CRUISE JUGGLING SCHEDULE FOR 'SCISSORHAND'

By Marilyn Beck

From The Courier-Journal (Louisville, KY), 11.15.1989, Metro Edition

Tom Cruise is expected to star as a man born with clawlike hands in Tim Burton's Edward Scissorhand--if scheduling can be worked around the Days of Thunder race-car movie Cruise is supposed to start next month.

Dianne Wiest and Winona Ryder already have been set for Burton's follow-up to Batman.

ON THE PERSONAL SIDE: Actress Kate Capshaw is reportedly expecting--and is expected to wed Steven Spielberg before the blessed event occurs in early spring.

A TIME FOR CHANGE: Michael Landon is talking about ending his professional marriage to NBC--for whom he's worked exclusively for more than 30 years.

He still has a development deal with the network, but says, "I'm in negotiations with several other companies. I'm not sure which way I want to go, but I really don't know if I want to continue my exclusivity with NBC when there are a lot of other areas I'd like to enter into, from feature films to TV projects."

He adds, "I've never actually had an exclusive contract with NBC--but have stayed with them all these years out of loyalty."

Landon has just completed directing "Where the Pigeons Go to Die" for NBC and expects the Art Carney TV movie to air early next year. But as far as the sitcom he's been talking about starring in for the network, he notes, "So far there's nothing solid in development."

THE VIDEOLAND VIEW: Producer Steven Bochco's absence from "L.A. Law" this season "hasn't made a bit of difference," insists star Blair Underwood. Bochco, says Underwood, "is into his own thing, developing shows for ABC (and producing "Doogie Howser, M.D."). But everyone who's involved with our show has been there from day one. They're all Bochco's proteges and have all been very much a part of the success of the series."

Underwood is particularly happy that this season "we're dealing with my character's personal life a lot more. I'm having a ball."

OUR TOWN: Monday night's tribute to Sammy Davis Jr. at L.A.'s Shrine Auditorium turned out to be a once-in-a-lifetime event. Entertaining on the show, as they paid homage to the beloved honoree, who's suffering from throat cancer, was a lineup of stars that included Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Eddie Murphy, Bill Cosby, Gregory Hines (with whom the ailing Davis did a tap-dancing number), Clint Eastwood, Goldie Hawn, Bob Hope, Whitney Houston, Shirley MacLaine, Richard Pryor--and Michael Jackson.

I goofed when I reported last week that ABC would be broadcasting the show live. No air date has yet been set, but keep an eye out for it; as I said, it's a once-in-a-lifetime event. My congratulations to producer George Schlatter, who succeeded in pulling it off--despite some major problems.

"HAIR" RAISING: Robin Givens, Brian Robbins, Dan Schneider and their "Head of the Class" castmates will perform the musical "Hair" on an upcoming episode of the ABC sitcom.

This is the word I get from "Class" newcomer Michael DeLorenzo, who's center stage in tonight's "Gotta Dance" episode. The episode was written expressly for DeLorenzo, who has danced with Mikhail Baryshnikov and performed in "West Side Story" on Broadway and other musicals, and in both the feature film and TV series versions of "Fame." DeLorenzo is hoping to extend his career into the singing arena; he's recorded a demo tape and will devote his "Class" hiatus in December to hawking it to a label.