87 LAURENCE J. KIRSHBAUM
President, CEO, Warner Books
Rank last year: — Age: 48 Why he's up: Despite receiving some of
the most savage reviews in history, Scarlett, Alexandra Ripley's
sequel to Margaret Mitchell's Gone With the Wind, sold a staggering
2.5 million copies for Warner — in hardcover alone. Last big move: Warner ordered a whopping first printing of 750,000 copies of
Madonna's Sex. Next big move: The company has already locked up what
may be 1994's most controversial book: scandalmonger Kitty Kelley's
expose on the British royal family.
88 WILLIAM M. MECHANIC
President, Buena Vista Home Video
Rank last year: — Age: 42 Why he's up: With its stable of animated
Disney films, Buena Vista dominates the video sales chart. Records
were set with Fantasia (14 million copies sold) and 101 Dalmatians (13 million). Low point: The long-held Disney theory that video
release wouldn't affect a film's performance in theaters was
disproved by its first test case: Pinocchio's lackluster theatrical
rerelease last summer. Next big move: Beauty and the Beast hits
stores on Oct. 30 with an unprecedented flood of 16 million copies.
89 THE CAST OF BEVERLY HILLS, 90210
Idols
Rank last year: — Ages: They'll never tell, but they range from
about 20 to over 30. Why they're up: As the hot kids of the moment,
they can roam through the candy store of fame — they've got movies
(Jason Priestley's Calendar Girl, Luke Perry's Buffy, the Vampire
Slayer), development deals, even jeans ads that run (when else?)
during 90210. Low point: Those crossover appearances on the lumbering
90210 spinoff, Melrose Place, proved there is such a thing as
overexposure. Next big move: Syndication; college.
90 BARBARA WALTERS
Interviewer
Rank last year: — Age: 61 Why she's up: Her ABC interview specials
are a portal through which every major celebrity must pass. Smile,
and the world smiles with you; cry, smirk, or say something stupid,
and you won't live it down for years. High point: CBS wooed her
(unsuccessfully) for her own series; ABC used her effectively on
Nightline. Low point: Her Oscar-night game of footsie with Michelle
Pfeiffer was torture. Bottom line: Absolutely beloved by viewers; she
can probably write her own contract by now.
91 DENZEL WASHINGTON
Actor
Rank last year: — Age: 37 Why he's up: No actor around today is
making shrewder career moves; the art-house hit Mississippi Masala burnished his romantic-leading-man status while giving him time to
star in this year's most talked-about movie, Spike Lee's Malcolm X.
After that, he'll star in next year's most-talked-about movie,
playing a homophobic attorney representing an HIV-infected client in
Jonathan Demme's People Like Us. Next big move: If X works, he can
probably name his project — and his price.
92 CLINT EASTWOOD
Actor-director
Rank last year: — Age: 62 Why he's up: Amid a dreadful summer
movie crop, Eastwood's masterful Unforgiven cemented his status as
actor, auteur, and Grand Old Icon, winning him his best reviews ever
and his highest grosses ($74 million) in years. Next big moves: After
Eastwood stars opposite John Malkovich and Rene Russo in the thriller
In the Line of Fire (due next summer), he may direct Kevin Costner in
the kidnapping drama A Perfect World. And keep an eye out for him at
the Oscars.
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