People in the News

PASADENA, Calif. - Comic Howie Mandel's first reaction when offered the chance to be host of a game show was to wonder whether it would be death for his career.

"If I'm a game show host, will someone buy a ticket to see me do standup?" he wondered. "If I'm a game show host, will I get an offer to do a dramatic role in a movie?"

His worries so far have proven unfounded, so Mandel was happily promoting NBC's "Deal or No Deal" on Sunday. The show, on which contestants can win a million dollars but also leave with one dollar if they make a bad bet, will return to NBC's schedule in March.

"Deal or No Deal" did well in the ratings during a one-week run in December, although rivals said it faced little competition against reruns shortly before Christmas.

Mandel liked that the game had elements of comedy and drama and lets him use the full range of his skills, he said. People also appear to get involved while watching at home, envisioning themselves taking chances along with the contestants.

"There's no skill," he said. "You can be a rock and move into another cash bracket."

---

CANNES, France (AP) - Robbie Williams writhed, Shakira shouted and Madonna didn't show up, although all three won honors at one of France's biggest music awards shows.

Williams, voted best male international performer at the NRJ Music Awards on Saturday night, was uncharacteristically serious in his acceptance speech but put on a strong performance of his hit "Tripping."

Madonna scored the best female international artist award but didn't appear to accept it, disappointing the audience. At the 2004 show, Madonna accepted a career award from Britney Spears and thanked French fans for two decades of support.

Shakira shouted "I love France!" in accepting the award for best international song, "La Tortura." She charmed French rock veteran and aging sex symbol Johnny Hallyday, who praised her successful melange of "sex and rock 'n' roll."

Bob Geldof praised the French for their "good taste" in granting him an honorary award for his organization of the Live 8 concerts in July for fighting world poverty.

The show, organized by the NRJ radio station, grants awards for French and international stars.

---

LONDON (AP) - Supermodel Kate Moss will speak to British police investigating allegations of cocaine use - but no timetable has been set for her interview by officers, her spokesman said.

Moss, 31, lost valuable contracts with H&M, Burberry and Chanel after the Daily Mirror tabloid in September published pictures of her apparently using cocaine in a west London music studio where her then-boyfriend, rock musician Pete Doherty, was recording.

The model's spokesman, Stuart Higgins, said Saturday that discussions have been held between police and the model's lawyers over the past two weeks.

"Kate has made it absolutely clear all along that she will cooperate with any police investigation when the necessary arrangements can be made," he said in a statement.

Since the newspaper revelations, Moss has been outside Britain, visiting a rehab clinic in Arizona and working on international assignments.

---

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (AP) - The father of disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff says George Clooney's off-color joke about his son's name during the Golden Globe Awards made the lobbyist's 12-year-old daughter cry.

In a letter to Clooney posted Friday on the Web site of The Desert Sun newspaper in Palm Springs, Frank Abramoff said he was astonished by the actor's "glib and ridiculous attack" during Monday's televised program.

"Your words were deeply hurtful to many innocent and decent people," Abramoff wrote. "One day the truth about my son will come out and there will be a lot of people in your industry and others lined up to apologize for their efforts to destroy him and our family."

He said the lobbyist's daughter, who was watching the show, was in "a fit of tears" after hearing Clooney's remarks.

"Are you proud of that?" Abramoff wrote. "Shame on you."

Clooney's father, Nick Clooney, told the newspaper: "I understand what it is like to have one's son criticized in a very public way. It's very painful and it's very difficult."

He added, "The difference here, and it must be said, is Mr. Abramoff's son, instead of pursuing some positive efforts to do what he hoped would change the climate of the American politics, has confessed and has been convicted by that confession of subverting the political process."

Clooney's publicist, Stan Rosenfield, said Saturday the actor had no further comment.

Clooney took a jab at Abramoff after accepting a supporting actor trophy for the thriller "Syriana."

The lobbyist has pleaded guilty to three felony counts, acknowledging he provided lavish trips, golf outings, meals and more to public officials "in exchange for a series of official acts."