POP/ROCK
Viper Gets Re-Fanged: The Viper Room, the Sunset Boulevard nightclub that's been closed for interior renovations since mid-November, will hold a grand reopening bash Jan. 9, featuring a benefit acoustic performance by Courtney Love and her Hole bandmate guitarist Eric Erlandson. Meanwhile, the Johnny Depp-owned nightspot will resume its regular show schedule of mostly unsigned bands on Monday (despite the belated grand reopening date, the first actual performance at the spruced-up club was a New Year's Eve show with Nancy Sinatra). A limited number of $200 tickets are available for the Love show, with proceeds going to the nonprofit yoga teaching organization Center for Living. While noting that most of the changes involved the decor, a club spokeswoman said the venue now looks "completely different" and is done in an Art Deco style, adding: "It's no longer the black hole."
MOVIES
Two Hooves Up: Film critics Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert will discuss their annual picks for the year's 10 best movies on Sunday's edition of their syndicated TV show (airing locally at 6:30 p.m. on KABC-TV). The two listed four films in common, but agreed on only one among their top three. Siskel chose the box-office flop "Babe: Pig in the City" as the year's best film, followed by "The Thin Red Line," "Pleasantville," "Saving Private Ryan," "Shakespeare in Love," "The Truman Show," "Antz," "Simon Birch," "There's Something About Mary" and "Waking Ned Devine." Ebert's list, meanwhile, was topped by the sci-fi thriller "Dark City," followed by "Pleasantville," "Saving Private Ryan," "A Simple Plan," "Happiness," "Elizabeth," "Babe: Pig in the City," "Shakespeare in Love," "Life Is Beautiful" and "Primary Colors."
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Walk of Fame Repairs: Repairs on the Walk of Fame stars of Tom Hanks, Lauren Bacall, Doris Day and others will begin next week as part of a $250,000 renovation of the popular Hollywood sidewalk attraction. Several stars located on Vine Street have been damaged by tree roots and the rumbling of traffic; other stars whose plaques have been damaged include Shirley Temple, Tina Turner, Phyllis Diller and Andy Garcia. "We owe it to our honorees to keep their terrazzo trophy in pristine condition," Hollywood's honorary mayor, Johnny Grant, said. The renovation money will come from fees from the star dedication ceremonies and other fund-raising events.
RADIO
