PEOPLE

By Belinda Luscombe

FERGIE DOES BOOKINGS AND BOOKS

The DUCHESS OF YORK put on a brave face at the launch of the James and the Giant Peach video in New York City--and made the movie's star, PAUL TERRY, put one on as well. Back home, however, things weren't so peachy. First, the Daily Mirror published conversations taped by Fergie's psychic, "Madame Vasso" Kortesis, in which the two use kitschy code: referring to Di as "Blondie" and Fergie's men by numbers. Her ex, Prince Andrew, is No. 2; lover-in-her-dreams-only John F. Kennedy Jr., No. 9. Then, Fergie stopped trying to block a book about her affair with toe-sucking John Bryan (No. 3). She couldn't face testifying in public. Fergie's next literary effort, two children's books, will be lucky to generate such press.

SEEN & HEARD

David Lee Roth, who could barely contain his joy at being back with Van Halen at the MTV awards last month, got just as emotional when he found out his new gig was temporary, circulating a histrionic open letter claiming he had been deceived. Most likely joining the band in his stead: Extreme's Gary Cherone, whose voice Eddie Van Halen has described as "like an angel's."

Lawsuits happen even in the best-kept homes. Hyperhomemaker Martha Stewart has been taken to court by a gardener, Renaldo Abreu, for overtime pay. He maintains that Stewart never paid him for nonhorticultural tasks, such as cleaning up after the cat. Stewart's lawyers contend that agricultural workers aren't entitled to overtime and his $56,000 salary was fair.

CAN CARUSO COME BACK?

It's always uncomfortable to be the hare in the fable. But it's the fate of DAVID CARUSO, who shot to such prominence in the first season of NYPD Blue that he abruptly left for the movies, breaking his contract and leaving few friends. Two bad films later, Caruso wants to return to TV to play, according to Variety, a crusading attorney. But in his rush to leave TV, he signed a deal with ABC and ex-boss Steven Bochco, promising not to return until 1998. After some negotiation, it appears they won't stand in his way. Meanwhile, Dennis Franz, the tortoise of our story, is at home with an Emmy and in theaters with the well received American Buffalo.

EIGHT (AT ONCE) IS TOO MANY

When MANDY ALLWOOD miscarried, losing all eight of the fetuses she was bearing, in London last week, she didn't end the controversy over her condition and choices. Allwood, a divorce, conceived eight times over when, against the advice of her doctor, she had sex shortly after taking fertility drugs. This event would have been noteworthy enough, but Allwood reportedly had neglected to mention the drugs to her boyfriend, who had a family elsewhere. Pro-life groups rallied to her side when she refused to abort any of the fetuses. She argued that she didn't want to choose which ones would die. But her reluctance may also have been due to News of the World. She sold the story of the impending births to the tab, and there had been speculation it would not pay if she didn't carry the babies to term. Having lost all eight within days of one another at the 19th week and custody of her son last month, Allwood (above at the 13th week) told her publicist that, given the same choices, she would "do it all again."