People talk 11/24/03

Jackie Mason show cut from Broadway

NEW YORK -- Comedian Jackie Mason will be joining the Broadway unemployment line.

Mason's latest show, "Laughing Room Only," closes Nov. 30 after a mere 14-performance run. The production opened Nov. 19 to negative reviews.

William H. Macy looks for action hero role

LOS ANGELES -- Actor William H. Macy is known for his spineless characters but there's another role he's dying to play: action hero.

"Yeah. Desperately," Macy said. "For the money, for the security of a franchise like that. And I love big action-adventure movies. They're way cool."

His new movie, "The Cooler," finds Macy as a Vegas loser so down on his luck he's hired to rub shoulders with hot gamblers to cool off their winning streaks. The film co-stars Alec Baldwin.

Macy's other credits include "Seabiscuit," "Magnolia" and "Fargo."

'Idol' Aiken marshals Christmas parade

RALEIGH, N.C. -- An estimated 50,000 people lined up to watch this year's Christmas parade, mostly to catch a glimpse of American Idol runner-up Clay Aiken. The Raleigh native served as the parade's grand marshal. Fans greeted Aiken Saturday with cheers and screams as he waved to the crowd from the back of a red convertible Mustang he shared with his mother and 14-year-old brother.

Lennon doodles, drawings on display

AVON, Conn. -- More than 100 paintings, doodles, caricatures and drawings by slain Beatle John Lennon were on display for a three-day show, wrapping up on Sunday.

Lennon's artwork explores the joys of fatherhood, sex, aging and life.

The display, titled "Come Together," included children's illustrations such as cartoonish animals that Lennon drew for his son, Sean. Also on display were handwritten lyrics and framed words to songs.

-- From wire reports