Naked Gun

Almost on a level with "Airport!" and created by most of the same happily demented crew. Leslie Nielsen8s deadpan Lt. Frank Drebin (pictured with Priscilla Presley) is a wonder to behold.

STAGE Cirque Berzerk From the big top to the big time, Cirque Berzerk begins a nearly monthlong residency at Club Nokia. Cirque-goers can expect more of the troupe's signature pairing of traditional circus and aerial arts with punk rock and cabaret noir influences. Club Nokia, 800 W. Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles. Though Jan. 30. $19.50-$125. Check website for times and dates. http://www.clubnokia.com MOVIES Palm Springs International Film Festival L.A. may get most of the film-buzz juice in SoCal, but the Palm Springs International Film Festival is an underrated host of touted docs, shorts and features every year.

Some movies make you laugh. Some movies don't. "The Naked Gun: From the Files of 'Police Squad!' " (citywide) definitely falls in the first category. Here is a vulgar collection of cheesy jokes, bald-faced stick-it-in-your eye slapstick, appalling parodies of old TV cop shows and puns for which someone should be half-shot at sunrise. There are inane Abbott-and-Costello word-games that resemble the demented prattle of crazed infants. There are lewd innuendoes of every type.

MOVIES Cinephiles and boozehounds will unite at the "Naked Gun" and "Airplane" Drink Along, the latest installment of the Downtown Independent's sudsy screening series. The comedic double feature will toast the late actor Leslie Nielsen, and rooftop beer pong will continue "till late. " The first drink is on the house. Downtown Independent, 251 S. Main St., L.A. 7 p.m. Sat. (8 p.m. show time). $10 in advance, $12 at the door. (213) 617-1033. http://www.downtownindependent.com

"The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!" could become the only successful movie based on a failed television series. The 1982 ABC cop show parody lasted only four weeks. But that didn't daunt its creators. They viewed its quick demise as a badge of honor. "I refer to it as a failed TV show, but in a way, it's a backhanded compliment," said Robert Weiss, the producer of both the television series "Police Squad!" and "Naked Gun."

"Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult" thumbed its nose at the Academy Awards with a wacky Oscar parody on its way to winning the top box-office prize over the weekend in a landslide. The third installment of the Paramount comedy franchise, from producer David Zucker, grossed more than double its nearest competitor with a $13.2-million opening weekend.

Over the years, Priscilla Presley has been known for: (a) her marriage to Elvis. (b) her beehive hairdos. (c) her daughter with Elvis. (d) her divorce from Elvis. (e) her role on "Dallas." (f) her book on Elvis. What she has not been known for is spitting. That's right. Spitting.

After 40 years in the acting biz, Leslie Nielsen finally has achieved superstar status as the inept goofball Lt. Frank Drebin in the "Naked Gun" box-office hits. But the 65-year-old Canadian has discovered being a star doesn't mean everybody knows your name. "I came back from Canada and went into the duty-free shop," Nielsen was explaining one recent morning. "The lady behind the counter says, 'I know who you are. You're Lloyd Bridges.

After 20 years in Hollywood, filmmaker David Zucker decided at last to publish his insights into the cinematic art. Alas, the writer-producer-director discovered, "no one cared! It was in the New York Times, it was reprinted across the country, but no one cared!" Rather than allow his manifesto, "15 Recipes for a Laugh (Lobster Not Included)," to languish, Zucker, whose credits include "Airplane!

For Jerry Zucker, the most-savored accolade for his directorial efforts in "Ghost" did not come from the huge box-office returns, peer approval or the avalanche of offers. It came in a late-night phone call from his brother, David. "It was the night of "Ghost's" opening," recalls Jerry, 41, catching a few moments between meetings and helping his daughter, Katie, set up her train at the Zucker brothers' Brentwood offices. "David calls up to tell me how much he liked the film.

I cover Hollywood, America's great liberal oasis, where there is an organic boneless breast of chicken in every pot and a Prius on every block. So when I recently canvassed my friends, the verdict on Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's fiery speech Wednesday night at the GOP convention was clear: She's a menace to society, a hockey mom whose tough talk fell on deaf ears. She may be a hit with the Republican base, but in Hollywood, Palin's strident attacks on Barack Obama and her skepticism toward evolution and global warming make her something of a pariah.

Hollywood's 18-week summer season ends this weekend with two new flicks in the fight for No. 1 at the box office: "Disaster Movie" and a movie that critics -- and even the director -- call a disaster of a movie, the sci-fi thriller "Babylon A.D." Both are tracking to open at $10 million to $13 million through Labor Day. They will tussle for the top spot with DreamWorks/Paramount's action comedy "Tropic Thunder," which could win a third straight weekend thanks to the soft competition.

Priscilla Presley's life has been such a public drama revolving around her teen-age involvement and marriage to the out-of-control King of rock 'n' roll, that six years ago she was the last person you expected to see in a comedy. The TV projects she had produced, an adaptation of her memoirs, "Elvis and Me," and "Elvis," a series about his life, seemed much more appropriate for rock 'n' roll's most famous widow, a role she's played despite their divorce.

"Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult" thumbed its nose at the Academy Awards with a wacky Oscar parody on its way to winning the top box-office prize over the weekend in a landslide. The third installment of the Paramount comedy franchise, from producer David Zucker, grossed more than double its nearest competitor with a $13.2-million opening weekend.

Reviewing "Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult" is a bit like reviewing a joke book--you don't want to give away the jokes. Some of the gags are side-splitters, some just sit on the screen. But the film would have to be a great deal worse to prevent "Naked Gun" die-hards from lining up. It is, after all, the movie that finally confirms what we suspected all along--Leslie Nielsen's Lt. Frank Drebin looks exactly like Phil Donahue from the back.

Was the title lame or was it the movie? From the way Paramount is handling the release of "Brain Donors," originally titled "Lame Ducks," one might think both. Paramount won't admit to "dumping" this comedy, but it certainly isn't giving it the kind of launch it has for two other Zucker Bros. comedies--"The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad" and "The Naked Gun 2 1/2: The Smell of Fear." Paramount also has a deal with the Zuckers for "The Naked Gun 3: The Final Insult."

Seldom has a movie been as eagerly anticipated by audiences. But, within the movie industry, seldom has a movie loomed as forbiddingly as "Terminator 2: Judgment Day," the sequel to the 1984 hit starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. For any movie that opened before Memorial Day, and is currently selling few tickets, "Terminator 2" is potentially lethal: It will erase them from the theaters.

Aiming to blast "Terminator 2" out of the top spot of the Billboard magazine rental chart, "Thelma & Louise," starring Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis, moved up two more notches to No. 3. "The Naked Gun 2 1/2," once a solid No. 1 candidate, slipped a notch to No. 4. "Point Break" debuted at No. 11 on the chart and, due to star Patrick Swayze's legions of female fans, it's a good bet to crack the Top Five. "Dying Young," the weepy drama starring Julia Roberts, moved up two notches to No. 8.

The yuppie comedy/drama "City Slickers" turned out to be much tougher opposition than expected for the action/adventure epic "Terminator 2," which finally terminated the two-week run of "Slickers" at the top of the Billboard magazine rental chart. Look for the new rental champ to reign for a few weeks, weathering heavy attacks by potent newcomers like "The Naked Gun 2 1/2" (No. 5). The hit romantic comedy "Doc Hollywood," starring Michael J.