Thus, Borgnine had no idea what was in store for him when he arrived at the BevHilton’s Grand Ballroom, which Tova had converted into a nautical setting, complete with top Navy brass, side boys, WAVES and, yes, even a live “mermaid.” The event was an emotional reminder of a half century of showbiz, with clips (assembled by son Cristofer and Scott Dorel) showing Borgnine’s portrayals from sad to sadistic, cruel to comic, from stage to screens (small and large) and to the single guy himself The remarkable evening had Borgnine honored with congrats from the President and Hillary, a trophy from the Navy (in which he served 10 years) and an honorary doctorate of Humane Letters from Columbia College-Hollywood. His “Single Guy” cast, led by Jonathan Silverman and Joey Slotnick, escorted Ernie to what he thought was a stag party for NBC’s Bob Wright. TODAY IS ERNIE BORGNINE’S 80th birthday, but wife Tova surprise-partied him in advance so he’d have no inkling of a celebration. Gary Busey, Bill Katt and Mark Harmon will star. Krieff is also readying (for WB syndication) a “Big Wednesday” sequel, with John Milius to direct. While Connors will get the conventional two serves, Graf will get three. … Fox TV’s special “Battle of the Sexes on Ice” has a March 12 air date and the studio has given producers David Krieff and Scott Hamilton the go-ahead for “The Battle of the Sexes on the Court” with Jimmy Connors and Steffi Graf to costar vs. John Seale will next lense “City of Angels” for WB, starring Nicolas Cage and Meg Ryan for director Brad Siberling. … Talking about twins, Jane Seymour, the mother of twins, is currently directed by husband James Keach in a two-hour special “Medicine Woman.” In the next seg, Keach, who hasn’t been on the other side of the cameras in five years, will guestar with David Carradine, as the two play bad guys who hold Seymour hostage.
Cattrall also stars in NBC’s May sweeps mini, “Lethal Invasion,” described as a cross between “Stepford Wives” and “Body Snatchers.” The sci-fi thriller is from Von Zernig/Sertner Films. Bob Clark (“Christmas Story”) directs, Steven Paul produces the comedy for Triumph.
Christopher Lloyd, Dom DeLuise and Ruby Dee co-star in the comedy slated for Christmas. She stars with Kathleen Turner as (unknowing) adoptive mothers of separated twins who can converse with each other while adults cannot comprehend their babbling. … The pic “Baby Geniuses” will morph infants talking to each other, much as “Babe” did with fellow animals, reports Kim Cattrall. … Jeanette Walls, Esquire’s glamorous redhead “Reality Check” columnist and member of E! Entertainment’s “Gossip Show” dish-ers, has signed with Dutton to write her book, “Dish.” Walls says she’ll take a year off “The Gossip Show” to dish it out in the book and the mag. It is something he would not do.” Banderas, in Mexico with “ The Mask of Zorro,” is aware of the above. The full-frontal nude photo in the mag “supposedly” of Banderas is “not a picture of Antonio,” said Hayum “Antonio’s reputation is damaged by (printing) it. GOOD MORNING: Legal action against Playgirl “is being considered,” said Antonio Banderas’ attorney George Hayum.