2 Late-Night Shows Debut

Move over David Letterman and Jay Leno. There are two new guys on the late-night television circuit. "The Keenen Ivory Wayans Show" and "Vibe," hosted by Chris Spencer, debuted last night. Variety says the shows' backers are spending millions of dollars in a bid to give urban Generation X-ers a hip-hop alternative to the current late-night fare. Both shows have some big names lined up for the first week's shows. "Vibe's" debut-week guests include Denzel Washington, Mel Gibson, Jimmy Smits, LL Cool J, Brandy and Vibe visionary/executive producer Quincy Jones. Wayans' guest list includes Kenneth (Babyface) Edmonds, Salma Hayek, Pamela Lee, Jada Pinkett, Brendan Fraser and the musical acts Bone Thugs 'N Harmony, En Vogue and Foo Fighters.

Elvis a Civil Rights Figure?

Elvis Presley should be remembered as one of America's most influential civil rights figures, according to a professor and rock music historian at the University of Florida. "With his very first recording in 1954, Presley did something no one had ever done before. He brought black culture and white culture together on one record," said William McKeen. McKeen, a journalism professor who teaches a class in rock music history, says Elvis "helped open people's minds to other cultures" by making these musical pairings.

Fall Movie Season is Packed

Variety says the major studios are adopting a "take no prisoners" policy for the fall movie season. Recruiting the likes of Brad Pitt, Keanu Reeves, John Travolta and giant alien bugs, the studios reportedly plan to capture audiences with an unprecedented assault of movies. Rather than releasing the usual arthouse and quiet-drama fare, the studios are getting ready to unleash star vehicles and pricey pictures. The release schedule is so crowded that four new films a week will be the norm and six the extreme. That means specialized, independent films could be squeezed out of their traditional time to showcase their wares.

Disney Spoofs 'The Godfather'

The filmmaker behind such movie spoofs as "Airplane" and the "Naked Gun" series is now turning his attention to the Mafia. Variety says Disney has given a green light to director Jim Abrahams' "Jane Austen's Mafia," a parody of "The Godfather," which will star Lloyd Bridges. Variety says Disney plans a summer 1998 release.

Movie About Zodiac Killer

Variety says a 24-year-old screenwriter has struck a deal to produce a thriller about the unsolved "Zodiac" serial killings. Shane Salerno reportedly will adapt and co-produce the picture, which will be based on Robert Graysmith's bestselling book "Zodiac," about the murderer who struck the San Francisco Bay area from 1966 to 1978. The project is set up at Disney. Because the Zodiac killer was never caught, the case has become an obsession for law enforcement professionals and amateur sleuths alike. More than 2,500 suspects have been investigated.

'Clueless' About Roxbury Guys

Elisa Donovan, best known as fashion victim Amber in both the movie and TV versions of "Clueless," has reportedly joined the cast of "A Night at the Roxbury," now in production in Los Angeles. Variety says Donovan will play Vivica, a gold-digging supermodel in the film, which is based on a "Saturday Night Live" sketch. Vivica and her friend Cambi (Gigi Rice) try to work the Roxbury Guys, "SNL" regulars Will Ferrell and Chris Kattan, for their money, only to find out the guys are broke.

Who Are Those Masked Men?

Two men in iron masks will fight for moviegoers' attention this fall. Variety says United Artists is producing a big-budget version of Alexandre Dumas' "The Man in the Iron Mask," starring Jeremy Irons and Leonardo DiCaprio. Meanwhile, director William Richert is making a $300,000 independent film about the adventures of the famous Musketeers of 17th century France. The cast includes Timothy Bottoms, Dana Barron and Edward Albert.

Carrie Fisher Turns to TV

Universal Television has signed Carrie Fisher to a two-year deal worth $3 million to develop comedies, according to Variety. Fisher began making a transition from acting to writing with the bestselling novel "Postcards From the Edge," which she adapted to the big screen for director Mike Nichols. She wrote the follow-up novel "Surrender the Pink," and her most recent novel is "Delusions of Grandma." While the former Princess Leia still acts occasionally -- most recently in "Austin Powers" -- Fisher is now known for doctoring film scripts, including "Lethal Weapon 3," "Sister Act" and "Hook."

New Home For Don Rickles

Don Rickles has reportedly sold his Beverly Hills home. According to the Los Angeles Times, the comedian and his wife Barbara garnered nearly $3.8 million for their eight-bedroom, 8 1/2 bath home. The Rickles lived in the house for 26 years. The newspaper says the couple will now live in a gated community. Rickles, 71, has been doing stand-up in Las Vegas for nearly 40 years.

Korean Production in NY

A Korean theater company will spend $2 million to mount 13 New York performances of its lavish musical "The Last Empress" this month. "We want to test ourselves in the big waters," says Kolleen Park, the show's musical director and conductor, "and to show the rest of the world that Korea is doing things in the musical field, and not doing them small." Empress, performed with English supertitles by an all-Asian cast of more than 50, will run Aug. 15-24 at Lincoln Center's New York State Theater. The musical depicts the life of Queen Min, a beloved empress who attempted modernization of Korea in the late 1800s only to be assassinated by the Japanese in 1895.

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