•
Did Todd Bri Go w His mom
says it was the drugs and Todd IS no a different pet;­
son, but those who have been close to Todd say it was
partly his arrogance and partly a recklessness that
fostered his drug habit. Nonetheless, on February 17,
former actor Todd Bridges, who co-starred in the
NBC hitseries ·Difrrent Strokes", will have to tell it
to the judge when he answers charges of attempted
murder, at a preliminary hearing. The charges stem
from an incident at a Los Angeles "rock" house, in
which a man shot five times, fingered Bridges as his
assailant. Bridges, who pleaded not guilty, was
declared a danger to the community and is being held
without bond. If convicted, he could face as sev..ere a -
penalty as life-prisonment
Difl'rent Str Star. Gary Coleman Filed Suit
Against His Parents: Last Tuesday, in Santa Monica
Superior Court, actor Gary Coleman charged that his
parents (W.G. and Edmonia Coleman) and a former
business adviser, Anita DeThomas, "improperly
profited" from the monies he earned during his TV
success, diverting the funds to themselves. The suit
also alleges that the trio invested unwisely and mis­
managed his assets. The lawsuit did not specify what
Coleman, who turned 21 just last week, will seek in
damages, but did say that the actor felt his .parents to
have been duly influenced by DeThomas. Coleman,
who's been acting since he was five, came to
prominence in 1978 as Arnold Jackson on ·Difrrent
Strokes", a series that had been designed just for him
Campaigni For Best Actor. Warner Bros. .
putting a great deal behind its thrust to have Forest
Whitaker taken into consideration for an Oscar.'
Whitaker, who gave a brilliant performance in the
movie, "Bird", also already received a Golden Glove
nomination for best actor. It was the first lead role
for the 27-year old actor who portrayed jazz-alto
saxophonist Charlie "Yardbird" Parker. Ironically,
Whitaker claimed to have known very little about
Parker before taking the role.
I I
. Syres All In ew • It is billed as
Smokey's own story and details his record successes
and personal failures, including the cocaine abuse
that threatened his life and career. The book, slated
to be released next month, and retailing for $18.95,
also tells the I real story behind his wife's tragic at-I .
tempts to have a child and their ultimate success with
"adoption" using a newly-introduced technology for
surrogacy, the reasons for his break from the
Miracles, and about the other women in his life and
how they affected his marriage .... But Smokey isn't the
only R&B star who is putting his life to paper. Gladys
Knight is putting the final touches on the autobiog­
raphy she's doing for New American Library, called
"Contrary To Popular Opinion". Once finished, she
will team up with Dionne Warwick and Patti LaBelle
for a "Sisters" tour.
Sal
7:30 a.m,
WILD
WOME DON'T HAVE
THE BLUES, a 0 -ho pea ..
duri HI His ocy Month, docUments the i
made by a oeratJo of great bl perf'ormers-I Cox,
Alberta Hunter, Ma Rainey, Sippie Wallace, and others. Mamie
Smith, ( boft) pioneer recorcli artist 0 la d tbe19lOs craze
for ,aad Res le Smith, vau De tar and hit recorcU arti t
01 19lOs, are feat red ia the program. (1/24/89, 10:00 p.m. ET, ODe hour)
c
K
I. THE. A T R E
I •
DauIInf1 oodway Mulleol • Wlr1in« d 6 Tony A WOfds
loot • LyricI by Tom EYM • MusIc by H«vy K�
DltKIed by AMIa Ab1t1
BLACK-TIE PREMIERE
I .
epIon) .
March 3, 1 �89
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"
�
$25.00 •
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