People in the News for May 12, 1998

Tuesday, May 12, 1998 | 8:54 a.m.

Time for another dose of People in the News, the Viagra of daily journalism. Down the hatch! Now that you're feeling frisky, you're probably eyeballing that hot little number in the yellow dress over there. Look closer -- it's Dustin Hoffman. Whoa, that'll unwag the dog! It seems Hoffman is in a drag rage at Los Angeles magazine, which last year published an unauthorized, computer-manipulated picture of him wearing a pricey dress. The caption: "Dustin Hoffman isn't a drag in a butter-colored silk gown by Richard Tyler and Ralph Lauren heels." Saying Los Angeles violated his publicity rights, Hoffman sued for $5 million. The magazine claimed First Amendment protections, but on Monday, a Los Angeles judge decided the image skirted the Constitution and gave Hoffman the green light to proceed with his pant-suit ... er, lawsuit.

Grab bag

When you're making a TV movie about the O.J. Simpson case, the last thing you want is ... O.J. Simpson. For "American Tragedy," to be scripted by Norman Mailer and directed by Barry Levinson, the producers say they won't hire anyone to play the accused murderer. We don't like to discuss plot points, but, heck, let's: "O.J. doesn't exist in the film," says a spokesman; Simpson will be a background presence. "This is a film about attorneys dealing with evidence and the real process that goes on behind the scenes." In the drive to present exciting lawyer drama, one presumes the murders will be dealt with peripherally as well, just O.J. saying Hi there! I'm still out here!

Compiled by Scott Dickensheets