Dec 27, 1996

Issue #359-360

Cover Story

2 MEL GIBSON

Dec 27, 1996
HE'S IN THE FAST LANE, THANKS TO TWIN OSCARS FOR 'BRAVEHEART' AND A BOUNTIFUL 'RANSOM' Read Article
Magazine Cover (Dec 27, 1996)

Book Commentary

BOOKS

Dec 27, 1996

Cover Story

2 MEL GIBSON

Dec 27, 1996
HE'S IN THE FAST LANE, THANKS TO TWIN OSCARS FOR 'BRAVEHEART' AND A BOUNTIFUL 'RANSOM' Read Article

3 ALANIS MORISSETTE

by David Hochman | Dec 27, 1996
BIGGER THAN THE BEATLES? THE COUNTRY GOES MAD FOR AN ANGRY YOUNG WOMAN. Read Article

8 THE CAST OF 3RD ROCK FROM THE SUN

by Lisa Schwarzbaum | Dec 27, 1996
CLUELESS? SURE. BUT THESE KOOKY ALIENS SENT US EARTHLINGS INTO ORBIT. Read Article

5 OASIS

by Jeff Gordinier | Dec 27, 1996
BRITAIN'S FAB FIVE ROCKED ON THE WILD SIDE--AND SWEPT AMERICA OFF ITS FEET Read Article

9 JONATHAN LARSON

Dec 27, 1996
THE LATE COMPOSER'S ROCK OPERA 'RENT' GAVE MUSICAL THEATER A NEW LEASE ON LIFE Read Article

11 JOHN SAYLES

Dec 27, 1996
WHO NEEDS BIG STUDIOS? IN THE INDIE FILM BIZ, THIS LONE STAR SHINES BRIGHTEST. Read Article

7 TOM CRUISE

by Rebecca Ascher-Walsh | Dec 27, 1996
THE MAN BEHIND THAT FAMOUS SMILE HAS A CAREER WITH REAL TEETH Read Article

HITS & PITS 1996

Dec 27, 1996
HITS & PITS THE STARS RAP UP 1996 Read Article

12 HELEN HUNT

by Lisa Schwarzbaum | Dec 27, 1996
'TWISTER' SISTER. SPUNKY SPOUSE. SHE'S A BREATH OF FRESH AIR, WEATHER OR NOT. Read Article

6 STEPHEN KING

by Jess Cagle | Dec 27, 1996
HE'S A 'MILE' HIGH AFTER SCORING EIGHT NEW BEST-SELLERS IN 12 MONTHS Read Article

TIMELINE

Dec 27, 1996

10 OPRAH WINFREY

by A.J. Jacobs | Dec 27, 1996
THE TV QUEEN TAKES A NOVEL APPROACH TO BOOKS--AND BECOMES A LITERARY KINGMAKER Read Article

THE ROOKIES

Dec 27, 1996
A LOOK AT THE NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK Read Article

1 ROSIE O'DONNELL ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR

Dec 27, 1996
THE COMIC ACTRESS LANDS A TALK SHOW AND PROVES THAT A NICE GUISE FINISHES FIRST Read Article

4 WILL SMITH

by Rebecca Ascher-Walsh | Dec 27, 1996
TELEVISION'S COMIC PRINCE DECLARED HIS INDEPENDENCE-- AND EXPLODED OFF THE SCREEN Read Article

GREAT PERFORMANCES

Dec 27, 1996
MEMORABLE MOMENTS FROM STAGE AND SCREEN Read Article

BOWING OUT

Dec 27, 1996
WHERE WE SAY A FINAL FAREWELL TO SOME OLD FRIENDS Read Article

THE PEOPLE VS. WOODY HARRELSON

Dec 27, 1996
PERHAPS THE ACTIVIST ACTOR DOTH PROTEST TOO MUCH Read Article

Digital Commentary

MULTIMEDIA

by Ty Burr | Dec 27, 1996

Movie Commentary

A SECOND OPINION

by Lisa Schwarzbaum | Dec 27, 1996
IN LISA SCHWARZBAUM'S ROSTER OF THE YEAR'S BEST FILMS, THE COENS' CRACKED CRYSTAL FARGO GOES FARTHEST Read Article

CRITICAL MASS

Dec 27, 1996
A SAMPLING OF 50 NOTABLE MOVIES FROM 1996--HITS, FLOPS, CRITICS' FAVES, AND A FEW SLEEPERS--AS GRADED BY AUDIENCES AND SELECTED REVIEWERS Read Article

MOVIES

by Owen Gleiberman | Dec 27, 1996

Music Commentary

MUSIC

Dec 27, 1996

Pop Culture News

THAT'S THE BREAKS

by A.J. Jacobs | Dec 27, 1996
AND NOW SOME WORDS FOR OUR SPONSORS Read Article

BID VICIOUS

by David Hochman | Dec 27, 1996
JACKIE ONASSIS AND BRITT EKLAND GO TO SELL Read Article

BARK VICTORY

by Jason Cochran | Dec 27, 1996
THOUGH DEATH AND DESTRUCTION REIGN, DOGS HAVE THEIR DAY Read Article

by Anna Holmes | Dec 27, 1996

THE TUBE BOOBS

by Kristen Baldwin | Dec 27, 1996
AS FOOLISH BEHAVIOR GOES, TV OFFERED AN EMBARRASSMENT OF RICHES Read Article

POUND FOR GLORY

by Bruce Fretts | Dec 27, 1996
HEFTY ACTORS, WHETHER REAL OR ENHANCED, WORE THEIR WEIGHT ON THEIR SLEEVES--AND GOBBLED UP SOME OF THE YEAR'S MEATIEST ROLES Read Article

TAKING THE HEAT

by Erin Richter | Dec 27, 1996
THESE PISTOL-PACKING CELEBS HAD GUNS, WOULD TRAVEL Read Article

JIM MULLEN'S HOT SHEET

by Jim Mullen | Dec 27, 1996
WHAT THE COUNTRY WAS TALKING ABOUT THIS YEAR... Read Article

THE TRUTH HOLE

Dec 27, 1996
TALK ABOUT A CREDIBILITY GAP. THE MEDIA HAVE TURNED FIBBING INTO AN ART FORM Read Article

Mail

Dec 27, 1996

THE GREAT WHITE HYPE

Dec 27, 1996
MATTHEW MCCONA-WHO? A STAR IS MADE WITH A BLITZ BIG AS TEXAS Read Article

NOAH WYLE

Dec 27, 1996
MY YEAR THAT WAS Read Article

JOHN LEGUIZAMO

Dec 27, 1996
MY YEAR THAT WAS Read Article

LEANN RIMES

Dec 27, 1996
MY YEAR THAT WAS Read Article

MATTHEW BRODERICK MATTHEW BRODERICK

Dec 27, 1996
MY YEAR THAT WAS Read Article

OVITZ TO BE TIED

Dec 27, 1996
WHAT MADE THE DISNEY CO.'S OTHER MIKE TAKE A HIKE? Read Article

STAGGERED LEE

by Anna Holmes | Dec 27, 1996
THE BUSTY BAYWATCH BABE FOUND 1996 PRODUCTIVE, REPRODUCTIVE--AND ROUGHER THAN A RIPTIDE Read Article

DRY IDEA

Dec 27, 1996
BATTLING THEIR ADDICTIONS IN PUBLIC, STARS JUMPED ON THE REHAB BANDWAGON Read Article

RESCUE ME

by Marion Hart | Dec 27, 1996
IN TIMES OF NEED, THESE CELEBS SAVED THE DAY Read Article

NUTHIN' BUT A G-STRING

by Anna Holmes | Dec 27, 1996
STRIPPED OF PRETENSE, ACTRESSES REVEALED THEIR RIGHT TO BARE ARMS (AND BREASTS AND...) Read Article

HOLLYWOOD BOWL

Dec 27, 1996
FROM MUSIC VIDS TO CELEB BIOS, POP CULTURE THIS YEAR WAS FLUSH WITH RESTROOM REFERENCES Read Article

Sound Bites

SOUND BITES

Dec 27, 1996
A ROUNDUP OF THE YEAR'S MOST QUOTABLE Read Article

Television Commentary

TV

by Ken Tucker | Dec 27, 1996

A SECOND OPINION

by Bruce Fretts | Dec 27, 1996
HOW DOES BRUCE FRETTS DIFFER FROM KEN TUCKER? A ROSIE OUTLOOK AND A TASTE FOR SOUTHERN FARE. Read Article

Video Commentary

VIDEO

Dec 27, 1996