This is the news for December 18 from Nan Dibble and Helpers' Network
Hotline for fans of Beauty and the Beast. To contact me by e-mail, post to
ndibble@fuse.net. To stop (or to begin) receiving updates as e-mail, notify
me at the above e-mail address. To reach me by phone (evenings/weekends),
call (513) 961-4813.The website is at http://home.fuse.net/helpnet.
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Well, it seems that the axe, alas, has fallen on Madigan Men. Here's the
official word from Yahoo's news service:

Sunday December 17 11:10 PM ET
ABC Cancels Byrne's 'Madigan Men'

By Michael Schneider and Josef Adalian

HOLLYWOOD (Variety) - It's curtains for the "Madigan Men": ABC has opted
not to order additional episodes of the Gabriel Byrne comedy, which was
already scheduled to go on hiatus shortly.

The show, which starred Byrne as a workaholic New York architect who lives
with his father and son, is the second rookie project produced by Hollywood
dealmaker Michael Ovitz' fledgling Artists Television Group banner to get
the hook; Fox previously canceled "The Street." Two shows still remain from
the studio's inaugural fall lineup: the WB's "Grosse Pointe" and NBC's
"Cursed."

After eight airings, "Madigan Men" averaged 6.5 million viewers during its
Friday at 9:30 p.m. slot.

ABC announced earlier this month plans to air "Who Wants to Be a
Millionaire" at 8 p.m., pushing "Two Guys and a Girl" to 9 p.m. and "Norm"
into "Madigan's" slot at 9:30. ABC execs had been waiting to see the
results of new episodes, shot with new co-stars George Wendt and Christine
Ebersol, before making the final call on "Madigan."

"Madigan Men" is the second Friday night comedy to get yanked by ABC; it
earlier yanked "The Trouble with Normal" and replaced it with "Dot
Comedy"-- which lasted just one episode.
_____
And for the unofficial word, this from Roy Dotrice, forwarded on by Helper
Stephanie Wiltse:

"I have just received news from ABC that they have cancelled our series.
Madigan Men. They are not even bothering to record next week's episode.
This information was relayed last night via agents after we had left the
Studio amidst cries of "Have a nice weekend. See you on Monday!!" I think
it's a pity because I believe the show was getting better week by week."

Commiserations to Roy and the other cast members who hoped and expected
that the series would last at least one season. And thanks to Steff for
passing along Roy's remarks.
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On another topic, I've just talked to Phillip Smith, of NovTek, and he says
that the con tapes are still in editing and not yet ready to be mailed. I'm
sure we all sympathize with what a difficult year the Smiths have had, and
I for one am certainly not about to criticize anybody for delay due to
factors beyond one's control. Phil has promised to send me info after the
holidays about a probable shipping date for this year's con tapes, and full
ordering information for the benefit of those who now would like to order
the video of this memorable con, with surprise appearances by Roy and Ron,
in addition to the scheduled guests.
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Helper Carol Cooper sends us a George Martin alert:

Hi Nan. You might want to send out to the list that George R.R. Martin--top
fantasy writer and former co-producer/writer for B&B--will be doing a live
reading from his new book in New York at the New York Review of Science
Fiction reading series in February at Columbia University. We are still
nailing down the date, but should know by next week.

Best,

Carol

Thanks, Carol! Also apropos of GRRM, as Helper Kathy Battershell tells us,
there's a current interview with him posted at Science Fiction weekly for a
few more days. Says Kathy, Award-winning novelist George R.R. Martin takes
readers behind the scenes of his continuing fantasy saga "A Song of Ice and
Fire" on the eve of the publication of its latest installment, "A Song of
Swords."

Check it out at http://www.scifi.com/sfw/current/interview.html.
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This in from Beth Blighton. Though she's now involved with the fandom for
actor Clancy Brown, the principal male lead in the bygone series Earth II,
Beth and her art always have as much latitude as I can give her, so I'm
delighted to pass along her announcement that she has a Clancy Brown Fan
Club Calendar in the making. Those who've seen Beth's marvelous and
award-winning B&B art will easily understand why I'm inclined to include
any of her art on any pretext or none whatever. Beth sent along a picture
she drew of Clancy, which I'll post on the Helpers' Network website in this
update. Beth says,

Hi Nan!

Just got back from a wonderful visit to Vancouver in early November, where
we held a Charity Dinner with Clancy Brown, and also were lucky enough to
have him take us on a guided tour of the sets for his new TNT series
"Breaking News.

B&B fans who are interested in my art in general may be interested in the
new CBFC 2001 Art Calendar I'm taking orders for. All proceeds go to charity.

Hope you're having a lovely holiday season!

Thanks,

Beth

***************************** 
Now Taking Orders For...

THE OFFICIAL CBFC YEAR 2001 CALENDARS
 We are now taking pre-orders through January 1st, 2001 for our new
Official Clancy Brown Fan Club Year 2001 Calendars!  These calendars will
feature drawings by award-winning fan artist Beth Blighton.  All proceeds
from the sale of this year's calendars will go to benefit the J. Madison
Wright Fund and The Beth Brown Memorial Foundation. (For more information
about the CBFC's causes and fund-raising activities, please read this open
letter to the fans from Clancy Brown at:
http://www.clancy-brown.com/fanletters.html">http://www.clancy-brown.com/fan
letters.html

PRICES
$15.00 US
$16.00 CAN
$18.00 EUR
$20.00 PAC
(US funds only, please)

Please make checks or money orders payable to: The Official Clancy Brown
Fan Club, c/o Beth Blighton, PO Box 8655, Benton Harbor, MI 49023

All calendars will be shipped as soon as payment clears. 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Helper Rita Rose Davies, in Wales, asked me to pass this along: "Please let
everyone know that I no longer do the Beauty and the Beast British Fan Club
Newsletter. It is now in the safe hands of its creators, Amber James and
Joy Faulkner. But I am still doing Chatterbox. Anyone who would like to
join please e-mail me at rita@b-and-b-chatterbox.freeserve.co.uk.

Have a wonderful Christmas and a healthy New Year!

Hugs,

Rita
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This news in from Helper/Correspondent Darlene Sullivan:

From The Hollywood Reporter - Beah Richards ("Narcissa" in B&B), who passed
away recently, is one of the Image Award nominees for Best Supporting
Actress in a Drama Series - "The Practice" (ABC). The 32nd NAACP Image
Awards will be presented March 3 at the Universal Amphitheatre and
broadcast March 9 on Fox. The awards celebrate those who "strive for the
portrayal of positive images and meaningful opportunities for
African-Americans in the entertainment industry."

Darlene Sullivan

Thanks, Darlene! Always good to hear from you.
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Here are the Sightings from Helper/Correspondent Maxine Mayer:

Saturday, 12/16/00:
5 p Ron Perlman in Police Academy: Mission to Moscow (SHO)
12:35 a Ron Perlman in Frogs for Snakes (TMC)
3:55 a Richard Roundtree (Cleon Manning) in Miami Cops (TMC)

Sunday, 12/17/00:
5 p Ron Perlman in an ep of Magnificent Seven (TNN)

Monday, 12/18/00:
10:05 p Ron Perlman in Stephen King's 'Sleepwalkers' (TBS)

Tuesday, 12/19/00
Nothing of interest noted.

Wednesday, 12/20/00
Nothing of interest noted.

Thursday, 12/21/00
3:15 a Lance Henriksen (Snow, "Snow") in Profile for Murder (HBO)

Friday, 12/22/00
Nothing of interest noted.
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If it's news and has to do with Beauty and the Beast, please think of the
Hotline and relay. We're all in this together, keeping the dream of Beauty
and the Beast alive however we can. Beast wishes, be well, and goodbye.


ndibble@fuse.net
http://home.fuse.net/helpnet