People

By Michele Orecklin

EVER TRY A BEAKLOCK?

You may know BILL GOLDBERG as the Sandy Koufax of wrestling or the man who enters the ring blowing smoke through his nostrils, but you probably don't think of him as 285 lbs. of pure animal lover. Last week, however, Goldberg traded in his bikini briefs and leather boots for a suit and went to Capitol Hill to protest cockfighting and dogfighting. "I know when I step into the ring, that's my choice," he testified at a congressional briefing, "but these animals, they have no choice." Goldberg says Steve Largent, the Representative from his home state of Oklahoma, one of only three states where cockfighting is still legal, nixed a meeting. Bad move. "I'm not sure why he wouldn't see me," Goldberg says. "I would think he'd want me in his corner, but we'll just see who the most popular man from Oklahoma is."

GOOD NEWS

Obscure Alaskan Senator TED STEVENS appears on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno

Judge who sent TOMMY LEE to jail can find no evidence the rocker violated his parole by drinking

BAD NEWS

During impeachment hearings, Stevens is shown (repeatedly) picking his nose

This means Lee is free to go on tour. Maybe they can get him for his hair. It's a crime

CHILI CON CARNE, HOLD THE CARNE

It seems DIANE SAWYER may have forfeited any chance at a lucrative Hormel endorsement. In a top-secret investigation for 20/20, the program she anchors, Sawyer installed hidden cameras in her apartment, then invited a group of the show's underlings over for "homemade" chili, ostensibly to discuss work. But while Sawyer's chili, which she ate with gusto, tasted fine, her guests got a meal spiked with salt. When she left the room, cameras taped staff members' denigrating comments. The stunt was designed for a segment exposing the fact that in social situations, people often lie. Upon learning of the ruse, some felt betrayed and one even contacted a lawyer. ABC killed the piece, denying Sawyer a major scoop on the possible existence of sycophancy in TV.

CAREER ARC

BRENDAN FRASER can play almost any role. Well, any role that finds a naif thrust into unknown territory. Will his new film, Blast from the Past, add to his repertoire?

BLAST FROM THE PAST

OUR HERO EMERGES FROM... a bomb shelter after 30 years and into modern Los Angeles

COMIC MAYHEM ENSUES WHEN... he learns how to drive

IN THE END, HIS NAIVE CHARM WINS OVER... Alicia Silverstone

GEORGE OF THE JUNGLE

[OUR HERO EMERGES FROM...] the jungle after 25 years and into modern San Francisco

[COMIC MAYHEM ENSUES WHEN...] he learns how to wear shoes

[IN THE END, HIS NAIVE CHARM WINS OVER...] Leslie Mann

ENCINO MAN

[OUR HERO EMERGES FROM...] a block of ice after thousands of years and into modern Encino

[COMIC MAYHEM ENSUES WHEN...] he learns how to use a fork

[IN THE END, HIS NAIVE CHARM WINS OVER...] Pauly Shore