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WRITTEN AND REPORTED BY: Erica K. Cardozo, Steve Daly, Jeff Gordinier, Dana Kennedy, Gregg Kilday, Albert Kim, Curt Feldman, Nisid Hajari, Tiarra Mukherjee, Chris Nashawaty, Tim Purtell, Laura C. Smith, Dan Snierson, Daneet Steffens, Anne Thompson, Louis Vogel, Bret Watson, and Chris Willman
51 RON HOWARD & BRIAN GRAZER PARTNERS, IMAGINE ENTERTAINMENT
LAST YEAR: - AGES: 41/44 CREDITS: Hottest producing-directing duo will follow Oscar front-runner Apollo 13 with lineup boasting stars in easy-sell titles, including Gibson (Ransom), Carrey (Liar, Liar), and Hackman and O'Donnell (The Chamber). DEBITS: Howard can't direct every Imagine movie (hence Greedy and The Cowboy Way).
52 JODIE FOSTER ACTRESS-DIRECTOR-PRODUCER
LAST YEAR: 55 AGE: 32 CREDITS: Produced two films for her Egg Pictures (Nell got her an Oscar nod; the Holly Hunter vehicle Home for the Holidays, which she directed, has good buzz); as actress, she grabbed $9 million for sci-fi epic Contact. DEBITS: Her own films are arty and personal, which doesn't always spell commercial.
53 BERNIE BRILLSTEIN & BRAD GREY MANAGER-PRODUCERS
LAST YEAR: 64 AGES: 64/37 CREDITS: As Brillstein pulls back and Grey assumes more responsibility, they continue to handle Brad Pitt, produce The Larry Sanders Show, various TV pilots, and upcoming movie The Cable Guy. DEBITS: Their Jeff Foxworthy Show is struggling on Saturdays.
54 JULIA ROBERTS ACTRESS
LAST YEAR: 53 AGE: 27 CREDITS: Star voltage turned Something to Talk About into summer sleeper; upcoming films with Neil Jordan and Woody Allen sure to boost rep as actress with capital A. DEBITS: Hasn't had a real smash since '93; postponed Mary Reilly sounds like a tough sell; Demi Moore stole her highest-paid-actress title.
55 STEVEN BOCHCO WRITER-PRODUCER
LAST YEAR: 74 AGE: 52 CREDITS: His NYPD Blue successfully replaced David Caruso with Jimmy Smits, has signed up 48 of the 57 ABC affiliate holdouts, and edged out ER for Best Drama Emmy; trial series Murder One is the year's most critically acclaimed new show. DEBITS: Murder One's time slot -- head-to-head with ER -- could be a killer.
56 JERRY SEINFELD COMEDIAN-ACTOR
LAST YEAR: 62 AGE: 41 CREDITS: In its sixth season, his sitcom stands high in the ratings, not only in prime time but also in syndication (each of the 108 available episodes reportedly sold for $3 million). DEBITS: Reruns highlight how the show teeters on self-parody -- one reason cocreator Larry David threatened to quit if this season is not the last.
57 RUSS THYRET CHMN., CEO, WARNER BROS. RECORDS INC.
LAST YEAR: - AGE: 50 CREDITS: The label's corporate parent stabilized a demoralized company by putting the universally liked, 25-year company man in charge; for all the upheaval, he controls what is still the No. 1 label -- and artist roster -- in the U.S. DEBITS: Unproven at the top; Warner power is severely decentralized in the post-Ostin era.
