People

PEACE, LOVE AND UNDERSTANDING

Imagine the pressure to pick good make-out music when you're a rock legend wooing jazz's sultriest vocalist. Yes, it must be hard to be ELVIS COSTELLO, now squiring DIANA KRALL--to the Grammys, to Costello's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction, to a London fund raiser at which the pair performed a duet (Elton John's Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word). Costello, 47, and Krall, 38, met presenting an award at last year's Grammys. "It's a wonderful thing, and it's special to me. I'm really happy," Krall told the Canadian press of the relationship. And if it doesn't work out, fans can look forward to really kickin' blues albums from both of them.

MONICA, ACT III

To host its latest reality dating show, Fox has hired a woman whose romantic past can only be described as surreal. Former White House intern and presidential paramour Monica Lewinsky has signed on to emcee Mr. Personality, which premieres next month. The series, on which an attractive young female will be courted by a group of bachelors whose faces are concealed by latex masks, "sounds like good fun," says Lewinsky, who, despite her harsh introduction to the limelight, seems to have developed a craving for it. According to Fox, the guys "must rely strictly on their personalities to captivate" the contestant, although Walt Whitman poetry, expensive cigars and rides on Air Force One are not expressly forbidden.

LATHER, RINSE, REPEAT

There's nothing like a sleeper hit to sound a wake-up call all over Hollywood. Barbershop, a modestly priced comedy featuring the no-holds-barred talk that guys have while waiting for a haircut--which made about $75 million at the box office--has already spawned several spin-offs. And since women's haircuts cost much more than men's, it makes a sort of sense that three of the spin-offs feature women. The producers behind the original are in talks with QUEEN LATIFAH, left, to star in Beauty Shop. In May comedian MO'NIQUE, upper right, will begin work on another movie with the same title. And filming for Nora's Hair Salon, with JENIFER LEWIS, lower right, started last week in Los Angeles. Make room, Meg Ryan; a new chick flick subgenre is born.

SO THAT'S WHY WE NEVER SEE HIM ON E!

In Cleveland, Ohio, to accept a freedom-of-speech award last week, Supreme Court Justice ANTONIN SCALIA seemed a little hazy on the spirit of the First Amendment. Scalia barred television and radio reporters from the room during his remarks to receive the City Club of Cleveland's award, which honored him for his votes in rulings that struck down flag-and cross-burning laws. Scalia, who started his law career in Cleveland, was chosen for the club's annual Citadel of Free Speech Award as a "distinguished American" who has contributed significantly "to the preservation of the First Amendment." Upon notifying Scalia of the honor, the club was informed that the Justice, one of the court's most conservative and outspoken, never allows TV or audio coverage of his frequent addresses. However, we assume the C-SPAN crew members who tried to attend the event were welcome to say whatever cusswords they wanted in response.