People in the News for May 14, 1998

Thursday, May 14, 1998 | 10:56 a.m.

As the "Seinfeld" finale continues its Godzilla stomp across the pop-culturescape, a familiar figure can be seen trembling in the path of destruction, bug-eyed and tugging at his tie as the shadow of doom comes down. Poor Rodney Dangerfield; he finally gets a modicum of respect -- his very own episode of "Biography" on the Arts & Entertainment cable channel -- and they schedule it tonight. Across the dial, in some markets, from you know what. "That warrants a get-no-respect line, don't you think?" asks Dangerfield, who, in his despair, focused on a single thought: cheap publicity! He promptly got on the phone to the Associated Press to point out the scheduling conflict. "I just thought it would make a good little item," he told them. As for A&E, well, it has to program something; it's not going to go dark like the TVLand channel. Says spokesman Gary Morgenstein, "We have to program something. We're not going to go dark like TV Land." "It's the story of my life," Dangerfield said. "I get no respect, even when they show me respect."

Miscellany

Why defend human rights when we here at People in the News can squander our creativity, fame and talent on an item about a Tom Hanks-Meg Ryan movie? The filming of "You've Got Mail," a romantic comedy from director Nora Ephron, is confounding New Yorkers. Not long ago, many were confused by a fake bookstore used for a set. This week a faux greenmarket is raising hackles. "I spotted the greenmarket," says one angry resident, "then some punky kid told me I'd have to get out of the way of the cameras and that the market wasn't open for shopping." Another guy tried to buy an apple for his son, little 4-year-old Timmy. You can guess what happened: No apples for you! Said the father, "This is just such a tease. And I haven't even seen Meg Ryan." A spokeswoman for the film says that Ephron will be happy to send the boy some apples. Now that's respect!

Compiled by Scott Dickensheets