Ledger Pop Journal - Celebrity News & Sports

Fans of Geena Davis' "Commander in Chief" who've been tantalized by the suggestion that the series might live again as a telepic, hear this: According to Davis, the made-for-TV movie looks like a go.

GEENA SEES 'COMMANDER IN CHIEF' TV PIC

And not only that, she tells us, "We're hopeful that it will maybe serve as the impetus to do more episodes."

Davis reports the plans won't move forward right away, however. Rod Lurie, creator of the ABC series, will be writing and directing the movie, she says, and "he is actually shooting a film right now, so ours won't happen until some time in the fall."

The first 10 episodes of the acclaimed show -- about fictional first female U.S. President Mackenzie Allen -- are getting released on DVD tomorrow (6/27), as "The Inaugural Edition."

The drama was derailed by internal problems. Lurie reportedly had trouble keeping up with the weekly TV pace, Steven Bochco was brought in to take over running the show, Bochco left after he and the network allegedly had disagreements, and finally, ABC pulled the plug. Even so, its impact remains undeniable. Notes Davis, "Someone sent me a survey by the Kaplan Thaler Group. It says that of the 76 percent of Americans familiar with the show, 58 percent are more likely to take seriously the idea of a female President."

Davis' brushes with real-life politics include having recently been invited to introduce Michelle Bachelet at a Washington, D.C., event. Bachelet is Chile's first woman president -- and a fan of "Commander in Chief." "She told me she most loved the episode when I danced with the Russian president," Davis says, "because she loves to dance, and she's afraid people won't ask her to dance anymore now that she is president. She seems so capable and confident, and also so warm at the same time. I like to think that Mackenzie had those qualities."

TEED OFF:

Mad-as-hell "Daily Show" comedian Lewis Black is uncharacteristically jubilant -- over his feat of attaining a hole-in-one last week at the Plum Creek Golf Course in Kyle, Texas, between gigs on his current comedy concert tour. "My head exploded. I jumped up and down a lot. Everyone was screaming," says Black, referring to his traveling golf buddies, including his tour manager, recording engineer and opening act John Bowman.

Black's "Nothing's Sacred" best-seller comes out in paper July 11, and he's doing an eight-day tour to promote that, squeezed in between his ongoing concert engagements, "Daily Show" visits -- plus promos for his current "Red, White and Screwed" HBO special that has airings tomorrow and Thursday night (6/27 and 6/29), his soon-due Carnegie Hall concert CD, and the Aug. 11-opening big screen comedy, "Accepted."

His super-heated career comes with ever-growing legions of fans, including lots of devoted college students. "My fans are nice. I have just enough celebrity that it's fun," he says. The down side is traveling. "This summer, if you don't have to fly, don't fly. I have enough trouble anyway with my anger management issues, and I find airport security so appalling it makes me crazy."

THE INSIDE TRACK:

Nine-time-Grammy-winning gospel legend Andrae Crouch admits he was initially reluctant to put out an album celebrating his 40 years in the business. "I said 'Oh my gosh, who wants to buy a record from somebody in the recording industry for that many years?'" Then, says the artist -- who is juggling tour dates this summer with his duties as the pastor of New Christ Memorial Church in Pacoima, Calif. -- "I hear the Lord's voice clearly say, 'I blessed you to still be here and I'm still pouring into you, don't be ashamed of this or that.'" So there.

Crouch says it took three years to bring together all the elements of his latest CD, "Mighty Wind," on Verity/Zomba Gospel Records -- featuring such guest artists as Marvin Winans, Fred Hammond, Tata Vega and saxophonist Gerald Albright. "It's not really a display of vocal gymnastics. My father used to tell me, 'Andrae, write songs that truck drivers can hum,' and this is really what I tried to do."

Crouch, known for his powerful, raspy voice, adds that he loves writing songs that spotlight his guest artists. "I don't like it when every song has to be cosmetically put together around the restrictions of my voice. The Lord gives me songs way out of my range, and I know I'm not supposed to sing them. And sometimes there are melodies and messages I feel should be presented by a woman. I'm glad that when people hear a record of mine they're not expecting me to do all the lead singing."

TWO FADS IN ONE:

Casting is underway for a "name" host, professional poker players willing to come in and offer lessons and advice to amateurs, and a sidekick -- the cashier -- for an upcoming reality show called "Poker Stud." This one aims to take the popularity of poker as a spectator sport and the success of reality shows featuring people thrust together into privacy-deprived living quarters, and combine them. Shooting is to get underway next month.