People

By Michele Orecklin

FEUD OF THE WEEK

NAME: Diana "Miss Ross" Ross OCCUPATION: Supreme Highness BEST PUNCH: Announced she would launch a Supremes tour this summer accompanied by two backup singers with whom she has never performed, after talks with Wilson fell through

NAME: Mary "Proud Mary" Wilson OCCUPATION: Just your average Supreme BEST PUNCH: Claims talks failed because Ross wanted $15 million from the tour and offered her only $3 million: "I've put too much into this [to] be treated like some sort of employee of Diana's."

WINNER: Miss Ross, because she's Miss Ross, and we really really don't want to cross her

PINT-SIZE PLAINTIFF

Last week CODY GIFFORD filed his first lawsuit. And, no, it wasn't against his mother. The 10-year-old towheaded heir of KATHIE LEE and Frank Gifford is charging the National Examiner tabloid with injury to reputation and emotional distress for an article that reported he was a menace on the set of a TV movie. The Giffords claim the story is a fabrication. When asked if it was odd for a 10-year-old to file a lawsuit, Gifford's attorney Barry Langberg said, "It is a little unusual, but then again, it's unusual for a tabloid to write an article about a 10-year-old. Not just unusual, but disgusting." In February, Kathie Lee announced that she was leaving Live with Regis and Kathie Lee in part to shield her children (she also has a daughter, Cassidy) from the media; allowing her elementary-school-age son to embroil himself in a lawsuit should help.

J'ACCUSE, BUT PLEASE DON'T GO

Is she just a woman who looks good in lingerie, or as one French politician claims, "the very symbol of the failure of socialism"? This was the debate surrounding LAETITIA CASTA last week as reports surfaced that the Victoria's Secret model had abandoned her native France for London and its more advantageous tax laws. The move inflamed Parisian patriots because last year Casta was chosen to be the model for Marianne, the allegorical female symbol of the French Republic that adorns town halls across the country. Under siege from the media--and the Interior Minister, who warned her of the bad health care in England--Casta went on French television to claim she was not permanently relocating, but not before opposition politicians used the controversy to attack the country's tax laws and goad Prime Minister Lionel Jospin into pledging cuts in the income tax. There's nothing like a babe to speed up the wheels of bureaucracy.

WHO'S A BIG GIRL NOW, THEN?

On a movie set, the makeup chair is generally the province of the female lead, but for Big Momma's House, a comedy due this summer, it was the male star whose face, and body, commandeered the majority of attention. In the film, MARTIN LAWRENCE plays an FBI agent who goes undercover as a grandmother in a Southern town. In addition to floral frocks and pearls, his wardrobe included a 40-lb. fat suit and 3 in. of rubber on his face. "He spent three hours in makeup each day," says director Raja Gosnell. "The forehead, nose and eyes are his, but he needed work on his cheeks, chin and upper lip." Does male vanity know no bounds?

ON THE ROAD TO IRS RECONCILIATION

Though not popularly known for its wit or good nature, the IRS is clearly trying to lighten up its image. Its website features bold graphics and even some irreverent humor. Apparently the campaign is so effective that this tax season it has persuaded long-time rival WILLIE NELSON, who was forced to pay $9 million to the agency in 1993, to surrender his grudges. "Everything's wonderful with the IRS," said the country-music legend as his tour bus blazed across the South. "I would say it's a 100% turnaround as far as I'm concerned. After they came in and took all my stuff that time, they've managed to be real nice."

LIKE HIS ANSWERS? BUY THE BOOK

How much beneficence can one show bestow? Already credited with justifying the paychecks of ABC executives and resuscitating family television viewing, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire is now inspiring Americans to support struggling authors. Last week, as part of his affable banter, host REGIS PHILBIN asked contestant BRAD HERZOG, a freelance magazine writer, about his book States of Mind, an American travelogue released last year by a small North Carolina publisher. "I didn't go on the show to plug my book," says Herzog, who won $64,000, "but I was happy to tell 30 million viewers." Before the show aired, the book ranked No. 122,040 in sales on Amazon.com the following day, it rocketed as high as No. 7. "I got up into the world of John Irving and John Grisham," says Herzog. Expect the Who Wants to Be a Millionaire Book Club any day.

DAMN! THIS MEANS THEY'LL HAVE TO MAKE MORE FILMS

Clearly, DANA GIACCHETTO went into the wrong business. Had he chosen to be a talent agent instead of a money manager, his unscrupulous business practices and knack for attracting famous clients would have augured a bright future. Instead, last week, Giacchetto, 37, was hit with civil and criminal charges for allegedly looting millions of dollars from the accounts of his high-profile roster of actors, artists and musicians. He faces up to 20 years in prison. During the past several years, armed with charm and advantageous connections, Giacchetto managed to accumulate clients such as Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Courteney Cox Arquette and members of the band Phish by promising to make only the most conservative investments. As he acquired their accounts, he also acquired their friendship, becoming particularly close with DiCaprio, who would often bunk at Giacchetto's downtown New York City loft. Contrary to his pledge, Giacchetto began gambling on risky ventures, and a number of stars grew concerned over poorly organized or absent financial statements. According to a federal indictment, Giacchetto was drawing unauthorized checks from his clients' accounts to cover his expenses. In a Ponzi-like scheme, he would also allegedly loot the account of one customer to pay off another. Though he did reimburse some clients, others are out a bundle--and Giacchetto, who is free on a $1 million bond, may never eat lunch in any town again.

WHO GOT TAKEN: According to the Securities and Exchange Commission, which filed fraud charges against Giacchetto, he looted the estimated amounts shown from these celebrities. How much they may have been reimbursed remains unclear. They have declined comment.

CELEBRITY: Phish

AMOUNT STOLEN: $3.7 million

WHAT IT WAS USED FOR: Paid off other clients; covered AmEx, office bills

[CELEBRITY:] Courteney Cox

[AMOUNT STOLEN:] $825,000

[WHAT IT WAS USED FOR:] Paid off other clients; refilled empty corporate account

[CELEBRITY:] Lauren Holly

[AMOUNT STOLEN:] $300,000

[WHAT IT WAS USED FOR:] Paid off other clients; refilled empty corporate account

[CELEBRITY:] Matt Damon

[AMOUNT STOLEN:] $100,000

[WHAT IT WAS USED FOR:] Office bills, payroll expenses

[CELEBRITY:] Ben Affleck

[AMOUNT STOLEN:] $20,000

[WHAT IT WAS USED FOR:] AmEx and other credit card bills