The world according to Dan.

The World Wrestling Federation failed Wednesday in its latest bid to be allowed to share the trademark WWF initials with the World Wide Fund for Nature.

HE IS DEFINATELY MOURNED

Actor/comedian Spike Milligan, a British performer best known as one of the founding members of The Goons, has died at his home in Sussex at age 83.

Russell Crowe angered by speech cut

Actor Russell Crowe lost his temper with a television executive after his acceptance speech at the British Academy Film Awards was edited out of a delayed transmission, officials said Tuesday.

Crowe, 37, won best actor award for his role as a schizophrenic scientist in “A Beautiful Mind,” and during his speech read a poem called “Sanctity,” by the late Irish poet Patrick Kavanagh.

Crowe was unavailable for comment about reports of his outburst. When television company Initial Productions edited out the poem for the British Broadcasting Corp.’s one-hour delayed telecast of the Baftas, Crowe was abusive to the show’s director Malcolm Gerrie, the company said.

An Initial Productions spokesman, speaking on condition of anonymity, said people were told three times that they must keep their speeches to a minimum because of time constraints. The spokesman said Crowe was not the only winner who was edited because his speech went long, and he noted that Crowe’s speech is uncut in the international versions.

The decision to edit Crowe’s speech was made in collaboration with the BBC, the spokesman said.
The Sun newspaper reported Tuesday that Crowe swore at Gerrie, 51, at the postawards dinner and pushed him against a wall.

Asked about the reports, a London-based spokeswoman for DreamWorks, one of the studios behind “A Beautiful Mind” had no comment.

The British Academy of Film and Television Arts is Britain’s leading organization for film, television, and interactive entertainment.

Alicia Keys deserved all of her nominations. India Arie did not. But last year Steely Dan did not deserve their nominations and they won “Album Of The Year”, the biggest prize of the night.

Bottom line is that probably won’t happen this year, and not just because Steely Dan isn’t nominated. This will likley be the night of U2 as the past year saw them return to prominance. Here’s what else to expect from tonight’s Grammy Awards telecast.

And by the way, good luck to the luscious Nelly Furtado!

It’s a great new contract…FOR ME TO POOP ON!!! Conan O’Brien has inked a new 4- year deal with NBC.

Is there a new Springsteen album coming in October?

After releasing a double live album and DVD last year, it appears that Bruce Springsteen is readying a brand new studio album for this fall.

According to some report from the most authoritative of sources Sony Music Austria is promoting an October 14, 2002 date for the new release, Springsteen’s first studio album since his solo acoustic-driven “The Ghost of Tom Joad” in 1995.

No title or catalog number has been announced. Erin Smyth, manager of national media relations at Sony Music Canada, said she had no information regarding the release.

Springsteen reunited with the E Street Band for a European and North American tour in 1999 and 2000 as a “rededication” to the group and possible future recordings.

Previously we reported that Springsteen was recording at Atlanta’s Southern Tracks Studios with horrible producer Brendan O’Brien (Pearl Jam, Rage Against The Machine, Stone Temple Pilots, Train) at the controls. Various members of the E Street Band have also attended the sessions, which took place in late January.

Although no tracklisting has been mentioned, Springsteen has performed and/or released five new tracks between albums. They include “American Skin (41 Shots)”, “Another Thin Line”, “Land Of Hopes And Dreams”, “Code Of Silence”, and “My City of Ruins”, the latter of which appeared last fall on the “America: A Tribute To Heroes” benefit album.

In other news, Springsteen has contributed a version of “Give My Love To Rose” to “Kindred Spirits: A Tribute To The Songs Of Johnny Cash”. The album, set for release May 28, also features Sheryl Crow, Little Richard, Emmylou Harris, Steve Earle, and Dwight Yoakam.

Meanwhile, it appears that Springsteen is returning to the silver screen. Variety reports that the singer will have a “small role” as a “radio DJ” opposite Julia Stiles (“Save The Last Dance”, “10 Things I Hate About You”). Filming of the untitled romantic drama is set to begin this summer in New Jersey. Springsteen previously made a cameo appearance as himself in “High Fidelity”.

Finally, “Drive All Night”, a rock opera based around Springsteen’s songs, is set for its world premiere in New York in March.

NO APOLOGIES

Riverhead, a division of Penguin Putnam, is buying the rights to publish the notebooks of late Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain for close to $4 million. The diaries contain black-and-white drawings as well as lyrics and lists of musicians who influenced him over the years.

IS HE A TOUGH CRITIC, OR JUST PROMOTING HIS SHOW

“The West Wing” creator Aaron Sorkin is blasting the media for going easy on President Bush during the war in Afghanistan. In an interview with the New Yorker, Sorkin says the entire country, including his own network, is “pretending” that Bush is competent and brave when the reality is far different.

Kurt Cobain’s notebooks will be published in November. They should provide an insight into the mind of one of the most fascinating icons ever.

And hopefully, we’ll hear those un-released Nirvana songs by then as well!

Big day for DVD’s! Big day indeed! I may have to go back to work if this many great discs come out every week!

Here are your new DVD and video releases for Tuesday, February 26th, 2002.

JAY AND SILENT BOB STRIKE BACK (VHS & DVD)- This Kevin Smith disc would be worth picking up even if it didn’t offer any extras, but luckily you won’t have to wait like with the DOGMA Special Edition for goodies like director & cast commentary, 100+ minutes of deleted scenes, an alternate ending, gag reel, trailers, TV spots, and more. Plus, if you are a fan of Clerks, Chasing Amy, Dogma and Mallrats, then this is a must have!

THE LARRY SANDERS SHOW: THE ENTIRE FIRST SEASON (DVD)- Hummina, hummina, hummina! MAn, is I, be, umm, excited regarding this one! Finally, Larry comes home! Can you guess what I will be watching all day?!??!

TWIN PEAKS: FIRE WALK WITH ME (DVD)- The release of the TWIN PEAKS prequel movie features the new documentary REFLECTIONS ON THE PHENOMENOM OF TWIN PEAKS, featuring new on-camera interviews with the cast and crew.

ALSO OUT TODAY,

SOUL SURVIVORS (VHSr & DVD)
BONES (VHSr & DVD)
DRAWING FLIES (VHS & DVD)
PENDULUM (VHSr & DVD)
CINDERELLA II: DREAMS COME TRUE (VHS & DVD)
SESSION 9 (VHS & DVD)
A GLIMPSE OF HELL (VHSr & DVD)
2000 YEAR OLD MAN (DVD)
VA SAVOIR (VHS & DVD)
HAIKU TUNNEL (VHS & DVD)
SHERLOCK HOUND – CASE FILE 1 (DVD)
SOULTAKER: THE MONSTER WITHIN (DVD)
CHEAP TRICK: MUSIC FOR HANGOVERS (VHS & DVD)
SPACE 1999, Set 5 & 6 (DVD)