ROANOKE TIMES

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, July 31, 1993                   TAG: 9307310197
SECTION: EXTRA                    PAGE: B9   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: from wire reports
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium


THE PEOPLE COLUMN

Mel Gibson will take over James Garner's old television role as "Maverick," the cocky Old West gambler, in a new movie. Garner will appear as smooth-talking stranger Zane Cooper.

The film "Maverick" will begin production this fall, said Bruce Berman of Warner Bros. Pictures.

Garner starred as Bret Maverick, opposite Jack Kelly as Bart Maverick, on the ABC-TV series from 1957 to 1960. Garner won an Emmy Award in the 1970s for his portrayal of a private investigator on "The Rockford Files."

His big-screen credits include "Murphy's Romance," which earned him an Oscar nomination, "The Great Escape," "Grand Prix," "Support Your Local Sheriff" and "Victor-Victoria."

\ Oh no! Mr. Bill of "Saturday Night Live" fame is part of a double feature with "Ernest" star Jim Varney. YaknowwhatImean?

A short film, "Mr. Bill Goes to Washington," will be shown with "Ernest Rides Again" - the latest in a series of Ernest movies.

"Mr. Bill Goes to Washington" is a spoof in which Mr. Bill pokes fun at officials in the nation's capital. It is the un-animated clay character's first movie release.

The films, produced by Emshell Producers Group of Nashville, are scheduled for release in November.

\ Former "Diff'rent Strokes" star Todd Bridges pleaded guilty to narcotics and weapons charges.

The 27-year-old former child star could get up to five years in prison at sentencing Aug. 31. He remained free on $10,000 bail.

Bridges, who pleaded guilty in Los Angeles Thursday, was arrested Dec. 29 after Burbank police found 1 1/2 grams of methamphetamine and a loaded 9mm gun in a car he was driving. Bridges said that the car wasn't his and that he didn't know what was in it.

In 1990, Bridges was acquitted of assault in the near-fatal shooting of a narcotics dealer in a Los Angeles drug den. In an earlier trial in the case, he was cleared of attempted murder.

\ Kid (for the 1,346,549th time): "I love you, you love me, we're a happy family . . . "

Parent: "Aaaaacckkkkk!"

Tired of TV's Barney, that rotund, purple dinosaur adored by preschoolers everywhere? Then we bring you a Maalox moment: The little brats will soon have a trove of Barney tunes to torture you with, 'cause the Purple One is set to release his first album. "Barney's Favorites Volume 1" was previewed at a news conference Thursday in New York by Barney himself, who said, "It's stupeedooopendous to be here," and sang selections from the album. Look for it Aug. 31.



 by CNB