LOS ANGELES - The series "Spartacus: Blood and Sand," coming to the Starz channel in January, has found a most unusual way to pay tribute to Stanley Kubrick's classic film. Star Lucy Lawless, best known for kicking tail as Xena, explained that certain actors needed a boost to accentuate their, um, manhood. The prosthetic, crammed down the pants of selected males, came to be known as the "Kirk Douglas."
"That thing was shared around. At the moment it's pinned to the wall next to the merkins in the makeup truck," said Lawless, referring to the mini-mops used in Hollywood to mask genitalia. We can only imagine Kirk's, um, pride.
The evening party scene was less than star-studded -- unless you happen to hail from England. BBC America hosted the festivities with special guests who would make Brits swoon but leave most Americans scratching their heads. I asked actor James Nesbitt what a similar cocktail scene would be like for him in London, where he's worshiped for his roles in "Murphy's Law" and "Jekyll."
"It wouldn't happen," said Nesbitt, featured in the new miniseries "Occupation." "In London, you don't drink with the press." Ouch. Fortunately, we know how to boost our wounded egos with a certain item. Lucy? Lucy?
