SPRING AND SUMMER LOOKS are hotter than ever! In this trend report, Watch! Fashion Director Angelique O’Neil reveals the season’s sassiest styles and the inspirations behind them.

Q: Which particular themes or trends are designers going for this season?

A: There are several fun themes to choose from. Both Alexander Wang and Victoria Beckham demonstrated what incredibly good sports they are with athletic-inspired, street-chic gear, while Versace and Alexander McQueen uncovered deep-sea treasures to adorn their mesmerizing mermaid-esque frocks. Chanel’s own voyage into the depths revealed pearl-shell clutches, while Givenchy took a bite at shark-tooth necklaces and heels. Prada, Louis Vuitton and Dolce & Gabbana each hot-rodded into 1950s pinup territory—complete with cat-eye glasses and headscarves—further proving why Marilyn Monroe is still an icon.

Prada

Since we’re on the subject of retro silhouettes, we can’t overlook peplums: The waist-cinching, curve-skimming ruffle is ready for its close-up. Countless designers including Dior, Jason Wu and Céline’s Phoebe Philo (who refers to them as basques) are embracing the flourish of flounce plucked from the late ’40s and ’50s.

Q: Which colors and fabrics are hot right now?

A: Whether it’s the crispness of white, negligee nude and pretty pastels (Louis Vuitton and Phillip Lim 3.1) or vibrant color (citrusy hues of tangerine and orange), there’s something to suit everyone’s fancy.

Graphic geometric prints and patterns have been updated with a new and modern twist. On one end, Prabal Gurung displayed abstract digital prints on separates and dresses. On the other, Rodarte created silk versions ofvan Gogh’s masterpieces Sunflowers and Starry Night.

Q: Who are today’s designer fashion muses?

A: On the red carpet, Chanel and Karl Lagerfeld cannot get enough of Keira Knightley or Gossip Girl’s Blake Lively, while Oscar de la Renta and Marchesa continue to hit a high note with Lea Michele. Brands are putting their money where their mouths are, signing celebrities to lucrative endorsements to don their wares—Dakota Fanning and Marc Jacobs, Rachel Weisz and Bulgari, Angelina Jolie and Louis Vuitton, and Scarlett Johansson and Dolce & Gabbana.

Q: Whose collections stood out most?

Zac Posen

A: Many were memorable for different reasons, and some were far better than others. For me to actually wear? Givenchy. In my mind, Riccardo Tisci can do no wrong. I would wear every single pass in the collection. It’s 100 percent my aesthetic. The jackets are a devilish dichotomy—sharp yet soft at the same time, trimmed in exotics as well as chiffon sequins and laser leather cutouts. Not to mention, edgy ruffles galore. In fairness, I also adore what’s happening at Zac Posen, Alexander McQueen and Dolce & Gabbana.

Q: Why is geography a big inspiration for designers’ spring/summer collections?

A: Travel is a creative aphrodisiac for many and it’s no different for designers. Spain was on the brain for quite a few. Toreadors popped up at Moschino and Pucci in boleros, cropped pants and traditional matador hats, while at Blumarine and Missoni they danced the flamenco with ruffled dresses and oversized hair flowers.

Donna Karan went tribal, taking her cue from Haitian artist Philippe Dodard. Michael Kors’ collection was reminiscent of his trips to Singita Lodges in South Africa. And The Row took us on a journey to Tibet.

Q: What should everyone have in their closet this season?

Blumarine

A: Not a new concept, but everyone should have white. White collared shirts, trousers, sheath dresses and shorts are a must. But don’t miss the opportunity to infuse bold color into the mix as well. Christian Siriano did exactly that, pairing a classic white shirt with a bright lime green trouser. Add a pair of retro shades and platforms, and you’re an instant modern classic ready to make an effortless transition from day to night.

Q: Fashion is becoming less whimsical and more practical. Is that a fashion trend or nod to the economy?

A: Many collections are more wearable now—but many are more avant-garde than ever, so it’s really hard to say. The economy is a factor, but remember that we’re dealing with artists. The magic doesn’t stop because the Dow is crashing or the euro is in trouble.

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GRAMMY GRAVITAS

ON THE NIGHT after Whitney Houston’s tragic Feb. 11 death, a memorable 54th annual Grammy Awards offered solace to a community of musicians and fans reeling from the news, including Jennifer Hudson, whose rendition of Houston’s iconic I Will Always Love You left many of the 39.9 million people watching in tears. It was the second-largest Grammy audience since 1984, when Michael Jackson Beat It with a record eight wins before 43.8 million viewers.

This year’s show was the first to feature a host, LL COOL J, who opened with a prayer and montage honoring the fallen six-time Grammy winner. While British songstress Adele won all six categories she was nominated for, LL COOL J got props for his masterful handling of a tough assignment.

“(He) was the perfect MC for music’s biggest night—music credibility, TV star and street cred all rolled into one iconic superstar personality,” says Jack Sussman, executive vice president of specials, music and live events for CBS, the Grammys’ network home for 18 years.

With 23-year-old Adele becoming the youngest artist to sweep Album, Record and Song of the Year, the Grammys gave music fans a lot to look forward to in the generation of voices inspired by Houston’s.

TIMBERRRRR!!!!

As One Tree Hill wraps its ninth and final season, we wondered what it’s outlasted.

LINDSAY LOHAN’S PROBATION

But it’s a close match.









THE HARRY POTTER FILM SERIES

And for Voldemort to finally realize that only Oil of Olay promises immortality.









THE ORIGINAL TACO BELL CHIHUAHUA

Dinky was later replaced by Gidget; apparently being depicted as a sombrero-wearing bandito was not Dinky’s forte.









THE DROWNING SCENE IN TITANIC

Why didn’t she just make some more room for him on her plank of wood?









JENNIFER LOPEZ’S MARRIAGES

Jenny from the block seems to have a lot of attorneys living on hers. J-Lo knows: Marriage is for life … the life of a mayfly.









KEVIN COSTNER’S THE POSTMAN

Based 16 years from present day … or did it last 16 years from present day? Wasn’t too terrible for the first couple of hours—and then it continued.

(Q) Do the Nielsen ratings count all the televisions in a person’s home, or just the main set?

(A) All the televisions are measured. With almost 85 percent of television households having at least two televisions, Nielsen tracks all television viewing on all the different televisions in a Nielsen family’s household. On a Sunday afternoon, a parent and child may be watching a sporting event in one room while another child is watching a movie in a different room. Nielsen tracks all this viewing to properly report the ratings.

(Q) I don’t need the rabbit ears on my TV anymore. What else can I use them for? — Jenny, West Palm Beach, Fla.

(A) As a big fan of the retro look, I like the idea of keeping the rabbit-ear antenna as an accessory for the new TV. The new TVs are usually framed in black and look a tad severe. A little silver on top dresses up the monochromatic look.

(Q) Victor Newman is now marrying Sharon on The Young and the Restless … the same Sharon who was married to his son and bore his grandchildren. Thoughts, please! — Bea, New York

(A) My thoughts on The Young and the Restless are always the same—those folks in Genoa City are wacky, and nothing Victor Newman does ever surprises me. The fascinating thought for this wedding: Where do Victor’s son and the grandchildren sit during the wedding ceremony? Bride’s side? Groom’s side? Even Miss Manners has to be stumped by this family affair.

TO HAVE MARIANNE ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS- ABOUT ANYTHING!—SEND AN EMAIL TO ASK.MARIANNE@CBS.COM

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LET’S START WITH the 17-time Oscar-nominated elephant in the room: Yes, Mamie Gummer’s mother is Meryl Streep. And yes, it’s kind of impossible to talk to the 28-year-old actress without bringing this up.

“I’m cool with it,” Gummer says of the countless times she’s been asked about her superfamous mom. “I’d be really cool with it if one day the requisite question wasn’t asked, but I completely understand at this point. It’s a small price to pay.”

Mary “Mamie” Willa Gummer, who lives in Brooklyn with her actor husband, Benjamin Walker, got her start in the 1986 movie Heartburn playing the daughter of Streep and Jack Nicholson. (She was credited as Natalie Stern to avoid press scrutiny.)

“I think it’s some of my best work,” the self-deprecating star says today with a laugh.

Twenty-six years later, the Northwestern University graduate, who made her off-Broadway debut in 2005 alongside Michael C. Hall in Mr. Marmalade, has gone on to appear on stage (including The Water’s Edge in 2007, for which she received a Lucille Lortel Award nomination), in movies (such as Evening, playing her mother as a young woman) and on TV (the critically acclaimed 2008 miniseries John Adams).

But it’s her recurring role as attorney Nancy Crozier on The Good Wife that has tongues wagging these days. “She’s interesting because she’s kind of grown and evolved a bit,” Gummer says of her character. “She came in pretty green in the first couple of episodes. She was a bit more naive, but she’s figured out how to harness how people perceive her to get what she wants.”

Gummer, who finds herself drawn to female-driven shows such as Homeland and Nurse Jackie, has been a Good Wife fan since Season 1. “The writing is so strong,” she says “It holds its audience in high esteem. It’s challenging to the viewer, but also comforting because people get invested in the characters and their stories. It’s a well-balanced show. It doesn’t pander to anyone, and as a viewer I appreciate that.”

Even better? The show’s soundstages in Brooklyn make for a quick commute. “I love it,” she says. “It’s pretty wonderful not to have to hop on a plane to Albuquerque.”

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LUXE LAPTOP

Never settle for standard viewing of your favorite shows with HP’s fan-friendly dv6 laptop. Catch high-resolution episodes of CSI on the 15.6-inch screen via optional built-in Blu-ray DVD reader/writer. Music lovers will be equally happy about the exclusive Beats entertainment features (engineered by Dr. Dre) that let you hear music the way the way artists intended. And everyone can appreciate the dv6’s luxurious packaging with dark umber metal lids and light-up touchpads … all for a price that won’t leave your wallet in low-resolution quality. shopping.hp.com

COOLEST. RIDE. EVER.

Whether you’re like Marshall and Lily on How I Met Your Mother, who are ready to have kids but so not ready to have a minivan, or Barney going out with his bros, no one gets left behind in Volvo’s stylish XC90. With seven seats and ample cargo space for all to ride comfortably, the XC90 is tough on the outside, thanks to a muscular body, and luxurious on the inside, with a handcrafted interior that features dual-screen rear seat entertainment—and plenty of room for an entourage, whether you’re headed to the supermarket or a super night on the town. volvocars.com

MAX-IMIZE YOUR INVESTMENT

Max and Caroline of 2 Broke Girls are always just one dollar and two full-time jobs away from saving enough to start their cupcake business. These ladies are short on time; a college like the University of Phoenix would be the perfect educational steppingstone to a business degree with a concentration in small business management and entrepreneurship, or even an MBA—all from the comfort of their small Brooklyn apartment. With a burgeoning online curriculum and more than 200 locations across the country, the University of Phoenix would let Max and Caroline earn their degrees on their own schedules and at their own paces, which means they can successfully bake, wait tables, excel in school and one day be expert business owners. phoenix.edu

PLAY LIKE A PRO

Feeling inspired by CBS Sports’ award-winning coverage of April’s Masters Tournament from Augusta, Ga.? Hit the links with the gear the pros depend on with TaylorMade golf equipment. Up your game this spring with the No. 1 driver in golf from the experts who pioneered the metalwood, which was so easy to hit that amateurs embraced it and tour professionals couldn’t ignore it. TaylorMade engineers clubs for all types of golfers, from tour-caliber players to those who want every improvement that technology can deliver. Check out the selection at taylormade.com … and tune in to CBS 3:30–7 p.m. Saturday, April 7, and 2–7 p.m. Sunday, April 8, for coverage of the world’s most prestigious golf tournament.

EXPLORE AND ENJOY

Browsing Watch! online just got faster on Internet Explorer 9. Enjoy the Web with smoother high-definition videos, clearer graphics and truer colors. The Microsoft browser’s interface puts the focus back on websites with its One Box tool, which combines the address and search bars, as well as stackable tabs that leave more room to see what you want (like the great content at cbswatchmagazine.com). Industry-leading privacy and security features include a SmartScreen filter, which blocks 96 percent of socially engineered malware. Internet Explorer 9 gives more of what you want and blocks everything you don’t–now that’s something to enjoy. beautyoftheweb.com

LESS IS MORE

Hate missing your favorite Showtime shows like The Borgias (pictured) and Shameless? Set your DVR from any cellphone, laptop or iPad with a free mobile app or online with DirecTV’s Whole-Home DVR service. Record, delete, pause and rewind your favorite shows, no matter where you are, on up to 15 TVs with just one DVR. You can even record two shows at once while watching two shows from your playlist in different rooms at the same time. No need to worry about the kids’ room seeing any Shameless programming; with Whole-Home DVR, each TV gets its own set of parental controls. 30 million customers can’t be wrong—DirecTV is the best and easiest way to control and share your televisionwatching experience. directv.com/entertainment

KAYAK.COM

TRAVEL SMART

The producers of CBS’ globetrotting reality competition Survivor may have been the inspiration behind Kayak.com, a fast and efficient way to book your next trip by searching hundreds of travel sites at once to bring you the best deals available. Whether it’s the South Pacific, where this season of Survivor takes place, or South Florida, Kayak.com delivers all the information you need for your next vacation … stress- and challenge-free!

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— Makeup Bag Essentials —

(1) A LIPSTICK THAT POPS. Neutral glosses will always be a summer classic, but this season lips are mouthing off with bright colors. Volupté Sheer Candy from YSL Beauté veils lips with colors inspired by candied fruit, including Iced Plum, a frothy purple, and Tangy Mandarine, a radiant tangerine. $30, yslbeautyus.com

(2) A SUBTLE BRONZER. Sun-kissed is still in, but go for a more subdued radiance. Combine bronze with one of spring’s hottest cheek colors—peach!—with Too Faced’s Brightening & Perfecting Bronzer in Peach Leopard. $29, sephora.com

(3) A COLORED EYELINER. “We’re seeing gorgeous blues, from a cool sky blue or violet to a warm teal, and greens in hues like forest, emerald and jade,” says Michael Rey III, co-owner of Chroma Makeup Studio in Beverly Hills. Pair these with corals and pinks on your cheeks and eyelids, he adds. Make Up For Ever’s Aqua Eyes liners, originally created for water ballet, come in 25 waterproof shades, including turquoise, pistachio and metallic purple. $18, sephora.com

COMPLEXION PERFECTION

Take your skin back in time with makeup artist Lisa Mirante’s picks

MICROQUATIC EYE CONCENTRATE BY SUE DEVITT

This age-defying formula brings your face to life with vitamin B3, which makes fine lines vanish. Say goodbye to puffiness and under-eye circles for good. $110, suedevittbeauty.com

CELLACTIVE FACE SERUM BY NOVO SOLUTIONS MD

Achieve victory over aging! This skin saver protects and regenerates skin cells, reduces fine lines and increases collagen production (which helps skin look healthier). Dull skin, begone! $170, novosolutionsmd.com

BEAUTY RX EXFOLIATING GREEN TEA COMPLEX BY DR. SCHULTZ

Ideal for stressed-out skin, this cream is a therapeutic exfoliant that rejuvenates tired, flaky and uneven complexions. Use the SPF 20 formula every morning to take advantage of the green tea’s soothing anti-inflammatory effects. $85, beautyrx.com

— Looks You’ll Love —

BE BRAVE, GO BOLD: Bold eyes, cheeks and lips are gaining some serious momentum, but it takes balance to keep this look pretty and feminine rather than overdone, says Kate McCarthy, national makeup artist for Glominerals makeup. And if anyone can pull off a bold look, it’s America’s Next Top Model’s Tyra Banks. McCarthy would give Banks a smoky eye, softened with a neutral shimmery shadow on the lid, an olive liner along upper and lower lashes, and an emerald shadow smudged “grunge-style” on top of the liner. She’d swipe her lips with hot pink and brush cheeks with a deep plum, such as Glo’s cream blush in Plumeria ($25.50, gloprofessional.com). “To create dimension, keep the apple of the cheeks bare and just place the blush on the outer cheeks, blending it toward the temples,” McCarthy says.

THE FRESH FACE: This spring is about flushed cheeks that go from cool pink to warm maple, peach and coral eye shadows, and brightly colored liners, says Rey. He even suggests swapping black mascara for a softer black-brown or navy. For 2 Broke Girls’ Kat Dennings, a cool-toned brunette, Rey suggests rosy pink on her cheeks (like Chroma’s own Blossom, $23.50, chromamakeupstudio.com), a shimmering pink eye shadow on her eyelids, a swipe of sky-blue liner and, to keep the look luminous, a sheer rose lip gloss.

— Face-Flattering Hues —

These products will look great on almost every woman, from blondes such as Ringer’s Sarah Michelle Gellar to brunettes with the olive-hued complexion of The Vampire Diaries’ Nina Dobrev.

BECCA BEACH TINT IN GRAPEFRUIT: This waterproof multitasking cream can be layered underneath a powder blush for added intensity, and dabbed under your favorite lipstick or gloss for a long-wearing finish. $25, beccacosmetics.com

COVERGIRL BLAST FLIPSTICK: A double-ended lipstick with two complementary shades—one creamy and the other shimmery—that can blend in endless combinations. Cheeky is a bright pink-and-peach duo that will take you from April straight through September. $7.99, drugstore.com

VINYL CANDY EYE SHADOW PALETTE BY YSL BEAUTÉ: Pearly Raspberry and Lilac and satiny Blackcurrant and Rose Petals were designed to be the only eye shadows you’ll need, taking you from a vaporous daytime halo to a smoldering nighttime sophistication. $65, yslbeautyus.com

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A hardworking girl gets a makeover from a fairy, crashes the best party in town and wins the heart of a handsome prince with a foot fetish—all in one night. It could be Sex and the City 3, but on March 31, 1957, it was the original TV musical Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella, and oh what an event it was!

When CBS aired the 90-minute “television spectacular” live and in color 55 years ago, 107 million Americans tuned in to watch. An additional 10 million watched across the nation’s borders to the north and south. Composer Richard Rodgers liked to say that Cinderella would have had to play to packed houses eight times a week for 140 years to equal the audience that tuned in that night. The story may have been pure folderol (to borrow a certain godmother’s favorite word), but what man, woman, child or mouse-turned-footman could resist such Broadway-caliber entertainment playing right in his or her own rumpus room?

Starring a young Julie Andrews, years before she’d fly via umbrella or sew kids’ clothes from the drapes, the special waltzed into a nation’s heart that cold spring night. Yes, the prince, played by Jon Cypher (who’d later portray Chief Daniels on Hill Street Blues), was awfully twee. The fairy godmother (Edie Adams, best known for her legendary 1960s Muriel Cigar commercials) was a little daft. What was that dance she was doing? And the special effects—really just a couple of sparklers superimposed on a prop pumpkin—were hardly dazzling.

But this shoe-biz fable was, and is, magical television.

The first of three TV versions of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella, the 1957 original survives on DVD but only in black and white, remastered from an old kinescope. The color broadcast is lost. But that’s not to say the show doesn’t make for vivid viewing.

Andrews, who was starring on Broadway in My Fair Lady at the time, made for a gorgeous Cinderella, whether sitting in “her own little corner in her own little chair” or twirling around the dance floor at Prince Christopher’s matchmaking ball. Hers were awfully big glass slippers for Lesley Ann Warren and Brandy, who respectively starred in the 1965 and 1997 remakes, to try to fill.

Andrews’ performance is the obvious reason to watch Cinderella. But what provides the greatest joy—for classic TV fanatics, at least—is watching Cinderella’s ugly stepsisters Portia and Joy try anything to get their paws on the prince.

Portrayed by Kaye Ballard and Alice Ghostley, these snorting, snide siblings are a pair of laugh-out-loud scene stealers. Both, of course, went on to become two of the finest and funniest second bananas in TV history—Ballard as the star of The Mothers-in-Law and an Italian restaurateur on the CBS hit The Doris Day Show; Ghostley as Esmeralda on Bewitched in the 1960s and then the lovably bizarre Bernice Clifton on CBS’ Designing Women from 1986 to 1993. These gals weren’t as beautiful as Cinderella, but they’d have kept that prince in stitches.

If only that shoe had fit.

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If you’re a fan of Showtime’s The Borgias, it’s a little difficult to talk to star Jeremy Irons, who plays Rodrigo Borgia (Pope Alexander VI)—especially when he uses the we word. Onscreen, that’s the “papal we,” meaning Rodrigo speaking of himself (or ourselves, as he would say). But does that carry back into life off the set?

“I talk to my wife that way,” Irons says with a laugh. “ ‘This instruction is directly from God!’ ”

Irons is in Budapest, Hungary, shooting the second season of the richly produced series about the corrupt family; patriarch Rodrigo finagled—OK, bought—his way into the papacy in 1492. Under the guise of restoring faith in the Catholic Church, he used every means possible to ensure his success and that of his family, including bribery, coercion and even murder.

Were the Borgias all that bad in real life? “Even if you can weed your way through the gossip and all the fiction about him and the family, they’re still pretty wild,” Irons says. Alexander “had many good qualities and many qualities that are seen today as being the antithesis of what you expect for a pope. I thought that would be really interesting to explore.”

Irons got involved through a chance meeting with series creator Neil Jordan outside a theater in Dublin during the intermission of a play. “He said, ‘I’ve got something that might interest you,’ ” the actor recalls. “We talked about it a few days later, then I went on the Net and looked up Alexander and found a picture of him. He was a large, corpulent man with a big Roman nose. I said to Neil, ‘Well, I think you need somebody that looks a bit like him, don’t you?’ He said, ‘I need someone who can play him.’ ”

The Shakespearean actor—best known for the PBS miniseries Brideshead Revisited and a long list of hit films including Reversal of Fortune, for which he won an Oscar, The Mission and The French Lieutenant’s Woman—says he was lured back to television by one simple attribute: quality. “American television is getting better and better,” Irons says. “There are some great series on networks like Showtime—the sorts of projects that I’ve spent my career making, which we’re seeing less and less of being made as theatrical films and more as series like this.”

As he began his research on Pope Alexander, Irons found himself increasingly intrigued by this complex character. Through studying books about the Borgias, including one written at the time by papal librarian Johannes Burckhardt, Irons discovered a person who was a living dichotomy. “He was a man who used all the matters of power, living in an extremely wild world, both politically and socially, which he just sort of strong-armed his way through.”

But Borgia was also a robust man, personally. “He had an enormous appetite for life—for women, food, for a good time and for power,” Irons says, which apparently didn’t preclude his life as a spiritual leader. “He realizes the conflict, as every Christian at the time would have done,” the actor says. “But he doesn’t see that those two things can’t live side by side, though I think he is consistently warring with those two sides of himself.”

The conflict, Irons notes, is one of the time we live in, not so much the one that Borgia lived in. “We’re talking about the 16th century; things were very different then. For me, it’s been a voyage of discovery to find out what they got up to and what they were thinking—how a pope could get away with suchbehavior. Not publicly, but how he could deal with it in his own soul.”

In medieval times, he says, behavior such as Borgia’s would not have been looked upon as we would see it today. “They would have seen, for example, the public’s reaction to Bill Clinton’s behavior as complete hypocrisy. Because, to them, there would be no reason why a leader should have been held to a different standard than any other man on the street,” Irons explains. “We are all failed people. He would have repented for it, but that is human nature.”

What the medievalists did, in fact, go after Borgia for was using his children for his own good—something Irons notes still takes place today in modern families. “Every monarch would try to marry their children off to certain families, to make alliances to strengthen their own situation,” he says. “Rodrigo does use his children, but I see a lot of parents today who groom their children to live out their own dreams.”

Borgia’s sons, Cesare (François Arnaud) and Juan (David Oakes), are “a disappointment to him,” Irons says. “But often, like the sons of very powerful men, they are damaged by having what I would call a ‘bullying father.’ ”

Season 2, in fact, promises to bring some great turns within the Borgia family, as the children begin to make their own decisions and take things to another level with regard to how the family runs Rome. Intense sibling rivalry grows between Cesare, Juan and their sister, Lucrezia (Holliday Grainger), who grew to become the hero of the previous season.

But Irons’ Rodrigo will continue to put on his papal robes and try to run things as he sees fit. Irons enjoys working in Budapest, traveling home between episode shoots to visit his children and watch his wife of 33 years, actress Sinéad Cusack, perform onstage in Dublin. “Now and again, I get them out for a visit for a long weekend, but I normally travel home.” Irons is also in demand for speaking engagements and personal appearances, such as recent visits to the National Theatre in London and the New York Film Festival.

But returns to the set of The Borgias offer Irons a chance to do what he loves best—placing himself in the shoes of a complex character and enjoying the exploration. Though baptized in the Church of England and living in a Catholic family himself, Irons still likes to look at his work on the show simply as acting.

“I feel I’m playing a historical character,” he says. “Just as I support the monarchy as an institution in England, I would still relish playing a terrible king, such as Richard III. What’s fun about this is reading the script and looking for clues. When you’re playing a character who existed, you weed through historical evidence and read between the lines, to find out what this real person was.”

At night, when he wraps a day of shooting, he says, “I come back home and put on trousers.” But when he wears Rodrigo Borgia’s papal robes, “I get very comfortable in them. When I put those on … I am the pope.”

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No, they haven’t cast Justin Bieber as Willy Loman; that part will be inhabited by Oscar winner Philip Seymour Hoffman. But playing Willy’s troubled son Biff will be Andrew Garfield, who’s amassed a feverish young following since co-starring opposite Heath Ledger in 2009’s The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus and in the following year’s phenom The Social Network. Garfield is a breakout star for those who are breaking out. What’s more, he’s donned tights for The Amazing Spider-Man, which opens this summer, and there are huge masses of teens who will follow anything a superhero does, even if it’s in a musty old theater piece. After all, Daniel Radcliffe attracted effusive girls by the thousands to How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, a Pulitzer Prize-winning musical that usually draws sophisticates in the market for musical satire, not diary-wielding, gum-popping boppers looking for love.

And now comes Garfield’s turn—abetted by Hoffman, who’s not exactly chopped liver himself, and directed by one more Oscar winner, Mike Nichols, who’s the opposite of unknown. So even if there’s no hope for Willy, there is some for this revival, especially since soaring unemployment rates make the play as timely as ever. Fingers crossed that Spider-Man’s appearance in a Miller play is more riveting than the one he gives in that misguided musical.

The romantic afterlife dramedy Ghost is also cannonballing back, this time as Ghost the Musical, starting April 23 at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, and attention must be paid. You remember the 1990 film: A murdered husband (Patrick Swayze) communicates with his wife (Demi Moore) via a phony psychic who ends up winning an Oscar and nabbing a job on a daytime talk show. (Or maybe that’s just the way I remember it.) The musical version sounds suited for the over-40 crowd, not only because it’s teen-idol-free, but because the score by Glen Ballard and the Eurythmics’ Dave Stewart has been enhanced with the golden oldie “Unchained Melody,” which was used so effectively in the film.

Pandering like that is actually a sound idea, as The Addams Family bitterly learned when they left out the finger-snapping TV theme song. But whatever songs they use, I’ve had enough of these 1990s movies turned into tourist attractions. What next? The Bodyguard starring Aida’s Heather Headley? Actually,yep, that was recently announced as a go! And I’m looking forward! But let’s draw the line at Salesman the Musical starring that Bieber kid, OK?

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