MOVIESHappy ‘Toy’ Year: Disney’s “Toy Story” is...

MOVIES

Happy ‘Toy’ Year: Disney’s “Toy Story” is the story at the box office this New Year’s weekend. According to estimated projections, the movie is poised to resume the top spot in ticket sales with $19.7 million for the four-day weekend. Industry insiders pointed out that films with family-appeal were dominating the holiday weekend. Another example: TriStar’s “Jumanji,” starring Robin Williams, which was likely to take second place with $17.5 million. Although 20th Century Fox’s “Waiting to Exhale” fell to No. 3 from No. 1 last week, the film actually was taking in more than last week with a projected $14.5 million as it continued to attract a mostly-female audience. Overall, New Year’s weekend was proving to be stronger at the box office than the typically sluggish Christmas weekend. Warner Bros.’ “Grumpier Old Men” was in fourth place with an estimated $13.5 million total, followed by Disney’s Touchstone Pictures’ “Father of the Bride, Part II” with $12.2 million.

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No Apologies From Dole: Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole says he makes no apologies for criticizing the movie “Money Train.” Dole (R-Kan.) cited the film’s violence after two men squeezed a flammable liquid into a subway token booth and ignited it, fatally burning the clerk, a crime similar to scenes from the movie. Police later said the attack was not related to the film and Washington Post columnist Richard Cohen criticized Dole for seeming to blame the movie. “I make no apologies for speaking out on the excesses of the entertainment industry,” Dole said in a rebuttal to the columnist published Saturday in the Post. Presidential hopeful Dole said he had not claimed that the movie caused the attack, but believes that “seemingly nonstop images of ever more graphic and senseless violence debase our culture and affect the attitudes and conduct of our impressionable young.”

POP/ROCK

Bono in Bosnia: A visit to Bosnia-Herzegovina left the U2 rocker Bono red-eyed Sunday--from staying up late to celebrate peace with the Bosnian Muslims whose cause he championed. The Irish singer stayed late into the night in a popular Sarajevo restaurant with Foreign Minister Muhamed Sacirbey and other prominent Sarajevans. “I’m very happy to be the first tourist in the new Sarajevo,” Bono said soon after his arrival Saturday on a United Nations transport plane. Bono pledged to stage a concert in Sarajevo, saying he wanted to do it during the siege but was told it was too dangerous.

NEW YEAR’S NEWS

Ringing in 1996: Looking for some alternatives to watching football today? Public radio station KCRW-FM (89.9) will present an original production of Ross Macdonald’s mystery novel “Sleeping Beauty” from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Ed Asner, Bruce Davison, Stacy Keach, Mary Kay Place, Pamela Reed and Harris Yulin are among the actors who will perform the story about detective Lew Archer (Yulin) who investigates a sticky case involving an oil spill. . . . Cable’s CNBC offers another kind of bowl on TV today, “The Money Bowl,” on which the network’s financial pundits and guest experts make predictions about the world of finance in 1996. Viewers can call in with questions and get advice on things financial from 4 a.m. to 2 p.m.

LEGAL FILE

Gibbons, Paramount Split Verdict: Talk show host Leeza Gibbons and Paramount Television split the verdict last week in their first-round court battle over Gibbons’ guest appearance in an infomercial for self-help guru Tony Robbins. Paramount had sought an injunction against broadcast of the infomercial, but a Los Angeles judge ruled that the spot can be aired, although he also ruled that the appearance may have breached Gibbons’ contract with Paramount.

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Brown on Probation: Pop star Bobby Brown was sentenced to two years’ probation and ordered to pay more than $1,000 in fines and penalties Friday after pleading no-contest to a charge of kicking a hotel security guard. The charge arose out of an incident in August when the security guard went to Brown’s room at a West Hollywood hotel to quiet a party after complaints from other guests. A lawyer for Brown, who is married to singer-actress Whitney Houston, entered the plea in Beverly Hills Municipal Court; Brown was not present.