBC has pulled Encore!Encore! from the schedule during the November sweeps period. NBC states that the show will return in December. More details available at Excite News.

October 25, 1998 --
Nathan returns to the east coast and will be appearing next week on Today, Late Show with David Letterman, and The Rosie O'Donnell Show. Please see the November Calendar
for dates and times.
Update: these appearances were cancelled. On a related note, Australian viewers may be able to catch the Australian premier of Nathan's Saturday Night Live appearance in November on the Arena channel of the Australian cable network, Foxtel.

October 24, 1998 --
The announced "soundtrack" for Lion King II: Simba's Pride is called The Lion King: Return To Pride Rock. The track list shows no performances by Nathan and/or Ernie.

October 24, 1998 --
Nathan is scheduled to appear on Late Show with David Letterman on Tuesday, November 3. It appears to be a new show, not a rerun.

October 23, 1998 --
Upcoming episodes on Encore!Encore! feature two Broadway actors. On Oct 27, Alan Campbell (Sunset Boulevard) will appear and, on Nov 3, it will be Patti LuPone as a "star-struck wine critic".
Note: Alan Campbell did not appear in the 10/27 episode.

October 23, 1998 --
You thought that was Nathan and Andrea Martin spotted at the Oscars, but it was George and Martha! George and Martha is a half-hour 13-episode proprietary series, based on the popular books by James Marshall. The witty adventures of two zany hippos pals has been licensed by HBO's new HBO Family Channel for delivery and broadcast in early 1999 (production by Nelvana and Wild Things Productions). Nathan and Andrea Martin provide the voices for George and Martha. More details in this story.

October 19, 1998 --
Lion King II: Simba's Pride will be released on video on October 27. Read the great Variety review ("Once again, Nathan Lane and Ernie Sabella steal every scene that isn't nailed down ...").

October 18, 1998 --
NBC has confirmed the airing of a new Encore! Encore! this Tuesday, 10/20, not the rerun of Jesse as previously announced.

October 9, 1998 --
An interview with Nathan is available at ET Online. Parts of the interview are available in RealAudio and Quicktime format (and there is a quote in the 10/16 issue of Entertainment Weekly). If you would like me to send you the text of the interview, just email me. The Quicktime movie is particularly good because you hear only the studio audience laughter - no laugh track!

October 8, 1998 --
Updates on previously announced book news: The Emperor's New Clothes book and CD, published in September for the Starbright Foundation is now available at Amazon Books. More information is also available at the Starbright site. See June 98 News for original announcement.

Also, Newman's Own Cookbook is available at Amazon. See July 98 News for original announcement.

October 8, 1998 --
Nathan is scheduled to appear at the premiere of Pleasantville on Monday, October 19.

October 7, 1998 --
In the weekly primetime Nielsen ratings, Encore!Encore! dropped to the 50th position in its second week, while its main competition Jag (#21) and The Hughleys (#24) fared much better. September 30, 1998 --
The first week of the fall season results show Encore!Encore! in 38th place, tied with Sports Night. See the full story at Yahoo.

September 30, 1998 --
Encore! Encore! will be pre-empted October 6 and possibly October 13 for the American League Championship games #1 and #6.

September 30, 1998 --
Nathan will host the 1998 Theatre LA Ovation Awards Nov. 16 at the Shubert Theatre in Century City, CA, according The Hollywood Reporter and the L.A. Times. The 26 categories of awards honor excellence and achievement during the last theatre season in Los Angeles.

September 26, 1998 --
Nathan is included in People magazine's list of "TV's 40 Most Fascinating People" (check the Fresh Faces category).

September 25, 1998 --
Nathan's first hiatus from Encore! Encore! may be spent making the film version of Mizlansky/Zilinsky for Propaganda Films. Also staying with the project from its Santa Monica and New York stage productions will be Jon Robin Baitz, doing the screenplay, and Joe Mantello, directing. Read the report from Variety.

September 18, 1998 --
The first review of Encore! Encore! is in ... and it's a GREAT one. Read the Hollywood Reporter review.
9/22 Update: More reviews have been linked to the Encore page.

September 18, 1998 --
It's time again for the AIDS Walk for APLA. Nathan is scheduled to be there on Sunday, September 27. Donations may be sent to: AIDS Walk Los Angeles, PO Box 933005, Los Angeles, CA 90093-3005. For more information, call 323/466-WALK (9255)
-- thanks Katie!

September 18, 1998 --
Nathan is scheduled to appear at an industry screening of Dreamworks' new animated film Antz at the Mann National Theatre in Westwood CA on Thursday, September 24, according to an Entertainment Wire article.

September 14, 1998 --
Acclaimed director Michael Lembeck (Emmy- winner for Friends) will direct an upcoming episode of Encore!Encore!.

September 14, 1998 --
Nathan at the Emmys

The only thing musical about Nathan's Emmy appearance is that you got to hear a snippet of the Encore!Encore! theme music. Nathan was well received and presented the award for Performance In A Variety Or Music Program to Billy Crystal.
Thanks to Roman, I have a RealAudio clip of this appearance. If you have the Real Player, click here.

September 11, 1998 --
Nathan will appear on the Late Late Show with Tom Snyder on September 25. Please see the September TV Calendar for the schedule of appearances this month.

September 10, 1998 --
The release date for At First Sight has been moved back to February 5, 1999.
-- thanks to Roman for both of today's news items

September 10, 1998 --
Nathan will be a presenter at the Emmy Awards on 9/13! Please read the full report at Yahoo.

August 31, 1998 --
Mel Brooks won (again) the Emmy for Guest Actor in a Comedy Series. Complete "minor award" Emmy coverage at USA Today.
-- thanks Maggie!

August 28, 1998 --
While noting the passing of actor E.G. Marshall, many of you may not have realized that he worked with Nathan at one time. Opening October 9, 1984, She Stoops to Conquer starred E.G. Marshall, Kay Ballard, and a young Nathan Lane. The upcoming People magazine (9/7 issue) includes a picture from this play, shown in People's tribute to Marshall. I will have to dig out my Playbill and give you more information on the play.
-- thanks, Tom!

August 24, 1998 --

Well, it's not the cover (yet), but there is a mention in the 8/29 TV Guide. The text reads: "Encore! Encore! is one of the most-talked-about new shows coming this fall. Why? Because it features movie actor and Broadway star Nathan Lane, of "The Birdcage" fame, as a womanizing prima-donna opera star. Also, it comes from the producers of Frasier -- not too shabby. And it's been awarded the coveted slot after Mad About You on Tuesday nights. Sounds like a slam dunk, right? Not quite. The pilot is being reshot with two new cast members (Glenne Headly and Trevor Fehrman) because it just wasn't funny enough. What is funny is the trouble NBC had naming the show. The first idea was to call it Bravo. Oops. There's a cable channel called Bravo. A new name was chosen: Encore! Oops. There's a cable channel called Encore. The good news: There's no cable channel called Encore! Encore! -- yet."

August 17, 1998 --

(Click left to see larger version) There is a nice, full page picture of Bette Midler, Nathan, and a poodle on location for Isn't She Great? on page 18 of the 8/24/98 issue of People magazine. A different picture is currently online at People Online.
I have scans of several other shots of the production which appeared in New York papers recently. Newspaper pictures don't scan well, but I will provide them to anyone who wants to email me.

August 16, 1998 --
Looks like Planet Ice is back on track with new directors Don Bluth and Gary Goldman. More info in this Reuters/Variety article.

August 13, 1998 --
Nathan and Julie Kavner will star in a new Jon Robin Baitz play , A Small Hotel, in roles written specifically for them. Commissioned by L.A. Theatre Works, the play will will run Jan. 20-24, 1999, at the Skirball Cultural Center. Playbill has the article online.
-- thanks Laura for catching the article

August 6, 1998 --
The Disney Store is offering a couple of special deals if you pre-order The Lion King II: Simba's Pride. Included are a Kiara puppet, a lithograph, and/or a $5 gift certificate.

On a related note, The Disney Channel presents the return of The Lion King for one special night, on Saturday, August 15, at 7 p.m./6c.

August 6, 1998 --
The cast and production company of Isn't She Great? was spotted this morning at Shubert Alley. They apparently were working on a 60's scene as billboards, the Booth Theater marquee, and cars on the set were all vintage late-1960s.
The set will reportedly move to the Central Park area tomorrow.

July 30, 1998 --
The Just for Laughs galas will be televised in October on Monday nights on CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Company). Hope those of you in Canada will catch Nathan's performance.

July 27, 1998 --
Jim Slotek interviewed Nathan recently in Montreal for the Toronto Sun. The article covers Nathan's feelings about the future of Encore!(Encore!) and was available on the Canoe site; it is now here.
-- many thanks to Nat for the link

July 26, 1998 --
Nathan carries Bette at Just for Laughs. See it at the Montreal Gazette.

July 24, 1998 --
I have an article from The Hollywood Reporter which contains quotes made by Encore! executive producer Peter Casey to the audience at the Television Critics Assn. Here are some excerpts:

July 23, 1998 --
Congratulations, Nathan, on another Emmy nomination! Nathan's role as Professor Twilley on Mad About You has garnered him a nomination as Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series. The complete list of nominations is available at the Emmy Site and Yahoo. The awards will be presented on September 13.

July 23, 1998 --
Janovic Plaza, in New York City, is offering a new line of paint called "Colors of New York", naming each color after a NY celebrity. Nathan's color is "Nathan Lane and the Great White Way." It's ... white! The campaign is a fund raiser for Lenox HIll Neighborhood House Homeless Women's program and Summer Camp. The ad in the NY Times shows caricatures of the celebrities (I will have a scan of Nathan's soon). You can see the whole line of colors at the Janovic website.
-- thanks, Foosie, for the alert

July 20, 1998 --
To battle NBC's Must See TV lineup, ABC will launch "The ABC Thursday Night Movie". One of the blockbuster movies scheduled for next season is "The Birdcage."

July 19, 1998 --
Nathan's appearance at the Just for Laughs event on July 25 is now sold out! The Montreal Gazette carried a nice article about Nathan taking Montreal by storm. Read about it here. If anyone has tickets to the event, I hope you will email me or report back to us on the guestbook!
-- Thanks, Nancy, for the Montreal report!

July 15, 1998 --
The newest Disney Singalong video will include "We Are One" from The Lion King II: Simba's Pride. More about this video from the Disney press release.

July 14, 1998 --
Encore! won't be represented at next week's Television Critics Assn. press tour, so of course the media interprets that as trouble. Article from Variety.

July 10, 1998 --
Paramount reports that filming will start again for Encore! on August 25th.
-- thanks Dani ... we hope you get to go!

July 9, 1998 --
Acclaimed actress Glenne Headly has joined the cast of Encore! (now apparently a single; Encore Movie Network be damned) as Francesca Pinoni. Ms. Headly has appeared in films (X-Files, and Mrs. Holland in Mr. Holland's Opus), on television (recently the love interest of Noah Wyle in ER) and on stage. The new actor cast as Francesca's son, Michael, is Trevor Fehrman. The show is set to debut on September 22 at 8:30pm. A bit more available at Yahoo.

July 1, 1998 --
A few details on the Encore! (or Encore! Encore!) retooling from USA Today:

July 1, 1998 --
Principal photography has begun on Isn't She Great? in Montreal, continuing through the end of July Filming will conclude in Manhattan in late August. Burt Bacharach is writing original music for the film! The film is currently scheduled for a Spring '99 opening. Details can be found at Yahoo. The BetteWriter Site also keeps up to date on this film.

June 15, 1998 --
Update: Just for Laughs has a great website at http://www.hahaha.com/, including a page on Nathan. There you can check out the entire festival schedule and order tickets. Nathan will be performing Craven A Gala 9 on July 25.
The New York Daily News reports that Nathan will host Just for Laughs, Montreal's b summer comedy festival, on July 25. The show may be shown on Showtime. I'll keep you posted.
-- thanks Foosie

June 4, 1998 --

According to USA Today, Nathan may be appearing with Robin Williams on this year's Comic Relief at Radio City Music Hall (and televised on HBO), June 14. Visit the Comic Relief site for more information about the show and the special web coverage they are having during the show. You can also read more at USA Today and thank Maggie for the alert.

June 3, 1998 --
Nathan is part of a great cast of entertainers in a new book/CD ("The Emperor's New Clothes") project to benefit the Starbright foundation. Read the story here.

May 26, 1998 --
As Markie mentioned on the Guestbook, Playbill has Nathan listed as a presenter at this year's Tony Awards in New York City's Radio City Music Hall on June 7.
Update: I have been advised that Nathan will indeed be in NY at the Tonys as a presenter and there is a good chance that the Tonys Online Webcast (beginning at 8:00pmET on Sunday) will include a few words with Nathan. You need to download the SvPlay browser plug-in to view the Webcast, available at Tony Awards Online.

May 25, 1998 --
When the new Innoventions section opens at Disneyland's new Tomorrowland later this summer, visitors will be greeted by the new host Tom Morrow (get it?), voiced by Nathan Lane. Tom is a sophisticated robot with a clear plastic face (though you can see through to the workings inside the head, the face is clearly Nathan-like) and appears with five different "acts" to welcome visitors in word and song.
Tom is similar to the "Timekeeper" animatronic figure at the Visionarium show at Walt DisneyWorld's Tomorrowland in Florida (voiced by none other than Robin Williams.
-- thanks Troy!

May 19, 1998 --
NBC has a page up for Encore! Encore! (am I the only one who doesn't like that title?).

May 18, 1998 --
As Roman mentioned on the guestbook, NBC has boldly stepped forward to announce their fall schedule. Frasier fills in for Seinfeld and the Nathan Lane show, now apparently called Encore! Encore! is "expected to" follow Mad About You at 8:30pm on Tuesdays. Read the Reuters story at Yahoo and see the schedule at Ultimate TV.

May 15, 1998 --
More news about Isn't She Great? from Army Archerd. They are apparently in rehearsals now, planning to begin production on May 20 (90% of the job to be done in Montreal, 10% exterior shots in NYC). Add the always great Stockard Channing to the cast list.

May 11, 1998 --
There are a couple of great pictures of Nathan at the new At First Sight website. The film is scheduled to open October 23.

May 7, 1998 --
Sweet Charity Concert update: Nathan is not currently on the cast list. Last minute substitutions can happen, but what a cast it is. It's one Nathan short of perfect. BC/EFA has all of the details.
-- thanks Herman

April 28, 1998 --
Just when he thought he had a day off ... Nathan was listed again as the honorary chair of the Celebrity Doodle and Scribbles Auction, now in its fourth year. The event took place last night and was only listed in Playbill news yesterday. Nathan was honorary chair last year but did not attend. I do not know if he attended last night or not.

April 27, 1998 --
More information on the June 15 Sweet Charity concert:
Although the previously mentioned cast has not been confirmed, I have heard that Gwen Verdon will host the event.
$50 and $75 tickets (that's 2nd and 3rd tier) are only available from the The Lincoln Center (212-875-5030).
I have additional ordering information for 1st tier ($150) and Orchestra ($250, $500, and $1,000) tickets; e-mail me for that information.

April 27, 1998 --
Update: Santo Loquasto has also been nominated for a Tony in Costume Design for his work on Ragtime (Terrence McNally is also up for a Tony for the same show).

Congratulations to Mizlansky/Zilinsky's Joe Mantello (Director) and Santo Loquasto (Set Design) for Drama Desk Award nominations. Read about all of the nominations at Playbill Online.

April 26, 1998 --
At the end of the Disney Animal Kingdom television show tonight, mention was made that The Lion King (according to this week's Entertainment Weekly, the top-selling video of all time) will be shown on ABC on May 10. During that telecast, clips of animation from Simba's Pride will be shown.

April 23, 1998 --
This week's Wonderful World of Disney show, hosted by Drew Carey and titled "Disney's Animal Kingdom: The First Adventure", will include a song from Simba's Pride, entitled "We Are One". The song will be performed by 11-year-old Kimberly Scott, Bone Thuggs, and Harmony.

April 23, 1998 --
Tickets are now available for the Sweet Charity concert at the Avery Fisher Hall, previously mentioned below. Currently, $50 (3rd mezz) and $75 (2nd mezz) tickets are available at the Avery Fisher Hall box office at the Lincoln Center (open 10am-6pm Mon-Sat, noon-6pm Sunday) or by phone (212-875-5030). Higher priced seats will be offered by AMFAR. I have heard no confirmation as of yet on the cast for this event.
Tickets go fast for this type of event, so order quickly if you able to go.

April 21, 1998 --
The BC/EFA annual Easter Bonnet Competition took place on April 14th at the New Amsterdam Theater. Nathan joined Liza Minnelli in presenting the top fund-raising award to Rent. A total of $1,793,137 was raised for AIDS and women's health groups. Broadway and off-Broadway casts collect donations in New York theaters and on tour and present the proceeds at the competition along with their outrageous, original design hats. Read more about the event at the BC/EFA website.

March 31, 1998 --
Update: The pilot was successfully filmed on April 7th.
Rehearsals are underway for Nathan's upcoming TV show, Encore!. Some casting news was released today: Joan Plowright will play Nathan's mother, Molly Price will play his sister, James Patrick Stuart the ubiquitous best friend, and Evan Matthews the teen role. Ernie Sabella is also in the cast, with Michael Emerson (recently on stage in Gross Indecency) as an early guest star.
Final filming of the pilot is expected to take place on April 7, following the April 2nd dress rehearsal. You may reserve tickets for the April 7 filming by calling Paramount at (213) 956-1777 on April 1.

March 28, 1998 --
According to The Hollywood Reporter, John Cleese is in and David Hyde Pierce is in final negotiations to join the cast of Isn't She Great?, still expecting to begin shooting in May.

March 28, 1998 --
Perhaps the stories of Nathan taping his pilot next week are correct. A news article mentioned his appearance at the April 1 world premiere of the film Mercury Rising which stars Bruce Willis and Alec Baldwin.

March 27, 1998 --
An update on an earlier news item. Looks like it will be Martin Short in the Roundabout production of Little Me (Cy Coleman, Neil Simon, Carol Leigh musical). Rob Marshall will choreograph and direct.

March 24, 1998 --
The last performance of Mizlansky/Zilinsky will be April 26. Although the Manhattan Theatre Club had hoped to extend the play through May 10, they are unable to do so.

March 22, 1998 --
Dreamworks has made Mouse Hunt its first "sellthrough" video meaning no initial $90 price tag and no long wait for prices to drop. Read more from Video Store Magazine.

March 22, 1998 --
Apparently the working title for Nathan's sitcom is Encore!. I mistakenly thought that was only the name of the initial episode.

March 22, 1998 --
Weekly Variety reports there will be a benefit performance of Cy Coleman's Sweet Charity on June 15 at the Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall. Nathan is slated to play Herman ("I Love to Cry at Weddings") and will be joined by a star-studded group of theater veterans. Hopefuls include: Chita Rivera, Debbie Allen, Donna McKechnie, Bonnie Langford, Goldie Hawn, Liza Minnelli, Placido Domingo, Kevin Kline or Jim Dale, Robert Deniro, Alec Baldwin, Isaac Hayes, and Carol Channing or Whoopi Goldberg.
-- thanks Foosie!

March 9, 1998 --
Next Monday, March 16, Nathan will appear ... somewhere! I have conflicting reports as to whether he is hosting a salute to Jerry Zaks or one for James Naughton. More details as I sort them out.
UPDATE: Well Playbill Online puts their money on James Naughton (as did Liz Smith). The NY Times, however said Nathan would be at The Supper Club at a tribute to Zaks.

March 8, 1998 --
According to a newsgroup post, the first draft of the pilot for Nathan's upcoming TV show is finished and is named Encore!. Nathan is said to be set to rehearse and tape the pilot March 30 through April 7.

March 6, 1998 --
The folks at MTC are saying that M/Z will be extended through 5/10 with Nathan on board. I will report more details as I hear them.
Thanks Rie!

March 3, 1998 --
The New York Post is notorious for printing rumors that never come true, but this is too juicy to ignore. Today Richard Johnson reported in his Page Six column:

February 16, 1998 --
I hope everyone who gets the Charlie Rose show hadn't given up before last night. It was a nice little chat about M/Z (or, as Nathan has renamed it Mizlansky/Lewinsky).
Also, there is another interview with Nathan currently at Playbill Online.

February 15, 1998 --
The Very Extraordinary Disney Animation Archive has quite a bit of new news about the Lion King sequel, Simba's Pride, including pictures. Timon returns!

February 4, 1998 --
M/Z author Jon Robin Baitz will appear at the 92nd St. Y in New York City on Monday, February 23rd (taking the place of Alan Bennett). Many of you may know the 92nd St. Y as a source of wonderful notable lectures and readings. Nathan appeared there in 1996 and Larry Gelbart (book for Forum) is scheduled in March.
Tickets may still be available by calling (212) 996-1100. Further information available on the 92ndStY website.

February 3, 1998 --
Variety reports Nathan and Bette Midler are in talks to play the late '60s power couple Jacqueline Susann and her husband and manager, Irving Mansfield, for a biopic called Isn't She Great?. Susann wrote the blockbuster "Valley of the Dolls," which topped the bestseller lists and made her one of the most famous authors of her day -- though she never got the literary respect she craved.
A spring shoot is in the plans with director Andrew Bergman.

February 2, 1998 --
There was a wonderful article written by Mizlansky/Zilinsky author Jon Robin Baitz in the Sunday New York Times, titled "Playwright's Collaborator: The Kid He Used to Be". It is currently available in the Mizlansky/Zilinsky section of this site. There is an accompanying photo of Nathan as Mizlansky. I hear you running.
If you are unable to access the Times site, let me know.

February 2, 1998 --
Actor Roddy McDowell, also an accomplished photographer, put together a portfolio of current stars posing next to classic stars along a mural at Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank. McDowell photographed Nathan with classic comedians Bud Abbott and Lou Costello because "It just worked." People magazine has a story about the project in this week's (Feb. 9) issue.

January 30, 1998 --
In Entertainment Weekly's study of "Gambles of 1998", Nathan's upcoming sitcom is rated a "sure thing".
"...it'll make the Mouse Hunt star a big cheese ... what better vintners could Lane ask for than the dry, wry creators of Frasier?"

January 27, 1998 --
If you are interested in reading more about the basis for the upcoming film At First Sight, pick up An Anthropologist on Mars by Oliver Sacks. In it is the story ("To See and Not See"), first printed in New Yorker magazine about Virgil, a man who gains sight after spending virtually a lifetime being totally blind. At first, you may not imagine what kinds of problems there could be, but the fascinating account by Mr. Sacks (remember Awakenings?) is amazing. I will put more information about this story on a new page for At First Sight which is in the works.
I found the book in the bargain section at Barnes & Noble. Well worth the original $24 price, the hardback is now going for $4.98.

Also, I will soon be adding another page about Mouse Hunt, this time discussing some script changes from earlier drafts for the film. Originally, Nathan was supposed to sing, he lost his diner job due to an errant piece of toilet paper, and frankly some very funny bits were cut. You, too, can enjoy the Dec. 26, 1996 version of the Mouse Hunt script for a mere $15 ... visit The Script Shop and tell the Script Dog I sent you.

January 24, 1998 --

This year's BC/EFA Bear Auction (Feb. 15) features a Nathan teddy bear.
Read more about it.
Save your pennies; minimum bids for this most worthwhile of causes is $500.
The bears are pictured in the current issue of Playbill magazine.

-- thanks to Ariel, Markie, and Dana for information.

January 23, 1998 --
According to a press release from Buena Vista, Simba's Pride (the sequel to The Lion King) will be released on video on October 27, 1998. Read more about Simba's Pride.

January 23, 1998 --
The UPI reported this week that Nathan was considered for the center square in the upcoming remake of the "you-hate-to-admit-it-but-you-loved-it" TV show Hollywood Squares, premiering this fall. As it turns out, Whoopi Goldberg will take the center square honors. Jason Alexander and Chris Rock were also considered. I can hear Paul Lynde chuckling.

January 20, 1998 --
The January 30 Rosie O'Donnell Show will be a rerun, including assorted clips from past shows, including one of Nathan's appearances.

January 9, 1998 --
It looks like Nathan will be appearing on the b screen again next Christmas. He has joined the cast of At First Sight (previously Sight Unseen), an MGM film which will also feature Val Kilmer, Mira Sorvino, Kelly McGillis and Jeffrey Weber. The drama, by Oliver Sacks, is based on the true story of a man who has been blind all his life until undergoing experimental surgery to restore his sight.

Nathan's character is a therapist who specializes in cases involving the visually impaired. Production has started in Greenwich Village, New York.
Sounds very exciting! -- thanks Les!

January 6, 1998 --
Nathan and Madeline Kahn will co-host a benefit concert for Classical Action: Performing Arts Against AIDS on January 10 at B.A.M. This 5th anniversary performance marks the joining of Classical Action with Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS (of which Nathan is a board member).

January 6, 1998 --
The January 5 USA Today included a little feature on Mouse Hunt director Gore Verbinski. The article is currently available online at USA Today.

January 3, 1998 --
Nathan's long-awaited appearance on Mad About You will air Tuesday, January 13 on NBC at 8:00pmET. Here is the episode description:

Jamie's (Helen Hunt) first lover (guest star Nathan Lane) invites Paul (Paul Reiser) to speak to his class; Ira (John Pankow) helps a woman (guest star Melinda McGraw) with funeral plans. Rated TV-PG.

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