Moore’s merrier: Mary enters Hall of Fame
Mary Tyler Moore and Michael J. Fox are among the nine people being inducted into the Broadcasting and Cable Hall of Fame during its 11th annual gala in November.
The other inductees are “Today” show co-host Katie Couric; Disney chaiman Michael Eisner; MTV president Tom Freston; “SNL” creator Lorne Michaels; radio pioneer/Inner City Broadcasting chairman Hal Jackson; Cox Communications chairman James Robbins; and UHF pioneer William Lowell Putnam.
The event, hosted by Sam Donaldson, will be held Nov. 12 in the Marriott Marquis on Times Square – and, for the first time, will include celebrity presenters.
Taylor hams it up in ‘California’ role
Lawrence Taylor in a dress? Yep – the ex-Giants linebacker plays a transvestite in the series premiere of Showtime’s “Going to California,” premiering Thursday (10 p.m.).
The series stars Sam Trammell and Brad Henke as twentysomething pals who embark on a cross-country journey to California, searching for their friend Cassidy (Frank Sallo), who left town after breaking up with his girlfriend.
Naturally, they encounter offbeat characters – which is where Taylor comes in as “Fighting Iris,” a masculine transvestite who takes the guys to a blues bar (‘nuf said).
“California” was created by Scott Rosenberg (“High Fidelity,” “Gone in 60 Seconds”) and is loosely based on his own life.
‘Iron’ man Thompson: No average Joe
Producer Larry Thompson is still on the hunt for the “right” actor and actress to portray Joe DiMaggio and Marilyn Monroe in his TV biopic, “Joe & Marilyn.”
Thompson says he’s off to London, Monte Carlo and Paris to line up challenger chefs for his projected series, “Iron Chef USA.” Thompson produced two one-hour specials for UPN (the first one aired last November).
This just in . . .
WNEW’s (102.7 FM) reshuffled lineup debuts today: The Sports Guys (5-10 a.m.); Don & Mike (10 a.m.-3 p.m.); Opie & Anthony (3-7 p.m.); and Ron & Fez (7-11 p.m.).
Claire Shipman, subbing this week on “GMA” for Antonio Mora, will do her newscast from the Hay Adams Hotel in D.C.
David Cassidy (tomorrow) and Marilu Henner (Thursday) among the guests on the “WB11 Morning News” (6-8 a.m./Ch. 11).
Michael Bailey Smith to play three roles on the season premiere of “Charmed” opposite new series star Rose McGowan.