The Passion Of the Apology

"As a Jew, I find the prospect of Jews acting in concert to start a boycott very unpleasant," said Paramount producer and author Lynda Obst in a phone interview. "In one of the few areas where we have power, I don't think we should act in what anti-Semites consider to be stereotypical ways. This could be an opportunity where we say to anti-Semites that Jews don't boycott. I don't like blacklists; I don't like any forms of blacklist."

The Gibson question remained topic A in Hollywood -- and in the Hollywood diaspora that, like Guber, is off on vacation. The industry is abuzz with speculation on Gibson's future in Hollywood.

Disney, which is set to distribute Gibson's next movie, "Apocalypto," due out in December, has not announced any change of plan. ("Apocalypto," filmed in Mexico, is about war among the ancient Mayans.)

Meanwhile, several Hollywood powerhouses told the Los Angeles Times they would not work with Gibson. "I don't see that in my future," said Laura Ziskin, producer of "Spider-Man."

"If he calls me tomorrow, would I represent him? The answer is no," Bernie Brillstein, the legendary showbiz talent manager, told the Times. "That doesn't make me right. I just don't like bigots."

Guber disagreed. "Sure, I'd work with him on a picture like 'Lethan Weapon' or 'Mad Max.' I think he's a terrific actor and director." If he stopped working with people in Hollywood who behaved badly, Guber added, "I'd only work with one person -- and that would be Cinderella."

"If he said it," former MCA Inc. president Sidney J. Sheinberg told the Times, "he's at best a putz."

While Hollywood debates the proper response to Gibson's vulgar harangue, one thing seems certain: The actor-director will still have a lucrative career in the movies.

"His career will go on," Guber said. "It's going to have some collateral damage, but I think his career will continue."

"In Hollywood, it's the bottom line," said Paul Dergarabedian, president of Exhibitor Relations Inc. and an expert on movie finances. "If people go to see the movies, he'll get to keep making movies."

"Gibson doesn't have to worry," author Zev Chafets wrote in the Los Angeles Times yesterday. "Before 'The Passion' came out, there were studio execs who bragged to Jewish reporters that they would never work with Gibson again. But after the film grossed more than $600 million, those execs raised Gibson on their shoulders and began optioning every goyish property from Paul's Epistle to the Ephesians to the Anglican Book of Common Prayer."

History suggests that the movie biz is quite forgiving of people who behave badly, especially if their movies make money. Actor Robert Downey Jr. still works regularly despite a long rap sheet for drug arrests. Director Roman Polanski fled to France to avoid a prison term for having sex with an underage girl he had drugged. Polanski not only finds regular employment, he also won an Academy Award for directing "The Pianist."

But there is one venue where Gibson continues to take some punishment -- late-night TV. "As you may have heard, Mel Gibson was arrested in Malibu on a DUI," Jay Leno said in his monologue Monday night. "I don't know what he was drinking, but I think you can rule out Manischewitz."

That was just the warm-up. Then Leno unloaded this gag: "Police said today they found a bottle of tequila in Mel's Lexus. So let's sum up what happened here: Mel Gibson, who grew up in Australia, was drinking alcohol from Mexico in his Japanese car while yelling about the Jews in Israel. You know where he was coming from? A Thai restaurant. Welcome to America."