MORNING REPORT - News from July 13, 2000

TELEVISION

Humanitas Prizes: “The Insider,” Buena Vista Pictures’ true story about a tobacco company executive who is conflicted about revealing on “60 Minutes” what he knows about the perils of smoking, has won the feature film category of the Humanitas Prize. The prizes honor film and television writers whose scripts “communicate those values which most enrich the human person.” Also receiving awards were ABC’s “Tuesdays With Morrie,” which won the 90-minute or longer network category, and HBO’s “A Lesson Before Dying,” which won the 90-minute or longer PBS/cable category. Additional winners include “Take This Sabbath Day” from NBC’s “The West Wing” (60-minute category); “Something About Dr. Mary” from NBC’s “Frasier” (30-minute category); the Disney Channel’s “The Color of Friendship” (children’s live-action category); “The Sissy Duckling” from HBO’s “Happily Ever After” (children’s animation category); and “Love and Basketball” (Sundance feature film category).

Two Thumbs Up, Again: Staying with the Windy City heritage of the late Gene Siskel, Chicago Sun-Times columnist Richard Roeper has been named Roger Ebert’s co-host on TV’s popular forum for movie criticism. The nationally syndicated show will be renamed “Ebert & Roeper and the Movies.” Roeper has been a recurring co-critic on the show since Siskel’s death in 1999.

PEOPLE

Quaid Files for Divorce: Just two weeks after announcing their separation, Dennis Quaid filed for divorce late Tuesday from Meg Ryan after nearly 10 years of marriage. Quaid, 46, cited irreconcilable differences in the Los Angeles Superior Court filing. Their publicist said there was “no third party involved” despite reports that Ryan, 38, is romantically involved with Russell Crowe, her co-star in the upcoming “Proof of Life.” In the divorce documents, Quaid is asking for joint legal and physical custody of their 8-year-old son Jack Henry. He also asked that the court terminate its jurisdiction to award spousal support.

Young Actor Found Dead: Justin Pierce, 25, who starred in the movie “Kids,” was found hanging in his Bellagio hotel room in Las Vegas on Monday. A Clark County coroner said Wednesday that two suicide notes were found at the scene. Pierce died the day before the New York premiere of his latest film, “Pigeonholed,” co-starring Chris Noth and Rosanna Arquette.

THE ARTS

‘Heroes,’ Waltz & Co. Debut in Irvine: The West Coast premiere of New York choreographer Elizabeth Streb’s latest work (“Action Heroes,” Oct. 20-22) and the first Southern California performances in five years by the acclaimed Sasha Waltz company from Berlin (“Allee der Kosmonauten,” Feb. 6-7) will highlight the 2000-2001 Contemporary Dance Series at the Irvine Barclay Theatre. The season will include Pilobolus Dance Theatre on Dec. 6-7 and Garth Fagan Dance on March 21-22.