Her first film, Somebody Killed Her Husband (1978), nearly murdered her career, and Sunburn (1979) further scorched it. No wonder Farrah Fawcett, 33, onetime star of television's Charlie's Angels, is returning to the medium that made her name. In Murder in Texas, a four-hour NBC miniseries, Farrah portrays Joan Robinson Hill, the Houston socialite for whose mysterious death in 1969 her physician husband was tried but not convicted. The role forced Fawcett to make a few changes: learning to ride English-style instead of Western and, more important, combing her famous windswept hair style into a sleek pony tail. "The crew saw that I am a much better actress than people have realized," she deadpans. "Sometimes I wonder if it could have been my hair that has hurt my career."

"God runs Tiffany," Walter Hoving used to say, but there was never any doubt as to who was His right-hand man. Now, after 25 years as chairman of that most divine of jewelry stores, Hoving, 83, has stepped down--but not, mind you, to stop working. In a starched white apron and starchier style, Hoving bustled through his own retirement party, tirelessly ladling eggnog for employees and friends. He took time out only to accept a sterling silver tray, his farewell gift, and to comment on his next professional endeavor: dispensing pearls of wisdom to U.S. firms on how to enhance their products and images. The minimum price for Hoving's services: $100,000. "I'd get every little drugstore coming in if I didn't charge a responsible sum," he explains. What does a client get for the minimum? Says Hoving: "You get to talk to me."

She has yet to spend a night in the Executive Mansion, but gossipmongers are already clucking about Nancy Reagan, the spendthrift fashion plate, the extravagant hostess, the gunslinger and, after her press secretary was suddenly removed, the axwoman. Now grapeviners are chortling over the latest rumor, featuring Nancy the demon decorator (with a reprise of the axwoman theme). According to the story, Nancy, while touring her next home, was upset by the appearance of the Lincoln Bedroom. "That wall has to go," she announced. White House Chief Usher Rex Scouten explained that the room is historic and should not be touched, which only convinced Mrs. Reagan that Scouten too had to go. "I want him fired," rumors had her saying. Nancy denies the story. So does Scouten. But none of that discourages scandal lovers, who can hardly wait until the Reagans actually move in. Meanwhile, both Scouten and the wall survive.

What's this? Big Bird doing Firebird, or perhaps Swan Lake? No, nothing that featherbrained. But Choreographer George Balanchine, 76, is planning to cast Muppets in a production of L'Enfant et les Sortileges to be seen on public television next spring. Muppet Designer Kermit Love, who is creating the dancing puppets, invited the choreographer to the Sesame Street set to watch Muppetry in action.

There a photographer cap tured Mr. B. with the 8-ft. rara avis: certainly ballet's oddest couple since Nureyev teamed with Miss Piggy in Swine Lake.

--By Claudia Wallis

On the Record

Barry Goldwater, 72, Arizona Senator, on why he would like to see more women in elective office: "They understand they can't spend more money than the old man brings home."

Albert Freedman, editor of Forum, a Penthouse offshoot, on the responsibilities of motherhood: "To deliver children--obstetrically first, and by car until they get their license."

Jane Pauley, co-host of TV's Today show, defending her credentials as a journalist: "I am taken seriously. I mean being interviewed by Jane Pauley is not the same as being interviewed by J. Fred Muggs."

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