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I* Entertainment extra • 1/8/99 thru 1/14/99
Lifestyle extras
MACKENZIE PHILUPS:
LIFE IS GOOD
by Saßy Stone
Mackenzie Phillips stars in “So
Weird?’ a new original series debuting
on the Disney Channel January 18. It’s
her first series since “One Day At A
Time” when the talented young actress
found herself in the first stages of what
would become the battle of her life.
“I had become addicted to drugs,”
she says. “I left the show after five years
to get treatment. I came back but I was
fired two years later because I couldn’t
stay sober. It was a bad time for me, but
when I look back, I realize that in some
ways, it was also a good thing because it
forced me to see what I was doing to
mysglf. It wasn’t easy, but eventually,
my life turned around. Now, I feel life is
good. I have a wonderful son, and I’m
doing a lot of interesting things.”
The series, “So Weird,” stars
Mackenzie as Molly, a 1970 s rock and
roll singer who travels the country with
her two children on a comeback tour.
Molly’s daughter, Fiona or Fi (played
by Cara DeLizia) is a computer whiz
with a penchant for finding “weird”
occurrences - such as extraterrestrials,
ghosts, ESP, etc. - in every city on the
tour.
Does that mean Mackenzie et al get
to do a lot of traveling?
“No,” she says. “Somehow, they’re
going to make Vancouver, where we
shoot the series, turn into a different city
every week.”
Phillips is completely candid about
her drug addiction, and explains that
part of the recovery process is being
able to speak about the problem.
“People with substance abuse problems
get used to hiding what they’re doing,”
she says. “When you stop trying to pre
tend you have no problem, you take the
first step in dealing with it. Also, I feel
that talking about it could help someone
by Brad Elson
SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE: This is a
witty, fast-moving romantic comedy set
in London in 1593, and follows the trials
and tribulations of Will Shakespeare
(Joseph Fiennes), a struggling young
playwright suffering from a dreadful
bout of writer’s block. No matter how
hard he tries, he just can’t seem to make
any headway with his latest work,
“Rontao and Ethel, the Pirate’s
Daughter.” Somehow, even the title does
n't sound quite right.
But then. Will meets and falls instant
ly in love with the startlingly beautiful
Viola (Gwyneth Paltrow), who, desper
ate to become an actor (in a tnM.Mtar.'
women are not aiiowcu to pcnonn in tnc
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11
Mackenzie Phillips
else to realize that help is available.”
Mackenzie shared a love of rock and
roll with her father, rock and roll musi
cian, John Phillips of the Mamas and
the Papas. At 12, she formed an R&R
band made up of- her description -
music industry kids.” Soon after, she
was cast in her first movie, “American
Graffiti.” She was 15 when she was cho
sen to play Julie Cooper in Norman
Lear’s new comedy, “One Day at A
Time.” After her final exit from the
series, she teamed up with her father,
and toured with him around the world.
She developed an extraordinary singing
style doing 200 or so concerts a year.
Referring to “So Weird,” Mackenzie
says, “Now, here I am - but instead of
being the child touring with the parent,
I’m the parent touring with my chil
dren.”
She quickly adds, “But there are
some differences between Molly and
me. When I toured, we would often
trash hotel rooms and do all the rock
Movie Review
theater), disguises herself as a man to
audition for his play. Inspired by love,
Will’s creative powers are unleashed as
his great love story, “Romeo and Juliet,”
is brought to life for the first time.
From acclaimed director John
Madden (“Her Majesty Mrs. Brown”),
“Shakespeare In Love” also stars
Academy-Award winners Geoffrey
Rush (“Shine”) and Ben Affleck (“Good
Will Hunting”) in fabulously comic
roles, Academy-Award nominee Judi
Dench “(Her Majesty Mrs. Brown”) as
Queen Elizabeth I and Colin Firth (‘The
English Patient”).*
DOWN IN THE DELTA: The direc
torial debut of one of the world’s greatest
and roll things. That would never hap
pen with Molly.”
As a recovering substance abuser,
Mackenzie knows progress is made -
ironically enough - one day at a time.
Or, as she says, “by taking little baby
steps.” In recent years, she played
Rizzo in the Broadway production of
“Grease,” and has appeared in major
guest roles on shows such as “Chicago
Hope,” “Beverly Hills, 90210” and
others. Asked why she decided to do
“So Weird” as her first series in 20
years, she says, “For a lot of reasons:
the Disney people are great to work
with. And I love the character of
Molly. I love the whole premise of the
show. I also liked the fact that now that
I’m a mother in real life. I’m able to
play one on television. Also, I love to
sing’and on this show I get to do a lot
of that.”
Unlike Molly, who bills her tour as a
“comeback,” Phillips says she rejects
that word to describe her re-emerging
career. “The word ‘comeback,’” she
says, “has a sense of a big dramatic
return. And that’s not how it’s been for
me. It’s been, as I said, a progression of
little baby steps, but baby steps in the
right direction.”
Asked if she regrets those difficult
days when she seemed to be falling
inexorably into a drowning pool of
drugs, Mackenzie Phillips said, “We’re
all sums of every experience we’ve had
and, which together, make up who we
are. Those extreme periods of my life
help make up who I am today.
Fortunately, I was able to learn from
those experiences which have made me
appreciate even more how lucky I am in
so many ways.”
Mackenzie Phillips adds: “I’m
grateful every day that I’m on this plan
et.”
© 1999 King Features Synd., Inc.
begins in Chicago, where Loretta (Alfie
Woodaid) lives with her mother and two
children. Loretta is headed down a
destructive path as she succumbs to the
drug and alcohol-ridden streets of her
neighborhood. In efforts to pull her
daughter and grandchildren (newcomers
Mpho Koaho and Kulani Hassen) out of
harm’s way, Loretta’s mother, Rosa
Lynn, (Mary Alice) pawns her most
valuable and prized family heirloom and
moves the family back to their ancestral
home down in the Mississippi delta.
This is an emotional and riveting
story where big city meets small town,
young meet old, parents reconnect with
children, and life for everyone becomes
i something they never expected. \
r - ©l999KihgFeatureSyMd.inc. - 4
MUSIC/MOVIE RATINGS
Top Rhythm/Dance
1. Cher “Believe” (Warner) Last Week: No. 1
2. Deborah Cox “Nobody’s Supposed To Be Here” (Arista) No. 2
3. Touch And Go “Would Y0u...?” (Oval) No. 5
4. Gloria Estefan “Don’t Let This Moment End” (Epic) No. 4
5. Vengaboys “Up & Down” (Groovilicious/Strictly Rhythm) No. 3
6. Tony Mascolo “Night Wind” (Modern) No. 12
7. Total Feat. Missy Elliott 'Trippin’ “ (Bad Boy/Arosta) No. 7
8. R. Kelly & Celine Dion “I’m Your Angel” (Jive) No. 6
9. Tevin Campbell “Another Way” (Qwest/Warner) New Entry
10. Brian McKnight Feat. Tone & Kobe Bryant “Hold Me” (Motwn) No. 15
Top 10 Movies
1. The Prince of Egypt
2. You’ve Got Mail starring Tom Hanks
3. Star Trek: Insurrection starring Patrick Stewart
4. A Bug’s Life •
5. Jack Frost Michael Keaton
6. Enemy of the State Will Smith
7. The Rugrats Movie
8. Psycho Vince Vaughn
9. The Waterboy Adam Sandler
10. Elizabeth Cate Blanchett
© 1999 King Features Synd., Inc.
Top C&W Singles
1. Terri Clark “You’re Easy On The Eyes” (Mercury) Last Week: No. 4
2. Collin Raye “Someone You Used To Know” (Epic) No. 2
3. Brooks & Dunn “Husbands And Wives” (Arista Nashville) No. 1
5. Tim McGraw “For A Little While” (Curb Album Cut) No. 5
6. Alan Jackson “Right On The Money” (Arista Nashville) No. 6
7. Randy Travis “Spirit Os A Boy, Wisdom Os A Man” (Dreamworks Album Cut) No. 7
8. Martina Mcßride “Wrong Again” (RCA) No. 12
9. Aaron Tippin “For You I Will” (Lyric Album Cut) No. 9
10. Reba “Wrong Night” (MCA Nashville) No. 19
Top Video Rentals
1. Armageddon stamng Bruce Willis (Buena Vista - Rated: PG-13) Last Week: No. 1
2. Dr. Dolittle Eddie Murphy (PolyVideo - PG-13) New Entry
3. The Negotiator Samuel L. Jackson Warner - R) New Entry
4. Deep Impact Morgan Freeman (Paramount - PG-13) No. 2
5. Godzilla Matthew Broderick (Columbia TriStar - PG-13) No. 4
6. Small Soldiers Kirsten Dunst (Universal- PG-13) No. 3
7. Hope Floats Sandra Bullock (Fox Video - PG-13) No. 7
8. The Horse Whisperer Robert Redford (Buena Vista - PG-13) No. 5
9. City Os Angels Nicoloas Cage (Warner - PG-13) No. 10
10. The Opposite Sex Christina Ricci (Columbia - R) No. 19
11. Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas Johnny Depp (Universal -R) No. 21
12. The X-Files David Duchovny (Fox Video - PG-13) No. 8
13. Can’t Hardly Wait Jennifer Lee Hewitt (Columbia TriStar - PG-13) No. 24
14. The Wedding Singer Adam Sandler (Warner - PG-13) No. 23
15. The Last Days Os Disco Kate Beckinsale (PolyGram - R) No. 12
16. Wild Things Matt Dillon (Columbia TriStar - R) No. 13
17. A Perfect Murder Michael Douglas (Warner - R) No. 6
18. The Spanish Prisoner Campbell Scott (Columbia TriStar - PG) No. 14
19. Mercury Rising Bruce Willis (Universal - R) No. 11
20. The Object Os My Affection Jennifer Aniston (Fox Video - R) No. 16
Top Ten Singles
1. R. Kelly & Celine Dion “I’m Your Angel” (Jive) Last Week: No. 1
2. Deborah Cox “Nobody’s Supposed To Be Here” (Arista) No. 2
3. Shania Twain “From This Moment On” (Mercury/Nashville) No. 3
4. Britney Spears “...Baby One More Time” (Jive) No. 5 .
5. ‘N SYNC "(God Must Have Spent) A Little More Tune On You” (RCA Album Cut) No. 11
6. Cher “Believe” (Warner) No. 4
7. Shawn Mullins “Lullaby” (SMG Album Cut/Columbia) No. 10
8. Brandy “Have You Ever?” (Atlantic Album Cut) No. 8
9. Will Smith “Miami” (Columbia Album Cut) No. 26
10. Divine “Lately” (Pendulum/Red Ant) No. 6
•a'*'’’ .