The Insider

WHICH WITCH?

What’s this, a new TV series based on that rerun evergreen Bewitched—but without Elizabeth Montgomery as the twitchy-nosed Samantha? Producer David Kreiff is developing Tabitha: Bewitched Again for either the networks or first-run syndication. It would star Erin Murphy, now 28, who with twin Diane played Samantha’s daughter, Tabitha, from 1966 to 1972. Kreiff says of Montgomery, 59: “I am open to her involvement.” But just in case, the script for the pilot excuses Samantha’s absence “by having her at a witches’ convention with her evil twin, Serena.”

Say’s Barry Krost, Montgomery’s manager, “Until I get an offer for Liz, [Kreiff’s project] means nothing to me.”

PRYOR HISTORY

Richard Pryor. 51, whose road back from a six-year battle with multiple sclerosis has included a recent appearance on Arsenio and a Halloween gig in the Bay Area, is poised to add a chapter to his storied life. In fact, more than a chapter—an entire book.

Pryor’s agent at William Morris, Dan Strone, tells us the comedian has engaged Robert Greenfield, coauthor of Bill Graham Presents, the late rock impresario’s autobiography, to help on Pryor’s tome. Strone, who is querying publishers, hopes to make a deal “in the seven-figure range.”

BASICALLY BEN

Since costarring as Basic Instinct’s bisexual shrink. Jeanne Tripplehorn has appeared frequently on Fox’s new Ben Stiller Show—and has been dating Ben Stiller.

The two were introduced by a friend last summer and have been seeing each other, says Stiller’s rep, ever since. In addition, Tripplehorn just signed to play Tom Cruise‘s wife in Paramount’s The Firm, based on the legal thriller by John Grisham. Cameras started rolling last week.

ROCK-AND-ROLL CALL VOTE

It was reported last month that Bruce Springsteen crossed a union picket line to give a concert at the Tacoma Dome in Tacoma, Wash. The rocker told his audience he was not there “in the interest of the city, the management of this building or anyone else.” He added that “if the [strikers] outside get some free publicity on my account, that’s fine with me.”

That disclaimer didn’t cut it with Vito Pitta, head of the Hotel Restaurant Union and Club Employees. In an editorial in the weekly union newspaper Hotel Voice, Pitta called Springsteen’s nickname, the Boss, apt “because he’s no friend of the workingman and woman.” He urged readers to contact the singer’s publicist, Marilyn Laverty, to “express their views,” and even ran her phone number.

Laverty, suggesting the rank and file weren’t that riled, says she got only two calls: “One from Chicago and another from an unidentified man who left a message on our service that Bruce is a scab.”