For a quarter century David Sheehan, Entertainment Editor of KCBS-TV in L.A., has prided himself on getting all best actor and actress nominees for his annual syndicated Academy Awards Preview, which starts airing March 14. He snared Nicole Kidman, Julianne Moore, Paul Newman and Michael Caine, but Jack Nicholson wasn’t talking to anyone. The triple Oscar winner made a rare appearance at the premiere of About Schmidt, but waved off all media. He did stop to say hello to Mr. Sheehan, an old pal, but wouldn’t open up. Pressed about his character in the movie, he did say that he liked him because he’s “like you and me. He’s simple.” As the star moved away, Mr. Sheehan walked along side and asked if being famous still made him nervous as he’d once said. “Yes,” answered Mr. Nicholson firmly before disappearing into the theater. It wasn’t much, but the Oscar preview show was complete.
For the first time this year, Mr. Sheehan is also doing a post-show syndie special, “And the winner’s are …” It will include footage of Mr. Nicholson from past years, but what about this year? “Maybe if he wins,” says Mr. Sheehan, “He will talk backstage.” And maybe not.