Entertainment

Newsman Bob Schieffer won't charge for UTA speech

10:27 PM CDT on Friday, May 9, 2008

By ALAN PEPPARD / The Dallas Morning News apeppard@dallasnews.com

Veteran CBS newsman Bob Schieffer has left the University of Texas at Arlington administration thunderstruck. Tonight, the broadcaster will give the keynote address at the graduation celebration in Maverick Stadium.

And he'll do it for free.

Mr. Schieffer declined the traditional honorarium presented to graduation speakers.

"The customary practice among his counterparts at the other networks is something quite different,to say the least," says UTA president James "Jim" Spaniolo. "This is certainly exceptionally gracious and generous on his part."

Anyone who's worked in a newsroom with Bob Schieffer can tell you: He's a good egg.

W: The Movie

While George W. Bush is in Crawford to marry off first daughter Jenna Bush, his adversary is skulking around the untamed border – the border between Texas and Louisiana.

Director Oliver Stone has been in nearby Shreveport preparing to shoot his biopic of the president, W, which he hopes to have in theaters by October. (Yep, before the election.)

No Country for Old Men star Josh Brolin plays the president while 40-Year-Old Virgin and Seabiscuit star Elizabeth Banks plays first lady Laura Bush. "I don't want to do an impression," Ms. Banks says in the May 18 issue of Entertainment Weekly. "I just want to honor her voice, her stillness and her hairstyle."

"I think history is going to be very tough on him," Mr. Stone tells the magazine about the president. "But that doesn't mean he isn't a great story."

Wedding angel

The thing about Crawford is that, if it weren't for the presidential security, you might miss it.

Not this weekend. In honor of Jenna's wedding to Henry Hager, the 18-foot-tall angel in "downtown" Crawford will be wearing a wedding veil and holding a bouquet.

Kickin' it with Coach

There was a time when the appearance of former Southern Methodist University football coach Forrest Gregg at Trader Vic's, just across the expressway from the school, would have sent players scrambling for the exits.

But not last weekend. He was one of the revelers.

After the NFL Hall of Famer was toasted at the inaugural SMU Athletic Hall of Fame banquet, Forrest went to Trader Vic's to meet up with some of his former players, who also wanted to honor him. Among those gathered were Cary Brabham, Bill Kiely, Greg Gardner, Drew Randall and Darren Harrington.

They all broke curfew, but happily, SMU's former strength coach Griz Zimmerman was enjoying the fun too much to hand out any Mustang Reminders.

Sevy's dozen

Happy anniversary to chef Jim "Sevy" Severson and his Park Cities power bistro, Sevy's Grill. On Thursday, he celebrated 12 years in business.