People

By Michele Orecklin

A CASE OF SIBLING RIBALDRY

CHARLIE SHEEN and EMILIO ESTEVEZ's portrayal of garbagemen in the 1990 film Men at Work didn't exactly resonate with audiences. Their latest joint venture, however, should spark more wicked curiosity. The siblings play brothers and porn pioneers Artie and Jim Mitchell for the Showtime film Rated X. Directed by Estevez, the film chronicles the careers of the pair credited with mainstreaming porn with the 1972 film Behind the Green Door. Asked how his brother felt playing a drug- and alcohol-abusing pornography hound, Estevez says, "Charlie had to go down some dark roads. I realized it could be dangerous, but in fact it was cathartic." Asked how he felt playing a pornography hound, Estevez replies, "You become totally desensitized to the fact that a nude woman is standing in front of you. I didn't expect that."

AND CAN YOU GET ME AN AGENT?

It may seem as if ROBERT DOWNEY JR. has little to look forward to besides flattering orange jumpsuits and improving his letter-writing skills. Earlier this month, the tormented actor returned to prison for violating probation on a 1996 drug conviction. But if his prior incarceration is any guide, he will encounter a panoply of cinematic possibilities, whether he wants to or not. In a forthcoming book by director Mike Figgis, Downey recounts having a stint in solitary confinement interrupted by a prison deputy. "This guy says, 'I hope I wouldn't be crossing the line if I brought a script by. It's about unicorns...'" Even in prison, everyone wants to direct.

PAGING MENSA

The quiz show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire isn't exactly College Bowl. (Sample question: Where did Monica buy her blue dress?) Perhaps because of this, the 13-episode ABC program is enthralling viewers, but occasionally it dismays geography fans. On a show last week, host Regis Philbin asked which of the Great Lakes, excluding Superior, has the largest area. Contestant David Honea suggested Lake Huron. Philbin's TelePrompTer suggested Lake Michigan, and the voluble host sent Honea packing. After the show, Honea politely asked producers to double-check. Guess who was right? ABC has invited Honea back for the show's final broadcast to continue his quest for the elusive million, which should help ABC in its quest for those elusive high ratings.

FEUD OF THE WEEK

NAME: David ("Don't Call Me Jack") Cassidy OCCUPATION: Onetime pop idol BEST PUNCH: Produced a homage to the Rat Pack at Vegas' Desert Inn in which actors croon, banter and re-create, in the words of the show's publicity material, the "swingin'est of eras"

NAME: Tina ("Don't Call Me Nancy") Sinatra OCCUPATION: Onetime pop idol's daughter BEST PUNCH: Angered by the unauthorized use of her father's image, she has threatened legal action to stop the production, alleging it potentially violates several of the original Pack's rights

WINNER We're waiting for Shaun and Frank Jr. to duke it out before we decide