People

By Michele Orecklin

COULD THIS BE SINGSONG DIPLOMACY?

Aspiring pop star and presidential half brother ROGER CLINTON, 43, has been invited to perform at a concert next month in North Korea, a country with which the U.S. has no official diplomatic relations. Organizers say he plans to attend.

Soprano and wunderkind CHARLOTTE CHURCH, 13, has been invited to perform on New Year's Eve by the Pope, President Clinton and the British royal family. So as not to offend any of them, she plans to stay home with her family and watch TV.

NEXT, THE HIGH SCHOOL PROM

After his stroke in 1996, KIRK DOUGLAS figured his acting career was over. "I thought unless silent films come back, I won't be in movies again," the 83-year-old actor says. Next month he will appear in the new film Diamonds. "Originally, my character suffered from Alzheimer's," he reports, "but I made some suggestions, and now I play a man recovering from a stroke." Douglas' influence also extended to casting: "I told Lauren Bacall there was a perfect part for her," he recalls. "When I said she'd play the madam of a whorehouse, she uttered some expletives, then agreed." Now Douglas is embarking on his eighth book, a new movie and an adolescent rite of passage: next week he will be bar mitzvahed for the second time. "In Judaism you can be re-bar mitzvahed at 83," he says. "I've asked guests to donate to charity in lieu of gifts, but I do expect a lot of fountain pens."

THE ASCENSION OF A NEW CHARLIE GIRL

The rationale for turning the television show Charlie's Angels into a movie is still a mystery, but the question of who will play the well-coiffed crime stoppers has finally been solved. Though Drew Barrymore and Cameron Diaz signed on months ago, producers had a devil of a time finding a third angel. At various points in the protracted casting search, everyone from Posh Spice to Angelina Jolie was touted as the leading candidate. But last week LUCY LIU, who plays the less-than-saintly Ling on Ally McBeal, nabbed the role. The movie will diverge from the series by changing the characters' names and personalities, but should remain faithful in emphasizing wardrobe over plot.

WHEN DAVID KELLEY DOESN'T CALL...

Lending a voice to The Simpsons is de rigueur for Hollywood's elite, but why are some of the business' most retiring types making their rare appearances on shows that can barely manage an Emmy nod?

STAR BOB DYLAN

SHOW Dharma & Greg

POSSIBLE RATIONALE Both Dharma and Dylan are throwbacks to the 1960s

[STAR] RICHARD PRYOR

[SHOW] The Norm Show

[POSSIBLE RATIONALE] The two comics share a mutual admiration [STAR] PAUL MCCARTNEY

[SHOW] VIP

[POSSIBLE RATIONALE] Star Pamela Lee is for animal rights, as was Linda McCartney

[STAR] LEIF GARRETT

[SHOW] Suddenly Susan

[POSSIBLE RATIONALE] Leif Garrett is floundering; so is Suddenly Susan