Leonardo DiCaprio, Jonah Hill to tell 1996 Olympics guard’s story
Leonardo DiCaprio says he and “The Wolf of Wall Street” co-star Jonah Hill are “going to come up with something unique” as they reteam to tell the story of 1996 Olympics security guard Richard Jewell.
Hill will star as Jewell in the planned film, which was presented to the two actors as they searched for another joint project following the Oscar-nominated depiction of stockbroker excess.
“I think it’s such a heartbreaking story and such an interesting story about the 24-hour news cycle: a man becoming a hero and then the world’s biggest villain within 24 hours of each other,” Hill said.
DiCaprio is expected to both produce and play Jewell’s attorney.
Jewell was initially hailed as a hero for spotting a suspicious backpack and moving people out of harm’s way just before a bomb exploded in the Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta, killing one and injuring 111 others. But within days, he was named as a suspect in the blast. He was eventually exonerated and died in 2007 at age 44.
Leno’s finale seen by 14.6 million
Jay Leno’s farewell “Tonight Show” drew the late-night show’s biggest audience in more than 15 years, NBC said Friday.
A total of 14.6 million viewers tuned in Thursday to see Leno wrap up his 22 years as host of “Tonight,” according to Nielsen company ratings released by NBC.
The audience was the biggest since May 14, 1998, when Jerry Seinfeld appeared on “Tonight” to mark the end of his sitcom and nearly 15 million viewers tuned in.
Leno’s goodbye to “Tonight” was watched by 2.7 million more viewers than when he left in May 2009 to make way for Conan O’Brien’s short-lived stint as host.
Harris dresses up for Pudding Pot
Neil Patrick Harris, dressed in a wig, lingerie and red heels, took the stage at Harvard University on Friday to accept the 2014 Man of the Year Award from America’s oldest undergraduate drama troupe.
The Emmy Award-winning actor cast a few spells, saved someone’s life and sang a jingle from “Rent” before being awarded the Hasty Pudding Theatricals’ annual Pudding Pot.
“I felt remarkably good in heels,” Harris said after the ceremony.
Harris was showered with ridicule by the show’s roasters, who said he was best known for 200 episodes of “crappy” television.
Harris, who has appeared in the “Harold & Kumar” and “The Smurfs” movies and has starred in three Broadway plays, is most recently known for his role as suave ladies’ man Barney Stinson on “How I Met Your Mother,” a hit CBS comedy in its ninth and final season.
The birthday bunch
Singer Carole King is 72. Actor Joe Pesci is 71. Actress Mia Farrow is 69. Actress Judith Light is 65. Actor Charlie Day is 38. Actor David Gallagher (“Seventh Heaven”) is 29. Actor Michael B. Jordan (“Fruitvale Station”) is 27.