Newsmakers

Ready to Rumble

Last month NEWSWEEK was keen to interview Liza Minnelli. She was filming a guest spot on a Fox sitcom, and a Broadway musical about her ex-husband Peter Allen was set to open. Was this not a Liza moment? Her publicist said no, but confirmed our radarlike journalistic instinct: "Life's great for her these days."

And these days? Last week the gossip industry celebrated Christmas early when her husband, David Gest, sued her for domestic violence, accusing her of beating him five times in their 15-month marriage. Gest, whose court papers call him a "world renown" promoter, alleges that he now takes 11 painkillers a day. What would make it all better? Ten million dollars of Liza's money. Spousal abuse is no laughing matter, but even the most PC among us--imagining a vodka-powered Liza whacking Gest like a pinata--has to think, maybe just this once.

Minnelli filed for divorce the next day. In a statement, she called his accusations "hurtful and without merit"; she'd hoped "that the end of my marriage would be handled with mutual respect and dignity." (Neither party, you'll be surprised to hear, returned NEWSWEEK's messages.) But from the moment Minnelli and Gest tied the knot in March 2002, dignity's been in short supply; the best man was Michael Jackson. And we lost our journalistic objectivity when we read that Gest alleges Minnelli was not only alcoholic (really?) but "overweight." Isn't that hitting below the belt?

--Devin Gordon

Dustin Hoffman

This month Dustin Hoffman co-stars with Gene Hackman in "Runaway Jury," his 2,750th movie. No? Fine, then you count 'em. Next year he'll be in the much-anticipated "J. M. Barrie's Neverland"; last week he nearly flew away (assisted by wires) with NEWSWEEK's Nicki Gostin.

I don't want to scare you but...

Are you the mother of my child?

No, but when I first came to New York I went to your production offices to try and meet you. Is it creepy being interviewed by an ex-stalker?

No, but you didn't really stalk me. Well, it makes me feel that you're not so ex.

Have you ever been called up for jury duty?

Yes, but I never went. I was always working.

You're eating something. What are you eating?

A mahi sandwich. Do you like mahi?

Yeah, but in a sandwich? I don't know about that.

I know. But it was easier to attack with one hand on the phone. Although the real reason is I have to keep my eyes closed for four hours. I just had surgery.

Ooh. What did you have done?

It's not an ooh. It's an aah.

What was it?

Lasik. I'm so excited. I won't have to wear glasses ever again except reading glasses.

Is Al Pacino the Italian Dustin Hoffman?

I won't even answer that, because he'll probably send out a hit on me no matter what I say.

What's been your favorite role?

You always want to learn something, so I would say "Tootsie." The crew started bringing friends on the set and introducing me as Dorothy Michaels. It was as if they had closed the venetian blind between us. I had never known that feeling before. How brutal.

See? Guys are pigs.

Yes, that was an insight as to how blatant it is, that men will just erase you. Had I met myself at a party I would have ignored me, and I thought I was an interesting woman. I went home and I said to my wife, "I've missed out on a lot of interesting women."

You know what? You still wouldn't have gone out with them.

That's not true. That's not true.