Nicholson was willing to grin and bare it

Plus: Britney Spears rediscovers religion

	Jack Nicholson, seen with Diane Keaton in "Something's Gotta Give," had his own ideas for a movie poster promoting the film.
Bob Marshak / AP file

By Jeannette Walls with Ashley Pearson

MSNBC

updated 3:21 a.m. ET Feb. 12, 2004

Jack Nicholson almost gave Janet Jackson a run for her money.

The “Something’s Gotta Give” star argued to have his bare behind featured in ads for the flick.

“I’m very proud of my ass,” the star told reporters at the Berlin Film Festival. “I did suggest it for the poster of the picture and was told that would be illegal which I found both complimentary and interesting at the same time.”

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Nicholson’s rep didn’t return calls for comment about how serious the star was. Meanwhile, though, Nicholson caused a sensation in Germany by squiring around Katrina Witt, the nation’s beloved skating star.

Old-time religion
IMAGE: Britney Spears
John D Mchugh / AP file
Looks like Britney Spears has rediscovered religion — and the pop star’s people are furious that the press was there.

The ex-virgin, who used to brag about her born-again values but now is better known for her 55-hour marriage, recently stopped by the Faithful Central Bible Church in Inglewood, California, where she and her mother Lynne got teary-eyed over the service and hugged each other.

“At the end of the sermon, Bishop Kenneth C. Ulmer asked those who had been moved by his sermon to come forward,” according to the Scottish Daily Record. “The pop princess and her mum dried their eyes with tissues and walked hand in hand to the front of the church.” The paper says the service was intended to “win back lost souls.”

A spokeswoman for the church wouldn’t comment. But Spears’ rep told The Scoop, “I find it disgusting that the press took it so far as to enter a place of worship. I think it’s a sad day when someone cannot attend church peacefully. I find it extremely disgusting that someone cannot worship in private — the media took this too far."

Notes from all over
IMAGE: Oliver Stone
Jan Bauer / AP
Don’t be surprised if Oliver Stone’s “Alexander the Great” draws parallels between the Macedonian conquer and George W. Bush. “The connection is the West moving into the East,” Stone said, according to the Thai newspaper Nation. “Alexander did the same journey. He went into Iraq, took Babylon, then went north into Afghanistan.” . . . If the cast of “Gilligan’s Island” were contestants on “Survivor,” who would win? “I imagine the Professor,” “Gilligan” creator Sherwood Schwartz told the Hallmark Channel. “He was the one fulcrum of reality in the show.” . . . Samantha Morton had unkind words for Liz Hurley’s thespian skills. “She’s not an actress,” the Oscar-nominated “In America” star told the London Daily Mail. “I wouldn’t think she’d do street theatre in Poland, would you? Do you think she really loves her craft? No. A lot of people I’ve met just want to be f****** famous and they don’t care how they do it, or what they do.”